"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way."
Eileen Caddy
Author
For Austin Real Estate:
Crystal Kilpatrick
Homes ATX
512-680-5835 cell
| Area Market Stats | |
 Austin real estate sales volume surges, prices remain stableAustin Board of REALTORS® releases March 2010 real estate statistics April 20, 2010 - According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report by the Austin Board of REALTORS®, the volume of Austin area home sales in March 2010 was 1,784, up 27 percent from the same month in 2009. The median price of real estate in the Austin area remained unchanged in the same time period at $180,000. "Though we've seen increases in year-over-year sales volume consistently in recent months, it's likely this substantial increase in volume is related to the impending expiration of the homebuyer tax credits on April 30," said John Horton, Chairman of the Austin Board of REALTORS®. "What's most encouraging, however, is that in the midst of this increase in sales volume, our real estate values have remained steady, which bodes well for the long-term value of real estate in Austin." Sales of condos and townhouses were particularly strong in March 2010, increasing by 129 percent to 215 sales as compared to March 2009. This follows sustained increases in demand for this property type since September 2009 and a year-to-date increase of 86 percent. Mr. Horton continued, "A softer condo market at the beginning of 2010 provided a good opportunity for buyers, and we are now seeing the results with an increase in activity. Condos can be attractive properties for first-time homebuyers, so it's possible this increased demand is also related to both the first-time homebuyer tax credit, as well as an increased supply of condos in Austin in recent years." March 2010 also marked the second consecutive month of substantially decreased "days on market," which refers to the average time homes remain active in the MLS. At 73 days for March 2010, homes spent 16 percent fewer days on the market than in March 2009. In the same time period, pending sales increased 31 percent to 2,421; new listings increased by 29 percent to 4,170; and active listings increased by six percent to 10,300. "These statistics indicate that demand is continuing to outpace supply, which is encouraging," said Horton. "However, no one really knows the full impact of the homebuyer tax credits yet, so we'll look ahead to this summer to determine the sustainability of these conditions." March 2010 Statistics
|
1. Staging forces you to think like a buyer - When you are working to stage your client's home to be put on the market, you'll be looking at the home as if you were a buyer. Gaining this perspective will help you in many ways when preparing a home to be listed.
2. Staging forces you to organize and de-clutter - Clearing shelves, closets and cabinets is a big part of the home staging process. It also helps with the moving process because sellers can pack items away as they are getting rid of the clutter.
3. Staging increases the likelihood of a sale - When you are selling a home, you need to do everything you can to increase the changes of selling the home. A successfully staged home gives your seller an extra edge in selling their home quickly.
4. Staging reduces the home's time on the market - When you put in the extra effort to stage your client's home effectively, you are preparing the home for a quicker sale. It is important to do everything you can to ensure your client's home sits on the market for as little time as possible.
5. Staging helps justify the asking price - If you are in a seller's market and you help your clients price their home correctly, you decrease the chances of having to haggle over the asking price. In a market that leads toward the buyer, you need everything in your favor to justify the asking price. Proper home staging helps justify the asking price by positioning the home more favorably in the buyer's mind.
6. Staging can be fun - While staging may sound like all work and no play, be sure to use your creativity throughout the process to make it more enjoyable.
For Austin Real Estate :
Crystal Kilpatrick
Homes ATX
512-680-5835
Austin Ranks 5th Among Top 10 Places to Retire
Austin, Texas: According to TopRetirements.com, Austin is one of the top 10 cities attracted to those nearing retirement. Two thirds of the 100 top positions were located in Sun Belt states with warmer climates. The list was compiled by calculating which towns had the most online visits on TopRetirements.com which reflects the cities that the site's retired user community is most interested in. College towns and warm climates dominate the list, meaning that areas with abundance of intellectual and outdoor activities are popular among the retired community.
Top 10 Most Popular Cities to Retire:
1. Asheville, NC
2. Sarasota, FL
3. Prescott, AZ
4. Paris, TN
5. Austin, TX
6. Green Valley, AZ
7. Winston-Salem, NC
8. Beaufort, SC
9. San Diego, CA
10. Ft. Myers, FL
Austin ranked high on the list due to its immense cultural scene, low cost of living, and outdoorsy atmosphere. Other cities with active adult communities include Portland, ME and Smyrna, DE.
Austin Real Estate:
Crystal Kilpatrick
Homes ATX
512-680-5835
Thought for the Day
" Before success comes in any man's life, he's sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit. That's exactly what the majority of men do. "
Napoleon Hill, American Writer, 1883-1970
For Austin Real Estate:
Crystal Kilpatrick
Homes ATX
512-680-5835
I am a realtor with over 10 years of experience in Austin. I enjoy helping people to find their perfect home. I specialize in Central, West, and Southwest Austin.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2013 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
