What sells for $100/SF and higher in Georgetown Village?
Time is just FLYING by this year and I wanted to write about a series of case studies on my own neighborhood, Georgetown Village. One of the most common questions I get asked is, "How much $/SF are the homes going for in Georgetown Village?" This is simply too difficult to answer because the median $/SF would not accurately reflect the value of your own home. For example, since Jan 2007, homes in Georgetown Village have sold from as low as $78/SF to as high as $112/SF! For a home that's 2000 SF, that is a range of $156,000 to $224,000! The best way to assess an accurate value of your home is not to use a sloppy average, but to call on your friendly neighborhood real estate man (that's me) and to look at the top 3 or 4 recently sold homes that best match yours.
I was curious to know which homes sold for a premium ($100/SF and higher) and there were 16 that sold since Jan 07 that fit the bill:
Half of these homes are New Construction homes (surprise, surprise). New homes in Georgetown, Texas will naturally have a higher premium stuck to them.
The first and second home on the first row is built by Cobblestone Homes and they are no longer building in this neighborhood. The third home is built by Bowen Homes. Once they finish building on their existing lots, they won't likely be building in the new sections. The second home on the second row with the turret is built by Rothenburg Homes. They are a smaller builder that has built only 1 other home in Georgetown Village. All of the rest are built by Perry Homes and they have plans to continue building in the newer sections.
Here are the resale homes:
It's interesting that 5 out of the 8 resales are located on Village Park Drive. What makes this street so appealing?
1. They are within excellent walking distance to the Village Elementary School. You don't have to cross a single street!
2. All of the homes are 4 sided brick with rear entry garages. Less maintenance and nice curb appeal!
3. All of the homes face a massive park that is kept by the city. All play and no work!
4. Because they have a no-maintenance park to play in, their own yards are quite small...
5. All of the homeowners hire a landscaping company so that their own yards are also maintenance-free. Are these homeowners lazy or what?:)
This street has a lot of appeal to a family that wants a low-maintenance lifestyle, but wants something bigger than an apartment or townhome. The third home on the second row is located on Chestnut Court, which is another desirable, private street located towards the back of the neighborhood. It backs to a "greenbelt."
All of these homes are built by David Weekley (they pulled out several years ago) with the exception of the last one in the second row which is a Lennar. You won't see many Lennar's go for a premium in this neighborhood...it must have been those Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors!
Bottom Line: You can't make a resale into a brand new home, but you can make it look like one! Make sure you have your home professionally staged and you spend the $1 in repairs to get the $10 in return. Simple things like cleaning your windows, fresh paint and new carpet will help you compete against new homes and command a higher premium.
What can we learn from the resales? Well, it might be a little difficult to create a park in front of your home when there is none, or grow a greenbelt behind your home overnight. I recommend turning your bland backyard into a park-like setting and work on your landscaping. This will also help your home command a higher premium and compete against those that may be adjacent to a park or greenbelt. It will certainly help you stand out against the other homes with bland backyards.
If you're interested in knowing how much your home is worth in Georgetown Village give me a call! I employ cutting-edge marketing techniques and will put my experience to work for you to sell your home fast and for top dollar!
Austin Metro area among the top 10 for numerical and percentage growth nationwide
I love reading news like this. The US Census Bureau produced findings that ranked the Austin-Round Rock Metro area as #8 in the nation for most population growth. Naturally that growth spills over into my beloved city of Georgetown, Texas!
What makes this more significant is that as a percentage of current population, this area is actually #5 in the nation with an average growth of 4.3%! The growth is pretty evident to all who live here as new roads, new developments and new shops and stores pop up constantly. It's definitely optimistic for the housing industry as this influx of people transplant and look for a new place to lay their head.
If you're one of these "new Texans," I'd be happy to put my lifetime of relocation experience to work for you! Whether your search is broad, and you're just looking for homes in Austin, or specific, and you want to investigate individual custom home communities in Georgetown, Texas, check out my website for great information on real estate in Georgetown, Texas!
Well, it's nice to know that if you are unemployed and wanting to start a business, you're doing it in a city that has the right economic conditions for it. Well guess what? The City of Georgetown, Texas has the right conditions baby! Fortune Small Business ranked Georgetown Texas #2 in the NATION for the best place to live and launch a small business! Here's the link if you want to read through the entire top 100. The original article is below:
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Population: 37,963
Pros: Business friendly tax structure, entrepreneurial camaraderie, scenic suburb of Austin
Con: Higher housing costs
Austin's entrepreneurial community may be among the strongest in the country, but its heavy traffic and urbanization have driven some experienced business folks to look elsewhere. Enter Georgetown. This suburb of Austin has transformed from a sleepy bedroom community into a city with its own identity and a rapidly growing business climate.
Located 26 miles north of the state's capital, Georgetown has welcomed 270 new businesses over the past two years. The state's lack of individual and corporate income taxes is just one reason Texas is considered business-friendly. On a local level, Georgetown charges relatively low water and electricity rates, and its property taxes are among the lowest in the region. As part of the Greater Austin area, Georgetown entrepreneurs in the city's growth industries - healthcare, life sciences, and technology - can seek out additional support from the region's business-development efforts. A convention center slated to open next year should help further build Georgetown's up-and-coming business scene.
Contrary to popular belief, not all missions trips involve traveling to Africa...
One nice thing about living in Georgetown, Texas is that you can drive just 4 hours away and be in a different culture, outside of your comfort zone, and interact with people who you normally wouldn't even say "Hi" to. Recently, my church in Georgetown, Texas (Hill Country Bible Church) planned a trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico to lend a hand to an orphanage there called Casa Bethesda.
What is Casa Bethesda?
In the Bible - John 5, there is mention of a Pool of Bethesda which means "house of mercy." It was here where many people with sicknesses would come in hopes of being healed. Jesus healed a man who was lame for 38 years at this very location! For the past several years, Pastor Paulino and his wife, Betty, have been doing a similar task by accepting orphans into their church and home with the hopes of bringing them healing. Many of these children have physical impairments and are wheelchair bound or have been diagnosed with lifetime disorders like Downs Syndrome and Autism. This man, Pastor Paulino, obeyed God's call to accept these children and care for them and we have partnered with him to help. (By the way, there are two men in the picture to the right. In case you haven't guessed it, Pastor Paulino is the man on the left. The one on the right, John Mize, is as American as they come, complete with baseball cap and jean shorts.)
So here's the latest development: We have recruited two physical therapists to help these children for the next 2 years on a rotational basis. They will reside in an on-site apartment, that has been built by generously donated funds and volunteer work. Our mission for this trip is to paint it and furnish it with donated items.
My purpose in sharing all of this was to tell you what an awesome time I had bringing my family down with me to Mexico. I just realized that two-thirds of what I have written above is only the background behind these trips! Here's what it comes down to though: My wife and three children (Joshua, Chloe and Sabrina) stayed back at the living quarters and helped prep the meals for everyone while I did some of the physical labor (like painting and moving stuff). As a young daddy, I really want to raise my children in an environment that promotes service and not selfishness, I want to teach them what it means to sacrifice your time, your money and your skills to help others who don't have nearly as much. I think these trips help drive the point home more than any lecture can...and I trust that God will slowly instill these principles and truths in their lives.
I put together a short video on the trip that shows what we did. Enjoy...and let me know if God moves in your heart to go on the next trip in July!
I have been wanting to write about my neighborhood, Georgetown Village, for quite some time. I live here. I buy and sell homes here. I invest in rental homes here. One day in the future, I will even shop here, once the developer starts working on the much anticipated multi-use development that many residents are waiting for. To get you a bit more familiar with my neighborhood, here are three good reasons to look at Georgetown Village if you are making a move to Georgetown, Texas:
1. This is the ONLY neighborhood in Georgetown, Texas with an on-site Elementary School. Yup, that's right. And not only that, Village Elementary has been given the highest rating (Exemplary), making it one of the best schools in Georgetown, Texas. Now if that doesn't give parents who send their kids to private school or who home school, a reason to switch, I don't know what will!
2. The developer-owned Green Builders is making an industry statement in Georgetown by building environmentally friendly homes that are also friendly to the homeowner's utility bills. All the other builders in Georgetown, Texas can say they have ceiling fans and double-paned windows...big deal. These guys take the next step and utilize foam insulation, low-volatile organic compound paints, and other architectural details like awnings or overhangs that provide additional shade in the home. Here are a couple homes in Austin they put their brand on:
3. Primo-location - Georgetown Village is super close to Hwy 195 (for those working in Killeen/Ft. Hood), SH130 and future Parmer Lane/Ronald Reagen Blvd (for those still stuck in their Austin jobs) and ofcourse the wonderful Interstate 35 for those who work in Temple or Round Rock. Even if you're fortunate enough to work from your home, this makes it easier for friends and family to find you!
I'm a full-time Dad of 3 that just happens to be a real estate agent. Joshua is 3, Chloe is 2 and Sabrina was born on Dec 23, 2007. Needless to say, I have plenty of motivation to work hard for you!
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