Jason Peebles, Broker Associate

As we all know it's that time of year again when we are busily gathering documents in order to file our taxes. Some of us are dreading the task while others are eager to get their taxes filed so they can receive their refund check. Many homeowners know the tax benefits from simply owning their own home and while many of us take those advantages year after year, sometimes we make mistakes. Not a good thing to do on your taxes!

The good people at the National Association of Realtors® have come up with 10 Easy Mistakes Homeowners Make On Their Taxes. Simple things as deducting the wrong year for property taxes or forgetting to deduct private mortgage insurance. Did you utilize the first time tax credit and forget to deduct that credit? This credit for most of us has come and gone, but for a select group (mostly military and government employees) that credit was extended.

Take a look at the article and see if you too have perhaps forgotten, or missed, some deductions. When in doubt, always contact a qualified CPA or tax advisor as everyone's situation is different. While you are there, browse the Houselogic website for tons of great articles from the National Association of Realtors®.

Cool and Useful Apps

Some time ago, I wrote a short blog on cool iPad apps that I had run across and I have been wanting to do a follow-up of sorts to share more apps that I have discovered and am currently using in my daily business. That blog post will have to wait however. For now I want to briefly tell you about the new app that the National Association of Realtors® has recently updated.

I have used the Realtor.com app with clients before and they have really liked many of the features and ease of use. I recently updated my apps on my iPad and just today came across a blog that discusses the new IOS release that Realtor.com has been working on. The app has significant improvements and from what I have seen, the Realtor.com app is even better than previous versions. To read the blog authored by Todd Carpenter, click HERE.

For buyers and sellers, take a look at this article and consider downloading the app. I think you will find it to not only be cool and awesome, but a great research tool.

Below are the Austin, Texas area Market Statistics for January 2012

According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS®, 1,051 single-family homes were sold in the Austin area in January 2012, which is 10 percent more than January 2011. During the same time period, the median price for Austin-area homes was $176,550, seven percent less than the same month of the prior year.

The Austin market had 4.1 months of inventory in January 2012, or 1.4 months less than January 2011. The figure, unchanged from December 2011, marks the lowest inventory level the Austin market has seen since the organization began tracking the statistic in January 2009.

January 2012 Statistics

• 1,051 – Single-family homes sold, 10 percent more than January 2011.

• $176,550 – Median price for single-family homes, seven percent less than January 2011.

• 85 – Average number of days that single-family homes spent on the market, eight days less than January 2011.

• 2,266 – New single-family home listings on the market, six percent less than January 2011.

• 6,557 – Active single-family home listings on the market, 19 percent less than January 2011.

• 1,638 – Pending sales for single-family homes, 16 percent more than January 2011.

• 4.1 – Months of inventory of single-family homes, 1.4 months less than January 2011.

• $236,043,039 – Total dollar volume of single-family properties sold, one percent less than January 2011.

The following sections describe trends in other sectors of the Austin real estate market.


Townhouses & Condominiums
The volume of townhouses and condominiums (condos) purchased in the Austin area in January 2012 was 121, which is 27 percent more than January 2011. In the same time period, the median price for condos was $159,500, four percent more than January 2011. When compared to the same month of the prior year, these properties spent seven percent longer on the market, or an average of 107 days, in January 2012.

Leasing
In January 2012, 1,129 properties were leased in the Austin area, which is five percent less than January 2011. During the same time period, the median price for Austin-area leases was $1,250, nine percent higher than the same month of the prior year.

**This information provided by the Austin Board of REALTORS®.

How To Prepare For Your Home Purchase

So you have been thinking about a home purchase, have you? Is this your first time buying? Not sure where to start or where to go? If this is the case, then I would suggest continue reading this blog in order to obtain a great understanding of How To Prepare For Your Home Purchase.

Realtor.com has lots of wonderful information on the home selling and buying process. I would suggest taking a look at the Ten Steps of Homeownership where you will find a step-by-step process to help you navigate and show you How To Prepare For Your Home Purchase.

I would also suggest locating and interviewing a Realtor® to assist you in the process. We have helped home buyers time and time again and we know and understand the process and we can also give you additional tips and advice on How To Prepare For Your Home Purchase in your local market. Use the power of the internet to research, learn, and investigate the process, the Realtors®, and the properties that you may be interested in purchasing.

Purchasing a home can be stressful, but if you research and understand How To Prepare For Your Home Purchase, along with hiring a Realtor® to assist in the process, you will find that it can be a great, fun experience instead.

Have a great week everyone and happy house hunting.

Below are the Austin, Texas area Market Statistics for December 2011.

According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS®, single-family home sales in December 2011 outpaced the same month of the prior year for the seventh straight month, and year-end figures show momentum in Austin real estate heading into 2012.

In December 2011, a total of 1,581 single-family homes were sold in Austin, which is 11 percent more than December 2010. During the same time period, the median price for Austin homes was $187,940, which is one percent less than the same month of the prior year.

Austin homes spent an average of 89 days on the market in December 2011, nine days less than the same month of the prior year. The Austin real estate market also featured 12 percent fewer new listings, 19 percent fewer active listings and 12 percent more pending sales than December 2010.

In December 2011, the inventory of Austin-area homes decreased to 4.1 months, which is 1.4 months less than December 2010 and the lowest figure reported since the organization began tracking the statistic in January 2009.

December 2011 Statistics

• 1,581 – Single-family homes sold, 11 percent more than December 2010.

• $187,940 – Median price for single-family homes, one percent less than December 2010.

• 89 – Average number of days that single-family homes spent on the market, nine days less than December 2010.

• 1,383 – New single-family home listings on the market, 12 percent less than December 2010.

• 6,605 – Active single-family home listings on the market, 19 percent less than December 2010.

• 1,229 – Pending sales for single-family homes, 12 percent more than December 2010.

• 4.1 – Months of inventory* of single-family homes, 1.4 months less than December 2010.

• $385,035,159 – Total dollar volume of single-family properties sold, nine percent more than December 2010.

The report also included figures for all of 2011, during which 19,220 Austin-area single-family homes were sold, which is seven percent more than 2010. Over the course of the year, the median price of homes in Austin remained statistically unchanged from the prior year at $193,000 and homes spent an average of 84 days on the market, which is seven days longer than 2010. At the same time, the Austin real estate market featured 12 percent fewer new listings, 15 percent fewer active listings and seven percent more pending sales.

**This information provided by the Austin Board of Realtors®