As originally proposed, the Austin Energy ordinance would have required all homeowners to upgrade their homes to current energy standards before selling their homes. These mandatory upgrades could have cost thousands of dollars and put an extreme economic stress on cash strapped sellers. However, due to the efforts of the Austin Board of Realtors (ABOR) and city leaders, the city chose not to require homeowners to make the mandatory upgrades, but rather, require that some homeowners to conduct energy audits before the sale of their home. This ordinance goes into effect on June 1, 2009 and will apply to most residential, multi-family and commercial properties in Austin. For more Austin Texas Real Estate information, visit http://www.RomeoM.com
New information from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) show that the U.S. housing market may be reaching bottom and parts of the country on the way up.
The NAR index, which tracks contracts to purchase resale homes, shows a rebound in numbers from November to December and also showed an increase in the yearly results.
The index, adusted for seasonality, showed that the pending sales index for resale homes rose 6.3% in December to 87.7 from November's reading of 82.5, the lowest month on record. The index was up 2.1% from December of 2007.
The number of pending home sales increased about 13% Texas and the Southern and Midwest U.S., but fell about 4% in the West and 2% in the Northeast.
For more information about Austin Texas Real Estate visit http://www.RomeoM.com
Austin Community College broke ground on the new $119 million campus in Round Rock earler this week. The community college is building nearly 275,000 square feet of classroom and administration space in the first phase of the project. That phase is to be complete and ready for students in 2010. After all of the phases are completed, the ACC Round Rock campus will consist of nearly 600,000 square feet and serve 11,500 students. The college will also offer an associate degree registered nurse program to help fill the nursing void in the medical industry. For more Austin Texas information visit http://www.romeom.com
According to the latest report from www.ofheo.gov the U.S. government's website regarding real estate values - the Austin area ranked #1 for appreciation for the 3rd quarter of 2008 with a 5.62% appreciation rate. Although that may not seem like much - it is a welcome site compared to some of the double digit declines in other areas of the nation. The rental market is very strong and sales have picked up since the beginning of the year. With builders offering big discounts and rates in the low 5% range, we are seeing first timers and move up buyers starting to get off of the fence. For more information about the Austin Real Estate market visit http://www.RomeoM.com
On Wednesday February 4, 2009, Congress voted on a new proposal that would allow a tax credit of 10 percent of the value of new or existing residences, up to a $15,000 limit for home buyers. Current law provides for a $7,500 tax break but only for first-time homebuyers. The proposal would cost the government an estimated $19 billion increasing the overall stimulus package to over $900 billion dollars. This is one of many attempts by the new administration to stimulate the economy. The provision was the second tax cut approved in as many days targeted to individual industries. On Tuesday, the Senate voted to give a break to consumers who buy new cars to help creat a greater demand for the automobile industry. To read more Austin Texas Real Estate information visit http://www.RomeoM.com
Source: Yahoo News
 |
|
|
Austin Texas Real Estate blog and important links
Romeo grew up in Los Angeles, California enjoying all of the area's attractions, events and fast-paced lifestyle. But after a successful military career as a U.S. Navy Officer, Romeo decided to call Austin home because of its booming economy, scenic beauty and quality of life. While working as an Operations Manager for Dell Computer Corp., he became involved with Habitat for Humanity, donating his time in assisting with the construction of low income family housing and working alongside others who freely gave of themselves to improve the lives of those around them. It was this positive experience of giving back to the community that would later mould his decision to become a real estate professional.
Romeo's unique life experiences while serving in the military and working in both private and corporate organizations has made him a well-rounded person that easily connects with his clients on different levels. His focus on family life with his wife and 2 year old son has helped him gain a deeper appreciation of spending quality time at home. It is this same passion of assisting others in finding their perfect home that motivates Romeo to provide his clients with a level of personal service that is rare today.
Romeo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and a Master of Business Administration degree from Regis University.
PRESS RELEASE
Realtor wins award for highest customer service ratings in Austin, Texas.
Romeo Manzanilla recently won the CitySearch "Best of Real Estate Agents" award among Realtors in the Austin, Texas area. The award was for the 2007 customer service polls conducted earlier this year by the Internet's #1 Online Guide. Having earned a 5 star ranking and the highest number of positive reviews, Romeo was recognized as the highest rated individual Realtor in Austin by CitySearch.
"Customer service rating per transaction - is probably the most meaningful measure of how effectively a Realtor is serving his/her clients," said Mike Smith, Broker for e Executive Realty - Round Rock. "With a lack of confidence in the market right now, it is refreshing that a Realtor is recognized not solely on how many transactions they complete, but on the overall customer satisfaction for each of those transactions. We are very proud that Romeo Manzanilla decided to join the e Executive Realty team in September of this year. We feel that his great attitude towards service will help elevate customer perceptions and provide a model for other agents to follow."
"The main focus of our business is to serve our clients, they are the reason this award is possible", stated Smith. "Romeo's attention to detail and ensuring that each experience is a positive one is a direct reflection of his willingness to put his client's interests before his."
Romeo Manzanilla received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California in 1996 and his MBA from Regis University in 2002. He has been an Austin resident since 1998 and has been working full time in the Real Estate market since 2006.
REVIEWS
User Reviews for Romeo Manzanilla - Realtor
Citysearch (10), All (10)
Fast Results
05/10/2007 Posted by msmichelle
I recently was promoted to a position that required moving to France and wanted to sell my home before moving. I contacted Romeo because of all of his great reviews and met with him to find out what my home was worth. He did not inflate his market analysis to try and earn my business by over-exaggerating what my home was worth, but rather provided me with a fair and accurate analysis. My home sold within the first 30 days of being listed on the market at the Full Price that we had listed it. The transaction could not have been any easier. Now I can leave for my new position without having to worry about selling my home in Texas. Thank you very much Romeo.
Pros: Results, Accurate, Honest
05/09/2007 Posted by lkuhn
Romeo really heard and understood what it was that I was looking for in a new home. He didn't try and show me properties that were outside of my price range nor properties that paid him the most commission. He was honest, reliable and trusthworthy. He eventually found just what I was looking for and I couldn't be any happier living in my new home. Thank you Romeo.
Pros: Trustworthy, Reliable, Honest
You won't find a better real estate agent!
05/03/2007 Posted by rich_kathleen
Romeo was quick to help our son locate a house, 24 hours. He's considerate and was available to shepard the transaction through the short time frame of 17 days. He's honest, genuine, knowledgable & skilled. He was proactive on our behalf while still being a fair person. It was a pleasure having him as our real estate agent.
Pros: Romeo is an honest, knowledgable considerate real estate agent.
Cons: None
A different kind of Realtor
04/18/2007 Posted by cw1972
My husband and I had started looking for a new home when I was pregnant with my second child and spoke to many realtors about selling our home and buying a new one. Most seemed knowledgable enough, but I kept getting the feeling like I was talking to a used car salesman. When a friend of mine recommded Romeo, I decided to give him a call. I got a completely different feeling from Romeo. I felt that he really listened and understood exactly what we were looking for and that he was genuinely concerned with helping us find the right home for us. 3 months later, we were living in our new home and Romeo was able to sell our existing home for more than we expected. I would definitely recommend Romeo to anyone who looking to buy or sell a home.
Unlike Others
04/17/2007 Posted by bwhitworth
We didn't think that we would ever be able to buy a home because of our past credit problems, but Romeo stuck with us and helped to negotiate a great deal on a new home. His patience and honesty really sets him apart from other realtors that we've spoken with in the past. He was more interested in helping us find the right home than collecting a commission. We will recommend Romeo to anyone that we know that is looking to buy or sell a home.
Pros: Patient, Thorough, Honest
Cons: None
Truly a Stellar Agent
01/11/2007 Posted by fmarcelle
I found Romeo online and I was a first-time homebuyer. I was a bit nervous and a bit excited at the same time because I only read about all the home hunting stuff and never experienced. I gotta say that through Romeo, he made this the easiest and truly the best experience ever! He was kind, gracious, very, very patient (say over 20 properties!) stuck with me the entire time, and never pressured me for anything! This guy was incredible and he did a stellar job!
Pros: Patient, Experienced, Gracious
Cons: None
Very Knowledgeable!
01/10/2007 Posted by msjef
I was looking to purchase a home on a very tight budget. A friend of mine recommended that I call Romeo to assist me in purchasing a home because he had been very professional and helpful in finding her the perfect home. When I contacted Romeo, he told me about several programs that would assist me in qualifying and purchasing a nicer home than I had originally been told by other realtors that I would qualify for. None of the other realtors even mentioned these programs that Romeo did. In the end, I was able to purchase a brand new home in a subdivision close to where I work. Not only did Romeo get me more house, but he was able to find me something close to work to cut my commute time. Thank you so much Romeo for the positive experience!
Pros: Knowledgable, Professional, Friendly
Cons: None
Very Patient!
01/10/2007 Posted by fbgirl
I can be a bit demanding when I really want something. My lease on the condo that I was renting was going to end and I only had a limited amount of time to find a house. Romeo worked day and night with me for several weeks to find the home that matched exactly what I was looking for. Better yet, the in house mortgage company was able to offer me a lower interest rate than the bank that I had been banking with for years. Romeo never once seemed frustrated or flustered by constant calls and emails. He always politely and promptly took and answered my calls and emails. Even my mother, knowing what I'm like, was surprised at the abuse that Romeo took. I really do appreciate everything that Romeo did. I don't think that there is another realtor that would go as far as Romeo did. Thank you so much!
Pros: Great Communication, Very Patient, Professional
Cons: None
Things could not have gone smoother.
01/07/2007 Posted by headmd
I was moving my medical practice from California to Texas and I wanted to purchase a home for myself and my family prior to making the move. Based on the recommendation from an associate that lived in the Austin area, I contacted Romeo to assist me in finding the best home suited for our needs. I flew out to meet Romeo about 2 months prior to the move and found him to be very professional, courteous and organized. Based on a brief description of what we were looking for, Romeo had researched several homes and I was able to narrow down my search and eventually purchased the perfect home for us. Romeo even assisted us with the move. My family and I truly thank you for all of your assistance.
Pros: Excellent Communication, Well Prepared, Professional
Cons: None
When others said it couldn't be done, YOU DID IT!
01/05/2007 Posted by mon75
Romeo really helped me and my family by working with us to buy our first home. We had called other agents, but they seemed disinterested when I told them that we were not prequalified yet and that I had some credit problems. When I called Romeo, he not only said that he would work with us, but told us about a great program available to first time buyers that we handn't even heard about from the other agents. We were able to purchase a new house in a great community with very little out of pocket! Thank you Romeo for all of your patience and professionalism. I will definitely recommend you to all of my friends and to anyone who thinks that they can't buy a home. You really did make a difference in our lives :)
Pros: Professional, Honest, Committed
Cons: None
.
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
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
