Shane White

If you are a resident of Austin then you already know of the many benefits of living in this great city. A recent survey conducted by ETC Institute compared cities nationwide, and when it comes to other cities across the nation Austin ranked number one in resident satisfaction. Among the 13 cities that have a population of over 500,000 residents, the city of Austin had the highest overall satisfaction rating. There were over 1,300 Austin residents who took part in this survey.

Austin outranked Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, and San Diego and San Jose, California. The survey looked at 46 different categories and Austin scored above average in 41 out of 46 of those categories. Austin residents are satisfied with the overall quality of services that the city of Austin provides, the overall value they receive when it comes to city taxes, and the city overall as a place to live.

Residents of Austin felt that the city communicated well with its residents and provided great customer service. Austin residents also felt that the city does a good job in maintaining its streets and sidewalks compared to the national average. Austin ranked high in many areas, however, it fell well below the national average when it comes to traffic flow. The quality of drinking water and public libraries were another area that the city scored low in.

Now is the perfect time to buy a home in the Austin area. Contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.

Jobs are hard to come by in many parts of the country, but Texas is leading the way in the U.S. when it comes to construction jobs. Latest employment numbers over the last year show that from October of 2010 to October of 2011 the great state of Texas added over 17,500 construction jobs. Texas residents are finding it easier to find jobs.

These new jobs outpaced California who was second in the country who added 17,000 new jobs over the past year according to the U.S. Department of Labor data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Ken Simonson, the Association’s chief economist said, “Construction employment gains are likely to remain spotty for months to come.”

The state of Texas as a whole had added many new jobs not only just in construction. When it comes to adding new construction jobs, local factors play a big part, rather than regional or industry trends. Many economists feel that a healthy jobs market is needed to bring back the housing industry to where we need it to be.

Contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.

If you are in the market for a new home, Lake Travis may be the place for you. Over the next 30 days, a development team will be hiring seven homebuilders, led by project developer Wheelock Street Capital LLC from Greenwich, Connecticut, to develop the 1,400-acre site. At this time there are 15 homebuilders who are hoping to be among the lucky seven chosen to help develop the Sweetwater community in Western Travis County. The community is expected to take several years to complete, which will mean steady work for these homebuilders for the next few years.

The community is anticipated to have 1,800 homes by the time it is complete. Wheelock Street Capital LLC paid $34 million for the parcel of land when the bought it while it was in foreclosure a year ago. The price they paid was about $20 million less than the prior owner had paid for it.

The Sweetwater community is along Texas 71 near Bee Creek Road. The development of the community was put on hold when the previous developer defaulted on the loan. The new jobs this will create for the community is a welcome sign for Travis County.

If a new home is in your future, contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.

Fitch Ratings and Standard and Poor's announced earlier in the month that they have awarded the highest bond rating available to Williamson County. The AAA rating is a high rating and means an entity has an "extremely strong capacity to meet financial commitments," according to Standard and Poor's.

These credit rating agencies use letter designations to determine credit-worthiness. Following financial practices that any fiscally responsible household can utilize is how the county of Williamson was able to receive the rating, and the beneifts of it will now help residents of Williamson County.

Williamson County Auditor David Flores said, “You follow the ABC’s of spending, whether you are a family household or a government. A is always live within your means. B is borrow money only for capital items, being something that has permanent value like a home. C is credit cards shouldn’t be used to finance regular operations exceeding 30 days. These are the things I have taught my own children about finances, too."


The AAA rating is based on pass-through toll revenue and limited tax bonds, and series 2011 limited-tax refunding bonds. The good news for Williamson County residents is that this AAA rating will allow the county to refinance its debt for a lower interest rate. Williamson County Auditor David Flores said in a statement, "Our goal was to secure an interest rate of less than 4 percent, and we met that goal.” The county will save $2,670,000, more than their original goal of $2 million.

If you would like to know more about the ratings, visit the county’s website at www.wilco.org and you will find the information under the County Finances section.


Williamson County is a great place to call home. Contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Congress has reinstated for the next two years loan limits on Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured loans. NAR President Moe Veissi said, “As the nation’s leading advocate for homeownership, we applaud members of Congress for restoring FHA’s previous loan limits, which will help reduce consumer cost burdens, stabilize local housing markets and allow qualified, creditworthy borrowers to access affordable mortgage financing” and “The reinstated loan limits will help provide much-needed liquidity and stability to communities nationwide as tight credit restrictions continue to prevent some qualified buyers from becoming homeowners, and the housing market recovery remains fragile.”

The revision will reinstate FHA loan limits through 2013 at 125 percent of local median home prices with a maximum of $729,750. The loan limits backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages will continue to remain at 115 percent of local area median home prices, with a max up to $625,500. Economists at NAR believe that by reinstating FHA loan limits it will help make mortgages more affordable to potential buyers. Nearly two-thirds of homebuyers across the country who have incomes below $100,000 will be helped by this revision. It’s a misconception that only wealthy borrowers benefit from the maximum cost loan limits; middle-class homebuyers living in all areas of the country deserve the same access to affordable mortgage financing and the same opportunity to achieve homeownership that homebuyers enjoy in the most affordable regions of the country,” said Veissi.

Contact the Shane T. White Team if you are looking to buy or sell your home. Discover what it is like to work with a team with a real passion for real estate. Contact us today at (512) 515-LAND (5263). We are here for you to help you buy or sell real estate near Austin in the Liberty Hill area, including Leander, Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Bertram.