About Austin's Steiner Ranch

Tim’s 4-Points Bullet Points

Here are my bullet points for the real estate market in the 4-Points area. For extremely detailed excel spreadsheets and charts click on the 4 Points Real Estate Report

• Best February sales since 2007; March may mirror this.
• Substantial showings seen in January continues in February; Anticipate strong sales in March.
• Price ranges up to the $800’s are now considered to be within a normal market
• Greenshores hits an all-time high of 21 homes on the market
• Long Canyon sold more homes (4) last month than ANY month since 2006
• 6% of all the homes on the market, came on the market on one day, March 1^st
• Inventory increasing at a pace roughly a month earlier than normal
• We are seeing signs of a housing shortage with phone calls and emails from agents looking for specific criteria which are not found on the MLS. This is a phenomenon not seen since 2007. Extraordinarily encouraging.

www.TopKWgroup.com

I have had a few calls over the holidays with people asking about homes in Steiner Ranch. For those that don't live in Austin yet, Steiner Ranch is a beautiful newer neighborhood. There are homes built from 1995-2011. These homes typically have over 3000 square feet, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and two or three living rooms. There are several builders working in this neighborhood: Meritage, Monterrey Homes, Drees Custom Homes, Highland Homes,and Taylor Morrison. The prices range from $225K-$939K with the average price being about $450K. The real question has been "Should I buy an existing home or go to the builder?" The best values are most likely going to be in the existing homes in Steiner Ranch. The builders mark them up to mark them down, so you feel like you got a deal. If you compare the average price per square foot of an existing home in Steiner Ranch versus a custom built one from the builder you might be surprised at the results.

Steiner Ranch homes built before 2009 CMA
Total homes for sale 47
Average 3458 square feet in the home with 4 beds, 3 baths, 3 living, 3 car garage, average year built 2004.
Average number of days on the market before selling 91.
Priced between $225K-$939K
Average Price per square foot is $138.19


Steiner Ranch Homes built after 2010 CMA
Total homes for sale 15
Average 3180 square feet in the home with, 4 beds, 3 baths, 3 living, 3 car garage, year built 2010-2011-new construction. Average number of days on the market 122.
Priced between $315K-$885K.
Average price per square foot $173.56!
The high price per square foot is $245.70.

They key to working with a builder is to have your own Buyers Agent working for you. In Texas the Seller pays the Realtors fee so you might as well have representation. The agent in the builders office represents the builder, not you. Buying a house is kind of like buying a car, the first buyer takes the biggest hit as far as depreciation. So if you buy a home that is 1-10 years old, it still "feels new" but does not have the brand new price.

Right now the Best Value home I have seen in Steiner Ranch is 205 Horseback Hollow. Its listed for sale for $415K. It started off at $492K and has been reduced several times. This is an extreme value ( only $135.71 price per square foot for a brand new home) in Steiner Ranch. This home has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, 2 dining rooms and a three car garage, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and the community offers: Club House, Jogging/Biking Path, Lake Privileges, Park, Play Ground, In-Ground Pool-Community, See Agent, Sport Court(s), Tennis Courts.

Sincerely,

Betina

Betina Foreman-Realtor, C.N.E.
Austin Home Girls Realty
(512)771-6318

Tim’s “FOUR POINTS” Area Bullet Points

October, 2011

Four Points area is noted as the Realtor territory of “RN” = River North: FM2222 to Volente to Lake Austin to Hwy 360, back to FM2222

>Sales increased and inventory decreased from September, which is typically seen in the fall.

>First increase in inventory (only 4% year over year) in 14 months. Too early, & too small of an increase to make any judgment.

>Sales up 31% from last year. Typical large swings in the market seen all year, just as we have seen in the stock market.

>Click HERE for September's complete River North Area market report, complete with charts & inventory/sales graphs back to 2007.

>Only 2 sales above $800k last month. The higher end has yet to create a noticeable market this year.

>Westminster, Glenlake, Long Canyon and Greenshores recorded only 2 sales last month, total.

>Lease market remains strong: I doubt we will see a change in this trend for the next year.

>Steiner Ranch skews the statistics for all other neighborhoods with a phenomenal sales to inventory ratio of 20 to 90, which equates to a seller’s market.

>River Place has tied a 17 year low for inventory with only 31 homes. The record is highly likely to be broken by year’s end. Great position with anyone on the market, or coming on the market, as demand picks up.

>Sales increased and inventory decreased from September, which is typically seen in the fall.

>First increase in inventory (only 4% year over year) in 14 months. Too early, & too small of an increase to make any judgment.

>Sales up 31% from last year. Typical large swings in the market seen all year, just as we have seen in the stock market.

>Click HERE for September's complete River North Area market report, complete with charts & inventory/sales graphs back to 2007.

>Only 2 sales above $800k last month. The higher end has yet to create a noticeable market this year.

>Westminster, Glenlake, Long Canyon and Greenshores recorded only 2 sales last month, total.

>Lease market remains strong: I doubt we will see a change in this trend for the next year.

>Steiner Ranch skews the statistics for all other neighborhoods with a phenomenal sales to inventory ratio of 20 to 90, which equates to a seller’s market.

>River Place has tied a 17 year low for inventory with only 31 homes. The record is highly likely to be broken by year’s end. Great position with anyone on the market, or coming on the market, as demand picks up.