For those who want to feel like they are in the country without being so far from the city, Granada Oaks is a wonderful compromise. The new custom home section has beautifully designed homes set on 1 acre lots with many trees around, and it’s close to the intersection of 290 and 1826. One house in particular recently caught my eye. It is currently priced at $599K which seems like a bargain for what you get. The home has beautiful finish out and a nice floor plan. It is on a cul-de-sac at the back of the neighborhood, so traffic will be minimal. The schools are excellent – Clayton, Mills (soon to be the new SW MS), and Bowie. Take a look at some pictures and details, or call for a showing, Vikki Goodwin, REALTOR, Homes ATX, 512-426-9090.
Filed under: Real Estate | Tags: Real Estate, Southwest Austin real estate, SW Austin
When you step into the backyard of this home, you will know that UT alumni have lived here! Aggies – you might have to refinish the pool before moving in. The interior of the home will appeal to just about anyone, though. It is a beautiful home with many upgrades, in a neighborhood that is convenient to MoPac and downtown, and close to excellent schools, including Bowie High School. Some of the upgrade features include wrought iron railings going up the stairwell, Plantation-style shutters, upgraded light fixtures and wood floors. This home has a lot of space – 3262 sq ft – and is priced at $329,900! That’s a deal for a SW Austin home with a pool and upgrades! See more pictures and details.
With all the negative news going around, I’d like to reveal something positive, and that is the average sales price of an Austin home is higher now than ever before, at $262K. Given the higher inventory and decline in sales, this is a little surprising. However, another important factor is this – new construction starts are down 70% from a year ago. That’s a huge change that is helping the resale housing market here.
The primary explanation for the higher average home price is that we still have an influx of people coming from higher priced markets – such as California, Florida and New York. Our labor force increased from 849K in Aug. 2007 to 870K in Aug. 2008, according to the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and I know some of that increase is due to people moving in from out-of-state. I expect this to continue through 2009 at least. After all, besides having cheaper houses, we also have cheaper gas, and a lower cost-of-living overall.
Another explanation for the increase in the average sales price is that buyers continue to want larger and fancier homes. While a 1700 square foot house used to work for a family of four, with all the things we acquire, that same 1700 square foot house gets crowded fast! The average size of a home continues to increase, and the materials we put in them tend to be more expensive.
My forecast for the coming year is that the average price will remain stable, but it will be more and more of a buyer’s market. If you plan to sell, you will need to spend more time preparing the home, rather than just putting it out there on the market. Repair items left undone will ensure your home sells slowly, not at all, or for below average price. A properly staged home, on the other hand, will sell more quickly and for more money.
Filed under: Real Estate | Tags: Austin homes, Austin real estate, West Austin homes
Located in a gated community off of Barton Creek Blvd. in west Austin, this 3900 sq ft home is absolutely beautiful. Some of the details that set this apart from other homes in the area include the beautiful front doors (nothing standard about these doors), the ceiling feature in the formal dining room (hand stenciled artwork that is subtle, not too bold), the granite selection for the kitchen, the private covered patio off the master bedroom, the view from the study and the view from one of the secondary showers! The pool is also well done – not too large and not too small – and the yard is just large enough for running around, yet not too high maintenance. I can’t think of any negatives except for the steep driveway and the proximity to the neighboring houses, both of which are typical of this neighborhood. To view this home online, click here. To see it in person, call Vikki Goodwin, Homes ATX, 512-426-9090.
I often talk about how important schools are to real estate values. There is certainly a correlation between how well the public perceives a school is doing to how well the neighborhood maintains property values. And because the schools are so important, I’ve joined a group called AISD Up Close. The Austin Independent School District hosts a monthly meeting for the group of individuals to learn more about the schools in the district, to ask questions, and to provide input. As a member of this group, I receive updates at least weekly about various things going on in the district. Today I learned that Office Max is giving about $1200 worth of supplies each to seven different teachers in the AISD. The program is called “A Day Made Better”, and the supplies are going to schools with a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged children, and specifically to teachers who have shown innovative approaches and exceptional dedication. I applaud this effort and hope Office Max will continue the program on an annual basis. The more emphasis we put on rewarding dedicated teachers, the more likely they will stick around longer. This in turn will have a positive effect on property values.
