|
gardnergroup's Blog
|
|
|
Description:
No desc available |
Posted by: gardnergroup in About Austin on
Jul 20, 2010
Austin Museum of Art (AMOA)-Laguna Gloria is a monument to our long-standing commitment to the community, offering a unique experience of history, art, and nature. Visitors can tour the recently restored 1916 Italian-style villa that was AMOA's orginal home, and before that, the home of Texas legend Clara Driscoll, best known as savior of the Alamo. Inside they can view intimate art exhibitions and attend informative educational discussions focusing on art and nature. Outside they can stroll the lush 12-acre grounds overlooking Lake Austin, and enjoy the revitalized historic gardens and many sculptures. This beloved site consists of some of the most beautiful parkland in Central Texas and has been declared a national treasure on city, state, and national registries of historic places. It is also home to The Art School, a thriving hub of activity with more than 400 classes taught annually where adults and children are encouraged to express themselves. AMOA-Laguna Gloria provides a tranquil setting for private parties and community gatherings year-round. History:
Before the influx of white settlers, Native Americans visited the site for its nearby spring (today underwater). The land that includes the property was originally owned by Stephen F. Austin, who in 1832 (seven years before Austin was founded) wrote that he wished to build a home there. This never came to pass. In 1914 the property was purchased by Hal Sevier, editor of the Austin American, with his new wife Clara Driscoll. They completed their villa two years later, inspired by a honeymoon visit to Lake Como, Italy. Clara, an avid gardener, spent many years planting native and foreign plants around the site and designing the terraced gardens that remain to this day. In 1943 Driscoll donated the homesite to be used as a city museum. In 1961, the site was converted to the Laguna Gloria Art Museum and became an important part of the Austin arts scene. Soon after, the museum began offering art classes, and in 1983, a 5,300-square-foot facility was built specifically for the growing art school. In 1992, the institution changed its name to the Austin Museum of Art and four years later, moved its primary exhibition space to 823 Congress Avenue in the heart of downtown Austin. Laguna Gloria remained the site of The Art School, and in 2003, the Driscoll Villa was renovated and again became an exhibition space, focusing on local and regional artists. For more information on exhibits, hours and directions, visit austin.com.
Posted by: gardnergroup in Home Selling on
Jul 20, 2010
A house that "sparkles" on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well-maintained. From experience, REALTORS® also know that a "well-polished" house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is maintained, what they can't see has probably also been maintained. In readying your house for sale, consider: - how much should you spend
- exterior and curb appeal
- preparing the interior
How much should you spend In preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive "polishes" and "touch-ups" to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen. Your REALTOR®, who is familiar with buyers' expectations in your neighborhood, can advise you specifically on what improvements need to be made. Don't hesitate to ask for advice. Read more at realtor.com
Posted by: gardnergroup in Tax Credit on
Jul 20, 2010
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- First-time homebuyers will have until Sept. 30 to close on their purchases and land an $8,000 tax credit under a bill passed by the Senate late Wednesday. President Obama is expected to sign the bill, which was overwhelmingly approved by the House on Tuesday. The deadline had been June 30. The bill doesn't help anyone currently shopping for a home. Buyers must have signed a contract by April 30 to qualify for the tax break. At issue is when the deal must be finalized. Qualified existing homeowners also have until Sept. 30 to close on new homes and receive a tax credit of up to $6,500. Read more at CNN.com
As the economic boost from the federal tax credit for new homebuyers fades, Austin area home sales continued to increase in May, rising 24 percent compared with the same month in 2009, according to the Austin Board of Realtors.
While the median price in Austin last month decreased 2 percent compared with May 2009 to $192,000, the price was still up from the figure in April 2010 at $190,700.
Home sales for the month totaled $508 million with 2,074 single-family homes sold, according to the Multiple Listing Service report.
"Although the tax credit expired in April, we are still seeing its impact on sales in May," said John Horton, Austin Board of Realtors chairman. "Single-family sales continued to exceed last year's numbers due to home contracts written before the April deadline, which continued to close in May."
In May, the days on the market for single-family homes decreased 20 percent to 63 days as compared with the same month in 2009. Pending sales decreased 34 percent last month to 1,405, when compared to May last year.
"The rush of buyers to beat the homebuyer tax credit in April led to a decrease of buyers in the market in May, resulting in decreased pending sales," Horton said. However, the market in Austin continues to maintain a balanced supply of housing inventory, which is currently at 6.7 months. Sustaining a healthy supply of inventory should help prices continue to remain stable in the coming months."
Sales in May of condos and townhouses seemed to mirror single-family homes with sales increasing 28 percent to 226 sales and pending sales decreasing 28 percent to 167.
Housing sales figures in Austin have been up most of this year, but Horton predicts a summer slowdown as people that wanted the tax credit already rushed to buy their homes, and others on the fence are now taking their time as they missed the deadline.
Though, the U.S. Senate passed a bill Thursday that could extend the closing deadline to Sept. 30.
"Due to many buyers moving their decision to purchase up to beat the tax credit deadline, we could see a slight decrease in sales in coming months," Horton said. "Despite the potential slow down in sales, we will continue to see April contracts close during this time. It is natural to have a pause in the market before new buyers enter for the summer buying season, and we expect the market to even out by the end of the summer." One potential bright spot that Realtors have in the Texas market though is the new Bond 77 program. Launched last month by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs as part of the state's ongoing first-time homebuyer program, the department is making $500 million available to eligible homebuyers for mortgage loan assistance - either through down payment assistance or by facilitating a lower interest rate. "It's the single-largest financing initiative for state homebuyer funds in the 27-year history of the program and serves as the state's response to the recent expiration of the federal homebuyer tax credit," said Gordon Anderson, a spokesman for the Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The state is now making available the first $50 million of the $500 million, which state officials said will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. It's anticipated that it will take 18 months to expend the program's total amount.
Read more: Austin homes sales up 24 percent in May - Austin Business Journal
Posted by: gardnergroup in About Austin on
Jun 22, 2010
An offhand remark made by an Austin Community College librarian to a local radio station, the phrase "Keep Austin Weird" has grown to symbolize all the people, places and things that make Austin unique! Check out booths from local artists, retailers and other businesses, food from your favorite restaurants and of course live music all day! Unofficially known as "the slowest 5K you'll ever run," the 8th Annual Keep Austin Weird 5K presented by H-E-B is an experience you'll never forget. As you waddle, wade, paddle, or slither your way down a course through the heart of downtown Austin, you'll enjoy various fun stops along the way. Don’t forget to wear your weird costume! Each registered runner will receive free entry into the Keep Austin Weird Festival presented by H-E-B where there will be live music and Austin-based food & drink vendors. Grab a friend (or 3), register today and start planning your costumes! Register for the 5K or get your festival passes at www.keepaustinweirdfest.com The race starts at 7pm on Saturday, June 26 at S. 1st Street Bridge and Cezar Chavez. See more weird stuff at www.austin.com.
Posted by: gardnergroup in Home Selling on
Jun 22, 2010
Prepping and staging a house. Every seller wants her home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it's not luck that makes that happen. It's careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will send home buyers scurrying for their checkbooks. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an irresistible and marketable home. Read the rest of the article at About.com
The Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., metro area--which includes Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties--has gained a reputation as a mecca for retirees. The south Florida sun shines on scores of condos that jut like vertical cruise ships from the emerald-tinged shoreline. Near the most luxurious of these residences, golf courses dot the landscape, poolside sunbathers enjoy the company of other seniors and gourmet meals are available via room service. Yet Miami isn't quite the paradise it's thought to be. Thanks in part to a battered real estate market and high housing costs, it ranks 29th on our list of America's recession-proof places to retire, well behind top-ranked Atlanta. Our list, compiled by crunching seven sets of statistics from sunny days to median home price, reveals that Atlanta has many trends working in its favor--low cost of living, plenty of sun and housing that is affordable and projected to rise in value over the next five years. "Atlanta is the financial and industrial center of the South," says Eduardo Martinez, senior economist at Moody's Economy.com. "With companies like Delta and Home Depot, it's home to more and more international business." Four cities in the Lone Star State make the list. The Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area; Houston, just two spots behind it; Austin at No. 6; and San Antonio in the No. 10 spot. All three cities are benefiting from some positive Texan trends. "In Texas, it was a relatively mild recession," says Martinez. "All our projections are for quite a bit of growth. In terms of job creation, more people are moving out there, and families are getting bigger. The fundamentals for Texas are a lot stronger than those of other peer large states." Behind the Numbers To form our list, we looked at the country's 40 largest metropolitan statistical areas and applied seven metrics. Americans are living longer--the average life span has been increasing for a decade, rising from an average 76.5 years in 1997 to 77.9 in 2007, according a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released in August. As a result, retirees should be looking for reasonably priced homes that will appreciate in value. With this in mind, we looked at current median home price and five-year projected home price via data from Moody's Economy.com. We also included two important cost measures: median monthly housing expense from the Census Bureau and a cost of living index--for expenses unrelated to housing--from the Council for Community and Economic Research. Read the rest of the story and see the entire list on Forbes.com
Central Texas home sales skyrocketed nearly 31 percent in April and pending sales were up almost 47 percent from a year ago, as buyers rushed to beat the April 30 deadline for a federal income-tax credit, the Austin Board of Realtors said today. “Although the tax credit has expired, we are entering a growing economic, real estate and seasonal cycle which we hope will continue to provide momentum to carry our market upward,” said board Chairman John Horton. The tax credit was $8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers. For purchases where a binding contract was signed by the end of April, qualified buyers have until June 30 to complete the sale. The board reported that real estate agents sold 2,043 homes in April compared with 1,561 in April 2009. The median sale price was unchanged at $190,700. From January through April, sales are up 17 percent, the board said. The amount of time homes were on the market fell 13 percent, to an average of 69 days vs. 79 a year ago. The number of homes on the market in April — 10,749 active listings — amounted to a 6.5 month’s supply, which represents a balanced market, the board said. Sales of condominiums and townhouses also were strong in April, with the 213 sales amounting to a 63 percent increase from a year ago. Pending sales for condos and townhouses rose 70 percent. “The significant increase seen in the condo and townhouse market can most likely be attributed to the first-time homebuyer tax credit,” Horton said. “The median price for condos and townhouses is approximately $30,000 less than the median price for a single-family home; and therefore, these properties can be a more affordable alternative for first-time buyers.” Horton said that although the tax credits have made it more attractive for some buyers to purchase now, “there are a lot of buyers who have been waiting to purchase until they were confident in the economy. Now that we are seeing recovery in the economy and real estate market, in combination with historically low interest rates, those potential buyers who have been on the fence are now taking the leap and entering the housing market.”
Posted by: gardnergroup in About Austin on
May 17, 2010
Rivaled only by California's Napa Valley, the Texas Hill Country has fast become a major wine destination. With rolling hills, historic farm houses and a growing number of first class tasting rooms, we quickly understood why. For more information on Texas Hill Country wines and how to enjoy them, visit about.com.
Posted by: gardnergroup in Tax Appraisals on
May 17, 2010
Thousands of Travis County homeowners will have a new option this year to protest property appraisals: handling the process online. It's a method that Harris County appraisal officials say has worked well in one of the country's largest metro areas as a faster, more convenient way to resolve protests. Next week or soon after, the Travis Central Appraisal District will send appraisal notices to 35,000 homeowners who qualify for the online option, said Chief Appraiser Patrick Brown. Some will be eligible for an online settlement offer. Appraisal notices have been mailed to 200,000 residential property owners in the county. Another 60,000 will be mailed soon. The online option debuts this year in Travis County for homeowners whose property meets certain criteria, namely houses valued at less than $300,000 and that are in "very homogenous neighborhoods," Brown said. That means they are near homes of like size, age and condition and are not difficult to appraise. The online system could be a relief for some homeowners, who otherwise have to attend hearings at the appraisal district to present their challenge. That can involve taking time off from work and long waits at the appraisal office. Last year, the Travis district was swamped with 94,325 protests - 50 percent more than usual - and mailed settlement offers to 21,605 homeowners, something it had not done before. More than a quarter were resolved without hearings. Brown said there might be fewer protests this year because appraised values are down for many homeowners. Countywide, the value of an average home is down 2.8 percent, to $279,763, after a 1.7 percent increase last year. The online option is the result of state legislation that requires appraisal districts of 500,000 or more people to make the electronic protest available for homeowners. They also may receive online settlement offers. The Dallas district also is adopting the online system this year, and more districts will make the switch next year. "It's uncharted territory for us," Brown said. "It's going to be a learning curve that we go through this first year." He hopes to expand it to all property owners. Eligible homeowners will be given a website address and a code to access their account. From that screen, they will be able to file a protest online. If the district determines that the property is eligible for an online settlement, the taxpayer will receive an online offer. Homeowners who reject the offer, or who do not receive one, will be scheduled for a formal hearing. The online option is not available to homeowners who have hired a professional to challenge their appraisals. Those who file a protest online will receive the same information as other protestors, Brown said, including sales data and appraised values for at least five comparable properties in the neighborhood. The Harris County Appraisal District has had an electronic protest-filing system in place for several years, including for residential and commercial property owners as well as tax agents/consultants. Sharon Boyd, the district's director of appraisal operations, said the program has been a big success, with 75 percent of homeowners who received an online offer accepting it. In Harris County, the cutoff for a homeowner to use the online system is a market value of less than $1 million. Last year, about 380,000 protests were filed in Harris County; about 25 percent of those homeowners filed protests electronically. Of those, 62 percent opted to settle online. The district made offers in 49 percent of those cases, with a 75 percent acceptance rate. On average, values were reduced about 6 percent for online settlements, compared with reductions of 6.5 to 7 percent in informal hearings with an appraiser or at formal hearings before an appraisal review board, Boyd said. Based on two years of data in the Travis district, Brown said he would expect online protests to be filed for approximately 6,000 to 9,000 parcels, with approximately 4,800 to 8,100 of those potentially resolved online. Brown said he thinks the online protests will save the district "a lot of data entry time." But he said there probably won't be any savings in the first year because of the costs of computer software and hardware to implement the system. "It is difficult to determine if this is going to save or cost the district money in the future," Brown said. "It should, of course, create some opportunities for us to improve our customer service." In Harris County, Boyd said the online system has made the process more convenient, smoother and efficient. Appraisers can "easily evaluate" 75 online protests a day compared with 25 a day if appraisers meet with individual property owners, Boyd said. "It helps protests get resolved sooner and saves the property owner from having to take off work and make a trip to the office. There are a lot of positives here." By Shonda Novak, statesman.com
|
Blog
