Valentine's Dinner Recipes for a Romantic Candlelit Dinner

With Valentine's Day less than 24 hours away, are you prepared to impress your significant other with your stellar romantic recipe? If no, be sure to check out the Romantic Valentine's Dinner for the Perfect Candlelit Dinner by Divine Dinner Party. My mouth is watering just reading this!

How to Select a Home Inspector

Open up a phone book or not because that is so 1980's... instead complete Google search for "austin texas home inspectors" and you'll find hundreds of inspectors to choose from. How do you begin to narrowing down the list or do you even know the difference between a rockstar inspector, a mediocre one and an inspector you should not pay one penny for.

I recommend to every client (both buyers and sellers) to consider inspectors that many of my past clients have utilized especially one that has demonstrated they are a professional, are able to communicate well with others and deliver a report in an easy to read format with easy to understand lingo. Your real estate agent should have a list of a few home inspectors they've worked with in the past and usually who have worked with several of their past clients. If you'd like to choose your own inspector, instead of closing your eyes and choosing blindly consider getting a referral from a friend, family or colleague whom you can trust their recommendation and only accept a referral from someone who has recently (within the past three to six months) purchased a home or listed a home for sale.

Regardless of how you find your inspector, they should do the following at the minimum:

• Access the roof by getting on top of it, unless it is a safety hazard due to it being too steep or due to weather conditions (ice/snow).
• They should have completed hundreds of other inspections within the city your house is located in.
• They should be capable of entering attic areas that are accessible.
• They should display stellar customer service skills and the ability to explain their industry lingo whether it be on the day of the inspector or by taking your call to review at a later time.
• They should be up to date on current building codes.
• They should provide reports with photos the same day as the inspection or within 24 hours of the inspection and be available for client or realtor questions.
• They should be highly recommended either by an agent or someone who has purchased a home within three to six months.
• Most importantly, your inspector should either take notes verbally via a recorder as he/she is inspecting the home or by hand writing notes as they go through the home.

An inspector should never do the following:

• An inspector should never attempt to inspect a home in a city where they have not performed hundreds of inspections. Soil conditions and building codes, are different cities in Texas and are very different in other states.
• Regardless, if in a previous life they were a plumber, roofer, builder, electrician or worked for a foundation company - they should leave the expert work to someone who is currently licensed in that particular profession.
• Attempt to assess the condition of the roof by standing in the yard and looking at it with binoculars, unless weather conditions or safety hazard is present.

When buying a home your inspectors ability to catch flaws in the home, helps your agent negotiate necessary repairs that are often not caught without their additional knowledge or attention. Or when preparing your home for sale, it is best to hire an inspector to catch anything a buyer would discover to be problematic and correct it before putting it on the market. Both instances, call for a rockstar home inspector and you will for sure want one if it means the seller pays for any repairs prior to occupying or it means more money in your pocket because there are no problems for a buyer to speak of.

After several years in the real estate business, many of my past clients have had the opportunity to work with one or both of these inspectors, Roland Huettel with Eco Inspections and Chris Linden with CheckTech Inspections. If you do not have a family, friend or colleague recommendation please consider utilizing someone many of my past clients have been pleased with.

Know of a Graduating Senior in Need of Scholarship Money?

Being a second year veteran to the Austin Board of Realtors Scholarship Committee, this is a very personal and emotional experience for me.
The ABoR Foundation has shown its support for students pursuing their higher education by awarding scholarships for over 20 years. Every year the ABoR Foundation, gives ten scholarships valued at $1,000 each to graduating seniors who plan to attend a Texas college, university, or accredited trade school and who reside in either of the following Texas counties: Travis, Williamson, Lee, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Blanco or Burnet.
If you have or know of a graduating senior who is in need of scholarship funds to further continue their education, please encourage them to apply. The deadline to submit a ABoR Foundation Scholarship Application to be considered for 2011 is March 11, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Shirley Williams in ABoR's Education Department at (512) 454-7636.

Have You Heard about the New Financial Colonscopy?

If you are in the market to purchase a new home, then you should be well aware of the new stringent mortgage approval screening put in place on February 1, 2011 by the mortgage giants - Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. This "financial colonscopy" as one loan officer decribed it now requires lenders to dig back 120 days into credit files to investigate credit inquiries. This also includes investigating if any new credit has been established and refreshing the credit report throughout the loan process, including right up until the minutes before closing and funding.

So what does this really mean to you as a buyer. Well, if your lender should discover any new credit accounts, the new accounts could potentially impact your previously agreed upon loan terms, especially if the terms were hinging on a specific debt to income ratio or FICO score. Additionally, the mortgage giants are requiring lenders to track your credit behavior throughout the loan process up until closing and funding of your new loan.

Now more than ever it is even more important to refrain from shopping for that comfy couch or that sleek new dining room table you've had your eyes set on since your offer was accepted. Do not be lured into opening up any new credit accounts to make any purchases whether how small you think they are. Better yet, also refrain from utilizing all current credit accounts to make any purchases. The best plan is to only purchase items if you have ample cash available to purchase these items outright and still maintain the required funds required to be held in cash reserve for your specific type of loan.

So your best bet to ensure no hiccups is to not buy anything for your new house until you have signed the mound of closing paperwork and you've heard these words that are worth a million dollars from the escrow officer at the title company, "we have funded your loan, you can now pick up your keys." Failure to do this could put you in a very difficult situation with the seller and would put you in a position to have many new items for your new home and no home to place them in!

Do You Have College Bound Seniors - It's Time to Fill Out FAFSA

If you have college bound seniors that may need state grant assistance to achieve their higher education, then the time has come to fill out the Texas FAFSA application. Mark Kantrowitz who is the publisher of FinAid.org, a financial aid website, says "Some states have reduced the size of awards, some have tightened eligibility requirements, and some have said that they'll give out awards until the money runs out." And these days, he adds, "the money tends to run out pretty quickly."

If you should be completing an application be sure to check the state or schools deadline for accepting applications as a few are as early as February 15, but the majority have a deadline of March 1. If you have never completed a FAFSA application check out the Tips for Completing the Federal Aid Form Video and be sure to review the 2011 - 2012 Mistakes to Avoid when completing FAFSA Forms.

Home Features to Make Buyers Bite

The phrase, "you only have one chance to make a first impression," is probably one the truest statements in regards to real estate. Before listing your home for sale, you should want it to sparkle to ensure you capture the largest buyer pool, rather than just attracting only a handful of hopeful buyers. When speaking of the best light for selling your home, I speak of updates, staging and just plain ole' cleanliness. Sadly when a homeowner and realtor both do not focus enough attention on all three areas, the homes appearance can turn away many potential buyers.

Considering every buyer will have different wants, need, likes and don't likes the vast majority will be looking for very similar home features. Before taking on any home improvements, partaking in any updates and definitely before placing your home on the market take a peek at the Home Features to Make Buyers Bite article by HGTV Frontdoor. It provides a glimpse of what today's buyers are looking for when they are on the home search prowl. How does your home stack up?

The buyers that I have been working with over the course of the past several years generally are searching for many of the same features listed within the article above. Most have the same home search criteria: clean lines, modern spaces and all usually end up with a space that shows the current owner price and care for their home. Buyers perceive a clean, well cared for home as a home that will have few problems down the road. Does this mean if your home doesn't have any of the noted features, it will not sell - No! If your home is lacking in the updates the vast majority of buyers are hunting for, the agent you choose should focus on your homes highlights and make them the star of your home.

In addition to having features buyers are searching for, I recommend to any homeowner who may be considering to sell their home a review and tackle my Preparing to Sell checklist. The list may seem to be a daunting task but homeowners who follow the list and ensure all items are tackled before the home is placed on the market have the biggest opportunity to reap the greatest reward... which usually is an offer close to or at the list price with realistic contract terms and generally a painless sales process.

If you are considering selling your home, want to gain an understanding of what your home is worth or want to find out more about what is involved in selling your home take a peek at my Austin Texas Real Estate Website. I'd be honored to meet and work with you to ensure you have the most pleasant real estate selling experience.

An Austin Texas Snowday

You have probably heard from anyone you know that lives in or near Austin, that it snowed Thursday evening into Friday morning. Yes, we were blessed with a whopping one to two inches of snow, which is enough for Central Texas considering most/if not all of the residents do not know how to drive in harsh weather conditions. Schools and business either closed for the day or postponed opening their doors until the temperatures had a chance to melt the snow.

Here are a few photos from my house. My car and our crazy cat, Meeko who is actually an indoor cat and wasn't so thrilled about the snow.

I'm postive many midwesterners and northerners are laughing at us Austinites but it is not common for Central Texas to get snow.... Dallas yes, Austin a very rare occurance. We've probably had three instances in the past ten years and when I speak of getting snow, I'm referring to an inch or two that has melted by morning.

One of the most beautiful photos captured was taken by Stanford E Moore, a Houstonian that was in Austin attending a meeting. It is a beautiful view of downtown Austin and the Colorado River (or Town Lake/Lady Bird Lake). Such a rare occurance in Austin but such a great memory. Thanks Stanford!

Top 10 Tips for Buying Your First Home

If one of your goals this year is to make the shift from renter to homeowner, you should begin preparations now for an exciting emotional and financial adventure.

Sadly, I meet many potential clients who are currently renting and most want to make the plunge to purchase their first home, but they have no idea where to start. It often take preparation beyond just staying, "I want to buy a home" such as establishing a game plan. Take a peek at this great article published by MSNBC on the Top 10 Tips for Buying Your First Home.

Every step included in the link above are steps I share with any potential first time home buyer.

Legend Oaks - January 2011 Market Update

Legend Oaks is located in Southwest Austin and is a peaceful place to call home. From the tree lined neighborhood streets, nearby shopping and eateries and being a hop, skip and a jump to several major employers - you'll love this cozy pocket in Austin.
As I write this post, there

• are 12 homes currently available for sale, with an averageasking price of $271,846. The average square footage for these homes is 2,454, for an average price per square foot of $113.49.
• are 4 homes under contract, with an average listing price of $251,747. The average square footage for these homes is 2,540, for an average price per square foot of $101.48.
• were 4 homes sold in the month of January 2011. The average listing price was $257,450 and the average sales price was $257,362. This means thathomes sold for 99% of their list price. This number does not account for any seller-paid closing costs, nor does it include anyprice reductions.
• The average number of days on the market for homes that sold in January 2011 was 8.

To search available Legend Oaks homes visit my Austin Real Estate Interactive Property Map.

In order to gain a better understanding of what your Legend Oaks home is worth Contact Me on my Austin Real Estate website . In order to obtain an accurate estimate on what your home is worth - it is best to speak with a local real estate agent to ensure your comparison is based on apples to apples, not apples to oranges (i.e. one story homes within the same square footage should be compared to other one story homes within the same square footage, not compared to two story homes with much more or less square footage).
To obtain an accurate estimate on what your home is worth visit my Austin Texas Real Estate Website.

Village at Western Oaks - January 2011 Market Update

Village at Western Oaks is located in Southwest Austin and is a peaceful place to call home. From the tree lined neighborhood streets, nearby shopping and eateries and being a hop, skip and a jump to several major employers - you'll love this cozy pocket in Austin.
As I write this post, there

• are 25 homes currently available for sale, with an averageasking price of $251,238. The average square footage for these homes is 2,258, for an average price per square foot of $115.15.
• are 11 homes under contract, with an average listing price of $258,302. The average square footage for these homes is 2,157, for an average price per square foot of $121.01.
• were 7 homes sold in the month of January 2011. The average listing price was $255,600 and the average sales price was $251,219. This means thathomes sold for 98% of their list price. This number does not account for any seller-paid closing costs, nor does it include anyprice reductions.
• The average number of days on the market for homes that sold in January 2011 was 92.

To search available Village at Western Oaks homes visit my Austin Real Estate Interactive Property Map.

In order to gain a better understanding of what your Village at Western Oaks home is worth Contact Me on my Austin Real Estate website . In order to obtain an accurate estimate on what your home is worth - it is best to speak with a local real estate agent to ensure your comparison is based on apples to apples, not apples to oranges (i.e. one story homes within the same square footage should be compared to other one story homes within the same square footage, not compared to two story homes with much more or less square footage).
To obtain an accurate estimate on what your home is worth visit my Austin Texas Real Estate Website.

Shady Hollow - January 2011 Market Update

Shady Hollow is sprawled upon 600 acres in South Austin. The community is well known for some of the most gorgeous trees in Austin, being an ideal spot to raise a family and is located just ten miles south of downtown Austin.
As I write this post, there

• are 13 homes currently available for sale, with an averageasking price of $298,046. The average square footage for these homes is 2,736, for an average price per square foot of $110.63.
• are 7 homes under contract, with an average listing price of $274,241. The average square footage for these homes is 2,321, for an average price per square foot of $121.49.
• were 6 homes sold in the month of January 2011. The average listing price was $265,816 and the average sales price was $257,666. This means thathomes sold for 97% of their list price. This number does not account for any seller-paid closing costs, nor does it include anyprice reductions.
• The average number of days on the market for homes that sold in January 2011 was 95.

To search available Shady Hollow homes visit my Austin Real Estate Interactive Property Map.

In order to gain a better understanding of what your Shady Hollow home is worth Contact Me on my Austin Real Estate website . In order to obtain an accurate estimate on what your home is worth - it is best to speak with a local real estate agent to ensure your comparison is based on apples to apples, not apples to oranges (i.e. one story homes within the same square footage should be compared to other one story homes within the same square footage, not compared to two story homes with much more or less square footage).
To obtain an accurate estimate on what your home is worth visit my Austin Texas Real Estate Website.

Circle C Ranch - January 2011 Market Update

Circle C Ranch is the most recognized master planned community in Southwest Austin and is made up with 10 smaller subdivisions. As a resident of Circle C Ranch, I keep a close eye on real estate values and follow trends for the area as this stuff affects me too!

As I write this post, there

• are 26 homes currently available for sale, with an averageasking price of $336,049. The average square footage for these homes is 2,927, for an average price per square foot of $116.54.
• are 17 homes under contract, with an average listing price of $311,091. The average square footage for these homes is 2,529, for an average price per square foot of $125.67.
• were 13 homes sold in the month of January 2011. The average listing price was $319,156 and the average sales price was $304,660. This means thathomes sold for 95% of their list price. This number does not account for any seller-paid closing costs, nor does it include anyprice reductions.
• The average number of days on the market for homes that sold in January 2011 was 85.
  

To search available Circle C Ranch homes visit my Austin Real Estate Interactive Property Map.
In order to gain a better understanding of what your Circle C Ranch home is worth Contact Me on my Austin Real Estate website . To obtain a general estimate scroll further down to view the average information below based on your specific Circle C Ranch neighborhood. Keep in mind, these are neighborhood averages. In order to obtain an accurate estimate on what your home is worth - it is best to speak with a local real estate agent to ensure your comparison is based on apples to apples, not apples to oranges (i.e. one story homes within the same square footage should be compared to other one story homes within the same square footage, not compared to two story homes with much more or less square footage).
Circle C Ranch - Alta Mira

• There is 1 home currently available for sale, with an asking price of $$365,000. The square footage for this home is 3,114, for a price per square foot of $117.21.
• There is 1 home under contract, the lastknown asking price was $349,500. The square footage for this home is 2,519 and the last known price per square foot was $138.75
• There were 2 homes sold in the month of January 2011. The average listing price was $373,950 and the average sales price was $341,000. This means that homes sold for 91% of their list price. This number does not account for any seller-paid closing costs, nor does it include any price reductions.
• The average number of days on the market for homes that sold in January 2011 was 79.

Circle C Ranch - Original Circle C

• There are 11 homes currently available for sale, with an average asking price of $336,908. The average square footage for these homes is 3,143, for an average price per square foot of $108.15.
• There are 6 homes under contract, with an average listing price of $331,640. The average square footage for these homes is 3,139, for an average price per square foot of $108.21.
• There were 6 homes sold in the month of January 2011. The average listing price was $278,081 and the average sales price was $270,150. This means that homes sold for 97% oftheir list price. This number does not account for any seller-paid closing costs, nor does it include any price reductions.
• The average number of days on the market for homes that sold in January 2011 was 32.

Circle C Ranch - Hielscher/West

• There are 3 homes currently available for sale, with an average asking price of $454,600. The average square footage for these homes is 3,956, for an average price per square foot of $115.07.
• There are 3 homes under contract, with an average listing price of $399,966. The average square footage for these homes is 3,449, for an average price per square foot of $117.01.
• There were 2 homes in the month of January 2011. The average listing price was $358,000 and the average sales price was $346,000. This means that homes sold for 97% of their list price. This number does not account for any seller-paid closing costs, nor does it include any price reductions.
• The average number of days on the market for homes that sold in January 2011 was 121.

Circle C Ranch - Lacrosse

• There are 2 homes currently available for sale, with an average asking price of $307,225. The average square footage for these homes is 2,618, for an average price per square foot of $117.10.
• There are no homes under contract.
• There were no homes sold in the month of January 2011.

Circle C Ranch - North

• There are 2 homes currently available for sale, with an average asking price of $232,450. The average square footage for these homes is 1,754, for an average priceper square foot of $132.41.
• There are 2 homes under contract, with an average listing price of $234,935. The average square footage for these homes is 1,771, for an average price per square foot of $132.83.
• There were 2 homes sold in the month of January 2011. The average listing price was $241,250 and the average sales price was $233,150. This means that homes sold for 96% of their list price. This number does not account for any seller-paid closing costs, nor does it include any price reductions.
• The average number of days on the market for homes that sold in January 2011 was 48.

Circle C Ranch - On the Park

• There are 3 homes currently available for sale, with an average asking price of $410,287. The average square footage for these homes is 3,907, for an average price per square foot of $106.74
• There are no homes under contract.
• There was 1 home sold in the month of January 2011. Due to the fact multiple sales did not occur, sold data will not be furnished.
• The average number of days on the market for homes that sold in January 2011 was 142.

Circle C Ranch - Park Place

• There is 1 home currently available for sale, with an asking price of $310,000. The square footage for this homes is 2,779, for an price per square foot of $111.55.
• There is 1 home under contract, the last known asking price was $287,900. The square footage for this home is 2,436. The last known price per square foot was $118.19
• There were no homes in the month of January 2011

Circle C Ranch - Park West

• There are 4 homes currently available for sale, with an average asking price of $307,975. The average square footage for these homes is 2,248, for an average price per square foot of $126.54.
• There were 4 homes under contract, with an average listing price of $297,200. The average square footage for these homes is 2,218, for an average price per square foot of $137.42.
• There were no homes in the month of January 2011.

Circle C Ranch - Vintage Place

• There are no homes currently available for sale.
• There are no homes under contract.
• There were no homes sold in the month of January 2011.

Circle C Ranch - Wildflower Park

• There is 1 home currently available for sale, with an asking price of $300,000. The square footage for this home is 2,629, for a price per square foot of $114.11.
• There are 3 homes under contract, with an average listing price of $276,500. The average square footage for these homes is 2,175 for an average price per square foot of $127.30.
• There were no homes sold in the month of January 2011.

To obtain an accurate estimate on what your home is worth visit my Austin Texas Real Estate Website.

When Others Celebrate Groundhog Day - Texans Celebrate Armadillo Day!

After many years of watching Pennsylvanians and Punxsutawney Phil take it upon themselves to predict spring for all Americans and with Texans being quite independent and having a mind on their own they thought... it was time for Texas to make its own predictions.

In 2007, The West Pole as established to be the destination of Texas' prediction for spring. The West Pole is near the 98th Meridian in the City of Bee Cave (10 miles west of Austin). So every February 2 (Groundhog Day for the masses) is recognized as Armadillo Day by the 80th Texas Legislature in Texas.

Each year the ceremony is conducted by the Fraternal Order of the Benevolent Knights of the Raccoon - consulted by the state mammal of Texas - the Armadillo, known as Bee Cave Bob and is officiated by The Lone Star Weatherological Society. To find out more details visit The West Pole - Armadillo Day to find out more details about the event.

Photo courtesy of Jay Janner/Austin American Statesman includes famed armadillo artist Jim Franklin (left), Bee Cave Bob (middle) and Texas singer and songwriter Gary P. Nunn (right) taken at the first Armadillo Day in 2010

With the arctic blast still looming in the area and no sunlight for miles what will Bee Cave Bob predict for 2011 and will he even emerge from his burrow?