SellAustinTexas

The 30 year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 4.72% last week, down from the previous week’s 4.79% and way down from 5.59% this time last year. Mortgage rates moved to new lows with another volatile week in the global financial markets. The primary concern revolves around the outlook for the global economy and the possibility of Europe’s debt dragging the U.S. into another recession.

Greece announced that the emergency loans it received will cover its obligations and help the country avoid defaulting on loans, helping to ease investor fears. For the week, this catapulted the Dow 279 points higher. If the stock markets continue this upbeat trend, we’ll see the demand for Treasuries start to wane, which will inevitably push interest rates higher. Although, with the way the global markets have been lately, that demand for U.S. Treasuries might not let up anytime soon.

It’s also looking highly unlikely the Fed will raise interest rates anytime soon, perhaps even until 2011. The uncertainty in the markets and the slow economic recovery will most likely keep mortgage rates low for a few more weeks.

These low interest rates combined with the high inventory of homes throughout the Austin area, provide the perfect opportunity for all home buyers to take advantage of this fantastic market.

Texas’s latest “stimulus package” is coming by way of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Bond 77 Program. This is a good sign that Texas is devoted to future economic and real estate market growth. Personally, I think that all the measures – which include the infrastructure spending and assistance programs for home buyers – are great news for investors as well as first time home buyers looking to purchase property.

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We just reduced the price on this great home! Walk to the Barton Creek Greenbelt from this well-maintained home in coveted Barton Hills area of 78704! Recently reduced from $449,000 to $425,000! Find out more about the home here

Rainwater Collection System; Back of Home

Double Horn Creek Home

We just listed this elegant estate home sits on 5 acres located in the Hill Country community of Double Horn Creek. Perfect for entertaining family and friends, this property features a large great room and open gourmet kitchen along with a huge back patio with BBQ and dining areas. A comfortable master suite includes a sitting area, luxurious bath and private screened patio/sun room. Guests are accommodated in a separate entry bedroom with full bath. Looking to work from home? This property includes a huge office with vaulted ceilings, hobby/craft room and HVAC bonus room above detached 3 car garage perfect for meetings or storage. This home also features another attached 2 car garage creating lots of room for cars and other toys. Many energy efficient upgrades including 3 programmable HVAC zones, R-38 insulation, double pane sealed windows and doors, Low E vinyl windows. Located in the Spicewood area, only 5 minutes to upcoming Seton Hospital in Marble Falls, 25 minutes to Hill Country Galleria shops.

Find out more about this property here or watch the video below.

We just reduced the price on this immaculate home in the gated Estates Above Lost Creek section of Barton Creek.  This home has been recently updated and has stunning curb appeal. The home sits on 2 lots totaling 1+ acre featuring a pool and manicured lawn.  Recently reduced from $799,000 to $749,000!  Find out more about the home here or just watch take a virtual tour via the link below.

Business is booming and we need some help!  We are looking for a sharp, witty marketing person who can handle marketing our listings and who is on top of new and emerging technologies – especially as they relate to the real estate business.

Who We’d Like to Meet:

You have experience in the real estate business and have a real estate license or a getting a real estate license

You are highly proficient in all Microsoft Office products

You have enviable Photoshop/Creative Suite skills

You love to blog and are very familiar with blogware such as Wordpress – you want to show us your very successful blog

Familiarity with tracking and compiling web site data

When you’re not working (or sometimes when you are), you’re networking on Facebook, Twitter and that newest site that no one’s discovered – yet

You listen well and don’t want to be told what to do over and over again

Your friends and family envy your organizational skills

You like to take the ball and run but don’t mind a little direction along the way

You have a reliable form of transportation

Please submit resume and cover letter by clicking on this link!

Thanks,

The Dave Murray Team

www.DMTX.com

Portfolio recently named Austin, Texas the #1 city for young adults. Through their 10 part analysis, Austin took top honors with factors including employment growth, per capita income and income growth, education and cost of living.

According to Portfolio, ”two qualities help Austin to stand out among the nation’s largest metros:

— Two thirds of the nation’s major markets have fewer jobs now than five years ago, but Austin added 99,200 jobs during that span. Its annual employment-growth rate of 2.8 percent is the fastest in America.

— Austin has the strongest concentration of young people among the 67 metros. Twenty-eight percent of its residents are between the ages of 18 and 34.”

The southwest region as a whole is a thriving one for young adults, home to five of their top 10 cities. Portfolio also published an interactive map of their results, so you can see how your city stacks up. 

Austin continues to stand out for employment and income numbers, but also quality of life. If you would like an emailed or mailed information packet on the work and activities Austin has to offer, contact us today.

South by Southwest is a 10 day event every spring in Austin that brings together people from all over the world for great music, films and related events. Many people from in and out of Austin are familiar with the shows to see, but many are less familiar with many of the events also occurring during the week that shine the spotlight on business and technology news.

SXSW Interactive includes a tradeshow for business and technology insiders to display their new gadgets and services, as well as conferences and panels discussing news and issues both locally and globally. Many travel from around the country or further for these exclusive Interactive events, particularly from Silicon Valley and the West Coast. This year especially, many of these visitors were discussing staying.

For “Making the Move from California to Austin,” local software developer and journalist Jason Levitt and Chair of Urban Transportation Commission and CEO of Less Networks Richard MacKinnon led an interactive panel of about 25 people, half from Austin and half from the West Coast. The two panelists presented information presenting Austin’s strong economic growth (that made it the “Best City for Jobs” and the only metro area to grow in the past year), the low recession impact and pro-business environment, and local high-tech industry.

Lake Travis Acreage

An informal vote following the panel showed that the west coast visitors considered Austin an upgrade. One participant, considering a wine-import company start-up, said, “I want to live somewhere with people who are friendly, laid-back and accepting. Even in the few days I’ve been here, talking to the locals, I know Austin has these qualities.”

Moving your business or home to Austin, big or small, is a strong choice with many benefits. Ask us today about information on relocation.

Pictured: Lake Travis Acreage

1611 Westlake

Background

R-22, or HCFC-22, is a refrigerant used in many air conditioning units. The manufacturing of R-22 results in a byproduct called HFC-23 which is a significant contributor to global warming. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are the greenhouse gases connected to ozone depletion and the current ozone hole over Antarctica, the rise in skin cancer and the rise in cataracts.

The ozone layer is responsible for protecting the earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. With ozone depletion, more radiation hits the earth, and together with the greenhouse effect causes much of the earth’s global warming. Fortunately, the ozone layer can recover, and scientists believe that recovery can happen by 2075 with a global phase out of ozone-depleting gases.

In accordance with the Montreal Protocol and Clean Air Act, the U.S. will eliminate production of R-22 by the year 2020. To accomplish this, several years ago the government wrote and implemented a phase out schedule.  Beginning January 1, 2010, the U.S. banned production and importation of R-22 for all new systems. No new systems using R-22 can be manufactured or imported.

What this Means for Homeowners

All new air conditioning equipment will use R-410A or another non-ozone depleting refrigerant. R-410A has many trade names (including Puron, Suva, Forane 410-A and Gentron AZ-20) but is the most common of these new refrigerants.

Current R-22 systems as of January 2010 will still be able to be used, serviced, and have repair parts made.  R-22 will still be made and available for use in those systems. As of January 1, 2015, all sale or trade of R-22 for new systems will be banned. By January 1, 2020, all remaining production and importation of R-22 will be banned. Only recycled or reclaimed (recovered) R-22 will be allowed for current systems. Currently there is a record high demand for R-22 along with a record high cost of the materials needed to produce R-22 (Chlorine, Flourspar and Natural Gas). Prices are expected to continue to rise as R-22 supplies decrease.

Resources

The EPA has information available online with information and advice on servicing a current system or purchasing a new one. See their information sheet here, or see their Homeowner FAQ page here.

Pictured: Green features in 1611 Westlake.

Austin

On March 2, Forbes released their list of metro areas in the U.S. with the best economic recoveries. Austin, Texas sits on top of the list along with Washington, D.C.

According to Forbes, “jobs have been lost nearly everywhere in the last three years, but between December 2007 and December 2009 the number of jobs in Austin rose by 0.98%; more than any of the other major cities we looked at.”

Economics professor Daniel Hamermesh points out Austin’s strong housing market as one of it’s biggest advantages. “The first advantage is that we haven’t had a housing boom, and therefore there isn’t much of a housing bust. The second advantage is that we have a diversified economy with lots of government and high-tech jobs.” The third advantage, Hamermesh says, it Austin’s desireability as a place to live: people stay even when “things go bad.”

The state as a whole fared well through the recession in the housing market.

Says James P. Gaines, Research Economist for the Texas Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, “the housing market got lucky, if you want to look at it that way. We didn’t have excessive overbuilding, so we don’t have a big overhang of unsold new homes, and because Texas has among most affordable housing in the country, the demand sustained.”

“If one state is a poster child for economic recovery, it’s Texas,” writes Forbes.

Says Governor Rick Perry: “This Forbes ranking highlights the relative economic strength of our state’s major metropolitan cities, which is good news not only for the people who live in Texas, but for those looking to move to a state with a strong economic future. Texas continues to be the best state in the nation to live, work and raise a family thanks to our low tax burden, predictable regulatory climate, skilled workforce and principled, disciplined spending.”

Photo: View from the 555 Condo