Austin Fitness:

After crunching numbers in a recent study, Men’s Health accumulated a plump list of 100 of America’s fattest cities that decidedly tips the scale toward obesity. Unlike most lists, a number one rating on American’s fattest cities is bad, while a number 100 rating is good. Austin weighed in at 96. Austin fitness all the way!

Despite the bulk inherent in the inhabitants of neighboring city Corpus Christi, Texas, which ranked number one on the list of America’s fattest cities, earning an “F” rating, meaning either fat or failure, Austin was awarded an “A” for, well, Austin, or advantage Austin; It seems that Austin fitness is a lifestyle more widely heard of these days but its not the only thing that keeps Austin awesome!

Austin Awesome!

In addition to being rated the 10th fittest city in the country by the American College of Sports Medicine, Austin was also named “the greenest city in America” by MSN. Promoting eco-conscious policies that encourage green technology, it’s no wonder that Austin is also biker friendly. Six thousand of Austin’s commuting population prefers taking two-wheel sweat propelled transportation to work rather than a four-wheel gas-guzzler.

Austin received a silver level award by the League of American Bicyclist’s list of Bicycle Friendly Communities and boasts a Lance Armstrong bikeway, still under construction, that when completed, will offer cyclists a safe, navigable route throughout the city. For those residents who are not rotationally inclined, Austin has more gyms and health clubs than any other cities in the U.S.

Learn more about Austin and all the great things it has to offer by visiting us at http://www.dmtx.com. Take a look at some of these awesome Austin waterfront properties!

Some first-time buyers risk losing an $8,000 tax credit if the sale and purchase of a  home is not completed by June 30, 2010.

With the June 30 deadline looming for first-time homebuyer tax credits, many homeowners struggle to close the deal, while many buyers drag their feet at the risk of losing it all.

Earlier this year, after signing a binding sales contract for a home $800,000 or less, first-time buyers became qualified to receive a tax credit up to $8,000 on the purchase of a new home. Rules may vary and tax credits for service members may still be available.

However, signing the binding sales contract was only one half of the equation. The agreement requires that the buyer complete the sale and purchase of the home before July 1, June 30, the last eligible day, in order for them to receive the tax credit, which can be as much as $8,000.

Simply put, signing the binding sales contract made buyers eligible to receive the tax credit but only after completing the sale and purchase of the home, will the buyer be able to receive the tax credit.

Some first-time buyers risk a potential loss of $8,000 in income that was handed to them tax-free by the government. Sound like a deal that is too good to be true. Well, not only is this deal better than good, which means great. It’s also true, which means real.

Although Congress is working on passing another tax credit extension through September 30, a buyer cannot count on the inevitability of the bills passage, the details involved, or the final timeframe it will include.

Risking the loss of a tax credit now on the promise of an extension later is a risky as placing all your life’s savings on red on a roulette table.

September 30 is a long way from June. Buyers dragging their feet now on sealing a deal later may not only risk losing their dream house but also the $8,000 credit that could be used as a down payment on their child’s college education.

If you’d like to know more about how you can take advantage of this tax credit our more on Travis lake waterfront property, fell free to visit us at http://www.dmtx.com.

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.

Those who were unable to take advantage of the tax credit offered by the federal government may now take advantage of another great opportunity locally. Texas has rolled out this Bond 77 program to assist first time and previous home buyers with their purchase of a home. Over $500 million dollars of funds have been allotted for this program.

Here are some interesting Bond 77 facts you should know about:

• The interest rate on the home loan will be locked for 30 years.
• All fees will be strictly restricted (This should make borrowers very happy).
• Bond 77 will provide borrowers with 5% towards the closing costs and down payments.
• As long as the borrower stays in their purchased home as a primary residence, the borrowers may enjoy not having to pay anything on the 5% borrowed towards a down payment or any interests payments for that matter.
• Availability of the Bond 77 program is based on a first come first serve basis.
• The Bond 77 program will terminate as soon as all funds have been used.

If you’d like more information regarding Bond 77 program or have any questions in regards to hill country property, visit our website at http://www.dmtx.com. You may also get more information from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs here.

Rainwater Collection System; Back of Home

]]> http://www.sellaustintexas.com/2010/05/price-reduction-on-great-family-home-in-78704/feed/ 0 http://www.sellaustintexas.com/2010/05/looking-for-hill-country-acreage-near-lake-travis/ http://www.sellaustintexas.com/2010/05/looking-for-hill-country-acreage-near-lake-travis/#comments Sun, 16 May 2010 14:32:20 +0000 admin http://www.sellaustintexas.com/?p=659

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.

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

Staged kitchen in Travis Country home

This recent sale goes to prove two essential elements in real estate.  If a home stands out among the crowd through pricing and presentation, it will sell.  Not only will it sell, it will sell FAST.  This home in Travis Country sold because we priced it right – at market value – and the sellers did everything right as far as staging and preparing the home to get on the market.  Things like paint touch ups, fresh mulch in the flower beds and “de-cluttering” the home went a long way to make this home stand out from the other homes in the area.

Manicured Yard

Pricing was the second essential element to make this one stand out from the crowd.  We priced this fairly for the market – not too high and not too low – and got very close to the asking price.  Overpriced listings don’t sell.  A home can be flawless and move-in ready but if it’s priced too high, it will sit on the market.

I’m not using this post to brag about our abilities (but I do think we do more than 90% of the realtors out there) but instead using it as an example of what happens when the fundamentals of pricing and presentation are properly executed.