What is the best time of year to buy a house? The answer may surprise you. Buying a home isn't just kind of a big deal. In fact, it's oftentimes the biggest deal you will ever do in your life. You want to find your dream home, but you also want to make a smart financial decision... it's a delicate balance. Now, of course, the best time of year to buy a house is when the time is right for YOU and your circumstances. However, if you have flexibility and you want to be strategic about things, then there actually IS a "best month to buy a house". To get the best deal and the most bang for your buck, consider buying a house in the Fall. October, in particular, is one of the best times of the year to buy a home. Here's why. 5 Reasons Why Fall is the Best Time to Buy a House #1: Increased Housing Supply Statistically, the number of homes for sale should increase this month. The findings estimate that we will see roughly a 17 plus increase in home inventory. So if you're a buyer, that means you may just have more options to choose from. Which is a welcome relief to those who have been searching for a while. #2: Fewer Bidding Wars With more homes available in the market, you should also see fewer bidding wars. Having more options obviously means less competition because there are more choices to go around. That means that when you find that home you want, there's probably going to be fewer buyers competing with you. Just remember, if you want to make sure you win that home - especially here in the Austin area where things are still hot - you should still make that offer strong. Very strong. #3: Adjusted Home Prices As we move towards the end of the year, you might even see some price reductions. Data shows on average, 7% of homes have a price reduction. Why, you ask? Because sellers know if the inventory in homes goes up, they have to find ways to make their house stand out above all the other ones. Now, while home prices overall are still appreciating, you may see some anxious sellers wanting to compete more, so they might drop the price of the home. As you may know, process of actually buying a home can't take some time. So you're going to see more sellers eager to sell their home if it's approaching the end of the year. You may even see some price reductions if a house hasn't sold quickly after its listed. #4: Less Buyers at Open Houses You'll likely notice if you go to open houses that there's a lot less people perusing around the homes, which could signal less demand and an opportunity for you to get your offer accepted. #5: The Holidays In general, people are already in holiday mode by the time October rolls around. I know we are... Halloween! People are planning festivities and travel for the next three months, and many don't want that extra stress of moving during the holiday with so many other things going on. And here's a BONUS reason for ya: If the home hasn't sold by November, it is likely that you'll see more motivated Sellers. Not many Sellers like showing their home during the holidays. (Can you blame 'em?) --- If you want to see what homes are available in the Austin area right now, search our site here. We have THE most up to date and accurate home data in the area. You can also set up a saved home search, and sign up to receive automatic e-alerts whenever a new home comes on the market that matches your search. Happy house hunting!

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Austin housing market, you might be tempted to sell your home and cash out. But before you do, it’s a good idea to consider doing a few renovations to ensure you get top dollar. Even in this Sellers’ Market, homes in the best condition with certain upgrades always sell faster, and for more. And while there’s a long list of possibilities for what renovations you can do to your home, we’ve selected these 5 as the best because they are somewhat small scale (read: not demo heavy or a huge financial investment) and deliver a really powerful bang for your buck when it comes to getting a return on your investment (ROI). So without further ado… 1. Add Manufactured Stone Veneer The curb appeal on your home can make or break a potential buyer’s decision. Buying a home is most often an emotional decision, and people want to feel good when they drive up to their potential new house. And if you haven’t noticed, here in Texas stone is kinda a big deal when it comes to the overall aesthetic of a home’s curb appeal. If you have siding or stucco on the exterior of your home, consider replacing at minimum the lower half of your front elevation with manufactured stone veneer to give it an upgraded look fairly simply. 2. Upgrade Your Garage Door Visualize yourself driving down almost any street in any suburb here in the Austin area (or most anywhere in the U.S. for that matter), and what do you see as a major focal point? Yup, it’s the good ol’ garage door. This is something that, as a homeowner or seller, you might not give much thought to. But as a buyer, seeing an attractive garage door can really make a home stand out from the crowd. 3. Simple Kitchen Upgrades We know, we know… when you hear the words “kitchen remodel”, visions of dust and exposed cabinets and loud power tools fill your head and you want to run screaming the other way. But a kitchen remodel doesn’t have to be a big deal to get a big return on your investment. And considering that, after curb appeal, kitchens are the next thing a buyer looks for in a home, it’s worth it to just hear us out. You can do simple upgrades and replacements that can be done in a weekend, but that will still make a big impact. These can be things like replacing your backsplash, updating your countertops or faucets, and getting new appliances. 4. Add or Resurface an Outdoor Deck Texas is alllll about outdoor living, and especially after the pandemic, people are eager to have outdoor spaces that are ideal for entertaining and spending time with friends and family. Consider adding an outdoor wood deck that will paint that picture for a potential buyer, or if you already have one, spruce it up! This may mean resurfacing it, or if it’s still in good condition, just be sure to reseal or refinish it to give it a fresh, new look. 5. Upgrade Your Front Door This is another one that a lot of people don’t think about, but that really delivers that “Wow Factor” that has the power to set your home apart from the others. Fun fact: when we were house hunting, we had looked at a TON of homes but ultimately chose the house we did because of the beautifully dramatic front door! So take a tip from us and upgrade that front entryway by replacing your boring front door with something more dramatic and memorable. So those are out top 5 picks for small scale renovations you can do to your home before selling to give you a great return on investment and make your house stand out and fetch top dollar. Do you agree with our picks? Do you have any other renovation ideas that you would add to the list? Let us know in the comments! And if you want to chat about what specific upgrades or renovations we’d recommend for YOUR home, you know we’re here for ya. Reach out anytime 🙂

Even if you’re not in the business of Real Estate, it’s likely you’ve heard the term “Sellers’ Market”. And here in Austin, we are in an Extreme Sellers’ Market. Austin has been hot for decades, but with each passing month, a new unprecedented number of people are moving into the city and surrounding areas, creating an extremely high demand for housing. So, what is a Sellers’ Market, anyway? Put simply, the definition of a sellers’ market is when there are not enough homes for sale to meet the demand of the number of people who want to buy. Yep, it’s the old economic principle of Supply and Demand going to work in the housing market. If you’re a BUYER in a Sellers’ Market, you can typically expect to pay a premium for your new home. On the other hand, if you’re a SELLER in a Sellers’ Market, you are at a big advantage, and can typically get top dollar for your home if you have the right agent to help ensure this happens. Hence the term, “Sellers’ Market”, because the seller has the upper hand in the negotiations. Take a look at this quick video we recorded that explains a bit about this Extreme Sellers’ Market in Austin: So if you’ve flirted with the thought of selling your house, or wondered what it might be worth, there has been no better time in Austin history – financially speaking – to turn that thought into action. Here in Texas, most dramatically in the Austin area, we are in the Ultimate Seller’s Market. Just take a look at chase the latest Existing Home Sales Report from The National Association of Realtors (NAR), which shows the inventory of houses for sale is at a 2-month supply at the current sales pace – which is EXTREMELY low. Historically, a 6-month supply is necessary for a ‘normal’ market. So when the supply of houses for sale is as low as it is right now, it’s much harder for buyers to find homes. As a result, competition among purchasers increases and more bidding wars take place, making it essential for buyers to submit very attractive offers (read: top dollar offers). As this happens, home prices rise and sellers are in the best position to negotiate deals that meet their ideal terms. If you put your house on the market while so few homes are available to buy, you are more likely to get competing offers and the highest possible sales price. With all of the attention that the Austin area is getting – businesses moving here, desirable lifestyle, great schools, etc. – combined with low interest rates, buyers are flocking to the area and there are simply not enough homes to meet the demand. What This Means For Sellers Home prices are continuing to increase in this Austin Sellers’ Market. There is a lot of speculation about whether this will continue, for how long, and what will happen in the aftermath. The truth is, however, no one knows for certain what will happen in the future, and putting your house on the market in the coming weeks and months will give you the best chance at competitive bidding, and in turn, the highest price for your home. What Should You Do Next? If you are wondering what your home can sell for in this Extreme Sellers’ Market, contact us here to start the conversation! Or simply text or call us (Karla and Victor) at 512-909-1532. We’re happy to chat with you and answer any questions you have, no obligation.

When Elon Musk announced that he was building his new Tesla Gigafactory that would employ 10,000 people NOT in California, but instead, near Austin, it turned a lot of heads and increased an already growing buzz about Austin becoming the next Silicon Valley. When Musk later announced that he himself was moving to Austin, that buzz started to grow even louder. And when he started tweeting about Austin, the buzz grew to a deafening roar from media outlets, social media influencers and bloggers speculating what would happen next with Austin (which is no surprise, considering Elon Musk’s tweets have the tendency to move markets and spur millions to take action).     But what Elon Musk said about Austin on the Joe Rogan podcast was particularly interesting to us, because it directly affects our business and our clients, whether they are buying a home in Austin or selling their Austin property. Here’s the quote: “Austin is going to be the biggest boomtown that America has seen in 50 years at least – megaboom.” – Elon Musk, Joe Rogan Podcast, Feb. 2021 If a business forecaster, TV reporter, or real estate mogul had said something like this, it would be interesting for people who were thinking of moving to Austin or already living in the area. But when Elon Musk says something like this, people across the country take notice… and start reacting accordingly. Some start talking, and others start moving. Important Note: Austin has been the #1 fastest growing metro area for more than a decade and tops every current list when it comes to the real estate boom, so it’s not as if Elon Musk created this momentum. In fact, Austin has long been attracting celebrities and families and tech moguls alike, with a recent report even showing that an average of 168 people move to the area per day. That was all before Musk came into the picture. But having such a high-profile billionaire, business influencer and market-mover take a definitive stance on the future of the city, catapulted Austin into a more mainstream discussion and growth trajectory than ever before. What This Means If You Want To Move To Austin Because of the extremely high and increasing demand for housing in the Austin area, it has caused a significant shortage in inventory. Put simply, this means that there are not enough homes available to satisfy the amount of people that want to live here. If you are planning to move to Austin, it is absolutely crucial that you have a local area real estate expert in your corner to help you navigate the ins-and-outs of the Austin market, local neighborhoods, and what motivates sellers to choose that winning buyer (hint: it’s not always about price!). For starters, I’d recommend that you browse here on our site to see the most recent local listings (spoiler: Zillow does NOT have the most current or accurate info) and set up a no-obligation E-elert to be instantly emailed when new properties that fit your criteria become available. In this intense Austin housing market, it’s important to act lightning fast to avoid missing out (we’ve seen homes on the market for mere hours before getting snatched up), so the E-alerts will give you an edge. To set up an E-alerts, simply click the “Save This Search” button beneath any search that you are currently browsing. BROWSE LISTINGS AND SET UP E-ALERTS HERE >>> Or, if you’re serious and need to move quickly (in the next 60-90 days), I highly recommend that you get in touch with us immediately to chat and get your personalized home search underway. You can text or call us at 512-909-1532, or send us a message on our contact page, and we’ll just start by listening. Why are you moving to Austin? What are you looking for in a home? What is your budget? Do you have an Austin area already in mind, or do you need recommendations? When would you like to be in your new home? We love the real estate business because we love people. We will listen to your needs and would love to help you find the perfect home. CONTACT US HERE TO CHAT >>>   What This Means If You Currently Live in Austin If you currently own a home in Austin or surrounding areas, you have an unprecedented opportunity – right now – to earn a significant profit from selling your home. (If you live here but do not yet own a home, please reach out to discuss your options. We love our first-time homebuyers!) Real estate is cyclical. It goes through cycles of “Buyers’ Markets” (where buyers have the upper hand and can negotiate for the best price) and “Sellers’ Markets” (where sellers have the advantage and can get more from the sale of their home). But what we are experiencing right now in the Austin housing market is an Extreme Seller’s Market, and one like we have never seen before. With the right representation, homeowners are getting top dollar for their homes, and in record closing time. Even if you’ve never thought of selling your home before, it’s worth it for you to at least consider what it might look like for your bank account if you were to sell your home in this market. This Sellers’ Market won’t last forever – they never do – and I would hate for you to miss out on an amazing opportunity to do something very exciting for your financial situation. Another quick note, speaking with us about your home’s value and what it might sell for is NOT an obligation to sell. It’s simply having a conversation and allowing you to choose your own path forward. If you would like to have that conversation – or if you already know you want to sell and take advantage of the hottest market Austin has ever seen – please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would be happy to chat with you! CONTACT US HERE TO GET IN TOUCH >>> What Will Elon Musk say about Austin next? Leave a comment below or share on social and tag us to share what you think!