Austin December 2009 Real Estate Statistics

2009 is now the time of the past and let's see how Austin did:

Alamo Title of Austin reports the following:
Preliminary December 2009 Data:
Units for Sale: (compared to December 2008)New listings are down 6.36%.
Pendings are down 3.23%.
Solds increased by 2.45%

Can we keep the inventory down? When inventory is down, the current inventory seem to have better chances of selling. Let's ponder on that for a bit. The first time home buyer incentive is still going on (expires April 30th) and the interest rates are still low (currently 5%) THAT IS WHY NOW is a good time to SELL!

As a buyer, should you buy now? HELLO first time buyer or current home owner? Are you listening? First time home buyers may qualify for an 8,000 tax credit, current home owners of at least 5 years may qualify for a 6,500 tax credit AND the interest rates are still low. Alamo title reports that in Jan. 17 - Jan. 23, 2010, the Sold average sales prices increased 17% to $235,839. In 2009 it was $201,584 for the same week. If the SOLD average sales price on the home keeps going up and you Mr. Buyer keeps pondering about buying and NOT pulling the trigger, hmm, would you rather pay more for a home? AHA, then should you buy now?

In Lake South MLS which includes Lakeway, Bee Caves and Spicewood, the average price SOLD in 12/2009 was $519,510 (in 12/2008 was 393,057) that's a 32% increase!!!! In HH which includes Buda and Kyle had a 9.9% increase in average price SOLD. In RRE (Round Rock East) had a 29% increase in average price SOLD!!! WOW!

Here are some great listings that I have that you should consider. Visit my listings page OR better yet, give me a call at (512)786-SELL. Stop pondering and BUY NOW!

November Austin Real estate market

Alamo Title in Austin reports the following statistics:

Units for Sale: (compared to November 2008)New listings are up 7.20%.
Pendings are up 17.71%.
Solds increased by 46.78%

Can these numbers be a result of the First time home buyer tax credit which was suppossed to expire November 30th? I am glad to hear that the government has actually extended this tax credit because this has stimulated our housing market. Check out the graph below submitted by Alamo Title. The statistics reported has not been verified and Keller Williams Realty does not guarantee this information.

Austin Cookie Realtor brings Smiles to Many this Christmas season

My nickname to many is "Cookie Realtor", and I don't mind it because I do love to bake. Stokes Sign in Lakeway calls me by my nickname because they are my best fans. Every Christmas, I bring homemade cookies to many including my clients who live nearby. Hey you wouldn't want stale cookies would you? This year, here is the list of my home baked cookies. People are amazed where I find the time to bake. Hey, when you love what you do, you will make time. Today especially was a very wet and rainy day in Austin. The perfect time to do a "pop by" since I know that most people will be home and NOT Christmas shopping. I stopped by a client's home and immediately at the door was my client and her daughter in the background said, "Is that Mrs. Jones?" and came running to the front door and gave me a hug. My client said,"My gosh, my daughter was just wondering when you were coming with the cookies!". Of course, the daughter is now a foot taller since last year, I barely recognized the (almost) woman before my eyes but it was such a delight to see the teens enjoy my cookies. Earlier today, another friend mentioned, she was thinking of me and my Christmas cookies at school today. She knew how I always plan ahead and got my Christmas cookies early.

Before you move on to the next blog, read the small print in the photo above. It says "Will bake cookies for your real estate referrals". And I mean it, don't you need a cookie realtor? Want to be one of my cookie recipients?

Lakeway Elementary Fall Carnival

Once in a while when my schedule permits, I love to get involved with my children's school and volunteer. I thought I learned a lesson last year when a good friend of mine and I organized last year's Lakeway Elementary School Fall Carnival. Well, this year, we wanted to make more money for the school PTO so we decided to tackle this challenge again.

It surely was a beautiful sunny day (we lucked out since we've been getting alot of rain recently) in Lakeway. The carnival started at 11 and ended at 3. We had fabulous stage shows from local dance/arts studios and schools. Most importantly, we had alot of help from the middle/high school volunteers. The Varsity football players came to help set-up. take-down and clean-up. This was a day after they just won another game! The Lakeway Elementary school parents were very supportive of this event as it is our 2nd largest fundraiser of the year. The first is our no hassle fundraiser. I want to thank the following businesses who gave us generous contributions to our fall carnival:

GOLD LEVEL
Hill Country Pediatric Dentistry

SILVER LEVEL
Bob & Janis Allen
FranNet
Free Chapel
Jay-Reese Contractors Inc
Kid E Shack
Lake Hills Montessori
Lakeway Orthodontics
Starwood Pools
Tae Kwon Do Kicks
The KEEP Company
Trinity Pools & Scapes

BRONZE LEVEL
Black Sheep
Brian Besch of Besch Insurance
Café Lago
Chuck Saxon of Allstate Insurance
Dan Johnson of Empire Options
Ibank Austin
Lakeway Aquatic Therapy
Lakeway Pediatrics
Lakeway Vision
Nolan's Ark
Simply Organized
Transformations Salon
Virtual CFO
Warren Chirhart of Keller Williams Realty
Woofs Pet Salon

Lakeway Elementary continues to hold it's exemplary status. This fall, school attendance was unexpectingly high. But it does not surprise me that so many people want to come and live in Lakeway for our exemplary schools.

One project down, what's next? Hmm... I guess you'll have to stay tuned.

Short Sale Joke on Halloween

The reality is, I am seeing more short sales! How does this impact halloween trick or treaters? Double click on the image to magnify.

September 2009 Sales Statistics

The September 2009 Sales Statistics are out and Alamo Title in Austin reports the following:


However, these are eliminary September 2009 Data:
Units for Sale: (compared to September 2008)New listings are down 4.52%.
Pendings are up 16.63%.; Solds increased by 2.31%



As for Average Prices:
The "New Listings" average list price is down 6.43% to $301,416. In September 2008 the average list price was $322,116. The sold average sales prices decreased 1.43% to $238,763. For September 2008 it was $242,215.

In Lakeway, residential units sold are down 5% compared to last September. Overall, I think these numbers are pretty good. Do you think that the first time home buyer tax credit has a big impact on these numbers? If so, what would happen after November 30th when the tax credit is GONE? Ouch!

The statistics above have been obtained from Alamo Title of Austin and the Austin Board of Realtors and the information has not been verified or guaranteed.

First time home buyers, say (almost) goodbye to $8,000

THE DEADLINE FOR THE $8000 TAX CREDIT IS 11/30/2009! In order to meet the tax credit closing deadline of 11/30/2009, you'll need to be under contract to purchase a home RIGHT NOW! So if you are still sitting on the fence about home buying, you better act TODAY! You really need to tage advantage of the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. This is $8,000 in YOUR POCKET. To qualify, you must make less than 75,000 if single or 150,000 if married and you have not owned a home for 3 years!

Join several of my first time home buyers who have filed an amendment to their 2008 tax return and are enjoying their $8,000 at the moment. So if you or someone you know is considered a first-time homebuyer, please contact me RIGHT NOW at (512)786-SELL/512-786-7355 to see if you qualify. I am here to help you and you don't pay me a thing. My fee is paid for by the seller BUT I represent you! If you do not know if you have enough money to pay for the down payment and the closing cost, call me and I can go over the different loan programs and see what I can do for you regarding your closing cost.