The Seller's Checklist: How To Leave Your Home in Perfect Condition

Here’s what you need to know about prepping your home for sale. 

You've just successfully sold your home, and now it's time to discuss the top three crucial steps to take as you prepare to move out and hand it over to the new owner:

1. Leave everything clean. Ensure that the home is spotlessly clean, both inside and out. Imagine yourself moving into this property; how would you feel if it were left in a dirty state? To illustrate the importance of this, I'll share some images depicting the condition in which a home was left by its previous occupants. My buyers were truly disheartened by the piles of dust and the presence of food in the fridge. The unkempt yard didn't help either. As a seller, your goal should be to leave the home in a condition that you would appreciate as a buyer.

“Make sure you avoid any misunderstandings.”

2. Organize essential items. Compile all the manuals, remotes, keys, and paint samples in one easily accessible place. This organized collection will greatly assist the new owner when they need to reprogram a lock, operate a fan, or reference any related information. By doing this, you're making their transition into the home smoother and more convenient.

3. Make sure agreed-upon items are present. If you've agreed to include specific appliances or items with the property, it's crucial to ensure they are still there when the new buyer arrives. Unfortunately, misunderstandings can sometimes occur, and sellers may inadvertently remove items they promised to leave behind. To prevent such issues, maintain clear communication and double-check that everything agreed upon remains in place.

As always, don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you on your real estate journey!

The Austin Experience: Pros and Cons of Calling the Texas Capital Home

Five reasons why you might think twice about living in Austin, TX.

If you're considering a move to Austin, Texas, there are certainly some factors to weigh in your decision-making process. Austin is known for its vibrant culture, beautiful weather, and thriving economy, but like any city, it has its downsides. Here are the top five reasons why some people might think twice about calling Austin home:

1) Climate. Austin's climate is undeniably appealing for most of the year, boasting nearly 80% of days filled with sunshine. However, the downside comes during the scorching summer months when the city feels like an inferno. But don't fret; Austin residents have found creative ways to beat the heat. With numerous public pools and the convenience of nearby airports for quick escapes to cooler destinations, there are ways to stay cool when the Texas sun blazes.

2) Property taxes. One significant drawback of living in Austin is its property taxes, which are among the highest in the United States. However, there's a silver lining–Texas doesn't impose state income tax. So, while you may face hefty property taxes, you won't have to worry about an additional income tax burden.

“Embracing these aspects can make your experience in the Texas capital all the more enriching.”

3) The cost of living. Austin's affordability has been declining in recent years. Home prices have steadily increased, with prices doubling approximately every decade in the last century. Additionally, the cost of living isn't helped by the fact that a simple margarita at a local bar can set you back around $18. However, despite these rising costs, Austin still hasn't cracked the top 10 list of the most expensive cities in the nation. For comparison, seven out of 10 of those cities are still in California.

4) Political polarization. Austin's political climate can be a bit polarizing, and it depends on your perspective. Some may find the city too conservative, while others consider it too liberal. However, many Austinites appreciate the diverse range of opinions and the lively clash of ideas that keeps the city in a constant state of political debate. Being in the middle of these ideological currents can be seen as an opportunity for personal growth and understanding.

5) The ever-changing landscape. One thing is certain about Austin–it's always evolving. New businesses continually flock to the city, while older ones might fade away. The rapid growth can be overwhelming at times, but it also provides endless opportunities for exploration, learning, and personal development. Austin's dynamic nature is one of its defining characteristics, and for many residents, this constant change is an exciting aspect of city life.

Austin may not be a perfect fit for everyone, but it's undeniably a unique and vibrant place to live. If you need guidance on your real estate plans in Austin or anywhere across the country, don't hesitate to reach out to me by phone or email.

Why We Have a Pineapple in Our Logo

Why we have a pineapple in our logo and how it relates to our values.

BIRDHOME Real Estate’s logo has a pineapple on it, and so many people have asked me why! Have you ever wondered about that? The symbol of the pineapple truly envelopes our core values, so I’m here to share those with you today and explain why we use the pineapple. 

When Melody and I decided to create this real estate team, we were looking for something to sum up the general theme of what we were trying to do. We kept circling back to the pineapple, and there are three main reasons why. These are three things that a pineapple symbolizes: 

1. Hospitality. In our opinion, hospitality in the real estate industry is about creating a unique, smooth, and seamless experience for our clients that is worth recommending to others. The pineapple symbolizing hospitality comes from the hotel industry. When a concierge reached a certain level of skill set when serving people, they were given a pineapple pin to put on their lapel. We want to accomplish that high level of skill in hospitality.

"The pineapple truly symbolizes what we are trying to accomplish."

2. Community. We love where we live, and we want to give back to this area. Pineapples became a symbol of community because they used to be hard to get, so when someone shared a pineapple with you, that meant you were truly part of that community. We want to welcome people in the same way.

3. Wealth. Since they were hard to get, pineapples were generally for the wealthy. This stands out to us because one of our goals as Realtors is to help our clients create generational wealth, including buying their first homes and eventually investing in them. We want to help you accomplish that!

Overall, the pineapple truly symbolizes what we are trying to accomplish, and we hope it taught you something about us. We wish you a happy Hanukkah, New Year, Christmas, and whatever other holiday you are celebrating! We hope you get to do it with your family and loved ones. If you need anything related to real estate, you know who to call!

November 2018 Market Report - Austin home prices are up 5.5% Year over Year

November 2018 Market Report - Austin home prices are up 5.5% Year over Year

We are nearing the end of the year and sales are still seeing positive trends with 2018 shaping up to be another record setting year.

Sales in City of Austin proper are still very strong with the median home price up 5.5% to $374,900 from last November . With 618 homes sold in November (down 5%) and only 1.9 month’s of housing inventory, Austin is still firmly in an Extreme Seller’s Market.

The rest of the Central Texas market is starting to see a slight slow down in sales with 2.7 month’s of housing inventory, up .2 month’s from last year. With slightly more housing inventory and homes taking a little longer to sell (average of 64 days on the market, up 3 days from last year) we may start to see home prices outside the city limits slow down. Right now, prices are still up (median home price is $301,391, up 2% YoY), homes sell are up (2,201 homes sold in November, up 1% YoY) and $839M in sales volume, up 6% Year-over-Year.

In summary,

SELLERS are in all parts of the market are still in a strong position to net top dollar on their home. Buyers have high expectations for what they are buying since it is starting to cost more per month for the same home with interest rates going up from 3.5% to 4.75-5% in just over a year.

BUYERS are starting to see slightly less competition for homes in the suburbs and outlying cities. The best homes are still selling fast and for top dollar, but there are starting to be more “Deals” out there.

INVESTORS are having to be patient while looking for the best deals and act fast when they come up. Income properties are harder to come by. Foreclosures are up slightly. Look to the smaller markets outside of Austin for the best investments.

See below for infographics and analysis of all parts of our Central Texas Real Estate Market.

And as always, please contact us if you or anyone you know needs help buying, selling or investing in real estate in 2019!

Here is the Press Release from the Austin Board of Realtors with the rest of the market update for November 2018. 

AUSTIN, TX–As single-family home sales continue to rise, another record-breaking year is expected for the Austin-area housing market, according to the latest monthly report from the Austin Board of REALTORS®. The November 2018 Central Texas Housing Market Report released today suggests another strong showing for the region.

"Sales are up 3.3 percent year-to-date for 2018,” Steve Crorey, president of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, said. “Pending sales volume in December, the Central Texas housing market is on track to have one of the highest-grossing years on record."

Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

In the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), sales volume slightly increased 0.7 percent year over year from 2,185 sales in November 2017 to 2,201 sales last month. Sales dollar volume increased 5.6 percent year over year to $839,317,911, while the median home price increased 2.2 percent year over year to $301,391.

New listings for the five-county MSA increased 1.7 percent year over year to 2,380 listings in November. During the same period, active listings increased 11.5 percent to 6,907 listings and pending sales increased 2.5 percent to 2,217 pending sales. Monthly housing inventory increased by 0.2 months to 2.7 months of inventory.

"Families and young professionals continue to move to the suburbs where there are more opportunities for home ownership at a more reasonable price point than in the city of Austin," Crorey said. "While home sales growth isn't as rapid in the city, demand is still strong. Analysts predict Austin will be a market to watch in 2019."

City of Austin

In the city of Austin, home sales decreased 5.4 percent year over year from 653 sales in November 2017 to 618 sales last month. During the same period, sales dollar volume remained flat at $288,251,771. The median price of single-family homes rose 5 percent to $374,900. New listings decreased 3.9 percent to 697 listings; active listings decreased 2.4 percent to 1,487 listings; and pending sales decreased 4.6 percent to 638 pending sales. Monthly housing inventory decreased by 0.1 months to 1.9 months of inventory.

Travis County

In Travis County, November single-family home sales slightly decreased 0.5 percent year over year to 1,029 home sales, but sales dollar volume increased 5 percent to $474,252,517. The median price for single-family homes rose 5.4 percent to $355,000. During the same period, new listings decreased 0.9 percent to 1,189 listings; active listings increased 2.7 percent to 3,112 listings; and pending sales increased 0.8 percent to 1,058 pending sales. Monthly housing inventory decreased 0.1 months year over year to 2.4 months of inventory.

Williamson County

In November, Williamson County single-family home sales increased 4.5 percent to 812 home sales and sales dollar volume increased 4.9 percent to $246,902,818 since last November. During the same period, the median price for single-family homes increased 1.8 percent to $280,000. New listings increased 4.9 percent to 798 listings; active listings jumped 20.8 percent to 2,449 listings; and pending sales decreased 2.6 percent to 764 pending sales. Housing inventory increased 0.3 months year over year to 2.7 months of inventory.

Hays County

Hays County single-family home sales rose 1.9 percent to 269 sales in November, and sales dollar volume spiked 18.6 percent to $94,305,038. The median price for a single-family home increased 2.8 percent to $262,047. During the same period, new listings increased 7.3 percent to 281 listings; active listings experienced a double-digit increase of 15.9 percent to 950 listings; and pending sales increased 21.1 percent to 287 pending sales. Housing inventory increased 0.3 months to 3.2 months of inventory.

July 2018 Market Report - Single-family home sales experience double-digit growth

July 2018 Market Report - Single-family home sales experience double-digit growth

Summer is over and the market has started to enter it's cooling off period. School is starting, Football season is right around the corner and Austin is in need of a much needed break from the heat. The same goes for the Hotter than Hot real estate market that reached new highs for the month of July. 

Here is a quick snapshot of what happened in July 2018:

The Median home price for Central Austin (which includes the entire 5 county MSA) is $320,000, up 6% year over year. The volume of sales has also increased by 9%, up to 3,103 homes sold in July. The average days on market (44) and the total supply of homes (2.9 months of inventory) has stayed somewhat flat. However, with fewer homes coming on the market than last year and more homes selling, our market is continuing to tighten up with demand far exceeding supply. 

Here is the Press Release from the Austin Board of Realtors with the rest of the market update for July 2018. 

AUSTIN, TX– Strong homebuying activity throughout the summer led to double-digit home sales growth in July, according to the July 2018 Central Texas Housing Market Report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS®. The five-county Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) experienced the highest volume of home sales since July 2011, and the highest median home price on record for any month.

“Strong pending sales activity in June contributed to a big uptick in home sales growth last month, and pending sales growth was strong again in July, too,” Steve Crorey, 2018 president of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, said. “This means we could see another uptick in home sales growth in August to end the summer selling season on a high note.”

In the city of Austin, single-family home sales experienced a double-digit increase of 13.5 percent year over year to 952 sales, while sales dollar volume increased 19.8 percent to $451,315,853 in July.

Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
In the Austin-Round Rock MSA, July single-family home sales increased 8.8 percent year over year to 3,103 sales, while sales dollar volume increased 13.7 percent to $1,254,255,680. The median home price increased six percent year over year to a record-breaking $320,000.

For the second month in a row, pending sales growth experienced strong gains across the MSA, increasing 8.3 percent year over year to 3,201 pending sales in June and 10.8 percent to 3,065 pending sales in July. However, the number of homes on the market fell during the same time frame. In July, active listings for the five-county MSA fell 2.7 percent to 7,522 listings and new listings decreased 1.2 percent to 3,738 listings.

“Housing construction is at an all-time high in Central Texas, but the pace of new housing stock entering the market can’t justify last month’s jump in sales growth on its own. These gains in home sales activity are being driven by pure demand,” Vaike O’Grady, Austin regional director for Metrostudy, said.

“Home sales are up across the board in the Austin area, but declines in housing inventory are almost just as steep. The city of Austin, in particular, lost almost half a month of inventory from July 2017 to July 2018. That's a lot of inventory to lose year over year,” Crorey said. “ABoR housing market data underscores not only the ongoing strong housing demand in our region, but the critical need for more housing stock at all price points in and around Austin.”

City of Austin

In the city of Austin, the July median price for a single-family home increased six percent year over year to $390,000. During the same time frame, new listings decreased seven percent to 1,066 listings; active listings decreased 13.8 percent to 1,675 listings; and pending sales rose 11.6 percent to 904 sales. Monthly housing inventory decreased 0.4 months to 2.1 months, well below the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University’s benchmark of 6.0 months as a balanced housing market.

Travis County

In Travis County, July single-family home sales increased 15.7 percent year over year to 1,594 home sales, while sales dollar volume increased 17.5 percent to $769,540,765. The median price for single-family homes grew 4.5 percent to $375,000. During the same period, new listings remained relatively flat, with a 0.3 percent increase to 1,854 listings. Active listings decreased 7.8 percent to 3,543 listings, while pending sales jumped 12.3 percent to 1,503 sales. Monthly housing inventory decreased 0.3 months year over year to 2.8 months of inventory.

Williamson County

In Williamson County, July single-family home sales increased 5.7 percent year over year to 1,054 home sales, while sales dollar volume increased 7.7 percent to $326,159,581. During the same period, the median price for single-family homes increased 2.1 percent to $280,734. New listings decreased 6.5 percent to 1,204 listings; active listings decreased 2.1 percent to 2,497 listings; and pending sales rose 10.6 percent to 1,055 pending sales. Housing inventory decreased 0.2 months year over year to 2.8 months of inventory.

Hays County

In July 2018, Hays County single-family home sales rose 2.7 percent to 347 sales, while sales dollar volume slightly decreased, with a 0.6 percent decrease to $113,218,199. Median price decreased three percent year over year to $265,000. During the same time frame, new listings remained relatively flat, with a 0.2 percent increase to 478 listings; active listings increased 5.9 percent to 1,045 listings; and pending sales rose 6.1 percent to 366 sales. Housing inventory increased 0.1 months to 3.6 months of inventory.