Austin Real Estate – Page 2 – Texas Dream Realtors

December 7, 2013July 15, 2019

Are you really a home buyer or are you just a contender?

Are you really a home buyer or are you just a contender? How do you know if you are a really a buyer or just a contender in today’s Austin market? We get calls all the time of people wanting to see properties because they are “in the market to buy a home.” My first response is usually, “How do you know you are a buyer?”

To be a true home buyer in the Austin market, you must meet the following criteria:

Stop looking for homes on bad websites. Zillow, Trulia, and the 60+ alike are NOT ACURATE sources of information. In fact, 14% of current Austin single family homes are not listed on these syndicated websites. In addition, approximately 36% have outdated and/or incorrect information. If you are a serious buyer, then you would not reduce your search to these tire-kicking websites.
Get your finances in place. I’m not talking about a pre-qualification letter. I mean find a mortgage lender that will help you get comfortable with what your monthly payment is and prepare you to close on a home within 30 days from contract. If you are a serious buyer, you would know exactly what your maximum price range is.
Find a good Realtor®. Most buyers don’t realize that there are real estate agents and there are Realtors®. There is a difference. Real estate agents are not members of their local and national associations, often do not have access to the Multiple Listing System, and most importantly, do not abide by the National Association of Realtors® Code of Ethics. You are investing in one of the largest purchases in your lifetime. A serious buyer invests in a Realtor® who is going to look after their best interests.
Be prepared to make an offer on the first day of viewing homes. The word on the street is correct. Inventory of available homes in Austin have dropped right along with the weather. The homes your Realtor® is showing you are what are available within your criteria. Currently, there is only 2.5 months of available homes for sale and homes stay on the market for an average of only 48 days. A serious buyer is ready, willing, and able to take a home off the market.
Increase your chances in a multiple offer situation. Believe that other buyers want the same house you want. This is not the time to low-ball. This type of seller’s market changes the way you make offers on a home. If you are a contender, you make an offer on a home and wait for the counter offer. If you are a serious buyer, you compete for a home with your offer. This includes whatever is left of short sales and foreclosures.

At Texas Dream REALTORS® we qualify our clients according to these criteria before beginning the buying process. Why? Because we are in the business to help our clients buy and sell their home. We know what is involved in the buying process and set the right expectations up front. This ensures that our clients get the home they want and the transaction goes as smoothly and our clients are happy.

“I recently purchased my home in Austin, TX through Kelea Piper at Texas Dream Realtors. I was a first time home buyer and very unsure of what to expect. I had the most amazing experience with Kelea and TDR! Everything about the process was smooth and seamless- from the beginning of the showing/selection experience to the full closing process. I always felt that Kelea had my best interests in mind and went above and beyond. Kelea is extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and professional every step of the way. I had a TON of questions since it was my first home and she made me feel very comfortable and fully educated. I highly recommend Kelea and Texas Dream Realtors to anyone looking for a top quality home buying experience. Whether it is your first home or your 5th, Kelea fully delivers on expectations plus rises above them consistently! Thank you for helping me find my dream home in Austin!”

Christina Onori, Austin Tx

November 25, 2013July 15, 2019

Are Popcorn Ceilings a Deal Breaker? Don’t let popcorn ceilings ruin your home search.

What’s the big deal about popcorn ceilings? Most comments I hear are:

“They’re dated.”
“They are hard to paint over.”
“They are dust catchers.”
“They are just plain ugly.”

Are popcorn ceilings a deal breaker to you? Don’t let popcorn ceilings be a deal breaker in your next home search. Instead of breaking the bank to try to remove popcorn ceilings, or crossing it off your list, here are a few ways to lessen their visual appearance.

#1. Change the lighting. Usually, people who hate their popcorn ceilings have lighting that shines upward toward the ceiling. These are light fixtures that are flush mounted to the ceiling and cast a lot of shadows. A better option is to change your fixtures to directional fixtures that point down instead of out.

#2. Choose bulbs that cast a softer light or use table lamps or sconces that give a more dramatic effect to the eye.

#3. Paint. We’ve all seen stains and dirt on ceilings and popcorn ceilings do not hide it well. The only way to lessen the effect of popcorn ceilings is a fresh coat of white paint. (Of course, you will want to address why the stain was there in the first place too). Some people ask if it is ok to paint a different color other than white. My answer is no, however, I’m sure after you get over the initial shock painting a different color, it will be just fine.

#4. Stop looking at them! More often than not, you do not remember the ceilings of the last few homes you were in. Most people only remember dirty or stained ceilings, so if you take the right steps, your ceilings are a non-issue. Make an effort to point attention to furnishings and other exciting things in your home than your ceilings.

November 25, 2013July 15, 2019

2014 Texas Home Trends: What’s in and What’s Out?

While retail designers already know what color your bathing suit will be next summer, designer forecasters have already determined how you will be decorating your home. Here is what the 2014 home trends will be for next year’s buyers and sellers.

The housing crisis, ongoing war, and lack of economic confidence affects our national mood and, therefore, translates into our style and trends. The 2014 Texas home trends are shifting. Our color tastes for the past few years have been every shade of neutral; safe, easy, and traditional. For big-ticket items, neutral seems like a good idea. However, now that the Texas real estate market has spiked again, pops of color are making their way back on the scene. Spice cabinet colors like cinnamon and mocha are trending along with eco-conscious colors like green and a wide range of gray; especially in Texas markets.

But ,what about our obsession with granite countertops? With a strong demand and falling prices of granite, I don’t see a change in countertop choices for some time. However, there are some really great alternatives such as marble, wood, concrete, and tile that have gained popularity moving into 2014.

And what about the good ‘ole, gotta have stainless steel appliances? I don’t know about you, but no matter what finish I get, it still shows finger prints. After 15 years of stainless appliances, manufacturers are moving on to new finishes. Check out the Whirlpool’s newest refrigerator addition. Yep, it’s just like the refrigerator you got rid of 5 years ago…white. And GE is now pushing their new line of metallic finishes.

My prediction for the upcoming 2014 Texas home trends is that despite the brighter more cheerful trends, buyers and sellers will still be privy to the good ole faithful of safe, easy, and neutral.

July 31, 2013July 15, 2019

Kelea Piper Shines in Austin

Great Reviews for Kelea Piper

“I recently purchased my home in Austin, TX through Kelea Piper at Texas Dream Realtors. I was a first time home buyer and very unsure of what to expect. I had the most amazing experience with Kelea and TDR! Everything about the process was smooth and seamless- from the beginning of the showing/selection experience to the full closing process. I always felt that Kelea had my best interests in mind and went above and beyond. Kelea is extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and professional every step of the way. I had a TON of questions since it was my first home and she made me feel very comfortable and fully educated. I highly recommend Kelea and Texas Dream Realtors to anyone looking for a top quality home buying experience. Whether it is your first home or your 5^th, Kelea fully delivers on expectations plus rises above them consistently! Thank you for helping me find my dream home in Austin!”

Christina Onori

Dell | Global Talent Acquisition M&A PM

May 18, 2013July 15, 2019

What to expect from Austin Traffic

It’s no secret that Austin traffic is getting worse and worse. It is the topic of conversation at the beginning and end of most people’s day as they migrate to and from work, especially for those that travel along the MoPac Expressway.

You have probably started seeing signed for lane closures and construction barriers here and there on MoPac. Here are some highlights of the MoPac Improvement Project and what is to come over the next three years:

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority has hired CH2M Hill to design and build Express Lanes on north MoPac from Lady Bird Lake to Parmer Lane. The contractor is currently designing the project and plans to begin construction by fall 2013.
There will be sound walls from 7-20 feet high to help the residents who own property along MoPac. No property acquisition will be obtained from any homeowners.
The construction will occur at night between 9pm and 5am and nearby residents should be prepared for noise disruptions at night.
The project is scheduled to be complete by fall of 2015, but there are incentives for CH2M Hill to finish sooner.
You can find maps for the full project and environmental studies here.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s toll road initiative for 183A extends from northwest Austin through Cedar Park and Leander in northwest Williamson County.

The first section of 183A opened in March 2007. Traffic was much higher than expected, so they began a 5 mile extension that runs from New Hope Road north to San Gabriel Parkway. This northern extension opened in April 2012.
The Toll Road Rates range from a minimum of $.37 to as much as $9.20 depending on the axle and form of payment.