Tagged : austin texas

You’ve heard the term, “NIMBY.” The “not in my backyard” theme involves a group of residents working to prevent more development in their community. With the tight housing market and rising home prices, millennial buyers are complaining that they can’t afford to live where they work and play – and they want solutions.

The need for more, and affordable, housing is not a new concern. Dating back to the early 2000’s, suburban and urban communities have recognized that they are unable to attract younger home buyers due to the lack of housing options. Strategies must balance the need for more affordable housing, with the impact on traffic, services, schools, and other community amenities.

Some innovative community councils are using this crisis as an

Couples dream of buying a home together, leisurely enjoying a latte while dropping by open houses to look at remodeled kitchens and manicured backyards. Today’s market is quite different. Desirable homes are snapped up the moment they hit the market, often with multiple offers. Homebuyers in this climate must move quickly. This may require jumping on an opportunity without both partners adding their input.

Adding more complexity to a heated real estate market is job mobility. The US is experiencing an unprecedented job market. More employees than ever before are offering remote work environments. This business climate not only offers flexibility in living location but also the opportunity to make a career move. Making a change in location,

There are so many new tech gadgets on the market these days. Technology should make your life easier and more enjoyable. Here are 5 of the hottest tech gadgets to try right now.

5 Cool Home Tech Gadgets You Should Try Now

1. Motion Sensor Night Lights - Hate walking down a dark hallway at night? What about navigating the landmine of kids toys in the living room. These night lights have motion sensors built-in so they turn on as you walk by them.

2. Logitech Harmony Elite - One stop shop for your home smart devices. Harmony Elite is one control that handles all your devices in one place; lowering blinds, dimming lights, Alexa, Apple TV, Sony and much more.

3. Rubold Dog Dematting Tool - Make Rover happy and keep unwanted hair off your

Did you know that each year paint and pigment companies work hard to predict the hottest trends in colors. They choose the “Color of the Year” and home designers love to infuse new tones and hues into their new designs.

For 2022, Shades of Green will be all the rage. While there is no consensus about the specific shade of green and the colors range from soft neutral mists to deep evergreen, suddenly style magazines are boasting green in everything from furniture to fixtures.

Home designers have wasted no time incorporating these new colors in their styles. Accent chairs in bright bold Seafoam will instantly add a modern touch to your living spaces. Backsplashes in olives and cypress create a new ambiance for the kitchen. A soothing color, green

Winter weather is a wonderful time to huddle by a warm fire and enjoy some well-earned relaxation. The cold weather invites you to ignore home projects and wait for spring to beckon you outside again. Unfortunately, maybe homeowners don’t realize that they are making critical mistakes which can cost thousands of dollars to correct.

7 Mistakes Homeowners Make During Cold Weather

1. Skimping on Small Protection - A little frozen water can do a lot of damage. Faucet protectors, foam insulation, and leak detectors are an easy weekend DIY to protect your home for little cost.

2. Enjoying the Icicles - Icicles are picturesque, but before you put them on your Facebook feed, it would be better to remove them and clear the gutter; icicles

It’s no secret that many prospective homebuyers are finding the current real estate market challenging. One of the more unexpected consequences of the Covid pandemic was the hyper-focus on one’s home. This has resulted in a robust market where sellers are seeing advancing home sales prices and multiple offers.

While competition is fierce, clearly for sellers to sell, they need buyers. If your goal is to find a new home this year, there are a couple ways you can maximize your ability to have your offer accepted.

Two Ways Homebuyers Can Win in Today’s Market

1. Act Early - There are a couple reasons why home buyers should start early this year. With rising inflation, interest rates are likely to rise this year. While conventional wisdom may

Fusion restaurants have been blending various culinary tastes for years with exciting new dishes and flavors. Japandi may sound like the latest dining fad but it’s the home design trend that’s taking the world by storm. A careful merging of Scandinavian elements with Japanese lines, Japandi is making a strong appearance in home magazines and shows.

Hygge and Wabi-Sabi

No, these aren’t condiments for your California roll. Hygge is a Danish word meaning coziness and emphasizes the use of natural materials in furniture and fabrics to add softness in line and feel. Wabi-Sabi is the Japanese design style that centers around the idea that something doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful. Imperfect shapes, lines, finishes can add a sense of

Any kind of construction project is loud and dirty. For homeowners starting their project, they have the anticipation of the finished product to look forward to. But what if the project isn’t your own but your neighbor’s? You have all the hassle with none of the excitement of the result. Having construction going on next door is never fun, but you can mitigate the negative aspects by following a few tips.

Talk to Your Neighbor, then Talk to the Contractor

In a perfect world, your neighbor will come to you first, but this isn’t always the case. At the first sign of construction, get in touch with the owners and discuss the scope and timeframe of the project. Discuss any specific issues or occasions you have planned that the project could impact,

Each year, home renters face the question of whether to renew their lease for another year or determine if it is time to buy a home of their own. Over the past couple of years, the US housing market has changed dramatically as home values have soared and interest rates have remained low. So, if you are still renting your home, it might be time to buy instead.

4 Facts About Renting your Home

1. Rents Are Rising Quickly – Higher priced home values drive higher rent costs. While a 30-year fixed home loan will provide steady monthly payments for the duration, most renters are shocked to see their housing payments rise each year.

2. Paying for Your Landlord’s Equity – As home prices rise, so does the equity in the property. As a renter, you are

When you first list your home for sale, the goal is to see an offer or two from a highly qualified buyer quickly. Unfortunately, sometimes days and weeks go by without much interest. When this happens, it may be time to reevaluate the listing and cancel the listing. Here are 6 signs that it’s time to take your house off the market.

1. Your Financial Situation Has Changed – If you are planning to buy a new home and you are no longer able to do so, then it could be time to cancel the listing, job loss, major expenses, etc.

2. Lowball Offers – Lowball offers could mean either that the house is priced too high, or buyers see the home as a fixer-upper.

3. Repair Needs – If you discover major repair needs, such as a new roof or slab leak,