In previous decades, a warm, cozy home required dark colors and heavy materials. One can envision sitting in front of a roaring fire in a dark room filled with pillows and wood paneling. Contemporary homes are brighter, with clean lines and light colors and textures. The challenge is how to create an inviting, cozy space that everyone wants during the cooler months. Fortunately, it’s not necessary to choose between the claustrophobic styles of the past and warm inviting rooms.

The first tip is lighting. Soften the lighting and consider swapping cold, metal fixtures for ones using natural materials, such as willow or linen. Next, layer blankets throughout the home. Imagine the luxury of falling into a soft bed with layers of cozy white blankets and

Events This Week:

Tree Lighting and Santa’s Wonderland

Over 50,000 lights illuminate the largest Live Oak Tree in Cedar Park. Santa's Wonderland will open immediately following the tree lighting ceremony. The event includes music, a snow hill and play area, holiday inflatables, holiday rides, food vendors and photos with Santa (bring your own camera).(Source: Tree Lighting and Santa’s Wonderland)

When: Friday, December 2nd from 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Where: Heritage Oak Park, located at 875 Quest Pkwy, Cedar Park, TX

Old Town Christmas Festival

The best way to kick off the holiday season is by shopping, dancing, singing, playing, eating and meeting Santa at the Old Town Christmas Festival! Start your stocking stuffing and

News reports all over the country are filled with stories of rising crime. Homeowners and business owners alike are concerned and looking for better ways to safeguard their properties and lives. Fortunately, there is a wide variety of options available on the market; from full-service security companies to DIY smart home systems, there is a solution available for every budget.

Following a few simple strategies can help protect you and your belongings from theft and crime.

· Install a Security System – Security systems are one of the most effective ways to protect your home. Many systems include motion detection video surveillance as well as two-way communication.

· Be Unpredictable – Burglars love routine. Using smart home devices, it’s easy

Buying a new home is exciting and confusing. There are a lot of steps to buying a home, and people have questions. These are the most common questions home buyers have, and the answers.

1. How do I get started? – The first step is to speak with a lender and get a pre-approval. This will tell you, and potential sellers, how much you can afford.

2. How long does it take to close on a home?– Typically, it takes about 30-45 days once contracts are signed to complete the lending, appraisal, and inspection processes.

3. What does my agent do?– A buyer’s agent will negotiate terms and manage the closing process from start to finish.

4. How much do I pay for a buyer’s agent?– Nothing. The seller’s agent gives the buyer’s agent a portion of their

Baby boomers have reached retirement age. This generation is healthier and more active than their predecessors and many want to age in a home of their own. Many of these potential home buyers have fixed incomes and with soaring home prices, they are unable to qualify for a new home when they are ready to downsize. This is where a Family Opportunity Mortgage can help.

A Family Opportunity Mortgage is backed by Fannie Mae and allows you to purchase a home for your elderly parents if they cannot qualify on their own, at the same favorable down payment and interest rates as a primary residence. This is a significant advantage over loan programs for second home or investment properties.

The terms of the loan program are simple. The borrower needs a

Everyone recognizes that this is a difficult housing market for homebuyers. With inventory shortages and low interest rates, buyers have seen a face-paced market with strong growth in home prices. As interest rates begin to rise, the pressure for buyers to settle on a new home and lock in their rate is even stronger.

With so many buyers vying for the same property, it’s important to write the best offer right up front. Here are 5 tips to help you write a strong offer.

1. Show Financial Strength – You already know you need a preapproval letter but ask your lender to include an explanation about how they qualified you, bank statements, tax records, underwriting review.
2.  Include a Proof of Funds Letter – Ask your lender to include a letter which

Buying or selling a home can be a stressful situation. When you are having issues with your agent, it can become untenable. The most common complaint from clients is that their agent does not communicate with them enough and aren’t responsive to their needs. While all relationships can have differences, how do you know if it’s time to fire your real estate agent?

If the relationship has reached the point where it’s unproductive, it’s typically better for both parties to terminate the agreement. If you find yourself dreading a conversation with your agent or if you complain about them to others, then you are wasting valuable time by trying to salvage the relationship and it may be time to move on.

Firing a real estate agent is not as simple as it

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,

Electric vehicles are becoming commonplace in American households. While these innovative cars may allow their owners to pass the gas station, but they still need fuel which means that access to a charging station is important to keep these owners on the road.

To provide easy access to electricity, many owners are opting to install their own charging stations in their homes. This allows easy overnight charging and less stopping while driving around town. Typically located inside a garage, home charging allows the driver to avoid long waits for on-the-go charging or going out of their way to find a station.

Basics

Unlike a standard electrical outlet, EV stations have a specialized charging cable that allows a quick charge for the vehicle.