JBGoodwin REALTORS® - Austin & San Antonio Real Estate Blog

It’s that time of year again.

Summer has ended and kids are getting back into their routine of attending classes, adjusting to new teachers, and looking ambitiously into the new school year. For parents, there is the endless cycle of lunch-making, early mornings, shuttling, after-school snacks, and communication with teachers.

Going back to school in Central Texas means preparing for an awesome year of learning, meeting new friends, and working hard to achieve great accomplishments.

To start the new school year off right during these first several weeks of the school year, here are some ways to prepare your kids for success:

1) Refine the routine

Kids respond remarkably well to structure. You might find that setting up new guidelines

The Austin real estate market is one of the most explosive markets in America. Austin's growing reputation as one of the most livable cities in America has luxury-seekers flocking to the city, looking to become a part of this hot trend. This has led to an increase in luxury condos for sale in Austin—designed to impress even the most discerning buyers.

Austin, TX condos for sale are in some of the best buildings in the country. These world-class structures provide hundreds of residents with top-notch services and state-of-the-art features and fixtures within each iconic unit. It is not just the penthouse suites that have the best interior space and views. Careful thought was put into every inch of these towers to maximize the experience for the

If you’re considering finding a home to rent or buy in Central Texas, San Antonio is probably on your radar. But which neighborhood is best?

We want to spotlight Alamo Heights as a particularly good choice for buyers and renters in Central Texas.

Quick look: Alamo Heights is known for accessibility, short commutes, growing economy, top-rated public schools, verdant and walkable streets, luxury shopping, and loads of cultural activities. Keep reading for more details!

1. Conveniently located for work

Alamo Heights is centrally located and highly connected to the main industries in San Antonio.

The 78209 area code represents prime San Antonio real estate. It is highly accessible, only 3 miles south of the San Antonio International airport and

The Austin City Limits Music Festival, known to locals simply as ACL, has been a staple of the thriving Austin music scene since 2002. The two-weekend festival brings in music lovers from across the world to Zilker Park to enjoy a deep lineup of some of the world's greatest music acts.

The first weekend of ACL Music Fest takes place on Friday, October 6th at 11:00 a.m. to Sunday, October 8nd at 10 p.m., with the second weekend taking place from Friday, October 13th at 11 a.m. to Sunday, October 15th at 10 p.m. Each weekend's schedule is nearly identical, plus or minus a few acts, so choose wisely!

This year's lineup includes over 20 local bands hailing from Austin, including Asleep at the Wheel, The Wild Now, and Charlotte Cardin as well as

Conversations about credit shouldn’t make you cringe, even if you have a poor or below average credit score.

When used responsibly, credit is a financial asset that can simplify your life and improve your finances.

There are actionable steps for rebuilding and maintaining a good credit score, and those steps begin with little more than a willingness to learn.

No one establishes a strong credit score passively or overnight. These achievers begin by forming intentional habits and learning the business of credit lending. They use their knowledge to seize the many benefits of credit without falling victim to its potential pitfalls.

This article aims to give you a head start on the road to excellent credit so that you can lay hold of those

If you’re like many families right now in the real estate market, you’re on the hunt for more than just another house. You’re in the market for a place you and your family can fall in love with. You’re looking for your dream home.

At JB Goodwin, we know as well as anyone that searching for the right home can feel daunting. Many families don’t even know where to start.

Even people with a vivid dream home in their minds don’t always know how to translate their ideas to a real estate agent.

After all, what does it mean to find your dream home anyway?

While some surface level characteristics will distinguish your search from the search of another family, there are many elements everyone looks for in their dream home. To help narrow your

Austin offers no shortage of great places to eat. Major food journals and television networks frequently give Austin's food scene generous accolades for the eclectic, diverse, and exquisite cuisine available throughout the city. It's no secret that Austin’s coffee culture is also top-in-class.

All the locals know: Austin's food scene believes in providing tasty food, good portions, diverse options, and quirky dives. Dining in Austin is specifically designed to be an experience.

From food trucks to authentic meals from across the world, the options are plentiful in the city of Willie Nelson and SXSW.

Among the great experiences available across the city, no visitor or resident should miss out on the tasty waterfront meals available on Lady Bird

The hot Austin real estate market didn’t disappoint the speculators and only seemed to rapidly gain steam as the summer months drew on. But, how did we get here? Despite a brief 3-year decline during “The Great Recession” of the late-2000s, the Austin real estate market very quickly bounced back. Between 2011 and 2013 alone there were 9,000 more homes sold in Austin—going from a paltry 21,208 to over 30,000. Take a look at these numbers and more in the image below.

Key Statistics

• 936 more homes sold in August 2017 than August 2016.
• Home prices up 5.5% in 2017.
• 16% more homes put up for sale in August 2017 than August 2016.
• Inventory is still well below 2010’s balanced market.

In a hurry to sell your San Antonio property? Most families know that conducting a few renovations is optimal for selling a home quickly and for above market expectations. But knowing which changes to make is where many of us feel at a loss.

To save you time and money, we’ve put together a checklist of the house renovations that you should prioritize. These are the most consistent and easiest to implement tasks that can significantly drive up the allure of most properties.

Your real estate agent will be responsible for marketing your home, but you can also take a few steps to make your home one of the most desirable in the San Antonio real estate market. That means once you’ve chosen an agent you can trust, it’s time to put your money and energy

In early September, Amazon took North American cities by surprise, announcing that they are looking to open a second headquarters. With the announcement, Jeff Bezos’ company set out the parameters as to what it will take to secure the contract to house Amazon’s HQ2. Tax incentives, reasonable real estate costs, ability to attract and retain high-quality tech talent, and proximity to a major airport are all key factors that will determine which major city will be welcoming HQ2. According to Re/Code, there are 22 cities in the continental United States that meet or exceed the criteria as well as at least two cities in Canada.

But, why are all these cities bending over backward in an attempt to woo the multi-billion dollar eCommerce giant? Continue