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        <title>JBGoodwin REALTORS® - Austin &amp; San Antonio Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/2014-08/</link>
        <description>Stay up to date on the latest Austin, San Antonio, and Central Texas real estate trends with JBGoodwin's real estate blog.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/moving-from-an-apartment-to-a-house.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/moving-from-an-apartment-to-a-house.html</link>
        <title>Moving from an Apartment to a House</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
How do you know if you can afford to buy a house if you are renting or living in an apartment?  


Home ownership is the American Dream, and surprisingly it isn't that hard to buy a house.  There are just a few things you need, and I'm going to tell you all about them.


As housing prices rise in Austin, the ability to buy a new house becomes very realistic.  


Sure it might not be the biggest nicest house, but it will be YOURS.  No pounding on the ceiling asking your neighbor to turn it down.  No more having to fight for parking places close to your door.  A place you can paint any color you want (without having to ask permission).  A home of your own.


As a general guideline, approximately 1/3 of your income should go to housing.  So if you are making somewhere around $4,500 a month (combined income if you are married), then now is the time.  You can get a great house for $1,500 a month in Austin.  


Really?  YES  It's not going to be downtown in a modern hi-rise, or in one of the popular central neighborhoods, but it could be a brand new house in a nice subdivision.  A great 3 bedroom with a new kitchen (with granite counters even), that goes to good schools, and has a private yard.  Something like this new house.


Steps to buying a house


There are two things you need  when you are ready:




Talk to a Real Estate Agent


Talk to a Mortgage Broker 




An agent will be able to guide you to homes in neighborhoods you can afford, and in the style you like.  That's what we do.  Everyday.  I stay up to date on all the new developments, as well as have insider knowledge about almost every neighborhood in Austin.


To learn exactly how much house you can afford, that's where a mortgage broker comes in to play.  If you don't know one, I can provide suggestions of some great people.  In addition to learning how much house you can afford, a mortgage broker can also provide you with different loan programs (like if you are a veteran, or a teacher, or policeman), as well as provide options for different down payment programs (some as low as zero down)


 


Then, it's just a matter of finding the right house.  I'll take you to as many places as you want to see, until you find that perfect one.  Then I can help with all the legal paperwork, contracts, and title stuff, while the mortgage person takes care of getting you approved for a loan.  The process can take as little as a week, but on average a month is typical.


 


That's right.  Imagine living in your own home in as little as 30 days.


 


If you want to learn more, please visit my profile on this JB Goodwin Site, or check out my Austin Real Estate Blog.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2014 16:06:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/austin-real-estate-round-up-july-august-2014.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/austin-real-estate-round-up-july-august-2014.html</link>
        <author>macastro@jbgoodwin.com (Mary Ann Castro)</author>
        <title>Austin Real Estate Roundup: July-August 2014</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Stay connected with the latest Austin real estate news. See what's happening in Austin and stay ahead of the game in this increasingly competitive market. Courtesy of JBGoodwin REALTORS®


Karlin, Trammell Crow partner on $1 billion Austin mixed-use project, Austin Business Journal


Los Angeles-based investor Karlin Real Estate in collaboration with Trammel Crow broke ground on Parmer 3.2 in North Austin last week. The 1 billion dollar multi-use development is the beginning of a larger master-planned commercial project which plans to feature millions of square feet of commercial space including multi-family housing, retail, hospitality and office space.


Unlike the estimated 2 million square feet of luxury office space being built in Central Austin, Parmer 3.2 will appeal to those businesses seeking ample parking, larger floorplates and more affordable leases. The development is already attracting lots of attention from prominent businesses, and is slated for completion in 2015. Plans are already underway to break ground on a 2nd office building adjacent to Parmer 3.2 this fall.


Schwab bringing 820 tech jobs to Austin, American Statesman


Financial titan Charles Schwab will be bringing in hundreds of job opportunities for Austinites. The company is planning to create 823 new tech jobs to North Austin. Charles Schwab already employs about 1,000 employees in Austin, and has creating jobs in the fields of technology, marketing, human resources, trading and more. In exchange for state and local incentives, Charles Schwab has agreed to create high-paying jobs that will be paying an average salary of $79,000.


In addition to the Austin investment, Charles Schwab is also planning to open a call center in El Paso, TX. The center will create 445 jobs in that city a for a total capital investment of $210 million in the next decade.


Austin houses sell faster than anywhere in the country, ZipRealty study says, Austin Business Journal


It's official: Austin homes are selling faster than anywhere in the US according to ZipRealty Inc. The California-based online real estate brokerage conducted a survey using MLS (Multiple Listing Service) data and found that half of Austin homes for sale on the market sold in 10 days or less. The survey, which was based on market conditions as of June 30th, named Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia as the second-fastest housing markets at 14 days a piece.


Austin also came in second only to Sacramento for median home values with a 14 percent year-over year increase in price to $266,000. Fellow Texas city Houston also made the list with a 12 percent increase to $215,000.


For Austin apartment renters, relief on way?, Austin American-Statesman


Austin renters are finally getting some food news when it comes to their rent. An influx of new units is slowing down the recent spike in rents in the Austin metro area, which saw average prices of $1,099. 


Austin continues to experience a booming economy which is drawing job seekers from all over the country. The high demand for housing coupled with a limited stock of apartments caused the steep increase in rents. In fact, Austin rents jumped 8 percent last year alone. While this upward trend is likely to continue, renters can expect some relief as rents are forecasted to increase a modest 3.3 percent in the coming year due to decreased occupancy. With just over 17,000 units currently under construction, Austinites can expect to see 7,100 units released this year, followed by 6,400 units next year.


Connect with your dream home in Austin, TX Whether you're buying, selling or renting, the experienced team at JBGoodwin REALTORS® can help. Contact us online or by calling 800.531.5207 to learn more
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:04:00 -0500</pubDate>
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