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®. This month we feature stories on Austin's record setting February, Santa Rita Ranch, and a local developer breaking ground in San Antonio.

Americans Love Big Hot Suburbs, The Atlantic

Texas led the nation in population growth in 2013 according to new Census data released in March. According to the numbers, "the cities with the highest levels of net domestic migration since 2010 are Houston, Dallas, Austin, Phoenix, Denver and San Antonio." On the other hand, some of America's largest cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are seeing consistent population

Belterra Overview

The neighborhood of Belterra is a 1,600-acre community located between the town of Dripping Springs and downtown Austin. The community can be accessed by one of three different entrances: off Highway 290 West, off Nutty Brown Road and finally via Sawyer Ranch Road. There is a wide variety of builders offering fine homes (or that have built previously) in Belterra including (but not limited to) Buffington Signature Homes, Newmark, Highland Homes, Wilshire Homes, Streetman Homes, Sitterle, David Weekly Homes & Drees Homes. With 400 acres of open land, twelve parks, a recreation center and an abundance of trails, Belterra is settled around family life.

At the present time, Belterra is broken up into ten sections. There is still much

On April 16th, 2015 homebuyers could be paying more to heat their homes. That's because new water heater regulations set forth by the Department of Energy will require many existing models to be replaced or swapped out for larger more energy efficient ones. Not sure if you'll be impacted by the rule change? Read on.

New water heater regulations in 2015

After the April deadline, all new natural gas and electric powered tank-style hot water heaters will undergo design changes to meet the new requirements. Based on the new rules, all electric powered water heaters over 55 gallons will require the Hybrid Electric Heat Pump water design. On the other hand, all natural gas models over 55 gallons must use a Condensing Water Heater design.  In other words,

JBGoodwin REALTORS® successfully defended the rights of real estate professionals in Texas against a suit brought on by patent troll Property Disclosure Technologies (or PDT). For those unfamiliar with patent trolls or patent holding companies, they are firms who purchase patents with the sole purpose of looking for, and suing companies in violation of those patents for financial gain. They do not produce intellectual property, nor do they conduct any original research or manufacturing. Most of their suits never make it to court, as the threat of hefty legal fees cause most defendants to settle out of court.

JBGoodwin REALTORS® VS Property Disclosure Technologies

JBGoodwin REALTORS® was sued, along with 12 other real estate industry leaders on

One of the dreaded tasks of any landlord is finding a great tenant for your rental property. Tenant screening is a critical process, and when done correctly can eliminate the majority of common bad tenant issues. Add these helpful tips to your tenant screening checklist, and find the properly qualified tenant of your dreams.

Screen over the phone

What many landlords fail to realize is that the tenant screening process starts at first contact, which is typically by phone or e-mail. Before you proceed to a showing, screen for potential red flags by getting answers to the following questions:

• Name
• Contact info
• Reason for moving
• Intended rental term
• Total number of people renting, and their relationship to the potential renter (family

Ever get the feeling that mortgages are designed for people with 9 to 5 jobs? You're not alone. Self-employment can sometimes cause potential homebuyers to hit a mortgage wall, due to a lack of steady income. Not to worry though. Self-employed folks can qualify for mortgages too! By being proactive, you too can get approved for a mortgage. These tips are designed to help you increase the odds of homeownership.

Shop for homes without HOA fees

Believe it or not, homeowner association fees are included as a part of your mortgage calculation. So make a point to look for homes without any HOA fees. It may be the difference in getting approved or rejected by a lender.

Look at your tax history

Lenders determine your monthly income by looking at your

With every year comes new innovations in smart home technology. From smart appliances to automated home security, our homes are constantly evolving to accommodate high-tech lifestyles of the 21st Century. These smart home devices are designed to make your day to day living easier. Here are five of our favorites.

Amazon Echo

At first glance, Amazon Echo looks like your standard portable speaker, but it's so much more. Not only does it play music with exceptional sound quality, this multi-tasking device has a voice activated feature designed to answer questions. It also relays the news, weather forecasts, creates to do lists and alarms.

Since it's connected to the cloud, the power of the Internet is at your service. The cost for this handy

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®. This month we feature stories on Austin rental rates, Hotel San Jose, and a high profile listing in The Domain.

Rents ease as thousands of new apartments come into Austin market

American Statesman

Austin renters may find some relief in 2015 when it comes to their monthly rents. Over 10,000 apartment units entered the Austin real estate market in 2014, and another 8,000 units are expected to be added in 2015. This translates into cheaper rents as supply catches up with the overwhelming demand for housing. In fact, Austin's occupancy rate was at 94 percent in the

Due to recent policy changes affecting government-backed loans which focus on the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and secondary mortgage market giants Fannie Mae (The Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), first-time home buyers could find it less costly to come up with a down payment or to afford private mortgage insurance (PMI).  This is a result of the current administration lowering the premium that borrowers with an FHA-backed home loan must pay for mortgage insurance.  This has been lowered from 1.35% to 0.85%. 

The average home buyer is estimated to save up to $900 a year.  The move will help save homeowners that want to refinance their mortgage as well.

Purchase a Home With 3%

So you've decided to sell your home. Whether you've loved your home for years or looking to move up, your house will always need some sprucing up before it hits the market. Get your home sold more quickly, and for more money by avoiding these common home selling mistakes.

Not doing a home inspection before putting your home up for sale

Avoid having to negotiate with the buyer on repairs by doing the major repairs on your own time and budget before listing your home. It is also beneficial to have the inspection report available for potential buyers.

Withholding information from buyers

Always disclose all the problems or issues you know about. For example, if a faucet leaks, or you know the basement or home floods in a heavy rain this must be