The process of buying your first home brings with it a handful of new terms and phrases to learn.

By researching or asking your Austin or San Antonio real estate agent what each new term means, you can set yourself up for success and achieve a more informed understanding of the home buying and selling process.

Among the many words you may soon encounter, “escrow” is one you’ll want to know. While the term is used across a handful of financial industries, this article will solely define escrow in relation to the real estate industry.

What Does Escrow Mean?

When a person refers to money (or something else of high value) as being “in escrow”, they mean that their value-item is being held by an unbiased third party to ensure a fair transaction…

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San Antonio is one of the most populous cities in the United States and home to some of the most luxurious houses and condos in Texas.

San Antonio contains some of Texas’ most famous attractions--the Botanical Gardens, Natural Bridge Caverns, Pearl District, Six Flags, the Alamo, and the Riverwalk, just to name a few.

The city is also home to world-class cuisine. Local restaurants and breweries are loved by residents and visitors alike.

It is home to some of the most popular golf courses and country clubs in Texas, including some that are even alongside affluent San Antonio luxury homes.

If you are in the market for luxurious San Antonio real estate, here are 5 neighborhoods worth your attention:

The Dominion

This master-planned…

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“A dollar saved is a dollar earned,” wrote Benjamin Franklin. On the surface, Franklin’s famous adage offers simple advice: frugality is a form of financial investment.

But go just a little deeper, and the saying encourages us to discern between good discounts and misleading ones. Whatever the venture, an investor owes it to him or herself to take all risks into honest consideration before putting any money on the table.

Real estate is one of the most common forms of investment. It can be done through several methods, including buy-and-hold, property leasing, and house-flipping, among others. In recent years, shows like Fixer Upper on HGTV have popularized house flipping. This method involves purchasing a (low-cost) foreclosed property, performing all…

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homes in San Antonio

According to 2016 census data, San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the United States in terms of population. San Antonio has many of the characteristics that people love about big cities: diverse cuisine, interesting businesses, culture, and fun activities to do and places to explore.

But San Antonio stands out from other major cities because of one unusual big-city quality: its affordability. The city has a low cost of living, which enables more middle-income families to enjoy the homes and lifestyles that might be way out of their budget for a comparable property in another place.

Bestplaces.net is a website that compares the cost of living in cities across the United States. Its data reflects costs of transportation, healthcare, food, and other…

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Texas is a goliath state that encompasses more area than many nations. You can start driving from one side of the state, and can continue for 10+ hours to still find yourself looking at Texas cacti, cities, and farms.

Within this vast state, we boast both beaches and mountains, rolling hills and agrarian farmland. We are the home to a diverse breadth of flora and fauna, as well as headquarters to some of the most recognized corporations in the world. It is no surprise, then, that our state has caught some attention.

There are many incentives to living in Texas, and families from across the country have noticed and are responding by moving here. According to data from GenFKD, “The statistics reveal Texas is the new hottest state to live in...”…

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More people are moving to Texas than any other state in the country. According to U.S. Census data, Texas added more than 6 million people from 2000 to 2010. Overwhelmingly, net domestic migrants are moving to Texas from California, but as Jeff Salamon points out, Californians are not more likely to move to Texas than other inter-state migrants—since the population of California is so large, there are simply more Californians coming in than say, Louisianans or South Dakotans.

Growth is strong across the largest metropolitan areas in Texas, making these large areas highly attractive to migrants from all over the United States. Americans are moving to Texas.

But why are people relocating to Texas from other states?

According to a Fiscal Notes blog…

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Have you ever wondered about the best time of year to buy a home in Central Texas?

It may come as a surprise to many homeowners in Central Texas that there are huge financial advantages to buying or selling during specific months, or seasons, in Central Texas. After all, it’s not like Texans endure harsh winters like those living further north in the United States.

It’s easier to understand why a location with regular, drastic temperature fluctuations sees real estate prices rise and fall significantly throughout a year. Given the choice of buying in the frigid cold of northern winter or during its temperate summer, most families would spend considerably less money for a home if they’re willing to endure house hunting in the cold. Depending on the…

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If you’re shopping for a new home to lease or purchase in Central Texas, you may wonder whether homeowner’s associations are worth your while.

It’s usually easy to educate yourself about what specific HOA communities provide and allow. Before taking the financial plunge, take some time to learn about what Central Texas HOA communities offer.

To some, the benefits of having a quality HOA far outweigh the fees and restrictions. Paying a simple, recurring fee can mean time saved from menial tasks, more fun activities to do around your own community and no obscure-looking houses or fences that are a blight on the surrounding community, spoiling the immaculate beauty of the rest of the neighborhood.

On the other hand, some believe HOA communities…

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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…

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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…

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