JBGoodwin REALTORS® - Austin & San Antonio Real Estate Blog - Real Estate Advice

How Austin Is One Of America's Most Affordable Cities

When it comes to affordability, families don’t usually shop in big cities when they hope to land a real estate bargain. Home shoppers know they’ll pay more to experience the conveniences that major cities provide.

But a new study from gobankingrates.com revealed that when it comes to measuring the comfort of residents’ cost of living, Austin goes against the major city grain. In the study, not only did Austin prove to be one of the most comfortable cities, but Texas was also concluded as the state whose cities offered their residents the most cost-friendly living situations compared to the rest of the nation.

The study said, “Texas is the state that boasts the most cities in which the median income is enough for a comfortable living”.

In…

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5 Reasons To Invest In Central Texas Real Estate

Investment is a term that seizes the attention of even the least business-minded person in a room. When we hear the term, many of us imagine dollar signs, remember our Economics 101 professor, or picture Scrooge McDuck swimming through his sea of gold coins.

In real estate, we toss this term around often. When someone purchases a home, REALTORS® like to communicate every benefit that comes from owning a home. And since real estate investing is such a profitable option in the Central Texas’ market, we find no reason to hold back our enthusiasm about the opportunities we see.

Investment sparks a lot to think about for a family. While you weigh your options about whether to purchase a house or to throw all your extra cash into the stock market,…

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5 Reasons To Purchase Your First Home In Austin

Young professionals and families make their way to Austin every day. The career opportunities, healthy local lifestyle, and ample fun of the city are too wonderful for most of us to turn down.

As people move to the area, however, many face a challenging question: Should I rent or buy? Usually these folks are already sold on the appeal of living in Austin. The city is a wonderful place to live, with no doubt about it. But the high housing costs can be a little intimidating to anyone, especially the families who are new to purchasing real estate.

So for those families still on the fence about whether buying a house in Austin is right for you, here are 5 reasons why we and a few Austin home-owners think this a great city for first-time home…

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The Growing Central Texas Metropolis That Nobody Told You About

Let me clue you in on a little Texas real estate secret: the cities that make national headlines aren’t the only places in Texas experiencing economic and real estate booms! In fact, Central Texas is home to a new, quiet metropolis that is dodging exposure because of its proximity to some of our state’s biggest cities.

Austin and San Antonio receive a lot of national attention. Their economies, lively city-centers, and delicious cuisines are often the subject of major headlines and top national polls. But most don’t realize that these two cities, and the 70+ miles that connect them, have formed a booming metropolis that probably slipped right under your nose.

We call this stretch of land the Texas Hill Country. It weaves alongside the portion of Highway…

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San Antonio Named In The Top 5 Best Cities In The U.S. For First-Time Homebuyers In 2017

San Antonio has a lot going for it. Americans from across the country can recall iconic scenes from our city’s hero-filled history. Major corporations and tech companies move here for the city’s generous business incentives. And the family-centeredness of San Antonio rightly captures the attention of many people looking for a comfortable place to call their own.

At JB Goodwin, we give San Antonio a lot of praise because we genuinely believe it is an awesome place for anyone to call home. In fact, many of us do! So when we see others pointing out some of the features that make San Antonio so great, we like to share their findings with our cherished readers.

Recent data from Zillow found that families looking to buy their first home ought to conduct their…

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JB Goodwin Named One Of Austin's Best Places To Work 2017!

We weren’t too surprised to hear it, but the news still makes us proud. JBGoodwin REALTORS® was once again named one of Austin’s Best Places to Work in 2017 by Austin Business Journal!

When you gather a group of hardworking, optimistic people and equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary to give real help to families and businesses, a great work environment almost sounds like it’d come naturally.

While nature may have something to do with it, we also prioritize making our workplace one that is empowering, enjoyable, and fair for each employee. That’s because we believe that the most efficient and productive workplaces are those that make a big deal about treating people like… well… people!

What makes JB Goodwin such a great place to work?

Our…

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San Antonio is Making a Splash in Tech: Here’s How You Can Get Involved

We live in a time when self-driving cars, robots, and virtual reality are no longer just the topics of sci-fi movies. These futuristic innovations are now real products undergoing rapid cycles of improvement. With all that is being created through the modern tech revolution, it can be easy for San Antonio residents to overlook just how close they are to the real action. Many don’t realize that a digital boom is taking place right here in the "Alamo City."

New startups and established tech-giants of San Antonio are taking industry strides that reverberate across our state and country. Finding out the roles that San Antonio’ innovators play in the worldwide tech boom is easier than some might think. You just need to know where to look.

Here are some of…

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Why Major Companies Are Choosing Austin

Leading business journals love to cover Austin because it’s a hotspot for technology and innovation. The industry boom has brought many businesses to the area and incentivized top tier employees to find jobs in Travis County and the surrounding areas.

Business growth in Austin has occurred for eight years and will continue in 2017, according to Austin Chamber. Data from the organization shows a 1.9% business growth rate for 2016, with education, health services, and financial services growing the fastest.

Businesses are propelled to the area by many of Austin’s advantages, including the following:

Tax-friendliness: Texas is a state with strong tax incentives. With no state income tax, businesses and employees can see more cash in their pockets at the…

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Don’t Miss Out On These Important Tax Savers For Home Owners

The tax filing deadline is quickly approaching. If you own a home, here are some important residential tax saving incentives you should not miss:

Residential Energy Tax Credits

• Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit - Taxpayers may take credit up to 30% of qualified solar, wind, geothermal and fuel cell property improvements. This includes labor costs to assemble, build, and connect the equipment. The credit is capped at $500 per one-half kilowatt of capacity purchased.
   
• Non-Business Energy Property Credit - Taxpayers may take credit for 10% of the qualifying costs to improve energy-efficiency for non-business property. Qualified improvements include adding insulation, energy-efficient windows/doors, or energy-efficient heaters and…

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Should You Use a REALTOR® to Buy a New Construction Home?

JB Goodwin REALTOR® Diane Strauch is a retired educator who has made a career out of helping people. A native San Antonion, Diane has a lifetime to offer about the San Antonio real estate market. In this blog post, Diane explores the value of hiring a REALTOR® when buying a new construction home.

I am often asked if a REALTOR® is needed when purchasing a new construction home and my answer is, "Yes, yes, YES!" Many people assume that because new construction homes are typically wrinkle free, and that the home prices are often fixed, that there's nothing to be gained from hiring a real estate agent to represent you as the buyer—but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Here are eight reasons why you should always hire a REALTOR®, even when…

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