Last week, we shared 5 perks of buying a brand new home. But we only scraped the surface of reasons why people are choosing new houses over existing models. Without further ado, here are 5 more benefits of buying a brand new home!

5. Move-In Ready

Forget renovations or improvements—your new home is already in perfect condition! That means you're free to move in and enjoy it, without any muss, fuss or hassle.

4. Less Maintenance

Without any worn out systems, there is much less maintenance in a new home than in an existing one. You shouldn't have to worry about repairs to heating, plumbing, air or appliances for at least a few years. Even better, most roofs last at least 20 years. This means less hassle and a much smaller impact on your savings

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New construction homes have quickly become a real estate favorite, and it's little wonder why so many Austinites are interested in the opportunity! Here are 5 awesome perks of buying a new home in Austin, TX.

5. The Latest Innovations

The best builders are constantly innovating. When you work with an expert builder on a brand new home, you reap decades of collective real estate knowledge. New houses boast the latest materials and construction styles, as well as technology. Think energy efficient heating systems, touch taps, home automation systems and hidden dishwashers. While features always vary, a new house is your best bet to be on the cutting edge of home innovation.

4. Manufacturer Warranties

With new fixtures and appliances come

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As much as we hate to admit it, that long Texas summer will soon be coming to a close and it’s time to turn our attention and energy toward preparing for the colder weather to come. The remaining sunny days of summer are an ideal time to think about preparing your Austin home for colder temperatures, before said blustery weather arrives. We’ve put together a few quick and easy tips to help you save some money while keeping you and your family warm.

Insulation is Key

The idea is to keep the heat in your home in your home; you can do this by ensuring that your home is properly insulated. A few things to look for include ensuring weather stripping has been installed on all doorways and by making sure any cracked or damaged stripping has been replaced.

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There are so many things homeowners can do to add value back into their homes, but some might not realize the finer details, if missed over time, can often become a much bigger headache further down the road. Small things like chipping paint and dirty grout might not seem like a big problem now, but waiting until you decide to sell to clean things up could result have expensive and time-consuming repercussions. Here are 5 common mistakes to avoid while living in your home that will save you time and money in the long run, especially when you decide to sell.

1. Neglecting Hot Water Heater and Air Conditioning Units

A good rule of thumb is if you pay more up front, you’re likely to save yourself money in the long term. Don’t cheap out when

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The Texas Association of Realtors has just published their annual report on the Condominium sales statistics in the state of Texas, and the results are interesting for Austin. While other areas in the state experienced modest gains (3% gain in Dallas, 6% gain in San Antonio) or losses 1% loss in Houston) in terms of overall sales, Austin Condo Sales dropped by 12% when compared to the same time period last year.

In terms of the average value of condos sold in Austin, the average sale price and the price per square foot both increased by 9%. The average time spent on the market also dropped by 8% to an average of 43 days from listing to sale, all numbers that indicate that demand is still strong despite fewer sales.

The report states that condo sales are…

Selling a home can be an arduous task and while your real estate agent can do all the background work to market and sell your Austin home, we need a little help every now and then.  That’s where you, the homeowner (soon to be home seller), come in.  Want to know how you can help sell your house faster and for top dollar? Take a read through our top tips for selling your Austin home.

Exterior Touch-ups and Landscaping

You have to start somewhere and it might as well be with the first thing potential homebuyers see first – the front yard and entrance.  The first impressions are often the most important and if you fail to excite potential buyers from the beginning, the interior of your house is going to have to work a lot harder to motivate

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The Austin, Texas area has about 15,000 licensed real estate agents according to the Austin the Board of Realtors! That number can be daunting especially if you're in search for a professional real estate agent. There are many different realtors in the industry who offer a variety of different services. Some specialize in luxury homes only, some only practice commercial real estate, and some specialize in being a full service agent that is capable of providing you services to cater to all your real estate needs.

Choosing Your Real Estate Agent

In order to choose what type of real estate agent is best for you, it's good to start off by identifying your needs. If you're buying your needs will be slightly different than those of a seller. 

For Buyers:

What…

The Central Texas housing market has been on fire in recent years, making for a highly competitive arena for new homebuyers. In a situation like this, a little bit of insider info can go a long way. It can mean the difference between scoring the home of your dreams, or missing out on a potential winner.

We're here to help

We scoured the web for the best house hunting tips we could find from industry leaders. Armed with these tips, you'll have a competitive edge on your house hunt in a sellers market.

Build Your Dream Team Before You Start Viewing

It's a proven fact that the first home offer is typically the most successful offer, which is why it's important for buyers to have a team of professionals behind them before they start viewing homes. On top of

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Open houses can be a great way to jump start your home search. Many homebuyers however, fail to capitalize on the opportunity. Savvy homebuyers know to come armed with a number of open house questions to ask the seller’s agent. By being proactive, you can identify potential issues early on, and make an educated decision on your home purchase without wasting your precious time on a dud. Find out if a potential home is right for you by getting the answers to these important open house questions.

How many offers are on the table?

The number of bids on a home can give you insight into the desirability of a home. If the home has lots of bids, you may have to rethink your bidding strategy. If the home isn't getting any offers, it's worth it to know the…