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Ask George and ChuckDear George: Do I have legal claim to part of my neighbor's property?Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Ask George and ChuckDear George: Should I notify anyone when I pay off my mortgage?Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Ask George and ChuckDear George: What are some pitfalls to avoid with my short sale?Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Ask George and ChuckDear George: Should I disclose that I'm selling a haunted house?Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Ask George and ChuckDear George: I just found out that the seller "forgot" to disclose a water claim. What can I do?Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Light rail ... urban transformers?Its worth considering that the benefits of light rail may go beyond how many vehicles it removes from the road.Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Ask George and ChuckDear George: How can I lend someone money and use his property as collateral?Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Ask George and ChuckDear George: The contract to sell my house expires this week. How much longer am I obligated to my agent?.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Even past the deadline, homebuyer assistance is availableThe federal homebuyer tax credit has received a lot of coverage over the past several months, but one thing not widely publicized is that the April 30 deadline doesn't apply to everyone.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Texans pay less of our income on shelter Texas' lower-than-national-average housing cost is one reason for the state's higher-than-national-average growth rate.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Ask George and ChuckDear George: Does a seller have to provide a disclosure notice for a short sale?.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Ask George and ChuckDear George: A seller accepted my offer via e-mail. Is that legally binding?.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
A tale of Texas taxesHere is one assertion I bet all Texans will agree with - property taxes in our state have a peculiar way of increasing.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Prepare yourself for a good closingClosing is a process that begins weeks before the actual closing date, and follows an outline dictated largely by the buyer's original offer.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Understanding the lingo - compsSo, you're selling your home and everyone you interviewed to list your home has mentioned "pulling comps"......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
All real estate is localIs it a seller's market or a buyer's market? Be careful where you get your information......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
The secret's outIt's one of the worst-kept secrets out there: Texas is a great place to live......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Keep copiesIt's important to keep the paperwork.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Homestead exemption scamsYou must apply for the exemption, but there is no fee associated with applying for a homestead exemption.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
If the last tree in the forest falls...If governmental entities had full discretion on what was a public good, all private real property would be at risk of being appropriated for the public good.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Buy a home, get a tax creditIf you were thinking of buying your first home but just couldn't get it together in time to take advantage of the $8,000 federal tax credit, you have an extension. Congress gave you about five more months......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Ask George and ChuckDear George: Where can I find someone who will insure my home?.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Letters of distinctionOne certification, available only to Texas REALTORS, is called Texas Affordable Housing Specialist.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Why must they lie?If you could hook up a lie detector to an e-mail, the needle would be jumping on this one.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Even wooly-headed profs have good ideas A pair of researchers at CERGE-EI, a Czech university, examined evidence about the origins of the housing bubble and whether it ever existed at all.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
No fun being number 1Texas ranks 14th in the amount residents pay in property taxes. Our state is also first in how much we pay in property taxes. How can that be?.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Lost in translationOn Nov. 3, 2009, the voters of Texas will once again have an opportunity to take a stand against the burdensome and uneven taxation of residential property.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Time is ticking on $8,000 creditI hope homebuyers understand the deadline for the $8,000 federal tax credit. Getting it wrong could cost someone a lot.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Market versus appraised valueDon't confuse the appraisal with market value. The appraised value is a certified appraiser's opinion of the worth of a home at a given point in time......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Pre-approval or pre-qualification?While both may put you in a potentially stronger buying position, getting pre-approved by the lender carries a bit more weight.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
My house won't sellThere are a variety of factors that contribute to a home languishing on the market, including price, condition, and location.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Get your credit in shape firstIf you are considering purchasing a home, you might want to begin by taking a look at your credit.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
A $68,000 credit on a home? Seriously?No, it's no joke. As a first-time homebuyer with a moderate income, you may be able to save $68,000 on a home. That's $8,000 on the purchase and $60,000 over the life of a 30-year loan.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Finding the right neighborhoodPicking a neighborhood that fits your lifestyle and desires is an important part of the homebuying process......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Safety tips for home sellersIf you're selling your house, there are some safety tips you should be aware of to keep yourself and others safe during the process.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
All real estate is localIs it a seller's market or a buyer's market? Be careful where you get your information to answer that question .....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Landlord in the making?Are you considering buying an investment home as a rental property? This may be a good time to start .....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
You can help market your homeMost REALTORS will tell you that marketing is one of the keys to a successful home sale. .....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Truly affordable housingMany buyers make a common mistake when purchasing a home by trying to buy too much house.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Eight thousand reasons to buy your first homeIf you've been paying attention to the recent "stimulus" activities in Washington, you already get the reference to 8,000 reasons in the headline above. It's really only one reason, but it could be worth $8,000 to you.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Twelve tips to sell your homeThere are few things more frustrating to a seller than a home that sits on the market. It's stressful to keep a house in showing condition, and not selling can cost you lots of money.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Closing costsEveryone knows that in most cases you'll need at least a small down payment to purchase a home.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Home warrantiesAfter you buy an existing home, let's face it - the last thing you want to worry about is a broken big-ticket item like the air conditioner or oven.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
The next level of cleanAside from the necessary intrusions, the most inconvenient aspect of having your house on the market may well be keeping the house in showing condition.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Be ready to buy If you find what you're looking for in a home, you should be prepared to make an offer quickly.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Can this be fixed?You've heard it 1000 times; don't ever buy a home without getting a home inspection.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
What does the recently passed housing bill mean for you?This month on our "Inside Texas Real Estate" podcast you can learn how the Housing and Economic Recovery Act helps first-time homebuyers and homeowners struggling to afford their mortgages.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Don't be deceived by numbersThere's a common statistic in the real estate world called Days on Market, or DOM. Some people believe a property that has been on the market for a while must have serious problems, but this is not necessarily the case.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Restricted access If you're selling your home and you require advanced notice, ask your agent to put the restriction and reason in the private remarks section of MLS.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
DisappearWhen your house is on the market, it's important to be flexible with your showing times. Part of that flexibility is having the capacity to .....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Understanding the lingo - pointsPoints is a common word you'll hear when you're in the process of buying a home or acquiring financing. But what does it mean? .....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Don't outsmart yourselfAre you one of the people who is trying to "time the market" and wait for home prices to go down before you make a purchase? Doing so may not be as wise as you think......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Any time's a good time"Now's not the best time ... can we set something up for later?" These are words that a buyer and his agent do not want to hear when they're out looking for a property.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
What not to doYou'll be given all kinds of advice and pointers about what you should do and how you should do it, but there are things you shouldn't do that are equally important......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Selling a vacant houseSo you've accepted your new job and have moved on to your new life in a different city.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Not just the houseAfter you've made the decision to buy a home, it pays to prioritize your needs and wants.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Dealing with lowball offersWhen your home is on the market, a prospective buyer may come at you with a lowball offer.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Maximizing your exposureExposure is the key to selling fast and getting top dollar. The more people who see your home, the sooner you will find a willing buyer.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Different kinds of real estate Web sitesFrom the way consumers acquire information about properties and neighborhoods to the way agents market themselves and their listings, real estate, like so many other industries, has been fundamentally altered by the Internet......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Fresh paint can make a differenceThere are many factors that can affect the sale of your home. Many of these, like interest rates, number of buyers, and amount of competing inventory, are simply out of your control. There are, however, things that you.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
After the inspectionYou're serious about buying this house; in fact, you've already put down earnest money, the option fee, and even gotten an inspection.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Think about the futureIs this a starter house or one that you plan to stay in.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Internet presenceThere's so much information on the Internet. Literally thousands of real estate sites are out there.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Beware of informed buyersIf you are looking to sell your home, it is not in your best interest to pick a price slightly higher than your house is worth.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Final walk-throughClosing is just days away! You're about to make a huge investment and you've been running around town taking care of business......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Casa o Apartamento. ¿Qué es mejor para usted?Muchas personas cuando deciden comprar una vivienda, la primera imagen que les viene a la mente es una casa, con un bello jardín, tal vez bordeado de una linda cerca de madera y con un bonito patio.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Protéjase al vender su casaA partir del primero de enero del 2008, toda persona interesada en solicitar una licencia de agente de bienes raíces en Texas, como vendedor o como corredor, ahora debe proveer sus huellas digitales para un chequeo del FBI sobre antecedentes criminales.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Myths about homeownership Many consumers believe that they can't qualify for a home loan because of a variety of reasons, including spotty credit and no money for a downpayment.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Entice buyers with extrasIf you're putting your home on the market, or if it has been on the market for a while without solid offers, you may consider including some appliances, furniture, or other extras in the asking price.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
El mes de la igualdad en la vivienda Anualmente Texas se une a al resto de la nación para celebrar el mes de la igualdad en la vivienda.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Don't forget the treesIt's common to consider the kitchen, bathroom, living space, and other indoor amenities, but don't forget the outside, especially the trees.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
The tax factorYou might consider consulting with a tax adviser regarding the sale's impact on your federal tax return.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Are discount points right for me?Many decisions go into that final mortgage contract, and one involves purchasing discount points.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Landscaping countsWhen you're selling your house, you obviously want it to stand out.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Coming to your sensesThe more you do to prepare your home for market, the more money you can expect to pocket at the closing table.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Get your free credit reportIf you are thinking about buying a home, it is a good idea to find out what your credit report says before applying for the loan.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Learn about loansThere are many kinds of loans; the one that makes the most sense for you depends on your current situation and your plans for the future.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Moving outIf you are selling your home, create a moving checklist to ensure a smooth transition from one property to the next......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
You may need to stay putChanging jobs in the midst of the process may not have a significant affect on your ability to qualify for a mortgage loan.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
From seller to buyerAlthough your property could sell in a couple of days, the real dilemma you may face is finding your next home......Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Understanding the lingo - escrowDuring the process of buying your home, you'll hear the word escrow thrown around. It's easy to get confused because the term can refer to different things that occur at different times.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Protect yourselfWhile it's certainly not common, there are reports of sellers' possessions disappearing during a showing.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |
Take an impromptu visitWhen you begin narrowing your selection or you find that you've fallen head-over-heels in love with a certain house.....Brought to you by Austin Texas Appraiser |