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Start of the year is a great time to review your finances. As 2017 starts, make an effort and get into the habit of reviewing your bills and inspect them for ways to save money.

You may have added cell phone plans, changed cable and internet subscriptions, and signed up for trial offers (which automatically turned into pay subscriptions). Call your service providers to see if you can take advantage of new promotional offers or remove services that you are no longer using. Common bills to review for savings are cell phones, cable TV, internet service, home phone, streaming video services, and other online subscriptions services.

Additionally, monitoring your credit report and your credit rating is important, especially if you’re considering purchasing a home. Here are a few tips for improving your credit. It’s not about quick fixes, but responsible financial activity over time.

• Get a credit card: This may seem counterintuitive, but when used correctly, a credit card can be an effective tool for building credit. Charge a few budget-conscious purchases each month, and pay the balance off before your due date.

• Keep your balance low: This is the other side of the coin with credit cards. Try to charge only for items you could pay for out-of-pocket, and try to stick to a balance of around 10 percent of your credit limit.

• Fix credit errors: You’re entitled to free credit reports each year, take advantage of it and review yourreport for possible errors, such as incorrect limits or closed accounts.

• Leave paid debts on your report: Paid off debts like car loans show that you have a history of paying your debt on time.

• Ask a lender: If you’re looking to pay off a debt quickly, it can’t hurt to ask the lender to lower your interest rate. You can’t get what you don’t ask for!

Following these steps will help you (re)build your credit and earn a higher score. Lending institutions have a set or criteria for their mortgage loans and ultimately make judgement about the risk of loaning you the money based on your past financial behaviors. These steps help you make their decision in loaning you money easier!

Cheers!

Moe Dadseresht Austin Skyline Realty, Inc.  p:  (512)740-6945                   c: (512)740-6945  w: www.moeproperty.com  e: [email protected]  a:  11507 Hare Trail       Austin, TX 78726        Texas Real Estate Commission

It is spring time in Texas!

This season, winter was absent in the Austin area;  no freezing temperature,no icing on the roads and bridges, no frozen water well pump in my backyard! Nothing. Spring has already started.

A short warm winder helps Real Estate transactions, enjoyable weather encourages more people to go house shopping, but an uptick in interest rates may dampen that enthusiasm. Talks of multiple (two or three) interest rate hikes during the rest of 2017 couldn’t help either. This backdrop and a continued upward home sale prices, is  a reminder that if you plan to sell, it may be time to take action.

Compared to the rest of Cedar Park, Cypress Creek houses sell for more. Higher median price of the house sold in February, coupled with shorter time to sell existing houses (32 days in Cypress Creek and 28 days in Cedar Park), indicates a tight inventory. One side effect of this continued upward movement is the shrinking of the number of lower priced houses. Every month here are fewer and fewer lower priced houses, as indicated by lower and lower percentage of below $200K houses.

You can explore details of the 42 home sales during February 2017 below.

For the city of Cedar Park single-family home sales during February 2017 is summarized below. All comparisons are relative to February 2016.

All this activity has affected your home’s value!

If you plan to move, you need to know the value of your home right now. You can find this out in two easy ways:

1. Go to the website I created specifically for this purpose at: www.myCedarParkPropertyWorth.com
2. Text 52388 to (888)264-1910, to receive your property valuation

I hope you find this helpful. Referral is a big part of my business and as always I appreciate your consideration in referring any friends, family, or colleagues my way. Thank you for supporting me and my business endeavors. Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions about real estate, your desired neighborhoods, or your house value!

Best wishes!

Moe Dadseresht Austin Skyline Realty, Inc.  p:  (512)740-6945                   c: (512)740-6945  w: www.moeproperty.com  e: [email protected]  a:  11507 Hare Trail       Austin, TX 78726        Texas Real Estate Commission

It is spring time in Texas!

This season, winter was absent in the Austin area;  no freezing temperature,no icing on the roads and bridges, no frozen water well pump in my backyard! Nothing. Spring has already started.

A short warm winder helps Real Estate transactions, enjoyable weather encourages more people to go house shopping, but an uptick in interest rates may dampen that enthusiasm. Talks of multiple (two or three) interest rate hikes during the rest of 2017 couldn’t help either. This backdrop and a continued upward home sale prices, is  a reminder that if you plan to sell, it may be time to take action.

Another solid gain of %8 for the median price of the house sold in February, coupled with shorter time to sell existing houses (28 days), indicates a tight inventory. One side effect of this continued upward movement is the shrinking of the number of lower priced houses. Every month here are fewer and fewer lower priced houses, as indicated by lower and lower percentage of below $200K houses.

The Cedar Park single-family home sales during February 2017 is summarized below. All comparisons are relative to February 2016.

You can explore details of all the 107 Cedar Park home sales in December below.

All this activity has affected your home’s value!

If you plan to move, you need to know the value of your home right now. You can find this out in two easy ways:

1. Go to the website I created specifically for this purpose at: www.myCedarParkPropertyWorth.com
2. Text 52388 to (888)264-1910, to receive your property valuation

I hope you find this helpful. Referral is a big part of my business and as always I appreciate your consideration in referring any friends, family, or colleagues my way. Thank you for supporting me and my business endeavors. Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions about real estate, your desired neighborhoods, or your house value!

Best wishes!

Moe Dadseresht Austin Skyline Realty, Inc.  p:  (512)740-6945                   c: (512)740-6945  w: www.moeproperty.com  e: [email protected]  a:  11507 Hare Trail       Austin, TX 78726        Texas Real Estate Commission

It is spring time in Texas!

This season, winter was absent in the Austin area;  no freezing temperature,no icing on the roads and bridges, no frozen water well pump in my backyard! Nothing. Spring has already started.

A short warm winder helps Real Estate transactions, enjoyable weather encourages more people to go house shopping, but an uptick in interest rates may dampen that enthusiasm. Talks of multiple (two or three) interest rate hikes during the rest of 2017 couldn’t help either. This backdrop and a continued upward home sale prices, is  a reminder that if you plan to sell, it may be time to take action.

Despite a 1% decline in February, the median price of the house sold, and what is currently in the market for sale, indicates a tight inventory. One side effect of this continued upward movement is the shrinking of the number of lower priced houses. Every month here are fewer and fewer lower priced houses, as indicated by lower and lower percentage of below $200K houses.

The Leander single-family home sales during February is summarized below. All comparisons are relative to February 2016.

You can explore details of all the Leander home sales during February 2017 below.

All this activity has affected your home’s value!

If you plan to move, you need to know the value of your home right now. You can find this out in two easy ways:

1. Go to the website I created specifically for this purpose at: www.myLeanderPropertyWorth.com
2. Text 52101 to (888)264-1910, to receive your property valuation

 

I hope you find this helpful. Referral is a big part of my business and as always I appreciate your consideration in referring any friends, family, or colleagues my way. Thank you for supporting me and my business endeavors. Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions about real estate, your desired neighborhoods, or your house value!

Best wishes,

Moe Dadseresht Austin Skyline Realty, Inc.  p:  (512)740-6945                   c: (512)740-6945  w: www.moeproperty.com  e: [email protected]  a:  11507 Hare Trail       Austin, TX 78726        Texas Real Estate Commission

January 2017 Market Summary Report for Central Texas; including Austin area, Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties.

 

Moe Dadseresht Austin Skyline Realty, Inc.  p:  (512)740-6945                   c: (512)740-6945  w: www.moeproperty.com  e: [email protected]  a:  11507 Hare Trail       Austin, TX 78726        Texas Real Estate Commission

I hope you had a wonderful Holidays with a fresh start on your way to fulfill your dreams and plans in the 2017

For many people who rent a place to live,  building wealth and pursuing the American Dream starts with home ownership.  Planning to pay down the mortgage and moving on to the next property usually follows the first purchase. For college students and recent graduates, this can start as early as right after graduation. In this starter home, typically there is more space than the rental place, there are more amenities, and even a potential for future rental income if desired. This is all possible because, for a renter, part of the monthly rent payment goes toward the upkeep of the property, mortgage payment, property manager’s fee, etc. In the end, the property owner has to make a profit as well; it all comes out of the tenant’s pocket. To top if off, owning your home helps building wealth by leveraging the down payment (as low as 5% for a starter home) to control and own future price appreciation.

As you start shopping for your first house, you have the option of new or existing, resale, houses. Newer houses are usually located a bit farther in the outlying communities and are somewhat more expensive than an existing houses. There are more choices and options in a newer house, but you have to pay a higher price.

If you decide to look for an existing house, here are a few pointers to help you deal with the sellers better. As you go for on a house showing often it is best to keep a poker face when you’re dealing with the other party. It’s not in your best interest to be totally candid with the seller and the listing agent when you’re considering a home. Here a few things that are better left unsaid.

This is at the top end of our budget.

Don’t let the listing agent (seller’s agent) know that a home is at the top of your budget. You want to keep all the bargaining chips you can, and letting the seller know your budget can hurt you when it comes time to negotiate.

I hate the paint, or furniture, or cabinets, or any of the decorations.

No matter how hideous the wallpaper in the kitchen is, take extra care not to insult the seller’s taste. If they’re considering multiple offers, you don’t want to be the buyer that offended the seller!

We can’t wait to renovate.

Customization is one of the big perks of homeownership, but it’s best to keep your renovation plans quiet for the moment. The seller may have a lot of memories in the home, and may not appreciate your plans to immediately tear down some walls.

Often in an  existing house, you may have to make some compromises on space, functionality, or amenities. You may have to look past some cosmetic repairable items. Many of these cosmetic items can be upgraded gradually, but many times some functionality cannot be fixed; such adding an extra bedroom or bathroom, or addition of a garage due to space constraints.

Invest in your future and use your 2016 tax refund as part of your down payment, pay off your debts, increase your credit score and enhance your purchasing power. It will yield plenty, much more than those new pair of shoes or the new car.

Wish you a prosperous 2017.

Cheers!

December 2016 Market Summary Report for Central Texas; including Austin area, Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties.

 

 

 

 

I hope you had a wonderful holidays and wish you a happy and prosperous 2017!

Despite the seasonal slow down in the Cedar Park Real Estate market during December, there was a slight upward move in the median price of the houses sold. For the 2016 year as a whole there was a 5.3% median price appreciation. However, there was a 5% decrease in the number of houses sold. The most active part of the market is $200K – $500K price range as majority of the houses sold and those currently in the market for sale, fall into that category.

City of Cedar Park is on a long term path, the 2014 Cedar Park planning document has identified several areas around the city, totaling 1130 acres, as future residential development areas. However, compared to the neighboring city of Leander, Cedar Park has a slower growth. During 2016 only 164 new residential houses were built in Cedar Park compared to 522 in Leander. Although movement of new people into the area continues to create demand and the median price continues to appreciate, most of the sales activity in Cedar Park is from existing homes and majority of the new homes are built in the neighboring communities.

Real Estate transactions slow down during the winter months which create a perfect window for reflection on possible moves in the coming year. Start of the 2017 brings signs of an  increasing trend in interest rates that could impact your plans. For a typical $300K loan an slight increase in rates, from %4 to %4.25, increases the monthly payments by $44 and by $15,700 over the 30 years life of the loan. Although nothing is certain about the future interest rates, it is wise to consult a lender or mortgage broker about the current rates and the impact of any future increase on your specific situation.

More specific to the Cypress Creek and neighboring communities, single-family home sales activities in December can be summarized as:

You can explore details of the 50 home sales in Cypress Creek area during December below.

The Cedar Park single-family home sales during December 2016 is summarized below. All comparisons are relative to December 2015.

All this activity has affected your home’s value!

If you plan to move, you need to know the value of your home right now. You can find this out in two easy ways:

1. Go to the website I created specifically for this purpose at: www.myCedarParkPropertyWorth.com
2. Text 52388 to (888)264-1910, to receive your property valuation

I hope you find this helpful. Referral is a big part of my business and as always I appreciate your consideration in referring any friends, family, or colleagues my way. Thank you for supporting me and my business endeavors. Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions about real estate, your desired neighborhoods, or your house value!

Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2017!

Moe Dadseresht Austin Skyline Realty, Inc.  p:  (512)740-6945                   c: (512)740-6945  w: www.moeproperty.com  e: [email protected]  a:  11507 Hare Trail       Austin, TX 78726        Texas Real Estate Commission

I hope you had a wonderful holidays and wish you a happy and prosperous 2017!

Despite the seasonal slow down in the Cedar Park Real Estate market during December, there was a slight upward move in the median price of the houses sold. For the 2016 year as a whole there was a 5.3% median price appreciation. However, there was a 5% decrease in the number of houses sold. The most active part of the market is $200K – $500K price range as majority of the houses sold and those currently in the market for sale, fall into that category.

City of Cedar Park is on a long term path, the 2014 Cedar Park planning document has identified several areas around the city, totaling 1130 acres, as future residential development areas. However, compared to the neighboring city of Leander, Cedar Park has a slower growth. During 2016 only 164 new residential houses were built in Cedar Park compared to 522 in Leander. Although movement of new people into the area continues to create demand and the median price continues to appreciate, most of the sales activity in Cedar Park is from existing homes and majority of the new homes are built in the neighboring communities.

Real Estate transactions slow down during the winter months which create a perfect window for reflection on possible moves in the coming year. Start of the 2017 brings signs of an  increasing trend in interest rates that could impact your plans. For a typical $300K loan an slight increase in rates, from %4 to %4.25, increases the monthly payments by $44 and by $15,700 over the 30 years life of the loan. Although nothing is certain about the future interest rates, it is wise to consult a lender or mortgage broker about the current rates and the impact of any future increase on your specific situation.

The Cedar Park single-family home sales during December 2016 is summarized below. All comparisons are relative to December 2015.

You can explore details of all the 107 Cedar Park home sales in December below.

All this activity has affected your home’s value!

If you plan to move, you need to know the value of your home right now. You can find this out in two easy ways:

1. Go to the website I created specifically for this purpose at: www.myCedarParkPropertyWorth.com
2. Text 52388 to (888)264-1910, to receive your property valuation

I hope you find this helpful. Referral is a big part of my business and as always I appreciate your consideration in referring any friends, family, or colleagues my way. Thank you for supporting me and my business endeavors. Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions about real estate, your desired neighborhoods, or your house value!

Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2017!

Moe Dadseresht Austin Skyline Realty, Inc.  p:  (512)740-6945                   c: (512)740-6945  w: www.moeproperty.com  e: [email protected]  a:  11507 Hare Trail       Austin, TX 78726        Texas Real Estate Commission

I hope you had a wonderful holidays and wish you a happy and prosperous 2017!

Despite the seasonal slow down in the Leander Real Estate market, there was a slight upward move in the median price of the houses sold. For the 2016 year as a whole there was a 10.5% median price appreciation, combined with a 6.2% growth in the number of houses sold, it points to a solid growth in the housing market. The most active part of the market is $200K – $500K price range as majority of the houses sold and those currently in the market for sale, fall into that category.

Back in 2015 Leander City Planners released the long-term housing plans with a time horizon well into the mid 2020’s. It identifies residential development plan sites to build more than 14000 houses. During 2016 in the Leander area about 522 new single family homes were built, this compares to only 124 for the neighboring Cedar Park. Movement of new people into the area continues to create demand as it is evidenced by the median price appreciation of 10.5% during 2016. Considering an annual growth rate of 6%-8% for building of new homes, the city planners long term projection seem to be realistic and achievable.

Real Estate transactions slow down during the winter months which create a perfect window for reflection on possible moves in the coming year. Start of the 2017 brings signs of an  increasing trend in interest rates that could impact your plans. For a typical $300K loan an slight increase in rates, from %4 to %4.25, increases the monthly payments by $44 and by $15,700 over the 30 years life of the loan. Although nothing is certain about the future interest rates, it is wise to consult a lender or mortgage broker about the current rates and the impact of any future increase on your specific situation.

The Leander single-family home sales during December 2016 is summarized below. All comparisons are relative to September 2015.

You can explore details of all the Leander home sales during December 2016 below.

 

All this activity has affected your home’s value!

If you plan to move, you need to know the value of your home right now. You can find this out in two easy ways:

1. Go to the website I created specifically for this purpose at: www.myLeanderPropertyWorth.com
2. Text 52101 to (888)264-1910, to receive your property valuation

 

I hope you find this helpful. Referral is a big part of my business and as always I appreciate your consideration in referring any friends, family, or colleagues my way. Thank you for supporting me and my business endeavors. Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions about real estate, your desired neighborhoods, or your house value!

 

Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2017!

Moe Dadseresht Austin Skyline Realty, Inc.  p:  (512)740-6945                   c: (512)740-6945  w: www.moeproperty.com  e: [email protected]  a:  11507 Hare Trail       Austin, TX 78726        Texas Real Estate Commission