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Austin Real Estate Continues to Hold Value

PRESS RELEASE

Austin Real Estate Continues to Hold Value Despite Slower Sales Volume in October

Austin Board of REALTORS® releases October 2010 real estate statistics

November 18, 2010 - According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS®, the Austin real estate market continues to hold its value despite a slowdown in sales.

The volume of Austin area home sales in October 2010 was 1,221, down 31 percent from the same month in 2009. Sales volume year-to-date was down five percent from the same period in 2009 with 15,228 homes sold. Homes spent an average of 92 days on the market in October 2010, up 26 percent from the same month in 2009.

The median price of single-family homes in October 2010 was $198,500, up 10 percent from October 2009. Year-to-date, the median home price was $194,990, up three percent from the same period in 2009. Sales activity in the higher prices ranges continued to increase on a year-to-date basis in October with homes priced at $500,000 and above experiencing double-digit sales increases.

According to John Horton, Chairman of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, “Higher priced homes have continued to sell well over the last few months. This trend has been a driver in the steady increases in the median and average prices the market has experienced during the same period.”

Chairman Horton explained, “It has been a unique year in evaluating trends in the real estate market due to the impact of the expired homebuyer tax credits. Monthly comparisons are still being skewed by the artificial stimulus the tax credits provided.”

Horton added, “The market is still providing exceptional opportunities for buyers as we approach the end of the year. Increased active listings throughout the month provide buyers with a good selection of homes to choose from. This, combined with stable home prices and historically low interest rates, makes it a great time for those looking to purchase.”

October 2010 Statistics

•$321,786,003 – Total dollar volume of single-family properties sold, down 24 percent from October 2009.

•$198,500 – Median price for single-family homes, up 10 percent from October 2009.

•1,221 – Single-family homes sold, down 31 percent from October 2009.

•92 – Days on market, up 26 percent from October 2009.

•9,703 – Active single-family home listings on the market, up eight percent from October 2009.

•1,402 – Pending sales for single-family homes, down 23 percent from October 2009.
Year-to-Date 2010 Statistics

•$3,871,811,782 – Total dollar volume of single-family properties sold, unchanged from 2009.

•$194,990 – Median price for single-family homes, up three percent from 2009.

•15,228 – Single-family homes sold, down five percent from 2009.

•74 – Days on market, down five percent from 2009.

•10,497 – Active single-family home listings on the market, up 10 percent from 2009.

•17,235 – Pending sales for single-family homes, down six percent from 2009.

The Austin Board of REALTORS® is a non-profit, voluntary organization representing more than 8,000 licensed REALTORS® in Central Texas. For more information, please contact Angela Brutsché at 512-454-7636.

How Long Does It Take to Sell a Home?

A homeowner in the residential area of Westlake in Austin, Texas, posted a question on Trulia about how long it takes to sell a home. I am including my full response on our company blog to share my advice (and a special listing offer!) with other homesellers in Austin:


I'm a Westlake-based agent and my broker/teammate has worked in the Westlake market for 28 years. Many factors impact the length of time it takes a home to sell, including local supply and demand factors, seasonality, the price/value ratio as perceived by potential buyers, and the condition of the home. The good news is that a good agent will work with a seller to control as many of these factors as possible through conducting a thorough pricing analysis, providing the owner customized home staging advice, and marketing the home in a favorable light far and wide, utilizing both traditional and new media marketing methods.

We could run the past statistics on your neighborhood for you if you are thinking about selling to give you the average days on market (ADOM) in your area. Please let me know if you are seriously considering selling your home and I'll be happy to prepare a customized listing proposal for you. I have 15 years of marketing experience, utilize the latest online technologies to market homes most effectively, and have an extensive network in Austin and especially Westlake.

In order to help ensure that your home sells as quickly as possible, I'd like to offer you a 3% listing that I'll reduce to 2% in 90 days if you haven't received an offer on your home. If a home hasn't sold in 90 days, it's usually prudent to take a price reduction at that time so this post-90-day reduced listing commission could help offset an eventual price move if one is required to react to changing market factors and keep your home in the appropriate price position to sell quickly.

If you want to sell, spring/summer is traditionally the best time to ensure as quick a sale as possible. Please don't hesitate to reach out if I can help you in any way. We look forward to hearing from you!

Best regards,

Elizabeth Clark
President and Investment Specialist, Harvard M.B.A.
Austin Residential Properties
Email: elizabethclark@austinrp.com

Web Reference: http://www.AustinResidentialProperties.com



Note: We'll honor this same post-90-day reduced listing commission offer to all Austin homesellers who list with us in the month of April or May 2010, so please email me at elizabethclark@austinrp.com if you'd like to request a listing proposal.

Staging with Fountains

Water Fountains: What Can They Do For You?

By: Amber Liddell

Water fountains have been around for many years. They are often thought of as an outdoor decorating accent or an accent to a large courtyard to serve as a gathering place for people and a drinking source for animals. Fountains have come a long way since inception to now include many indoor fountain styles as well as an expanded array of outdoor fountains styles as well.

Water features indoors can be found in tabletop styles, floor standing or wall mounted styles. They are the perfect addition to home decorating and can often be used as the main decorating piece of a room. Interior designers and architects love to use indoor fountains in their various styles. Commercial fountains are also very common in lobbies, waiting rooms, conference rooms, behind reception desks and in spas and medical offices. They are impressive and often give customers and patients a sense of calm and something to remember the place of business by. 

Because water fountains bring relaxation and stress-relieving qualities to the environment they have quickly become perfect accents both indoors and out.   As discussed above, a wall hanging feature can be the centerpiece of the decorating style in a home or office while a floor standing fountain can be used as a room divider or to separate one are from another. Tabletop fountains can go virtually anywhere. Let’s talk a bit about outdoor fountains. 

Outdoor water fountains truly come in a variety of sizes, materials and functions. You will find that you can purchase a fountain for your deck, patio or garden areas for under $100. Solar fountains range from $70 to $150 while you can get a fiberglass wall mounted style for around $150. If you want to go larger you will find fiberglass and cast stone style fountains. Placement on a deck, patio or in the landscaping and yard can truly have benefits ranging from soothing water sounds for relaxation and stress relief to increasing a home’s value and curb appeal. Most outdoor water features do require electricity but you will find many solar fountain styles as well.

You will find the largest selection of water fountains, both indoor and out online. Many retail stores carry fountains as well but with so many styles available their selections are often limited due to space. Find the perfect addition to your indoor and outdoor living spaces today.

About the Author

Amber Liddell is resource for the website Serenityhealth.com, your one stop shop for any type of water fountains and water fountain information. You will find many outdoor fountains for your garden, wall fountains, tabletop fountains and even custom fountains. Visit Serenityhealth.com or call to talk to one of our water fountain experts.

(ArticlesBase SC #1849625)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Water Fountains: What Can They Do For You?

How to Improve the Curb Appeal of Your Home

Curb Appeal is Essential to Successful Home Staging

By: Terri Marshall

Curb appeal is the attractiveness of your home as seen from the curb.  Curb appeal is always desirable and is especially critical when selling your home.   Even if your home is absolutely beautiful on the inside, potential buyers may drive right by without stopping if your curb appeal is lacking.  Therefore, when you are preparing your home for sale, be sure to remember to stage the exterior as well as the interior.

The following 10 tips will be sure to boost your home’s curb appeal:

 

1.  Trim back overgrown shrubbery  (this also allows more natural light into your home, which is always a plus)

 

2.  Mow the lawn and add sod to replace any brown patches

 

3. Weed and mulch gardens to give a well-manicured look

 

4. Plant seasonal flowers to add color (in winter use ornamental cabbage)

 

5. Update outdoor light fixtures and be sure light bulbs are in working order

 

6. Replace the mailbox, if needed, to coordinated with paint colors

 

7. Repaint the front door; use a color that accents your exterior color palette  (keep your overall color palette neutral)

 

8. Repaint the front porch if it appears worn

 

9. Fill any cracks in the sidewalk with filler (available at most home improvement stores)

 

10. If they appear too small from the street, replace them with larger numbers.

 

Remember, you never get a second chance to make a great first impression so be sure to make your curb appeal outstanding!  For more information on staging your home for sale visit www.tranquilitybaywellness.com/tranquility-bay-real-estate-staging for a copy of The Tranquility Bay Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Home Staging.

About the Author

Terri R. Marshall is a Certified Home Staging Consultant, Green Living Consultant, Certified Stress Management Specialist and Certified Wellness Coach and owner of Tranquility Bay Home Therapy and in Annapolis, MD. Visit her website at www.tranquilitybaywellness.com (Books Tab) for copies of The Tranquility Bay Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Home Staging and The Tranquility Bay Green Living Guide.

(ArticlesBase SC #1748722)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Curb Appeal is Essential to Successful Home Staging