Texas swimming holes - A fun and amazing tradition in the Texas Hill country

 Huck Finn? Yep a lot of kids in Texas have memories of finding natural springs, water falls and swimming holes. Blue Hole in Wimberley is an amazing find for anyone looking to jump into cold natural river from one of a couple rope swings or just float in tube and watch the fun.

The City of Wimberley and the group Friends of  Blue hole http://www.friendsofbluehole.org/ have done an amazing job creating a fantastic experience to all visitor's to a great example of a Texas swimming hole!

Photos courtesy of : Bob Kenney The Blue Hole in Wimberley, Texas: A Central Texas Treasure Source: http://visitwimberley.com/articles/blueHole.shtml

A naturally beautiful area worth preserving. Blue Hole is one of the best loved natural swimming holes in Texas. Located in Wimberley, it is surrounded by 126 acres of natural forests and native grass fields that have so far escaped the developers' touch. Now, thanks to many dedicated volunteers, and with good stewardship, chances are good that the natural beauty of the Blue Hole will be preserved for many years to come. A unique spot almost hidden in the center of Wimberley, the Blue Hole is lined by old growth cypress trees that have survived floods, milling, and settlers' needs for building materials. The Blue Hole property possesses what is now becoming a much more rare ecosystem and supports many species of birds, reptiles, insects, amphibians, and mammals. Native grasses, wildflowers and groves of varieties of central Texas trees and shrubs are decoratively combined with rocky outcrops, creating a scenic and special environment. The Blue Hole property was owned by the John R. Dobie family from 1897. In the 1920s, it became a popular spot for swimmers and picnickers when the Dobie family opened the Blue Hole to the public. Blue Hole was sold to a private Austin partnership group who allowed limited swimming and camping access to the property. Since Blue Hole is so centrally located, offers so many unique features, and is so closely tied to Wimberley's history, the Village of Wimberley municipal government entered into an option agreement in 2003 to acquire the 126 acre tract along Cypress Creek for public use and parkland. In May 2005 the Village completed the land acquisition portion of the Blue Hole project with grants and donations from Texas Parks and Wildlife, Hays County, the Lower Colorado River Authority, The Trust for Public Land, and numerous individuals.

Photos courtesy of : Bob Kenney

Photos courtesy of : Bob Kenney

Did you know Austin is home of the Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) the first purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the U.S.?

 

Content Courtesy of : COTA   http://circuitoftheamericas.com/

 

Circuit Of The Americas is a multi-purpose facility that will host the most prestigious racing events in the world, including the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™. It is the first purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the U.S. Built around a state-of-the-art 3.4-mile circuit track with capacity for 120,000 fans and an elevation change of 133 feet, the facility is designed for any and all classes of racing – from motor power, to human power.

 

Circuit of The Americas is ideally situated on a 1000-acre site in southeast Austin, approximately two miles from Austin Bergstrom International Airport, with scenic views of downtown.

 

Far more than a racetrack, Circuit of The Americas is a world-class performance, education and business center that will feature:

• Racing-focused amenities including a private Motorsports Driving Club and a Karting Track
• Public spaces for private events, seminars and conventions
• Visitor attractions that include an expansive live entertainment space, retail center and museum
• A center with research facilities and robust services and amenities to power a broad range of business, technology and education allies
• 40,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Conference/Media Center
• 5,500 sq. ft. medical center, offering paramedic services and EMS & medical student training
• Area for law enforcement vehicle training
• Fire and rescue training areas
• Driving academies
• Educational programs

 

An amazing facility and one of Austin's true 7 wonders!

 

Photos: courtesy of Bob Kenney - Inaugural F1 race 2012 

 

I am not sure the home in Houston is the right home for us. We are supposed to sign contract tomorrow. What do I do?

Hi Eva,

Not sure of the whole story but in Texas you have most likely negotiated a Termination option on page 8, section 23 of your contract. This option gives you the UNRESTRICTED right to terminate the contract by giving written notice with in the # of days negotiated after the effective date.

So you you and your partner go under contract and you decide you don’t like something about the home you can terminate the contract and let the seller keep the $$$ you paid for the option. This includes anything from structural to cosmetics to just the way the sky looks in the evening. You do not need an excuse.

Talk with your real estate agent, Realtor® but this option period is on every contract for resale homes in state of Texas. New home contracts are different but talk with the sales rep at if new home and make sure you get in writing any option period they provide after signing an intent to purchase. It is not always called the same thing but most builders do have a period of time after signing that they will release you from your obligation.

I hope it all works out for you in the end. I know it can be a stressful process but every real estate search has a situation behind it that started the process and sometimes it is good to go back and remember that reason and see if the goals are being met with each decision that is made.

Let me know if I can assist any further. Please feel free to call or text : 512-922-4922

Bob Kenney, Realtor®

Reilly Realtors

I am thinking about listing my home and a friend referred me to an broker who provides limited services. What does this mean?

Hi Jennifer,

Great question.

There are some brokers that provide "limited services" for buyers and sellers of real estate. If you include the phrase “limited representation” in this description you would have a clearer picture of what they are offering.

From my experience they usually offer a seller to list the home in a locale MLS and maybe put a sign in the year. The seller is responsible for making appointments, following up on agent visits, any interaction with interested parties and all marketing and advertising expenses. In some cases they will receive an offer but consulting on the offer is an additional charge from their “services menu”.

Most of these “limited services” brokerages will offer all of the additional services from a “services menu”.These services are on a fee basis(A la caret). $$ for sign, $$ for asking agents what they thought about your property, $$ for negotiating contracts etc. There may be some advice given when an offer is received but typically the seller is relying on his or her knowledge about the real estate market to make decisions.

For this limited service they will charge you less than what a full service brokerage would charge you to list the home. Full service brokers on the other hand become your partner in the process. Running interference with buyers agents and their clients by gathering answers to questions that they know will be asked beforehand, marketing and advertising costs are paid by the agent/broker, getting the best possible exposure for your property, advising on strategies, pricing and timing of market conditions, advising on what needs to be done to get a home ready for market, doing analysis of the market so you can be competitive when you list, handling all of the paperwork that will be needed for a successful transaction. There is much more that each individual agent brings to your table that is not on a Service menu basis but part of the obligation that the real estate agent has with their client.

For buyers similar limited representation, they may get notified of listings in the area they are interested in but when it comes time for making appointments with listing agents or sellers it is all up to the buyer. They will produce an offer for the buyer at the time the buyer identifies a home they are interested in and in a lot of cases prepare offers for homes they have not even visited. I once had an out of town buyer contact me to see a home my broker had listed because his agent said if they were only in town to look at homes he did not have time to show them properties, just let him know when they found something they liked and he would write an offer!!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on this type of service. I had a client once mention after talking to a limited service company it felt like having to go to court with out your lawyer!

In either buyer or seller case it depends on how comfortable the client is with dealing with the whole process by themselves. Sometime the opposing agents get a little frustrated by doing the work of 2 agents but having to pay the other agent a commission for less than full service. For the full service areal estate agent at the end of the day it only matters if their clients interests are best served so you do what you have to for your client.

I would strongly suggest you meet with a full service brokerage in your community and compare the level of services and dedication you may find with a full service brokerage. Keep in mind it takes a lot of the stress off of you during the selling process when you have someone working side by side with you instead of being available just a FEE away!

Good luck in your listing. Please feel free to contact me for Full brokerage services if in the Austin, TX area or if you need a referral for anywhere else in the world!

Kind Regards,

Bob Kenney, Realtor®

Reilly Realtors

Mobile/Text: 512-922-4922

I think there is an issue with a home I like, how can I check it out before I agree to agree to purchase the home?

Hi Vivian,

First thing you should do is have your real estate agent, Realtor®, ask the sellers agent or the seller if for sale by owner for a copy of the sellers disclosure. Read this document carefully as it should have information on any material issues that the home may have had since the current owner has owned the home. A lot of people are skeptical about the disclosure but as professional Realtor® we encourage the home owner , as listing agent, to fill out the disclosure with all the facts. The penalty in Texas for non disclosure of an issue is stiff and dates from time of discovery about a non disclosed issue.

In Texas we have what is called a Termination Option period. It gives the buyer the unrestricted right to cancel the contract with out penalty through the term of the option period.. It is negotiated with each home sale. This is the point the buyers have to inspect the property and decide if the property is right for them.

If there is something you just do not feel is right about the property and it is not on the sellers disclosure then this is the period you want to investigate. Most home owners will not let you do inspections on their property if you are not under contract because if there are unknown issues discovered they would then be obligated to disclose the issue to the next buyer if you chose not to buy the home.

Different states have different rules but most states allow for inspections of property after a home goes under contract. Please contact a real estate professional in your area for assistance and don’t let the home go to someone else if you feel it is the right one.

If you are in Texas and need assistance. Give me a call I will be glad to represent you or refer you to a Realtor® in your home town that can represent you.

Regards

Bob Kenney, Realtor®

Reilly Realtors

Mobile/Text - 512-922-4922

Do Open Houses really work to sell my home?

Thanks for the Email Jack,

There are a couple of different schools about Open Houses

A) While the additional exposure can not hurt the marketing of a home. A large percentage of the time the Open Houses benefit the Realtor® holding the home open to the public.

The agent has a chance to interact with the people coming through the doors and if this is not the right home than maybe they can help them find another one that would be a better fit.

B) Open houses are a great for the exposure of the home in any kind of market.

So you have agents that are looking for the opportunity top “pick up buyers” and agents who believe in exposing the home to as many individuals as possible hoping to generate interest in your home.

In my experience a buyer walks into an open house blind maybe less than 5% of the time. I believe open houses are a win win for the homeowner and the agent as it helps expose the property to a market (people that love to go to open houses) and to neighbors that may have friends or family wanting to move into the area.

It really comes down to the homeowner and how they feel about open houses. I have had clients prefer not to open their homes up to the public. Trouble of getting the home in “showing condition” worry about personal property etc.. I think it is a marketing tool that has to be discussed before you list the home so that everyone’s expectations are set before the home gets to market.

So to recap – Yest it can be helpful to have open houses, especially at the beginning of a listing, but it depends on homeowners feelings about preparing and opening their home to the public.

Have the discussion up front with your Realtor® They will know the locale market and how important/unimportant it may be from a locale market perspective.

Good luck with the sale of your home Jack.

Bob Kenney, Realtor®

Reilly Realtors

Mobile/text: 512-922-4922

 

 

 

 

 

What is the difference between a Realtor® and a buyers agent?

Good morning Marty,

Real estate agents are licensed by the state in which they offer their services, there is not a specific buyers or listing agent license only there are agents that prefer to specialize on both sides. If an agent joins NAR (National Association of Realtors®) they are eligible to use the designation Realtor®.

There are agents that are licensed in their respective states, either as agents or brokers, who choose not to belong to NAR so they do not have the right to use the designation Realtor®.

I am licensed in the state of Texas and I belong to NAR. So I am licensed real estate agent and Realtor®. If you are dealing with an agent that uses Buyers Agent and not Realtor® as part of their designation then chances are that they do not belong to NAR. They may use ABA or accredited buyers agent but in order to have that designation they need to belong to NAR as well.

All Realtors can either be buyers or sellers (listing) agents. 15+ years ago most markets had only one kind of agent. Sellers agents and all agents worked for the seller and earned their commissions by representing the sellers. In late 1990's the advent of the “Buyers Agent” came along and I think it was a good thing for the real estate industry as a whole.

In most markets throughout the US you now have agents that represent just one side of the transaction. The seller still offers compensation in the form of a commission , in most cases, the commission is always paid to the listing broker as a whole amount and the listing broker then splits the whole commission with the buyers broker.

I use the term Broker because in Texas all agents that sell real estate must hold their license under a named broker in order to legally transact business. So the agents have a independent contractors association with the brokers. All contracts , listing agreements and buyers representations are IP of the broker with the agent as the representative of the broker. Confusing yes but the broker is held to a higher count of responsibility and must represent the agents should there be any kind of legal actions or disputes with other brokers/agents.

Those agents that act as buyer agents do so for a number of reasons. It could be they are just good in dealing with people and can convert leads to clients better than they can convert someone thinking about selling their homes to a listing. Could be that a broker hires that agent specifically so the agent works with buyers only in order to hone their representation skills.

So I guess that was a long answer. Do not feel compelled to work with a agent just because they say the specialize with buyers. Although there are agents that just list homes as a business model I would guess that 85% of licensed real estate agents are excellent representatives of both sellers and buyers in any given transaction. Call me if you have any further questions!

Bob kenney, Realtor® Mobile/Text: 512-922-4922

Hi Elizabeth,

I assume you mean from the Buyers prospective? Here are some basic to help understand the negotiation process.

Once a property if “Offered” for sale it is offered with specific terms such as price and condition. Time frame of the transaction is left open for negotiation unless otherwise specified (must close on or before X date).

As the buyer you have a couple of options. You can make and offer using the offered terms with no changes and add you desired day of close. I usually include time frame for response, “please respond by 5Pm of the following day or this contract may be considered null and void” this helps makes the transaction move along at a reasonable pace and helps prevents the seller from shopping your offer with other potential buyers. Once the seller receives this offer they then have 3 options

1.     Accept your offer – Offer is signed by all parties and the contract proceeds to Escrow.

2. Counter offer any of the terms including price, day of closing
3. Not respond in which case your offer has not been accepted

If you receive a counter offer you now have the same 3 options as the seller had when they received your offer (as above)

It is important at this point to realize that ANY change on the contract, even if it was something previously not changed of changed makes the contract eligible for the 3 responses. So for instance you agree to all the changes the seller has countered to you with except now you want to change the Number of days you may have for an option. This change goes back to the seller and now they have the 3 choices in their court.

So you see it is important to list out all terms early on and decide which ones are most important to you and would be worth either breaking a deal or moving on.

Now the really important part:

NO DEAL IS CONSIDERED TO BE A EAL UNTIL ALL PARTIES HAVE INITIALED AND SIGNED THE ENTIRE CONTRACT AND ALL ADDENDEM,

In regards to Texas Real estate once the parties have agreed on all terms of the contract, initialed and signed all parts of the contract and any addendum the contract is considered Executed. Then the contract (in Texas) is delivered to a title company along with the agreed upon Escrow funds the minute after the contract is executed the clock starts ticking on the various time sensitive deadlines of the contract including getting the contract delivered with escrow funds to title company.

Remember there are lots of parts to any transaction so the required addendum and number of negotiated terms may vary from transaction to transaction.

I hope you find this helpful and should you have any further questions please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

Bob Kenney, Realtor® Mobile/Text : 512-922-4922

I am ready to buy a home should I have financing arranged prior to a search?

Hi Angelia,

While there is no requirement for you to have been approved prior to a search there it is a very good idea for you to have talked to a mortgage lender and if possible get a per-approval so that you will know what price range you can afford.

He process moves astoundingly fast once you place an offer on a home. So as many things as you can do in preparation for closing on a home of your choice the smoother the transaction.

• Financing – Know what you can borrow based on your income. Debt obligations and cash reserves. A licensed professional is the best source of information. There are several ways to find a good mortgage lender.

Realtors® are a good source. They will give you the names of lenders they have worked with in the past and have proven to be good representatives of their clients best interest. Among other responsibilities your agent should be looking out for your ability to close a transaction w/in a specified time frame and knows lenders who are capable of processing and closing deals in the most efficient way. Make sure you talk to all referrals, sometimes clients can get a feel for personality fits after talking to a lender.

Banks. Your bank is also a good source. If they do not have mortgage services available they most likely have a corresponding relationship with another bank that does.

Friends that have recently closed on a home – If you have close friends who’s opinions your trust ask them about their experience with their lender of choice. A lot of clients value the opinion of people they know and trust.

• Current living situation – Regardless if you are in a lease or own a home. Have a plan in place to shift out of your current living arrangement. If you are having to break a lease make sure you know all penalties/options available to you from the management or owner of your lease unit.

Ask your Realtor® to do a CMA on your home and see what current market values are. A lot of consumers have inflated ideas on home value and the mortgage lander will need to know what you owe and what the current market value.

• Timing – A lot of people forget they have to specify a time frame on the offer contract that they intend to close on a home. There are several other time deadlines in the contract that must be met as well so make sure your agent explains all of the phases of the contract and exact deadlines that you have to perform under the contract terms. Pay close attentions to any changes that may be made during a negotiation some of these dates may be negotiable.

 

• Consumer purchases – All mortgage lenders will tell you right up front - “DO NOT MAKE ANY LARGE CONSUMER PURCHASES DURNG THE APPLICATION PERIOD”

It is tempting to buy appliances, furniture etc before moving into a new home. Any credit purchases of changes in cash positions will have an affect on the Debt to Income ratios the lenders use to help determine your ability to make mortgage payments. Hold off until after the home closes. The lending company is going to verify your credit/bank account balances and employment w/in 3 days of closing. If there are any large changes this could affect your closing date as they will need to verify the changes and possibly ask for explanations about cash deposits etc..

So best advice is to have as much of your financial information in order to help delay approval process. Be proactive in finding out reputations of the lenders your are targeting to use and listen to what your referring sources have to tell you. Seek advice only from qualified professionals. They are in the business everyday and may know some things that lenders will not tell you up front.

Hope this information assists you.

Please do not have any hesitations in contacting me direct if you have further questions.

Regards,

Bob Kenney, Realtor®

Mobile/Text: 512-922-4922

Contingency offers: Good or Bad?

Most agents selling real estate in the last 10 years has received a “contingent on the sale of other property” contract at one point or another. Is it good or bad for your seller client?

Like everything else in a negotiation it just depends on what the property being sold is, How it is priced compared to the market conditions and the terms that are offering.

FACT – The majority of consumers looking to buy a new home will need to sell an existing property to access equity and reduce Loan to Value ratios in order to qualify for a new mortgage. Of course there are exceptions to that statement. Buyers with Cash, someone who may own an existing property outright but most people will need to sell one home to buy another.

So it all comes down to TIMIMG

I urge my clients to look at the offer they receive 1^st and once they address any terms that need addressing but before there is a response, then look at the contingent property.

This requires a little more cooperation from the buyer and his/her agent. Once a consumer has found a home they want to buy they tend to get pretty serious about getting their property sold. If the property is one the market and they have an offer that is past the option periods then it is still considered contingent but it is a little stronger than maybe something that is not on the market, not ready for the market and is going to be priced too high for quick contract.

Each situation is unique and I think contingency offers need to weighed just as seriously as non contingent offers. Is there risk for a seller to take a contingent offer? Yes. What if the contingent home does not close on time? You would have signaled to the market that you have a contract on the property but a contingency and it may be dismissed by some other potential buyers. Are there benefits for the seller ? Yes typically you can be a little firmer on price that with someone who may think they can discount you property if paying cash or other favorable terms.

So I would always suggest that the offer be considered as serious as any other offer and treat it was much respect. In 13 years as an Agent I have had only 1 Continent deal fall through and it was a client who was not very honest about the sale of their property. Other than that I have concluded several contingent contracts successfully and when a buyer is in that position I have learned that the presentation of the offer, terms and status of their home sale if handled correctly can be a positive for the selling client.

Let me know if you have any questions.  I appreciate your referrals!!

Send questions to Mobile/Text: 512-922-4922

Regards,

Bob Kenney, Realtor®

Texas Homestead Exemption Application

If  you have purchased a home in Texas in 2013 as a primary residence you are eligible to apply for what is called a “Homestead Exemption” after January 1, 2014.

There are several companies who will advertise to you that they can file this application for you for a fee. Do not pay the fee. There is no charge for this application it is free!

The county in which you reside will have the forms available to you as a PDF (in most cases) print it out fill In the information and send it to the address on the form.

Travis County link is here: http://www.traviscad.org/pdf/Forms/Exemptions/50-114_Homestead%20Exemption%20Form.pdf

Hays County link is here : http://www.hayscad.com/forms/

Williamson County link is here http://www.wcad.org/Appraisal/PublicAccess/Forms/PublicServices/HomesteadExemptionApplication.pdf

Also here is a copy of a blank form – Whatever county you live in simply fill in the tax appraisal district information and follow instructions. You can find mailing address on your locale appraisal district web site: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/50-114.pdf

What is a Homestead Exemption:*window on state goverment http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/tx96_295/home.html

Savings on Home Taxes   

An exemption removes part of the value of your property from taxation and lowers your taxes. For example, if your home is valued at $50,000 and you qualify for a $15,000 exemption, you pay taxes on your home as if it was worth only $35,000. Other than exemptions for disabled veterans or survivors, these exemptions apply only for your homestead. They do not apply to other property you own.

Does your home qualify for exemptions?

You must own your home.

To qualify for a general or disabled homestead exemption, you must own your home on January 1. If you are 65 years of age or older, you need not own your home on January 1. You will qualify for the over-65 exemption as soon as you turn 65, own the home, and live in it as your principal residence.

Your homestead can be a separate structure, condominium, or a mobile home located on leased land, as long as you own it. Your homestead can include up to 20 acres if the land is used as your yard.

A residence may be owned by an individual through an interest in a qualifying beneficial trust and may be occupied by a trustor of a qualifying trust.

If you are not the sole owner of the home, you will receive only a portion of any qualified exemption, based on your percent of ownership. For example, you own a 25-percent interest in a homestead valued at $100,000, for a total value of $25,000. You will receive 25 percent of a $15,000 school homestead exemption, or $3,750.

You must use the home as your principal residence on January 1.

If you have more than one house, you can only get exemptions for your main or principal residence. You must live in this home on January 1.

If you temporarily move away from your home, you can still get an exemption if you don't establish another principal residence and you intend to return. For instance, if you enter a nursing home, your home still qualifies as your homestead if you intend to return.

Renting part of your home or using part of it for a business doesn't disqualify the rest of your home for the exemption.

Note: Texas has two distinct laws for designating a homestead. The Texas Tax Code offers homeowners a way to apply for homestead exemptions to reduce local property taxes. The Texas Property Code allows homeowners to designate their homesteads to protect them from a forced sale to satisfy creditors. This law does not protect homeowners from tax foreclosure sales of their homes for delinquent taxes.

So get your applications in and don't be fooled by the offers to make application on your behalf.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,

Bob Kenney, Realtor®

VP Turnquist Partners Realtors

Mobile/Text: 512-922-4922

“What’s going on in the market?”

Ever ask a Realtor this question at a party or social event? Surprised at the generality of the answer?

We as Realtors are taught to respect the Agent/Client relationship. If you are not formally working with an agent you are what we refer to as a customer.  In an Agent/Customer relationship there is no general understanding about the respective roles of each individual.  A Realtor sounds guarded because we are taught not to give advice that others may act on if they are not clients. Seems trivial but it is rather fairly straight forward. You might not reveal all the particulars about a property or transaction you have in mind when you ask the question. You act on agent’s thoughts and later feel you were misadvised about the state of the market. This has actually happened and as a result Realtors have been faced with having to defend themselves in law suits.

In an Agent/Client relationship there is full disclosure of motive, fiduciary responsibility of the Realtor to protect these motives and all personal information disclosed in the relationship. This fiduciary responsibility survives any contractual dates and a good, professional Realtor will make certain you are advised of these facts. Thus when advice is given it is specific and well thought out.

There are several misconceptions a professional Realtor deal with on a daily basis “every Realtor should be advising me on the market conditions” and “why should I pay a commission, I know plenty of people who want to buy my home”.

Well 1^st and foremost I am a professional and I earn a living and pay my bills by advising my clients about the sale and purchase of real estate. If I were to come into a consumer’s work place admire a particular item or service and say “great, I like that can I have it for free” I don’t think I would get a very good reception. Unfortunately this happens quite a bit in Real estate.

There is also a general misunderstanding in regards to the costs of a Real estate professional participation in a real estate transaction. Some consumers look at the commission as an inflated cost that no one agent can justify. I like to educate my clients explaining that the total commission does not reach my pocket intact. There are typically broker fees, expenses that are paid out of pocket by the agent (in 90% of the cases there is no expectation of reimbursement, even if a deal does not happen), Federal tax liabilities and regular expenses associated with maintaining license/ association memberships etc. 

It is just like every other business out there. You have a gross and a net compensation. The goal of every Realtor is to increase his/her sales to help average the costs of maintaining their license and professional designations.

Commissions are such a touchy subject with some consumers and Realtors that they tend not to talk about the costs associated with a transaction. In my business plan I have a mix of business. Client referred, repeat clients, new client associations through marketing and market exposure, Realtor/Broker referral business and 3^rd party relocation referrals. All of these types of clients are treated equally by me even though they all have some different fee structure associated with them. The goal at the end of the year is to achieve an income level that allows reinvestment back into the profession and earn a sustainable living.

There is a reason that Real estate plays such a large role in our current economy. It is not only the Realtor commissions that generates income, all of the inclinatory services from Property inspection, appraisal, title or attorney fees, mortgage lending, credit reporting, moving services, home improvement if you think about it one transaction generates a lot of momentum into the economy and it is no wonder we were in such dire straits when the markets ceased in 2009/2010.

So next time you are talking to a Realtor at a party or social gathering ask “how his/her business is going” instead of “what is happening in the market”. You might get a different response then what you are used to. And don’t be surprised if the Realtor asks if you are in the market and if so do you have an agent representing you interest. They are asking for a reason.

I wish you all the best of luck in 2014.

May your dreams come true, your goals be realized and your health well

Kind Regards,

Bob Kenney, Realtor

VP Turnquist Partners Realtors

Mobile/Text: 512-922-4922

Email: rkenney51@gmail.com

Texas Education Accountability Rating System

The Texas education system uses an accountability Rating systems for all public schools in the state.

In a lot of cases families moving to the state will want to know what the performance levels of the public schools in a given geographic area are. Austin like most metropolitan areas, is comprised of several independent school districts (ISD 's). In my earlier post I touched on funding through property taxes for the education system.

 The link below is to the Texas education agency. The link will bring you to a page of the latest 2013 school ratings for all public schools in Texas. There is also information on how the ratings are calculated.

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2013/index.html

For a quick district report you can click on this link : Scroll to the district of interest http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2013/statelist.pdf

You can get more information by accessing the reports on the left.

The goal of the system is to evenly compare individual campus performance on an apples to apples basis. This is a great tool for a family trying to narrow down possible areas of relocation.

The following ISD's serve the greater Austin area:

Austin ISD
Westlake ISD
Lake Travis ISD
Leander/Cedar park ISD
Round rock ISD
Dripping springs ISD
Hays ISD
Georgetown ISD
Pflugerville ISD

You can see other area ISD's on the map below.

Map courtesy of Austin Chamber of commerce

As always if you have any questions please feel free to email me @ rkenney51@gmail.com  or call/text 512-922-4922

Relocating to Austin TX?

If you or someone you know is thinking about relocation to Austin TX. I encourage your inquiries!

I am a transplant to the Austin area from Massachusetts and have been in Austin for 15 years and selling Real-estate in the Central Texas area for 12 years.

I have extensive relocation experience both listing houses and representing buyers who are relocation to the area. I have the following designations for relocation education: GMS, CRP as well as my GREEN designation in effort to become more aware and proactive in social preservation.

Austin is a unique place even w/in the boarders of Texas. We are central to most of Texas main destination cities and boast "hill country" and 'Lakes region" that have been entertaining Texans, as well as visitors from other parts of the world, for generations.

There is a lot of different things that bring people to Austin (not in ranked order)

1)   Capital of Texas
2)   Music and social life style
3)   F-1 racing at its best
4)   Lakes and recreation
5)   Easy relaxed lifestyle
6)   Affordability
7)   Climate
8)   Education
9)   Employment
10) Location

Austin is a great place to be relocation. it has a vast and varied real estate market affording newcomers with all ranges of budgets. several of the school systems (or Independent school districts ISD's as they are known in Texas) are a welcome change to a lot of transferees.

Taxes - in Texas we do not have a state income tax :)!! However we do have 2 other taxes :(

A) Sales tax - state mandated at 6.25% with a 2% taxing authority discretion. In most cases you will find the sales tax to be 8.25%

B) Property Tax - This can be a shocker if you are not aware of it but you have to look at the whole picture.

Tax % rates vary according to the taxing districts (usually based on what county you are in) I have seen rates between 1.8% to 3%  based on 100% valuation of a properties value. Texas does offer a Homestead for your main residence as well as other exemptions and they are all covered in the link below.

These Taxes are made up of several components but majority of the tax is used to funds education with in that taxing jurisdiction.

When you consider that most other areas of the country have a similar property tax structure for education and services like ems, fire and police and an Income tax on top of it you really are a little better off but the 1st tax bill can be alarming if you are not expecting it.

I have included a link to the Texas 2013 Property tax guide for fuller explanation

State of Taxes property tax guide 2013

This is the 1st blog of this newly entitled site. I encourage questions, corrections, opinions and commentary. Please share my contact information with anyone looking for an unbiased assessment of the Austin and central Texas area.

Bob Kenney
Mobile: 512-922-4922

email: rkenney51@gmail.com