Home Improvements | Support Local Austin

Archive for home improvements

78704 Finds

October 28th, 2011

1908 Glencliff Drive 78704

Lately, I have been spending my time in Central Austin specifically Barton Hills and other areas within the 78704 zip code. Conditions have varied with some needing a little love, like maybe new paint colors, while others need some major updating.

Homes in need of remodeling can be found in all price points. When you are purchasing a home that is considered ‘dated’, it is best to know what your intended use is for it. For example, if you are looking to just lease the house out, freshening up the paint and re-carpeting may be all you need to do to make it ready for a tenant. If your plans are live in the house, understand that many of the upgrades you will add are for you. They may depreciate over time and not all buyers will appreciate what you have done. When the plan is to remodel a home to flip it, budget is key. Sticking to a budget which should include a miscellaneous fund for unexpected work will keep you from buying yourself right out of the neighborhood.

Here are some houses I have seen in the past week. Doreen’s picks of the week Again, how much work they need, if any, will depend on the buyer’s intended use.

1908 Glencliff (see link above) was designed by James D. Pfluger. It is a work of art with great bones and over an acre of land on the cliff of the Barton Creek Greenbelt, about 200′ upstream from Camel’s Hole. It has privacy and a view, but the view could be better if someone cleaned up the brush and trees and perhaps redesigned the overhang on the back decks. The house has tons of possibilities. Many of the surrounding homes have been completely rebuilt and updated.

One note about investment properties. Leases are on the rise, because properties for lease are in short supply. There are many people who cannot qualify for a loan these days, so they need to lease. There are some people of course that prefer to lease, but with the addition of people that now do not have a choice – the demand is very high. So, if you are thinking about purchasing an investment property – now may be the time. Remember, investment properties also come in all price points. They require 20% down and rates right now hovering around 5% and under.

Categories Buying a home
Comments (0)

Home Owners Associations

by Doreen Zelma

October 18th, 2011

Home owners associations are common in neighborhoods in and around Austin. Some are voluntary like in Travis Heights, for example. Most are mandatory, which means that if you choose to own real estate within the boundaries of the Association – membership is mandatory. Home owners associations often provide additional restrictions above and beyond what the City imposes.

Rules and by-laws are defined and outlined for each home owners association and can include anything from buildings restrictions, pet limitations and quiet hours. H.O.A.s impose fee’s to manage common charges and services impacted by the community. Mandatory home owners associations are typically created at the time the subdivision is created whether it is a neighborhood of houses or a condominium community.

H.O.A.s are a legal and financial entity designed to fund and manage common services and areas. Gated entrances, pools, fitness centers and playgrounds are all examples of common areas. Common services can include water, cable, trash and even gas. What services are included typically depends on how the subdivision was initially designed. Home owners associations can be powerful; they will impose fines and can even place liens on a property if fees are not paid or rules are not complied with.

Home owners associations often manage community activities as well, which provides an environment to socialize with neighbors within the community.

Austin HOA Rules and Restrictions

Whether or not a home owners association will work for a buyer will depend on many factors. If you are looking to build and want the freedom to choose any material you want or size of home, a neighborhood with a home owners association may not work for you. Having horses or parking an RV or boat next to a house – may not be allowed. You may be limited to the kinds of fences you can have. Dog breeds that are typically labeled as ‘aggressive’ are often not allowed as well.

Some people like limitations and rules within a community. Members of an association often like the structure within the community and welcome the limitations. Some people like a common aesthetic theme limited building materials bring. They also like the sense of community and small town feeling common amenities often provide.

Home owners associations can include many amenities, rules and by-laws or very few. H.O.A.s vary greatly in terms of when fees are due. Some are monthly; others are quarterly or even paid annually. Frequency is often determined by the size and scope of the association.

Unless I have a buyer who truly doesn’t like the idea of a home owners association, I often suggest clients be open to the idea. You can often tell just by driving through a neighborhood if it is heavily restricted or looks fairly laid back. With so many of them in the greater Austin area, it is hard for prospective buyer to completely rule them out.

Categories Buying a home
Comments (0)

Beat the Heat

by Doreen Zelma

August 24th, 2011

Austin, like all of Texas, is experiencing severe drought conditions. Record breaking heat and water conservation has caused some shifts in routine for all of us. For me, that means trying to get out early to look at houses whether I am with clients or previewing. I showed land in Smithville last Monday, which is just west of Bastrop. My clients and I started at 10:30, spending about a good 20 minutes at the first lot. As the day heated up, we started to select what lots we actually wanted to get out of the car for. We saw 14 lots in 2 hours. Heat can be motivating!

Shifts in routine also include remembering to water plants after sunset and being mindful of our foundations. Dirt is like a sponge, when it dries out — it condenses. That dirt under your house is condensing too. Cement doesn’t bend, it cracks. Having a drip system around your house is helpful. A hose with holes placed around your house can help water your plants and your foundation at the same time.

Categories Buying a home, Selling a home
Comments (0)

Curb Appeal

by Doreen Zelma

June 27th, 2011

We often focus on the inside of a home when planning to sell it and forget about the outside. Curb appeal gives a buyer a first impression, not only of your home — but also of you. To a buyer, a well kept home on the outside tends to reflect pride of ownership on the inside. Whether or not the assumption is true, is irrelevant when you are selling your home. You may never get a second chance to make first impression.

When we live for awhile in the same space, we often become blind, deaf and well, sometimes even dumb. How many times have you walked around that overgrown bush that has taken over your walkway, instead of just trimming it back? How often do you look at the weeds in your planting beds and try to convince yourself they are wild flowers? We all do it to varying degrees, so here are some reminders of things that need tending to when you are going to sell your home — clean the gutters, weed and mulch planting beds, cut back bushes, paint or power wash if the house looks dirty.

Sellers worry about the foyer in the entry, because in their minds it is the first thing a buyer will see. The truth is that the first thing a buyer sees is the front lawn.

Categories Selling a home
Comments (0)