Austin Tops The Charts
RealAge lists Austin the #3 “youngest city,” citing a survey ranking how young the residents feel (April 2011)
Men’s Health ranks Austin #8 among the top 10 socially-networked cities (March 2011)
Austin is the 2nd best city in America to find a job, according to the U.S. Department of Labor and Ajilon Professional Staffing. (March 2011)
Austin was chosen as one of the eight best places to live and work in the U.S., by Business Review USA. (February 2011)
PayScale, Inc. ranks Austin second among cities considered an IT startup “hot spot.” (January 2011)
Austin is #7 on the list of the top 10 emerging restaurant markets in the U.S. this year, according to a recent survey by QSR magazine and Pitney Bowes Business Insight. (January 2011)
AOL Travel names Austin the best city for a Rock Star Girls’ Weekend Getaway. (January 2011)
ImpactLab names Austin the most popular destination for young people. (January 2011)
The Huffington Post ranks Austin 8th for best culture for college students. (December 2010)
CNBC names Austin among celebrity cities on the rise. (December 2010)
Austin was ranked the 12th best city for shopping in the U.S., according to a Forbes listing. (December 2010).
Lonely Planet staffers name Austin and the Hill Country the 4th for Best Place to Visit in the U.S. (December 2010)
Austin named second-strongest job market in the country by the Milken Institute. (November 2010
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Friday, October 15, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
2010 SCHOOL RATINGS are in. Lots of A+ grades for Austin Area Schools
At 1:00 pm on the 31st of July I was glued to the Texas education agency website as they released the latest campus accountability ratings for Texas public schools. Professionally, in that as a Realtor my clients seem to appreciate it when I can speak intelligently on the quality of the public schools in any given neighborhood.
As a Cedar Park resident and with many of my clients in the Leander ISD and Round Rock ISD I was go pleased to see that most of the area elementary schools were rated exemplary and now several of the local middle schools had increased in rating. Just one more reason why AUSTIN TEXAS is the place to buy real estate...
To see the 2010 accountability ratings click the following link: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ or call me and I will gladly get you a brochure with all the school ratings. Until next time, STAY COOL!
As a Cedar Park resident and with many of my clients in the Leander ISD and Round Rock ISD I was go pleased to see that most of the area elementary schools were rated exemplary and now several of the local middle schools had increased in rating. Just one more reason why AUSTIN TEXAS is the place to buy real estate...
To see the 2010 accountability ratings click the following link: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ or call me and I will gladly get you a brochure with all the school ratings. Until next time, STAY COOL!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wow, this article says it all & Austin is THE place to buy a home.
Five Smart Reasons to Buy a Home Now
RISMEDIA, July 30, 2010--The economy is stabilizing. Home prices are holding. It's not just as good a time as ever to buy a house. It's one of the best times ever.
ForSaleByOwner.com presents five overlooked reasons why now is a great time to buy a house.
1. Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today's record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. That means they have a little give to absorb a few ups and downs as the still-recovering housing market gains traction.
2. Houses are in move-in condition. Homeowners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center on Housing. Homeowners who have been holding back kept their houses in good shape while they waited. As those houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures.
3. Terrific houses are coming on the market. Foreclosures are finally starting to clear the system – and this is just the opportunity that owners of many desirable properties have been waiting for.
4. Appraisal regulations are finally aligned with market realities. Fannie Mae has adjusted its appraisal guidelines...again. Now that appraisers have more flexibility to set values that reflect the current market, today's deals will make it over the finish line.
5. Plenty of programs. Homes are more affordable than they have been for years, but communities have stuck by "workforce housing" programs that encourage middle-class families to buy houses. Buyers who qualify can get a big boost by combining one of these programs with today's low mortgage rates.
RISMEDIA, July 30, 2010--The economy is stabilizing. Home prices are holding. It's not just as good a time as ever to buy a house. It's one of the best times ever.
ForSaleByOwner.com presents five overlooked reasons why now is a great time to buy a house.
1. Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today's record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. That means they have a little give to absorb a few ups and downs as the still-recovering housing market gains traction.
2. Houses are in move-in condition. Homeowners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center on Housing. Homeowners who have been holding back kept their houses in good shape while they waited. As those houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures.
3. Terrific houses are coming on the market. Foreclosures are finally starting to clear the system – and this is just the opportunity that owners of many desirable properties have been waiting for.
4. Appraisal regulations are finally aligned with market realities. Fannie Mae has adjusted its appraisal guidelines...again. Now that appraisers have more flexibility to set values that reflect the current market, today's deals will make it over the finish line.
5. Plenty of programs. Homes are more affordable than they have been for years, but communities have stuck by "workforce housing" programs that encourage middle-class families to buy houses. Buyers who qualify can get a big boost by combining one of these programs with today's low mortgage rates.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
4.375% Interest Rates... Are We Dreaming?!
Interest rates this low sounds like the stuff homebuyers' dreams are made of; but this is reality! It is such an opportune time to be on the market for a great home and Austin, Cedar Park and Round Rock are no exception.
Don't let the fact that the first time homebuyers' credit has expired hinder you from exploring the fantastic listings that are available. In the long run, having low interest rates on your mortgage puts you at an even greater advantage than the federal tax credit.
According to the Wall Street Journal, "The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.57% for the week ended Thursday, down slightly from the prior week's 4.58% average and 5.2% a year ago. It is at the lowest point in (Freddie Mac's weekley) 39-year survey."
These record low mortgage rates should be inspiring you if you're in the position to buy a home.
Don't let the fact that the first time homebuyers' credit has expired hinder you from exploring the fantastic listings that are available. In the long run, having low interest rates on your mortgage puts you at an even greater advantage than the federal tax credit.
According to the Wall Street Journal, "The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.57% for the week ended Thursday, down slightly from the prior week's 4.58% average and 5.2% a year ago. It is at the lowest point in (Freddie Mac's weekley) 39-year survey."
These record low mortgage rates should be inspiring you if you're in the position to buy a home.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Austin is recession-resistant
Austin ranked the third most Recession-Resistant city by the
Brookings Institute
In April of 2008, Austin was ranked the third most recession proof
city by Forbes because of a lack of a housing bubble, low median home
price, low unemployment, and strong job growth segments that would
recover more quickly. Plus, Austin was known as ?Silicon Hills? for
its growing tech sector industries.
Now, over two years later, the Brookings Institute has released their
quarterly in-depth analysis which also ranks Austin the third most
recession proof city in the U.S.
The Brookings Institute analyzes the health of America?s 100 largest
metropolitan economies. It examines trends in metropolitan-level
employment, output, and housing conditions to look ?beneath the hood?
of national economic statistics to portray the diverse metropolitan
trajectories of recession and recovery across the country.
MetroMonitor looks at the particular industries that drive national
economic trends, and takes into account metro areas? unique starting
points for eventual recovery.
Click here for the full report.
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/MetroMonitor.aspx
You can also view many interactive reports for employment, REO
properties and other economic measurements.
The top 10 stable cities identified by MetroMonitor are:
1. Albany, N.Y.
2. Augusta, Ga.
3. Austin, Texas
4. Baton Rouge, La.
5. Buffalo, N.Y.
6. Columbia, S.C.
7. Dallas, Texas
8. Des Moines, Iowa
9. El Paso, Texas
10. Honolulu
Brookings Institute
In April of 2008, Austin was ranked the third most recession proof
city by Forbes because of a lack of a housing bubble, low median home
price, low unemployment, and strong job growth segments that would
recover more quickly. Plus, Austin was known as ?Silicon Hills? for
its growing tech sector industries.
Now, over two years later, the Brookings Institute has released their
quarterly in-depth analysis which also ranks Austin the third most
recession proof city in the U.S.
The Brookings Institute analyzes the health of America?s 100 largest
metropolitan economies. It examines trends in metropolitan-level
employment, output, and housing conditions to look ?beneath the hood?
of national economic statistics to portray the diverse metropolitan
trajectories of recession and recovery across the country.
MetroMonitor looks at the particular industries that drive national
economic trends, and takes into account metro areas? unique starting
points for eventual recovery.
Click here for the full report.
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/MetroMonitor.aspx
You can also view many interactive reports for employment, REO
properties and other economic measurements.
The top 10 stable cities identified by MetroMonitor are:
1. Albany, N.Y.
2. Augusta, Ga.
3. Austin, Texas
4. Baton Rouge, La.
5. Buffalo, N.Y.
6. Columbia, S.C.
7. Dallas, Texas
8. Des Moines, Iowa
9. El Paso, Texas
10. Honolulu
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