In one word, ABSOLUTELY.

I was at a sales conference not too long ago in San Antonio Texas. The schedule for the conference was jam-packed but allowed some free time the first day for conference goers to explore the city. With the purchase of the conference ticket, everyone got a free pass for a guided tour around the city. Of course I was too good for that. With internet access in my hotel room and my laptop at the ready, I did a quick search to plan my own tour. I quickly created an itinerary , synced up my handheld and off I went. It turns out due to the size of the conference (plus the regular population of San Antonio), every cab in the city was being used. It didn’t stop there, buses, scooter rentals, everything was tied up. By the time I finally got a cab, I was afraid to get out, fearing that I wouldn’t get another one. Long story short, I did most of my sight-seeing that day from the inside of a smelly cab. When I got back to the conference center that night for the meet and greet, everyone was talking about how great the FREE guided tour was and the amount of inside knowledge on the history, culture and happenings of the city they had learned that day.  I know now it is always wiser to stick with a pro. Read more »

Granted, I did write the quiz. :)  Check it out!

Austin Real EstateTake This Test

Sorry I’m posting this a little late.  These statistics were released a couple of weeks ago.

It’s the same old story this month.  Sales volume is down 21%, active listings are up 15%, and median and average sales prices are both slightly up.

1. Mowing the lawn is not for you.
2. Forget the lawn, you hate to trim, pull weeds, and paint.
3. You travel a lot for your job or your sanity.
4. You have all these hobbies you want to pursue.
5. You have been renting for years and wasting money.
6. You want a pool but can’t afford it.
7. You don’t want a big home that you have to take care of.
8. You have very few friends and want to meet new people.
9. You want a really good deal if you are going to buy something.
10. You want to ensure your community adheres to rules and regulations.

Buying a condo is an excellent choice for those who either can’t afford the home of their dreams or those who want to scale down and enjoy their lives a little more. While renting has its place in life, it should never be a long term solution. Plus, if you are a busy person, home ownership will only cramp your style. Making a real estate investment is a sound contribution to your future and sometimes starting out a little slowly makes sense. Buying a condo first and a dream home later can make the transition from renting to home ownership a reality. Or, buying a condo in the later stages of your life instead of renting will keep your money working for you. Plus, condo ownership comes with amenities such as a community pool and a fitness center.  If you live alone, this can be a great way to meet people with similar interests.  Do you care about the way your environment looks?  Management companies do a great job of keeping condo properties in top condition; they keep the interest of the owners foremost because every condo owner pays a maintenance fee to keep the grounds and the property in top shape.

Whatever your situation in life, don’t rent forever or you will miss out on some financial freedom and / or quality of life that you deserve.

Whatever the reason, there are some great deals right now in condo sales.  With the recent downturn in the market, condo prices have been reduced significantly due to the abundant supply.  Don’t miss out on a chance at ownership at an affordable price.

We sell Tampa Bay Condos and can help you find the best deal.

Well, we topped another top 10 list.  I don’t know if we need to be proud of this one or not. :)  Austin’s definitely a fun place, and according to Forbes, funner than anywhere else.

Texas did well on their list.  We came in right behind Houston, and right ahead of SA.  Here’s what they had to say about Austin:

Stats for June were pretty similar to April’s stats.  Again, down slightly from a record year (2007.)  The total # of active listings are up 19% from last June.  The number of homes sold in Austin are down 20% from last year.  However, prices remain strong.  The median sales price is up just under 5%, and the average sales price is up just under 1%.

And again….the Austin real estate market is down from 2007’s record year, but still fairing well.  Active listings are up 20%, and # of homes sold are down 20%.  However, we’re still appreciating.  The median sales price is up to $196,120 from last year’s $184,050.  The average sales price is up 5%, $263k from $250k.  The good news is that the glut of inventory looks like it’s being absorbed.  Last month’s numbers indicated 5.03 months of inventory on the market, and this month’s indicate 4.91.

A real estate/SEO friend of mine in Las Vegas, Charles Richey, was recently diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. If you’ve been on any real estate forums, you’ve probably seen Charles participating - he’s the guy with the parrot head avatar. This is a rare nervous system disorder, and oftentimes ends in paralysis. Unfortunately, Charles (like many self employed people) was not carrying health insurance. Some of our friends at the ibsteam forum have set up a fundraiser for him. If you get a chance, head on over, and donate. Anything will help.

My buddy Terry talked me into finally getting started on twitter.  It’s something that I always thought would be too time consuming, but he swears that it’s pretty passive.

So…here’s my profile.  Follow me, if you’re interested!