Memorial Day Weekend in Austin, Texas

May 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Memorial Day weekend is coming up and it’s time to start planning where you’ll be sweatin’ and swimming!  Single Pointe Realty is proud to be based in Austin and we want to share with you OUR favorite things to do on Memorial Day:

LAKE TRAVIS:
*Take the family to enjoy one of the parks- we recommend Mary Quinlan Park (free), Windy Point (aka Bob Wentz), and advise that if you’re going to Hippie Hollow to beware of nudity (yikes).
*Rent a boat or jet skis and hit Devil’s Cove where EVERYONE gathers
*Enjoy drinks and food at Carlos ‘N’ Charlies, The Oasis, or Johnny Fin’s.
*Take the kids to the Volente Beach Waterpark.

LAKE AUSTIN:
*Hike on the Endless Trail, take the family to Zilker Park and buy a cheap ticket to ride the Zephyr (mini-train), and go to the Rowing Dock to canoe, row, or kayak!
*After playing, take a dip in spring-fed Barton Springs- it may be chilly, so work up a sweat first!  Or, just take a stroll down to the lake and feed the ducks.
*For drinks and good food, hit the Hula Hut for a relaxing dinner, or go to TGI Friday’s on the Lake to watch the Congress Bridge Bats come out at sundown.

MUSIC:
*Take a mini-trip this weekend to enjoy the Kerrville Music Festival!

GARDENS:
*Take a stroll in the famous Zilker Gardens- perfect for your family photos!
*View the Charles Umlauf Sculpture Garden and find peace!

Whatever you do, have FUN this Memorial Day and be safe!

-The Entire Staff at Single Pointe Realty

Posted by Lani, Asset Director | Filed Under Austin Events, Blog 

Austin’s Endless Bragging Rights

May 17, 2007 | Leave a Comment

I have lived in Austin my entire life and I often take this city for granted. I am lucky because my husband (who was born in Oklahoma but got here as quickly as he could) sees things from a more wide eyed, grateful point of view. He notes the rolling hills and the sunset on the lakes. It has been amazing seeing it through his eyes and it is why we will never ever ever ever leave- ever.

We all know that Austin is an amazing place to live because of Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Mt. Bonnell, Sixth Street, the University of Texas and so on, but I’ve recently learned some new facts about Austin that reinforce my belief that it is the best place in the world:
1.  Austin ranks 4th in tech towns (Silicon Valley Leadership Group).
2.  Austin is the No. 2 place to live in America (Men’s Journal).
3.  Austin is the most wired city in the nation (Forrester Research).
4.  19 of Texas’ 50 fastest-growing tech firms are in Austin (Deloitte & Touche).
5.  The Austin-Round Rock MSA was named top metro for future business locations (Expansion Management).
6.  Austin ranks 3rd most inventive city (Wall Street Journal).
7.  Austin named 2nd in Best Places to Live (Money).
8.  Austin is ranked the 8th best city for Singles (Forbes)!
9.  Coming in 4th in best overall standard of living is Austin (Expansion Management).
10. Austin jumps 23 spots to be named the 3rd smartest city (Bizjournals.com)!
11. Austin is the 14th best Sustainable City (SustaineLane.com).
12. Austin ranks among Top 8 Cheap Places to Live (MSN Real Estate).
13. UT Business School ranks 19th in the US, UT Accounting School ranks 3rd (Business Week)!
14. Austin has the 4th hottest job market nationally (Business 2.0).
15. Austin/Round Rock named 2nd best schools for mid-size metros (Expansion Management).
16. Austin named 28th in Best Places for Businesses and Careers (Forbes).
17. Austin is the 8th Greatest Golf-Home Town (Golf Digest)!
18. Coming in at the 8th spot for Hot Retail Real Estate Markets is Austin (Sperry Van Ness).
19. Austin ranks 2nd for Filmmakers (MovieMaker).
20. Austin is the 6th best City for Walking (American Podiatric Medical Association).

The list goes on- Austin has incredible bragging rights. I myself used to be annoyed at outsiders (meaning anyone not from Austin, even Houstonians and the like) moving here, but because of said “outsiders,” and the city’s innovative nature, Austin has become extremely diverse which I absolutely love! Austin is the younger, hipper Silicon Valley and is a laid back yet extremely intellectual environment. The landscape is incomparable, and for numerous other reasons, Austin is repeatedly highly ranked nationally in countless categories. If you aren’t already in Austin, what are you waiting for? According to ME, Austin is ranked the Number One City in America To Live!

Brag on Austin… brag on,
L.A.

Posted by Lani, Asset Director | Filed Under About Austin, Blog, Buying, Market Conditions 

What’s So Great About Relocating to Austin?

May 9, 2007 | Leave a Comment

The thing that makes Austin so fantastic is its diversity.  There are so many things to do here and so many different types of people that it literally has become a melting pot.  A lot of cities can boast this claim, but not quite like Austin can. 

I remember after relocating here years ago, I did not know a soul.  As I networked in various circles I began to realize that I am not the only newcomer to Austin.  In fact, I remember coining the phrase “no one is from here.”  Don’t get me wrong, there are many folks born and raised here.  But in the business sphere of influence, many of my peers were relocated here as I was.  It was only a matter of time before I learned that I could strike up a conversation and there was a 9 out of 10 chance that this person was new here and knew no one, and if I was right- instant friend!  I loved talking about the town and conversing about the really neat things in and around Austin that made it so great.  In fact, as with any newcomer there were bound to be problems with a relocation, such as not knowing the short cuts around town, or how does one go about finding a great local mechanic and it was so neat how each of us could come up with a solution as the other had had the same problems or questions.  What a great way to make friends.

It was only a matter of months that my cell phone that only held 30 numbers had to be traded in on a better model that held 100 contacts or more.  Soon, I had a rolodex on my desk.  Not everyone has this experience as not everyone can just strike up a conversation with every stranger they come across, but even if you are the shy type, there are ways to meet and make new friends in Austin.

Some ideas on circles you should add to your current list are your church (find groups or clubs to become a part of), office, craigslist, the local bars and pubs downtown, your neighborhood (have a bbq in your driveway and see how many folks come over to say hello), the local pool, or maybe even frequenting a local eatery (Hula Hut is a great place for this, or Johnny Fin’s out on Lake Travis) .  Simply smile and say hello!  Chances are the person you’re standing next too in line at the grocery store is not from here either.  Once you practice this a few times, you’ll quickly get the hang of it and probably realize that you really are among friends. The experience of Austin is new to all who visit or move here, so chances are you automatically have something in common or something to talk about.

There is nothing boring about Austin, so if you’re bored and without friends then you are not living the experience that is Austin.  Get out of the house and do something about it and soon you will realize what I have- No one is from here!

Happy Living

That Real Estate Guy

Posted by Benn, Single Pointe CEO | Filed Under About Austin, Blog, Human Interest, Other Stuff 

The Discount Listing Agent- Seller Beware

May 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Okay, here is a quote from a local discount listing agent, “List your home in the local Realtors® MLS for a flat fee as low as $399.” Now what?  A sign in your yard, some flyers, maybe a virtual tour for an additional fee- Home Sellers, you should wake up and listen to what the agent is actually saying.  This agent actually goes on to say he works dilligently to sell your home.  I am not sure how he can back that statement up.  I mean, if he dilligently sits by the phone and waits for buyers to call, I guess you could say he is being a little bit truthful.

The whole truth is, YOU HIRE US TO SELL YOUR HOME, NOT JUST LIST IT! Selling is an art form, it requires strategy and focus.  Are you telling me you would work for your employer full time for potentially 60, maybe 120 days for $399 bucks? Common sense tells me you said no way!  Believe me, that agent said the same thing.

In a market where profits on existing homes are up sharply, you’re going to tell me that you want an agent that will take less money to do less work?  This strategy is just insane.  My clients tell me they are looking for a sharp Agent with top notch skills, tools, and drive to SELL their home at the absolute HIGHEST possible sales price!  Are you that client?  Or is your strategy to quibble over maybe $3k when a quality agent wants to earn you 10 times that amount?  My bet is you’re going to go with a winning strategy, not a lay down agent who puts a pretty sign in your yard and lists your home (the needle) in the haystack we call the MLS.  Don’t get me wrong, the MLS is key, but it is not the end all be all of selling your home.  It’s a combination of tools that veteran SELLERS have in their portfolio.

Do yourself a favor.  Shop for an agent that can WIN.  Avoid the plastic salesman who simply lists your home and disappears, until you call him/her in desperation and buy the full service package he should have advised you to take in the first place.  Gimmicks are a nasty game when you need your home sold now and you’re counting on the profits to move from point A to B.

And trust me, this is a gimmick.  The discount MLS only fee was invented to attract a For Sale By Owner or FSBO.  Realtors knew the FSBO could only hold out so long without over 90% of the market being able to see their home- which is the case.  There is only so much exposure a FSBO can get on their own without finally giving in on day 73 to the Realtor they should have hired in the first place.  Unfortunately, regular every day sellers are getting caught up in this mess and it is unfortunate.  Don’t make the mistake some of my current clients made.  They sat on the market with a simple flat fee listing for almost 200 days before they just could not stand it anymore.  The baby they were having that created the need to up-size was now here with the crib now stationed in the living room.  This is crazy!  The photo that was on the flyer actually demonstrated this fact making the home look even smaller than it really was!  We’re in the process of putting this home in the proper light now and I feel confident I can help these sellers- but what about you?  It’s not to late.

Hire a Realtor that brags about SELLING your home, not discounting it.

That Real Estate Guy

By the way… How does one find such a Realtor that will do the job? Simple, find the Realtor that will give it to you straight, explain the risks clearly, but is aggressive and hates to lose.  Avoid anything kitchy or smarmy.  A benz does not mean “the best.”  It simply means, they have a nice car.  Simply listen to the strategy, do they understand your goals, and how important is your listing to them, personally.  Are they challenged by your home, area market, or the asking price.  This is simply a starter, I am sure by reading the above you have an idea of the type of Agent you want selling your home.

Posted by Benn, Single Pointe CEO | Filed Under Blog, First Time Buyers, RE Practice, Selling