NOTE: This article is part of the forthcoming book, the Gotcha Guide™ to Buying or Investing in Real Estate. by DeeinAustin™

I was elated to see the Home Warranty of America (HWA) announcement of their GreenPlus Program earlier this year.

GreenPlus is an upgrade to HWA’s 13-month contract, which covers appliance and mechanical systems. GreenPlus makes Energy Star exchanges, replaces your water heater with a tankless version, and upgrades your heating system to 90% efficiency upon disrepair.

This is especially useful in Green cities like in Austin, where our mayor is preparing to roll out a Climate Protection Plan, requiring all Austin home owners to make green upgrades before they can sell their home.

The Dark Downside of Home Service Contracts

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Popularity: 39% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

Use this guide to learn how to find the best off-market deals in Austin or any U.S city by using common online and offline methods.

"Off-market" homes or investments are those not already listed in your
area’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is provided by your local
Board of REALTORS®. 

If you’re an agent, buyer or investor looking for a good deal in commercial real estate, a home or land, non-MLS listings are the holy grail. You should also read our previous article on 33 Ways to find a Motivated Seller.

Top 10 Ways to Find Off Market Deals for the Best Price on a Home, Land, or Commercial Real Estate Property.

NOTE: If you’re not an agent, you may need to get one to assist you.

10. "Drive for Dollars". Drive your area every 7 to 10 days to check for changes. Is there a new "For Sale By Owner" sign? Newspapers piling up on a doorstep? Home gone further into disrepair? Home being fixed up a little? You may have an owner ready to sell soon.

9.Out-of-town owners. Check your tax appraisal
records for owners with addresses in another state or city. Send them a
letter or offer directly. The further they live, the better the
deal.

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Popularity: 10% [?]

NOTE: This article is part of the forthcoming book, the Gotcha Guide™ to Buying or Investing in Real Estate. by DeeinAustin™

Imagine this scenario. You just moved into your new home at 123 Main Street a few days ago. The garage is filled with boxes, you haven’t yet found the nearest post office, and all of your new neighbors still look suspicious.

You go to the mailbox to find an over-sized postcard in your mailbox. It’s from your buyer’s agent. They sent it to the entire neighborhood. The postcard reads, "I just SOLD 123 Main Street for $354,500!"

GASP. All of your neighbors now know exactly how much you paid for your home!

But they can’t do that! Texas is a non-disclosure state, right?

The short answer: YES! Texas is a non-disclosure state. BUT: According to the National
Association of REALTORS®, being a non-disclosure state does not
preclude anyone from publishing sold information. It means we are not
REQUIRED to put sold information in public records.

WHY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) STEPPED IN TO CLARIFY TEXAS NON-DISCLOSURE

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Popularity: 7% [?]

NOTE: This article is part of the forthcoming book, the Gotcha Guide™ to Buying or Investing in Real Estate. by DeeinAustin™

Want to guarantee that your home will be sold faster than the competition? Send for feedback after showings! Well, it’s not that simple. Agents rarely send feedback.

Need proof? Here’s my non-scientific, completely off-the-cuff experiment:

HYPOTHESIS: Despite having a guaranteed positive return, real estate agents rarely send or receive feedback because takes too much extra time and effort. This is too bad for the seller because the process is very simple and useful.

THE PROCESS: I visited 20 houses last week within a 2-day period. I used an electronic Supra ekey so the agent can automatically see that I’ve visited the home.

THE RESULTS: I received 1 feedback request within 24 hours. I then received another request this week.

That’s it! Out of 20 homes, only 2 agents bothered to ask me for feedback. Of the two, only one sent it within a reasonable time-frame so I could best remember the home.

THREE AUTOMATED TOOLS THAT TAKE THE EXCUSE OUT OF NOT SENDING FEEDBACK

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Popularity: 10% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

U.S. interest rates fell in February, creating a more brisk real estate market in Austin and other areas of the country.

Sorry to report, but rates are rising almost every week. Buyers are now faced with a common dilemma in today’s buyer markets. They often  ask…

"If home prices are still going down, should I wait to purchase until later this year?"

The short answer is no. It’s not smart to time the market. My advice to first-time, move-up, and relocating buyers: buy when it’s the right home at the right time for you.

THREE REASONS WHY NOW IS A SMART TIME TO BUY

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Popularity: 17% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

Earlier this week, we discussed the Boomerang Home Buyer trend in Central Austin. A style gaining popularity since 2005 is Prefab Modern, also called modern modular. 

Modern prefab (modular) homes can be designed to suit a variety of tastes and price ranges.

In a previous post, we debunked the myths of prefabricated homes. Top benefits included solid construction, shorter build times and green techniques.

WHAT’S SO COOL ABOUT MODERN PREFAB?

Most modern prefab home have green, sustainable elements. The companies in Austin use green construction materials, have less on-site waste, and use energy-efficient appliances. Modern prefab styles can be seen in all areas of Greater Austin, including popular "suburban" areas like Dripping Springs, Leader, and Buda.

TOP 5 TIPS TO AVOID THE DOWNSIDE OF PREFAB MODERN HOMES

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Popularity: 11% [?]