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2015 Housing Predictions

930A5923_4_5_fused (1)As the year draws to an end, 2015 housing predictions are already being calculated. Seems like we just started 2014 and here we are closing it up!!

Nonetheless, Realtor.com’s Top 5 Predictions are not all that shocking, but they are definitely good to know if you will be looking to buy or sell real estate in the upcoming year.

The entire article can be found at 2015 Housing Predictions if you would like to peruse what economic experts have to say in detail about the following list. But, for the shorter version…look no further.

The 2015 housing industry expected trends include:

1.     Mortgage Rates Will Head Back Up

2.     Millennials (ages 25-34) Will Set up House

3.     Builders Will Break New Ground

4.     Credit Will Continue to Be a Major Factor

5.     We’ll Close Out the Foreclosure Crisis

Basically, mortgage rates can’t stay low forever, but good credit will be the determining factor of whether banks will loan someone money because of continued stringent mortgage qualifications.

This just means that if you are thinking about buying a home in the near future, you must tighten up your spending, pay bills on time and straighten up any credit issues you currently have.

Moreover, with more millennials buying homes, builders will have to add inventory to keep up with the housing demands. The home building industry will be interesting to watch in 2015, as their greatest issues include shortages in labor and materials.

The best news is that the U.S. economy continues to strengthen and that helps people find jobs to pay their mortgages and in effect puts a halt to the foreclosure crisis we have seen in the past several years.

Obviously, every market is different and if you would like to know more about the Austin area real estate market, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

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Holiday Theft Safety Tips

ID-10074458As we enter into the holiday season that largely consists of shopping, cooking, traveling and giving; we need to remember that not everyone is in a charitable mood…in fact, the period immediately after Thanksgiving that extends to Christmas typically sparks a rise in burglaries and theft, according the Austin Police Department.

Roger Wade with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office went so far as saying in a post online, “Tis the season to buy gifts for friends and family and for thieves to break into your home and cars to steal them from you. Please be cautious this gift giving season and don’t give gifts to thieves.”

While identity theft is among the major concerns around this time of year with the popularity of online shopping, most of the time these identity crimes are committed by someone we know. YIKES!

However, during the holiday season OPPORTUNITY is the main objective for most burglaries and thefts.

Additionally, I think it’s interesting that regarding vehicle thefts – keys were used to steal the vehicles (keys left in vehicle, lost keys, etc.) in 53% of car thefts in Austin during the month of October 2014, according to the Austin Police Department. (To see more information about Auto Theft/Burglary of Vehicle Crime Statistics, please go to Austin Crime Stats.)

With the holiday season being a perfect occasion for thieves to raid our personal effects, we need to take extra precautions in an effort to safeguard ourselves from theft.

Please see below for a list of safety measures we can take to keep our homes and vehicles theft-free!

  • Lock your car doors.
  • Don’t leave packages in plain sight.
  • Be wary of strangers lurking in parking lots at stores.
  • Lock your house and don’t put your Christmas tree in an area that can be readily seen from the street.
  • Break down all boxes from your gifts and place them in a dark colored trash bag or a closed trash container to avoid burglars knowing there are new items in your residence.
  • Close window shades and blinds when no one is home to prevent burglars from window shopping in your home.
  • Close and lock all windows and doors prior to leaving your residence.
  • Secure all valuables from immediate view such as laptops, cellphones, wallets, etc.; if a burglar looks in and sees a laptop close to the door or window, it becomes an easy target.
  • Close and lock your garage, as well as any storage sheds, on your property.
  • Record all serial numbers of valuables so that police can have the opportunity to try to recover your property if it is stolen; if you keep your list in an electronic device, ensure you have a printed copy available in the event your device is stolen.
  • Call in suspicious persons and vehicles to 911 immediately, so that officers can identify the intentions of the person and/or vehicle in your neighborhood.

Keep the season a happy one by protecting your homes and vehicles from theft!!

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate in the Austin area, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

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Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips

ID-100119091Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

I would like to let all of my family, friends, business associates and clients know how much I appreciate you and how blessed I feel by the joy you bring to me! I am truly fortunate and grateful for all that you do!

I am so excited that I am staying home this Thanksgiving and entertaining over 20 guests in my home. I look forward to a wonderful time spent enjoying my family and friends.

Since so many of us will be cooking and serving food throughout the day for larger crowds than usual, I thought it might be helpful to gather information on what will help keep everyone happy and healthy this Thanksgiving.

According to the USDA, the below Top 10 food safety guidelines should be followed whenever handling and cooking food.

TOP TEN FOOD SAFETY GUIDELINES:

  1. Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling any food.
  2. Wash food-contact surfaces (cutting boards, dishes, utensils, countertops) with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
  3. Consider using one cutting board only for foods that will be cooked (such as raw meat, poultry, and seafood) and another one for those that will not (such as raw fruits and vegetables).
  4. Do not put cooked meat or other food that is ready to eat on an unwashed plate that has held any raw eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, or their juices.
  5. To check a turkey for safety, insert a food thermometer into the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. The turkey is safe when the temperature reaches 165°F. If the turkey is stuffed, the temperature of the stuffing should be 165°F.
  6. Bring sauces, soups, and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating.
  7. Refrigerate leftovers —and any type of food that should be refrigerated, including pie—within two hours.
  8. Thaw frozen food safely in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave—never at room temperature.
  9. Cook food thawed in cold water or in the microwave immediately.
  10. Leftovers should be used within three to four days, unless frozen.

May you and your family enjoy your Thanksgiving!

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

**Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Holiday Stress

photo 4For many, this week is full of running around trying to get work done in record time before the kids get out of school; we leave for a holiday trip or welcome family and friends into our own homes to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Regardless of what our particular holiday plans are, many may be dealing with stress due to a plethora of reasons.

Thankfully, this year I’m so blessed not to be under much stress as we are staying in town to celebrate the holiday with family and friends in our home. I’m really looking forward to this year’s Thanksgiving!

However, I know in years past my stress level may not have been as low as it is this year and that many of my friends, family, business associates and clients may not be so fortunate.

Therefore, when I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review titled “How to Handle Stress in the Moment” by Rebecca Knight – I knew I had to share the wonderful ideas she gave for what to do when the stress is actually happening.

Knight makes a great point in the beginning about how many of the stress pointers people give are actually long-term remedies. For example, if something is stressful at this moment, one cannot:

  1. Get more sleep immediately.
  2. Do yoga right now.
  3. Eat a healthier breakfast.
  4. Write in a journal.
  5. Figure out what causes stress in life.

These are all fabulous ideas on how to handle stress overall, but it does absolutely nothing for those dealing with a stressful situation right now.

However, through Knight’s research she found several tips that are useful in the exact moment that one might feel stress. These solutions can help anyone in their business dealings, relationships and any other stressful circumstance they might come across. The remedies include:

  1. Think of the stress as an opportunity.
  2. Refuse to think negatively and instead say positive declarations over and over.
  3. Take three deep breaths where the stomach expands and contracts.
  4. Make a list. Write down everything pertinent to the current stress to make it more manageable.
  5. Call a friend…but, choose carefully. Make sure this person is a confidant and also someone who lends thoughtful perspective.
  6. Keep your voice gentle, controlled and calm. Do not let your emotions escalate.

Everyone can use a little help keeping the stress at a minimum in our lives! Hope these ideas help you enjoy your family time during the Thanksgiving holiday.

To read the article I have referred to in its entirety, please go to How to Handle Stress in the Moment.

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

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Selling Your Home During the Holiday Season

930A5923_4_5_fused (1)Most people think that the real estate market drops off the face of the earth once summer ends and school starts. Fortunately, for a REALTOR® like me, this is just not the case.  Selling your home during the holiday season is still a viable option.

The holiday season can be an exceptionally great time to buy or sell real estate and as I have seen in the past, some agents have their best production in November and December. Surprising, isn’t it?

With over 100 people moving to Austin each day, it’s not surprising that even in the holiday months, we continue to experience a high volume of real estate transactions, but major factors do not disappear just because we are enjoying a great market.

930A6774_5_6_fusedAs with most real estate markets around the country the key ingredient to selling your home during the holiday season remains motivation. Everyone who is looking to buy or to list their home during this time of year is serious. They have a need to buy or sell and it’s likely they need to do so quickly.

Two other reasons to go forward with listing your home during the holiday months is that (1) there is less competition with fewer homes on the market and (2) people may need or benefit from the tax deductions that come with buying and selling real estate.

Of course, pricing your home at market value is critical to selling your home at ANY time of year. If you price your home too high, buyers will be turned off and you will have missed your best opportunity to sell for the best price, which is within the first six weeks of the home being on the market.

930A0860_1_2_fusedAdditionally, curb appeal and making your home look like a model home are also still very important in again, ANY type of market or ANY time of year. Buyers do not overlook mess, clutter, garbage, dirt or untidiness. The consensus is that if you don’t keep a clean home, you probably haven’t kept your home in tip-top shape and there might be something wrong with it.

So, if you are thinking about buying or selling real estate during this holiday season, please contact me, Mary Lynne Gibbs, at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be a pleasure to earn your business.