Austin Real Estate

December 30, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Great Economic Trends Going into 2015

Recently, I read an article in the New York Times (online edition) about five economic trends that we should be grateful for as we enter into 2015.

I know, I know…it’s crazy that 2014 is already over and we are headed into a new year, but it sure has been a good one!!

Here are the five positive economic trends the article discussed.

1. Cheaper Gas Prices – This holiday season has been a great time to take a road trip due to the cheaper gas prices. No one knows for sure how long this will last, but I’m pretty sure everyone is taking advantage while they can!

2. Job Growth – Since 2010, job growth has been improving, but in 2014 it has taken a giant leap.

The best news is that according to the Forbes Best City for Job Growth List, Austin ranks No. 1!! We have certainly had a better economic recovery than most cities since the recession, but to be No. 1 is above and beyond what we ever expected!!

3. More Americans Are Leaving Jobs Voluntarily – This economic trend bodes well with the confidence Americans have that they can find a better job and that there are actually jobs on the market to be had. In past years, people have been much more concerned with layoffs than they are today and that is a great trend to experience.

4. Home Prices Are Rising More Slowly – According to the article, “The Case-Shiller index of home prices in 20 major metropolitan areas was up 4.9 percent in the 12 months ended in September (2014), compared with more than 13 percent in 2013.” A sharp increase of home prices can cause real estate bubbles, which in effect then cause many problems in the housing market because of inflated prices.

Austin, specifically, will be interesting to watch in 2015 as it continues to deal with all areas of development, rising housing prices, population growth, its aging infrastructure and the traffic issues it is currently facing.

5. American Households Appear to Be Done Reducing Their Debt – The article said, “Across the major categories of debt, including mortgages, credit cards and the like, debt levels are now rising again. Not at the kind of rapid rates that would signal a buildup of major new risks, but decisively upward.”

Debt may not sound like a good thing to many, but for the economy it means that people are spending and have confidence that they will be able to pay off any debt they incur. Of course, I would always advise to spend wisely…no matter what kind of economy we are facing.

I hope this information will help you set your goals for 2015 and beyond! Happy New Year!!!

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!

Photo courtesy of “Pumping Fuel” by Michelle Meiklejohn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

December 23, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Looking After Christmas

Christmas is just a few days away! It’s been a wonderful season this year and certainly full of giving, sharing, joy and love…just the way I like it! So, how can we keep the spirit alive all year long? Well, it starts with looking after Christmas.

For some reason, we seem to think we have to cram all of this goodness into about six weeks and then move on after the tree comes down and the ornaments go back into the box. Sure, Christmas might be over at midnight on December 25^th, but the season of helping others and spreading joy can last a lifetime.

Thankfully, we live in a fabulous area full of many philanthropic opportunities…all we have to do is find what fits our schedule and how much time we would like to give…because giving actually makes us richer.

Here are some organizations that could use our help and support throughout the next year!

Lakeway Regional Hospital can always use teens 14+ and adult volunteers to provide support for various departments throughout the hospital. Lakeway Regional Hospital Volunteer Opportunities

Mobile Loaves and Fishes has over 17,000 volunteers help feed and clothe the homeless in the Austin area all year long. Areas of opportunity include make ready teams, delivering meals, garden preparation, harvesting, canning, maintenance, and more. Mobile Loaves and Fishes Volunteering

Hands on Central Texas is the United Way of Austin’s volunteer program that helps residents help others in their community. Throughout the year there are several Days of Caring and special events that need volunteers. http://www.handsoncentraltexas.org/

Any Baby Can is a child and family resource center that provides education, therapy and support to families who are found in need by a variety of local organizations. Volunteers of all levels of experience are needed in several positions. www.anybabycan.org

Susan G. Komen Austin provides support, outreach and national research in the fight against breast cancer. Volunteers are needed to help with Race for the Cure, special events, public policy, public relations, community outreach and more. www.komenaustin.org

Special Olympics Texas provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Volunteers do not need any special skills, but can help with competitions, fundraisers, coaching, and office assistance or as a Fan in the Stands. www.sotx.org

SafePlace is a local program that works to end domestic violence. Volunteers are needed to work directly with families and individuals and provide assistance in clerical or administrative roles. Opportunities include accompanying survivors to court; answer hotline calls, plan children’s birthday parties, deliver toys to SafePlace for clients for the Holiday Giving Program and many more. www.safeplace.org/volunteer

Ladies of Charity Lake Travis Thrift Shop sells donated clothing, housewares, linens, toys, jewelry, furniture, antiques and much more. Volunteers are needed to work in the store and donations are welcome. Profits support a variety of charities in the Lake Travis area. www.laketravisthrift.com

Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is the largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas and serves more than 48,000 people each week. Volunteers are always needed to help prepare food donations for distribution, assist with the mobile food pantry, help out at the St. John’s Community Food Center and more. Visit www.austinfoodbank.org/volunteer for a complete list of volunteer opportunities.

Austin Pets Alive! is a nonprofit animal rescue group committed to promoting and providing the resources, education and programs needed to eliminate the killing of homeless companion animals in Austin. The center is run almost entirely by volunteers. www.austinpetsalive.org

The Arc of the Capital Area provides individualized services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Volunteer opportunities include helping clients at the Arc of Arts Studio and assisting at monthly socialization activities such as movie night and volunteering at special events, among others. www.arcofthecapitalarea.org

These are only a few of the many occasions one can find to lend a helping hand. I truly hope you will make it a priority in 2015 to donate your time, money and resources to make the world a better place.

Merry Christmas!

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 www.freedigitalphotos.net.

December 10, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

2015 Housing Predictions

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!

December 3, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Holiday Theft Safety Tips

As 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!!

November 5, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

11251 Pinehurst

11251 Pinehurst (MLS #5900901) – a recently updated home due to the Halloween flooding of 2013 and located in Onion Creek in South Austin – sits on the edge of a cul-de-sac and boasts a large lot with mature trees and a private oasis in the backyard.

Offered at $359,500, this three bedroom and two and a half bathroom home is quite the find.

Built in 1978, tax records show a square footage of 2226. However, this number does not include the approximately 1400 square-foot, screened-in back porch located on the back of the home, nor does it include an air conditioned/heated office space in the side-entry, two-car garage.

11251 Pinehurst is open, light, bright and airy with a lovely covered front porch to welcome residents and guests alike. Covered with a metal shingle roof, this home contains a variety of exquisite characteristics that you will be delighted to discover.

For example, a dining area just off of the front entrance leads into a sizeable living area that features a massive stacked rock fireplace flanked by built-in shelving units. This main living area has vaulted ceilings and lots of windows, which lends itself to a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Three windows located at the top of the entrance wall offer extra sunshine in the morning.

Additionally, the entire home is covered with tile flooring, some of which looks like wood planks. The flooring is definitely a sight to behold and a must see!

All three bedrooms are located off of the living room on the left side of the home. The two extra bedrooms are spacious and connected by a large Jack-and-Jill type bathroom, which also possesses a few disability features.

The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling with a wood beam running the length of the room. This bedroom is suited for a king-sized bed, along with several more large pieces of furniture and the bathroom is absolutely magnificent! Featuring a sizeable shower area, the master bathroom contains his and her vanities, a spacious dressing area and two walk-in closets.

11251 Pinehurst boasts an eat-in kitchen with walls of white cabinets, Corian-type countertops, a convection oven, recessed lighting and an attached table countertop that seats three. The kitchen is connected with an impressive breakfast area that is currently being used as a den.

I saved the best for last! The backyard is truly an amazing outdoor retreat with a salt water pool, hot tub and gorgeous landscaping. The pool is partially covered for those who don’t want to swim in the sun and it is deep enough for a diving board. The covered patio area has space for several seating arrangements and for a dining area.

Right off of the backyard is the screened-in back porch which includes a countertop and sink-station, along with another outdoor living area and dining area – great for entertaining or just relaxing after a long day!

Other features include a sprinkler system, gas dryer connection, gas water heater, and storage building. This area is known for its great golf courses, parks, country club and tennis courts!

If you are interested in 11251 Pinehurst or buying/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!

Austin Real Estate

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