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Real Estate News

Is Austin Surviving the Recession?

March 9, 2010

Forbes has been compiling data since the real estate debacle of modern times begun a few years ago.  Their most recent study is of several metro areas with relatively low unemployment rates from 2007-2009. Their reason: to determine which major US cities are poised to not only survive, but recover the fastest from the housing [...]

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UT Students: Should You Wait to Find Lodging For The Fall?

March 9, 2010

University of Texas students should be looking for UT campus condos and apartments in early spring (right now!) for the upcoming Fall semester. Prices for apartments usually are higher in June and August when students are looking for dorms or places to live during the school year. It’s the law of supply and demand. The [...]

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Fixed Rates on 30-Year Home Loans Rises to 5.05 Percent

February 25, 2010

Freddie Mac announced today that the average rate for 30-year fixed-interest rate loans has risen to 5.05%, up from last week’s 4.93%. Average rates on 15-year fixed-interest rate loans also rose, to 4.4% from last week’s 4.33%. This is the first rate increase in the last three weeks. Interest rates are evaluated weekly by Freddie [...]

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Are UT Campus Condos Worth Buying Now?

February 14, 2010

I was recently asked whether I thought now was a good time to buy UT campus condos. Here is the MLS data on recently sold UT condos and homes: In 2008, the Average Sales Price for UT Campus condos and homes was $254,634. In 2009, Average Sales Prices declined by 12.76% to $222,155. In 2008, [...]

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Barton Place Condos Nearing Completion!

February 5, 2010

The parking lots are now open for Billy’s BBQ and Austin Java in South Austin, as the finishing touches are being put on the Barton Place condominiums. Construction of the Barton Place has made it somewhat tricky for patrons of Billy’s BBQ and Austin Java to enjoy the local fare, but now that parking has [...]

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Using In-House Lenders From Austin Home Builders

January 15, 2010

I recently had a closing with a client who bought a beautiful new home from D.R. Horton in a rural area, just outside of Austin.  D.R. Horton prides themselves on being a one-stop shop that caters to first-time homebuyers.  This has been one of the keys to D.R. Horton’s success as a national home builder: offer [...]

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Upcoming Changes to USDA Loan Program May Disqualify Some Austin Communities

January 7, 2010

While doing an open house at the model home for Vistas of Stony Ridge, a Lennar Community in Southeast Austin, I got the chance to experience first-hand the character of this neighborhood. Although it was a cloudy day, there was still children playing outside, a neighbor walking her dog, and families taking down their Christmas decorations. [...]

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Zillow Strikes Again with Pricing Errors in East Austin

January 6, 2010

Today I met with a very nice gentleman to discuss strategies for selling or not selling some of his East Austin properties. During my presentation he stopped me and asked, “What do you think of Zillow?” The Six-Figure Mistake I briefly described to him the flaws of national real estate sites like Zillow and Trulia. [...]

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Housing Tax Credit Extension Underway for Military Members

October 9, 2009

Team Ensor has just learned that the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009 has passed the House in a unanimous vote, paving the initial way for military personnel to receive a one-year extension on the $8,000 First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit.  As of today, the act has been read once at Senate and [...]

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HUD vs REO vs Short Sales in Austin: Which is best for a first-time homebuyer?

September 29, 2009

In the current housing market, there are considerably more HUD and REO homes on the market than ever before. As a result, we’ve been placing offers and selling more of these types of homes to both first-time homebuyers and investors. Someone recently asked Team Ensor about HUDs, REOs and short sales, and which one I [...]

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$8000 Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers is Expiring Soon

September 26, 2009

There is only about three more weekends worth of house hunting left for first time buyers to get their hands on up to $8000 of tax credit incentives for real estate purchases. Reason being, that with the increase in underwriting regulations, lenders are now requiring up to 45 days to close from acceptance of a [...]

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Search Tools Added for Austin Real Estate

September 24, 2009

We have just added new tools that make it easy to search Austin real estate by map, including Austin Foreclosures.  These search tools have features that allow you to save prior searches to your complimentary account for later review, and set up an automatic search so that you receive daily emails when new properties come on the market [...]

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Welcome to TeamEnsor.com!

September 20, 2009

Hello everyone! We at Team Ensor are laying the framework for what will soon offer up-to-the-minute content and information relating to Austin real estate. We’re expanding our team of the finest Austin real estate agents, industry professionals and business minds to provide our clients with exceptional service. Stay tuned in! Our search tools are up [...]

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