The Greater Austin Area Real Estate Video Blog with Christopher Watters

Q & A with Steve Adler

There are a variety of opportunities in the Austin Real Estate Market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

Today we have something very exciting to share with you. We had the opportunity to interview Austin mayoral candidate Steve Adler about what he would do if he was elected mayor. We asked him a few questions about some hot-button topics. Here are his answers:

Q: A lot of homeowners in Austin are saying their taxes are going up, and they are having issues getting permits in order to build. What steps would you take to improve affordability in Austin?

A: It's tough, because we absolutely have an affordability crisis in Austin. A $250,000 home in Austin is a $140,000 home in Houston. This happens in part because of supply and demand, but is also determined by utility prices determined by the city council. That's where we have to start.

Q: How do we fix the traffic problem in Austin?

A: Well, it begins with the government becoming more pro-active. In 20 years, our population will double. We can't build our way out of this, but we can pick better places and practices to grow our city. Staggered work hours and more telecommuting could help a lot in solving our traffic problem.

Q: Why did you decide to run for mayor?

A: I was concerned for Austin. I want to hold on to the spirit of our great city and I want our local government to do things differently in the future. Our government needs to grow up and right now, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the culture.

Thanks for joining us today. To see our full interview with Steve, watch the video above. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call.

What Buying a Newly Built Home Means

If you are thinking about buying a new home in the Austin area, we have some helpful information for you about new construction. In Austin, new construction starts are up by double digits in terms of percentage and home builders are having a hard time keeping up with demand. A lot of buyers we have talked to are wondering if they should go the route of new construction as well.

There are numerous benefits to buying a newly built home. You can pick out all the features you do or do not want in your home. You also don't have to worry about replacing appliances down the road because they are brand new.

The key when buying a new home is getting connected with the right builder and right piece of land. You want to be in an area with a healthy market, with probably less than 3 months of inventory on hand so prices are on the rise.

Working with a real estate agent on your side can really make this process a whole lot easier. An agent can not only connect you with a builder, but a contractor and mortgage lender as well. A real estate agent will be able to help you make a smarter investment in the land you decide to buy.

If you have any questions about new construction or about real estate in general, reach out to us via phone or email. We would love to talk with you.

Where is the Best Place for Real Estate Information?

Most of you have probably heard of Trulia and Zillow. They are 2 of the most popular online home search sites and 98% of home buyers start their searches online. Our opinion on these sites is that while they are great places to begin your home search, they have a lot of downsides that many people aren't aware of. We'd just like to take a moment to educate you on the subject so you can make a better decision for your next home.

For starters, these sites use algorithms to determine home values that don't take into account all the necessary components. They don't include location, neighborhood characteristics like parks, schools, and nearby businesses. Without taking these things into account, the property valuation may be way off. If there were 2 identical houses, one in a nice neighborhood and one on a cliff, these sites would value them the same, although we all know that selling a home perched on top of a cliff is going to be a lot more difficult.

Another thing that these sites don't take into account with their valuations is home improvements. All the remodels, upgrades, and improvements you have made to your house are not taken to account in any "Zestimate."

It's important, if you are thinking of buying or selling in the Austin market, to get connected with a local real estate professional. A professional agent can take into account all of the local characteristics to get a true value for your home. Zillow, and Tulia get their information from agents, so by contacting an agent directly, you are going to the source with the most accurate and up-to-date info available.