As the Austin Real Estate markets gains momentum - moving into the Spring Selling Season I wanted to highlight to you what are the really important factors when choosing a listing agent.  Since the Austin Real Estate Market has been hot for a couple years now we've seen more and more agents enter into our field.  Everyone knows someone that is an agent and truthfully - the work that comes with being a REALTOR isn't rocket science. I'm not saying that to discredit anything that we do as professionals.  I've got my MBA from Notre Dame and have worked at Motorola, Freescale, Ford and a handful of other companies. None of those jobs were rocket science either. My point being that once you get familiar with the product (in this case the market) and the systems and forms that go into it - it's not a mind-blowing industry that is consistently redefining how the business or client to business relationships work.  With that understood - every agent you talk to - should be able to get you through the selling process, meaning process the docs and enter you into MLS, at a bare minimum.  What you need to look for is a REALTOR or agency that doesn't just understand Austin Real Estate but understands MARKETING.

The Mueller Development Project, the old Austin Airport, is about ready to announce their builders and floorplans for the 2220 homes that are about to make up the redevelopment. The first phase of 340 + homes will be ready for move-in by early 2008. Potential buyers must sign up April 30 to be considered in the first phase of the project. 

The Mueller Project is the largest public-private redevelopment in Austin's history.   It will be a mixed-income, mixed-use community and is expected to have as many as 10,000 residents, generate thousands of jobs and add $1 billion to the city's tax base. The homes will range from about 900 square feet to 3,700 square feet and be priced from the $180,000s to the $600,000s.

In the "affordable housing" component, homes will range in price from $130,000 to $160,000. Such housing will use many of the same floor plans and materials, and the homes will be integrated throughout the neighborhood.  The idea behind this urban village is that you won't be able to drive down the street and figure out which houses are affordable and which ones are not - according to Matt Whelan, the senior vice president for the project.

For those of you investors that haven't been up to Anderson Mill Road as of late I would suggest taking a drive through a few of the subdivisions specifically the Villages of Anderson Mill.  Not only are these homes very well maintained for being over 30 years old, but they also feed into one of the best high schools in the nation. 

185 Homes were rented out last year in the Anderson Mill area at an average of over $1099 a month.  Currently there are 13 homes for sale in Anderson Village ranging in price from $120k - $209k.

This specific home on 12233 Old Stage Road is currently priced at $152k and it is leased through September 2007 at $1250 a month.   It consists of over 1900 sq ft. and has 5 bedrooms, with beautiful wood floors, a large backyard for the kids and a nearby community park.

I barely got the opportunity to complete my last post when the Austin Business Journal came out and reported the following from "Unique Homes Magazine".  As this proves - the highend real estate market in Austin is really gaining momentum.  Subdivisions like Spanish Oaks, Seven Oaks, River Place, and Steiner Ranch are attracting buyers from around the nation.  We have seen lot costs in these subdivisions more than double in the last 2-3 years.  If you would like to build in one of these communities - please let us know and we'll put you in front of one of the best custom builders in Texas.

Austin among top luxury housing markets

Austin Business Journal - 11:12 AM CST Monday

Magazine to Austin: Welcome to the lap of luxury.

In its January issue, Unique Homes Magazine listed what its editors expect will be the top 25 luxury housing markets for 2007. Austin ranked No. 5 on the list, beating out places like Beverly Hills and Manhattan, which ranked seventh and 10th respectively.

This article was recently published in the Austin American Statesmen and highlighted some foreward thinking of some local real estate agents.  I would agree that most of these areas are very attractive to the average home buyer. What I find interesting is that they do not really touch on the high end market including such hot spots as Seven Oaks, Spanish Oaks, River Place and Steiner Ranch developments.

Area real estate agents know the neighborhoods that are on the front burner when it comes to desirability: Central Austin's Rosedale and Enfield, downtown Austin, and lakefront properties on Lake Austin and Lake Travis.

But what about those up-and-coming hot areas? The ones that are more affordable, increasingly popular and drawing more interest from local and out-of-state buyers? Area agents said these neighborhoods are heating up: