What is an iBuyer? This is a big buzz word in real estate right now, iBuyers are essentially companies that purchase real estate from property owners at a heavy discount. Does this seem like something you would be interested in? Likely not, as most home owners prefer to get top dollar for their investment, but in some cases an iBuyer can be the best solution. Some names that may ring a bell are Zillow, Homeward, Orchard, Offerpad & HomeLight. One thing to keep in mind is that all iBuyers are not created equal.

Let’s go over the pros and cons shall we? Pros include a quick process, no need to show your home and no need to pay REALTOR® commissions. Cons are a discounted purchase price and heavy transaction fees. This is probably an

TCAD is Stalling, but Austin is On Fire!

Whoah! 2020 has really started with a bang. If you watch the headlines there are new developments at almost every turn. The "real" Domain is almost unrecognizable when you compare what it looked like two years ago to what it looks like today, and Austin FC is only going to promote more change in the area. Corporate business growth is also causing prices to spike and inventory to shrink all across the metro. All the big players are involved in the real estate game including companies like Apple, Amazon and maybe even Tesla? Apple is buying up real estate near it's soon-to-be expanded campus and new announcements from Google and Amazon will continue to push the market in the North Austin tech corridor.

EarLY SUMMER BRINGS RECORD BREAKING VALUES AND SUPER LOW RATES! 

In May, we saw the highest median home price in the Austin area - EVER! The number of new listings is down, and so is the number of active listings as more and more buyers flood the market. Pending sales are up 8% year over year, and this number may see an increase this Summer as super low interest rates are boosting buyer confidence. The May 2019 stats report shows that unit sales increased by 6% to 3,452 when compared to May of last year. Sales volume totals for May were a strong $1.5 Billion up 15% year over year. Inventory stays low as pending sales continue to rise. 

For those investors out there, it might be worth a look at your interest rates. Even investment loans are very

Ask any real estate agent how the market is and you’re almost sure to get the same answer: “Great!”

Even if the market is great, it still may not be a great time for you to sell. Many real estate agents will tell you that NOW is the right time to sell your home when in reality, they can’t know that without knowing the specifics of your situation. Before going down a long and stressful journey, let’s first decide if selling your home right now is a mistake.

What’s true about relationships is also true about selling your home: When it’s time to make a big decision, go with your gut feeling. But like anyone who has ever put off a breakup, it’s amazing how easy it is to talk yourself out of what you really want to do. You’ll say you’ll get around to

Navigating the home selling process is not an easy one. While it may seem like Realtors simply stick a sign in the dirt and BOOM it's sold, that doesn't come close to the reality of selling a home. Below we've highlighted some research provided by the National Association of Realtors.

Highlights and drawbacks of For Sale By Owner

• Roughly 8% of home sales are For Sale By Owner (FSBO) listings
• The Typical FSBO home sold for $190,000 compared to $249,000 for agent-assisted home sales
• 35% of FSBO listings used a yard sign as their primary method of advertising
• 28% of FSBO listings were not activity marketed
• The most difficult task for FSBO sellers was GETTING THE RIGHT PRICE

On the flip-side, stats and surveys show not only

We're pretty proud of our branding and technology and we utilize all the tools we have to make our listings shine above the rest. Take a look at this video provided by our Broker, Israel Gutierrez, that delves into some of the tools we use to maximize exposure of our listings and make sure they look their best when they are being advertised. 

Selling With Austin House Company from Austin House Company on Vimeo.

 If you have any questions about the current market or would like more analytical detail, just shoot us an email at israel@austinhouseco.com. You can also call our office at (512) 299-3809 or message us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.