Austin Real Estate Guru

What are the 10 buyer archetypes (Beginning with the letter M) currently existing what is the level of confidence in relation to the housing market? Hi! I'm Lisa Marie Contaldi and my family has called Austin Texas home since the late 80's. I've celebrated hundreds of success stories and memorable housing experiences helping buyers and sellers achieve their personal financial goals. We've all witnessed the astounding changes from a rapidly evolving housing market in Austin through many real estate cycles. Is it time for you and your family to cash out and make the change you've been planning for months; or dreaming about for years? WE ARE knowledge brokers offering an authentic ongoing conversation that will develop your natural intelligence in real estate and other endeavors. http://lisacontaldi.com

This is a discussion about mortgage rates and their Volatility - and it's basic effects on the current housing market.  Everybody's talking about Rates today as they cool or /fuel the market. Let me say this is going to be a good year! It just depends upon what kind of buyer you are. I can reassure you that down the road we will see interest rates and homes overall be more affordable when we hit the 5% range.  The big question is WHEN?Hi! I'm Lisa Marie Contaldi and my family has called Austin Texas home since the late 80's. I've celebrated hundreds of success stories and memorable housing experiences helping buyers and sellers achieve their personal financial goals. We've all witnessed the astounding changes from a rapidly evolving housing market in Austin through many real estate cycles. Is it time for you and your family to cash out and make the change you've been planning for months; or dreaming about for years? WE ARE knowledge brokers offering an authentic ongoing conversation that will develop your natural intelligence in real estate and other endeavors. http://lisacontaldi.com

Waiting well -  - ARE YOU A PATIENT WAITER? HOW can you Gain vs Lose from The power of watching and waiting versus reacting.  Knowledge brokers offering an authentic ongoing conversation that will develop your natural intelligence in real estate and other endeavors. http://lisacontaldi.com

Here's a Quick recapI'm not focusing any numbers or stats in this podcast you hear enough of them from a variety of news and social sources. Let's understand that a supply driven market, with adverse reactions from inflation estimates and interest concerns may fixate you on the exact timing of your move. Why not get out of the gate early and approach positive matters with a focus on attaining the highest and best price by preparing for change in THIS year's housing market. YOUR RIGHT TIME WILL COME. If you dwell on absolute highs and lows you'll miss opportunities. Sales prices are projected to fall further in response to economic conditions BUT if you look at what price you acquired your home-You're STILL GOING TO HAVE A SUPERB RETURN!  Some of you will net greater than 50%… 40, 30. How much did you win on the last dealer dealt hand. I am going to tell you interest rates will head back down in 2023 IN RESPONSE TO BETTER INFLATION REPORTS. UNTIL THEN Analysts speculate but they will never be able to pin it down Exactly. My good friend and mentor Gino Blefari, head of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices reminded us this month that when inflation numbers decline rates will  decline. Further, if you don't have a specific deadline to move what's another few months in the grand scheme of things?  LETS FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE HERE ARE 10 short ideas to take you to success in real estate in todays marketWrite down what you intend to do with your top 5 wants in your next home - what can you live with? What can't you live Without? Then share it with your family. Construct an ideal timeline that is visual. Don't get too complicated a piece of paper and colored pens will do.Meet with a savvy realtor to discuss your plans and set up a strategy. (I said savvy realtor Not just a CONVENIENT one who mailed you a pretty postcard last month. Meet with a local lender to fuel to your ideas and educate yourself about loan programs, verify if your goals are realisticRevisit your priorities to see if they are aligned with reality and perfect your story (get ready!)Start to Look at home sale listings that meet your criteria (vs visiting open houses and dwelling on pipe dream Ruling in or out as you go comparing each one against the last- it's a yes or a no not just a bunch of maybes !Relax and enjoy the ride purchasing an interior or exterior upgrade to improve your new home and make it more saleable to Celebrate

Is the REAL ESTATE MARKET a TSUNAMI? We are in a market now where there are more People who NEED to buy or sell than those who WANT to buy or sell.  Learn the 10 things Sellers can do to WIN !

Lets focus on the facts vs bubbles and crashes.  Inventory is rising but housing is becoming more affordable

We are starting to see a little shift in the housing marketAs The old saying  goes...When Rates Rise they take the elevator.. and When they come down they take the steps!

  When the market looks sleepy (or paranoid) this is when you should be out pounding the pavement.   Here are 6 quick methods of finding good inventory including off market 

 Beginning of a 5 part series for Buyers. We'll discuss how to be a savvy buyer when the odds or number of participant bidders might be stacked against you !

10 SIMPLE WAYS TO change a house from ordinary to extradordinary.  When comparing homes on the market, What makes a house extraordinary?  I'll name a few FRONT EXTERIOR OR FRONT ELEVATIONLIGHTING PACKAGEFLOORING AND BASE MOULDING FRONT ELEVATION1- Front Door and HARDWARE. Go all the way to welcome a buyer with shiny new door hardware. It screams deferred maintenance when a realtor or buyer has to struggle to open the door. Have a locksmith do it. And they won't destroy your door. Estimated cost $150 or $3002-Power wash - Every type of home based upon it's age and foot traffic shows wear and tear.  Homes that say BUY ME have SPOTLESS, FLATWORK with entryway and commanding front porch. Estimated cost $150 - $300 based upon the size of your exterior entry3-Declutter the yard - I have seen full remodels done with a bunch of trash left out front.  GONG! ELIMINATE landscape debris,  including half filled mulch, bags, fire-ant bait, old planters or planting paraphernalia. Estimated cost $0.I've attended many Home Builders Association meetings in Austin and top trends that attract buyers to homes areLIGHTING4-Light Fixtures- Designers never miss this one. Shiny new light fixtures create positive focal points that create OOHHH AHHH from the minute you enter a home.  Estimated cost $400 - $1000 - spend more make more5-Technology package - While you're Changing out old bulbs update some to Smart bulbs so you Or the future owner can use Alexa. Add an electronic doorbell while you're at it. Estimated cost. $250-$350 depending on how many bells and whistles you want to add.FLOORING AND BASE MOULDING6- Steam and/or lighten the tile - It's totally possible to lighten dark grout to be brighter by a few shades using bleach. If you don't want to do this on your own call a professional.  The same guy who does carpet cleaning can handle the task. The cost  . 50 to . 80 cents per square foot cleaned.   So  ESTIMATED COST for a room that's 1000 sqft would be $500-$800 = priceless!7-UPDATE with carpet.  New homes in all price points today actually sell with carpeting.  Upgrade the pad height then invite future buyers in and tell them remove their shoes, they will actually feel the difference. Laminate flooring is trending but if you want to save money a neutral carpet DOES THE TRICK8-Flooring ConsistencyDid you know the most modern homes have only one or two flooring types throughout?  TRY NOT to have more than two types of flooring otherwise it looks floozy and outdated.  If you can't afford a full flooring replacement, change all of the bedrooms or all of the iving areas.  Be as consistent as possible.9-Baseboards.  DON'T FORGET to update the baseboard trim at the same time you do flooring.  Change the story in a house with bright shiny new baseboards.Last but not least10-DEEP CLEAN AND AERATE A HOME FOR AT LEAST A DAY.   - Even if you don't smell your pet, cat litter, spicy cooking or smoking odors, BUYERS MOST CERTAINLY NOTICE.  Don't try to fix this a plug-ins.  Estimated cost to clean a home is a minimum of .10 cents/sqft  so expect $300 or more if your home is sizable. Price also depends upon whether you are doing a one time or regular cleaning.Be that house that delivers the- extraordinary - and when your picking a home look for the best features from this list.  It will pay off handsomely in any Housing market. Our next podcast begins the series   SURPRISING new CONSUMER TRENDS IN REAL ESATE

A solid look at fundamentals today compared to the Great Recession of 2008, 2009, and 2010 under the counsel of brilliant economists and the Economic Forecasts of Fannie Mae a leading source of mortgage financing in the United States. 

DECELERATED APPRECIATION IS NOT DEPRECIATION.  MOST PEOPLE WILL MISUNDERSTAND THIS and think prices are going down.  WRONG.  Listen to this Austin Housing update for October.  

Top 10 characteristics Characteristics of Todays Homebuyers Today I will bring you up to speed on real estate trendsThe 2020 consumer profile of home buyers and sellers is an annual survey produced by NAR = a trade association called the National Assn of Relators (NAR) .  Here are the highlights t- What does today's buyer look like They're first time buyer = 31% The buyer is 47 years oldThey Earning a little under $100k (median income $96k)62% are Married Couples 18% are Single Females9% are Single Males18% are Veterans12% live in a multigenerational home care for aging parents or kids over 18 who moved back homeThe most commonly will buy a detached single family home (81%) They typically paid 99% of Asking priceHow did they find their home?1)They look onlineThe share of home buyers who used the internet to search for a home increased to an all-time high of 97 percent.  2)They serious ones use an agent88% percent of buyers recently purchased their home through a real estate agent or brokerWhy do they buy?64% percent of first-time buyers purchased to fulfill the American Dream of owning a home.  10% are moving up - to a larger home or they want to move be closer to family, friends 9% or they've had a change in family situation i.e marriage, birth, divorceWhere do homebuyers desire to live?LOCATION LOCATION LOCATIONWhat are the Factors that influenced specific neighborhood choices The three most important factors that influenced their choices were 62 percent- Quality of the neighborhood45 percent - Convenience to job 43 percent Overall home affordability What else do buyers care most about?35 percent said commuting costs were not important to them when they recentlypurchased their home. 83 percent of buyers found heating and cooling costs to be somewhat important Let's get to sold!

IN our last episode WE TALKED ABOUT PRICE PER SQFT.  I consider this a rudimentary approach to snagging the best price for your most valuable investment.Here's a better way…I call it the WHAT YOU CAN GET THEORY and combine it with the price per square foot approachThe top 4 elements of value that a buyer will use to determine value arePRICE  - can I afford itLOCATION - is it close to work, schools, shoppingCONDITION - Does it deliver what I need on a timely basis? is it ready, or must I move across the country to begin repairing before I can enjoy living in the homeAVAILABILITY OF SIMILAR PROPERTIES (supply & demand) - how many do I have to choose from? Is it rare or do we see homes like it all of the time?AESTHETICS - STYLE & TYPEFurther, there are very important brownie points that make a home more or less distinctive when it comes to pricingHome Size larger square foot homes sell for lower price per square footSmaller square foot homes sell for higher price per sqftGenerally speaking one story homes sell faster than two Lot style - double lots, larger lots;  culdesac lots, lots next to greenspace  can demand a higher valueHomes that have been remodeled are more desirable (Bc they are ready to move into)Homes with interior upgrades such as custom window coverings and paint colors, plank flooring, demand a higher priceHomes with exterior features like additional landscaping, pavers and walk ways pergola's and patios say BUY MEIn summary:Use Average Price per square foot as a guidePresentation is KEY - Condition is a strong determinant of value (homes in best condition often sell first) Buyers go crazy over homes that look more expensive than their price tag) Consider the number of similar properties available and factor in location  Use a wider radius of what is available - not just your neighborhoodUtilize a realtor to justify additional points relating to your home's uniquenessMake sure it makes a statement begin with CLEAN and UNCLUTTEREDGet fancy after you check those two boxes.Listen to our quick bonus episode REAL ESTATE STORY on pricing and learn what really happens in the marketIn our next Podcast we'll examine Top 10 characteristics Characteristics of Todays Homebuyers To bring you up to date on the trends in the market See you soon!

Let me tell you a story about pricing a unique home in AustinIn November 2020 I listed a rare property in a neighborhood (off of Bee Caves Road & Cuernavaca Drive near Austin Lake Estates.  This small affordable section Called Lake Ridge Estates is located blocks from Lake Austin where hippies and lake enthusiasts hung out in their mobile homes in the 60's.  The important point is that  the city of Austin has grown and families moved in to be within 15-20 minutes of Downtown, located in the renowned Eanes School District. The neighborhood has matured but as folks have torn down and rebuilt homes the amount of turnover and recent comparable sales in that section peaked @ a price of $850k.  The home I marketed sits on about an acre land, with a custom pool and had been remodeled from the studs and a casita was added in 2019. How was I going to capture a fair price the home? Here's What happened.  I priced the main house with price per square foot adjusted it upwards due to for low number of days on the marketI priced the casita separately.  I priced recent lots that sold and added that to the value I added the price of a pool (50% of value)I adjusted for market conditions (nothing on the market) Nothing recently available in ANY part of town.The seller COMPLETELY prepared for resalePRICE - $1.25M several hundred thousand above the compsLOCATIONAustin's most desirable school districtOne of a kind OVERSIZED lot The setting was gated and privateCONDITIONThe main house was Vacant, freshly painted and ready for move in.It included features that are important to many buyer types including smart home technology, custom inground pool, a variety of decks and idillic vantage pointsAVAILABILITY OF SIMILAR PROPERTIESThe home had a casita built just over a year agoThe property was gated with a detached garage.Few properties like it existed in the area but none had sold in the past year so it was viewed as an anomalyWhat's the moral of the story?Pricing by dollar per square foot only just might leave money on the table that you deserve

Earlier, WE EXPLORED A COMMON QUESTION: Is 2021 the right time to sell?  A constrained housing supply, historically low rates @ 3% or less; and housing prices boasting new highs in and around the Austin area ~ we can assume THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to sell.  We also explored briefly, your reasons for moving and assume you have worked out an organized a plan of action within your budget to properly prepare for resale.  This leads us to the next logical question which we'll  address in today's episodeHOW MUCH CAN I GET FOR MY HOUSE IN TODAYS MARKET?I would like to begin this discussion with the classic textbook definition of REAL ESTATE Sales price -  it Is ONE THAT I VALUE GREATLY and it WILL SERVE YOU WELL.  Sales price is “the price a buyer will pay and a seller will sell”.   I'll elaborate more on that.  Let's talk about the most widely used approach to pricing homes used BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR AND FIRMS LIKE  ZILLOW or REDFIN & OPEN DOOR and other companies shooting you offers online and by mail.The estimate of a home's worth is ROUTINELY calculated using MARKET DATA from recent sales of similar homes in size. This is called a A COMPARABLE SALES ANALYSIS which uses homes THAT SOLD within the past 3-6 months in your GEOGRAPHIC AREA.For example -  If 3 or 4 homes sold for an average price of $500,000 At average size of 2500 sqft  The average price per square foot sold would be $200/sqft.  {$500k/2500sqft}Then they multiply $200/per foot by the number of square feet in your home to come up with a price that your home would likely sell for.  THIS IS A SIMPLISTIC APPROACH.  IT WORKS TO GET YOU THERE BUT it does not represent the value of your homeWHY? This does not consider what the end user - or the homebuyer thinksLet's return to the classic Text book definition again.  Sales price is “the price a buyer will pay and a seller will sell”.   We all know the seller wants the sun moon and stars.  When pricing a home you should consider What does the homebuyer want?  Have you ever made an emotional purchase? The secret to pricing a home correctly comes from looking at VALUE from a future home buyer's perspectiveIn part two we will get into your future buyer's head and consider what they will do with regard to your home - then use those factors to price it accordingly.  

To sell or not to sell? Reviewing your true reasons for moving.

Explaining the fundamentals of housing data keep you up to date on market trends so you can become financially self reliant by making sound investment decisions with your greatest asset - and the American Dream - A Home~