Central Texas Realty Insider

By Justin Edward Gibson, Broker

Top 10 Cities to Earn a Living
Source: Forbes, Francesca Levy (09/03/2009)

The best cities to earn a living have companies doing business
in growing, high-paying industries. Combine that with
a premium commercial environment, job growth and a low
cost of living, and you get a select few cities where the paychecks
are generous and the cost of necessities, like food and
housing, is modest.
Forbes magazine selected the top 10 cities where the above
characteristics are the current economic reality. The conditions
in these areas are likely to get even better as health
care, technology and energy draw more employees into their
ranks.
1. Dallas 6. St. Louis
2. Houston 7. Seattle
3. Minneapolis 8. Atlanta
4. Austin 9. Kansas City
5. Washington, D.C. 10. Denver

HomeGain’s recent survey shows the top do-it-yourself home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers. HomeGain received responses from nearly 1,000 Realtors nationwide and configured a list of the top 12 do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvements that cost under $5,000 and benefit sellers most when they sell their homes.

According to the HomeGain survey, the top five home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers based on cost and return on investment (from highest to lowest ROI) are:

1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost / $1,700 price increase / 872% ROI)
2. Home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase / 586% ROI)
3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost / $1,300 price increase / 572% ROI)
4. Landscaping ($320 cost / $1,500 price increase / 473% ROI)
5. Repairing plumbing ($385 cost / $1,250 price increase / 327% ROI)

Read more: rismedia.com


Archives


Is Global Warming a real threat?
While in college I studied several topics that both directly and indirectly related to the theory of Global Warming. It is quite alarming how many different ways Global Warming can affect out lives and, in fact, how many ways our lives affect Global Warming. More studies are needed but a controversy is stirring. I for one suggest everyone decides for themselves after learning more about it because this can greatly affect how and where we live.
To learn more about this growing threat check out an inconvenient truth, a documentary by former Vice-President Al Gore or check out www.climatecrisis.net.

How can I start to make a difference now?
Here are 10 simple things you can do to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into our atmosphere. (courtesy climatecrisis.net)
1. Change a light - Changing a regular lightbulb with a compact flourescent will save over 150lbs a year of carbon dioxide.
2. Drive less - Walk, bike, carpool, or mass transit - you will save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you save.
3. Recycle more - An average person can save over 2,400 lbs of CO2/yr by recycling just half of your household waste.
4. Check your tires - Proper inflation can improve you mileage by over 3%.
5. Use less hot water - Between your shower and clothes washing the heat saved for both adds up.
6. Avoid products with a lot of packaging - Cutting down your garbage by just 10% can save 1,200 lbs of trash per year.
7. Adjust your thermostat - Adusting your thermostat up just 2 degrees in the winter and down just 2 degrees in the summer can save another 2,000lbs/yr.
8. Plant a tree - A single tree can absorb a ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
9. Turn off electronic devices - Less useage - less co2.
10. Be a part of the solution - Learn more and get active!

What is ...
An option period?
I always recommend an option period for Buyers. It is a basically a window of time to allow further exploration of a property to determine is purchase worthiness while removing it from the market. Take this opportunity to have the property inspected, do research, gather estimates for repairs, and more depending on the situation. Option periods are negotiable as far as how long and how much. It also protects your earnest money and it can be applied toward your down payment if you follow through with the purchase.

IS BIGGER REALLY BETTER?
Often homebuyers are focused on the sox of the homes they are looking for. This is an ingrained idea that comes from society. “I have a 2000 sq.ft.” your neighbors, The Jones’s may say. Or, “We have a 2500 sq.ft. house” your coworker may remark. The size of a home has long been tied to simple square footage or, for buyers, price per square foot. Which directly relates the list price of a home with the square footage of the home. But, modern homes, with their flexible open floor plans and lack of wasted space and often unnecessary formal areas along with the added volume often occurring due to the higher ceiling and sometimes open access to second floors have made homes with smaller square footage actually have more usable space than traditional homes with a larger footprint. With home prices rising and building costs following suit, it is important to make each cubic foot count. Not to mention the larger the home the more there is to heat and cool. The efficient use of space is an ever increasing factor in homes of the present and more so ...the future. Decide what is the most important features for your situation and which ones you can do without. Also, research organization and storage ideas to save space and convert unused areas to usable areas by reshaping your thinking. Bottom line...No need to overbuy for space you do not need. Average owners only stay in their homes less than 5 years anyways. So those formal areas may not be needed until the second go around. Buy smart and save money both now with the purchase and monthly with your utility savings.

CENTRAL TEXAS: INVESTMENT HOTSPOT

Updated 12/07 - After a post summer cooling off period followed by a housing slump on both national and local levels - home sales have leveled off and look solid for 2007. As the area addresses certain infrustructure issues to maintain the growth levels it is a step in the right direction for the long term

Central Texas has been experiencing an economic boom of late via an influx of investors from beyond our regional borders. With help from recent articles in national publications such as Forbes 500 and CNN Money, investors from afar are taking note of the low property values and investment opportunities the Greater Fort Hood Area has to offer.
With Fort Hood firmly anchored in place and offering a never ending supply of tenants to the area, in addition to traditionally undervalued properties and low tax rates; the area is ripe for investment.
The theory seems simple for most investors – Diversify! The same theory used in stock portfolios can now be applied to real estate investments. Buy more low cost properties and reduce the impact of vacancies and non-pays. Plus value can be added more efficiently with multiple properties in area that is growing exponentially.



Justin Gibson