Recipe: Rib Eye ala Aaron! Get yourself a couple of dry-aged rib eyes, bone in of course. Let steaks sit until room temperature (VERY IMPORTANT step). Heat cast iron grill pan on high for 5 minutes; heat oven to 425 degrees. Brush steaks with olive oil; season with salt and pepper to taste, but don't be shy. Grill on side one for 3 minutes. Flip and do side 2 for 3 minutes. Finish off in oven for 8-10 minutes for medium rare. (If you don't like steaks medium rare, please don't waste your money on dry-aged beef, because it is a waste of time and taste) Anyway, remove steaks from pan onto foil and tightly wrap to let rest. Put grill pan on surface burner on HIGH; deglaze plan with 1/2 c. of beef stock; turn OFF burner and add 1 shot of brandy; turn ON burner and heat for 2 minutes to slig... 02/01/2010

Staying For Awhile or Selling Soon? Be Careful How You Remodel So, you're not much of a cook, but you really WANT a cool, gourmet kitchen like you see in those fancy houses. (Hey, mac & cheese somehow tastes better when prepared on a Viking range, right?) Maybe you have been one of the lucky ones in this economy and have a little extra cash to spend. And the contractors actually have time to do the work, and the deals are out there if you shop around. But talk to me before you sign any contracts, OK?  Why? Glad you asked! One the one hand, it may seem strange to talk to a real estate agent before you remodel. I mean, you don't want to sell right now, right? I say that isn't the point. First of all, as a former homebuilder I may be able to give you some insight about what you want to do;... 01/31/2010

Listen To Marketing Suggestions Before You Sell! OK, I admit it: You know the intimate details of your home better than I do. Or any real estate agent for that matter. But when I come to your home for a prelisting appointment, I am prepared with a lot of important information about your home, your neighborhood, and the general market in your area. So please, whether you hire me or somebody else, listen to what the agent says about your home. Don't take it personally; we are being as tactful as possible, but sometimes things need to be done before your home can go on the market. And a lot of times, the market price is not what you hope it will be. But if you team with me to sell your home, you will get straight talk about what is best to do to sell your house for the best possible price.   01/31/2010

Keep Your Home Showroom Ready OK, so you are a neat freak. You figure it will be easy to sell your home becausde you keep it so clean that porential buyers are bound to be impressed. Congratulations on that, but ... It becomes a grind, day in and day out, to keep up a home during its sales cycle. Whether you are getting discouraged, or you are just getting into a routine and starting to let things slide, I urge you to make a concerted effort to make the house right EACH DAY before you leave for the day or before you leave before a showing. It is crucial that the potential client is impressed during that "first impressions" visit. If they are not, there will not likely be a second one! So be disciplined in your approach, be patient, and it's quite likely that good things will happen!   01/31/2010

Bring the Outdoors In And Watch It Sell! People go house shopping to find just the right home for them that fits within their budget. True enough.  And as important as the home is in the decision making process, how it sits on lot matters, too. Also, don't foget how it lives from the outside either. A lot of people like to entertain. To barbecue, to grill, to laugh with friends and family. And a lot of people want to do that outside as well as inside. So, do what you can to enhance your outdoor living spaces. 01/31/2010

Looks Matter -- What's On the Outside Counts, Too If you're selling your home, sometimes it pays to think like you are buying it instead. Go over the inside with a fine tooth comb. Look for details that would be deal breakers to you, and they likely will be to potential clients, too. But don't forget about the outside! Landscaping is part of the very important, overall "curb appeal" thing you hear about a lot. And it is a vital part. Sure, an ugly house is an ugly house, but beautiful landscaping can make and ugly duckling look like a beautiful swan. If you house is so awesome that people will buy it no matter what the outside looks like, fix it up anyway. Why? Because a good way to get more green is to show off a little green. 01/31/2010

Bright Idea: Let the Light In! Light, bright and airy! You've heard it before, and that's what a prospective buyer wants to see when they come into your home for the first time. Face it, dark and dreary can bring on the blues for many people. Even if you are in the middle of a short sale and won't gain any cash from the sale of your home, you still need it to sell in order for the short sale to take place and the damage to your credit minimized. So, open some curtains. Clean some windows and doors. Let the bright, sunshiny day come through! And if you don't have a lot of natural light at your fingertips, fake it. Turn on those lights, and get your home sold. 01/31/2010

Got to move before you sell? So, you go that big promotion. But guess what? It involves a transfer across town, or across the state; maybe even across the country. But, your house just hasn't sold yet. And you sure don't want to be a landlord when you are going to live so far away. So, how do you handle your home? How will it show vacant? Sure it will be cleaner that it was before, but will it still look like a home, or just a sad house? I recommend that you meet with a home stager before you pack, so they can see the kind of furnishings you have, as well as discuss with you what you are willing to leave behind (perhaps forever). Then follow their advice, and stage that baby to sell!  01/24/2010

Make The Kitchen Kickin'! Trust me on this. I've done a lot of research in this area for years. Spent a lot of money on designers and surveys. Talked to a lot of buyers and sellers. Built a lot of expensive homes with a lot of really nice features. What was the most important room in the home? (If you read the headline, you already know this)  That's right, the kitchen! The master bath may be second, but let's focus on Numero Uno today. If you are a seller or potential seller, it is unlikely that you want to fork over $20,000 or more to buy fancy new cabinets, but there are things you can do to spark things up a bit on a budget. Think paint, tile backsplash, countertops, appliances. But the most important thing: make sure it is clean and uncluttered before all showings. And make it smel... 01/24/2010

Pet Odors Are Like Perfume ... After A Few Seconds, You Can't Smell It! So you are getting ready to sell your home. You want to cal a real estate agent or two -- or more.  But have you really looked at your home -- inside and out -- with a fresh perspective? Homes in disrepair rarely net a buyer the highest possible offers, especially when much of country is in a buyer's market. It may be easy for you to overlook the old paint, the trim that is cracked and leaving paint shavings on the floor, the dishwasher that doesn't close all the way, or sounds like two hyenas mating when it runs. But one of the major offenses in many homes today is something you can't see -- odors. Specifically, pet odors, but also it could be odors from mildew, smokers, food, or other things. So make sure you put ... 01/24/2010

Curb Appeal Not Just About The Face Anymore Traditionally, when people think of curb appeal they think of how appealing the front of the house is when they drive up. In homebuilding, we call it the front elevation. And it IS very important. But today, curb appeal means more than just the front. It also includes the neighborhood, the schools, the proximity to work, play, and modern conveniences. So, some things you can control, some you can't. The price you can get for your home will be reflected by all of the qualifiers mentioned and more, but to get the most you can, you need to maximize the benefits of what you can control -- you home.    01/24/2010

Thinking of Buying A Home? The Loan Comes First I hope that you put a lot of thought into your decision to buy a home. Thats great -- an educated buyer is ultimately a happy buyer in most cases. You've search the Internet, driven around a few towns and neighborhoods, and you are getting that itch -- the itch that tells you it's time to talk to a real estate agent. Great! But don't get the cart before the horse ... Although you may have a general idea that your credit is good and you figure a loan will be a piece of cake, think again. There might be mistakes on your credit reports. You may have too much debt, or too much of a certain kind of debt. Or you may not have enough assets beyond the 3.5% down for an FHA loan. You really need to talk to a lender before you talk to the real estate... 01/24/2010

Early Payoffs Not Necessarily A Bad Idea You will hear many so-called financial experts tell you that it is a better use of your money  to set aside money you would otherwise use to pay extra on the principal of your mortgage and invest it in the market, or somewhere where the potential payoff is greater. While that certainly can be considered sound advice in some cases, it is definitely not always the case. If you spend $50-100 a month extra on paying down your principal, you could cut years off your mortgage and end up saving huge chunks of money on interest.  Naysayers will tell you that but you lose the interest deduction -- which can be substantial -- and the money that would be used will buy stocks or bonds or some other investment expected to yield greater returns.  But even 1 or... 01/24/2010

  Too Much Or Too Little: The Home Pricing Decision Is Key – homes for sale in Kyle TX Buda TX, Austin, TX, Dripping Springs TX, call Agent Aaron @ 512-845-4204 When it comes time to sell your home, this decision is key – “How much should I ask?” If you ask too little for your home, you could lose money that you could have gotten. Asking too much for your home could cause it to sit on the market for a long time. Your REALTOR® wants to sell your home as soon as possible, for the best price. The agent will use a Competitive Market Analysis to determine the price for your home. We may advise you to reduce the asking price if buyers fail to surface after a certain period of time on the market. If you are serious about selling your home, you should take your agent’s advice. If the first pric... 01/17/2010

  Sellers And The Loss Of Privacy: Make Sure You Do Your Part To Help Sell Your Home – homes for sale in Kyle TX,  Buda TX, Austin, TX, Dripping Springs TX, call Agent Aaron @ 512-845-4204 It’s hard enough having guests in your home that you know. But strangers? This can be very traumatic for some sellers. But to have your house on the market involves a certain invasion of your privacy. REALTORS® will be previewing it and showing it to buyers with some regularity. While you want to make your home reasonably accessible to the real estate professionals and their prospects, you don't want to run the risk of stepping out of your shower just as a Broker is bringing in buyers. In many areas REALTORS® use a lockbox. When a property is occupied, the agent first calls to let the owner know when ... 01/17/2010

  To Sell Before You Buy? A Perplexing Question – homes for sale in Kyle TX,  Buda TX, Austin, TX, Dripping Springs TX, call Agent Aaron @ 512-845-4204 They say that timing is everything. Timing can sometimes be difficult if you have to sell a home before you can buy another one. Many people need the equity from the sale for the down payment on the new house. If your old home goes on the market first, you may be concerned that it will sell before you find the one you want to buy. If you find the perfect home before your present home is under contract, the sellers may be reluctant to accept your offer, and you may be too nervous to sign a contract. It is a good idea to sit down with Agent Aaron (512-845-4204) for some professional advice before you begin your search. It will probably be ... 01/17/2010

Cowboys Fan Sings The Blues ... Or Is It Country? My brother in law, Dan, is also one of the lenders I work with. He is also a big Dallas Cowboys fan. We usually watch NFL football games every Sunday (and other days, too, that they are on) without fail. The playoffs have offered up a couple of decent games this season, and quite a few stinkers, too. But today's Cowboys game was hard to take! After the roll they have been on the past few weeks -- and with the first Cowboys playoff win since 1996 to boot! -- I thought today's game against the insufferable Brett Favre and the Vikings was going to be be quite a shootout. Of course, I thought the 'Boys would prevail!  But they got stomped in the second half. Yikes! And then the other team I thought would be in the Super Bowl -- the San Diego... 01/17/2010

  Get A Grip On The Foreign Language of Financing – homes for sale in Kyle TX, Buda TX, Austin, TX, Dripping Springs TX, call Agent Aaron @ 512-845-4204 When you meet with a lender to apply for financing, you may feel as if you are in a foreign country as the loan officer talks points, Regulation Z margins, PMI, and ARMs. You are not alone if you feel left behind by loan terminology. Like many professionals, lenders use a highly specialized language. Don't hesitate to seek translations. This is especially true if you are investigating some of the more complicated loans with rates that can be adjusted periodically. As you consider the various loan options, find out what the interest rate will be and at what point the lender will commit to that rate. If the loan has an adjustable rate, be... 01/17/2010

  A Good Inspector Is Worth Their Weight In Peace Of Mind – homes for sale in Kyle TX, Buda TX, Austin, TX, Dripping Springs TX, call Agent Aaron @ 512-845-4204 Inspection contingencies are a common feature of offers. A buyer is allowed a certain period of time to have an expert look over the home – the structure, plumbing, wiring, roof, and appliances that they will have a good idea of what they are getting into. How do you find the right inspector? Look for an expert on pre-purchase home inspections, not simply a renovation contractor or a friend who can tell copper from galvanized pipes. There are specialists in most cities, or you can obtain a list from a REALTOR® like Agent Aaron in town. Ask for recommendations from friends who have recently purchased homes. Most inspectors have s... 01/17/2010

  The Trappings Of Credit II – homes for sale in Kyle TX, Buda TX, Austin, TX, Dripping Springs TX, call Agent Aaron @ 512-845-4204 It is not unusual for first-time buyers to be mostly free of debt. They have been saving for their home for many months or years. Soon after they moved, they are deluged with preapproved credit applications from banks and stores. Before they realize it, some homeowners can get over their heads in debt. Credit agencies know that mortgage companies do thorough checks before approving a loan, and those who have passed through that process are considered good risks. They also know that new homeowners often need to make major purchases of furniture and appliances. After years of disciplined savings, new owners may be faced with tremendous temptation. If you have... 01/17/2010