Special offer

Lago Vista, TX Real Estate News

By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Texas Trash OFF and City Clean Up, Keeping Lago Vista Beautiful Keep Texas and Lago Vista Beautiful (KLVB) an affiliate helping to coordinating roadside cleanup as part of the statewide effort. Texas trash off and city clean up keeping Lago Vista beautiful is set for April 6th, 2013. If you are interested in joining the effort to keeping our community clean you can call 512-906-1454 to volunteer. KLVB (Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful) is a non-profit organization dedicated to education and promotion concerning the environment. They organize multiple clean-up days throughout the year and are constantly looking for volunteers. If you want to make a difference in our community and don't mind getting a little dirty, please let them know by calling the number listed above or visit their webs...
Comments 15
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Firewise Tips to Protect Your Home and Family The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to identify and remove fire hazards. Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.   Many homeowners think it will never happen to them and do not have an escape plan of routes to evacuate. Have a set of plans for your home evacuation and practice with your family, create possible directions in which the fire may approach room to room. For Wildfires approaching your home having a planned route in several different directions is necessary in case the city or fire officials announce to evacuate your home. Firewise tips to pro...
Comments 34
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Using Divine Intervention to Sell Homes Many REALTOR’S®, have their “believe it or not stories”   When it comes time to sell a house, some homeowners and their real estate agents rely on St. Joseph. The carpenter husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father- (step-father) of Jesus. Because St. Joseph provided his family with a home he is considered the patron saint of the family and of home life among other things. Saint Joseph (San Jose in Spanish and San Giuseppe in Italian is petitioned by many conservative Catholics as one who grants an easy death, but in the wider world of Catholic folk-magic, he is the Patron Saint of real estate matters and home sales, and as Saint Joseph the Worker, he helps people find employment. The reason given for these beliefs is that he was a carpent...
Comments 18
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
“What The Hail” Does my insurance company cover hail damage? Powerful storms packed with hail and heavy rains rolled through the Texas Hill Country and then into Austin before sundown Tuesday, flooding streets and slowing the evening rush to a crawl on the major roads. Each year thousands of homeowners throughout the United States and Canada are pelted with hail from these spring storms. Storms are violent and produce ice droplets about 1/4th to 3/4 of an inch falling  time after time adding layers of ice becoming heavy enough to plummet to the ground anywhere from penny size to golfball size and falling from more than 30,000 feet hitting your roof and everything else at more than 70 miles per hour causing major damage. It’s important to remember that  insurance companies cover roof and...
Comments 52
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Is The Seller in Violation of requiring a particular title company? What many Sellers and their agents don’t realize is that Section 9 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act prohibits sellers from conditioning the home sale on the use of a specific title insurance company, and in fact violators can be subject to penalties, with the most typical being a fine of up to three times the amount of the title insurance fee. Determine if you’re at risk of violating RESPA when it comes to the use of a closing: RESPA says a “required use” exists when a person must use a particular provider of settlement services to have access to a distinct service or property, and the person will pay for the settlement charge. Is the seller in violation of requiring a particular title company? It’s not cons...
Comments 25
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Ever wondered where the Easter Egg came from?   InMedieval Europe, eggs were forbidden during Lent. Eggs laid during that time were often boiled or otherwise preserved. Eggs were thus a mainstay of Easter meals, and a prized Easter gift for children and servants.   In addition, eggs have been viewed as symbols of new life and fertility through the ages. It is believed that for this reason many ancient cultures, including theAncient Egyptians,Persians, andRomans, used eggs during their spring festivals. Many traditions and practices have formed around Easter eggs. The coloring of eggs is an established art, and eggs are often dyed, painted, and otherwise decorated. Eggs were also used in various holiday games: parents would hide eggs for children to find, and children would roll eggs dow...
Comments 12
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Lago Vista 2nd Annual North Shore Musicfest   North Shore Lake Travis communities of Jonestown, Lago Vista presents a one day music festival held at the Bar K Park.   North Shore Music and Arts Commission goal is to promote music and art area-wide, and use available resources to coordinate the promotion of  local musicians and artists, and also bring in talent from afar. Lago Vista 2nd annual North Shore MusicfestSaturday, April 20th 1-9pm Bar K Park Lago Vista Texas   This Year's Musical Lineup includes:   Pauline Reese Female Vocalist of the Year & Entertainer of the Year, 2012 Texas Music AwardsCountry angel Pauline Reese's sixth album, JUST GETTING STARTED, and its first single, "First Love," both showcase a voice called "top-notch" by those in the know, and Willie Nelson calls her ...
Comments 9
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Hello fellow Rainer’s today is my second day of being lazy with my blogging however I do have a good excuse I’ve been out with buyers this weekend and we found two lot’s in Georgetown today both to be built so it was worth getting blog number 24 in today later than the norm. "Rest In Peace For Buying Your New Home". Since I’m still recovering from my Friday cold I thought it would be fun to share a little real estate humor with you, yes it’s being lazy but at least I got my blog posted, I hope you enjoy it. A client bought a new home and the broker wanted to send flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the home and the owner read the card; it said "Rest in Peace". The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry...
Comments 10
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Keep Your Lago Vista Home Available And Ready For Showings   Keeping your home in top condition and making it ready for showings is essential to get offers and possibly multi-offers. Particularly during the first weeks after you list your property, real estate agents from many firms will want to show it to their buyer clients. It is especially important during this window of opportunity, when interest will be at its highest, that you keep your Lago Vista home ready for showings at all times preferably at the time requested by the Byers's agents.   Occasionally, this may pose an inconvenience for you but, you’ll certainly want to maximize the number of qualified, motivated buyers who see your home. Indeed, doing so just might make a big difference in when you sell, for how much and unde...
Comments 10
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
What’s My Home Really Worth in Lago Vista? In a perfect world, your home’s value would be everything you think and need it to be. Perhaps you have specific financial goals or you’ve just made an offer on another home that’s is dependent on selling your home at a certain price in a given time frame. What’s my home really worth in Lago Vista? However, simply put, your home’s value is not determined by you, but by what the market is willing to pay for it at a given time.   These days, the market increasingly includes home buyers who have researched property values over the internet for months, have already viewed at least 10 homes, and are not under any pressure to buy. Indeed, they may be quite hesitant in hopes of missing out on one of those unbelievable deals that continue to pop up.   ...
Comments 11
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Do You Qualify To Own? There’s only one way to find out: go to your bank and/or other lending institution and allow them to perform a credit check and analyze your financial situation or you can allow Bob Ratliff to share four of our preferred Mortgage Lenders.   You might be surprised to know that there are many renters who financially qualify to own their own homes, but don’t realize it. Are you in this category? Do you qualify to own?It would be a shame if you wanted to own your own home, but didn’t know you could own a beautiful home in our Austin area market.   Also, keep in mind you may be eligible for loans insured by the Veterans Administration (VA) or the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).   Is It a Good Time to buy in Lago Vista, Leander, Cedar Park and Northwest Austin? YE...
Comments 8
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
   Owning Versus Renting, Renter’s Do You Qualify?   To buy or not to buy- Buying your first home is a major step. There’s a lot you need to know to make the right decisions – and also to avoid making the wrong ones.  And that’s particularly true in this current seller’s market, with fewer homes available and sellers having different motivations to sell.   The good news is that if you know what you’re doing, or if you’re working with a highly-experienced real estate professional like Bob Ratliff who does, this market offers fantastic opportunities to get a great home at a great price in Lago Vista, Leander, Cedar Park and Northwest Austin.     Owning Versus Renting - Without question, owning a home comes with responsibilities and risks that you don’t have to worry about when you rent, s...
Comments 13
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Lago Vista Homeowners renovate their homes in order to sell   Lago Vista Homeowners when presenting your home to prospective buyers, first impressions are crucial. Buyers begin judging your home the moment they see it and they prefer homes that are well-maintained, clean and clutter-free and if older updated renovations. That’s why home improvements, particularly if they address the anticipated needs of buyers, can boost your home’s saleability and sale price.   Depending on your home’s condition, there are three kinds of improvements that will impress buyers and help you sell for top market value: renovations, upgrades and repairs, reorganization and maintenance. Along these lines, what follows are a few proven, cost-effective ideas that will help your home look its best so you get top...
Comments 3
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
“Happy St. Patrick's Day” A little history of the Day and where it originated:   Saint Patrick was born in England in 387 A.D. As a boy, he was forcibly brought to Ireland as a slave. Life was horrible for him in captivity, and Patrick turned to God. He escaped his captors several years later and returned to England. Once back in his homeland, he heard the voice of God, who told him that he must return to Ireland and help the Irish turn to Christianity. Through much opposition, he was able to spread the gospel and worked miracles in Ireland for 40 years. Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. St Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Most of what is known about him comes from his two works; the Confession, a spiritual autobiography, and hi...
Comments 16
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Empty nest syndrome, Should I down size? Empty nest syndrome takes its name from young birds flying out of their nests once they are old enough to fly, leaving their parents behind. Empty nest parents often face new challenges, such as establishing a new kind of relationship with their children, having to find other ways to occupy their free time, reconnecting with each other, and a lack of sympathy from people who believe that parents should be happy when their children leave home. One of the easiest ways for parents to cope with empty nest syndrome is to keep in contact with their children. Technological developments such as cell phones, text messaging, and the internet all allow for increased communication between parents and their children. Parents going through empty nest syndrome ...
Comments 8
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
The 3rd Annual Jonestown Texas Cajun Cook-Off Lago Vista & Jonestown Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes all to come out and join us on the shores of Lake Travis in the Texas Hill Country for a truly fun, entertaining and delicious event. Authentic cajun style food, live zydeco music and more. Bring your cooking team and/or entourage (friends) to the Jonestown Cajun Cook-Off in Jones Brothers Park. Cook-Off categories: Etouffee and Gumbo recipes? Prizes for this year: Third Place, Second Place, First Place and BEST OVERALL! Team Cook Off Registration ~ Cook Off Vendor Form Saturday March 30th, 2013 One thing to remember is they call crawfish mud-bugs.             Located at the end of Park Drive and along the shores of Lake Travis, Jones Brothers Park offers a variety of amenities for fam...
Comments 14
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Home Inspections Educate, Familiarize, Instruct and Inform Buyers When representing our buyers in Lago Vista and Cedar Park we help them to find the perfect home, write a contract, review the seller’s property disclosure and examine the property with them. As soon as possible after the contract is fully accepted it makes good sense to hire an inspector early as possible in the Option Period to fully understand the condition of the property.This will leave time to negotiate and amend the contract if major problems not known at the time the contract was written, are discovered during the inspection.What we know about the property comes from what the seller disclosed and what you the buyer has observed. A licensed inspectors job is to tell you about the property and disclose up front the s...
Comments 10
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Lead Disclosure when Selling, or Leasing in Austin Area Markets...Lead has long been recognized as a harmful environmental pollutant. In late 1991, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services called lead the "number one environmental threat to the health of children and pregnant women in the United States."Austin Real Estate professional, (REALTOR’S®) know to useLead Base  addendum for residential purchase and lease agreements if a home was built prior to 1978 to ensure that they and their clients are in compliance with federal regulations related to the possible presence of lead-based-paint and other lead hazards. The Federal government has not placed an undue burden one either the property owner or the real estate agent. If lead-based-paint or known lead hazard are p...
Comments 6
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Appraised Value Versus Market Value Do You Know the Difference? Value is based on objective and subjective factors. A home installed with Travertine flooring throughout would have a greater objective value than would a home with concrete floors. Subjective value, on the other hand is affected by the relative work an individual places on a specific item, although a beautifully designed and constructed home with expensive materials still may have no value to someone who does not want such a home. Real Estate may have many different kinds of value at the same time, for example, market value, appraised and taxable values, insured value, mortgage value, and depreciated value. Often value is not the same as price, nor is it the same as cost.  Price is the amount of money that is ultimately pa...
Comments 66
By Potranco Realty, "Sold with Potranco Realty"
(Potranco Realty)
Water-Damage Disclosure Issues! When Does A Seller Need To Disclose? Sellers must disclose anything that could affect the property’s value or desirability, water damage is usually visible but often times Sellers try to remedy the problem by covering/hiding the problem and don’t understand what the seller disclosure statement means when filling it out. Less than full disclosure can prove to be costly and often times a Buyer may not be able to get insurance. Determining insurability and the affordability of insurance early in a transaction will help eliminate a delay in selling the property to an otherwise qualified buyer. Q: What does water penetration mean as it is used in the Seller’s Disclosure Notice? A: Water penetration typically refers to items related to the structure, such as ce...
Comments 12