By DeeinAustin™

This week’s spotlight is on Streetman Homes,a national builder who is well-respected in Central Texas because of their high-end, green, sustainable homes.

Streetman is among few volume builders who can build 5-star green homes. Their popular styles include Hill Country Modern (pictured) and Craftsman.

Streetman’s Austin communities are popular for buyers handling in or out-of-town relocations.

MOST POPULAR STREETMAN HOMES COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN

1.Stone Creek is new at Circle C Ranch and starts in the mid $270s. Circle C is probably the most popular master-planned communities in Southwest Austin, so to have some more affordable homes in the neighborhood seems like welcome mix.

2. Belterra. Streetman has several choices in Belterra: Valley Oaks from the $240s, Palisades starting at the $350s and Aspen Hills starting in the $420s.

3. Mueller Austin (pictured) homes starting at $480,000. Mueller is about 30 minutes southeast of the Lake Travis and a few minutes to Downtown Austin.

STREETMAN INTRODUCES WEST CYPRESS HILLS IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

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Popularity: 6% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

Quick update on the real estate agent outrage with the new MLS system that was implemented last winter. 

The Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABOR) seems to agree that the issues have not truly subsided. Slowness, quirky interface, poor usability have negatively impacted Greater Austin buyers, sellers and real estate agents.

MLS PROBLEMS COST TIME & MONEY
As reported yesterday, there are hot areas in Austin where buyers are competing. At the same time, sellers want to see offers and quick CMAs. Agents have reported losing business and client confidence when a home search and price analysis was slow or didn’t work.

Bottom line: You probably already think most "real-a-tors" are stupid, so we try to avoid having our tools confirm the stereotype.

ABOR TO HOLD A TOWN HALL MEETING NEXT WEEK

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Popularity: 3% [?]

by DeeinAustin™

Someone help me out here. Why do people prefer to buy when the market is "hot" i.e. a seller’s market? Then, when sellers are motivated to sell quickly and at better prices, they shy away because it’s a "buyer’s market".

I ask because buyers now have a problem. North & South Austin real estate is hot. In fact, February has been a stellar month for the Austin real estate agents who hung in there through the slump of Fall and Winter 2007.

VIEW THE AUSTIN MARKET UPDATE SLIDESHOW BELOW OR (DOWNLOAD) 

| View | Upload your own

ADVICE FOR INVESTORS AND SELLERS STUCK WITH HOMES IN PREVIOUS "HOT" AREAS

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Popularity: 3% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

We’ve been celebrating our own Green Week here at the Texas Realty Blog.

• Monday, we provided some background on the topic and pointed to green certifications and events that are coming to Austin and Texas.
• Wednesday was an addition to our popular Gotcha Guide™ series where we gave you 5 Quick, Easy Green Home Fixes that you can do today for low cost.
• Today, we’ll honor top green real estate communities and why they are successful.

CAN GREEN BE AFFORDABLE AND LOOK "NORMAL"?

Some of my clients are custom green home builders who specialize in infill development.

It can be challenging to build a high-quality, beautiful green home in an existing neighborhood while trying to keep prices affordable. If you find a good green custom home builder, the home won’t look odd for an area…or too cookie cutter. Affordable development is often achievable through tax incentives and programs.

These green real estate developments took it a step further and built entire green communities that are sustainable, diverse, and walkable, the principals of new urbanism.

Many made strides that set the bar for other home builders and developers in this arena.

TOP GREEN REAL ESTATE COMMUNITIES THAT DARED TO BE DIFFERENT

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Popularity: 16% [?]

NOTE: This article is part of the forthcoming book, the Gotcha Guide™ to Buying or Investing in Real Estate. by DeeinAustin™

Today, we’re continuing with Green Week here at Texas Realty Blog. If you haven’t already read our first post, take a look at Green Real Estate Events in Austin and Texas in Spring 2008.

QUICK INTRO TO GREEN BUILDING AND GREEN REMODELING

Green homes don’t have to be odd-shaped and made out of materials that aren’t normally seen in your neighborhood. According to EcoManor the most efficient green homes have the following characteristics:

Environmentally-sound materials
 Energy-efficient appliances
 Recycled & Locally-sourced materials
 Rain water collection
 Drought-resistant landscaping
 Natural, chemical-free insulation
 Low-flush toilets
 Natural cleaning products

TOP 5 QUICK, LOW-COST FIXES THAT YOU CAN DO TODAY FOR BETTER GREEN LIVING

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Popularity: 7% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

If green building is not a big issue in your area, it will be in 2008. I represent 5-star green builders who were  ahead of the curve years ago when they first became concerned with sustainable home design.

2008 will bring increased pressure to build green. To stay on top of this trend, real estate agents, contractors and home builders in Austin and nationwide will likely obtain their green certifications.

Two popular programs include EcoBroker as well as the Certified Green Professional Designation from the National Association of Home Builders.

SPECIAL GREEN WEEK AT TEXAS REALTY BLOG

This week is a special green real estate week for the Texas Realty Blog. Each article will highlight green real estate and green home building.

• Today, we’re covering upcoming green building events that you may want to attend in Texas, even if you’re from another state.
• Our popular Gotcha Guide™ series will see a green post mid-week. Look for our Gotcha Guide™ Intro to Green Building and Remodeling. We’ll tell you which quick green fixes bring the biggest bang for the buck.
• Friday’s Spotlight will be on the top green built communities in Central Texas and the U.S. You may be surprised at which developments made the list.

WHERE TO GET YOUR GREEN REAL ESTATE FIX IN 2008

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Popularity: 6% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

Here’s a quick riddle. What does Boxer Mike Tyson and Maravilla Home Builder Mike Kelly have in common? ANSWER: They both thought they were invincible, but were eventually smacked down by the legal system for beating up on the little guy.

MARAVILLA SCOOP: BEGINNING OF THE END!

The Texas Residential Construction Commission took action against a Maravilla home builder Mike Kelly and Primera Homes.

Mike Kelly and Primera are officially barred from working in the Texas home building industry for two decades. I was also told that Mike signed a 38-page confession, to be posted on the TRCC website soon.

TRCC PRESS RELEASE, PRIMERA HOMES FRAUD

Commission Levies Most Stringent Penalty Against Austin-Area Builder. 13 Other Builders Across State Also Penalized

At its February 13, 2008, meeting, the Texas Residential Construction Commission revoked the registration of Austin-area builder Primera Homes Ltd. According to an agreement with the commission, the company’s owner, Michael Kelly, is prohibited from working in the residential construction industry in Texas for 20 years.

"The commission took action against Primera Homes for committing multiple violations, including misappropriating trust funds in numerous instances and using false advertisements."~TRCC Press Release 2/13/08.

Primera Homes was responsible for several Austin-area subdivisions, most notably the troubled Maravilla community…

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MIKE KELLY,MICHAEL BREON AND MARAVILLA HOMES?

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Popularity: 3% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

I received a notice yesterday that Austin’s Home Auction Live! website launched. You may not realize that home auctions are one of the fastest-growing businesses in this national housing climate.

Increased foreclosures and luxury home inventory are the top real estate sales at auctions.

Have a home that won’t sell? Need to get rid of land or home inventory? Have equity, but no time to go through the real estate sales process? A real estate auction may be right for you.

Even better, the process is actually quite simple.

HOW THE REAL ESTATE AUCTION PROCESS WORKS

1. You or your real agent will contact the real estate auction website or auctioneer. You will need to have equity because you will sell at a discount.
2. The auctioneer will gather all details of your home. Some auctioneers will research and produce a marketing plan for the home if it’s an upper-tier.
3. The potential buyers will inspect the property 7-14 days prior to the auction, so you need to provide full access or risk losing money at the auction.
4. Auction Day! If the home is listed with an agent or broker, they will usually need to be in attendance. Same thing goes for a buyer’s agent.

WHAT CAN YOU BUY OR SELL AT A REAL ESTATE AUCTION?

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Popularity: 7% [?]

By DeeinAustin™

Let’s take a stroll along East Riverside Drive in Southeast Austin, Texas for a mini site-seeing tour of present-day Austin. Picture yourself walking by my side as I describe the sites, sounds, and ambiance of the area.

Our tour begins on Riverside Drive, just East of IH35, as we head towards South Lake Shore Boulevard overlooking popular Town Lake.

There aren’t many homes on the street, because it’s mostly a commercial corridor, but that’s ok because the fumes from cars whizzing by has us lightheaded.

…the streets are a little grimy, but that’s ok. I’ll protect you while picking up litter along the way. The sweet smell of pizza, tacos, and "fried stuff" fills the air as we pass by the Capmetro bus stops taking students to campus.

A newspaper blows down the street. You catch one of the headlines,"Luxury high rise condos coming to East Riverside Drive in Southeast Austin".

WHY EAST RIVERSIDE DRIVE IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN IS PRIME REAL ESTATE

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Popularity: 5% [?]

By Guest Author, Kevin R. Rodgers.

Baby Boomers will buy one out of every five new homes sold in 2008. What the 55-and-older segment is really looking for is vacant land. 

For instance, the Texas Hill Country is a prime location for Boomers to look for land from a 1- acre parcel in Marble Falls to a 300+ acre ranch in one of Burnet County’s ranch communities.

A recent boom in real estate development in Burnet County has resulted from this influx of future retirees.  Baby boomer investors coming to the Texas Hill Country are picky, but seem willing to pay top dollar for a piece of land in a great location next to outstanding amenities like fishing, boating and golfing.

Today’s Spotlight is Eagle Mountain Reserve. Features include:

• An Exclusive Master-Planned Community
• 118-acre community located on the northeastern foothills of Lake Buchanan
• Spectacular Hilltop Homesites with Million Dollar Views
• Ideal Hill Country Living with Resort-Style Amenities

WHY BABY BOOMERS ARE SCOOPING UP TEXAS REAL ESTATE

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Popularity: 3% [?]