Texas real estate

You don’t need to be an expert economist or have a degree in economics to understand the basic principles of economics that can be seen everywhere in everyday life. Think about what you know about economics right now, then do the same after you read this article. I daresay you’ll surprise yourself. Sure, all the theory and law behind the science is usually pretty boring, but the introductory economics are absolutely necessary if you want to have any understanding of things you encounter every day, as well as in any economics class. In about 15 minutes, or however long it takes you to read this article, you’ll be on your way to becoming an armchair economist.

What is Economics?

The US economy? The UK economy? Gross Domestic Product? International trade? Finance? Well, yes and no, but mostly no. The term economics refers to somewhat of an abstract concept: the fact that humans are generally rational, and we make choices. Economics attempts to explain and investigate the how and why behind those choices. Economics can also usually answer the other interrogatives as well (who, what, when, where, and how much). Our world is full of hows and whys that spark curiosity, and that economics is about recognizing this and attempting to solve them in a manner that is consistent with the assumption that humans behave a certain way for a reason. In some cases, this can be called sociological economics or psychological economics. Attempting to solve these mysteries is made easier with the use of assumptions and models, which I’ll get to later. There may never be an absolute solution to a particular mystery, but proposing some ideas based soundly on the principles of economics doesn’t hurt.

A real-life example that illustrates the answering of the aforementioned “interrogatives”

Yesterday, I bought some Peanut Butter M&M’s (my favorite candy) at CVS. As an armchair economist, you could probably answer the following questions yourself without even realizing you are using the basic principles of economics.

Who? Me, obviously. Unless I paid them or provided a service for them, what incentive would someone else have to go buy me candy? What? Peanut Butter M&M’s. The M&M’s cost the same as a Crunch bar, but I benefit more from the M&M’s because I enjoy them more. When? Around 2:00 PM. Up until that time, the benefit of eating the M&M’s didn’t outweigh the cost walking down to CVS to get them. Thus I didn’t have a high enough demand for them until 2:00. Where? CVS. There, the M&M’s cost $.79. At Harris Teeter, they cost $.99. The obvious benefit is a savings of $.20. This is, of course, ignoring the fact that Harris Teeter is about 2 miles from my house whereas CVS is right down the street, thus CVS is even more beneficial. Why? Simply put, the benefits of receiving and eating the M&M’s obviously were greater than the cost of acquiring them. How? I walked to CVS. I could have driven my truck or ridden a bike, but for me the cost of walking was less than that of driving or pedaling. How much? 1 pack. I bought 1 pack instead of 2 because the marginal benefit of the second pack of M&M’s was not greater than its cost.

Assumptions

Included in the basic principles of economics are simple propositions that economists call assumptions. Assumptions allow us to simplify the seemingly complex world we live in and make certain aspects of it easier to understand. Essentially, they simplify situations or issues and make the problem-solving easier and more approachable. For example, if we wanted to approach or understand international trade, we could assume that there are only two countries in the world and that each country produces only two goods. This is usually the example given in introductory economics courses. While quite unrealistic, the assumption simplifies the concept and we can have a better understanding and a tighter focus. Assumptions comprise the framework of economics, and everything and anything related to economics is built upon certain underlying assumptions.

Models

In third grade, I made a model of the solar system by hanging painted styrofoam balls from some clothes hangers. Similarly, economists use models like diagrams and equations which are built with assumptions to illustrate the fundamental principles of economics. Just like my model in third grade simplified the solar system, economic models attempt to simplify reality in order to better understand it.

The applicability of the theories and laws and principles of economics is vast. Most economists use economic reasoning when observing human behavior. Moreover, when the range of that applicability is in question, economists prefer to be overly inclusive, pushing the limits a bit, which definitely makes things more interesting. Think about what you know now about economics. I’ll make an armchair economist out of you yet.

By: Tyler Williamson

Steiner Ranch is a large, master planned subdivision in northwest Austin. Not too far from downtown, but in the hills and very close to Lake Travis, Steiner Ranch has a lot to offer. A community that will have close to 4200 homes when it is built out, Steiner Ranch currently has around 3200 homes on the ground.

Steiner Ranch is a wonderful community and is great for families with kids. There are two elementary schools and one middle school in Steiner Ranch and they all have the highest rating that the state of Texas gives. In addition, the area is dotted with playgrounds and has several pools and parks. Tennis courts are also available.

Steiner Ranch was developed in the environmentally sensitive Central Texas Hill Country. The developers of Steiner ranch were sensitive to that and set aside a number of green areas. There are 18 miles of trails for hiking and biking and there is also green space set aside that will not be developed.

Lake Austin flows along one side of Steiner Ranch and Lake Travis is just minutes away. Lake Austin is the dammed Colorado River and is long and narrow. Lake Travis, also part of the Colorado River basin, is much larger and winds over 63 miles to the northwest. Both are wonderful for boating and other recreation.

There is also golf in Steiner Ranch. The University of Texas Golf Club is in a gated part of Steiner Ranch. The UT Golf Club is a private club on around 275 acres and is the home course of the UT Men’s and Women’s golf teams. This is an areas of higher end homes with some having golf course views, some having tremendous Hill Country views and some having both.

There is quite a variety of homes in Steiner Ranch. There is a small section in which you can find homes priced in the mid $200,000s. There are a few newer gated areas that have large homes sitting way above Lake Austin with tremendous views of the lake and hills. Another area, on Flat Top Road, features fabulous Lake Austin waterfront homes that run in to the millions.

As Steiner Ranch has grown, areas of retail and office space have opened. Close to the Visitor’s Center, you can enjoy s small caf?, visit a dentist and leave the kids at a day care. Just 5 minutes from Steiner Ranch is an area referred to as Four Points. This area, at the intersection of RR 2222 and RR 620 has even more shopping with a major grocery store and national retail stores as well as other stores and services.

If you visit Steiner Ranch, make sure to drop by the Visitor’s Center, which is on Quinlan Park Road just around a mile from RR 620. The folks there are very knowledgeable and are wonderful at pointing out various parts of the community. There is also a very large aerial photo in the Visitor’s Center showing where Steiner Ranch is located with regards to the lakes, downtown Austin, the airport and other parts of the Austin area. If you do drop by, please mention that Sam Chapman referred you.

By: Sam Chapman

Just as in other American and global cities, Houston real estate dealings prove to be a very unpredictable venture. The major reason for the high volatility of such deals is that they are influenced considerably by local events. Apart from inflation and global recession, the price of neighboring properties can go a long way in influencing price points of a certain property. In order to get a fair picture of real estate in Houston, companies and brokers depend largely upon real estate statistics in the city, which are numerical representations of the nature of various deals and help suggest a potential outcome for existing real estate properties. Houston real estate statistics help form predicaments of future dealings and are a dependable base of case studies. Even clients can consider real estate statistics in order to understand what to expect from such deals. This is important because though all properties are categorized, as real estate there are major differences between, commercial, residential and investment real estates in Houston.

Houston real estate statistics help clients take risks, as they are able to see the larger picture of such investments. Apart from this, real estate statistics influence clients’ preferences. If statistics suggest profitability, clients are likely to be open to such deals. Prior to consulting or analyzing real estate statistics, it is important to find statistics that are issued by the government and other creditable institutions.

Houston real estate statistics provide a realistic database of all deals that have taken place as well as provide information regarding multiple deals of a single property. It is not always possible for clients to understand the complicated statistics analysis and for this reason, consultations with reputed agents and companies help them understand what to expect as well as create an estimate regarding their return on investment.

By: Ken Marlborough

Davenport Ranch is an exclusive Texas community located on the beautiful Westlake peninsula. Just west and south of Lake Austin and directly east of Loop 360, or Capital of Texas Highway, Davenport Ranch is very conveniently located. The community has expanded each year, especially since the construction of Loop 360 and the Pennybacker Bridge in 1983. Today, residents of the community enjoy exceptional shopping and recreation opportunities that were once only available to much larger neighborhoods. At the same time, careful planning and development have ensured that the community remains safe, clean, and pleasant to live in.

First developed in the early 1980s, Davenport Ranch was first envisioned as a community that would offer serene hilltop views and gorgeous Austin skyline views to residents. As amenities of Austin have moved west, Davenport Ranch has grown considerably, still offering that same serenity and peace, but with greater convenience as well. Only 15 minutes from downtown Austin, Davenport Ranch offers easy access to a world-class city without all the urban headaches.

Davenport Ranch offers exceptional housing opportunities for discriminating house buyers. There are communities of lakefront patio homes and hillside houses as well as some executive apartments available. Buyers have the option of choosing homes with mature lots or newly constructed homes that offer custom options. In all cases, however, home buyers can expect excellent quality homes in this exclusive neighborhood. There is an exceptional range of single-family homes to choose from. A well-maintained patio-home community in the neighborhood with mature lots offers 50 units right on the scenic shores of Lake Austin. A new development, called Davenport West, is being built on the west side of Capital of Texas Highway. With many new single-family homes and a chic apartment complex, this new development allows buyers to customize their home while enjoying a completely new property with all the latest amenities. The new development is also close to additional dining and shopping, making its location highly desirable.

Davenport Ranch is an excellent place to raise a family. The community is part of the Eanes independent school district. This award-winning school district is considered to be one of the best in Texas. Offering top-flight elementary and high schools, Eanes prepares generations of Davenport Ranch for bright futures.

Davenport Ranch offers quiet, scenic living – but with plenty of recreational opportunities. Davenport Ranch blends Hill Country outdoors with urban experience for an exceptional lifestyle and living standard. The nearby Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve offers hiking trails which allow bicyclists and hikers the opportunity to bask in the natural beauty of Texas. Residents also enjoy afternoons at the Austin Country Club, which boasts a highly-regarded golf course as well as other amenities. Boat ramps nearby let residents enjoy water sports on Lake Austin. Shoppers will adore the Davenport Village shopping center, considered by many of offer the best high-end shopping in the city.

By: Eric Bramlett

“Touted as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” the city of Austin, Texas, has a rhythm of its own. With more live music venues per capita than any other music center in the world, Austin, TX dominates over other places known for music such as Nashville, Los Angeles or Las Vegas. The city of Austin, Texas offers several programs to assist musicians and to promote their music in a variety of genres, from country to blues.

Whether you are just arriving in Austin, Texas for the first time or you are a local coming home, you will be greeted at the airport with live music at three different airport venues. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is just the first reminder that you’ve entered the “Live Music Capital” of Austin, TX.

The Plaza at the Austin City Hall puts on a music showcase with different scopes that highlight different musicians and their music. Free concerts are given between April and October at The Plaza, making the music series “Live From The Plaza” one of the more popular music venues around. The Parks and Recreation Department also highlights musical performances, with summer concerts in various locations, such as the Zilker Hillside Theater.

Many private organizations have emerged as a result of the hot music scene in Austin, TX. The city’s famous Sixth Street is the heart of the live music scene, with more than 50 nightclubs, restaurants, bistros and dance clubs showcasing the latest musicians in a variety of music styles. West of the business district lies what is known as Austin’s Warehouse District, fast emerging as another neighborhood devoted to live music. With edgier restaurants and clubs renovated from old warehouses, the Warehouse District features trendy bars, restaurants and amazing concert halls.

There are several theaters in Austin, Texas that spotlight more live music, such as Esther’s Follies. Located on Sixth Street, Esther’s Follies has featured live acts of magic, comedy, music and sketch comedy for more than two decades. The Frank Erwin Center hosts many concerts and other musical events from its Red River Street location. The Zachary Scott Theater is another place to enjoy a wide variety of live entertainment, from seasonal plays to old-fashioned music concerts. Austin, Texas has many other theaters located throughout the city that are just waiting to be discovered by eager residents.

Of course, the “Live Music Capital of the World” wouldn’t be complete with out music festivals, and Austin, TX hosts several noteworthy ones. Try out the Austin City Limits Music Festival, a 3-day celebration of Austin’s music. The Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Festival highlights worldwide talents in each category. The Urban Music Festival and the Old Settler’s Music Festival are two more popular events just right for the whole family.”

By: Eric Bramlett

The Boston Real Estate marketplace just got a new suite of Real Estate services. NetShareRealty out of Charlestown, MA just opened its doors as a discount real estate brokerage offering clients up to 25% back of their commission on any real estate transaction.

This however is not a new trend. Earlier this year Redfin out of Seattle Washington noted they are going to open their Boston office in early to mid May of this year. Redfin who has successfully opened Seattle and San Francisco on the west coast is looking to expand its discount real estate model across the U.S. With these new concepts, what is going to happen to traditional real estate brokerage in Boston? “Spice’n things up,” notes; Anthony Longo, Founder and CEO of condoDomain.com

“The discount real estate brokerage is a good thing as long as it is properly presented to the client and fiduciary duties are carried out ethically and professionally,” notes Longo. Many agents and brokers feel the same way Longo does and believe consumer choice is key and professionalism within the marketplace is a must.

From for sale by owners to premier full-service brokerage Boston is soon to have a lot of choice. The key behind all of this choice is technology, specifically the Internet. The Internet has led to the disintermediation of the large brokerage-office offerings. Companies such as Coldwell Banker, ReMax, Century21 are still market leaders, however, are by no means the market crutch. Agents and Brokers with a little knowledge of technology and a personality can now go out and compete with these mega-companies.

Boston Real Estate is in for a change this year and time will tell as new market leaders rise to the top. Blogger’s will now start to take a more important roll of what is really going on with the Boston Real Estate market and consumers will have more choice and options when buying or selling a piece of Boston Real Estate.

By: Anthony Longo

There are many financial and personal reasons why you should own your own home in Austin, Texas rather than rent. The obvious reasons include pride of ownership, building your own equity instead of someone else’s, no more landlords, and of course the tax benefits you reap. There are a multitude of other reasons why owning your own home can make your life better.

One of the most overlooked reasons for owning Real Estate in Texas is the freedom you get once you have achieved this major goal in life. Many first-time home buyers find that once they have bought a house, many other aspects of their personal life seem to fall in place. The security and piece of mind that come with home ownership is a great accomplishment in many people’s lives, and once they have overcome the obstacles, they find that other goals they had set out to achieve become much easier to attain.

There is a great sense of belonging to the community once you own a home. You begin to feel more attached to the city and its people. You will find yourself more involved with community events – what is happening with the schools, roads and shopping centers in your area. Some new homeowners find themselves getting into local politics in order to create better surroundings, which is something renters seldom do.

Home ownership is a strong anchor for your life. You have something that represents a strong commitment and a sense of stability. Again, the aspect of freedom comes up – you won’t have to worry about a landlord telling you it is time for you to move, your children won’t have to worry about whether they will have to change schools, and you are blessed with the ability to plan for the future.

By owning a home, you will find yourself in more control of your immediate surroundings. You can change things and decorate to your tastes, and not be limited by the standards of a landlord. You do not have to seek someone else’s approval if you decide to remodel or alter the landscaping. Your home truly is your castle.

If you have children, you will find that they feel more secure when coming home to a house that is not owned by someone else. There are no worries that they will be suddenly forced to change schools and reestablish their lives at the decision of someone else. You can also get to know your neighbors, and if they have children, lifelong friendships can be formed because everyone knows that they will be around each other for years and years.

One final aspect that cannot be overlooked is the pride that you feel when you own your own home. You have proven to yourself that you can achieve monumental goals and can give your family the security it needs to move forward in life. Once you have built up equity in your first home, you can leverage your equity to purchase a nicer home later.

Choose your agent wisely. Working with a full-time professional Austin Real Estate agent is a must. Ask questions of your agent. Find out how knowledgeable he or she is about houses currently for sale in your price range and also of houses that have recently sold. Can your agent recommend a good lender that has the reputation of excellent customer service and low rates? Does your agent ask questions of you to have a full understanding of what you are looking for to help you get the most home for the money?

By: Herb C. Jahnke

Dallas Texas has become one of the best commercial real estate investments in the United States. The city has expanded to the 9th largest city in the United States and the 2nd largest city in Texas. It is a business and culture center with many top Fortune 500 companies and international companies making it their headquarters. New businesses are also opening daily. What does this mean for commercial real estate? It means it is a more lucrative investment than ever. There are many reasons that commercial real estate is thriving in Dallas: large up-scale communities, a good economy, business and culture center and tourism.

Downtown Dallas has 13 Districts, each with their own special flavor and each serving the commercial industry with a wonderful place to conduct business. There are several categories of commercial real estate: industrial, investment or office and retail. The main players being property managers, lending agencies, architects, mortgage brokers and bankers. Because of continuous growth, the market has remained vibrant and the demand for space is high. Some of the highest demand commercial properties in Dallas are high rise offices, retail space, downtown lofts, industrial plots, warehouses, as well as executive suites.

There are many top ranking public companies in Dallas Fort Worth that have at least $10 million in revenue such as the Exxon Mobil Corp, AT&T, AMR Corp., Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Flour Corporation, J.C. Penney Co., D.R. Horton Inc., Holly Corp., Blockbuster Inc., Atmos Energy Corp as well as many others. For Texas, Dallas has quickly become one of the top cultural and business hubs in the nation. For the commercial investor, Dallas has become an investment with increasing value and high resale.

Companies such as the Healthcare Realty Trust Inc. are spending sums of $133.6 million in cash for the purchase of medical office buildings, a 68 bed acute care hospital and two parcels of unimproved land. ITT has paid $25.7 million for 575,000 square feet Industrial portfolio in Dallas located on 36.2 acres in the Pinnacle Industrial Center in Dallas.

Downtown Dallas features the Arts District, the City Center District, the Convention Center District, the Farmers Market District, the Government District, the Main Street District, the Reunion district and the West End Historic District. Each offering something for every commercial business and every investor investing in Dallas commercial real estate.

By: Ashlee Pannell

Palmer Ranch is spread across more than 10,000 acres of land and is one of the finest real estate developments available in Sarasota, Florida. What makes Palmer Ranch even more attractive to people looking for a great home is the location of the ranch. It is situated just minutes away from America’s most famous beaches on Siesta Key and not to mention its proximity to various cultural activity centers, business centers and civic centers in the city.

The Ranch also has shopping malls, movie theaters and even schools within minutes of its boundary and these amenities makes Palmer Ranch a great place to live. It is one of the perfect places where you can escape from the stress of the outside world and enjoy its serene and calm neighborhoods.

Deer Creek is one of the communities in Palmer Ranch. Deer Creek is one of the most sought after neighborhoods with homes and maintenance free villas. Spread across 258 acres of natural preserves and encircling 17 lakes, Deer Creek is a secured gated community making it just the right place to raise families and for first time home buyers and retirees.

Ranging from 1700 to 4000 square feet, the homes in Deer Creek are well maintained and offer a luxurious lifestyle. Single family homes, villa style houses, are available in the Deer Creek community. The community has a lush green cover with natural oak hammocks, well manicured lawns and seasonal flowering plants all over the community. The winding roads just add to the finishing touches of this splendid gated community within Palmer Ranch.

Situated in the heart of Palmer Ranch, the Deer Creek community is just a few minutes away from several attractions and urban activities making it just the right place for you to invest in real estate. Residents can enjoy utmost privacy in this deed restricted community as each home has been planned and designed keeping in mind the privacy of each family residing here.

The community is also just at walking distance from the shopping centers on Palmer Ranch and also the new Potter Park YMCA facility on Palmer Ranch. Golfers have a varied choice of courses that they can choose from which includes the prestigious Tournaments Players Club in the neighboring community of Prestancia. The Sarasota airport is also just a thirty minute drive from the residences.

Deer Creek of Palmer Ranch is an ideal bedroom community and place for snow birds to spend their winters. You will certainly appreciate all that this Sarasota Florida development has to offer.

By: Christina L Miller

So you are finally about to sign the contract on your new home. You probably think it’s safe to assume you know the price terms, since they’re what you offered to pay. You even understand how your real estate agent receives a commission for helping you find your home of choice, because you did your research. Is a doc fee now showing up as an unforeseen part of your home expenses in order to obtain access to your new home’s actual title?

A documentation fee is a price charged higher than and beyond the normal costs of employing a real estate agent and paying the purchase price of the home. You might refer to this as a hidden fee. A real estate agent, on the other hand, would likely refer to it as service fee for getting the appropriate paperwork for the title of your house and other related documents.

There is a huge variance of opinions out there about this fees. Documentation fees are absolutely abhorred by some brokers and these brokers specifically advertise that they do not charge such a fees. Then again, some other agents praise this fees’ existences, citing them as a needed fee for the cost to obtain the relevant documents. This fees are regulated by state government to an amount that is non-negotiable in some states like California. Real estate agents in other states that do not have laws regarding documentation fee regulation are free to set their own amounts, if they want to charge a this fee at all.

A similar and usually more publicized version of this topic comes up during the purchase of a vehicle. You can have even experienced this at a car dealer, since many charge a similar fee in order to create a title to a new automobile for you. In online message forums, this added charge is actually the cause of substantial debate. Lots of people claim the doc fee is a scam to lure buyers into buying an automobile they think costs less than it actually does as a result of a pricey fee added into the back end of the purchase agreement.

Whatever your opinion on doc fees, be sure to do your research before signing your name on the dotted line for any major buy, be it automobile or house. Ask your real estate broker right away whether he or she charges a doc fee. Whether or not your state of residence regulates the use of this fees should also be researched. In the end, doing your homework is essential to a satisfying purchase, no matter how you cut it.

By: Mary Barney