Purchasing Real Estate | First Step

If you are thinking about purchasing real estate the first step you should take is to get pre-qualified with a Lender.  This will confirm your buying power and the price range of properties that you should be considering.

Choose your Lender wisely

It is my experience in the recent financial market that local banks in the city or town that you want to purchase.  They know their area/market.  Even better is finding a Lender that has local underwriting.  In the Bastrop area a few banks to consider area Roscoe, Prosperity, First National, First State.  And for rural lending you can contact Capital Farm Credit.    Personally I don’t like working with the big national chain banks.  Of course you can work with any mortgage broker or bank you prefer.

Make a phone call

Getting qualified is a pretty easy process and generally you can  do it with a short phone call. A full blown application can be done after a purchase contract is negotiated along with a Third Party Financing Addendum that is your “out” if you don’t get final approval to purchase.

Time to shop for Real Estate

Once you know you are qualified  you can start shopping around for a Realtor to work with ( and of course I would hope you would consider me!  It is important to have good lines of communication with your Realtor. Looking for a property to purchase takes dedication and commitment and time spent with your Realtor so it should be an enjoyable process.  Make sure you like the Realtor you choose to work with!  And always work with a Buyer Representative – protect your best interests – don’t call the Listing Agent ( who works for the Seller!) With a pre-qualification and a Realtor you can begin your search in earnest.

Please consider me!

Please consider me for any real estate needs you or anyone you know may have be it buying or selling in Bastrop and in  and around the greater Austin area.

We were only there for a short two days and only in downtown for one evening but it certainly was an appealing city!  I am pretty certain if you enjoy Austin you would also enjoy Seattle!

One of a series of threes springs that seep upwards from the fissure in the Balcones Fault line. Barton Springs has been used by Native Americans, settlers, and became  a private pool for it’s namesake Andrew Jackson Zilker and family.  Zilker ultimately donated his land which ran along the Colorado River to the City of Austin.  Some time around 1930 the City expanded the swimming hole  to create a “pool atmosphere” along with sidewalks .

In the summer heat you can find lots of people enjoying the park setting and the cool water every day.  There is a minimal charge for entry and there are showers as well.  People bring towels and set up camp along the grassy banks on either side of the pool.  There are shallow and deep ends to the pool, as well as swimming lanes, and there is one area  specifically for diving on the  one diving board.  Every time I have been there a line forms of people ready to demonstrate their diving skills which is great entertainment while sun bathing in between dips in the pool.   Down towards the deeper part of the 1000 foot pool there is an area where you are allowed to used your floatation devices.   Another great way to get a few rays and enjoy the cool waters.  But it is not just a summer spot, even when the temperatures drop in the Austin area in fall, winter, and early spring there are still dedicated swimmers who come to do laps every day.

During the summer months we make weekly pilgrimages from Bastrop to the Barton Springs Pool to relax and  cool down and we are joined by a wide mixture of people.  In my estimation the Barton Springs Pool is part of the Austin Lifestyle!

Thanksgiving Turkey in Smithville Texas

On my way to my beautiful ranch/horse property  listing in Ledbetter I drove up 2104 from Smithville.  Lots of the ranches in the area put up holiday decorations and one of them was this wonderful Thanksgiving Turkey made out of a round bale of hay.

On this day of giving Thanks I thought I would take a minute to share this fun image, and  to acknowledge how grateful I am to have been successful all these years as a Realtor and Paint Horse Breeder.  I love my job working for  so many wonderful people buying and selling homes, ranch land, and horse properties in the southwest and now in the  Greater Austin area.

I would like to take  a moment to  thank all of my friends, family, fellow Realtors,  current  real estate clients and my future clients!  Your trust in me and the business you give me and refer to me is something I am always thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Located on Riverside Drive  in Central Austin right next to I-35, the park is fenced and cross fenced, with water and poop stations, varying terrain, bushes, trees, it is a popular spot for Austonians to bring their dogs for some R & R.  I am always amazed at how well all the dogs get along.  I guess it is because it isn’t anyones “yard” to protect.

There are two sections one for small dogs and one for large dogs although we see some pretty “big” small dogs running around in the larger area.

Make sure to have your dog current on shots and in a collar.  Dog Park etiquette says if your dog is bothering other dogs or dog owners it is time for you to head home.  One day our pup was just fascinated with an older dog and just kept wanting to play so we packed it up and ended his play day when we couldn’t divert his attention.

All in all the Riverside Dog Park is an awesome place to take your dogs! Here are some pictures of the park I took when we were there.  If you or anyone you know is looking for a Realtor who owns dogs and understands the needs of dog owners please  contact me!

As a Buyer Representative I have helped many Buyers find their dream homes,  not only out in the countryside,  but in towns just like Bastrop, and big “cities” just like Austin!
For you Sellers out there,  the marketing program that I have developed over the years,  combined with the marketing program that my brokerage offers, is one of the strongest you can find for Bastrop  and greater Austin areas!

Don’t let the fact that my main  website url is horsepropertyspecialst, or the fact that I live on a horse ranch, and specialize in horse properties, throw you off!  I am more than a horse property specialist!  I may not be the biggest Realtor out there, but  I am a talented, dedicated, hardworking Realtor who is ready willing and able to work with Buyers and Sellers in the residential resale market too!

Contact me and let’s  set an appointment so you can get to know me!Let me show you how I can  help you reach your real estate goals what ever they may be!

If you are looking for a green, Eco friendly, home with features like water catchment, solar water heat, solar power, low e components, energy star rating, etc.,  and want to work with a Realtor and Eco Broker graduate that has experience living  this type of lifestyle, contact me.  I would love to work with you as your Buyer Representative.   I will be happy to show you the model at Las Casa Verdes.

If you are not necessarily looking for a new build I will  search the current market for homes for sale that have these types of features or specific features that you may want for you to review.

Of course there are other bodies of water to kayak on such as Canyon Lake in Comal County, Lake Bastrop in Bastrop County,  Fayette County Lake in Fayette County,  and of course the  Colorado River, and there are lots of properties within close proximity to these  kayaking spots but these properties listed in the search below are the properties currently for sale that are advertising as such.

If you are a kayaking enthusiast and you are interested in purchasing a home or selling a home near a kayaking venue in and around the Greater Austin area  and want to work with a Realtor who knows where these properties can be found or how they should be marketed -  contact me. I would love to help you reach your real estate goals.

Properties for sale 11-4-2010  – kayaking nearby