http://www.articlealley.com en-us editorial@articlealley.com Jennifer and Tony Latto, and their two girls, have a 1970’s vintage home in a very nice neighborhood of Austin. Jennifer, who is a registered architect and interior designer, has made some interesting updates to their home. Roselind: Jennifer, fi... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1242546_33.html 23rd November 2009 The main living area is the central core space in your home. It is both public and private – a space that you share with family members and with guests. From the main living room, one should be able to connect easily with dining areas, kitchen, and ha... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1221271_33.html 06th November 2009 Are you planning a remodel? Give some thought to the original style and finishes in your home before you begin. An appreciation for its stylistic roots will help you create a home that has an enduring style, and will be more valuable to buyers if you de... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1205951_33.html 29th October 2009 Are you planning a remodel? Give some thought to the original style and finishes in your home before you begin. An appreciation for its stylistic roots will help you create a home that has an enduring style, and will be more valuable to buyers if you de... http://www.articlealley.com/article_1205334_33.html 28th October 2009 We are all familiar with festoon lighting - strings of lights used around the holidays. They illuminate open air venues, like circuses, and restaurant patios and gatherings under tents. They are low cost, and practical. Strings of lights came to mi... http://www.articlealley.com/article_812445_33.html 09th March 2009 In the city of Austin a new energy ordinance will require that homeowners have an energy efficiency audit done prior to selling their home. The audit report must be disclosed to the buyer of their home. Energy audit and disclosure will become a part of ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_802231_33.html 02nd March 2009 Screened porches bring you in touch with the natural world. They are outdoor rooms, yet, they are sheltered and safe from the elements. If you are planning a green home, screened porches will fit in perfectly. In our building project shown here ( ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_789462_33.html 18th February 2009 We recently built a contemporary farmhouse style home. There was no lawn sod or sprinkler system for extra water. Deer are rampant in the neighborhood, so the landscaping choices are limited. We have dry periods too. Lady Bird Johnson once said - I li... http://www.articlealley.com/article_777402_33.html 03rd February 2009 A decade ago subprime mortgages were an alternative for borrowers who did not fit standard guidelines. Maybe they just started a new business or had some past credit problems. These borrowers paid a high interest rate or put more money down to compensat... http://www.articlealley.com/article_737229_33.html 05th January 2009 In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process. Price, preparation, and presentation must be excellent in order to attract a buyer. The price must be set realistically. Preparation should include fresh... http://www.articlealley.com/article_644851_33.html 22nd September 2008 Condominium is a form of ownership of real estate. In this type of ownership the owner has individual title to the air space inside the unit, plus an undivided interest in the buildings and land. Condominium ownership is guided by a set of declarati... http://www.articlealley.com/article_642755_33.html 19th September 2008 Drywall texture is a compound that is rolled, sprayed, or troweled onto the sheetrock after the taping and floating of joints is complete. It is the same material as the joint compound, but thinned down with water and applied to the wall surface. There ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_639455_33.html 16th September 2008 The material that covers your kitchen counters is one of the most visible and memorable features in your home. It helps to establish the design, color theme, and level of finish out. Today there are new choices in countertops, and old ones are making a co... http://www.articlealley.com/article_622401_33.html 05th September 2008 About five years ago we worked with some clients coming to Austin, Texas, from California. I was a little shocked by their choice of mortgage - a 100%, interest-only loan. At the risk of sounding a little backwater, I asked them, “Why would you not wa... http://www.articlealley.com/article_496712_33.html 27th March 2008 My clients were the kind of folks who plan carefully. Their home had been staged to perfection. Lights on. Cookies on the counter. A contract was received just in time. Everything went smoothly. Closing was set for Friday morning On a Wednesday... http://www.articlealley.com/article_490588_33.html 14th March 2008 The serious decline in housing sales in many parts of the country is well documented. This downturn was preceded by several years of rising home prices in many areas. In some cases, prices rose beyond levels that were supported by local salaries, and we... http://www.articlealley.com/article_238342_33.html 06th November 2007 As Realtors, a routine part of our job is to write ad copy for newspapers, brochures and internet sites. Our goal is to create a favorable sense of the property and intrigue a potential buyer. However, it is easy to cross the line into false statements ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_210983_33.html 03rd September 2007 As Realtors, our fiduciary relationship with our clients requires a high level of good faith, loyalty and confidentiality. We have a duty to protect our clients' best interests. Here are some tips to improve the representation of your seller clients. Pl... http://www.articlealley.com/article_156314_33.html 06th May 2007 Have you surfed real estate sites lately? Many still make some fundamental mistakes that tend to drive visitors away, rather than offering a rich experience that people will return to. A visitor who has come back to your site several times is well on... http://www.articlealley.com/article_131827_33.html 22nd February 2007 "Two story brick traditional with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, island kitchen, and large deck!" Sound familiar? We often talk about houses in terms of room count, along with a list of finishes, such as tile floors, granite counters, or faux paint. While thi... http://www.articlealley.com/article_116689_33.html 05th January 2007 The selection of a home is an emotional decision, and it should be. You should tap into your emotional knowledge when choosing a home. Many personal factors will influence your selection of a place where your family can live comfortably and safely. Ho... http://www.articlealley.com/article_108017_33.html 23rd November 2006 A real estate sale is usually initiated by an offer from the buyer to the seller, written on a real estate contract form, and backed by a monetary deposit. If the seller accepts the offer, the buyer and the seller are bound by a legally binding contract.... http://www.articlealley.com/article_99087_33.html 15th November 2006 Green building is a design process that grows out of a connection with the natural landscape. It is a set of informed decisions that considers the site and materials to reduce the cost, maintenance, and energy usage of the home. Conservation is central t... http://www.articlealley.com/article_90609_33.html 02nd October 2006 Are you are preparing your home for sale, planning to remodel, or shopping for a new home? Find out what is important in the current housing market, and make choices that contribute the most value and enjoyment for the money. Home Styles Old world... http://www.articlealley.com/article_85986_33.html 01st September 2006 When buyers make an appointment to see your home they have already made several important decisions. They have selected your neighborhood as a possible location. Your lot and exterior style appeals to them. Your price is within their range. If the flo... http://www.articlealley.com/article_66778_33.html 25th June 2006 Being a Realtor is not like it used to be a few years ago. Now, in addition to being experts in marketing homes, we have to be highly skilled webmasters, too. My day job is marketing my listings, my night job is marketing my web site. I go from closing... http://www.articlealley.com/article_64234_33.html 18th June 2006 We often arrange our homes to express ourselves - our travels, collections, families, favorite colors and unique tastes. However, when selling a home, the goal is to create just the opposite - a clean, neutral background that many different buyers would ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_47034_33.html 25th April 2006 Several months before you begin to look for a home, you should take steps to get "credit approved" for your loan. Start by making a list of all your existing loans and credit cards, with the company names, account numbers and monthly payment amounts. This... http://www.articlealley.com/article_38215_33.html 23rd March 2006 Your home may be in good condition and well built, yet simple clutter will create a perception of chaos, confusion, and disorder. The purchase decision is an emotional and intellectual response, based on a level of trust in your home. When buyers see clu... http://www.articlealley.com/article_38214_33.html 23rd March 2006 Buyers of re-sale homes almost always have their homes inspected by a professional inspector. Buyers of new homes, however, often do not take this important step. There are several reasons for this: 1) The buyer is getting a brand new home, and thin... http://www.articlealley.com/article_38213_33.html 23rd March 2006 Before a buyer considers your home seriously, it must meet his needs in many ways. It must be a suitable neighborhood, commuting distance, size, layout, etc. If most of these needs are met, the buyer will move toward making an offer for your home. The pur... http://www.articlealley.com/article_38212_33.html 23rd March 2006 The goal in a real estate negotiation is to reach a good agreement - one in which the underlying interests of both buyer and seller are met. The results of a poor agreement often return to haunt the parties after closing. Many of our real estate client... http://www.articlealley.com/article_38211_33.html 23rd March 2006 Negotiating a successful real estate sale requires creating an environment that sustains the buyer's interest and trust during the process. The goal is to reach a good agreement - one in which the underlying interests of both buyer and seller are met. ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_38209_33.html 23rd March 2006 Professional appraisers sum it up in three words -- buyers make value. Ultimately, the value of your home is what a buyer is willing to pay at a given time. Setting an asking price for your home requires that you anticipate what most buyers would be wil... http://www.articlealley.com/article_38208_33.html 23rd March 2006 Generally, apartment-style buildings are called condos, two-story row houses are known as town homes, and free-standing homes on small lots are referred to as garden homes. Unfortunately, this description creates some confusion about real estate ownershi... http://www.articlealley.com/article_38207_33.html 23rd March 2006