1015 E Yager Ln #86 is Move-in Ready

Bright, open living area with vaulted ceilings, large windows and updated laminate flooring. Perfect roommate plan with one bedroom and full bath upstairs and another bedroom and full bath downstairs. Backyard and patio with room for outdoor dining, garden, kids and/or pets. Two reserved parking spaces in front of unit. Well maintained complex with community pool. Minutes from Dell, Samsung, shopping, restaurants and gyms.

Highlights of 1015 E Yager Lane #86

Some of the highlights of 1015 E Yager #86 include:

• New Laminate Flooring Throughout Downstairs
• Bright, Open Floor Plan with Plenty of Light
• High Ceilings in Family Room
• Eat-in Kitchen with Room for 4 Person Table
• Perfect Roommate Plan with 1 Bedroom/Bathroom Downstairs and 1 Bedroom/Bathroom Upstairs
• Move-in Ready – Perfect for Investors or Owner Occupants

Coppertree Condos Complex Amenities

Coppertree Condos is one of the areas most well maintained complexes. The HOA is very active and makes sure the owners are maintaining the exterior of their units. Here are some of the highlights:

• 2 Reserved Parking Spaces Directly in Front of Unit
• Community Pool for Perfect for Lounging and Swimming
• Well Maintained Community
• HOA Maintains Landscaping – No Need to Do Yard Work!
• Near Restaurants, Shopping and Hotels
• Two Minutes from Dell and Samsung

1015 E Yager Ln #86 is the perfect place for someone looking for a short commute to Austin’s tech corridor at an affordable price.

1015 E Yager Lane #86 Photos

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For more info, visit our dedicated website, 1015 East Yager Lane #86, Austin TX 78753. There you’ll find more info, pricing and availability.

Looking to sell your Coppertree Condo? Check out Selling a Coppertree Condo.

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Though a professional photographer knows which angles are better than others, knows how to properly light the space and has the appropriate camera to capture as much as possible, they can’t hide dirty clothes, the pile of mail on the kitchen counter or the dishes in the sink. In order to get the most of the professional photography, here are some tips to help you prepare your home for the photographer.

A Month Before the Photographer is Scheduled

Pack everything you don’t use daily and put it in your garage or storage space. Keep as little out as possible to make your home look open and spacious. It is ok to use closets and garages to store stuff. Photographers don’t usually photograph these spaces and potential buyers understand you need to put your stuff somewhere.

If you have grass or plants, get some plant food (we recommend Eleanor’s Plant Food, sold online through Home Depot) and use liberally. Also, water regularly. This will spruce up your lawn and plants and make your home look more inviting.

A Week Before the Photographer is Scheduled

Clean everything and make it sparkle. This includes carpets, windows, ceiling fans, blinds, walls, baseboards, kitchen appliances, etc.

Once you think you have everything put away and clean, walk into each room and ask yourself, “Is everything I see something I want a buyer to see?” If the answer is no, keep removing things until the answer is yes.

Turn on every single light in your home. Check for burnt out light bulbs. If there are certain rooms that aren’t bright, install a higher wattage light bulb.

1 Hour Before the Photographer is Scheduled

• Turn on every light in your home.
• Put the blinds or shutters all the way down and adjust them to let some light in.
• Turn off ceiling fans.
• Make sure everything that doesn’t belong on the floor is put away.
• Hide mail, keys, magazines, books, remotes.

Kitchen

• Hide the sponges and dish towels
• Remove all appliances and kitchen utensils from the counter top
• Hide the trash can
• Take down everything from the outside of the refrigerator – this includes magnets, pictures and other decorations
• Hide kitchen rugs

Bedrooms

• Remove everything from tables and nightstands including alarm clocks, books, reading glasses. You can leave the lamps.
• Make the beds and arrange the pillows nicely
• Hide any trash cans, diaper genies and toys

Living and Dining Areas

• Put away the remote controls, books and magazines
• Remove everything from the tables and any open shelving – exceptions include lamps and decorative items
• Make sure pillows are arranged nicely

Bathrooms

• Remove everything from the bathroom counters – exceptions include decorative items
• Make sure towels are hung straight
• Remove towels from shower stalls or pegs
• Remove trash cans
• Put the toilet seats down
• Remove all shampoos, soaps, razors from the shower

Pet Items

• It is best to remove or crate any pets before the photographer arrives to prevent having them in every photo
• Remove all visible litter boxes, crates, pet bowls and any evidence of pets

Outside Your Home

• Remove cars from the driveway and, if possible, from the curb
• Hide all trash cans, recycling containers and any debris
• Mow the lawn, then remove all lawn equipment from sight
• Open umbrellas

We Hire a Professional Photographer for Every Home We Sell

Professional photography is so important that we use it for every single home we sell, not just the ultra luxury properties like most agents in town. When your bottom line can change $1,000 or more, we are willing to invest the money in the photographer to help you get that extra few dollars. For more about what else we do that makes our listing program the best in Austin, check out our Austin Home Sellers section. Then call us at (512) 827-8323 to schedule a no obligation consultation.

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Getting Pre-Approved Does Not Hurt Your Credit Score

Getting pre-approved should be the first step in the home buying process and should come before you start seriously looking at homes. The credit reporting bureaus and agencies understand people must get pre-approved for a mortgage loan before they buy a home. Its also very normal for several months to go by from when a buyer gets pre-approved to when they find the house they want to buy. Though pre-approvals impact each person’s credit score differently, its usually not more than a couple of points. If a couple of points in your credit score is the difference in qualifying for a loan, you might want to reconsider buying.

Bottom line – no matter how confident you are in your credit score, income and savings, get a genuine pre-approved first if you need a mortgage loan to purchase a home.

When Pre-Approvals Hurt Your Credit Score

When we say pre-approvals don’t hurt your credit score, we are assuming you’ve visited a select few mortgage lenders in a 2 week period. The credit reporting agencies will give you a 2 week (or so) period to run your credit for one type of loan with a few different banks/lenders and it will only count as one inquiry. What you want to do is lump all of them together in a short period of time. Don’t apply for a mortgage loan with a different lender every other week for the next 6 months, cause that will raise some red flags.

Our suggestion would be to speak to a few mortgage lenders (credit union, mortgage broker, mortgage banker) and select the person and/or loan program that suits your needs best. Then, have that person complete the pre-approval and run your credit. When buying a home, it’s important to have a person you can call and ask questions or seek advice.

My Pre-Approval Is Only Good for 90 Days?

Technically a pre-approval is good for a certain number of days, usually around 90. But, when the pre-approval expires, it doesn’t mean you are starting from square one. All you’ll need to do is submit updated W-2’s, paystubs, income statements and other supporting documentation and you should be good to go. That is, as long as you haven’t gone on any major shopping sprees or gotten yourself into a lot more debt. Submitting updated paperwork is much easier, and takes much less time, than getting a pre-approval from the beginning.

Waiting to Get Pre-Approved Could Cause You to Lose the House You Want

Even after reading this post, I’m sure there are still those of you who say your credit is great, you have a steady source of income and you’ll easily get approved for a loan. This may in fact be the case. However, keep in mind a pre-approval could take a week (or more) to get together. In neighborhoods where homes are selling quickly, this could mean the difference in you getting the house you want versus losing out to another buyer.

Plus, if you have mistakes on your credit report, those can take some time to remedy, even if they are mistakes. Getting pre-approved early will allow you time to correct any discrepancies and recalculate your score. (HINT: Free Online Credit Reports are not as detailed as credit reports run for mortgage loans. Getting your credit report online may not show enough for you to rule out mistakes.)

Considering Foreclosures? Pre-Approvals Are a Must

If you’re considering purchasing Austin foreclosures and bank owned homes, pre-approvals are a requirement to make an offer. Without a genuine pre-approval, your offer will be thrown in the trash. Banks only want to deal with serious buyers, not looky loos. A genuine pre-approval is as good as cash and shows your offer should be taken seriously.

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Radius Search

Say you’re looking to live within a certain number of miles from work, your favorite coffee shop, restaurant or zip code. All you have to do is type in an address or zip code in the Radius Search section of the Austin home search tool and then select how far you want to be. The tool will search homes for sale that meet those criteria.

Ask a Question

Ever have a question about a home for sale? Now you can easily ask a question. Simply click on the “Ask a Question” button next to the “Schedule Showing” button. Then, just type in your question and click “Send”. One of our Austin Realtors will get the answer as soon as possible.

Driving Directions

Want step by step driving directions to your favorite home? Simply scroll down past the pictures and the descriptions and click the “Maps” tab. Then, scroll down to the “Get Directions” button and click that. Then, type in your starting address and click “Go”. Turn by turn driving directions will then pop up. All without leaving our home search tool.

Have Suggestions for New Home Search Options?

Have a suggestion for a new option for our Austin home search tool? Email us at info@AustinRealEstateHomesBlog.com and we’ll send your suggestions to our developer.

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Backup or Contingent Listing Status

When a property is in “Backup or Contingent Listing Status”, it could be either in Backup Status or Contingent Status. Both mean the owner of the property has accepted a contract, however, each is slightly different.

Backup Status

A listing in Backup Status is what Austin Realtors call “Pending Taking Backups”. The owner of the property has accepted a contract to sell and is waiting for the buyer to get through their option period.

An option period is an agreed upon amount of time (usually 7-14 days) that a buyer purchases from a seller for the right to cancel the contract. During the option period, the buyer can cancel the contract and only lose their option money (usually a few hundred dollars). Because the buyer is not locked into the contract, the seller usually wants to line up some backup offers should this buyer decide to cancel.

Contingent Status

A listing in Contingent Status is what Austin Realtors call “Active Contingent.” Active Contingent means the owner of the property has accepted a contract to sell from a buyer who needs to sell their home first. The sale of the property is contingent (dependent upon) the buyer’s house selling first. When the buyer’s home sells, they will go forward with the purchase of the property.

If a second buyer writes an offer on a listing in Active Contingent status, this will usually trigger a clause in the first contract for that buyer to either go forward with the purchase (even if their house didn’t yet sell) or cancel the contract. If the buyer cancels, this puts the second buyer in first position.

Backup Offers

In both cases, you can submit a backup offer, but realize it’s likely a long shot you will get a chance at purchasing the house. More often than not, the buyer who is currently under contract will go through with the purchase.

Our personal opinion towards backup offers if we’re representing a buyer is to not write them. When the seller is already under contract, they feel they are in a position of power and are not as willing to negotiate. Waiting until their deal falls apart puts the buyer in a better position because the seller went from a contract they were pretty confident would go through to having nothing. Usually, sellers in this position are more willing to negotiate with a buyer, thus giving you a better deal.

If you’re a seller, get as many backup offers as you can. The more backup offers you can accumulate, the higher the likelihood of your property getting sold. Negotiating all the terms of a second contract can be tedious and time consuming, but it saves a lot of time when the first buyer backs out. The second buyer can move right into primary position and continue to move the process forward.

Is It Worth My Time to See a Backup or Contingent Home?

In most cases, the answer is no, especially if you’re at the beginning of your Austin home search. In order to make an offer on a home, you’ll need to be pre-approved by a mortgage lender. This process usually takes about a week or so. In most cases, homes that are in the Backup or Contingent Status have moved to Pending in this amount of time. If you’re serious about buying a home, your first stop should be a reputable mortgage broker or mortgage lender. Get all your financial house in order before you fall in love with a house that you’re not going to be able to buy.

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Austin Golf Course Homes

Would you love to live on the golf course? If so, our new website, www.AustinHomesonGolfCourse.com, is for you. There we’ll show you all of your options for Austin golf course living. You can search by area, by price and by type of course.

Austin Homes on Golf Course

Here is a screen shot of the new website. Click on it to be directed to www.AustinHomesonGolfCourse.com.

Questions About Golf Course Homes in Austin?

Email them over to us at info@AustinHomesonGolfCourse.com. Send us all your comments and suggestions.

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Austin Area Neighborhood Guides

Below you’ll find the areas of town as well as some Austin suburbs. Click on each to pull up your desired area of town. There you’ll find a complete list of the neighborhoods we’ve profiled.

Areas of Austin

• Central Austin
• South Austin
• Southwest Austin
• Northwest Austin
• West Austin

Austin Area Suburbs

• West Lake Hills
• Rollingwood
• Lakeway
• Bee Cave
• Cedar Park
• Leander
• Pflugerville
• Round Rock
• Dripping Springs
• Driftwood

Suggestions for Neighborhood Guides?

Looking for an Austin neighborhood guide you can’t find? Email us at info@AustinRealEstateHomesBlog.com with your suggestions and we’ll get the information up.

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Just One of Many Top City Awards for Austin

Over the past several years, Austin has been named to many lists for everything from Most Recessions Proof Cities to Best Cities Poised for Economic Recovery to Best Places to Live. All things considered Austin has fared the economic downturn well and has positioned itself to become one of the fastest growing cities in the United States when its over.

Why Does Austin Keep Winning Awards?

Austin has a lot of things going for it. Cost of living is low, the median income is fairly high at $74,900, it has a fairly low unemployment rate, Austin’s very small business friendly and the climate is mild. Plus, Austin real estate is pretty inexpensive, with home prices as low as $100,000 for homes within a 20 minute drive of the Downtown area. For those with kids, most schools are highly rated and you don’t have to pay prime real estate prices to live in a good school district.

160 People Per Day Moving to Austin

In the most recent figures we’ve seen, 160 people a day are moving to Austin. So, if you’re looking to start over in Austin, you won’t be alone. In fact, since we moved here, we’ve only met a handful of people who were born and raised in Austin. Most are transplants from other parts of the country.

Looking for a Place to Start Over? Why Not Austin?

Austin not only makes sense on paper, but is a great place to live. People are warm and welcoming and there are a tons of things to do, especially if you love the outdoors. Check out our Austin Relocation Guide for more tips. We made the move ourselves from the San Francisco Bay Area and know what its like moving to a new city. Call us at (512) 827-8323 or email us at info@AustinRealEstateHomesBlog.com if we can help with your relocation.

A = Active

Property is on the market and offered for sale. There are no pending contracts on the property.

AC = Active with a Contingency Offer

Property is under contract, but the contract has a contingency. Most contingencies are the need for the primary buyer to sell a home before they purchase. The property is still on the market. If you submit a contract and is accepted by the seller , the primary buyer has a short period of time to remove the contingency or terminate the contract. If they terminate, your contract becomes the primary contract.

PB = Pending Taking Backup Offers

Property is under contract and likely the buyer in the option period. Once the option period ends, the listing agent should move the home to pending. During this period, other buyers can submit a contract on the home. If your offer is accepted by the seller, your offer moves into backup position. If the first contract falls through (the buyer cancels), your offer will move into primary position.

P = Pending

Property is under contract and likely past the option period. If the buyer cancels at this point, they will lose their earnest money. Thus, most contracts that make it past the option period are likely to close escrow.

W = Withdrawn

The home owner has decided to take their home off the MLS. The home is still technically listed by the Realtor until the expiration date, however, the home has been removed from the MLS database.

C = Cancelled

The listing contract has been terminated with the Realtor. The home has been removed from the MLS database and is no longer for sale.

E = Expired

When homes are listed with a Realtor, they are listed for a certain period of time. Once that time frame is up and no extension has been granted, the listing expires and the home is taken off the market. Sometimes sellers list again with the same Realtor, another Realtor or take it off the market for a while.

S = Sold

Property has closed escrow and no longer on the market.

More Austin Home Buyer Tips

For more Austin home buyer tips, check out our Austin Home Buyer Guide and our Austin Home Buyer Blog. Have questions? Email us at info@AustinRealEstateHomesBlog.com.

Need an Austin Realtor Specializing in Home Buyers?

We can help save you tons of time and lots of money! Call us at (512) 827-8323 or email us at info@AustinRealEstateHomesBlog.com to schedule a no obligation consultation.

Live Music at Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

There are 3-4 shows per day, with many local favorites on the schedule. Here is a list of the remaining acts:

Saturday, December 17, 2011

12:30pm: Terri Hendrix
3:30pm: Eliza Gilkyson
8:00pm: Jimmy LaFave

Sunday, December 18, 2011

12:30pm: Kat Edmonson
3:30pm: Ruthie Foster
8:00pm: James McMurty

Monday, December 19, 2011

12:30pm: Biscuit Brothers
3:30pm: Robyn Ludwick
8:00pm The Eggman

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

12:30pm: Kalu James
3:30pm: Albert & Gage
8:00pm: Marcia Ball

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

12:30pm: The Trishas
3:30pm: Suzana Choffel
8:00pm: Twangbangers

Thursday, December 22, 2011

12:30pm: Hot Club of Cowtown
3:30pm: Warren Hood and The Goods
8:00pm: Ray Wylie Hubbard

Friday, December 23, 2011

12:30pm: Sons of Fathers
3:30pm: Shelley King
8:00pm: Slaid Cleaves

Saturday, December 24, 2011

12:30pm: Cienfuegos
3:30pm: Jitterbug Vipers
8:00pm: Texana Dames

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Artisans and Vendors

You’ll find vendors and artisans with some very creative products. Everything from coasters to jewelry to woodworking and photography. And, don’t forget to stop by Arte y Chocolate for some of the best chocolate you’ve ever tasted.

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Admission

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar costs $5 during the week before 7pm and $8 on the weekends and weeknights after 7pm.

Have Other Christmas Activities You’d Like to Share?

Tell us about them in the comments section below. We’re always looking for fun things to do around Austin.

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