Austin Property Talk

Quieting the Lizard Brain

Seth Godin: Quieting the Lizard Brain from 99% on Vimeo.

Mortgage Market Watch

They say March comes in like a Lion and out like a Lamb. . . But this year, the exact reverse is true when it comes to home loan rates - for quite a few reasons, including the end of the Federal Reserve acting as a large buyer of Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS). The "demand" created by their fifteen-month program has helped Bond prices stay high and home loan rates stay low.

But the Fed's MBS purchase program will end on March 31st. The Fed has confirmed this several times, including during last week's testimony by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. What's more, the Fed will likely change sides entirely, and actually become a seller of MBS, since their balance sheet hangs heavy with MBS holdings. However, once the Fed begins selling MBS and puts more supply into the market - at the same time as entirely removing their past demand as buyers - this will pressure Bond prices lower and push home loan rates higher.

Read the entire article and short term forecast for mortgage interest rates.

The Final Countdown . . .

Get More Information . .

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit

The Three Foot Putt

I just recently heard someone analogize the steps of goal achievement to the 3 Foot Putt in golf.  For instance, let’s say you know that the best chance you have to improve your golf score is within the “short game.”  Your inability to consistently score from within close range is what is preventing you from taking your game to the next level.  If you a golfer, you know what I mean.  

There are a couple of considerations.  In fact you can probably make a long list, but in most cases, the best place to start is most likely with the 3 foot putt.  Those 36 inches cause golfers more frustration than anything else on the course.  Just imagine if every struggling golfer practiced the three foot putt to the point of extreme confidence, before (and this is key), moving back to six feet and ten feet and so on.  I’d imagine that competence would shave 3-5 strokes off of your average golfer’s game.  Consistency and predictability.  Trouble is, the three foot putt isn’t sexy.  Yet, at the end of the day, the three foot putt counts just the same as the 300 yard drive. One. 

This year my focus is on the three foot putts; a short list of consistent and predictable daily activities put into place over 40 day cycles helping me to form strong habits, ultimately taking me to the next level personally and professionally.  

What are you working on?

Link It Up

5 Links to interesting news & insight about homes, home loans and the real estate market for you on this Friday. 

Hate the mess your home has deteriorated into but you don't have the time or means to do a comprehensive redecorating job? Time to sell your place, but don't know how to show it off to best effect? (Got a few grand and a few days? Get a perfect Home.)

30 easy House Cleaning tips and checklists that you can do in 10 Minutes a Day.  (Cleanups so easy you can do them after work.)

If you've been holding off on a real estate purchase, glimmers of a turnaround in the housing market may have you wondering if now is finally the time to make your move. (Nab a Real Estate Deal While you Still Can)

The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 4.95 percent this past week, down from 4.97 percent a week earlier according to Freddie Mac. (Mortgage Rates Hold Below the 5 Percent Mark) 

Many consumers who responded to "free" credit report offers later discovered that they'd signed up for a monthly credit-monitoring service that was definitely not free. (Rule helps consumers avoid free reports that aren't.)

Want a cool house?

Every Sunday as I am browsing the paper, I always check out the Sunday Homes (Austin Real Estate) section in the Austin American Statesman because from time to time, you can pick up some good advice about home maintenance. 

This Sunday, the Real Estate section included a brief article about air conditioner maintenance and a couple of simple tips to keep your HVAC system running at peak efficiency.  This is the type of thing that I enjoy sharing with my clients and on the Austin Property Talk blog because it is relevant and timely.  In Austin, Texas air conditioning is our life blood during the HOT Summers. 

Is there any appliance more valuable than the air conditioner, at least in Central Texas? 

Before temperatures start to ascend into the stratosphere, think about what you can do to get your unit ready for prime-time usage.

The goal is to help it operate as efficiently as possible.  That's good for the environment, your electric bills and your comfort. 

Pick up a couple of quick tips by reading the full article at Statesman.com

March 2010 Newsletter

The Better Austin Living March Newsletter has been printed, mailed and posted in the Newsletters section of the website.  If you haven't yet been introduced to my newsletter, its a variety of interesting tidbits, short stories, personal anecdotes and the occasional Austin Real Estate article.  Mainly it's just a fun way to keep in touch with my friends, family and clients on a regular basis. 

You will notice a couple of small changes to the appearance of the newsletter this month as I changed the title to Better Austin Living and the sub-header to News you Can Use from your Friend in the Real Estate Business to keep things consistent.  The content, variety and information that you have come to enjoy, all remain the same.  

Due to the length of the cover letter in this month's issue, I was not able to include the monthly puzzles and brain teasers, but they are posted here as well. 

If you are not a subscriber to my newsletter and would like to be, shoot me an email - ryan@stonehavenrealty.com.  Enjoy!

February 2010 Status Updates

I've really neglected my BLOG over the past 3 weeks or so as I've turned my attention toward finishing some other major projects.  For those of you who read on a consistent basis, I apologize.  My time has been spent elsewhere - classes, trainings, clients and such.  However, I'm recommitted to making this a place of value and consistent communication.  Here is the compilation of my February Status Updates as promised in my previous post a few weeks ago. 

I just finished cutting and pasting to put this list together and it really is a fun way to look back on the month and relive the activity.  That's the great thing about social networks is that they allow you to build a virtual journal of experiences lived.