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            <guid>http://www.viprealestate.com/blog/how-to-reduce-stress-by-hiring-a-great-realtor.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.viprealestate.com/blog/how-to-reduce-stress-by-hiring-a-great-realtor.html</link>
            <author>rs@viprealtyinfo.com (Richard Soto)</author>
            <title>How to Reduce Stress by Hiring a Great Realtor</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Home buying is a stressful experience. And this statement is often repeated, ad nauseam, by home sellers everywhere. So, what can you do to ease the stress when selling your home? The short answer is: by hiring a great realtor.


Here are just a few of the ways a great realtor can reduce stress during your home selling process: 


A great realtor will have a deep understanding of your goals (and a strategy for meeting these goals).


A seller’s realtor should ask questions and listen carefully when discussing a home seller’s goals. Selling a home isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and an experienced realtor will understand this. As such, your realtor should come to the table with a personalized marketing strategy for your home, based upon a number of factors, including your personal need and wants, as well as current market conditions. 


Agreat realtor will understand the importance of the Internet to both buyers and sellers.


The Internet is the source for most home searches, so a realtor who understands the importance of the Internet when selling your home is always a good sign. If your realtor has a strong Internet presence and is able to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible, you will have a much better chance selling your home; which of course will mean less stress for you! It is important to not only make sure your realtor is keen to the importance of the Internet, but that the real estate firm for which he or she works also has a strong Internet presence. 


A great realtor will understand how the real estate market operates – and adjust your selling strategy accordingly. A great realtor will be one who has enough experience to determine market fluctuations, changes and variations and will fine-tune his or her marketing strategy to reflect these circumstances. Your realtor should constantly keep an eye on market conditions and report back to you so you can be kept in the loop at all times. In particular, he or she will update you on current listings, recent sales and expired listings and take this information into consideration when pricing and marketing your home.
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            <pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:30:38 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.viprealestate.com/blog/austins-recreational-activities-abound.html</guid>
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            <author>rs@viprealtyinfo.com (Richard Soto)</author>
            <title>Austin’s Recreational Activities Abound</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
There are plenty of Austin areas to watch in 2012 and plenty of reasons why Austin continues to be popular destination for Texas families.


In addition to its strong housing market and increasing job market, Austin has become a highly desirable area in which to reside. But Austin has become desirable not only for its real estate, but for its bountiful supply of outdoor beauty and recreational activities.


Here are some of our favorites: 


Austin Nature and Science Center Located within Zilker Park, the Austin Nature and Science Center is where Austin visitors and residents can explore all things natural. The Austin Nature and Science Center, which was established in 1960, has provided everything from nature exhibits to education programs for adults and children of all ages.


It has developed a number of hands-on exhibits and recreational activities that are designed to increase awareness and an appreciation of the environment. Some of the exhibits found here include: wildlife exhibits, the Dino Pit, a naturalist workshop and trade counter, and the Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center.


Barton Springs Pool A hot day in Austin is never complete without a stop at the Barton Springs pool. Also located in Zilker Park, the Barton Springs swimming pool is a massive pool of nearly three acres. What makes this pool so special, however, is that it is fed by a number of underground springs. As a result, this pool enjoys a cool temperature of 68 degrees, year-round. 


Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) The Austin Parks and Recreation Department, along with the City of Austin, “recognizes the importance and need for community gardens on public land.”


PARD oversees education to promote personal sustainability, to help people cultivate healthy foods and to create opportunities for community involvement. The gardens overseen by PARD promote biodiversity wildlife habitats for local species.


Downtown Parks The downtown parks of Austin are just one part of what makes Austin so special. In particular, the downtown area boasts three, historic downtown park squares and three open park areas. In addition, there are two hiking and biking trails in the downtown area. The downtown parks of Austin include: Brush Square, Republic Square, Waterloo, and Wooldridge Square.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:57:00 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.viprealestate.com/blog/mortgage-tips-for-first-time-homebuyers.html</guid>
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            <author>rs@viprealtyinfo.com (Richard Soto)</author>
            <title>Mortgage Tips for First Time Homebuyers</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
 


As a first-time home buyer, you may be quite overwhelmed at the thought of obtaining a mortgage. There seems to be so many options, and the process of finding a home loan program and applying for it leaves you feeling nervous and more than stressed out! However, the mortgage process is not so intimidating if you take it one step at a time:




Consider how much money you can spend on a new home – Before you even look at your first property, consider how much of a home you can afford. It simply doesn’t make sense to waste your time and build up your hopes, only to learn that you cannot afford as much of a house as your first thought. In addition to considering a monthly housing expense, add in the cost of taxes, as well as utilities and the cost of maintaining and updating your home.


Talk to a professional - In addition to carefully reviewing your finances, now is the time to sit down with a mortgage broker and get preapproved for a mortgage for a Spring Branch property. A mortgage preapproval will accomplish a number of things: it will check your credit to make sure you can be approved for a mortgage; it will allow you to understand how much of a mortgage you can be approved for; and it will give you instant credibility among home sellers and realtors.


Consider how much money you need for a down payment – One of the biggest ways lenders have changed as a result of the recession and housing downturn of the last, few years is that they want to see down payments. If you want to be approved for a home loan with a competitive interest rate, you will likely need to come to the table with a down payment totaling between 15 and 20 percent of the sales price of the home.


Consider what type of home loan is best for you – Although the days of “no money down” home loans are gone, there are still a number of very attractive home loan programs for first-time home buyers. It is best to look into different programs, through a number of different lenders, to see which one works best for your financial situation.


 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:09:33 -0600</pubDate>
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            <author>rs@viprealtyinfo.com (Richard Soto)</author>
            <title>Your Guide to Cleaning and De-Cluttering Your Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
 


If you must weave and dodge your way through your home to get from one room to another, it may be time to de-clutter it before selling.


Your home could be the prettiest four-bedroom colonial on the block, but if it is dirty or cluttered, buyers will have a difficult time appreciating your home. Cleaning and de-cluttering, although it requires a substantial amount of elbow grease and time, will pay off in the long run because buyers will have a better appreciation for your property. Plus, it will prepare you for the move by ridding your home of unwanted stuff! Here’s how to get started:




Clear out all unnecessary clutter – From the stack of magazines beside your bed to the piles of unused toys in the corner of the family room, it is time to clean out everything besides what you use on a daily basis. If you don’t want to part with all your things, it is probably best to rent a storage facility at which to store your items while you sell your home. The truth is that buyers simply cannot appreciate your home if they are distracted by all of your personal belongings. Plus, a de-cluttered home instantly looks bigger, which is always a plus!


Remove all unnecessary furniture from your home – Many people’s homes are filled with an abundance of furniture, which does nothing but make them look small and cramped. With that said, remove all unnecessary furniture so that buyers can easily walk around your home and appreciate the room sizes. It is never a good thing when buyers have to walk sideways through a room to get around the furniture!


Take down your personal effects – Although your personal treasures may mean the world to you, buyers will unlikely appreciate them. In addition, like clutter, they do little more than distract buyers and prevent them from imagining themselves in your home. Everything from high school diplomas and family photographs to your collection of tea cups should be removed before you list your home for sale.


Clean every nook and cranny – Although you likely keep your home relatively neat and clean, it is always a good idea to give your home a thorough cleaning before you list it. Remember to take care of the details, such as cleaning the ceiling fans, the mini blinds and the appliances because, chances are, your buyers will notice!


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            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:59:41 -0600</pubDate>
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