iTexas Realty Co. Blog: iTexas Realty Co.

It struck me as an unusual place to take your prom date...  Maybe everyone is cutting back on frivolities, but I think that was an isolated case. 

It's been an interesting week in real estate...

We are still showing a trend to properties under $250,000 receiving the lion's share of showings. The domino effect is coming in as more Buyers are looking at move up homes, having recently gone under contract to those who were eligible for the first-time home buyer tax credit.  I think that it would have been a great week, if the stock market had not been through major upheaval (That always makes people nervous about the economy, and if we were not having a heat wave - in San Antonio heat waves stall the market.

Of course, it's better than living in Greece, where the financial upheaval is perilous and home-selling must be the least of their concerns.  We will still have military Buyers coming and relocation Buyers are trickling in as they finally sell their homes in Florida and California.

Buyers who have recently gone under contract are locking their rates this week.. they are back under 5%, even on a conventional loan.  That's pretty exciting and will serve to push the market for move-up homes.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

--Sara

It's amazing what can happen in just a few days on a building project.  We were just out photographing this building project a few days ago, and now so much more has happened!

• Cabinetry has been installed in the kitchen and baths
• The stair railing (the metal spindles come later), and is being stained
• Doors have been hung
• Trim has been installed
• The exterior painting has been completed
• The interior painting is underway, with the trim being painted today.

Unfortunately, as the painting is in progress, we were unable to get many more photos.  Hang in there for next week.  The flooring is on its way!  Soon our Buyer will be able to see so much more of how their new home will look!

Wow, I can't believe how much progress has gone on in the past 5-6 days since I last photographed at our Buyer's San Antonio home-building project!

The rock facade is now up ( just ignore that temporary door...), the walls have been textured and moulding, shutters and interior doors have been delivered.

This is when it really starts moving quickly.  I can't wait until it's painted - mostly because the cabinet installation comes right after that!

I love to see the summer flowers, especially on blooming trees like the magnolias.  Unfortunately for Steve and I, we rarely live in a house long enough to see the magnolias that we plant grow much!  Still, every year, wherever we are, I am looking for those glorious, heavy, ivory blooms. 

In case they aren't in bloom yet, in our area: Here is one from the Garden Center in San Antonio.

--Sara

Here in The Texas Hill Country, just 10 minutes away from the civilization of San Antonio, you see the most unexpected roadside attractions.

Today, Steve and I were out previewing and taking some photos of a home that is being built for one of our clients, we spotted this Emu.  Hi coloring was gorgeous, but he was somewhat camera shy and I didn't want to annoy him (they will get grouchy...). 

Here he is in all his gray and blue-green glory:

Here we are again, updating you on the progress on this San Antonio Building project.  You can view last week's post here.  Today, it was exciting to see that for such a large project (over 4700 square feet), this phase is moving along very quickly. 

The entire home is now sheet-rocked and the joints have been taped.  As soon as the screws are covered with joint compound and the final skim coating of compound is dried, the walls will be textures.

There was a bonus today - the stone masons were there installing the rock facade.  I can't wait to see the stone finished!

It sounds crazy, but I'm so glad that Fiesta is finito for the year!

Every April around this time, we see showings pull back dramatically and that's can be a bit discouraging to Sellers. If Buyers are in town, they're at the Riverwalk and environs. If they are coming to San Antonio they probably can't get an appointment with their agent and moved their house-hunting trip to another week!

Speaking of another week; that all there is left - only a few days until Friday, April 30th for Buyers to get homes under contract in time for the Tax Credit (they still have until June 30th to get closed. The hottest price range is under $200,000., and it will be nice to see those homes out of the market inventory.

As soon as those homes are out of their Option Periods (unrestricted right to cancel - it's a Texas thing...), many of those Sellers will be out trying to get their "move-up" home under contract. That's where the majority of our Sellers come in.  They have "move-up" homes.  Hang in there - Move-up Buyers, During-Summer-Vacation Buyers and those relocating with the Military are yet to come.

To top it off, interest rates just dipped below 5%.  Wow!

Have a great week!

Sara

Here we are zipping through Spring and the home building continues in gorgeous neighborhoods across San Antonio.  For those who have been following this building project for one of our Buyer-families relocating to the area, this has been the week for sheet-rocking.  It's such a large house - over 4700 square feet - that's it's going to be a while for completion of the sheet rock phase.  It still has to be taped and the walls have to be textured.

They were working quickly today and were in the process of sheet-rocking the master bedroom doorway, so no shots there. Keep watching, though.  More progress is coming your way!

"Sheetrocking in Process"

 

 

--Sara

Sara Woolford & Steve Golson in friendly San Antonio, Texas  

If you are planning to Buy or Sell a home or land in San Antonio or the Texas Hill Country, we'd be happy to get you moved on with your life! You can go to our blog, website, Facebook page or just, call to Chat: 210-492-6683 

www.iTexasRealty.com     info@iTexasRealty.com

 

1 comment • Sara Woolford & Steve Golson, ALHS • April 23 2010 05:49PM

Panning for Gold in San Antonio

Though Steve and I are from California - Land of the Gold Rush, we still love to pan for gold here in San Antonio. 

While on my way out to photograph a house in Glenwood Loop for some websites and print advertising, I happened upon this beautiful roadway garden of wildflowers.  So today, I'm panning for gold with my camera.

--Sara

 

Sara Woolford & Steve Golson in friendly San Antonio, Texas  

If you are planning to Buy or Sell a home or land in San Antonio or the Texas Hill Country, we'd be happy to get you moved on with your life! You can go to our blog, website, Facebook page or just, call to Chat: 210-492-6683 

www.iTexasRealty.com     info@iTexasRealty.com

 

0 comments • Sara Woolford & Steve Golson, ALHS • April 23 2010 05:34PM

The Garden Center, San Antonio, Texas

 

It has been a really busy Spring with out-of-town Buyers and those in town and trying to catch the tax credit money before it expires. 

Sometimes Steve and I just need a quick break!

When we are over in the area by Prue Road and Bandera in San Antonio, we try to make time to stop by the Garden Center.  They have a beautiful selection of flowers, trees and shrubs - annuals and perennials - ponds and wind chimes - pots and bird feeders.

You get the idea. After all, whether you are buying or selling, you may need some new plants...

They also have the sweetest tiger-striped cat.  He is so docile tat he'll sleep while you pet him!

If you have the time, go by and treat yourself to a 5-minute (or longer), garden vacation - and don't forget to say "Hi!" to that big cat!

 

--Sara

Sara Woolford & Steve Golson in friendly San Antonio, Texas  

If you are planning to Buy or Sell a home or land in San Antonio or the Texas Hill Country, we'd be happy to get you moved on with your life! You can go to our blog, website, Facebook page or just, call to Chat: 210-492-6683 

www.iTexasRealty.com     info@iTexasRealty.com

 

5 comments • Sara Woolford & Steve Golson, ALHS • April 11 2010 09:38PM