All Forum Posts by: Michael Jones

Good morning Abhi! That's a pretty general question - is there any additional information that can be provided?

Generally, the TX real estate market is very strong and thriving right now as companies and individuals are relocating and the state supports a robust economy. There's a lack of "attainable" (not affordable as I was told recently by a city official) in many of the desirable metros and suburbs. That's a play there, but land is so expensive now that unless you buy it years in advance, your upside potential is going to be limited.

You might have some luck with manufactured park development as there's a growing need for that product, yet it's not sexy and so no one focuses on it.

Hey @Darrion M. Woods I'm a buy and hold in the Belton/Temple markets. I don't want to flip, etc.

@Santosh Golecha all three cities you mentioned are great. I think at the moment, Leander has the most potential for appreciation, but it also has the most growing to do. Cedar Park has been building out for the last 10 years or so and Leander is just now starting to really get going. Round Rock is excellent for steady growth and stable markets, but you need to be there for the long haul.

I actually just stumbled upon and made an offer in Belton. The CAD was not updated and the home had stayed vacant for some time. I think obits may be one of the few ways.

I'm very interested in learning more about this as well. Have you tried checking dcad.org and seeing if "estate" is listed as the owner name? Might try that.

Taylor,

Welcome from Georgetown, TX! I studied for and received my licensed about 18 months ago. Here's the TREC list of approved online providers: https://www.trec.texas.gov/education/qualifying-ed...

I'm pretty sure I went with the first name on the list. The self-paced study is easy and I recommend you devote a few hours to learn it. I got my license for the sole purpose of my own transactions, so I wasn't as worried about the content. You can go direct to the quizzes to pass the course with minimal effort and then search for the answers in the PDF guide they give you. It makes the 180 hours less daunting.

I would definitely study and get prepared now so that when you get back, you can take the test and get your license.

I live in an HOA and they CAN be beneficial to protect property value as they require certain things like not leaving trash and junk in the yard, having the lawn maintained, etc. It does eat into your cash flow though. I would highly recommend that during your option period or contract negotiations that you ask to see a copy of the restrictions so that you can determine if this falls into your objectives and tolerance. It would not keep me from investing in the community just for the HOA.

Jerry, I live in Georgetown which is the next city north of Round Rock. RR is very attractive for the reasons listed above and more. While it is already well established, there is still room to grow and it will continue to feed off the massive growth that Austin is seeing in medical and technology. 

Transit is a disaster, so you want to be mindful of the fact that I-35 is awful in bottles in Round Rock, but that's not a major limiting factor. They are getting ready to build a huge entertainment complex both on 79 near the Dell Diamond and Toll 130/Toll 45.

Taylor, TX is also a consideration as I hear a lot of people are looking at Taylor for growth due to its proximity to Austin and other cities.

Mark, I would look to do a duplex, triplex, or quadplex and occupy one of the units. This will accomplish both of your goals and will provide you with the experience that you're looking for. You'll never find the same type of attractive financing as you can when you owner occupy a 2+ unit home.

Hello Antonio! I think you're going to run into issues here. Most banks are worried about a relationship because it's not "arms-length". We lend on construction loans and this is a prohibitive arrangement for us.

Not that you would do this, but what banks have seen in the past is that the builder family member will charge more than necessary to inflate the price of the home and then cut the money back to the homeowner. The bank is none the wiser and it creates problems in the banking industry. Hope that helps. Good luck!