NEW HOT LISTING!! 18661 Dry Pond Dr. Next to Lake Pflugerville!

Priced at $135,000! (MLS# 7929575) Amazing Home with designer-taste upgrades including beautiful flooring, window treatments, neutral color tones, and a massive stained concrete patio! Villages of Hidden Lake has an astronomical amount of amenities including Lake Pflugerville where you can bike, jog, swim, picnic, fish, and more! Also, Blackhawk Golf Course is a quarter mile away where you can play a round of golf on a gorgeous course.

SEE VIDEO TOUR FOR FULL VIEW OF UPGRADES! A guaranteed charmer in Villages of Hidden Lake! Functional floorplan with spacious rooms! Cute as a button! VERY LOW PRICE! Tons of natural light, durable wood laminate flooring, vaulted ceilings, window treatments included. Neighbors are super friendly & welcoming w/great community feel. Amenities incl. pool, splash park, playground, & jogging paths. Neighborhood borders Lake Pflugerville! Perfect place for a lake swim, beach areas, scenic jogging, or picnic! Well-loved PERFECT Home, Outdoor Activities, & Academically Recognized Schools!

SEE TOUR HERE: Video Tour

MORE INFO: 18661 Dry Pond Dr. Property Info

As usual you can see more on this property and EVERY property for sale at: www.I-Am-Real-Estate.com!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day!! My significant other is in South Korea on business, so sadly, I'm alone today. If you have some one, don't take yours for granted! When you shrivel up into a prune you're going to be glad to have someone who can stand to look at you everyday. That's why it's important to lay the loving foundation now because the dating scene for seniors isn't as bountiful. If you don't have someone right now, then someone took you for granted and they don't deserve you anyway.

Since my lady is on the other side of the world, I'll be kissing the mirror tonight. "You handsome devil you. You just get better with age. You always know just what to say, you wizard of words! Oh, I see you're wearing the shirt I got you. It fits you like a dream." ....I'll pathetically say to myself. Is it so wrong to want to hear some complements on Valentine's Day? I could be sending a gift basket to myself, but when you're self-employed, what's the point?

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!

TAX BENEFITS OF HOME OWNERSHIP!

In the spirit of tax season, because they get me just so excited I can barely contain it, here are some tax benefits you can claim on your taxes as deductions. Reason to stop renting and purchase something? ....Quite possibly.

Deductible homebuying expenses: Certain closing costs involved in a home purchase are deductible from your taxes as itemized deductions. Loan origination fees or points, prorated interest on a new loan, and prorated property taxes paid at settlement for example are all deductions you can claim on your taxes.

Home mortgage interest deduction: Interest paid on a mortgage or mortgages of up to $1 million for a principle, homestead and/or a second home is deductible as an itemized deduction. With interest payments being particularly high in the early stages of a loan, this deduction can be particularly substantial during the first years of home ownership. 

Depending on the state a buyer lives in and the tax bracket their in, this deduction can reduce the cost of borrowing by one-third or more.

Property tax deduction: Homeowners can deduct state and local property taxes they on their home from their federal income taxes. Renter's won't get this kind of itemized deduction.

Home equity loan deduction: Homeowners can borrow up to $100,000 against the equity in their home and deduct the interest paid as an itemized deduction. 

$250,000/$500,000 home-sale exclusion: The most financially glorious benefit of owning a home is the tax savings when a person sells it for a profit. If you sell your home and gain a profit of $250,000 for single homeowners and $500,000 for married homeowners who file jointly, you don't have to pay income tax on the gain of appreciation. CHA-CHING! The stipulation is that the homeowner must have lived in the home for two of the prior five years before it's sale. This exclusion can be used once every 24 months.

14 days of free rental income: A homeowner can rent out the home for up to 14 days during the year and pay no tax on that rental income. A renter who sublets their rental must pay income on ALL the rental income they earn.

There are also deductions such as a home office deduction where you can deduct the square footage of your home that is used REGULARLY AND EXCLUSIVELY as a home office from your property taxes. Renters can do this deduction as well.

Values of deductions can vary by state and it is recommended that you talk to a professional tax adviser before claiming any deductions on your taxes. Whatever the case, it is clear that the tax benefits of owning a home are far greater than renting.

Putting Cash Back in Your Wallet.... The Chris Matthews Way. DISCOUNTS ON INSURANCE!

With every sold property comes a need to obtain property insurance. I, Chris Matthews, always aim to ease the burden of my client's wallets so I had a list compiled of some common discounts you can get on not only your property insurance, but your car insurance as well.

- Multi-line discounts (typically the largest discount)

Multi-line means multiple policies, such as when you have your property insurance and auto insurance or two cars with the same carrier. Most companies will recognize an umbrella policy with things like personal articles (ex. jewelry), flood policy, renter's insurance, condo, boat, or yacht when giving a discount.

- Paperless (small discount for no paper bills)

- Mature Homeowner (55+ years of age)

- Early Quote Advantage (receive quote 8 days prior to closing on auto policy)

- Good Student (A or B average, grade needed varies with carrier)

- Defensive Driving Class taken

- Security Systems (Deadbolts, Monitored smoke alarms, Security Systems)

- New Home Discount (what age qualifies as "new" varies by carrier)

- Home Buyer Discount

- Continuous Insurance (3+ years with the same carrier)

- Green Home Discount (Home has particular energy efficient features)

- Hybrid Car Discount

- Claims-Free Discount (haven't filed any claims for a certain length of time)

Not ALL carriers provide all of these discounts, but the easiest way to find out is to call them up! Important to remember when choosing an insurance carrier: Make sure what you need protected is covered first, then look for best price. Don't purchase based on discounts because policies that are heavily discounted on price usually have been heavily discounted on coverage.

Special Thanks To: Sarah Delaune of Carroll & Delaune Insurance Services. www.carroll-delaune.com

Round Rock Ranks As One of America's SAFEST Cities!

Round Rock, TX ranks as the #2 safest among cities with populations from 100,000 to 499,000 in Texas and #9 safest city in the nation according to a survey conducted by CQ Press! Texas has 32 cities with populations over 100,000 and only Frisco, TX outranked Round Rock as being "safer." In addition, Austin, TX ranked #6 lowest crime ranking of 34 cities of populations of 500,000 or more nationwide.

The crime rate rankings of the cities and metro areas are calculated using six categories: aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, murder, rape, and robbery. Among cities with 75,000 population or greater, Round Rock ranked #25 overall in the 2010 survey.

This is the sixth consecutive year Round Rock has ranked among the 20 safest cities in the nation. In 2005, Round Rock ranked #8, in 2006 and 2007 Round Rock was #13, in 2008 it was ranked #19, and in 2009 Round Rock ranked #18 in the survey. This is a remarkable series of rankings for a city to achieve. 

The city of Round Rock conducted a survey of their own in March and April 2010 via a seven page survey administered to random residents by mail and phone. The results of the 459 residents showed that 90% said they feel "safe" or "very safe" in Round Rock and that 93% feel the city is "headed in the right direction."

Not that I associate myself with criminals, but I've heard through the grapevine that Williamson County in general, brings the hammer when sentencing punishments for crimes. Perhaps, the stiffer penalties could be a reason that criminals shy away from committing their law breaking in the county.

Source Link

Remodeling Projects That Pay Off

Some interesting numbers have just come out for those who are interested in doing some remodeling to their homes. According to the 2009-2010 Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report, exterior projects add more value than interior ones. Here are some numbers specific to the West South Central Region of the United States (Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma). Keep in mind that these are averages and that the rates of return can be effected greatly by location, neighborhood, scope of project, and quality of materials used.

239%

Percentage of cost recouped by replacing an entry door with new steel unit, the highest return of any project in the report.

69.2%

Percentage of cost recouped by adding a 16' x 20' composite deck.

81.1%

Percentage of cost recouped by adding a 16' x 20' foot wood deck.

97.7%

Percentage of cost recouped by converting an attic to a bedroom, the highest return of any interior project.

61.3%

Estimated return from adding a master suite, the most expensive project in the report with one of the lowest rates of return.

For more remodeling project numbers go here: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/national.aspx

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I don't know about you, but I have a special resolution for 2011. I am going to set up the weight bench that has been gathering dust in my garage and get this finely tuned machine oiled up and back into lady killing mode....well maybe just one lady....my wife, but she's gorgeous...so that's as good as two ladies. That's me above conquering the real estate globe with my new ripped body. No photoshop needed.

Once upon a time, when my wife and I first met, I was a colossus of strength. My wife would say my gigantic arm muscles were too big to display in public, but I beg to differ. How does one quell his desire to be vastly superior in every physical realm? God blessed me at that time with veins the size of bamboo shoots and a neck as thick as two bricks bound together with twine. What was I supposed to do? Drape a blanket over myself? No, I will not. I didn't work hard to be modest.

So I aim to get back to that in the year 2011. Jealousy will come, but it is natural and we must show respect for each other as a community. When you see me at the pool, you will stare....and you will say, "Oh my gosh!" and maybe whisper to your friends. I just want the people of Austin to know that God hears you, and he knows. He wiped sweat from his brow when he finished making me....a physical marvel.

I'm sorry. I go off in day dream tangents. I'm 5'11'' and 160 lbs. and to be honest, my wife says I need to wax my chest before I go to the pool or my hair will clog the filters. Whatever! She is exaggerating! My hair is minimal, soft, and beautiful, some say like a Chinchilla.

Austin and Texas DOMINATE Economic Recovery Rankings!

According to a report by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program, Austin was the highest-ranked U.S. city for recovery from the recession. Not only that, Austin ranked #26 in the entire world for economic recovery! Not bad. Austin pride in full effect.

The study by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program ranks 150 cities: 50 in the United States, 50 in Europe, and 50 other cities scattered from the rest of the world. The fastest recovering cities are outside of the United States, with only Austin, Texas as the only U.S. city inside of the top 30 in the world. The fastest recovering cities, in order, are Istanbul, Turkey; Shenzen, China; Lima, Peru; Singapore; and Shanghai, China.

The report found that income and job growth in the metro areas are performing better than their nation's average. Large cities are leading the global recovery from the 2007-2009 recession. The report examined incomes and employment back to 1993 and ranks the metros in three segments: pre-recession (1993-2007), recession (2007-2009), and recovery (2009-2010).

When looking at the list, it is easy to see why Texans are so content. Four Texas metropolitan areas - Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio - took command of the top 15 U.S. Cities list. Dallas ranked #4 (#39 in world), San Antonio #11 (#51 in world), and Houston ranked #15 (#61 in world) in the U.S.

YAY TEXAS!

Property Tax Time!

In the next several weeks, home owners will be receiving their property tax bills. New homeowners, before you flip out and go all anti-government, remember that unless you chose to waive escrows at closing (which usually will cost you an added fee) your mortgage company has been collecting an extra amount every month along with your regular principal and interest payments.

Taxes are paid at the end of the year so they will escrow your tax (and property insurance) money every month and they will pay it for you. If there is a remaining balance because they estimated too much, it will either roll-over into the next year or they'll refund and start afresh. If you've escrowed property taxes and received a bill, just forward it to your mortgage company and THEY will pay it. Those who have waived escrows or who have no mortgage will have to pay the bill on their own.

Remember to file your Homestead Exemptions at the County Appraisal District! This will deduct several thousand off of your taxed amount saving you a nice chunk of change. DO NOT hire those people that send you a letter offering to do it for you. This may as well be a scam. The homestead exemption is a one page document that takes approximately three minutes to fill out. The service just prays on people's lack of knowledge and they assume it's a hefty paperwork process. It's not. Go here to see the forms:

Travis County: Homestead Exemption Form (PDF)

Williamson County: Homestead Exemption Form (PDF)

I hope this message is getting out to my first-time home buyers before they show up at my door with pitch forks and torches thinking that I failed to inform them of a massive cost around every bank account-draining Christmas. I wouldn't do you like that! I'm your friendliest friend and wisdom provider.

Madden Noha Matthews 9/19/10 - 9/24/10

Madden,

The concept for this entire blog was outlined with how you would change not only my career, but my life as well. You have succeeded in that. The moment we saw you when you were born we knew we would love you for the rest of our lives, fully expecting you to outlive us. It turned out your life was cut short, but I want you to know that we will never forget you or ever stop loving you. Our hearts will cry for every day you aren't in our arms. We will smile and continue living our lives, but only because we have to. Deep inside we will never be as happy as we could have been because we couldn't watch you say your first word, go off to your first day of school, take you to a baseball game, have your first girlfriend, get into you first-choice college, get married to a special lady, and give us our first grandchildren.

We understand this must be part of God's plan... that something so horrible couldn't happen for no reason. We may not understand it now, but we will eventually. God knows that his course for our lives may encounter obstacles of tremendous hurt and suffering, but out of that comes a greater glory. We will soon be aware of what the purpose for this tragic event was, but that does not mean that you leaving us cannot strike at the core of our existence as human beings. Every time I think of the last touch of your warm, glowing soft skin a lifetime of tears burns my eyes. I'll miss your round cheeks, your cute lips, your tiny eyelashes, your chubby feet, every roll in your arms, and the intense light in our life you created when you opened your eyes wide to say "Hi" for the first time. You are the most beautiful person, place, or thing I have ever laid eyes on. I'd give anything just to hold you again in my arms and to tell you "I love you." 

We miss you Madden. We know you're in a better place, but the world will never know what it has missed without you here. We only knew you five short days, but you have given us a lifetime of inspiration. We think about you every day and will never ever stop thinking about you until the day we can see your shining, pudgy, beautiful face again. We will love you and miss you for an eternity Madden. 

Love, Mommy & Daddy