Williamson County Real Estate Magazine

May 2015

Real Estate Williamson County

m a g a z i n e

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From the Publisher Life is good in Texas! Just in the greater Austin area we continue making top lists everywhere as the place to live. The aura is in the air and we have been discovered. I always wondered how long that would take if ever at all.

All walks of life are moving in and for many different reasons. From musical interests to startups, education to career growth, affordability, life style, and maybe even the weather. As our little piece of Texas real estate grows, we will keep you in the know about your neighbors in Williamson County. We will share details on existing and new communities, advice from real estate agents, builder styles, landscaping, upcoming trends and more.

This is just the beginning. Other unique ideas, columns, and features will be added as we continue growing and expanding the Williamson County Real Estate Magazine.

Along the way, we want to know what you think. Do you have communities of interest you’d like us to explore and tell you about? Share with us your ideas, thoughts, suggestions. We can’t wait to hear from you!

See our feature on master planned communities on page 4 and tell them we sent you! And speaking of, congrats to all the Builders, Developers, Remodelers, and Associate Members for your achievements to be finalists for MAX AWARDS 2015!

Williamson County Real Estate Magazine is a publication by Kimberly Ruka. Copyright © 2015. All rights reserved. Williamson County Real Estate Magazine is published monthly and delivered to sites throughout Williamson County. For advertising information call 512-568-2000.

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Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

FEATURES 4

enefits of Master B Planned Communities

in Austin and surrounding areas

10

Gorgeous Landscaping

14

Outdoor Kitchen Domination

for your house means more than just looks.

the appeal of outdoor kitchens

16

Landscaping Essentials from fencing, retaining walls, and terracing, to walkways

Real Estate Williamson County

m a g a z i n e

512-568-2000 info@WilcoRealEstate.com

READ OUR DIGITAL MAGAZINE WilcoRealEstate.com ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS 512-568-2000 sales@WilcoRealEstate.com

SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS: Williamson County Real Estate Magazine considers all submissions of photos, editorial, opinionated editorial and reader comments for publication.

Editor@WilcoRealEstate.com Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

1

Williamson County Map Salado 2843

195

Florence

138

2115

Jarrell

487

Schwertner

487

970

95

1105

Andice Bertram

29

35

1869

Leander

971

2243

1460 3406

734

Brushy Creek 620

130

ROUND ROCK

1331

Hare Circleville Waterloo Sandoval 619

29

397

Frame Switch

1660

Hutto

Cedar Park Population Growth Population Median Household Income Homeownership Rate Median Value of Housing Units

2

55.5% 489,250 $71,803 68.6% $178,900 85.7% 61,238 $77,430 70.8% 195,400

Thrall Noack

973

486

Beyersville

973 1466

Coupland

Structure

112

619

1325

Manor

Williamson County Population Growth Population Median Household Income Homeownership Rate Median Value of Housing Units

Taylor 112

Rice’s Crossing 1660

Pflugerville

1331

1063

619 3349

685 45N

734

Jollyville

Laneport

Weir Jonah

GEORGETOWN

Cedar Park

620

971

1105

1431 1431

Granger

Walburg

972 2338

29

972

195

3405

Bartlett

New Corn Hill

INTERSTATE

2338

Liberty Hill 1869

487

Georgetown Population Growth AUSTIN Population Median Household Income Homeownership Rate Median Value of Housing Units Leander Population Growth Population Median Household Income Homeownership Rate Median Value of Housing Units

Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

58.8% 54,898 $63,381 71.2% $186,900 125.6% 31,717 $76,141 77.5% $154,500

Elgin

Round Rock Population Growth Population Median Household Income Homeownership Rate Median Value of Housing Units Taylor Population Growth Population Median Household Income Homeownership Rate Median Value of Housing Units

50.4% 109,821 $69,533 59.5% $168,800 15.5% 16,233 $44,158 62.2% $106,100

BENEFITS OF MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES

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Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS

BY KIMBERLY GULEY

Y

ou may be wondering exactly what the term “master-planned communities” means. Put simply, it is a type of large scale residential plan that includes various amenities like parks, pools and lakes, biking and jogging paths and even golf courses. Think of these neighborhoods as a kind of resort, but without the exorbitant costs and uniformity.

The popularity of these master-planned communities is steadily growing in Williamson County and the surrounding areas. If you are thinking about relocating, you may want to consider one of these attractive residential areas. Here are several benefits of deciding to live in one.

>Endless Variety Master-planned communities are strategically planned well before their actual construction begins.

Contractors will consider the needs and wants of residents before starting to build in order to design the ultimate mix of homes, businesses and green spaces.

Once work begins, there are often a dozen or more homebuilders that contribute to the construction of the housing. This allows for more variety among the look and feel of the neighborhood so that not every home has the same cookie-cutter design.

Ultimately, each master-planned community is unique.

>>Strong Sense of Community Residents who decide to live in these planned spaces are often drawn to the heightened sense of a community. Couples and families enjoy welllit streets, wide sidewalks, conveniently located gathering spots and front porches, which allows for neighbors to meet and get to know each other effortlessly.

Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

5

People who choose to live in these areas are looking to be a part of a tight-knit community, making the transition that much easier.

>>>Amenities, Amenities, Amenities Although it’s difficult to say the word three times, it’s not difficult living in an area that has abundant amenities to choose from. In a typical masterplanned community, residents have access to resort-style pools, fitness centers and club houses.

Some even include schools and churches, making these spaces perfect for those with growing families.

Having plenty of amenities to choose from means that residents always have something to do.

Master-planned communities encourage an active lifestyle, whether that means taking a walk along a well-kept trail, biking on the wide neighborhood paths or going for a dip in the pool.

>>>>Green Spaces Natural surroundings are an integral part of any master-planned community. Green spaces like parks, sports fields and walking and biking trails are part of what makes these areas so wonderful to live in. With Austin’s beautiful warm weather and seasons, having accessible options for outdoor recreation is a must.

These green spaces are carefully preserved by the developers of the land. They make it a priority to keep residents encouraged to go outside and enjoy the stunning natural setting.

If you are thinking about relocating to Williamson County but are overwhelmed by the amount of housing options to choose from, consider moving to a master-planned community. The communitybased lifestyle, limited traffic, accessibility to local retailers, endless activities and other unique features will make your transition to that much smoother.

Kim Guley, Founder and Owner of Builder Boost, works with developers and builders to keep realtors in the know on new inventory homes. Realtor customized client searches are also available.

www.builderboost.com 512-650-7657

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Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

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Lock in a Low Mortgage Rate A mortgage rate lock may be a smart idea if the current mortgage rates are low, but you worry about your rate fluctuating prior to closing. Not all mortgage companies offer the option to lock in your rate, but if yours does, doing so can help you avoid unpleasant surprises at closing.

A mortgage rate lock is a guarantee that the lender will deliver a specific combination of interest rate and points if the mortgage closes by a specified date.

How a Mortgage Rate Lock Works When you shop for a loan, your lender quotes you an interest rate for your mortgage. The interest rate the lender quotes is accurate for the day on which its quoted, but by the time your loan reaches closing, interest rates may have increased. This could result in your paying a higher interest rate on your loan than the one you originally anticipated. A mortgage rate lock

allows you to keep the original interest rate quoted by the lender from the time of the quote through closing.

Lenders Charge Fees to Lock Rates Don’t be surprised if your lender charges a fee to lock in your interest rate. This may be an up-front fee or a fee incorporated into the mortgage loan or paid at closing. Mortgage rate lock-in fees are often nonrefundable in the event you change your mind about the mortgage loan or a problem arises with your application.

Rate Locks Expire Rate locks generally last 30, 45 or 60 days.

Shorter or longer rate locks may be available by request and dependent upon the lender. Talk to your lender to make sure that your rate lock will last from the date you purchase it until the date you plan to close on the home.

Matt Guley

Senior Loan Officer

(512) 592-5468 NMLS #873175

3429 Executive Center Drive, Bldg 2, Hubbard Suite 200 Austin, TX 78731

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Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

New Communities NORTH AUSTIN Northwoods at Avery Ranch Pearson Place at Avery Ranch CEDAR PARK The Arbors at Lakeline Cold Springs Misty Valley The Reserve at Brushy Creek The Reserve at Caballo Ranch Scottsdale Crossing GEORGETOWN Berry Creek The Brownstone at The Summit Cimarron Hills Georgetown Village Heritage Oaks Rancho Santa Fe Rancho Sienna

Santa Rita Ranch Shady Oaks Estates Summerlyn Sun City Teravista Water Oak Woodland Park

Summerlyn Travisso LIBERTY HILL Clearwater Ranch ROUND ROCK Mayfield Ranch Sarita Valley Teravista

LEANDER Caballo Ranch Cap Rock at Crystal Falls Cold Springs Crystal Crossing Grand Mesa at Crystal Falls Hawkes Landing Hazlewood Northside Meadow Reagan’s Overlook Sarita Valley Savanna Ranch

PFLUGERVILLE Avalon Copperleaf at Falcon Pointe Falcon Pointe The Park at Black Hawk Spring Trails This list may not include all new communities in an area.

If you're not living in your dream home, we’re here to help.

There is more to real estate than the color of your walls; it is about how you feel when you walk through the door.

It is about your life and dreams.

The Mustang Realty Team listens and that means we find solutions that are tailored to you.

We would love the opportunity to help you "Capture your Dreams"!

MUSTANG REALTY TEAM John & Carolyn Barbian, Realtors (512) 965-5189 Carolyn or (512) 965-6161 John www.MustangRealtyTeam.com Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

9

GORGEOUS LANDSCAPING FOR YOUR HOUSE MEANS MORE THAN JUST LOOKS By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon

PHOTO COURTESY OF SITTERLE HOMES

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Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

HOUSELOGIC NAMES THE ESSENTIAL CURB APPEAL ELEMENTS THAT DOUBLE DOWN ON INVESTMENT AND ENJOYMENT, SUCH AS LANDSCAPING YOUR HOUSE. HouseLogic believes your home is your castle — enjoy it, customize it, make it reflect your taste and values. But, there’s one area where being too individualistic carries risk: landscaping for curb appeal. That’s why homeowners’ associations often have exacting rules about landscaping.

But don’t landscape merely to flip a house. You won’t get your money back, Sandy MacCuish, a California appraiser, tells us. Instead landscape for your enjoyment (Did you know trees reducestress in just 5 minutes?), knowing that you’re making a good investment.

And it’s not just HOAs that care.

Most home buyers seek landscaping that adds “functionality and resale

We’re here to share the essential elements (trees, native plants, and outdoor lighting) — and a few nice-to

value,” rather than “frills and lifestyle,” according to the National Association of Home Builders recent “What Home Buyers Really Want” report.

Good landscaping can add up to 28% to the overall value of a house, says landscape economist John Harris, and cut its time on the market 10% to 15%. Even taking your landscaping to the next level, upgrading from “good” to “excellent,” in terms of design, condition, and placement, can add 6% to 7% to a home’s value, according to a Clemson University study.

haves (fencing, walkways, retaining walls and terracing) — for value-adding and beautiful landscaping. After all, potential buyers come to your door once; you come home every day.

Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — May 2015

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Essential #1: Trees Maybe only Mother Nature can make a tree, but the National Tree Benefit Calculator can tell you what it’s worth.

The calculator examines how a tree species in a particular ZIP code affects: • Property values.

• Storm water runoff.

Trees block and suck up water running off your property, preventing pollutants from entering community waterways.

• Carbon dioxide reduction. CO2 contributes to climate change.

• Energy savings: Shade trees cool homes in summer; windbreaks help warm them in winter.

Take a 24-in. diameter red maple, the country’s most popular tree. Here’s its overall annual benefit, combining the factors above, in a handful of cities, according to the tree benefit calculator:

found that trees with a sizable canopy growing within 100 feet of other houses added about $9,000 to their sale price and shaved two days off its time on the market.

Of course, to add value, the trees must be healthy, mature but not elderly, native to the area (more on the importance of native plants later), and appropriate to the neighborhood.

If you’re growing a forest and the rest of the neighborhood looks like a prairie, you’ll have a hard time recovering the trees’ value at sale.

Conversely, if your neighbors manicure their lawns and yours is a jumble of weeds or worse, their great landscaping will make yours look even shabbier and hurt the value of your home, says Domenich Neglia of Neglia Appraisals in Brooklyn, N.Y. More Fun Facts About Trees

McLean, Va.: $244 Scarsdale, N.Y.: $181 Beverly Hills, Calif.: $207 Multiply those benefits by the number of trees on a property, and the value and savings can climb.

To calculate the dollar value of an individual tree, the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service in Indiana uses a formula that includes the tree’s size, cost, health, and position in a yard. By its calculations, a 15.75-in. silver maple in good health could be worth $2,562.

Value of Neighboring Trees Your trees can even add value to your neighbor’s property. A Portland, Ore., study

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Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — March 2015

Just three properly placed trees could saveyou between $100 and $250 a year in energycosts, says the U.S. Department of Energy.

Planting windbreaks and shade trees can reduce winter heating bills by 15% and air conditioning needs by 75%.

Essential #2: Native Plants If you introduce trees, plants, or shrubs, go native. Indigenous plantings thrive without the extra TLC (read: time and money) you’ll devote to anything that’s forced to live outside its natural habitat.

A study by Applied Ecological Services Inc., a Wisconsin ecological consultancy, shows that maintaining an acre of native plants over 20 years costs $3,000, compared with the whopping $20,000 price tag of maintaining a lawn of non-native turf grass.

Not only can native plantings save money, they can make you money, too. In Mesa, Arizona, a generous assortment of lovely Saguaro and other native cacti can boost a home’s value by $500 to $5,000, depending on size, says REALTOR® Cathy Joyce.

Native plantings help wildlife, too. The National Wildlife Federation awards a special certification to homeowners who create natural backyard habitats for birds, butterflies, and other animals looking for places to roost or feed.

There’s a slow but steady increase in buyers seeking these wildlife certified properties; a recent listing for a West Virginia property trumpeted its wildlife certification, restored meadow, and organic garden.

Rain gardens with native plants and trees also are becoming a plus for properties increasingly plagued by extreme weather. These gardens filter and distribute runoff underground, preventing storm water from seeping into basements and overwhelming municipal sewers.

In the Chicago area, now frequently drenched by huge storms, rain gardens can make properties more marketable and can reduce flood insurance rates, says Laura Reedy-Stukel, a REALTOR® in Elmhurst, IL., who specializes in green building strategies.

Essential #3: Outdoor Lighting Outdoor lighting consistently tops the NAHB’s list of most wanted outdoor features in its annual What Home Buyers Really Want survey: 41% rate it “essential;” 49% say it’s “desirable.”

But that’s not the only reason it’s one of our landscape essentials. Tasteful lighting paints your home at night, highlighting your other great landscaping choices and directing guests to your home’s focal point — the front door.

It protects against slips and falls. It makes a property a more difficult target for intruders.

That added security can reduce burglaries, and therefore claims. Some insurance companies give 5% to 15% discounts to homeowners with reduced or zero claims.

It makes your home feel homier. Soft lighting on a wrap-around porch or just a front stoop feels warm and inviting.

Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — March 2015

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OUTDOOR KITCHEN DOMINATION

BY KIMBERLY RUKA

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Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — March 2015

Texans enjoy grilling all year round! The sound of the sizzle, the smell of food in the open air, and the outdoor surroundings all make for a beautiful space with your family and entertaining friends. But all too often we find ourselves running back and forth from the inside kitchen to the grill outside forgetting the little things we need to complete the grilling process.

With proper planning, you also can enjoy your meals al fresco. There are several factors to consider when designing your outdoor room. Be true to the style of your home whether it’s traditional or modern. Will the kitchen design be something that fits the house’s architecture or something fun like a tiki-bar with a thatched roof? Sometimes it is best to design your kitchen to complement the house and fade into the landscape.

wants to replace a grill after only a few years.

Every appliance you can imagine is available for outdoor kitchens including refrigerators, icemakers, kegorators, sinks, cook tops, ranges, and, most importantly, the grill.

The appeal of outdoor kitchens is beginning to dominate the way we feel about grilling our meals, entertainment, and time together in a beautiful outdoor area. With so many new concepts, designs, and options, it is becoming both easier and more affordable to make this area a true part of your home’s living space. And, as an added bonus, outdoor grilling areas increase your home’s resale value.

There are other considerations to keep in mind, too.

How many people do you see yourself entertaining?

What about in larger events? Will more than one person be cooking, prepping, and serving in the kitchen at once? These questions will help you determine the amount of working and counter space that will be necessary.

Will you be eating outdoors? Will you be entertaining in the evening? Lighting in strategic areas will set the mood while providing safety while cooking. An outdoor kitchen can be as customized as you like—mix and match the materials to fit your overall style and needs.

The Texas climate should be taken into consideration. Be sure your components are appropriate for the design and exposure. Spend a little more on your grill. Grills are built-in and nobody Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — March 2015

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Landscaping Nice-to-Haves Nice-to-Have #1: Fencing Fencing has many indisputable qualities: It keeps pets in and intruders out; it creates privacy and sets boundaries.

But when it comes to boosting property values, the value of fencing becomes murky. Since most privacy fencing is installed in backyards, it doesn’t pack the curb appeal punch of, say, a spreading chestnut tree shading your house. And if everyone in the neighborhood has the same nice fence, yours won’t earn any extra points on an appraisal sheet.

But nice fences (not chain link) do have value.

Douglas Emde, a Stillwater, Okla., appraiser, says cedar picket fences set the standard in his market just north of Oklahoma City, and can boost home value by $1,500 to $2,000. In Meza, Arizona, where chain link fences are typical of older properties, an upgraded cement block privacy wall can boost selling prices by $2,000 to $5,000 more, says REALTOR® Joyce.

Nice-to-Have #2: Retaining Walls and Terracing Retaining walls and terracing reclaim heavily sloped yards that are only good for grass (hard to mow) or ground covers (hard to tame).

Retaining walls and terracing: • Control erosion and surface runoff by slowing the flow of water down a slope.

• Add color and texture to wide stretches of green.

• Turn useless slopes into flat areas for garden beds and walkways.

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Williamson County Real Estate Magazine — March 2015

Done correctly, walls and terracing look beautiful and boost curb appeal. But walls can be pricey, running $15-$40 per sq. ft. (including labor), depending on materials used. A 20-ft.-long, 30-in.high stone wall can cost between $1,250 and $2,000.

Nice-to-Have #3: Walkways Walkways welcome guests to your home. So, you can let visitors trudge through wet grass to your front door, or you can lay down an attractive path.

We vote for the attractive path.

You can go whole hog and install a solid stone walkway, which ranges from $11 to $17 per sq. ft.; or use pavers, $9.50-$17 per sq. ft. To save money, lay stepping stones with grass between, $1-$3 per piece.

Walkways are another keep-up-with-the-Joneses upgrade. If you get too fancy, you won’t see a return on your investment; if you don’t meet the standards of the neighborhood, appraisers will punish you.

Other fab curb appeal projects that typically offer a good ROI, according to “Remodeling” magazine’s annual “Cost vs. Value Report,” include: • Exterior door replacements. On average nationally, a steel entry door replacement recouped more than 101% of its cost in the 2015 survey.

• Midrange garage door replacements recoup about 88% of the cost.

• Wood deck additions recoup more than 80%.

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

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