Will Homes Near Balcones National Wildlife Refuges Raise in Home Value?

A new peer-reviewed national study, released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, shows that in urban areas across three regions of the country owning a home near a national wildlife refuge increases home value and helps support the surrounding community’s tax base.

According to the study, conducted by economic researchers at North Carolina State University, homes located within half a mile of a refuge and within eight miles of an urban center were found to have higher home values of roughly:

• Seven to nine percent in the Southeast;
• Four to five percent in the Northeast; and
• Three to six percent in the California/Nevada region

While this data doesn't specifically include the Midwest, Soutwest, Central Mountains & Northwest, because refuges in these areas tend to be located further from urban centers.  However, there are homes near the Balcones NWR that may benefit from this survey during the home selling process.

MLS Monthly Review - May 2012

Preliminary May 2012 Data:

Units for Sale: (compared to May 2011)
New listings are up 4.32%.
Pendings are up 18.85%.
Solds increased by 18.98%

As for Average Prices:

The "New Listings" average list price is up 1.14% to $330,674.  In May 2011 the average list price was $326,947.

Sold average sales prices increased 2.24% to $270,090.  For May 2011 it was $264,169.


Did you know...that we had 11,454 active listings during the same week in 2011?  Today there are 9,009 active listings!  That is a 21.35% decrease from 2011.


What does this mean?  Demand is slowing building.  For some areas of Austin, sellers are having the benefit multiple buyers submitted offers to buy their property.  This creates an auction effect, driving up the sales price of the home.  We are seeing this more and more in the Austin area.


Do you have a questions about listing your home for sale or how to purchase a property?  Please contact me.

Leander Purchases Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant

Leander signed a purchase agreement for Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant on Oct. 14, following almost a full year of negotiation with LCRA to purchase the facility.

According to city officials, this means Leander residents are avoiding the possibility of having a private contractor run the facility and increasing rates in the future. Leander will pay $36.6 million for the facility, but officials say ownership will allow the city to charge its approximately 9,000 water customers at cost.

Leander has been working toward the goal of purchasing Sandy Creek WTP since LCRA announced its intention to sell the water and waste-water treatment facility as a package deal along with 31 other systems in November 2010. Leander officials were not always convinced LCRA would sell the facility to the city, so the city filed a lawsuit earlier this year

Leander Fire Described by Investigators as Arson

The wildfire that consumed 300 acres near the Mason Creek North subdivision is being called arson by Leander Fire Chief Bill Gardner in a statement given Sept 6th.   All of the 120 homes in the subdivision were evacuated  Several homes on Moon Glow, Honeysuckle Dr & Verbena Court suffered damage or where destroyed.

Authorities are seeking any information regarding the possible suspects in the arson.  One of the two females wore a pink shirt with blue jeans, possible black hair. Other female wearing a white shirt with blue jeans, dirty blond hair.  The two males described between 15-16 years of age.  Both had shaggy dark hair with blue jeans. One had a red shirt the other a green with black striped shirt.

Anyone with information should contact the Leander police department at 512-528-2800 or anonymous tip can be given to the Williamson County Crime Stoppers @ 800-253-7867 or the Texas Forest Service of 800-364-3470.

The Austin Area Market Snapshot

The number of active listings are down 18.98% from last year during the same week, but new listings are up less than 1% this week compared to the same week last year.

Pending sales are up this week 30.90%. Current number of pending sales are 3,161 with an average list price of $255,151.

Sold residential units are up 46.47% compared to the same week last year.

New Home Growth Northwest of Austin

New Home Construction is on the rise in the northwest of Austin. From Leander, Cedar Park to Round Rock 23,000 new lots are getting ready for new home construction. With the areas desirable schools, available land, access to mass transit & proximity to major employers is driving growth for this area.

To find out more about homes in the Leander, Cedar Park, Round Rock area, click here.

Leander Approves Cost for Due Diligence for LCRA bidding.

Leander is nearing the end of a process that could allow the city to purchase part of the Lower Colorado River Authority's expansive water system. At the July 7 meeting, the city council authorized $95,500 for due diligence and to prepare for a final bid.

The LCRA announced in late 2010 that it planned to sell 32 water and wastewater systems, including the Sandy Creek water system that serves Leander.

This is significant to Leander’s 9,000 LCRA customers because the sale of the plant to another entity could void contract stipulations that protect these customers.

To found out more about homes in your neigbhorhood, click here.

Gran Mesa fire burns 60 acres

60 acres burn in Grand Mesa last Thursday. Leander firefighters responded to the fire near Lakeline Boulevard and Osage Drive in the Gran Mesa development about 12:40 p.m. June 16. The fire spread fast, reaching a full-alarm fire within the first nine minutes, according to a City of Leander. 100 were in direct danger from the fire, more than 800 homes were threatened.

To read more about the fire, click here.

To find out more about homes in the Leander area, click here.