ePicketFence.com Blog

Are you running the risk of eviction because you have been unable to pay your rent or you violated the lease terms stated in your contract? If you are faced in a situation like this where there is potential problem looming between your landlord and you, as a tenant, you might want to know more about certain laws and regulations that govern the situation you are in.Eviction due to non-payment of rentTenants are usually evicted fastest if they fail to pay their monthly obligations. When you agreed to rent the house, your landlord has granted you all the right to use the property provided that you pay him or her the agreed upon rent. In most cases, usually after at least 2 months of non-payment, the landlord sends a tenant a written notice specifying that the rent be paid at a specific date. If you are unable to pay the rent at this time, the landlord will commence eviction. Oftentimes, landlords consider partial payment as long as there is a commitment to pay the rest of th... Tags: west Austin homes for sale, Austin Texas real estate Read More

People usually take real estate developers as individuals with huge sums of money building houses then selling them to gain even more profits. Although this is true for the most part, there is more to it than what it appears. What really does a real estate developer do?A real estate developer, by definition, is one who specializes in the creation of new developments as well as the renovation of existing ones, then marketing them for the purpose of selling. They work hand in hand with constructions firms and serve as middle man between them and potential property buyers or tenants. As this work is expansive, the duty of a real estate developer may vary. Developers can scout for good construction locations to see if they are acceptable then oversee the purchase of raw land. A developer can also check out an old building and see whether remodelling is a possibility. It is also the responsibility of the developer to determine an ideal construction budget. He also must make su... Tags: Cedar Park real estate, Austin homes for sale Read More

The history of real estate is tightly tied with man's quest for settlement and his constant search for a permanent home. It started back during pre-historic times of the tribal system and started to take shape during the feudal system where tenancy and taxes began to predominate. Back then, peasants and merchants bought, rented or sold properties under the nose of the royal class. When aristocracy was put to end in most areas of the world, the system of renting and taxation was put in the responsibility of politicians. Title lands came into existence, and lands were sold in what seemed like a free market in favour of merchants and citizens with money.The idea of mortgages also existed way, way back and there is no particular country that its history can be traced to. Initially available only to the noble class, the industrial revolution effectively equalized the system as the wealth of the world became even. This was when mortgage loans began to be granted even for common... Tags: Round Rock homes for sale, Austin Texas homes Read More

Do you own any property that you rent out as investment? If yes, did you know that you can take advantage of tax deductions provided for owners of rental properties? That is right; aside from the income you earn by renting out and the possible profits from appreciation of your capital, owing a property can also reduce your income tax. In fact, rental real estate offers the most tax benefits compared to almost any other investment out there. Here are some of the possible tax deductions property rental owners can enjoy:1. Tax deduction from interestRental property owners can take advantage of interest as their biggest tax deductible expense. If you are paying interest payments on a loan you obtained to buy the property, or if you pay interest on credit cards for services and goods incurred due to rental, you can declare these for tax deduction purposes.2. Tax deduction due to property depreciationRental property owners may also recover the cost of their property by consider... Tags: Untagged Read More

You have probably heard about house flipping on TV - of how a number people buy houses, fix them up and then resell them to gain huge profits all in a few month’s time. Whether you are interested in the house flipping business as an investor or if you want to get some extra cash, there are many things you might want to know first before you go on and start flipping homes.When you flip a house, you are basically buying a home at a discounted price then reselling them quickly at a higher price for profit. This kind of practice sounds like a completely legal way of earning money, but is it really legal to flip a house? In the United States, there is what is known as the Anti-flipping Law which applies to homes owned or bought through the Federal Housing Authority. This set of regulations does not render house flipping as illegal, but sets forth regulations to ensure that real estate investors charge justifiable sales prices and do not resort to any loan fraud. In other words... Tags: Untagged Read More

Congratulations on your new home! There is no thrill like finally owning your very own house. One of the most exciting things about moving in is having to shop for new appliances. We all know that this is costly, which is why you need to be careful in picking out the right appliances for the new house. Remember that it is a purchase that you would want to last for as long a time as possible. Here are tips to help you choose the best fixtures and appliances for the new house:1. Before going to the appliance store, make a list of everything you need.The things you need for your house would depend on several factors. For instance, what size and colour of refrigerator will go well with your kitchen design and space? How much capacity should the heater be if you are 6 in the family? How big is your kitchen top counter space and will it accommodate the microwave oven of your choice? Would you prefer a gas stove or an electric range? Make sure that you consider your needs to be m... Tags: Untagged Read More

There have been countless rags to riches stories that can be traced to success in real estate. One way of making it big in this industry is to become what they call as a "bird dog". What is a real estate bird dog and how can you become one?A real estate bird dog is one who looks for properties, talks to the seller, finds and negotiates buyers, provides leads for investors, in hopes that a deal be signed and sealed. As a bird dog sniffs and hunts what the hunter wishes for, so does a real estate bird dog finds what a real investor desires. You will get paid, usually in the form of a commission, whenever a successful deal is sealed.Real estate bird dogging is one of the best ways to get started in the industry. This business opportunity can be started anytime, even without prior knowledge and training. What you need to have though, is a lot of skill in hunting down potential sellers, buyers or investors, a lot of convincing power, and tons more of patience and persistence. ... Tags: Untagged Read More

In the United States, real estate laws vary from state to state. However, there are common laws that govern landlord-tenant relationships and dictate what should be done if there are conflicts that happen along the way. Here are 5 of the most important real estate laws every landlord should know: 1. When renting out a property to another individual or group, landlords get into a legal, binding contract. As the landlord, you have all the right to receive an agreed upon rent in exchange for the use of your property. It is also your right that the property is returned undamaged (except for normal wear and tear) towards the end of the rental period. 2. It is part of the landlord's duty to respect the rights of the tenant, which includes the right to use your property without any interference. Tenants also must be provided with basic amenities in the property for a decent everyday living which includes running water, heat, garbage disposable, maintenance, and right to housing ... Tags: Untagged Read More

Only twenty short miles away from Austin Texas is the Lake Travis Independent School District (LTISD). This is an autonomous educational community which provides a stark contrast to Austin’s busy city life. Despite its closeness to the metro, everything inside the Lake Travis district is serene. Nature is well-protected in this area and you’ll feel like you were still living in the Texas of thirty years ago but among the most intelligent people you’ve ever had the chance to encounter. The LTISD is lauded for its excellent educational services in the Lake Travis district. It was originally included in the region of Dipping Springs and was first established in 1981. Today, it’s considered a district on its own, and it caters to over 5,800 students. When last surveyed, the student population was 83% Caucasian, 2% Asian, 13% Hispanic and 1% African American. If you live in the Lake Travis area, you can take advantage of LTISD’s outstanding schools. There are currently five el... Tags: Austin homes, Round Rock real estate Read More

Texas can be a difficult state to survive in for some flowering animals, but if you choose the right flowering shrubs, particularly those that are native to the state, you won’t have trouble adding blooms to your Austin garden. Below is a list of the best Texas native blooms to add to your backyard. Red YuccaThe rest yucca plant is a spiky shrub which produced bright red blossoms at the edge of those spikes. These are dwarf flowering shrubs which can grow up to three feet tall and are actually hardy blooming plants you can add not only to gardens in Austin but to majority of the drier areas in Texas as well. To take care of the red yucca, you just need to prune it regularly and make sure that it gets enough (but not too much) moisture. It still grows best in well-drained gardens. Some gardeners may also refer to this plant as the hummingbird yucca. To make sure this plant grows at its best, plant it in the middle of spring once there’s no danger of frost anymore. Wear glo... Tags: Austin homes for sale, Lakeway real estate Read More

Home Improvement / Renovation Loans What is a FHA 203k Standard Loan?The Federal Housing Administration’s 203(k) program is a purchase or refinance rehabilitation loan. This loan program allows a borrower with limited funds to purchase, or refinance, and fix up a 1-4 unit property . A HUD approved Fee Consultant is required for this loan.  Property must be owner-occupied, a portion of the property can be for commercial use. As long as part of the existing foundation remains in place, properties which are demolished (or scheduled to be as part of the rehabilitation) are eligible. Improvements made under this program may be significant or minor, but a minimum of $5,000 in improvements must be made.  There is no upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) charged on 203(k) loans. Many additional costs can be financed into the 203(k) loan, including permits, inspection costs, work write-ups, and supplemental fees. Other expenses that can be rolled into the loan include the escrow for cont... Tags: Untagged Read More

The 203k Streamline was established in 2005 and allows you to spend up to $35,000.00 on any combination of the following repairs with less restrictions and paperwork. The Streamlined (k) program is intended to facilitate uncomplicated rehabilitation and/or improvements to a home.  Engineers, Architects, Plans and Consultants are not required.  The Streamlined (k) program includes improvements and/or repairs shown below: Repair/Replacement of roofs, gutters and downspouts Repair/Replacement/upgrade of existing HVAC systems Repair/Replacement/upgrade of plumbing and electrical systems Repair/Replacement of flooring  Minor remodeling, such as kitchens, which does not involve structural repairs Painting, both exterior and interior Weatherization, including storm windows and doors, insulation, weather stripping, etc. Purchase and installation of appliances, including free-standing ranges, refrigerators, washers/dryers, dishwashers and microwave ovens Accessibility improvements fo... Tags: Untagged Read More

One of the most difficult tasks that Realtors face today is telling prospective Sellers what their homes are worth in today’s market. Most people are not aware of how drastically the economic downturn has affected the market value of their homes, until they decide to put them on the market. When we show them what the local market says their home is worth, they go through the classic steps of grief, i.e. disbelief, anger, negotiation and resignation. But, keep in mind that “All Real Estate is local”  and, in some parts of the country, Real Estate values have held up quite well. What’s the difference between the “Winners” and the “Losers”? In every case, the thing that makes the difference between sinking and rising Real Estate values is the local job market. Where there are opportunities for good, primary jobs, Real Estate values are up. Where there is a shortage of good, primary job opportunities, as there is now in Colorado Springs, home values have been strongly affected. The fact ... Tags: Untagged Read More