I'm back at it with some great info on why it's important to choose the right Realtor and why buying a home is the biggest investment you’ll likely ever make. It has all sorts of implications for your personal and financial future and too many people don’t realize just how much can go wrong if they make the wrong hire. There are some very serious problems that can arise if you accidentally work with the wrong person to buy or sell a home. Here are some of them.

Homestead exemptions are granted by the county appraisal district where the property is located. The exemption reduces a homeowner’s property tax bill by removing part of the home’s value from taxation. All Texas homeowners may receive a General Residence Homestead Exemption on the value of their property for school taxes upon application. Other taxing entities may also offer exemptions of some percentage of the home’s value. Other exemptions are available to homeowners who are over 65 or disabled, and require the same application process.

I often get asked, "is it a good time to buy a house in the Winter?" So I wanted to shed some light on some reasons why I think it is a GREAT time to buy in the winter season, or what we call "winter" here in Austin. Real estate wisdom tells us that spring and summer are the prime seasons for house hunting and moving and that people are more likely to get out and shop when the weather is nice. Yet there are some very logical and compelling reasons for going shopping for a house and moving in the winter as well.