House Paint: It’s NOT All the Same
Meet Dale and John. Dale and John are my Paint Guys. Dale is the Manager of Austin’s Hill Country Paints. John works with Dale and has been “in paint” for 15 years. When I need my paint fix, which is quite frequent, I go visit them at the store on Anderson Mill in Northwest Austin. I’ve recently realized just how interesting these visits are – not only do I get to... [Read more ...]
Price Your House to Sell
Want to get the most money for your home? Think that means put a nice big price tag on it? Think again. If you want your house to sell, you have to price it for current market conditions, period. Not for what you hope you can sell it for, not what a neighbor sold theirs for, not even for what you paid for it, a few years ago in a hotter market. Hard words, but true, so true. Pricing a house to sell... [Read more ...]
Tax Credits for Energy Efficient Home Upgrades
Ah, the joy of opening a really nice low water, electric or gas bill can *almost* off-set the nasty surprise we get when we open up a whopper bill and wonder how on earth we used THAT much of something in a given month . . . and then realize that we’re half-way through the next billing cycle and may have another whopper bill on our hands . . . and we haven’t changed anything that would... [Read more ...]
Tax Credits for Replacing Doors and Skylights
If money seems to be escaping through drafty windows, doors, and skylights, this federal tax credit might make energy-efficient replacements more affordable. Does it feel like money is escaping through your home’s drafty windows, doors, and skylights? You might be able to keep at least some of that cash in your pocket by taking advantage of federal energy tax credits for retrofitting your... [Read more ...]
Market Report for the Week Ending 1/24/2010
What Did Interest Rates Do This Week? 30-yr Fixed – Slightly Lower This Week: 4.99% Last Week: 5.06% 1yr Ago: 5.12% 15-yr Fixed – Slightly Lower This Week: 4.40% Last Week: 4.45% 1yr Ago: 4.80% Jumbo Fixed (Average 30-yr Fixed) This Week: 5.75% Last Week: 5.75% Highlight of This Week’s Major Economic Reports With little economic data to sway mortgage rates, the bonds market benefited... [Read more ...]
Green Ideas for The Homeowner
Have you been thinking about some ways that you can improve the “green” level of your home? Here are five great articles that might get you thinking about green ideas for your home. 10 Ways to Help Your Watershed A clean and well-managed watershed doesn’t just mean clean drinking water. Do your part to keep land and water clean and you could reap financial benefits too. Read ... [Read more ...]
Restrictive Covenants and the Big Green Ugly
I have a Big Green Ugly sitting in my driveway. It’s been there for a while and it isn’t going away any time soon. The Big Green Ugly is a truck, a really big one – a 1994 Ford F250 XLT with a full-length bed and an extended cab. I bought it when I was working on my house, near the end of 2005, when I needed a vehicle more appropriate for carrying building materials than my every-day... [Read more ...]
RESPA Reform Summary
What Do You Need to Know About RESPA Reform? Before we talk about RESPA reform, you should know that these acts collectively govern a broad range of activities in the lending industry, which includes lending for real estate (mortgages): The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) prohibits abusive practices by lenders that increase costs. These prohibitions include kickbacks and referral fees... [Read more ...]
Market Report for the Week Ending 1/1/2009
What Did Interest Rates Do This Week? 30-yr Fixed – Higher This Week: 5.14% Last Week: 5.05% 1yr Ago: 5.10% 15-yr Fixed – Higher This Week: 4.54% Last Week: 4.45% 1yr Ago: 4.83% Jumbo Fixed (Average 30-yr Fixed) This Week: 5.895% Last Week: 5.875% Highlight of This Week’s Major Economic Reports: Real Estate Market News – at your fingertips - 2009 came to an end with mortgage rates... [Read more ...]
Smoking Bacon and the Kitchen Remodel
It all began with a pan of smoking bacon grease. A few weeks earlier, my soon-to-be ex had left a pan of bacon grease on a still-hot burner and in the ensuing chaos of the smoke-filled kitchen, the pan had caught on fire. The hot pan melted a part of the laminate counter near the stove and on this bright sunny day in June, with my soon-to-be ex in Pennsylvania for the summer, I stood contemplating... [Read more ...]
About Me
Hi! My name is Alison Shuman and I am a licensed Texas REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS®. I live, work and play in Northwest Austin. I spent years as a technical project manager. Then, to quote one of my favorite movies, I realized it was time to get busy living, or get busy dying. Join me on my journey from Rookie to Pro. Just maybe you'll find something that helps you find your own way HOME.
Alison Shuman 512.585.4758
