“Buyers in the Austin region were very active during February. There were 1,975 purchase agreements signed during the month, an increase of 41.4 percent from a year ago. Home prices have shown early signs of stabilizing, but remain relatively soft. The February median sales price of $181,700 was a decrease from a year ago of 3.3 percent. Soft prices have...

When you sell a stock, you owe taxes on your gain — the difference between what you paid for the stock and what you sold it for. The same holds true when selling a home (or a second home), but there are some special considerations. How to Calculate Gain In real estate, capital gains are based not on what you paid for the home, but on its adjusted cost basis....

Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior...

Home inspections will vary depending on the type of property you are purchasing. A large historic home, for example, will require a more specialized inspection than a small condominium. However, the following are the basic elements that a home inspector will check. You can also use this list to help you evaluate properties you might purchase. For more...

1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many other professions — is mostly learned on the job. 2. What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS® — which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training — are...

Condominiums and townhouses offer an affordable option to single-family homes in many markets, and they’re ideal for those who appreciate a maintenance-free lifestyle. But before you buy, make sure you do your legwork. These are some of the important elements to consider: Storage. Some condos have storage lockers, but usually there are no attics or basements...

Before you buy, contact the condo board with the following questions. In the process, you’ll learn how responsive — and organized — its members are. You’ll also be alerted to potential problems with the property.

 1. What percentage of units is owner-occupied? What percentage is tenant-occupied? Generally, the higher the percentage of owner-occupied...

Before you make your final buying or selling decision, you should have the home inspected by a professional. An inspection can alert you to potential problems with a property and allow you to make an informed decision. Ask these questions to prospective home inspectors: 1. Will your inspection meet recognized standards? Ask whether the inspection and the...