Georgetown, Texas Real Estate Blog      Your Host: Edward Lui

Updated:  3/3/2013

I purchased a Toyota Prius last year when my beloved Bimmer was rear-ended.  The thing I love about my Prius is that the operating costs of the car would cut our monthly gasoline bill almost in half!  It was probably one of the most gas-efficient vehicles on the market at the time.

Well, around five years ago I bought my current home for pretty much the same reasons.  I figured that if I could save $100 – $150/month on utility bills, that could translate to $30,000 more that I could spend on a home!  For example, if you got a loan today for $30,000 at 3.75% over 30 years, your payments would be around $139/mo.  I even did a comparison on my previous home that was single-story and 40% smaller.  You can read about it here.

125 Village Park Drive - 2843 SF of Energy-saving, park-facing, Craftsman-style construction

For 2012, our average monthly utilities cost us $185.36. This includes gas, electricity, water and sewer/trash.  Not bad for a family of 5 and approximately 2843 sf of living space.  Especially considering I’m always telling my three kids to stop leaving the lights on upstairs!

Ofcourse, like the car guys say…..”your mileage may vary.”  You can view 2012 utility bills here:

Atmos 2012

City of Georgetown 2012

Wake up in the morning to a panoramic view of the heavily-treed Village Park

THE LOCATION: The other reason I bought this home was because of it’s location.  Village Park drive is a horseshoe-shaped street that wraps around Village Park, a city pool and a nicely shaded playscape.  It is the largest park in the neighborhood and has nice shady mature oaks and natural landscaping.  It is used primarily for residents since it really leads to nowhere except to the homes that face it.  This home’s location also allows the next owner to enjoy convenient walking proximity to the Village Elementary School without being too close, and having to deal with the view and noise of the school.  We’ve spent many summers walking to the swimming pool just a stone’s throw away, or hanging out at the playscape as a family.  The park is also a natural choice for community gatherings and there is a large enough field to play football, kickball, or just ride your bike around….and when it’s time for dinner, yes…all within earshot of a yelling parent.

Bonus Space - 5th Bedroom, Private Office, or Home Theatre!

THE BONUS ROOM: Another unique feature of this home is the bonus room above the garage with a separate entrance.  This type of set-up is found in less than 5% of the homes in Georgetown Village and is ideal for the family who needs a separate temperature controlled living space complete with a full bathroom, walk-in closet, and beautiful Hickory wood floors.  If you need to meet clients outside of the home, or just need to get away from the noisy kids to get work done, this space has your name written all over it.  Or if you just need to splurge on a Home Theatre, this is the perfect spot to turn up the bass!  In keeping with the rest of the home’s “green” character, the entire space, including the walls and ceiling of the garage below uses spray foam insulation and the water is supplied by a separate water heater found in the garage.

In the main home, there is virtually no wasted space.  I challenge you to find a home with 2843 sf  that has FIVE generously-sized bedrooms, a gameroom, study and 3 1/2 baths!  Like the energy consumption, this home’s floorplan is very efficient.  The master bedroom and kitchen with eat-in dining are all located on the first level.  If you’re like most families,  you’ll appreciate the lack of a rarely used formal dining room in lieu of a home office.  On the second level, you have a gameroom with a large storage closet and three additional bedrooms.  The fifth bedroom would be the bonus room mentioned earlier that is approximately 412 sf and brings the home’s total to 2843 sf.

The home is priced at $300,000 and has not officially hit the market.  If this is within your price range, please call Edward at 512-761-6476 for a private showing.  The home has been pre-inspected and professionally cleaned and carpet-cleaned.

Your Favorite HOMEboy,

Edward

See below for a timeline of updates to this post and additional pictures:

Feb 25 – Inspection Report (available upon request)

Feb 29 – HVAC Serviced

125 VP Roof Repair Invoice – All shingles professionally checked and secured; all pipes and seals painted to protect from UV exposure.  Two year warranty.

125 Village Park Survey

125 Village Park Sellers Disclosure

125 VP Addendum A

Disclosure:  Owner of home is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Texas

Welcome to your own 2-acre piece of Texas Hill Country! You’ll need more space and foliage than this to fire off your guns, but at least you’ve got room for your horses, chickens, and other animals you want to keep. Best of all, the price is under six figures and you’re 15 minutes from the newest HEB in town.

Welcome home to the hill country!

2725 County Road 248 is priced at $90,000. Sitting near the middle of this flat land is a manufactured home built in the late ’90s that has been very well-maintained by a loving (and growing) family. Three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a kitchen that opens to the living room are laid out nicely in 1,120 sf. Walls have been re-painted, carpets have been steam cleaned, and all the major components (HVAC, septic, roof) are doing great! Consider this a move-in ready home that even comes with refrigerator, washer, and dryer each under 5 years old and zero signs of problems.

Big, country kitchen.

However, the exterior is where I think this home shines. The covered front porch is laid with concrete and is as wide as the home itself. It’s perfectly suited for enjoying your book or beverage while watching your children play near the trees or playscape in the fenced-in front yard. The front yard also wraps around to the enormous side deck. The side deck is partially covered making it an ideal spot for romantic “under the night sky filled with bright stars and moonlight” meals and desserts.

Huge covered porch is a great place to spend your day or night.

Lastly, the property is income-producing. There is a commercial sign that sits on the far corner of the property earning $35/month. It may not sound like much, but for a home like this, that’s like getting free electricity every month. Not many properties can claim that without the use of expensive and headache-filled solar panels.

Two acres allows for privacy even without many large trees.

Detailed Information:

2725 CR 248 – Upgrades and Repairs
2725 CR 248 – Survey
2725 CR 248 – Sellers Disclosure

A nice home that offers a lot of interior living space.

Located across the street from the Berry Creek golf course,  7611 Spanish Dove Court gives you the benefits of a golf course community without the associated high costs.  This home provides you the no-neighbor privacy in the back yard that everyone is looking for (check out the Google map view) plus the quiet, friendly, and safe attributes of a cul de sac out front.  It’s only a few minutes from Highway 195 and Interstate 35, but you won’t need to worry about traffic noise or congestion in this exclusive section of Villages of Berry Creek.  Or you can take the 10-minute scenic route on Airport Road right into the heart of the historic downtown square.

Two game rooms are ideal for children and entertaining guests.

The interior is where this home really stands out.  This Taylor Morrison-built home sits right at 2,856 sf, which is enough for four bedrooms, a formal dining room, and a game room with space to spare.  In fact, even with four large bedrooms and three walk-in closets, there is a bonus room with media niche that can easily be used as an in-home office, tv/movie room, dedicated kids’ play area, etc.  If you aren’t entertaining a big party, the first floor living room is a great place to gather as it is wide open to the kitchen and bar area.  For $210,000, this is easily a house for a young family to grow into or an established family looking to enroll their kids in the highly-touted Georgetown ISD schools.

Great layout for all to enjoy natural light and private yard.

It’s easy to schedule a personal showing of this home – click here.

Click to view these helpful documents:

7611 Spanish Dove – Floor Plan
7611 Spanish Dove – Seller’s Disclosure
7611 Spanish Dove – Survey

We all know that Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, attracting thousands of young visitors every year.  It’s also home to one of the largest universities in the country and boasts a very low unemployment rate.  But did you also know it’s a great place to retire?

CNN just put out an article ranking Austin the #5 city to retire due to its low state income tax (0%), amazing outdoor trails and parks, and top tier health care.

Full article here: http://money.cnn.com/gallery/retirement/2012/10/16/best-places-retire.moneymag/5.html

Updated:  March 3, 2013.

It’s been a while since I’ve written about Georgetown Village.  My brother and I have posted many listings for homes for sale in Georgetown Village and I have lived here for almost 10 years.  We’ve talked about many great features of the homes and of the neighborhood, but today I want to talk about what really differentiates Georgetown Village, and that is, community.

A few years ago, I created a Facebook page for Georgetown Village residents to post neighborhood news, events, garage sales, etc. The main purpose was to get residents to network with one another and build relationships.  Well, what started out as a fun little project has now turned into the largest Georgetown neighborhood community page on Facebook!  At the time of this writing, we have 349 members!  The next largest membership I could find, was Berry Creek Country Club with a Facebook membership of 246, but most of the posts come from the club and not the residents.  I guess they’re out golfing.

As more and more of our “connectedness” starts with social media, this may be the difference you are looking for when choosing which neighborhood to live in.  As I tell my clients:  ”The neighborhood is just as important as the home.”

GEORGETOWN VILLAGE FACEBOOK OFFER

To celebrate our 350th Facebook member, Edwin and I will be giving away a $350 Home Depot gift card for anybody selling a home, buying a home, or needing property management in Georgetown Village for the next 60 days.  This will be given away at closing.  Also, the first 3 people to respond will get entered into a drawing for the brand new iPad!

To take advantage of this great offer, just give me or Edwin a call.  Homes must close to be eligible for the offer and the drawing.  Our buyer representation services are at no cost to you, so this deal is free!  We are not a discount brokerage and rarely offer rebates/discounts, so take advantage of this while you can.  For buying/selling, Edwin can be reached at 512-554-9594.  For property management,  my number is 512-761-6476.

Not too sure of the service you’ll receive?  Check out our testimonials here!

We also have an Introductory Video, Video testimonials and examples of our listing videos on YouTube.  www.HookedontheBrothers.com

~Your Favorite HOMEboy,

Edward

Welcome to the ultimate property for river, hill country, and treetop views in Georgetown.  Located in the heart of the River Ridge subdivision, 308 South Ridge Circle is home to rare, breathtaking bluff views of the San Gabriel River and the trees on its banks.  This home was designed to enjoy the maximum benefits of these views as evidenced by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room and breakfast area, the massive outdoor deck, and the private balcony off the master bedroom from the second floor!

You can see for miles and miles.

Sometimes the view is not enough, and you have to see nature up close and personal.  With almost one acre of land, the property line goes all the way down to a creek, which you can follow to the San Gabriel River.  A lot of adventurous hiking will be involved, so if you aren’t an outdoor person, feel free to set up camp on the deck while the grill cooks dinner.  If it’s the right weather, you can also relax by the fire pit on a starry night.

Your personal observatory also serves as a wood deck by day.

If all you want is the enjoyment of the view and the comforts of your home, this home can do that, too!  The living room has hand-scraped hardwood floors, stone fireplace, and a wet bar to go along with four tall windows extending from the floor to the ceiling.  The breakfast area has its own large windows in similar length so you won’t miss a thing while you’re eating.  Even the door leading to the rear deck has a tall glass window pane to see out of.  All the windows are equipped with sunshades to reduce heat and glare while still maximizing the views.  Lastly, the open floor plan allows these views to be seen unobstructed from the kitchen.

No window treatments needed in this room.

Other features of this home include sitting area and second fireplace in master bedroom, remodeled master bathroom, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, double oven, built-in wine rack, breakfast bar, tile floors, outdoor fire pit, and hundreds of healthy, mature trees in the front and back.

Just the right amount of trees in front for curb appeal and shade.

If you’d like to schedule a showing, email me.

To see more videos, visit us at HookedOnTheBrothers.com

308 S Ridge – Floor Plan
308 S Ridge – Survey
308 S Ridge – Seller’s Disclosure
308 S Ridge – Upgrades

235 Westbury is a prime example of privacy and exclusivity.

235 Westbury is offered at $275,000 ($87/sf) and that price buys you 3,167 sf made up of 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a formal dining, a dedicated office, a second living room or game room, a big open kitchen, a breakfast area, and a 3-car garage.  In case you missed it, this home has 3.5 bathrooms.  Having that extra full bathroom is going to make a world of difference for you and your household.  Just imagine 3 bedrooms sharing only one bathroom and you will realize it is a supreme luxury to have that extra full bathroom.  The home could be updated with granite counters, but you will already have one of the nicest, most exclusive, and private homes in Georgetown Village.

How's this for relaxation?

If you want privacy, 235 Westbury has it on the inside and outside. The bedrooms are designed for ultimate privacy with the master on the first floor (i.e., away from the secondary bedrooms). The 3 bedrooms on the second floor are separated by a long hallway, and Jack-and-Jill bathroom. Each bedroom offers unique architectural design and zero shared walls between them. The game room may not be enclosed, but it’s hidden from view from the first floor and is tucked away nicely for video games and movies. If you’re thinking about working from home, the over-sized in-home office is separate from the main living room on the first floor with nice french doors for, you guessed it, more privacy.

Master has been re-painted to more neutral color.

The backyard is equipped with an extra high fence line installed and mature trees to block out any unwanted eyes into your yard. The corner lot, detached garage, and rear alley serve as additional barriers for backyard privacy and guarantee you’ll have a shared fence with only one neighbor at most.

With this home, privacy doesn't cost you an arm and a leg.

In terms of exclusivity, this is the only home in Georgetown Village on the market today with a 3-car garage and 3 or more bathrooms. In the last 12 months, only 5 homes out of 66 possible homes on the market had this combination – less than 8% of the homes! That number has gone down even further in the last 6 months – 2 homes out of 46 possible – less than 4.5% of the homes! If you need a third full bathroom, this will be a rare opportunity to have one in Georgetown Village. If you need the third garage , it might be a good idea to schedule an appointment to see this home. If you need both, start signing some papers!

You might feel like a trained chef in this kitchen.

In addition to the privacy and exclusivity, 235 Westbury has features that make it stand out even further. The living room has a beautiful and unique architectural design with three huge windows towards the landscaped backyard. The hardwood floors complement the wood beams on the ceiling and the banisters, which overlook from the second floor. The entire room is lit up by natural light and is open to the kitchen and breakfast area. In the kitchen, you’ll find a gas cook top on the island with lots of counter space and storage. The windows continue into these rooms as well giving the first floor a consistent and continuous level of natural brightness. The covered patio is big enough for barbecues and cool enough for the hot summers. The red brick road to the detached garage gives it a nice touch of home (think Wizard of Oz). And if the storage from the 3-car garage isn’t enough, there are three huge walk-in attic spaces accessible from the second floor that would love to hold your boxes for you until you need them again.

You won't find another living room like this one.

If you want to schedule a showing of this beautiful house, email me.  Check out the rest of the pictures, video, and other information of this beautiful house below.

For more videos, visit: www.HookedOnTheBrothers.com

235 Westbury – Upgrades
235 Westbury Lane – Floor Plan
235 Westbury Lane – Sellers Disclosure
235 Westbury Lane – Survey

Tired of getting outbid on all those foreclosure properties?  Wasting too much time waiting for a short sale to close?  If you’re looking for a great deal, then 1019 Leeds Castle Walk at $115,000 ($47/sf) is one of the cheapest properties around and the best thing about it – it is not a distress sale.  No waiting + no bidding = high chance of purchasing with a 30-day close.

1019 Leeds Castle is 2,427 sf with 3 bedrooms (best bang for the buck as an investor) and 3 full bathrooms (perfect for homeowners who have frequent overnight guests, kids, or roommates).  The living room is open and has high ceilings so it’s great for large gatherings.  If you need something more private, the upstairs game room is even bigger and tucked away.

You’ll want to replace the carpet and put a fresh coat of paint on the walls before moving in, but that’s already accounted for in the low price.  That’s a positive because you get to choose the type of floor and color of paint.  The other positive is that it would cost about $5,000 to have it done professionally, but the seller decided to knock off $10,000 instead.  Meaning you could purchase this home, replace the carpet, paint the walls, and probably sell this for $125,000.

See below for more information, pictures, and video.  Act quickly!  This will not last long so give your Realtor a call to see it or contact me directly if you don’t already have one.

For more videos, visit www.hookedonthebrothers.com.

1019 Leeds Castle – Sellers Disclosure

If you like being outside, this is the home for you.

Ever imagine what it would be like to grill a burger or sunbathe by the swimming pool without a nosy neighbor looking in? 100 Woodcrest is a 1600-sf 3-bedroom home for sale in Georgetown, Texas (offered at $250,000), located in the heavily wooded subdivision of North Lake.  This property provides perfect privacy on 2.5+ acres with Mr. and Mrs. Wooded Lot to the left, Mr. and Mrs. Greenbelt to the right, and Mr. and Mrs. Your Own Private Park to the rear.  Although the interior has been recently updated by the current owner, the true appreciation of this home starts from the outside.

No nosy neighbors peeking into your pool.

The back patio is the perfect place to hang out, have a drink, and enjoy nature without any neighbors in sight.  With natural cover from the trees, it’s only a few paces to the private swimming pool.  The swimming pool has a personal gazebo and is fenced with white pickets for beauty and safety.  If you’re a “hands on” person, head straight to the workshop just past the grilling and smoking station on your right.  The workshop is perfect to store your power tools, lawn equipment, pool accessories, and boxes of old photo albums.  It also has plenty of cabinets and peg boards for neat organization.  Who says a workshop has to be messy?  The greenhouse is conveniently joined to the workshop.  No need to lug a bag of garden tools.  Grab what you need, do your gardening, and neatly place the tool back where it belongs without breaking a sweat!  You could enjoy the entire day on the patio, in the pool, in the workshop, or in the greenhouse, and not have a single complaint.  Except that you would’ve missed out on horseback riding.

Great place to hide and protect your tools.

There is a 3-stall horse barn located on the west side of the property.  It’s construction out of metal and wood are built for durability and versatility – you can convert any or all of the horse stalls to an open gym, chicken coup, boat house, or RV garage complete with its own driveway. Currently the horses have their own ramp to the paddock for water and hay.  The paddock opens up to the pasture in the rear of the property for daily grazing.  The paddock and entire  pasture have been fenced off so there is no worry of horses galloping away, or unwanted animals entering your property.  The pasture can also be converted (mowed) to your own personal park.  Just be sure to watch your step if you’ve had horses back there!

Horse shoe rack to remind you that this is for horses.

It is rare to find a property with all these amenities in Georgetown without tight HOA restrictions.  Even in North Lake, other homes may have a pool, or barn, or workshop, or acreage, or privacy, or lots of mature trees, but no other home in North Lake gives you all of these amenities at once, except 100 Woodcrest, making this a true one-of-a-kind property.

There's even more green in the back.

Scroll down for more information, a video, and beautiful pictures:

For more videos, visit us at www.HookedontheBrothers.com

100 Woodcrest – Survey

100 Woodcrest – Upgrades

100 Woodcrest – Inspection Report

100 Woodcrest – Disclosures

Never judge a book by its cover. In this case, never judge the upgrades of a home by its price tag.

This is no ordinary home hiding behind the trees.

From any standpoint, 2409 Edgecliff is a value purchase for a first-time home buyer, investor, or homeowner wanting to move up or down. Priced at $160,000 and with 2,381 sf to work with ($67/sf), 2409 Edgecliff is the lowest priced home on the market in the Summer Crest (or Summercrest) neighborhood in Georgetown. Throw in all the upgrades that the home is secretly hiding on the inside, and you’re creating instant equity at closing. The owner spared no expense when it came to upgrading his primary residence. In total, he spent close to $40,000 in upgrades!

This patio feels like an extension of the home itself.

One of the more obvious upgrades is the ceramic tile flooring. This beautiful, natural tile isn’t like most tiles. Ceramic tiles are forged from rich, hearty clay and kiln-fired for strength, durability, beauty, and uniqueness. You’ll easily notice the ceramic tiles in the dining room, living room, and hallways. It continues when you walk out the back door to the expanded, covered rear patio, which give it a remarkably unique, one-of-a-kind look and feel. The covered patio is further protected with an aluminum awning sure to make your rainy nights more enjoyable as you sip your hot cup of tea to the calming sound of rain against a metal roof. The kitchen has been updated with granite counters, tile back splash, and new sink. Hard water is no longer an issue with a new water softener system. Your yards are huge, green, and lush thanks to a professional landscaping re-do in the front and back yards, including full, automatic sprinkler system. Foam insulation keeps the utility costs low and the temperatures comfortable. These are some of the major upgrades you won’t find in your neighbor’s home – not for this price anyway.

This type of back yard can only be attained by a professional.

And let’s not forget about the neighborhood. In the past 6 months in Summer Crest, 11 homes have sold with 1 home pending (2 homes/month). Currently there are only 2 homes for sale, which means Summer Crest is in high demand and 2409 Edgecliff will not last more than 30 days!

One thing to note: some buyers are looking for first floor bedrooms. In this home, all the bedrooms are on the second floor, including a master bedroom twice the size of others. This allows for more efficient use of space on the first floor, including a second dining area that can easily be used as a home office. Lastly, there is no separate shower from the tub in the master bathroom. If you’re okay with not wiping off dust from your seldom-used bath tub every week, then this is the right home for you!

See below for more information, photos, and video:

2409 Edgecliff – Upgrades

2409 Edgecliff – Sellers Disclosure

2409 Edgecliff – Survey & T-47

 

[For more videos go to www.hookedonthebrothers.com]