Georgetown, Texas Real Estate Blog      Your Host: Edward Lui

133 Fairfield Court was built in 2007 by Green Builders, Inc. A few of the money-saving features include a tankless water heater, spray foam insulation, and energy star appliances.  As an example of the potential savings, this 2,192-sf eco-friendly home has a 2011 average electric bill of $65/month!  Considering the excessive heat wave that Austin just experienced, that is a significant savings compared to other homes without spray foam insulation.  Most “traditional” homes could have bills 2-3 times this amount and every $50/month in savings is equal to another $10,000 in your loan amount.  Consider this: You can buy an inferior home for $10,000 – $15,000 less, but if you consider the true cost of ownership and factor in your low utility bills, you’re probably going to end up paying the same amount each month.  Prove it to me you say?  Well, here’s an example from Edward, who also lives in a Green Builder home.  Click this link to read the article on his experience.

Other green features include low VOC paint, varnish, and adhesives, upgraded recycled carpet, stainless Tresca countertops, drought-resistant landscaping, rain water collection system, and Low-E windows.  This is a rare find as Green Builders no longer builds in Georgetown Village.  133 Fairfield allows you to enjoy the benefits of enormous eco-saving efforts in this home, and save money on utility bills!

Rare Green Builders home with 24/7 views of the park.

Not only can your wallet feel good about this home, so can your eyes as you look out your window to a beautifully treed park across the street.  Georgetown Village is filled with hike and bike trails, trees, and benches, but not every home has one within ten steps of their front door.  In fact, only nine other homes on Fairfield Court share this park.  It’s no wonder that out of nine total real estate transactions on this street, eight of the homes averaged under 60 days on the market!  This is a great opportunity to own a home in Georgetown Village that is green for the environment and faces a park – a rare combination!

From your door to this trail in under 10 seconds!

The 2,192-sf home boasts a huge kitchen and living area, three big bedrooms with walk-in closets, a separate game room, detached garage, ample back yard space, front row seats to the park, and a 400-sf space above the garage that can be finished out to meet any of your needs – 4th bedroom or guest accommodations, executive suite or office, media room or home theater, game room or play room, heated and cooled storage, etc.  The huge space makes this home a perfect fit for any buyer.  Finishing out this space can add instant equity to your home!

Uncage your creative self with 400 sf of workable space!

This home is not just designed to save you energy, but also time.  If you have a load of laundry sitting in your master bedroom closet, simply open up the “secret” door that leads to the laundry room and dump it in the washing machine!  These type of features are normally seen in custom homes that cost three times as much!

For just $225,000, you get panoramic park views, an energy-saving home, and a space above the garage that can be easily expanded for an extra 400 sf of living space.

See below for more information, pictures, and video and contact us if you have any questions.

133 Fairfield – Floor plan
133 Fairfield – Annual Utility Expenses for House
133 Fairfield – Lot Title Survey
133 Fairfield – Inspection Report
133 Fairfield – Sellers Disclosure

122 Summers Green is 1 of 21 homes that faces the lush and green Summers Green Park in Georgetown Village. In fact, 122 Summers Green is the only home for sale on this street, meaning there are no other homes for sale that faces Summers Green Park. In the past 3 years, only 3 homes have sold on this street because no one wants to sell their park-facing home!  [By the way, Mars Hill Realty Group was involved in all 3 of those transactions.] The number “21″ tells you how big Summers Green Park really is. Imagine 21 large homes and put them side by side in a circle and that’s the size of Summers Green Park.  Let me tell you there is plenty of room to share it with 20 other homeowners in this exclusive part of Georgetown Village. Listed at $183,000 it’s also the lowest price on this street since 2005! Finally, here’s a chance to own a piece of the pie (or park) that is so hard to get.

Windows - the more the merrier when you're facing a park like Summers Green.

The location of this home is great for the park view and it’s also within walking distance to the Village Elementary School and community swimming pool.  Like any other home that faces a green park, this home has a covered front porch to enjoy the views and the weather in the morning, afternoon, or evening.  The 2,189 sf home is big enough to hold 3 bedrooms, a living room with fire place and vaulted ceilings, two dining rooms (a formal and breakfast), and a centralized kitchen great for dinner guests.  In addition to the spacious interior, the back has features other homes on this street do not have: a huge back yard with extended roof to cover the concrete slab.  The yard already contains a gardening area, towering trees, and still has room for a pool to complete the package.

See below for pictures, video, and information regarding 122 Summers Green.  Please contact Edwin @ Mars Hill Realty if you’d like to schedule an appointment.

122 Summers Green – Sellers Disclosure
Inspection Report for 122 Summers Green, Georgetown TX 092211

This is a prime opportunity to purchase real estate in Georgetown, Texas.  115 Village Park Drive is located in Georgetown Village, one of the most coveted neighborhoods in Georgetown.  Here are a few reasons why:

1. Walking distance to exemplary-rated Village Elementary School;
2. Miles of kid- and pet-friendly trails available for hiking, jogging, or walking;
3. Numerous, luscious parks, including the one right in front of this home.

But what sets 115 Village Park apart from the other homes for sale in Georgetown Village is your ability to finance easily and securely without the headaches of dealing with lenders and underwriters.  Even if you aren’t approved for a loan, you can purchase this home through owner financing.

• Owner financing – 20% down payment preferred
• High resale value – homes on this street has had the highest $/SF sold numbers for any resale in Georgetown Village over the past couple of years
• Efficient floor plan includes 3 bedrooms, 1 office/study, formal dining, large kitchen and living, indoor utility
• Village Park, Pool, and Playscape located right outside your front door
• Located on one-way horseshoe street
• Black walnut wood laminate floors
• Stainless steel appliances
• Fireplace to keep you warm
• Brick construction on all sides

For those of you not able to secure a loan, owner will consider an owner finance:  20% down payment desired, will look at other offers with a minimum of 10% down.  Buyer pays all closing costs.  For more information, contact Edward @ 512-761-6474

428 Hanover:  Park view and a Texas-sized backyard with 4th bedroom option

Everyone loves a good park, and even more so when it’s right outside your front door! 428 Hanover is located right across the street from a park in the very desirable neighborhood of Georgetown Village in Georgetown, Texas. It’s so convenient you can pack your lunch for spur of the moment picnics and just walk across the street! The park has comfy seat benches, trees for ample shade, and beautiful green grass to run around without shoes.

Warning: The purchase of this home may induce a love for the outdoors.  The covered front porch gives you a gorgeous view of the park while sipping on your favorite cold drink in the shade. Grab a book or your laptop and lose time in the comfort of a warm Texas breeze.  The covered back patio gives you incomparable privacy and freedom. Just a few paces from the master bedroom, you will be enjoying fresh air while listening to God’s iPod – birds singing, trees rustling, and the cool afternoon breeze whistling.

The interior has a great floor plan, boasting three bedrooms with a 4th bedroom/dedicated office, a formal dining room, an open kitchen with breakfast area, a fireplace in the extra large living room.  The master bedroom is tucked in the back of the home (yes, near the amazing and private backyard). It gets the best of both worlds: nature’s finest in the backyard, and the amenities of a spa in the master bathroom. The bathroom is complete with walk in closet, double vanity, tub, separate shower, and plenty of storage for all your needs. Easily light up the money-saving gas fireplace in the living room to warm the home during the winter. Entertain your guests in the formal dining room with the park view. In case you were looking for additional views to the park, the office is situated perfectly in front of a big window while you file taxes, pay bills, or catch up on office work. It’s almost as if the builder new exactly what you were thinking!

Other features: extra large driveway, attic fan, irrigation system, mature “mulberry” tree, garage overhead storage, upgraded carpet and pad, recent paint (2009), recent washer, dryer, and refrigerator (2008), recent garbage disposal.

Contact Edward or Edwin to check out the rest of this beautiful home in the Village. See below for pictures, videos, and attachments.

428-hanover-floor-plan
428-hanover-survey
428-hanover-terminix-protection-plan
428-hanover-inspection

Looking for information on Georgetown Texas Homes For Sale? Visit my website or call me anytime!! Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

OPEN HOUSE – Sunday, Dec 12th from 2-5pm

Georgetown Village – Summers Green Home For Sale

If you’re looking for the right house for sale in Georgetown Texas, look no further.  This is the perfect house with a flexible floorplan that allows you to use all 5 rooms as bedrooms or designate them separately for your custom needs.  Welcome to 102 Summers Green, which faces Summers Green Park.   Enjoy watching your pets or kids run around and play in the park as you kick your feet up on the front porch.  This park has been the mecca for social events in the Village and a great place to meet neighbors and deepen friendships with the people you live with.  The view of this park is magnificent and soothing to your soul.  Imagine having a nice dinner in the formal dining room with family or friends and enjoying the lush green manicured lawn and trees that this park-view offers.  After dinner, enjoy a movie in the spacious family room or hang out in the oversized kitchen with family and friends.  And then, if you have to  pay the bills or finish some late night work, there is also a home office that shares the same park view as the dining room.  The home office has a closet and can also be used as a 5th bedroom.  This house has the rooms you need for your whole family, and we still have a 2nd story to visit!

Unique and Flexible Floorplan

What sets this house apart from others is the built-in nursery on the 2nd floor.  The nursery is conveniently connected to the master bedroom for all of those middle-of-the-night wake-up calls.  No more cribs in the master bedroom, or running down the hall to see what’s wrong.  The nursery can also be closed off from the master suite for privacy via french doors.  No need for a nursery?  No problem.  This room would make the perfect sitting area if one spouse just has to watch David Letterman, while the other spouse has dozed off to La-la land.  You can also use this room as an exercise room, hobby room or second office…the possibilities are endless.

The backyard is large and completely fenced.  The fence can also be pushed out to increase the size of your yard (note:  make sure you follow the appropriate community guidelines before you do this).  This backyard is the perfect size for entertaining or running around with the kids throwing the football.  The backyard is fully visible from the family room through 8-foot windows, or from the covered back patio that connects the detached garage to the main home.

Every parent wants the best education for their children.  At 102 Summers Green, if you are the parent of an Elementary-aged child you can start off on the right track and send your kids to Village Elementary School, rated Exemplary by the TEA with Gold Performance in reading, writing, mathematics, and science. Another bonus is that Village Elementary School is located within the neighborhood!

If you like to stare out your front window and see an oversized neighborhood park, rather than a neighbor’s house, you won’t have many homes to choose from.  Finally, there’s a house on the market with plenty of bedrooms and enough storage for a growing family located within walking distance to one of the best Elementary schools in Georgetown.  Tell your real estate agent to bring you by this house today!

summers-green-property-condition-report

summers-green-survey

summers-green-sellers-disclosure

Looking for information on Georgetown Texas Homes For Sale? Visit my website or call me anytime!! Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

Back after popular demand:  Another “Favorite HOMEboy Testimonial”

Okay, I confess, I’m not sure how popular these are and what the demand is, but many of my recent clients have been rather “video-shy” so I’m glad that Chuck and Fran decided to be such good sports.
They live on my street and are some cool neighbors and I wish them the best in their future as “beach bums.”  The home that was sold was on 133 Village Park Drive in Georgetown Village.

One of the things I always recommend to my clients is to do a pre-inspection.  This is another revolutionary method that my brokerage, Mars Hill Realty Group, integrates into our house marketing strategy.  Here are the top 3 reasons we do this:

1.  Eliminates potential deal-killers

2.  Reduces negotiation leverage of buyer during option period

3.  Attracts the highest offer from the buyer by positioning your home as fixed and well cared for.

Check out the testimonial below and call me to get the same great results on your home!

133 Village Park Drive in Georgetown Village

The neighborhood of Georgetown Village has a unique street that’s called Village Park Drive.  I know, because I live on it!  It’s the only street in Georgetown Village that is a one-way street.  It’s the only one that has a park that fronts it with a neighborhood park/playscape and a city-run heated swimming pool.  It’s also the closest park to the exemplary-rated Village Elementary school.

Well, now here’s something more unique then Village Park Drive:

133 Village Park Drive, the only home in Georgetown that has a view of this lovely park from the front and a nice view of the Texas Hill Country from the back:

But, here’s something else that this home has:  A perfect night-time panoramic view of the skies

This custom-built observatory has been crafted to very exacting standards so that the roof slides open and you have access to the skies above.  Imagine hanging out here with your children or grand-children on a cool summer evening looking at the constellations and gazing at the moon with a high-powered telescope.  This isn’t just an educational tool for astronomers, it’s a memory builder tool for families.  Not a fan of telescopes?  Simply turn this into a club house, or workshop complete with electricity.

The home is built by David-Weekly and has 3 bedrooms/2 baths all on one level.  The owners are meticulously clean and the trees and flowers on this property will make the next owner look like a landscaping champ.  This home has approx. 2000 SF and is priced at $210,000.

133-vp-inspection report

133-village-park-disclosure-and-survey

For more pictures, check out the gallery below:

The weather is nice.

Walking is good.

Kids need to learn the value of work and earning money.

I need to do real estate marketing.

All of that adds up to our newest monthly LUI FAMILY TRADITION – Deliver real estate fliers door-to-door!

The Task: There are about 400 homes in my neighborhood in Georgetown Village and it takes my family of 5 about 1 hour/100 fliers.

The Method: I am on foot and I carry the fliers in my shoulder bag. Joshua is on the scooter, Chloe is on the bike and Autumn pushes Sabrina in anything that has wheels.  In the newer development, where houses are spread apart, we load up in the minivan.

The Loot: I pay the kids 5 cents per flier.  That’s a ton less then postage!

The Side Benefits: 1 hour of family time, walking in great Texas weather.  Teaching kids about work ethic and simple math.

Check out this month’s and last month’s flier below:

Looking for information on Georgetown Texas Homes For Sale? Visit my website or call me anytime!! Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

Green Building – Should you believe the hype?
There’s been a lot of hype surrounding green building practices lately.  Save energy, save the earth and feel good about yourself for making a difference for the next generation.  What’s not to love?  Especially if you can save money at the same time!  Well, last year I decided to test the waters with my own green building experience.  I decided to move into a home built by Green Builders in Georgetown Village and got my Ecobroker certification to learn more about the industry and help others through the process of “going green.”

After 12 months of living in a green home, I decided to compare my utility bills with the previous year of living in a “non-green” home and see if there was a noticeable difference.  Keep in mind that this blog post will only focus on the financial benefits, but green building also benefits the environment and the health of your family.  Before I get into the results, there are a few details I need to share with you first:

1.  My previous home was on 115 Village Park Drive (115 VP) and I only moved 5 houses down to 125 Village Park Drive (125 VP) – Location is pretty much the same (Georgetown Village), and so all the climate and home positioning factors are relatively equal.

2.  I compared the time frame of August 2007 – July 2008 for 115 VP with August 2008 – July 2009 for 125 VP – The 2008 summer was pretty dang hot….but anybody can tell you that the 2009 summer was even worse, not to mention a pretty bad drought that we’ve been having too!

3.  For utility consumption purposes, my family size stayed the same:  Just Me, my wife and 3 rascals under the age of 5.

4.  Lastly (here’s the big one); the home on 115 VP drive is a 2000 SF, SINGLE STORY and my new home on 125 VP drive is a 2800 SF, TWO STORY – a home that is 40% larger!

Comparing the Gas Bill

Both of my homes used used gas for the stove, furnace and water heater.  125 VP had a slight advantage in efficiency because the home was built in 2008 and 115 VP was built in 2002.  My home on 115 VP used a traditional water heater that would maintain the temperature at a fairly consistent temperature.  The home on 125 VP uses a tankless water heater so it heats water on demand.  I also have a 50 gallon traditional water heater that is dedicated to my 400 SF home office above my garage, but I hardly ever use hot water up there.  So despite the fact that I have 2 water heaters, 1.5 more bathrooms and 800 extra SF more in my newer home, I still ended up spending only $359 over a 12 month period compared to $521 for 115 VP.  A savings of $162/year.

Winner:  125 VP

Comparing the Electric Bill

So how did my larger 125 VP home use 20% less electricity then 115 VP?  Well, for one, all of the bulbs in that home are compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).  According to the Energy Star website, CFL’s use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.  This is an easy upgrade for any homeowner to do.  Word of warning though, you’ll notice that the cost of these bulbs are MUCH higher.  Sure, they’ll boast that the CFL lasts 7 years or longer and that might be a good justification, but as of the 12 month mark, I had 4 of my CFLs go out on me already.  I also purchased a more efficient refrigerator, and a front loading washer/dryer set for my new home.  The HVAC unit in my Green Builder home also went up in efficiency to a minimum of 14 seer.  These appliances can make a significant difference in reducing energy consumption.

Another HUGE advantage that 125 VP has is that the insulation is spray foam.  You can go up in the attic at 125 VP during a 100+ degree summer day and you won’t feel like you’re in an oven.  In fact, you might feel comfortable enough to play a game of checkers up there.  The foam does an amazing job keeping cool air in and hot air out during the summer so that my HVAC doesn’t have to work as hard.  The home’s exterior is a white Austin stone, which is better at reflecting heat then the red brick on my 115 VP home.  In order to minimize direct sunlight shining directly into the home, Green Builders constructs their windows higher up and extends the roofline over the home further out.  The result: I spent $1304 for 125 VP and $1418 for 115 VP, a savings of $114/year.

Winner:  125 VP

Comparing the Water Bill

125 VP has low-flow toilets and showerheads, a 53 gallon rain collection barrel, drought-tolerant landscaping and more efficient appliances.  115 VP has a smaller yard.  Even though my grass is looking pretty ugly over at the 125 VP home, at least I can feel satisfied that I spent less on my water bill then I did at my 115 VP home!  In fact, it was a measly $16/year less ($378 versus $394), but still a win for green building!

Winner:  125 VP

Conclusion:

Living in 125 VP saved me money and usage on all three utilities:  Gas, Electric and Water.  A total savings of almost $300/year or $25/month!  However, keep in mind the home is 40% larger and still managed a savings.  At a utility cost of $0.73/SF/year, that would mean that if I didn’t upgrade and just moved into a 2000 SF green home, my utility costs would only be $1458/year.  115 VP, a 2000 SF home, cost me $2333/year!  That’s a difference of $875/year or $73/month.

This $73/month could justify a homeowner paying $10,000 more for a green home and keep his cost of ownership (house payment and utilities) pretty much the same.  Another way to look at it is this:  If you are going to invest $10,000 to achieve a savings of $875/year, you might want to make sure you live in the home long enough to reap the financial benefits.

If you’re considering a purchase of a green home or doing energy efficient upgrades, tap into my Georgetown Texas real estate expertise and give me a call or share your experiences in the comments below.  I’d love to hear from you!

Looking for information on Georgetown Texas Homes For Sale? Visit my website or call me anytime!! Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

Those of you who live in Georgetown Village have probably noted the old cemetery next to the entrance of Phase I. I’ve always had a fascination with cemeteries as there lie the repositories of the last remains of people who lived and experienced another time.

Not wanting to disturb the dead, or get arrested for trespassing, I overcame my innate curiosity, until one Saturday when I noticed someone inside the fence cleaning up all the brush and grass that had accumulated. I figured that if he could be in there working, I could at least step in to have a look around and ask a few questions.

The man was Rev. John Gurley, a local Baptist preacher, who said that he cared for old cemeteries that no one else was taking care of. He said that it was a way of paying respects to his parents who were buried too far away for him to care for their graves. By the time I got there, he had cleared away most of the brush that had clogged the cemetery. He told me that an armadillo had dug down into one of the graves and that he had had to replace some of the bones that the animal had disturbed. There are numerous unmarked grave stones scattered around the area, based on their small size, the Rev. Gurley said that most appeared to be young children, a sobering reminder both of the material poverty of most of the early settlers and the fact that not too long ago many parents buried more children than they raised to adulthood.

The mysterious two gravestones: The two graves stones that do have inscriptions are enclosed in a small wrought iron fence in the middle of the cemetery, the one that a burrowing armadillo had disturbed was Cretia Lord (Jan 23, 1846 – Nov 15, 1902). The other person buried there is her infant son, David (Aug 25, 1872 – Jan 25, 1873) who appears to have died from Scarlet Fever, a common killer of children in that age. I little digging on the internet found that Cretia’s father, Joseph Martin Fish, born in Germany, was a veteran of the war of 1812. Cretia’s mother Nancy outlived her daughter by two years, passing away in 1904.

Cretia’s husband, Leroy B. Lord also outlived her, passing away in 1911. He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery behind Southwestern University. Besides being sheriff of Williamson County 1868-1869 he was also a relatively wealthy man. In a 2001 proceeding of the Georgetown City Council in which permission was given to begin development of Georgetown Village, that whole area was referred to as the “Leroy B Lord Survey.”

I’ve always found history to be most interesting when I find a personal connection and now I have one with the lady whose mortal remains lie in the cemetery at the entrance to Georgetown Village. If you live in the Village, then your house stands on land that once belonged to that lady and her husband.