Tips on Buying A Condo or Home in downtown Austin

Top area REALTORS offered the following advice in a recent article in the HOMES section of the Austin American Statesman:

1. Learn about what’s available. Think about why you want to live in the center of town. Is it to use the hike-and-bike trail? To avoid rush-hour commuting? To go to Whole Foods Market? Consider what you really want, and on what you’d be willing to compromise.

2. Ask about the homeowner’s fees and what they cover. Each development is different. Most will cover outside maintenance and exterior insurance. Some also include utilities.

3. Think about how much stuff you have. Moving from a house to a condo can force you to pare down the number of possessions in your home. If you will need to rent storage space, factor that into your monthly expenses.

4. Different neighborhoods have different personalities — and different developments have different personalities. It’s a good idea to see who else lives in the development you’re considering, to see if you think you’d be a good fit.

5. Do you want your condominium complex to have an exercise room? A gated entrance? How many parking spaces do you need? Again, make it clear to your real estate agent which are must-haves for you.

The RealtyPro Team helps sellers, buyers, and investors with their residential real estate transactions all over the Greater Austin metropolitan area. To search all currently available property listings, visit www.AustinRealtyPro.com/SearchAustinListings