Once you have found the home of your dreams, you certainly want everything to go smoothly at closing time.  After all, you do don’t want anything else to stand between you and receiving those keys to your new home!  Therefore, in order to make sure the closing process goes smoothly, be certain to follow these simple tips.

Bring the Right Paperwork

Although much of the paperwork will be brought to you at the time of the closing, there are certain documents that you will need to bring with you.  One of these documents is the termite certification demonstrating that the home is free of termites. 

Before the actual closing day, you will need to provide additional documents.  For example, you will also need to bring any bills that you have acquired for

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When you pick a home inspector, you want to make sure to select someone that you can trust to give you an honest and thorough assessment of your home.  Whether you are the seller or the buyer, it is important to know precisely the shape the home is in.  That way, you can properly negotiate any repairs that may be needed. 

When you comb through all of the available home inspectors that are available to you in the Austin area, there are several factors you should look into and many questions you should ask.  Some of these questions include:

• How many years of experience do you have with working as a home inspector?
• How many inspections do you perform each year?
• Is inspecting your only business or do you do it as a side

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The Austin area is home to a number of beautiful parks and nature preserves.  At these parks and preserves, you can enjoy biking, walking, running, and hiking.  At some, you may also be able to enjoy boating and swimming as well as other recreational activities.  Here is a look at just a few of the parks and nature preserves you can visit in the Austin area.

Austin Parks

There are many parks in the Austin area for you to choose from.  The 215 acre Commons Ford, for example, offers numerous trails for you to explore.  Or, you can swim, camp, and take your boat out on Lake Austin by visiting Emma Long.  If you are interested in playing disc golf, volleyball, tennis, basketball, or fishing, on the other hand, you might want to visit Mary Moore Searightt.

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As a resident of Austin, it is important to know about Municipal Utility Districts in order to make certain you make informed decisions.  A Municipal Utility District, which is generally referred to simply as MUD, is a political subdivision in Texas.  This subdivision has been authorized by the Texas Water Code, or TWC, to provide residents with sewage, water, drainage, and other services that are within the designated MUD boundaries.

The History of MUDs in Austin

During the 1970s, legislation was proposed that would extend the water and sewage services offered by Austin to new subdivisions.  The residents of Austin voted against these bonds, however, which left residents in these subdivisions without water or a means of getting rid of waste.  In

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Residents of the Austin area can take comfort in knowing that there are plenty of great healthcare facilities in the area.  With the help of the St. David’s Healthcare Partnership and the SETON Healthcare Network, residents receive both emergency and acute care services with the help of a number of full-service hospitals.  Here are some of the major hospitals in the Austin area:

The Brackenridge ER in Austin, Texas

The Brackenridge ER in Austin, Texas is the only Level II trauma center in Austin.  In addition, it is the only hospital in the city that accepts patients that do not have insurance.

SETON Healthcare Network

The SETON Healthcare Network includes a number of facilities, including the Seton Medical Center, a Children’s Hospital, and the Seton…

When purchasing a home in Texas, you will need to look into obtaining title insurance.  With this type of insurance, you form a contract with a title company as determined by the Texas Department of Insurance.  Before making your purchase, it is important to understand how title insurance works and the type of title insurance you will need.

The Owner’s Policy of Title Insurance

One form of title insurance you will need to obtain is the Owner’s Policy of Title Insurance.  This insurance is actually issued to you and provides you with protection against specific title risks.  Some of these risks include:

• Clerical Mistakes
• Defective Acknowledgement on Documents
• Delinquent Taxes
• Forgery
• Fraud
• Illegal

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New Listing - Austin Investment Property.  Tenant in place paying $1050 per month through August of 2008.  This 1-story home was built in 2006 and has 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths.  1314 SF according to the tax records.

This is a great opportunity for an investor - call today 512-344-6000

Now that you have bought your dream home, it is time to take steps to start personalizing the house and making it a place that you can truly call home.  Luckily, there are many things that you can do to make your home more personal. Some of these changes can be a bit costly, while others won’t cost you much at all. 

Painting the Walls

Most homeowners looking to sell their home paint the walls in a neutral color in order to make the home more appealing to potential buyers.  You can keep the walls this natural color if that appeals to you, but adding a bit of color to your walls can help you with creating a home that reflects your personal tastes.  Have fun with color and don’t be afraid to go a little wild.  After all, you can always paint them again if

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The Austin area is known for its large number of sports and recreational facilities.  Ranging from University facilities to organized sports teams, there are plenty of sports and recreation opportunities available to visitors and to residents of the Austin area.

College Athletics

The Austin area is home to a number of colleges, each having its own sports teams.  These colleges include:

•  University of Texas (www.texassports.com)
• Texas State University – San Marcos (www.txstatebobcats.collegesports.com)
• Concordia University (www.athletics.concordia.edu)
• Houston-Tilloston (www.htu.edu/Home/CurrentStudents/Athletics)
• Southwestern University (www.southwestern.edu/athletics)

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New study dispels myths about local condo market

By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Most downtown condo dwellers are young people.

Many downtown dwellers work downtown.

Many people buying downtown condos are investors from outside of Austin.

Wrong, wrong and wrong, according to a survey of Austin's downtown condo market to be released today.

The Downtown Austin Alliance, an organization of downtown property and business owners, commissioned the study by Charles Heimsath, president of Capitol Market Research, an Austin-based real estate consulting firm.

Heimsath said the group sought to dispel some myths about the local condo market.

Heimsath will present his findings to the group's Economic

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