Barbara Van Dyke present

Home on a 1-acre lot with low tax rate and Texas Hill Country views

Conveniently located between Austin and Dripping Springs, this charming country home on a 1-acre lot, harkens back to a simpler time when relaxing on the front porch was the perfect way to end a day. The spacious, natural-light-filled home offers plenty of space for living, working, and enjoying life. Features include an oversized primary bedroom, two additional bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a separate office, two living and two dining areas, plus an open loft area upstairs with endless Hill Country views.

Throughout the interior, thoughtful updates, including new paint, flooring, and updated bathrooms, make the home feel fresh without feeling fussy or overdone. Outside, a stone wall encircled courtyard sits just off the kitchen, under a canopy of tall oak trees, making it perfect for backyard barbeques or just enjoying the fire pit.

Located in the sought-after Southwest Hills neighborhood with convenient access to 290 and all that Austin has to offer. The home offers a low 1.77 tax rate and low utilities thanks to solar panels that convey. The roof and both HVAC systems were replaced in 2021.

Address: 9508 Derecho Bend, Austin, TX 78737

For more information, please contact Barbara Van Dyke at 512-431-2552 or barbara.vandyke@compass.com

Barbara Van Dyke is the exclusive agent representing the Austin, Texas real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

The post Sold ! Barbara Van Dyke Presents A Charming Country Home In Austin appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Barbara Van Dyke Presents

In the beautiful Texas Hill Country sits a pristine 78± acre wine estate on the north side of Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. As the crown jewel of Texas wineries, Flat Creek Estate has earned more than 400 awards and accolades, including a coveted Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. It's no wonder, considering the tranquil estate is nestled in the gently rolling hills of Central Texas where the deep sandy-loam soil is perfect for growing grapes. From the first vines planted 20 years ago, Flat Creek's fertile vineyards have grown to approximately 18 acres of Sangiovese, Syrah, Montepulciano, Tempranillo, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc and others. The winery produces more than 10,000 cases of exceptional wine annually. The estate features a wine-tasting room, bistro, clubhouse, event pavilion, office and work out facility as well as wine production and storage facilities.

Address: 24912 Singleton Bend E, Marble Falls, TX 78654

Price: 6,900,000

For more information, please contact Barbara Van Dyke at 512-431-2552 or barbara.vandyke@compass.com

Barbara Van Dyke is the exclusive agent representing the Austin, Texas real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

The post Barbara Van Dyke Presents A Beautiful 78± Acre Wine Estate In Marble Falls appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Barbara Van Dyke presents

In the beautiful Texas Hill Country sits a pristine 78± acre wine estate on the north side of Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. As the crown jewel of Texas wineries, Flat Creek Estate has earned more than 400 awards and accolades, including a coveted Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. It's no wonder, considering the tranquil estate is nestled in the gently rolling hills of Central Texas where the deep sandy-loam soil is perfect for growing grapes. From the first vines planted 20 years ago, Flat Creek's fertile vineyards have grown to approximately 18 acres of Sangiovese, Syrah, Montepulciano, Tempranillo, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, and others. The winery produces more than 10,000 cases of exceptional wine annually. The estate features a wine-tasting room, bistro, clubhouse, event pavilion, office, and workout facility as well as wine production and storage facilities. There is also a well-appointed two-bedroom apartment available to rent by the night. A helipad makes for easy access to and from the estate. A nearby wine bar/restaurant in Marble Falls is also included in the sale. Showings by appointment only with signed NDA and proof of funds/financing.

Address: 24912 Singleton Bend E, Marble Falls, TX 78654

Price: 6,900,000

For more information, please contact Barbara Van Dyke at 512-431-2552 or barbara.vandyke@compass.com

Barbara Van Dyke is the exclusive agent representing the Austin, Texas real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

The post Barbara Van Dyke Presents A Pristine 78± Acre Wine Estate In Marble Falls appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

They were hosted by Haute Living's Erik Haase. Watch the full webinar below.

Highlight quotes:

Susan Stark: "I did not know what the rest of the world was going to do, but I was going back to work. This is an essential business. What I did was get on coaching calls and I made an extraordinary effort to reconnect with everybody. Calling agents, calling friends, calling clients, getting on Zoom meetings, get doing the inspirational things, and not accepting that the world was coming to an end. When I came back, we got out there and it was hot. We had our gloves on and our masks on in the houses. It was not glamorous at all. The story is we just trudge through. It was really about opening our minds to new ideas. It was about understanding that the world is never going to be the same again and we have got to flow with it."

Andrea Desy Edrei:  "Everyone is an agent now. Everyone is an investor. All of the investment properties are going to realtors that want to dabble in the market, so it is interesting to see how it pans out. There are been people that are getting their license because their parents are selling their house. I think that is great, but at the end of the day, you are not in this twenty-four-seven. This is not a part time business. You are only as good as your network. We have been fortunate we do a lot of marketing. It is a huge thing for us. Trying to think outside of the box has been a very big thing for us. There are always more properties that have not and will not sell because of the price or just how they are positioned. It is a matter of time, but I do not think we can just rely on how crazy the frenzy is right now."

Barbara Van Dyke: "Within Texas, Austin and Dallas are the two markets. They are experiencing the most growth. We have about 200 people moving to the Austin market each day. We have had so many companies that have relocated here. It is driving tens of thousands of jobs and people are going to continue to come here. I would say almost every agent I know had their best year ever last year. We did not slow down. Unlike a lot of other areas of the country, real estate continued to be one of those critical, essential businesses that did not have to shut down. In reality, throughout the entire year of last year, and even into this year, I have never stopped showing homes. I never stopped listing homes.”

Mary Pichardo: "I believe that real estate is the most important investment. Even if you are going to buy your house and your primary residence, I firmly believe that you have to create a strategy. Because there is opportunity everywhere, you have to try to focus. If everybody is going to a single family, you have to look from other options. Have a vision and have an open mind when you are looking, especially in this market. Now is a great opportunity. I am very glad that I got this space to network and of course, hear all the experiences and that we are not alone in this market. I would like to have the opportunity to keep on going with these conversations and, of course, be able to help everybody that wants to come to our beautiful city and our state."

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit dev.hauteresidence.com.

Top: Susan Stark, Andrea Desy Edrei. Bottom: Barbara Van Dyke, Mary Pichardo

The post Watch: “Coast To Coast” Real Estate Webinar #16 By Haute Residence appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

One of Compass Real Estate’s Core Principles is “Learning From Realty.”  While this is a rule the company uses in listening to us, as agents, it’s also a good rule of thumb for agents. After losing a number of multiple-offer bids, here is what I have learned while representing buyers in the most competitive market in the US.

With the stiff, almost cutthroat, competition we are seeing in Austin's housing market, here is a list of best practices that we will use to ensure you have the best chance of actually winning the house of your dreams.

1) Be prepared to offer well over asking.  Since January 2021, I have been seeing homes selling for 10 to 25 percent or more over the list price. That may mean we need to search for homes that are priced significantly below your approved budget in order to even have a shot at winning.

2) Waive your right to terminate if the property doesn’t appraise. The truth is, with prices escalating so quickly, homes will not appraise.  Why? Because coms are lagging indicators. Appraisers use SOLD comparables when determining appraised value and they look back six months.  That means the houses selling today are outpacing the comps. It will take several months—at least—for comps to catch up. But, if you want to win, you must be ok with waiving an appraisal.  NO ONE is accepting offers that are not using the appraisal waiver.

3) Make sure you have the cash to make up the difference between the appraised value and the contract price.  Sellers will require you to show proof that you have that cash on hand—called proof of funds. Typically, this means showing the seller a copy of your bank statement with a cash balance that is in excess of the cash down payment PLUS an amount sufficient to cover the appraisal gap.  Without this, the seller will reject your offer.

4) Waive buyer’s approval. Whoa! What? If you are not paying all cash for your new home, you should have gone through underwriting with your lender so that you are FULLY approved and ready to go. Sellers want guarantees that you are able to complete the transaction and will not terminate because you can’t get approved for the loan. This is RISKY, but as long as you feel secure in your ability to complete the transaction and you have that discussion with your lender, making a contract NOT subject to you being approved will give you a competitive edge. As a reminder, a pre-approval letter from your lender MUST be submitted with your offer. Using a trusted local lender is critical and can be the difference between winning and losing the bid.

5) Pay for all the “seller” expenses. This is a big one. In a normal market, it is common to write a contract with the seller paying for the owner’s title policy, a new survey if needed, a home warranty, HOA documents and transfer fees. Forget about that in this competitive environment. Those expenses have always been negotiable, but today, I recommend all buyers offer to pay these expenses. Remember, the goal is to make your offer most attractive to the seller.

6) Increase your earnest money to at least 2 percent if not more. If the contract terminates, the earnest money is returned to the buyer in most circumstances, so it’s a fairly low-risk strategy. To the seller, it shows you have more “skin in the game” and can be a competitive edge in helping you win. Remember, if the deal does go through, this money is credited to your purchase price and closing costs.

7) Offer a VERY large option fee for as few days as is reasonable. I have seen some contracts waive their option period. I DO NOT recommend this unless you are a builder, an experienced remodeler, or perhaps if you are buying new construction or are going into a home that you know you plan to totally remodel. Otherwise, I can’t, in all good conscience, recommend this. Instead, offering a very large option fee ($5,000, $10,000, etc.) for a few days is a good strategy.  The key is to have an inspector lined up and ready to go the minute the contract is executed and knowing, what, if anything, would cause you to walk away.

8) Get creative. Some buyers in today’s market have even offered to pay the agents’ commissions and the sellers’ moving expenses just to win the deal. What extra things can you throw in to the offer?

9) At the end of the day, cash is king.  Paying all cash for your home is one of the best competitive strategies available. Not everyone can do this of course, but if you are in a position to do that, do it and be prepared to show proof of funds.

10) Pray. It can’t hurt!

For more information, please contact Barbara Van Dyke at 512-431-2552 or barbara.vandyke@compass.com

Barbara Van Dyke is the exclusive agent representing the Austin, Texas real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

The post Barbara Van Dyke On Winning Competitive Offers In A Seller’s Market appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Barbara Van Dyke presents

Located in the much sought-after Falcon Pointe neighborhood, this spacious home boasts a new roof (February 2021), a freshly painted interior, and a large backyard with deck. There is plenty of room for everyone with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, home office, game room and separate media room complete with screen and projector. The large kitchen offers an abundance of cabinets plus a large pantry, gas cooktop and double ovens making it perfect for cooking and entertaining. Cozy up to the gas fireplace on those cold Texas evenings! Easy access to neighborhood schools and playground. Appliances convey. Pre-listing inspection available.

Address: 18909 Falcon Pointe Blvd, Pflugerville, TX 78660

Price: $475,000

Photo credit: JP Morales Photography

For more information, please contact Barbara Van Dyke at 512-431-2552 or barbara.vandyke@compass.com

Barbara Van Dyke is the exclusive agent representing the Austin, Texas real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

The post Barbara Van Dyke Presents A Falcon Pointe Home In Pflugerville appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Barbara Van Dyke represented the sale of this beautifully remodeled home in Lakeway, TX.

This beautifully remodeled, move-in-ready home has an updated, contemporary feel. Hardwood flooring throughout the home with no carpet in sight. Updated appliances, fixtures and great flat backyard with room for a pool. Master plus second bedroom/office on first floor. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac in the coveted Flintrock Falls gated community within close proximity to amazing Lake Travis ISD schools. A great lock-and-leave.

Address: 111 Reflection Bay Court, Lakeway, TX 78738

Price: $635,000

For more information, please contact Barbara Van Dyke at 512-431-2552 or barbara.vandyke@compass.com

Barbara Van Dyke is the exclusive agent representing the Austin, Texas real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

The post SOLD! Barbara Van Dyke Sells Beautiful Lakeway Home appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

"The better question to ask may be why wouldn’t you?. In today’s ever more complex sale process, the correct advice from a trusted real estate agent is now even more valuable than going it alone." - Cristal Clarke, Montecito, CA.

"A homeowner who decides to sell without the assistance of a professional realtor takes on a great deal of liability. The risk outweighs the benefit." - Tim Fenton, Costa Rica.

"As part of our licensing process, we have a duty to stay up with and ahead of all of the new legislation that is passed every year. It’s imperative for a seller to be aware of what they’re liable for in a sale, and realtors are a key component to making that process seamless." - David Gemme, Tahoe City, CA.

"The reason to list with an agent is to achieve the goal of maximizing property exposure through many different avenues not available to the homeowner that will ultimately get the highest possible sales price." - Debra Johnston, Atlanta, GA.

"As they say in the legal world, ''only a fool represents themselves'... Plus a good agent can more than make the commission up in proper marketing and proper negotiating through the sale process and protect the seller with disclosures...  It is always wise to have a good agent.  They do much more than just ''sell' a property!" - Carey Kendall, Santa Ynez Valley, CA.

"In the process of selling a home, resourcing to a real estate expert is the smart thing to do. We have the tools and experience to price and market properties accordingly. We also possess a strong network of brokers and buyers, which often shortens the sales cycle. And time is money!" - Claudia Llanes, Edgewater, FL.

"Many people see the agent as an unnecessary expense, especially in a strong sellers’ market.   The reality is a great agent not only knows how to best price and position a home in the market so it brings the most money, he or she will also negotiate repairs, manage the transaction from start to close, and help keep the seller out of legal trouble by properly advising them on necessary disclosures." - Barbara Van Dyke, Austin, TX.

For more articles featuring the top real estate agents in luxury markets, visit dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Why Having A Real Estate Agent Is Better Than Having A Home Listed “For Sale By Owner” appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Studio Vos Photography

"We can expect the sharp economic rebound in the Houston housing market to spread well into the 1^st half of 2021 (not sure how long it will last). One thing for sure, I strongly urge both buyers and sellers to take advantage of the economic swing as it is a win-win for both sides." - Elisa Linton, Humble/Kingwood, Houston, TX, metropolitan area.

Photo Credit: Shoot 2 Sell

“The San Antonio market is one of the most desirable in the country with warm weather, outdoor spaces and high quality of life.  Texas continues to show positive job growth as new businesses are relocating to Texas every day.  San Antonio has some of the most affordable housing in the state and with inventory hovering around a 2-month supply and cost of funds convincing buyers there has never been a better time to upgrade.” - Jennifer Shemwell, President, Phyllis Browning Company, San Antonio, TX.

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

"Austin real estate is poised for another record-breaking year in 2021. The number of companies relocating to Austin and the jobs they are bringing, combined with the incredibly low interest rates are driving tremendous demand from buyers in our market.  The largest challenge we are facing is the lack of inventory." - Barbara Van Dyke, Austin, TX.

The post Texas Real Estate Expectations For 2021 appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Haute Residence member Barbara Van Dyke represented the sale of this gorgeous home in Johnson City, TX.

Whether you are looking for a primary home or a weekend escape from the city, this gorgeous Hill Country home has it all. Conveniently located between Austin and Fredericksburg, this 12-acre property is fully fenced and gated for privacy and security. The home was extensively remodeled in 2017 and is now complete with a large gourmet eat-in kitchen with custom cabinetry, center island, a secondary scullery/prep kitchen and formal dining room. The wine room and bar area are tucked just off the kitchen. The spacious, open living room leads out to an oversized, covered patio and pool for seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining. The spacious owner's suite features a spa-like bath where one can imagine soaking stress away while taking in the spectacular views. Three large additional bedrooms provide plenty of space for family or guests. The current owners also built a separate, 500 sf +/- conditioned space above the garage that is currently used as an art studio and is not counted in the square footage of the home.

Address: 2601 Ranch Road 1323, Johnson City, TX 78636

Price: $1,200,000

For more information, please contact Barbara Van Dyke at 512-431-2552 or barbara.vandyke@compass.com

Barbara Van Dyke is the exclusive agent representing the Austin, Texas real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

The post SOLD! Barbara Van Dyke Represented This Gorgeous Johnson City Home appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Barbara Van Dyke presents

Whether you are looking for a primary home or a weekend escape from the city, this gorgeous Hill Country home has it all. Conveniently located between Austin and Fredericksburg, this 12-acre property is fully fenced and gated for privacy and security. The home was extensively remodeled in 2017 and is now complete with a large gourmet eat-in kitchen with custom cabinetry, center island, a secondary scullery/prep kitchen and formal dining room. The wine room and bar area are tucked just off the kitchen. The spacious, open living room leads out to an oversized, covered patio and pool for seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining.

The spacious owner's suite features a spa-like bath where one can imagine soaking stress away while taking in the spectacular views. Three large additional bedrooms provide plenty of space for family or guests.

The current owners also built a separate, 500 sq. ft. +/- conditioned space above the garage that is currently used as an art studio and is not counted in the square footage of the home.

Address: 22601 Ranch Road 1323, Johnson City, TX 78636

Price: $1,200,000

For more information, please contact Barbara Van Dyke at 512-431-2552 or barbara.vandyke@compass.com

Barbara Van Dyke is the exclusive agent representing the Austin, Texas real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of her listings here.

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios Photo Credit: Shutterbug Studios

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