While you intend to keep an investment for years to come, that isn't always the case. There will come a time when you will sell the property you are just now buying. With that in mind, it is important to think resale value now. How can you tell if the investment you're thinking about buying has good resale value? Here are some signs:

The Neighborhood
Location is always the number one seller. Make sure the property you are buying is located in a prime, but quiet neighborhood. What else should you look for? Signs of a great neighborhood include the following: top schools, nearby entertainment and dining options and more. 

The Systems
Ensure the home’s systems are either new or in good standing at the time of purchase. While it is expected to have to…

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The 97-acre proposed development site dubbed “Indigo Ridge South” in eastern Cedar Park calls for offices, light manufacturing, and high-density residential, including up to 1,500 new housing units.

Located near the intersection of East Whitestone Boulevard and West Parmer Lane, the parcel is situated on the eastern fringe of Cedar Park, south of an Austin Wood Recycling location and west of a single-family home neighborhood on the outskirts of Round Rock. Originally slated to become a Schlitterbahn waterpark, development plans for the waterpark stalled several years ago. Currently, plans for Indigo Ridge South are moving forward, including rezoning the land into a “planned development” that would accommodate a general business or mixed-use…

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If you manage your own rental properties, it’s essential to have a “Rolodesk” full of numbers to help with common and not-so-common issues. Today, we’re sharing our list of helpful Austin-area phone numbers and web links for pesky problems. At Monte Davis Property Management, we strive to be a resource not only for our clients but also for investors who self-manage. Click here for a printable pdf of our “Helpful Numbers for Pesky Problems.” If you have questions, our team is here to help. Call us anytime: (512) 861-8089.

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As the Broadmoor campus continues to take shape, this massive 16-city-block development is projected to impact the greater North Austin area, along with residential property investors, significantly. All told, the development will include an urban oasis of parks and 23 trails, along with high-end retail, restaurants, and entertainment venues, sprinkled with modern offices and apartments.

While The Domain could be dubbed a competitor, the overall feel from those spearheading the project, Brandywine Realty Trust, is that the two will feed off of one another, creating an urban core that is predicted to rival Austin’s Downtown.

But that’s not all. If a secondary urban core area comes to pass, such a layout could significantly impact two of Austin’s…

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As the vision for Austin’s “Uptown” continues to take form, there are a few significant influencers that will shape the ultimate form of Brandywine Realty Trust’s Broadmoor development in North Austin.

To date, Brandywine has declined to comment on whether there’s something afoot with Amazon. However, it’s hard to imagine that this massive, 16-city-block development isn’t on the radar for HQ2. In fact, Amazon’s Austin executives and tech workers look out at Broadmoor from their current office towner in The Domain.

That aside, a diverse group of potential tenants and co-developers have indicated interest in “Uptown,” including firms who build retail, residential, and hospitality space.

Ultimately, Broadmoor’s most significant influence is…

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Seen as the center of North Austin’s fast-paced growth, 16 new city blocks near The Domain are the vision for Austin’s “Uptown.” Spearheaded by Brandywine Realty Trust, when completed, 11501 Burnet Road will include a massive oasis of parks, 23 miles of trails, high-end retail, restaurants, and entertainment venues, sprinkled with modern offices and apartments.

Although figures could change, initial estimates listed in the city’s analysis of traffic impact indicate that the project could include 3.2 million square feet of office space, 300 hotel rooms, 98,462 square feet of retail, 40,000 square feet for restaurants, 2,092 apartments, and 150 condos or townhomes.

Seen as a catalyst to possibly curb rapidly rising traffic and housing costs across…

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In a move that is already impacting nearby retail and residential neighborhoods, HEB Grocery Co. has announced plans on a new South Austin HEB store near West Slaughter Lane and the I-35 frontage road. If updates to the site plan are approved by the City of Austin, the 139,000-square-foot store, car wash, and gas station are slated to open in late 2019 or early 2020.

The 8801 South Congress Ave. store is expected to profoundly impact the trajectory of future retail and residential developments in the immediate area, including “South Congress Station,” a shopping complex across the street at 9000 South Congress Ave. Anchored by a Gold’s Gym, other tenants include Pet Supermarket, a Schlotzsky’s sandwich shop, and Deca Dental, while lease…

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As the city of Austin vies to become the new home of Amazon’s HQ2, we’ve heard questions from residential investors and potential investors wondering how the tech giant will affect Austin-area home prices and rents.

First and foremost, the Amazon effect is real. In Seattle, Amazon’s hometown, the now-booming tech giant spiked housing prices and gentrification. From 2005 to 2015, Seattle’s median rent went from $1,008 to $1,286 – three times more than the national median. Housing has experienced an even more drastic increase as recent data shows Seattle’s median home price hit $777,000 in February – an 18 percent increase from the year before. 

Rents and home prices will increase no matter which city Amazon chooses, but some metros will change…

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The highly-coveted U.S. News & World Report ranking for the Best Place to Live in the Nation has been released and, what may come as no surprise to many, Austin claimed the No. 1 spot – for the second consecutive year! According to the publication, “People are drawn to the Texas capital’s music, outdoor spaces and cultural institutions.”

Of the 125 cities included in the ranking, the best place to live was determined by the following five factors: desirability, value, job market, quality of life and net migration. Overall, Austin scored a 7.7 out of 10. Here’s the breakdown: 

Desirability: 8.9
Value: 7.1
Job Market: 7.4
Quality of Life: 7.1
Net Migration: 9.4

These factors show which cities in the world offer residents the most fulfilled life –…

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Major real estate plans are taking shape from Robinson Ranch to The Domain. Developments going up in this area – north of U.S. Highway 183 – have expectations to create the vibrancy of downtown Austin without the cost. What can we expect? Here’s a look at the latest details: 

Photo courtesy of Austin Business Journal. 

Robinson Ranch, 7,000 acres of land in Northwest Austin, is considering multiple development opportunities. In fact, the Robinson family attorney, Richard Suttle, confirms the zoning for Robinson Ranch allows for a development denser than that of downtown’s Central Business District and enough room for more than 10 Domains. However, no decision has been made. The family is still getting organized and looking at longer-term…

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