Robin's Nest

Amazing value for Steiner Ranch with 3,571 sq.ft. of living. This is a 5 bedroom, 3 bath, 2 car garage with 3 living areas and 2 dining areas. It's in pristine condition with recent carpet, and recent roof. Special features include high ceilings, gourmet kitchen with granite and a sprinkler system. This is the Newmark Travis floorplan and the master plus the guestroom are downstairs for convenience. Built in 2001. Community golf, pool, clubhouse, tennis, jog&bike plus lake privileges.$329,900.

Robin Scott, Accredited Buyer's Representative. For more information visit http://www.robinscottrealtor.com and to view this property call Robin at 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com

This location is just east of downtown Austin in an up and coming neighborhood. This is a 2/2 with 2 living areas, 2 dining areas and a carport. 1296 sq.ft. on a large lot built in 1955.   For more information visit http://www.robinscottrealtor.com or call Robin at 589.7988.

If you know anyone who is interested in buying property in the greater Austin area, I want to be your REALTOR®.

Robin Scott, Broker and Accredited Buyer's Agent. 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com

This is a fabulous 1-story home in the popular golf club community of Great Hills. It's a  4/2.5/2 with a pool and a spectacular panoramic view of the hill country and the golf course. With a flowing floorplan of 3139 sq.ft. built in 1981 this home features  high ceilings, 2 livingrooms, 2 diningrooms, recent stainless appliances in the kitchen, a beautiful deck plus it's located on a cul-de-sac. too many special features to name. A must see. 20 minutes to downtown Austin and close to upscale shopping. Community pool, clubhouse, tennis and golf. Austin ISD.

Offered by Amelia Bullock Realtors for $589,900

If you are interested in buying or selling a house, I want to be your REALTOR®. Contact me at 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com

Robin Scott, Broker, Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist

MLS or Multiple Listing Service is much more than a database of homes for sale through real estate brokers.

MLS is an organization managed by an association of REALTORS® and paid for by dues from member REALTORS®. It's purpose is for REALTORS® to cooperate and share information for the benefit of home buyers and sellers. Some of the information is proprietary and not intended to be available to the general public. Because of all the research and input from local REALTOR® the MLS is the most accurate and complete information on the local real estate market.

Often people ask why the public isn't allowed access to MLS. First, REALTORS® swear to a higher code of ethics by which they are held accountable.For any unethical conduct, including that related to MLS, they may be penalized or even loose their license.Those rules are in place to protect the public and if MLS was available to the general public it would be accessed by those accountable to no one and fraught with fraud contaminating all information which REALTORS® use to benefit their clients. Second, REALTORS® pay membership fees to support the system. It's not a free public service through which REALTORS® have harnessed exclusivity. Third, there is proprietary information that is not public information which REALTORS® are allowed access to for the beneit of their clients based on agreements of accountability. You may want access to that information but do you want everyone to have access to your information?

When you sign a listing agreement with a REALTOR® you may agree to allow the REALTOR® to post your listing on MLS. There is a standard format that all REALTORS® use. Then buyer's agents will access MLS to search for appropriate properties for their buyers or gain information to assist their sellers. Not all real estate agents have access to MLS. Only those agents who have become REALTORS® because a REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), has sworn to that higher code of ethics and pays membership fees to the association.

In Austin, the MLS also posts a home search Web site http:www.austinhomesearch.com for the consumer. It's a great tool for buyers to begin their search and familiarize themselves with neighborhoods and pricing. The proprietary information is not included. Nationally, http://www.realtor.com serves the same purpose. It's sponsored by NAR and contains useful information for buyers and sellers.

Research shows that sellers who list with a REALTOR® and are posted on MLS achieve a 20% higher valuation on their home.

In Texas, real estate agents are required to provide a minimum level of service to clients so they may not just post your listing on MLS for a minimal fee and leave the rest to you. If a REALTOR® lists your home on MLS, they must also help you evaluate and negotiate offers you receive. There are huge benefits to using a full-service agent because their education a nd experience is working for you and they are working in your best interests.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a house, I want to be your REALTOR®. To find out more about how I can help you as a full-service agent, call me at 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com and to search for properties visit http://www.robinscottrealtor.com

There are many great outdoor places in Austin to have fun and some of them need volunteers. It's a great way to get outdoors, enjoy your surroundings and make a difference. Below are some places to investigate if you are interested:

Central Texas Trails - Help build and maintain public hike & bike  trails. 394-9998 x2

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Developed by the late first lady, this is acres of hiking trails with indiginous plants that maintains tours, a gift shop and special events.  292-4100

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve - Great hiking tours through the basin with tours, a gift shop and in need of volunteers for trail maintenance. 327-7622

Zilker Botanical Gardens - Beautiful gardens with hills, streams, a rose garden and historical buildings. Also tours, gift shop and trail maintenance needs.  477-1750

Robin Scott, Broker. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyers Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist
512.589.7988. robin@robinscottrealtor.com

The Austin Board of Realtors compiles market statistics compared to the previous year. There is a time delay and these are the statistics from July 2008 as compared to July 2007.

The median price for homes in the Austin area has reached an all time high of $195,000. Up 3% from July of last year.

In July 2,071 homes were sold, down 21% from last year.

We have a lot of inventory. The active listings in July were10,913. Up 15%

However, the leasing market is strong with a 20% increase in leased properties, a price increase of 2% with $1200/mo being average and an average of only 37 days on the market.

If you are interested in real estate in the Austin area, I want to be your REALTOR®. I'm a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). To contact me call 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com.

This is a compilation of gather statistics.

In 2007 the average Austin wage was $46,800 up 1% from 2006.

There are 29 publicly traded companies including Dell, Inc and Whole Foods Market which are in the Fortune 500.

There were 25,151 existing homes sold in 2007 which is the second best year on record with the median price of homes up 6%.

New home builder starts were down 19.8% in 2007 from 2006.

In 2007 the area grew in population by 42,000 people.

The largest public employer is The State of Texas

The largest private employers is Dell, Inc.

This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

If you are interested in relocation to the Austin area, I want to be your REALTOR®. I'm an Accredited Buyer's Representative(ABR) and a SIRVA Relocation Specialist. For more information on How I can help you contact me at 512.589.7988 or robin@robinscottrealtor.com

Robin Scott, Broker.  Certified Residential Specialist. Accredited Buyer's Representative. Seller's Representative Specialist.

It's been a little over a year since my chemo, surgery and radiation treatments. I just had my 3rd followup with my oncologist and the news was good. No Cancer. Four more years to go before I can say I'm truly Cancer free.

I know many of you reading this have also had breast cancer or know someone close to you that has. I'm grateful that everything turned out well for me and wish you all the best of luck.

For those of you who have been lucky enough not to have had breast cancer I just want to say: DO YOUR REGULAR MONTHLY SELF EXAMS! I wasn't good about it. I called it my irregular monthly exams but that is how I found the Cancer. It was stage 3! I had also been late with my mammogram. Everywhere you hear how important these check points are and I'm here to ask you to listen. It could save your life.

Also, I want to thank my surgeon, Dr. Ames Smith and my oncologist, Dr. Tom Tucker.

When I relocate buyers from other parts of the country, I'm often asked about the bugs. Yes, we have them. Lots. Some are good, like Lady Bugs, some are annoying, like Flys and Mosquitoes. Here is the breakdown, in my opinion, of what homeowners need to know about:

1. Termites. Yes. I've heard inspectors say there are 2 kinds of homes - those who have them and those who are going to get them. It's not so serious you have to tent your house. They are subterranean and can be easily treated by a licensed pest control company. I've been in my home 18 years and have never had any but others on my block have. When you buy a home in Austin, ask your home inspector about a termite inspection. It's about $75 and well worth it. They will tell you what to do to keep your home at minimal risk and if the home does have termites, you can use the report to negotiate for the seller having it treated.

2. Fire Ants. Yes. These little devils have a painful bite and then the area will itch like crazy for days. When I moved to Austin in 1986, I learned not to go barefoot outside. They build nests in the yard. If you stand in one place too long they will find you. Parents need to pay attention to children. They also will interfere with electrical wiring at AC systems. The best way I have heard to treat them is with a product called Amdro which the soldier ants feed to the queen and it will sterilize her.

3. Roaches. Yes. The really large kind are often called water bugs. They don't live in the house but come in looking for water especially during a drought. They live in trees and ground cover outside. We had our house treated before we moved in so now even though they do come in, we usually find them dead.

4. Carpenter Ants. Yes. These are also wood destroying insects. I don't know how prolific they are but we have a problem with them. I usually find evidence on the livingroom window sill in the form of fine saw dust. I can't explain that but no worries. I just call pest control and they treat the tree near that window where apparently they like to live and all around the exterior of the window. They show up every 2 or 3 years.

5. Silverfish.Yes. These insects will eat holes in your clothes. They like old books, magazines and the paper on the insulation in your attic. If you see them call pest control.

6. Chinch Bugs. Yes. They are in the lawn and during the summer will leave round, dead spaces in your lawn. Not everyone gets them but if you have a circular dead spot in your grass, treat for Chinch Bugs.

7. Scorpions. Buyer's are terrified of these and have heard horror stories. Yes, we have Scorpions in Texas but I've lived in Texas my whole life and never seen one.

If you'd like a referral to a pest control company in Austin, contact me at robin@robinscottrealtor.com or 512.589.7988.