Think you Can't Afford a Home? Buying on a Budget-

So you think you can't afford a home in Austin? Well, yes, things are getting pricey, but not out of reach. If you're on a tight budget and looking to buy your first home, the City of Austin wants to help! They will give you $10,000- $40,000 to help you into a place of your own.

Here are the income qualifications- (you must make under this amount)
- 1 person household - $39,850
- 2 person household - $45,500
- 3 person household - $51,200
- 4 person household - $56,900
- 5 person household - $61,450

Here are the requirements:
- First time homebuyer
- Can't have assets (savings etc) valued at over 1/2 of your income.
- Use one of the trained lenders (they have a big list)
- Get pre-qualified with one the lenders (ie. you qualify for this much house on your measly income, then add $10-$40k to that amount)
- Go to the homebuyer classes
- Homes 1978 and newer qualify for up to $40k
- Homes older than 1978 qualify for up to $10k

How it Works:
- Sign up for the class
-Meet with the lender
-Take the class
-Look for houses
-Find THE ONE
- Put in an offer
- Own a HOME!

Here's some more info! Give me a ring if you have any questions-
MONEY TO BUY A HOME

If you like lots of details- here you go!
The $10,000 is basically free moola which you will not pay back if you stay in the home for 10 years. If you move earlier- say 5 years, you owe $5,000 back to the city.

The $40,000 plan is more complicated, but still great. The city gives you a chunk of money, but if you sell or re-finance your house, they would like their moola back. Also, it's an equity share program which means that if you borrowed $40k and the house was worth $120k total, then they lent you 33% of the value of the home. Now when you sell, the house is worth $220k, so you pay the city back their $40k plus 33% of any growth in value of the home.

This is your green Realtor
Stay tuned and stay green-
Patty Sylvana
Realtor by Trade Green at Heart
Keller Williams Realty
(512) 297-5658
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com

How to Buy or Sell a Green Home

How to Buy or Sell a Green Home

Workshop Coming Up!

Wed, April 2nd
6:30-8:00pm
North Austin

Short, sweet and green, this workshop will cover all the basics of buying or selling your green home.
What to look for and how to find them, how to price and market your home, green financing and lots of other cool stuff!

Details and RSVP here:

www.GreenHomeWorkshop.com

Natural Home Mag Votes Mueller #1

Natural Home Magazines listed Mueller here in Austin as #1 in their Top 10 Green Neighborhoods article this month.

The Mueller Neighborhood got the kudos for their progressive green initiatives such as:

- green home options like tankless water heaters and solar panels

- greywater systems

- pedestrian friendliness

- 25% of housing for lower income households.

Congratulations to Mueller!

Patty Sylvana

Green Realtor

Keller Williams Realty

patty@GreenAustinProperties

(512) 297-5658

Austin Green Homes- Mueller

Unless you're dead, you've probably heard about the Mueller Development. A rehabilitation of old city airport land, this development is making waves for all kinds of progressive and green ideals. Here are a few highlights-

The green homes at Mueller are in a unique situation because the City of Austin owned the land. The City was able to implement some really progressive features including green requirements and low income homes.

What makes Mueller Special?
- Close to UT and Downtown (at 51st and I-35)
- Green Green Green built
- Parks surrounding the entire development as well as interspersed throughout
- Pedestrial focused- not just sidewalks, but ACTUAL places you could walk to!
- Town Center
- Commercial Center

This is definitly an urban high density neighborhood. There is no sprawling lawn to maintain, and you'll probably ACTUALLY get to know your neighbors. Wow, what a concept!

This is your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
Keller Willilams Realty
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
(512) 297-5658

The Fight Against My Lawn

I've been battling with my lawn. For years I've been fighting. Slowly but surely, it surrenders, but not without a tough fight. Now it is pretty rewarding for me to fight my lawn. I've come to relish the battle. Mostly because I always win, but also because the hard work feels good after sitting so much.

First we put in a big front porch.
Then I put in some square foot gardens.
Then I put in some more walkway.

My current project is removing the grass between the sidewalk and the road. We're planning on some crushed granite, a few crepe myrtles, some sage and some clump grasses. That way folks will be able to walk through easy enough. I figure that at the rate I'm going, I'll be able to cancel my gym membership and we'll retire the lawnmower in a few years.

It helps that everywhere I go, I see great examples of other people's hard work. Thank you to all those folks I never met that have been fighting their lawns for longer than I!

(why fight your lawn? if you replace it with local drought tolerant plants, you'll reduce fertilizer usage, waste less time on the lawnmower and reduce your water usage as well. Saves you some time and money in the long run)

This is your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
Keller Willilams Realty
patty@GreenAustinProperties.com
(512) 297-5658

Solar, Rainwater Cisterns and more

10700 Bubbas Bluff-
Don't let the name fool you, this is no home for a country bumpkin. Solar panels, two 10,000 gallon rainwater cisterns, metal roof, almost 1.5 acres, kiva fireplace, programmable thermostat and double pane windows. Only $275,000, and located in Lake Travis ISD.



This is your Green Realtor
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
Keller Willilams Realty
patty@AustinGreenRealtors.com
(512) 297-5658

Free Toilets from the City

Thanks to the City of Austin for re-introducing this popular program!
Free High performing toilets to customers who have old clunker toilets (pre-1996).

The new toilets have flapperless technology which means that you won't have to trade out leaking toilet innards ever again.

You can get up to 3 toilets per household.

Send in your application, receive your voucher in the mail and pick up your toilet.
It also comes with a matching seat, wax ring and bolts for installation. You might want to call a plumber to have them install it for you.

GET STARTED HERE

or call the city at 512-974-2199

This is your Green Realtor-
Stay tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
patty@austingreenrealtors.com
(512) 297-5658