The Lake LBJ Real Estate blog
Algae on Lake LBJ?
I beg to differ! On Tuesday, KVUE news out of Austin ran a story about Lake LBJ having a problem with Algae. A local source told me about the story so I tuned in to watch. Interestingly enough the story was pretty bad and had no facts about any increase in Algae. They interviewed two people in the ad, one of which was a fisherwoman that said she occasionally gets her hooks stuck in the algae and another that works at the local marina who said there have been some people (not a lot or many) that get Algae stuck in their motor.
Being that I am out on Lake LBJ every single week scoping out real estate and/or enjoying what Lake LBJ has to offer, I believe I have a right to have my opinion heard. The ad made no mention of any affect on wildlife and in fact, Lake LBJ is as beautiful as ever. Because central Texas has received more rain than last year the lake looks very green. Yes the hot summer causes some weeds and plants to grow in the water but we, by no means have a problem on Lake LBJ.
In fact, the market for Lake LBJ Real Estate is booming and there are some incredible deals to be had on the water. These properties are moving quickly and not lasting long on the market when they are priced right. Areas like Granite Shoals have some of the best properties available and these properties can be bought at the right price.
If you are looking to make an investment in Lake LBJ Real Estate, contact me at (512) 786-1515 and let Lake LBJ’s top broker show you around!
Value on Lake LBJ
There has never been a better time to purchase a waterfront home on Lake LBJ. With interest rates being low and some great deals on the market the time to purchase a Lake LBJ Lake House is now! Older communities like Granite Shoals, Highland Haven, Shady Acres and Sunrise Beach offer some wonderful opportunities that need only minor updating.
Buying Lake LBJ Real Estate that one can improve is the way to buy smart. Many property owners purchased property on Lake LBJ many years ago and have a good amount of equity in their homes. These homes can often times be purchased at discounts because they are not staged and/or fixed up and need a remodel. New flooring, paint, counter tops and appliances can really change the feel of a property and increase its value instantly on Lake LBJ.
If you are in the market to purchase Lake LBJ Real Estate make sure you work with an agent that is active in the market. An active agent should have access to off market listings and even be able to contact sellers that may not have their properties listed in order to find the perfect waterfront home on Lake LBJ. Call me today and let me help you find a valuable piece of Lake LBJ Real Estate at (512) 786-1515.
How valuable is a sunset view?
When considering waterfront property on Lake LBJ one important factor is the direction in which your Lake LBJ real estate faces. Many waterfront buyers look for a property that has beautiful sunset views from the “lake side” of the property, or a property that faces west. However, what many Lake LBJ real estate buyers fail to think about is the afternoon sun. Texas is hot and our blazing sun is even hotter. When you are out and about, enjoying Lake LBJ, there is no shortage of sun, this it is highly desirable to have some shade to escape the scorching rays. A west facing home, while it has beautiful sunset views, is going to be hot during the afternoon hours.
East facing homes are often times more desired and buyers will even pay a slight premium here. Landscaping with large trees is a great way to create more shade for west facing homes. Remember though, it takes time for nice trees to grow sizable enough to provide adequate shade.
When purchasing Lake LBJ real estate always consult a knowledgable professional that knows the area and is experienced helping waterfront buyers find their perfect lake home. Contact me today for assistance with your Lake LBJ real estate search at (512) 786-1515.
Lake LBJ Native wins Silver Medal at 2012 Olympics
Granite Shoals native Leo Manzano wins a silver medal for the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Leo Manzano finished in second place, just .71 seconds behind the gold medal winner Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria in the mens 1500 meter run. Thanks to Leo Manzano, the United States has it’s first metal in the men’s 1500m run since 1968.
Leo Manzano grew up in Granite Shoals and attended Marble Falls high school where he excelled in the sport. Leo Manzano went on to run at The University of Texas at Austin, was a four time NCAA champion and holds the school record in the 1500m run.
The city of Granite Shoals, nestled in the Texas Hill Country on Lake LBJ, recently received a grant to fund the Leonel Manzano Hike, Bike and Run Trails to be built at the Municipal complex and will contain a 2 mile and 1/2 mile public trail for the community. This type of publicity and municipal improvements is great for the city of Granite Shoals as well as investors looking to purchase waterfront property on Lake LBJ.
If you would like more information about Lake LBJ Real Estate or for assistance with your Lake LBJ waterfront home search, contact me at (512) 786-1515.
Waterfront Types on Lake LBJ
When search for Lake LBJ real estate it is important to understand the differences between the different waterfront types: Open Water, Cove and Channel. Many buyers hunt for open waterfront properties on lake LBJ however the open water is not always the best. Here are a few things you should know about each of these waterfront types:
Open Water:
- Typically the most expensive property
- Beautiful big views
- Rougher water when the lake is busy
- Clean water and typically no debris collects in front
Cove:
- More affordable
- Good views but closer to neighboring properties
- Calmer water because cove is protected
- Clean water however during big rain storms or flood debris collects
Channel:
- Most affordable waterfront
- View of other properties directly across the lake
- Very calm water, sometimes still water
- Water can collect debris which can be problematic
Its very important to consider these important factors involved with different waterfront types when searching for Lake LBJ Real Estate. Make sure you are being represented by an Experienced waterfront Realtor that knows Lake LBJ. Call me at (512) 786-1515 for more information on waterfront types on Lake LBJ or for assistance with your Lake LBJ Real Estate Search.
Four Tips for Lake LBJ Real Estate
Here are four very important Tips to consider when buying waterfront property on Lake LBJ:
1) Waterfront footage – How much footage does the property have and what is the depth of the lot? Many people invest in Lake LBJ real estate without regard to how close their neighbors are on each side. On the water, sound travels so noise your neighbors make carries and can be a disturbance. You also are investing for a place that you can relax and have privacy and peace. The party your neighbors are throwing on the weekend does not help your cause.
2) Direction of property – Which way does your waterfront home on Lake LBJ face? The afternoon sun can be pretty extreme and without proper shade cover this can really be a downer. Make sure you visit the property you are considering multiple times and at different times of the day to understand what you are working with.
3) Ground beneath the water – What is the consistency or composition of the ground below? This is a very important consideration that is often missed. Lake LBJ has different bottoms in different areas. Whether its granite, sand, mud, slime or weeds, its important to know what you will be touching each time you take a dip to cool off. Slimy ground cover beneath the Lake can be pretty uncomfortable for most people. Obviously the best would be sand and second rock/granite.
4) Distance from structure to water – Do you have a yard and if so, how big is it? Many waterfront homes on Lake LBJ are built right up to the water while others are set far back away from the lake. This has a lot to do with the flood plain and where one can actually construct a home but you should pay attention to this detail. If you are right on the water, is there a place for the grandkids to play or is it simply a concrete slab which starts at the house and ends at the water? Other properties, like in Kingsland, are set back farther to prevent flooding but offer big yards with lots of green grass. For most this is a huge plus but others will not want to trek just to arrive at the lake. Each buyer wants something different and none are worse than the other. Just pay close attention and take this into consideration when making your decision to buy Lake LBJ real estate.
If you have any questions about these four tips or for assistance buying or selling Lake LBJ Real Estate, contact me at (512) 786-1515.
Design ideas for Lake LBJ Real Estate
Here is a great web resource for design ideas for Lake LBJ real estate, www.Houzz.com. This website almost 600k photos of homes offering great help when decorating and designing a home. The site is easily searchable, has categories such as contemporary, modern, traditional etc to help you narrow down themes and a search bar that allows you to type in key words like “red bar stools” and get results of pictures that have red bar stools. This website allows you to save pics while keeping notes in your “idea book” which can easily be accessed for later time.
When buying or selling Lake LBJ real estate, good design ideas are always needed and www.Houzz.com is a fabulous resource. If you are selling your home, a few simple staging tactics will help get top dollar for your home. Buyers can use Houzz.com to get ideas and easily envision what a home would look like with a few personal touches.
For more information on this website or for assistance finding Lake LBJ Real Estate, contact me at (512) 786-1515.
Lake LBJ real estate search
The Carvajal Group is pleased to announce our newest release of Lake LBJ real estate technology. We have officially created the most accurate, up-to-date and easy to you Lake LBJ real estate, waterfront search engine. This powerful Lake LBJ search engine allows users to view over 300 waterfront properties on Lake LBJ. Results can easily be filtered by area (Sunrise Beach, Granite Shoals, Kingsland, Wilderness Cove, Horseshoe Bay, Applehead Island, and Blue Lake/Deer Haven), price, beds/baths, and waterfront type. We felt there was a shortfall in how potential buyers search for waterfront property on Lake LBJ and thus we set out to create a better experience. We ended up creating a extremely valuable resource that we believe will change the Lake LBJ real estate landscape.
For more information on this Lake LBJ search engine or for assistance with your Lake LBJ real estate search, contact me at (512) 786-1515.
Lake LBJ Real Estate Market Stats – 1/1/2012-6/30/2012
Here are the Lake LBJ Real Estate market statistics for the first half of 2012:
| Lake LBJ Waterfront Sold Statistics 2012 Year to Date | |||||||||
| Granite Shoals 17 | Highland Haven/Shady Acres 5 | Horseshoe Bay 16 | |||||||
| Sold Price | Days on Mkt | Sold Price | Days on Mkt | Sold Price | Days on Mkt | ||||
| Low | $333,000 | 49 | $351,525 | 52 | $530,000 | 26 | |||
| Average | $625,894 | 230 | $582,425 | 161 | $1,991,563 | 175 | |||
| High | $1,450,000 | 489 | $1,290,600 | 433 | $3,720,000 | 551 | |||
| Sunrise Beach 15 | Deer Haven/ Blue Lake 3 | Kingsland 27 | |||||||
| Sold Price | Days on Mkt | Sold Price | Days on Mkt | Sold Price | Days on Mkt | ||||
| Low | $210,000 | 27 | $430,000 | 66 | 200000 | 31 | |||
| Average | $566,300 | 129 | $596,667 | 176 | 561821.2963 | 183 | |||
| High | $2,150,000 | 490 | $850,000 | 252 | 1325000 | 486 | |||
The market for Lake LBJ Real Estate has really heated up and these Lake LBJ market statistics should be very helpful in your search for waterfront property on Lake LBJ. For more information about this data or for assistance purchasing Lake LBJ real estate, contact me at (512) 786-1515.
LCRA Required Septic Inspections at time of sale
The LCRA requires that a septic inspection be done on all waterfront homes on Lake LBJ at the time of sale. The buyer of Lake LBJ real estate is required to apply for a “continued use permit” for the septic system and in order to get this permit the system must be inspected by the LCRA.
The LCRA charges $150 for the inspection and requires a drawing of the floor plan of the home, as well as a drawing of the septic systems. Based on the number of bedrooms (not bathrooms) they will determine if the system is adequate as well. Often times digging is necessary and they typically require a water load test on the system which has to be done by a third party. The LCRA is also requiring property owners to upgrade their plumbing fixtures to lower use equipment such as toilets and shower heads.
When listing Lake LBJ real estate for sale it is important to be aware of these septic requirements to eliminate any surprises once the home is under contract. Septic repairs or even a new system altogether can be expensive and you want to know this in advance so you can negotiate accordingly.
Working with a qualified real estate professional is the key to a smooth transaction involving Lake LBJ real estate. For more information on this LCRA requirement or for assistance with you Lake LBJ Real Estate search, contact me at (512) 786-1515.
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