I ran across another brief article that is great for our state...Texas has ranked number one in best business climates in the nation.  This is one of the reasons our real estate markets here are holding their own...I thought this was worth passing along with all the negative press we receive each and every day!!!

TEXAS' BUSINESS CLIMATE BEST IN NATION      (From  RECON, those Smart Aggies)  

TEXAS (San Antonio Business Journal) - Texas has the best business climate in the nation, according to a study by New York-based marketing company Development Counsellors International (DCI).

In a poll of 281 corporate executives across the country, 40.8 percent of respondents said Texas had the most favorable business climate, citing a strong labor market, low operating costs and a pro-business climate.

North Carolina ranked second, while Georgia was third.

DCI's survey was sent to a random selection of 3,591 U.S. companies with annual revenues of at least $25 million.

Forbes names Austin area Number 2 city in nation for buying a new home!!!  This is again great news about our LOCAL real estate market and how well we are doing vs. many areas in the country.  According to the report on Forbes.com, having a business-friendly tax environment and many large corporations combined with lower monthly mortgage payment contributed to the high rankings.  And the outlying areas around Ausin including Cedar Park and Leander, TX help in this ranking.  Leadner Economic Development Director Kirk Clennan was reported in the Hill Country News Newspaper "We have capacity, affordability and teh great school district."  Central Texas real estate continues to buck the trends set in other parts of the country, and sales and median prices continue to hold steady!!  As I have said in previous Blogs, we must remember that real estate is local...we cannot let the broad media influence our decision to either buy or sell, and our localized markets continue to hold strong!!!

I thought today as I was studying the Liberty Hill, TX real estate market I would pass along some information about how many homes are for sale in Liberty Hill at this time.  Active residential listings on the market today total 88 homes for sale.  The prices range from $65,000 to $995,500 (house on large acreage).  The median price (the price of the house right in the middle of the list) is right at $300,000.  I would say that the number of homes for sale in Liberty Hill has remained pretty consistent which is a good sign...our inventories have not started creeping up yet.  Now there still are some sub-markets like houses on 1 acre that are a little flooded with properties for sale, but we are seeing some absorption there as well.  All in all, our market continues to "hang on" despite all the negative news and press about real estate that you get from the media...so remember, that real estate is always LOCAL!!!!

Rio Ancho Ranch, the Hill Country's newest development, is almost complete...at least section 1!!  This project is between Liberty Hill and Bertram, TX, and is absolutely beautiful!!  The roads have been completed and the entrance is almost done with landscape and gate.  The clubhouse is ready to go along with the swimming pool, basketball court, playscape, picnic tables, and of course the dam at the river!!!  You can see all the latest prices, plats, etc. at the new website at www.rioanchoranch.com .  It won't be long and you will see a sales office onsite with several builders starting spec homes throughout section 1...come out and see it soon.

The day has arrived!!  Drennan Day Custom Homes is in the process of moving into their new model home in Cierra Vista as we speak.  This marks a big day in the life of this custom builder.  The model is located in the Liberty Hill, TX's newest estate lot community, Cierra Vista.  Although the model won't be quite up to show quality today, it will be in the next week or so.  Drennan Day has also put a package of plans together they will offer with many custom features.  Of course, they can also build any plan a buyer can dream up as well!!  For more information and to see the price list, feature sheet, and all the floor plans, you can visit www.cierravista.com or click on our New Construction section here in our website.  They also have 3 spec homes that are 30 days from being completed and 2 new spec homes that are being framed.  Please look for special promotions coming soon!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Williamson County Cowboy Church will be hosting a Rodeo Friday and Saturday nights at their property on RR 1869.  I know they have held VBS this whole week and will end with the Rodeo...should be lots of fun.

 On a Real Estate note, things seem to be "maintaining" for right now.  Loans are getting a little harder to get and to get closed, but we are still seeing sellers needing to sell and buyers needing to buy and transactions being put together.  Liberty Hill homes for sale are staying about even as far as number of houses on the market which is good.  Everyone just needs to quit listening to the media and the "national" markets and remember that each local market is different, and ours should remain healthy!!!

I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy 4th of July!!  And please during this time of celebration of our great country, take time to remember and pray for the troops that are serving and protecting our freedom all around the world. 

On a side note, don't forget to attend the Liberty Hill 4th of July festivities!!  They will have all kinds of activities throughout the day on Friday with a fireworks show ending...should be lots of fun.

And be sure to contact us if you are looking to buy or sell property in the Liberty Hill, Bertram, Leander, or Georgetown areas...we would love to serve your real estate needs now and in the future!!

Although we are starting to see a slowdown across the board in our marketplace, there are still some areas that have been relatively HOT!!  Durham Park is one such neighborhood in Liberty Hill, TX as of late.  In the last 30-45 days we have seen 5 properties sell at 99.5%-105% of list price with days on the market ranging from 1 to 23 days on the market (with a couple having multiple offers).  Now the price range for these recent sales has been from $185,000-$250,000, but that still means that when properties in this price range and size of lot and house are put on the market at the correct price, they are moving quickly.  We are still seeing a mostly balanced inventory of homes for sale in Liberty Hill.  There are a couple of submarkets that have too much inventory, but not many.  Overall, the Liberty Hill real estate market is still moving and prices are holding steady!!