HILL COUNTRY REAL ESTATE
FEATURED BROKER LISTINGS
See our special page with paid listings for featured properties that Real Estate Brokers choose to showcase. These are exceptional properties and values worthy of special promotion here. Be sure to check out the detailed property profile on the broker's web site which you can access via the link shown at the end of each listing on the page.
Click:
Featured Broker Listings
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY
ABOUT: About.com: Info about buying a home
CNN MONEY 101 LESSON #8: http://money.cnn.com/pf/101/lessons/8: How to buy a home.
INMANS NEWS: InMan News; and www.inman.com/default.aspx: Real estate news and helpful background info.
MORTGAGE 101: www.mortgage101.com: A great source of information on real estate loans, interest rates, mortgage rates, loan calculator, lenders, and a library of practical documents on all facets of real estate. You can even apply on-line for a loan.
MSN BUYING A HOME: http://realestate.msn.com/buying
REAL ESTATE ABC'S: www.realestateabc.com
THE REAL ESTATE REVEIW: www.therealestatereview.com
REALTOR: www.realtor.com
REALTY TIMES: www.realtytimes.com
TEXAS REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE: www.TexasRealEstateMagazine.com
REALTY TRAC: www.RealtyTrac.com
1031 EXCHANGES: www.atlas1031.com: All about "1031 Like Kind Tax Exchanges"
TEXAS A&M REAL ESTATE CENTER: http://recenter.tamu.edu/data: Texas real estate industry news, home buyer tips, links, videos.
TEXAS REAL ESTATE LICENSE ACT: www.trec.state.tx.us/formslawscontracts/rules_codes/rela.asp
ON-LINE PROPERTY LISTING SERVICES-TEXAS SPECIFIC
LANDS OF TEXAS: www.LandsofTexas.com: The largest rural land listing service in the nation advertising farms, ranches, timberland, mountain and waterfront properties.
TEXAS ALLIANCE OF LAND BROKERS: www.texaslandbrokers.org: Listing service
ON-LINE PROPERTY LISTING SERVICES-NATIONAL
APARTMENTS.COM: www.apartments.com: A national database of available apartments of all kinds.
CCIM INSTITUTE: www.CCIM.com: Commercial real estate
CIMLS: www.CIMLS.com: A commercial property network dedicated to the advertising of commercial and investment properties for sale and for lease by CIMLS designee's.
CYBERHOMES: www.cyberhomes.com: Vast database of real estate information. You can see almost every factor that affects a home's price. Look up in-depth market analysis on sales, values and rentals. You can get stats on the neighborhood you're looking at, see the unemployment rate, average household income and quality-of-life indicators. You can also see area schools, read school reviews, and see average test scores. Can also search for estimated home values in your area, track changes in your home's value and even set up an e-mail alert for specific properties. You'll get a monthly update on changes in value.
FARM AND RANCH.COM: www.farmandranch.com: Listing service for exceptional rural real estate.
GOOGLE DATABASE FOR HOUSING: GoogleBase for Housing: Residential
HARMON HOMES: www.harmonhomes.com: A national homes-for-sale and real estate agent database. Home buyers can browse real estate listings plus get helpful tips on moving, financing, inspections and more.
HGTV'S FRONTDOOR: www.frontdoor.com: Residential listings and guides
LOOPNET: www.Loopnet.com: Founded in 1995, now the Internet's largest commercial real estate listing service, representing over 80,000 commercial real estate professionals.
OODLE: http://austin.oodle.com/housing/sale: On-line classified real estate listings
THE REAL ESTATE REVIEW - Hill Country: (www.TheRealEstateReview.com)
REALTOR.COM: www.Realtor.com: Residential listings and guides
ROOSR.COM: www.Roost.com. Find MLS listings, properties for sale by owner, new homes, and foreclosures for your next home, business or investment. Listings for single family homes, multi-family homes, condos, town homes, lots, land, farms and mobile homes.
TRULIA: www.Trulia.com: Nationwide residential listings and guides. Search for homes by city, state or ZIP. Set your price range, desired home type and more. Plus foreclosure listings. Trulia also features "Heat Maps" where you can see sale and price trends across the country. This information can help you time your purchase. You can ask questions of local real estate agents, and local residents can discuss their area.
YAHOO: www.Yahoo Real Estate: Used, new, foreclosed, apartments
ZILLOW: www.Zillow.com: Residential listings and guides. Has some innovative web tools. You can see a seller's price and an estimated home value. Zillow calls it a "Zestimate". This can help you spot good deals. Plus seller's tool: You can post a seller's description of the property and link to a listing web site. Special "Make Me Move" feature: Maybe you're not planning to move just yet. But everyone has a price that can't be refused. Post it here, and maybe you'll get an offer.
COUNTY TAX APPRAISAL RELATED WEB SITES
TRUE AUTOMATION: www.trueautomation.com: On-line property tax records by county in Texas.
TEXAS COUNTY DATA: www.txcountydata.com: On-line property tax database, by county in Texas.
TEXAS CAD: www.texascad.com: Provides a list of Texas Appraisal Districts that have a Web site.
TEXAS COUNTY TAX ASSESSORS: www.txcountydata.com
TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS (Window on State Government): Information on agency services, electronic addresses for specific types of tax assistance, information on how to file qualifying taxes via the telephone (TeleFile), and links to other branches of Texas government: See Comptroller; Local Property Taxes; and Texas Statutes
THE BOARD OF TAX PROFESSIONAL EXAMINERS:www.txbtpe.state.tx.us: General information for tax certification, re-certification, course schedules, study guides, exam rules, instructor lists, and course descriptions.
TEXAS APPRAISAL LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION BOARD: www.talcb.state.tx.us: Offers information on licensing, certification and regulation on real estate appraisers in Texas under state and federal laws.
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF APPRAISAL DISTRICTS: www.taad.org: Provides upcoming event calendar, educational opportunity information, conference information, legislative summary, member data, and other helpful links.
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICERS: www.taao.org: Provides information regarding legislative updates, conference events, chapter news, and tax policy.
KERR CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT: www.kerrcad.org
REGIONAL BOARD OF REALTORS
AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS: www.abor.com
BANDERA COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS: www.usamls.net/banderacounty
CENTRAL TEXAS MLS: www.usamls.net/centraltexas
GILLESPIE COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS: www.gillespieboardofrealtors.com
HIGHLAND LAKES ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS: www.highlandlakesrealtors.com
KERRVILLE BOARD OF REALTORS: www.kerrvillerealtors.com
SAN ANTONIO AREA BOARD OF REALTORS: www.sabor.com
SAN MARCOS BOARD OF REALTORS: www.smabor.com
REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATIONS
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS: www.texasrealtors.com, and www.texasrealestate.com
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS: www.realtor.org
REAL ESTATE BUYER'S AGENT COUNCIL: www.rebac.net
APPRAISAL INSTITUTE: www.appraisalinstitute.org
COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE (CIREI): www.ccim.com
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION: www.hillcountrybuilders.org
INSTITUTE OF REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT (IREM): www.irem.org
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS: www.iami.org/narea.html
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT FEE APPRAISERS (NAIFA): www.naifa.com
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION: www.reji.com/associations/pma/nonmember/data
WOMEN'S COUNCIL OF REALTORS (WCR): www.wcr.org
FEDERAL AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH REAL ESTATE
FANNIE MAE: www.Fanniemae.com: They provide financial products and services that make it possible for low, moderate, and middle-income families to buy homes of their own.
FANNIE MAE, HOW TO BUY: How to Buy a Fannie Mae-Owned Home
FREDDIE MAC: www.freddiemac.com: A stockholder-owned corporation chartered by Congress to increase the supply of funds that mortgage lenders, such as commercial banks, mortgage bankers, savings institutions and credit unions, can make available to homebuyers and multifamily investors.
HUD: www.Hud.gov: Mission: A decent, safe, and sanitary home and suitable living environment for every American. The direct source for HUD homes.
HUD, FOR CONSUMERS: www.hud.gov/consumer: HUD Consumer Information
HUD/VA FORECLOSURES: www.USHUD.com: Allows you to directly access all VA and HUD foreclosures sold here for a fraction of their value.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: www.fema.gov
TEXAS STATE AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH REAL ESTATE
TEXAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION: www.trec.state.tx.us
TEXAS RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION: www.trcc.state.tx.us
TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE: www.glo.state.tx.us
COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, PROPERTY TAX DIVISION: www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/proptax.html
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING: www.tded.state.tx.us
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS: www.tdhca.state.tx.us
TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD: www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb
TEXAS SALES AND TITLE HISTORY
TEXAS LAND AND RESIDENTIAL SALES HISTORY: http://recenter.tamu.edu/data/datahs.html
TEXAS TITLE HISTORY: http://recenter.tamu.edu/tgrande/vol13-1/1760.html
PROPERTY, SEPTIC, WELL, ENVIRONMENT, WATER MAINTENANCE
TEXAS WASTE WATER INFORMATION: www.texaswatermatters.org
BLANCO RIVER TRUST: www.gbrtrust.org
NATURAL AREA PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION: www.napa-texas.org/preservelist.html
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY: www.nature.org
OAK WILT INFORMATION: www.stopoakwilt.com
RAINWATER COLLECTION MANUAL: Manual
SEPTIC SYSTEM ALTERNATIVE: www.enviroalternatives.com/storburn.html
SEPTIC MAINTENANCE: Septic Maintenance
TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD: www.twdb.state.tx.us/mapping/index.asp
TEXAS WATER ISSUES: www.texaswatermatters.org
TEXAS WELL DRILLR'S REPORTS: Reports
FLOOD INFORMATION: Flood
PIPELINE INFORMATION
PIPELINE INFORMATION: Pipeline
TEXAS LONGHORN PIPELINE INFORMATION: www.longhornpipeline.com
MAPS
GOOGLE MAP SIZED TO INCLUDE A RECTANGLE AROUND THE HILL COUNTRY: Google Map
HILL COUNTRY SUN: Map (note, click on map image to enlarge or reduce size)
AUSTIN STATESMAN: Map
HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE: Map
TXINFO: Map
TEXAS COUNTY MAPS: Maps (TXDOT Maps via UT Library)
EPA MAPS: EPA Maps
SATELLITE VIEW OF PROPERTY: Satellite
GOOGLE STREET MAPS: Google Street Maps
GOOGLE EARTH MAPS: Google Earth
TEXAS MAPS: www.Maps.Live.com: photos, satellite & directions driving maps, easy-to-read
TEXAS MAPS: www.lib.utexas.edu: Perry-Castaneda Map Collection - UT Library Online:
TEXAS COUNTY LOCATOR MAP: Need to know where a county can be found? Try this interactive map from the CIP! Map
TEXAS COUNTY MAP: A PDF map of the state with the county boundaries and names. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view: Map
MAPSTATS: Locate a County by Place Name. Enter a place name (city or town) and this utility will tell you in what county the place is located: Map
GEOLOGY.COM: Texas State Map, with individual maps for physical/topography, elevation, rivers/lakes, political, roads: Map
REAL ESTATE FINANCE COMPANIES
CAPITAL FARM CREDIT: Capital
SOUTHWEST TEXAS ACA: Southwest
FINANCIAL LINKS RELATED TO REAL ESTATE
AG VALUATIONS: Ag Valuations
CREDIT REPORTS: Credit Reports
FARM LOAN PROGRAMS: 830-278-4571 ext 2; www.FSA.USDA.gov
FIRST AG CREDIT: First Ag Credit
TEXAS LAND BANK: Texas Land Bank
HOME BUILDER & CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES
BUILDER-STATE.COM: www.builderstate.com; Thousands of builders and residential construction industry sites offering home improvement, home building contractors, construction engineers and many unique and exclusive special services.
OTHER RELATED RESOURCES
LAND CONSERVATION: www.fsa.usda.gov
PROPERTY & PRIVACY RIGHTS: www.constitution.org/proppriv.htm
TEXAS CONSERVATION: www.hcuwcd.org