The Hill Country Blogger

Texas Highland Lakes Market Report - September 2007

2007-10-28T20:35:00Z

Single Family Site Built Homes

Highland Lakes MLS Home Sales

(Single Family Site Built)

2003

2004

2005

2006

Sept 2007

Total Properties Sold

Lakefront Homes

Other Homes

648

200

448

771

212

559

971

280

691

1103

259

844

752

149

603

$ Volume of Sales

Lakefront Homes

Other Homes

$136,987,308

70,812,659

66,174,649

$159,817,849

78,319,640

81,498,209

$234.276,170

122,199,044

112,077,126

$303,547,810

133,153,796

170,394,134

$213,756,464

87,372,847

126,383,617

Average Days On Mkt

Lakefront Homes

Other Homes

207

215

204

181

191

177

173

164

177

162

149

166

141

135

143

Median Home Price

Lakefront Homes

Other Homes

$158,750

281,500

128,250

$157,500

290,750

130,400

$172,000

338,375

135,000

$182,000

400,000

147,750

$191,600

487,000

164,000

Average Home Price

Lakefront Homes

Other Homes

$211,400

354,063

147,711

$207,286

369,432

145,793

$ 241,273

436,425

163,195

$275,202

514,107

201,889

$284,251

586,395

209,591

Figures are from the Highland Lakes MLS

The Highland Lakes Area of the Texas Hill Country is popular retirement area. Real Estate values in this area have demonstrated a steady level of appreciation. If you are thinking about moving to, investing in, or retiring in the Marble Falls, Horseshoe Bay, Deer Haven, Blue Lake, Granite Shoals, Kingsland, Sunrise Beach, Burnet, Bertram, or Llano visit www.myhillcountryhome.com.

Christmas in the Texas Hill Country

2007-10-28T18:33:00Z

Celebrating Christmas in the Texas Hill Country is truly an enchanting experience. From the Marble Fall's Walkway of Lights, to Burnet's Main Street Bethlehem, there is always an event, display, or performance to enjoy. Marble Falls Walkway of Lights November 16, 2007 to January 1, 2008 - 6:00pm to 10:00pm Enjoy a self-guided tour through a winter wonderland, surrounded by over a million twinkling lights on over 130 sculptures reflected on the beautiful waters of Lake Marble Falls. This event...(read more)

Don't just look at property tax rates when deciding where to retire or relocate.

2007-06-23T18:32:00Z

When deciding where to retire or relocate it is important to look at other tax and living costs.

Property taxes are not the only local tax burden, there are income taxes (Texas does not have one), sales taxes, tax exemptions, and various other taxes. The Tax Foundation’s (a non-partisan research tax group located in Washington D. C., and founded in 1937). Their latest figures on local and state tax burden ranked Texas as the 43^rd lowest with a local and state tax burden of 9.3%.

This is a great link for information on the real tax burden.

http://taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/336.html

I live in Texas.

Here are some Texas Tax facts.

· Texas is in the midst of a two stage process to lower the school portion of the property taxes. The first phase lowered the rates for 2006, and when the rates are published in the fall there will be an additional reduction.

· Current property owners over 65 did not reap the benefits of last years adjustment to the school tax rates, so legislation has been passed that will give them some tax relief.

· If you are 65 or older in the state of Texas there is a tax ceiling put on the school tax rates, by the way this is the lions share of our property taxes ($14.70 per $1000.00 of my $18.70 2006 tax rate,)

· Let’s say you are 70, and decide you want to downsize to a smaller home…and the tax ceiling on your existing home leaves you paying 70% of the current school taxes, you can transfer that ceiling to your new home. Even if you move to a different school district, you will only pay the percentage of the school tax rate you were paying before.

· The Texas property tax code allows for a partial exemption for a homestead, if you are disabled and an additional exemption for disabled veterans.

Country Cuzzins Square Dance Club

2007-03-21T02:32:00Z

Kingsland Community Center -Every Monday evening the Country Cuzzins Square Dance club meets for square dancing from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the Center’s large hall. For more information, contact their Presidents, Jim or Mary Alice Acklen at 325-379-3242 or Gary and Beverly Shipley at 325-379-1448. If interested in round dancing, contact Gary Shipley

The Lakes Photography Club

2007-02-24T20:14:00Z

The Club meets the 1st Thursday of every month at the Marble Falls Library at 7:00 p.m. The library is located at 101 Main St., Marble Falls TX. For more information - http://www.tlpc.us/...(read more)