A Home Buyer's Guide for Austin, Texas. Claudia Scott is a bilingual Austin area Realtor specializing in central Austin residential homes.

1. Claudia Scott’s
buyer’s guide

2. Claudia
Scott
REALTOR®
C
laudiaisarealestateconsultantforAustin’sdiscerninghomebuyer,investorand
seller.Sheexpertlyguidesbuyersthroughthehomepurchasingprocess,advises
investorsonrealpropertybuy/hold&sellscenariosandutilizeshermarketingand
salesexpertisetocustomizeasalesstrategyforyourhome.Claudiadrawsfromherglobal
upbringing in Europe and in the United States, her educational background in financial
services & economics and more than eight years in corporate marketing. Her passion for
real estate, her strategic thinking and her creative mindset get powerful results.
Experience
• Bachelor of Arts in Economics (Magna Cum Laude); Fachhochschule Wies-
baden, Germany
• Professional background in corporate Marketing Management (Digital and
Print Media)
• Bilingual German/English; French
• Social Media & Web 3.0 Strategy
• Continuous education includes:
• Marketing Promotions (UT, 2006)
• Value-Added Sales Promotions (2007)
• Branding Workshop (2008)
• Multichannel Marketing (2010)
• Personalizing the Web Experience (2010)
• Web Profiling/Digital Body Language (2010)
• Kilosecond Opportunity Assessment (2009)
• Negotiation Strategy (2012)
“My top priority is to add value to your home buying or selling experi-
ence by providing genuine personal service and expert representation.”
®
®
Claudia Scott REALTOR®
512.480.0848 165 office • 512.373.0745 mobile • claudia@moreland.com email • www.moreland.com

3. You decide to do a bit of house hunting and open the newspaper, sift through a range of choices in
several areas. After reading countless ads featuring many romantic details but few specifics, you make
a few calls and hear several voice mails. You decide to do some online research. After downloading
100 choices in your price range, you decide that rather than spend your whole day sorting through
them, it might be nice to get out and visit a few open houses. With a bit of perseverance you write
down addresses, look up the maps online, and print out several destinations. You are out and about
and finally locate your first home.
You walk into the home and decide“this is it.”From wall colors to flooring you feel“this is perfect.”
Following a lengthy conversation with the listing agent about your housing preferences, you realize
the house is $100k over your price range. After considering the options of liquidating half of your
furniture and selling your car, you decide that it was enjoyable“just looking”but it’s just not for you.
Suddenly you realize this is a greater undertaking than you originally thought. You have specific
needs including size, bedroom space, school preferences, and proximity to major highways. Uncer-
tain of where to start, you decide there must be“a better way.”
This is just one of the scenarios you might expect in trying to find a home while representing yourself.
Indeed self-representation is always a possibility, however most buyers prefer to utilize the services of
a professional Buyer’s Representative. Your Moreland Buyer’s Representative will work hard to select
properties that best meet your requirements and preferences and which will make your search as ef-
ficient as possible.
Regardless of what you spend or where you choose to buy, as a serious buyer there are several specific
factors you must consider.
At Moreland Properties, we use our distinct knowledge of the Austin area to help achieve a perfect fit
in finding the ideal home. By meeting with an agent ahead of time and completing an outline you can
zero in on the specifics. Coupled with our extensive experience in matching your prerequisites with
the available inventory you can take an organized approach without all of the hassle. Suddenly your
search process seems effortless. You are on the road to reaching your goal! Take time and think about
your answers to the questions on the following page which create your unique housing profile. We’ll
do the rest!
Finding
the
perfect
home
Getting
Specific
Home Buying Profile

4. Begin with a plan of action that includes an exact timeline. The following questions will need to be
answered.
• When should I begin looking?
• When do I have to move from my current home?
• When does my new job require me to start work?
• What date does school start?
3 Months Develop a checklist, meet and hire agent, apply for a loan, begin property search
2 Months Review home choices, select a home, make an offer and submit a contract, schedule
inspection, set closing schedule
4 Weeks Contact mover, upgrade mortgage, school transfers, homeowner’s insurance
3 Weeks Begin packing, make address changes, utility turn-on at new homeitems
2 Weeks Verify mover, review closing details with settlement agent, verify and finalize mortgage
details, complete packing
At Moreland, our dedication to service includes assistance with providing the references to complete
the task of moving and coordinating your timeline.
A Buyer’s Real Estate Timeline
Sample
of a
Buyer’s
timeline
Time
Prior to
Desired
moving date

5. Price of Home $
Set your sights on the right price range
Style of Home
1 1 Story 1 Multi-Level 1 2 Story
1 Patio Home 1Town home 1 Condominium
1 Contemporary 1Traditional 1Victorian
1 Other
Age of Home
1 New Home 1 1-5 Years 1 6-15 Years
1 15-25 Years 1 Over 25 Years 1 Any Age
Type of Exterior
1 Brick 1 Stone 1Wood
1 Stucco 1 Other
Zero in on the features you’re looking for
______# Baths ______# Bedrooms _____Garage
1 Family Room 1 Dining Room 1 Fireplace
1 Study 1 Size 1 Sep-Shower
1 Storage 1Workshop 1 Gameroom
1 Pool 1 Other
Location! Location! Location!
1 City 1 Suburban 1 Rural
Area of City
Waterfront
Features Needed In Surrounding Area
1 Schools 1 Church 1 Shopping
1 Park 1 Other
School District Preferred
Type of Financing Preferred
1 Conventional 1 Adjustable 1 Other
Have you been Pre-Approved for a mortgage?
When would you like to move? Consider your timeline.
Once completed, please provide a copy to your Moreland Properties Buyer’s Representative.
Your Ideal Home
Getting
Specific
Identifying
the home
you want

6. GREATER AUSTIN AREA NEIGHBORHOOD MAP
Austin
Area
Neighborhood
Map
Area Map

7. An OFFER is a written proposal to begin negotiations on the purchase of a home. Your buyer’s
agent will provide you with options in writing the offer. Many times price is not the main concern
in the transaction.
The response from the seller becomes a COUNTER OFFER. Counter offers can often be negotiated
many times.
The offer becomes a CONTRACT when both parties agree to all the terms and conditions as modified
during the negotiations and when signed by both the buyer and the seller. At this time the earnest
money check is given to the title company with the contract and the home is now under contract.
Once the property is under contract it is time for the INSPECTIONS. You will hire a licensed inspector
to check the structural and mechanical condition of the home. A written report will be given to you
and to the seller.
From the inspection report, it will be determined what REPAIRS will need to be made. The repair al-
lowance in the contract will govern the amount that can be spent on repairs by the seller. Sometimes
a buyer wishes to negotiate a larger repair amount. Your buyer’s agent will be able to guide you
through this process.
The buyer’s mortgage company will order an APPRAISAL of the property. This is a requirement for
the lender in order to be certain that the property is worth the agreed upon sales price. Quite often
a survey is also part of the lender’s requirements.
Once all of these steps have been taken, a time and date for the CLOSING is set. Many times buyers
and sellers meet and sign documents at the same time. However, the entire transaction can take
place by mail if one of the parties is located in another city.
Offers
Counters
and
Contracts
Inspections
Repairs
and
Appraisals
The
Closing

8. Understanding your relationship with the Broker is often confusing. It is important, however, that you
fully understand this relationship before you sign any Buyers Representation Agreement. Moreland
Properties is very serious about the relationship we have with our clients. Please review the Information
About Brokerage Services, written by the Texas Real Estate Commission, provided by your agent.
This document is required by Texas law and will be made accessible to potential buyers. It is essential
for a seller to inform a buyer of any potential defects. This document has been designed to protect
both the buyer and seller. Your Moreland agent can help explain any concerns you may have.
ACTRIS is a computerized service to which the members of the Austin Board of Realtors belong. This
service enables each member to enter the data concerning each listing (property) into the computer
database. All members have access to this data through their computers. Within minutes of an agent
loading the information onto the computer, fellow agents in the city can call and make appoint-
ments to view the property or to show it to prospective buyers. It is extremely important that this
information be accurate. As the status of the listing changes, such as contract pending or sold, the
information is updated. If appropriate, your home may have an electronic key box attached to it
for ease of showing. In the computer printout are specific instructions as to how your home is to
be shown. Appointments are made with the owner or realtor and the showing of your home be-
gins. For your protection and for security reasons, we advise sellers to always have an agent use
the lockbox when showing their home. This will ensure that every agent entering your home is a
registered member of ACTRIS and your agent has an accurate list of who has shown your property.
Information
on
Brokerage
Services
The
Seller's
Disclosure
Austin
Central
Texas Realty
Information
Service
(ACTRIS)
and
Lockboxes

9. Electric / Water / Garbage City of Austin 512.494.9400
Gas Texas Gas Service 800.700.2443
Telephone SBC 800.464.7928
Cable TV Time Warner Cable 512.485.5555
Electric / Water City of Austin 512.322.9500
Electric Pedernales Electric 888.554.4732
Water / Wastewater Hurst Creek MUD 512.261.6281
Water / Wastewater Lakeway MUD 512.261.6222
Garbage Services City of Lakeway 512.261.6090
Police Non-Emergency 512.261.9480
Fire Non-Emergency 512.926.1706
Electric TXU Energy 800.242.9113
Water City of Round Rock 512.218.5460
Gas ATMOS 800.460.3030
Telephone SBC 800.464.7928
Cable TV Time Warner Cable 512.485.5555
aUSTIN
Helpful Phone Numbers
lake
south
round
rock

10. Possible items needed for loan application
• Fully executed contract (original contract required for FHA & VA)
• Most current pay stub
• Last two year’s W-2’s
• A full two-year history of employment with personnel office street address and phone number
(no post office box, please)
• A full two-year history of residence, with landlord’s name & address
• Mortgage company’s name, address and account number for all property owned
• Current leases for any rental property you may own. (If this income is used to qualify, you must have
your last two years completed tax returns)
• Most current Bank Statements. Include all Checking, Savings, IRA’s, CD’s, Stocks and Bonds
• Name of creditors, account numbers, addresses, balances and minimum payments
• Recorded copy of divorce decree (if applicable)
• Money for appraisal and credit report
FHA loan applicants will be required to provide the additional items:
• Copy of Social Security card–all parties
• Copy of current driver’s license–all parties
VA loan applicants will be required to provide the additional items:
• Copy of DD214, or if still active, a Statement of Service
• Original Certificate of Eligibility
• Permission for off-base housing (DD form 1747, if still active)
• Name, address and phone number of nearest living relative
• Copy of current driver’s license–all parties
• Most recent original pay stub
loans
and
mortgages

11. With the exception of Congress Avenue, streets running north and south through downtown
mirror the order in which rivers flow throughout the state. From east to west, the streets are:
Sabine, Red River, Neches, Trinity, San Jacinto, Brazos, Colorado, Lavaca, Guadalupe, San Antonio,
Nueces and Rio Grande.
Street Name Also Known As
U.S. 183 Bell Boulevard, Research Boulevard, Anderson Lane,
Ed Bluestein Boulevard
Loop 1 MoPac Boulevard (north end becomes FM 1325)
East and West First Street Cesar Chavez Street
Enfield Road 15th Street
Windsor Road 24th Street
Dean Keeton Street 26th Street
19th Street Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Boulevard
FM 1325 Louis Henna Boulevard, Burnet Road, MoPac Boulevard
Loop 360 Capital of Texas Highway
RM 620 Marshall Ford Road
RM 2222 Bull Creek Road, Northland Drive, Koenig Lane, U.S. 290
RM 2244 Bee Cave Road
Texas 71 Ben White Boulevard, U.S. 290
Loop 111 Airport Boulevard
The Drag the part of Guadalupe that borders the University of Texas
aUSTIN
sTREETS
Helpful Information
sTREETS
that
become
other
streets

12. NOTES