November 2020

There are many costs associated with buying a new one. Obviously, you will need to pay for the home with either cash or a mortgage. There are other costs associated with purchasing a home too. One of the costs that some people may not expect is private mortgage insurance or PMI.  

PMI is a specific kind of insurance that is required when your down payment is less than 20 percent of the total value of your home. If you default on your loan, PMI will pay off the outstanding balance of your mortgage, thus protecting your lender. 

How much can you expect to pay for PMI each month? The actual amount usually varies based on the amount of your down payment as well as the amount of coverage required by your lender. Typically, PMI equates to half of one

Every store and website has a Black Friday deal today. While the prices on these properties don’t come with a 40% off price tag, they are certain to be a better investment than anything else you might be today. Instead of purchasing more shoes or a new TV, consider investing in your future and searching for a new home or land to build your dream home. If these properties don’t fit your style or price range, give us a call today and we can help you find something that will.

4790 FM 535, Cedar Creek

1558 SH 304, Smithville

539 Colovista Parkway, C100, Bastrop

129 Loon Drive, Bastrop

114 Sandpiper Drive, Bastrop

102 Sandpiper Drive, Bastrop

106 Sandpiper Drive, Bastrop

115 Loon Drive, Bastrop

103 Arborvita Place, Bastrop

The holidays are here and that means it's time to celebrate. The holiday may look a little different this year than past years but there are still fun activities to look forward to this year.

Kick off the holiday season with the City of Bastrop’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting followed by a drive-in showing of The Grinch. This year’s tree lighting will be a virtual event and will take place at the Bastrop Convention Center. Stick around after the tree lighting to see a Christmas classic The Grinch.

The Bastrop River of Lights will begin Friday, November 27. Take a stroll through half a mile of light displays any night from November 27th-January 1.

The Janis Penick Team

RE/MAX Bastrop Area
Serving Bastrop, Cedar Creek and Smithville

Are you thinking about selling your first home? Even if you were actively involved in the home buying process, the home selling process is vastly different from the paperwork involved to the preparations you need to make to sell your home. Below are some helpful tips for first-time sellers that will help you know what to expect.  

The greatest number of showings will occur within the first few weeks of listing your home for sale so it is critical that your home be show ready as soon as you list it. Online listing information tends to drive many home showings today. With an increasing number of buyers plugged into online databases, the moment a new home appears on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), interested buyers will start looking at pictures

Welcome home! Enjoy resort style living every day in this ColoVista Country Club townhome. With views of the #3 and #4 holes of the ColoVista Golf Course plus views of the Colorado River from your back patio, this property is the perfect place to embrace your new home and the lock and leave lifestyle.

Two bedrooms and two full baths are part of the 1,486 square feet of living space. The open floor plan flows from the front door to the back door allowing ample natural light into the home and an easy flow for entertaining. A fireplace provides cozy ambiance for guests and a warm place to curl up on chilly nights at home. The kitchen is beautifully finished with granite countertops, tile backsplash and stainless appliances with a breakfast bar that makes

If you are thinking about buying or selling your home, you may be trying to keep up with the current market trends. Knowing the latest can help you sell your home for the best price or ensure you find the perfect home for your budget. Here are a few market trends we are seeing this year that you may want to be aware of.

Low Inventory
This is big positive for home sellers but has presented a challenge for buyers that are searching for a new home. Low inventory means that there are limited home available for sell. For home sellers, this can drive up the price of their home as multiple buyers compete for it. For home buyers, they may have to offer more than the list price and act quickly when homes come on the market.

New Home Sales
According to

The Chance Ranch is a gorgeous and secluded recreational paradise. Escape from the big city and have your own private retreat within an hour of Austin's International Airport (ABIA) and within two hours of Houston or San Antonio. This 362.54 acre ranch has a wonderfully diverse mixture of woods and pastures. Loblolly pine forests with huge magnificent pines and scattered century live oaks are abundant throughout the ranch. Water features include the Lost Pines Lake, which is beautiful and serene and is located in the heart of the pine forest in the NE corner of the ranch. Fun Fact: This lake was filmed during the making of 'Mississippi Burning'. A second sparkling lake which is 30' deep and approximately 6 acres when full is stocked with catfish and bass.

There are several opportunities to get outside this weekend for local events. Whether you are looking for an annual festival, fundraising event or just time outside, this weekend has something for you.

The Airing of the Quilts will take place in Downtown Smithville on Saturday, November 14th from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. This annual event honors the historic tradition of airing your quilts before winter. Quilts will be displayed throughout Downtown Smithville. Stroll the streets, view the quilts, enjoy a meal and stop by the local shops.

Hope Fest 2020 is a fundraising event for Veterans and the PTSD Foundation of America at Bastrop's Community Gardens. The event will take place at Community Gardens and there will be live music, a cornhole tournament,

A cold winter can severely impact your utility bills and leave you longing for warmer temperatures for more than one reason. If you are tired of being shocked every time you open the mail, spend a little time working in your home to make things more efficient and keep your utility usage lower so you can save money for something else. Here are eight things you can do this weekend to lower your utility bills.

1. Start with the most obvious and lower your thermostat. No one wants to wear gloves to bed but a few degrees on the thermostat can make a big difference in your bill. Add an extra blanket to each bed and lower the temperature at bed time by 3-5 degrees. You are unlikely to notice the difference except in your savings.

2. Check your windows for

If you are ready to escape from the city hustle and bustle to your own space look no further than Turkey Track Ranch. A gorgeous 4,200+ square foot home is surrounded by 102 +/- acres including a pond, equestrian facilities and a swimming pool. From your private property, you will have space to enjoy star gazing, organic gardening, four wheeling, trail riding through the woods and plenty of space to walk and explore right outside your back door. The pool adds the perfect place for recreation and enjoyment. Equestrian facilities make this property perfect for your horses. The home offers four bedrooms, three full baths and one half bath with exquisite features in every room.   

A stone path winds its way to the front door that is surrounded by a