Real Estate Blog

Selling your home in the middle of winter doesn't need to be more stressful than listing it in the spring or the summer. Yes, in the winter, your yard is brown and lacks color, and you have fewer hours of daylight for showings. However, not everyone has the luxury of picking the season to place their home on the market. And you may find it to be surprising, but winter does have its real estate advantages and can be a great time of the year to sell your home. The following is a list of tips to follow for a fast winter sale.

• Find the right agent for you. All agents aren’t created equal. Find one that will work with you to help you sell your home and maximize their experience for your benefit.

• Price your home accordingly. The first few weeks

Real estate is considered by many (The Janis Penick Team included) to be one of the best investments you will ever make. In addition to the financial benefits of owning property, it can provide you a place to call home, which has many benefits of its own. If you are ready to make a real estate investment, we have options for you. Whether you are looking for a new home or land to build your dream home, we have it waiting for you. Give us a call today to discuss how to make the most of your real estate investments.  

4790 FM 535, Cedar Creek

1558 SH 304, Smithville

129 Loon Drive, Bastrop

114 Sandpiper Drive, Bastrop

102 Sandpiper Drive, Bastrop

106 Sandpiper Drive, Bastrop

115 Loon Drive, Bastrop

156 Riverwalk Lane, Bastrop

344

Bastrop and Smithville have so much to do in preparation for this holidays this weekend. Whether you need to shop or celebrate, there is something for you. Here are a few things you might want to try this weekend.

Smithville’s Makers & Merchants Fair will take place Saturday, December 12 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in front of E.H. Mercantile There will be a large variety of hand crafted items for you to purchase that are perfect for holiday gifts.

Enjoy more shopping at Smithville’s Sip & Shop on Saturday, December 12th from 2:00-6:00 p.m. Ten downtown businesses have paired with a local winery so you can shop, sip and shop some more. There will be live music and food specials as well.

The Bastrop River of Lights will run nightly through January 1. Enjoy

The official start to winter is just around the corner and that means the potential for freezing temperatures is here. Now is the time to go ahead and take care of winter maintenance tasks before the coldest weather arrives. Cold weather can make even simple tasks more difficult so don’t wait too long to get these done.

Furnace Inspection and Routine Maintenance

Several routine maintenance tasks can be performed on your furnace by you, the homeowner. Such tasks include changing the air filter and making sure any flammable objects have been removed from around the furnace unit itself. You can also go around the house, ensuring that all of the vents are unobstructed from furniture, clutter, etc. Air needs to be able to circulate efficiently throughout

Your dream home awaits you at Turkey Track Ranch.  Four bedrooms, three full baths, one half bath, 4,266 square feet, a pond and equestrian facilities are surrounded by 102 +/- acres of gently rolling acreage.  

Wind up the stone path to the front porch. A beautiful  front door is surrounded by glass allowing natural light to welcome you into the home. Ceramic tile is found inside the front door and continues into the living room and kitchen. The dining room is just inside the front door yet still accessible to the kitchen and includes hardwood floors, crown molding and a chandelier. Through French doors to the left of the entry, you will find a music room complete with hardwood floors, crown molding and abundant natural lighting. As you continue into

The holidays are in full swing this weekend with lots of events going on in Bastrop and the surrounding areas. From holiday shows to light displays and so much more, Bastrop has something for everyone this holiday season.

The Bastrop River of Lights will run nightly through January 1. Enjoy a stroll through half a mile of light displays.

Elf the Musical will be performed at Bastrop Opera House on various days from December 4-20. There are live streaming options on select dates as well.

Enjoy Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 5th at Calvary Baptist Church. Santa will be there for photos plus there will be prizes, crafts and inflatables.

Enjoy a performance of A Tuna Christmas at Playhouse Smithville on select dates from December 4-12.

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