Real Estate Blog

While it would be wonderful to live your life completely debt free, it is likely that you don’t. There are a few people that pay cash for everything including houses but chances are good that isn’t you. When you have a mortgage as well as other debt, how do you prioritize where to pay extra money to when you have it? If your goal is to be debt free eventually, there are many different ways to go about paying down your debt.

First and foremost, eliminate excess spending to ensure you aren’t increasing your debt and develop a budget that accounts for all routine expenses as well as allocates some money to savings for unexpected items. After you have a clear budget, determine how much extra money you have each month. Then you have to decide where to put

The original charm plus updates for comfort make this the perfect home. This historic four bedroom, three bath home was built in a Greek Revival style that has been beautifully restored while maintaining its original character and beauty.

A beautiful wood and glass door welcomes you to the home where you are greeted by longleaf pine floors. A wooden staircase leads you upstairs from the foyer. Eight foot pocket doors separate rooms on the main level allowing open and closed spaces for your enjoyment. Large rooms with soaring ceilings are perfect for entertaining. The dining room and living room offer coal fireplaces. The gourmet kitchen is a pleasure to cook in with gleaming marble counters, an abundance of lighted cabinets and a commercial quality

The Main Event is Downtown Bastrop’s fun new weekend event. On the first weekend of every month, come out on Friday evening or all day Saturday for fun artistic experiences presented by the artists and retail shops of Historic Downtown Bastrop.  

This weekend the fun will start on Friday, February 7 with the Art Walk from 6-9 with the local galleries and shops staying open late. You can also enjoy sketching a live model from 7-8 at Bridges Emporium.

On Saturday, you will have many opportunities for fun including a sidewalk chalk art contest, a demonstration on caring for the Valentine flowers you are sure to receive, the chance to create your own mini pastel painting and Art after Dark at the Lost Pines Art Center from 5:30-8:30.

Bring lots of

Frequently, the number of Bastrop homes for sale skyrockets each Spring as sellers list with the hope of selling during the busy home buying season. If you are wanting to sell your home this Spring, it’s time to start thinking about it so you can beat the rush and get on the market as soon as possible. Here are eight things to do now so your home is show ready when you list.

1. Schedule the pressure washer. No matter what your home exterior is made of, something at your home needs to be pressure washed. From the deck to the siding or even the driveway, you likely have some buildup somewhere that can be washed away by the pressure washer in an afternoon. Don’t underestimate the impact something this simple can have on the curb appeal of your home.

2.

Life is short! Buy the perfect house and start living today! This Tahitian Village ranch offers three bedrooms and two full baths and sits on more than half an acre. Beautiful white stone finishes the front of the home for a classic look you will love. The front yard is spacious and the home is located on a corner with a covered front porch.

The home is nicely updated and has been well maintained so this is truly a move-in ready home. Neutral colors throughout the home makes this easy to feel right at home. Enter the front door to the living room. An arched doorway from the living room to the kitchen gives the home an open feel that is perfect for entertaining. The kitchen is nicely updated with stainless appliances, a convection gas range, farmhouse

Enjoy a day at the racetrack this weekend with the Super Saturday 200 Enduro Race. The race will begin at 3:00 and tickets are available for everyone with discounts for seniors, military, students and children 6-12. Kids 5 and under are free.

The event will include a fun afternoon of racing along with the chance to be in the pit. Refreshments will be available for sale. Eric Jones and Dillon Smith will be announcing and Jason Batt will be in the flag stand.

The Cotton Bowl Speedway hosts fun events year round if you enjoy watching racing. Many events offer the chance to be in the pit and see the action close up.  

When: Saturday, February 1, 3:00-6:00

Where: Cotton Bowl Speedway, 1175 Co Rd 202, Paige, TX

For more information about the this

Buying your first home can be an overwhelming task but it doesn’t have to be. The part of buying a home that is likely to make you the most nervous is financing. Finding both a great real estate agent that will help guide you as well as an excellent mortgage lender are essential to a successful homebuying experience.

If you have adequate income to support a mortgage payment without devoting too much of your monthly budget to housing, you may be ready to buy a home. One thing you will want to be sure of is that you pick an area you plan to stay in for a while. Owning a home means the home is yours until you sell it so while you can sell whenever you choose, the market may not always be in the best position for you to sell.

If you feel settled, talk

This Craftsman style home in Downtown Bastrop offers four bedrooms,  2,333 square feet, two full baths and one half bath plus a two-car garage on close to half an acre. Situated in Downtown Bastrop, this move-in ready home puts you within walking distance to art, restaurants, history and shopping. Sit on your charming front porch and enjoy the butterfly garden and towering pecan trees in your front yard.

Inside the front door, you will find the dining room that connects to the kitchen. The kitchen is stylish and functional with granite countertops, an island and stainless appliances. A breakfast area adjacent to the kitchen overlooks the backyard and includes a built-in bookcase. The living room opens to the kitchen with two-story ceilings and a stone

This weekend is the first of three weekends of performances of Noises Off! at Playhouse Smithville. Noises Off! is a hilarious comedy about a community theater group working on their next production. It follows the theater cast and crew as they prepare for their next show.

Noises Off! will offer shows on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. The theatre is located in Downtown Smithville with several restaurants nearby so make plans to grab dinner and enjoy the show one of the next three weekends.

Playhouse Smithville has several other enjoyable shows planned for their 10th season including Beauty & the Beast, A Streetcar Named Desire and Some Like it Hot.

When: January 24th-February 8th on Friday and Saturday evenings

Where: Playhouse

If you are considering remodeling your Bastrop living space, you may want to incorporate a fireplace into your room. A fireplace can add a nice focal point to an otherwise empty room as well as provide extra warmth if you live in a colder climate and great atmosphere even if you don’t. When you sell your home in the future, a fireplace can be a nice selling feature that will appeal to buyers of your home. Beyond adding additional appeal to your home, a fireplace may increase the value of your home as well. If your home doesn’t currently have a fireplace, how do you decide where to add one?

You will want to work with a contractor that has experience adding fireplaces to existing homes and is familiar with your local building codes. While a fireplace may