Filed under: Austin Texas, Austin Texas Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips and Advice | Tags: broadband access, home buyers, internet, internet access, sellers
The Internet has greatly impacted the real estate arena. The Internet is now influencing home buyers in a new way - Internet access.
Location has always been a key factor for those considering purchasing a home. Now, a new element has been added to the “location” mix. The availability of broadband access can be a factor influencing prospective home buyers decision when considering where to buy.
Buyers want, at the very least, broadband access and some are even demanding that their area of choice offers fiber optic Internet access. Landlords are also finding that renters will choose the apartment offering broadband Internet access over one that does not.
Sellers, don’t be surprised if a “buyer” asks you if you have broadband access and/or what Internet service providers are in your area.
The increasing popularity of social networks, music and video downloads have made the speed in which the user can access the Internet a vital concern for many. The fact that people are using the Internet for their business and can work from home is also an influencing factor.
Mobile phones are no longer just phones. They are cameras and mini laptops which not only have Internet access, but very fast download times as well. People who have instant access to the world at large are not going to come home to a home that does not offer the same speed as the phone in their pocket.
Home buyers and sellers will see this growing national trend impact the Austin real estate market as well.
Filed under: Austin Texas, Austin Texas News, Austin Texas Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips and Advice, Texas, Uncategorized | Tags: affordable places, austin housing market, Austin Texas, austins residential market, city of austin, housing market study
On November 3, the City of Austin launched an online, comprehensive housing market study so they can better understand the needs and characteristics of Austin ’s residential market. This is a much needed study for the Austin housing market. Through the next two decades, the survey will focus on affordability needs. The study is being conducted by BBC Research and Consulting firm who specializes in housing market evaluations, and is being overseen by the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office.
BBC Research and Consulting firm is a leading expert in the housing market supply and demand modeling, 
housing needs studies for special needs populations, and affordable housing needs assessments. The online study is just one of many components in the process. Other components will include stakeholder focus groups that will assist in identifying solutions to the housing issues in Austin , telephone surveys that target a specific number of Austin residents to better understand what their housing needs are, and public meetings, which will be held from November 17 through November 20. The public meetings will be held to gather perception of Austin ’s housing needs as well as the city’s housing preferences. The public meetings will also let you share recommendations for better housing needs.
The housing market studies results will assist Austin ’s decision maker’s in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to contribute resources and make investments to help guide redevelopment and development of more affordable housing throughout the City of Austin .
Austin, Texas is not only a great place to live, it will soon be one of the most affordable places to live.
Related Links:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/housing/
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/housing/publications.htm
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/housing/downloads/08survey_eng_flyer.pdf
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/housing/downloads/08examen_espanol_folleto.pdf
Questions: aggeler@bbcresearch.com
