Why I Refuse to Sell You a Subpar New Build

In the rush to keep up with Austin's booming housing demand, some new-build homes are cutting corners—leaving homeowners with more problems than perks. From foundation issues on sloped lots to leaky roofs and improperly installed HVAC systems, the dream of a brand-new home can quickly turn into a costly nightmare. Before you get swept away by that fresh paint smell, let’s talk about why not all builders are created equal.

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How to Design Your Perfect Gallery Wall Edition

Let me start by saying, I am NOT a DIY-er. I’m very much in the other camp of, if I can hire someone, I will. I’d truly hire someone for everything in my life if I could! In fact, I DID hire The Hills Design Co. for styling my gallery wall in my current house. But I’ve grown, I’ve learned a thing or two, and I don’t mean from HGTV (no shade, but they’re here for good TV) and I’ve put together my favorite resources for you to build your perfect gallery wall.

I like to say your perfect gallery wall, because we all have different visions of what it should include. My perfect gallery wall has pieces that I love, have spirit and meaning. Personally, I’m not a Home Goods/West Elm art buyer. I want character on my walls, dimension and texture, and weird things like my tambourine.

So let’s do this, let’s create your gallery wall…

First step, find your inspiration.
Let’s think about this, do you want the same color family? Do you want grid style (symmetrical items) or freeform? Is this an eclectic wall? What’s the mood and energy you’re seeking? My number 1 resource for this, is of course Pinterest. Scrolling through ideas totally helped me to discover my favorite gallery wall vibes!

If you’ve found something you love, try not to copy it. What I mean is, be inspired by the look and feel but not necessarily the items. It shouldn’t be a copy and paste of someone else’s wall to your wall. This is your time to find those pieces that speak to you, and NOTHING is off limits. Hats, hooks, a LED lightening bolt, a book….the wall is your canvas! I truly feel like the best gallery walls reflect you and your personal style. I love when my friends come into my home and tell me that it feels like an ‘America space!’

Step 2: Collect + Play
Start collecting your art pieces. Lay them on the floor, play with placement, try them in different spots to discover what you love best. This part is best done with your favorite music blasting. :)

Think about your design. I seem to like art closer together with a good number of items. Whereas, you might gravitate toward fewer items, or more space between them. The best way to discover what you like is to place the items out on the floor and move them all around, and don’t worry, there’s no right or wrong.

Another design factor I personally love, artwork wrapping around the corner of your walls! I also love the pieces going all the way to the floor. Now, these may not be practical for your space but there’s so many options, and now’s the time to explore with your items to discover what you want.

Step 3: Hang Loose
The fun part, getting these babies on the wall. I won’t give you all the details on how to actually hang them (I mean, hello I’d just hire someone. JK JK) but I’ve linked this post that is really helpful (scroll to the bottom).

I love this post about creating an axis for hanging the art. This allows you to have a focal piece and built around it.

Most importantly, have fun with the project and the art. The gallery wall should be something you love because it’s your home. The best part is that it can change year after year. I love that I can add new pieces, and move current art to a new place at any time.

Key Things to Avoid (if you want, I don’t make the rules):

  • too many elements of the same size (unless you in fact, want everything to be uniform)

  • filler art. Adding a piece just to take up space, that’s a no from me dawg… leave it blank until you find the right artwork.

  • not balancing your ‘heavier’ pieces. Large prints or items should be balanced so the wall doesn’t feel off centered.

  • copying. Create your own thing, it gives it that much more life and love!

Message me if you have any questions and send me photos of what you’ve created! I can’t wait to see.

Preparing to Invest in Real Estate

Today the Silicon Valley Investors Club is happy to have Lisa America join us to talk about how to prepare to invest in real estate. Lisa America is a Realtor for Keller Williams Austin branch and she is a trusted SVIC partner.

When we start something new, we often Google “Questions to Ask (fill in the blank).” Though this is a great starting point, I have found this can sometimes lead an investor to feel like his/her real estate goals cannot be met in a specific area. Often, the investor feels like they have to achieve X,Y, Z to make a successful real estate decision based on some article they read online. In my experience, the most important part of any investing strategy is to understand your true goals and not rely upon what an article, family member, or co-worker says “should” happen.

In this article, I will provide you with a framework to better understand your real estate investing goals and the importance of being open to learning about new investing opportunities. Whether you’re a first time investor or currently hold a booming real estate portfolio, you will find the most success by being open to the different opportunities a new market may provide to you.

To get started, write a list of your investing goals. Ask questions like:

  • How long do I want to hold this property?

    1. Are there opportunities to flip?

    2. Historically, has this area been a good opportunity for long-term investments?

    3. Will it continue to continue to be a good area for long-term investments?

    4. Am I trying to cash-flow each month? 

    5. If I’m not cash-flowing then why am I investing? 

      • Sidebar: Great question! A lot of buyers think of investment properties in terms of cash-flow purposes only, but it’s far from the only option. Your strategy might be to hold onto the property long-term with the goal of the property value increasing year-over-year. Not every market is able to cash-flow easily, so discuss your investing strategies with your Realtor and ask what to expect in his/her market.

Okay, I have my goal in mind, now what?

Once you know your goal, conduct some research about the area in which you are eager to invest. If you have some knowledge about the area, discuss that with your Realtor. Confirm that what you believe to be true does, in fact, still hold true. For instance, a city like Austin changes so quickly that your experience from a visit two years ago may or may not be accurate anymore.

If you are unclear about the area, first determine what neighborhood features are important to you. Be sure to share this with your Realtor so they can recommend specific neighbors or areas. Also make sure to ask your Realtor for resources to conduct your own city/neighborhood research.

The reason it is important to perform your own research is that we often have an idea of what a neighborhood should be like based on our own experiences. Therefore, what you see as important/typical/normal in a neighborhood does not always align with the experience of your Realtor. For example, a popular question I field: “Is this neighborhood safe?” If you ask me (a grown adult, self-proclaimed scaredy-cat), who grew up in a small town where you knew everyone and your door was always unlocked, well my idea of safety might not be totally in line with your point of view. Instead, ask: “Where can I look up neighborhood safety stats?”

Related Article: The Hidden Cost of Crime

Another reason to be specific about what you want is that a Realtor cannot legally voice an opinion about a neighborhood. This is because of The Fair Housing Act, a law enacted to eliminate housing discrimination based on race, color, nation origin, religion, sex, disability, or family status. It prohibits Realtors from steering buyers away from a particular community. To avoid feeling frustrated about not understanding an area, ask your Realtor for more resources and tools to help you make the best decision regarding the area.

Some related questions you might want to ask:

  • What sites should I be looking at to learn more about the area?

  • Where do I find school information and rankings?

  • Is there a site listing neighborhood amenities?

My favorite part of working with clients is when they begin to select and hone their investment strategies. If you don’t get all your information from HGTV’s wide variety of real estate shows, you may not know the meanings of specific terms or understand the intricacies of different processes. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! 

For example, you may have asked if there are opportunities to flip, but do not actually understand what flipping a house entails. If unsure how TV show “flipping” compared to the real thing, I would be able to let you know “flipping a house is when an investor’s goal is to buy and then sell the house for a profit as quickly as possible. To yield a larger return, a buyer typically will need to repair and upgrade the house before selling.” With that information and clarity, we would reassess whether that is truly what you wanted to do. 

Additional questions to ponder:

  • Am I ok with a fixer-upper? If so, what do I actually mean by fixer-upper? E.g. Does this mean cosmetic changes like replacing the floor, new paint, new countertops or something else entirely?

  • Do I want to manage the property myself or should I hire a property manager?

Additional questions to ask your Realtor:

  • Is it a buyer or seller’s market? What does this mean to me as the buyer?

  • What are the predominant industries in this city?

  • Do you have a list of recommended vendors (e.g. painters, handyman, flooring company etc.)?

  • Are there different types of zoning that would benefit me as a buyer?

  • Can you help me rent out the house? If not, what sites do you recommend to list it for rent?

  • Do you use different terms when explaining types of property in your area?

    • Here’s a great example: in Austin, if I say “are you interested in a condo?” Most of us think of a high-rise multi-unit building in the heart of the city. But in Austin, the word “condo” can be used to describe a property that looks just like a single family residence. In areas intended for moderate density, a home may be referred to as a “condo” so it can meet the zoning criteria, but it does not mean you have shared walls and an elevator to get to your floor.

Related Article: SVIC’s Guide to Getting Started in Real Estate Investing

Recap and Additional Questions

To recap, the best starting point is to understand your investment strategy/goals and clearly communicate them to your Realtor. If you need help figuring out your strategy, take a look at the additional questions above, I would be happy to discuss various opportunities that make sense for you. If you’re a SVIC member and searching for a home in Austin feel free to reach out to me via the referral generator to receive a special discount for SVIC members. Finally, remain open to a new way of investing in that market and be willing to learn from your experienced Realtor.