Killeen Market Report Stats for August 2016

Killeen’s market statistics are in for August 2016, and I’m happy to report that Killeen is still listed among the most affordable housing in the nation.

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Today I’d like to report the August 2016 market statistics for Killeen. All of our data comes directly from the Multiple Listing Service. Last month we focused only on the city of Parker Heights, and future reports will be from the other surrounding towns and cities.  

In August of this year, 185 homes sold in Killeen, which is an 11% increase over the same time last year. Of those homes, the average sales price was $123,400, with the typical home selling at 99% of the asking price.

Killeen has consistently been listed among the most affordable housing in the nation, and this year is no exception. The average days on market for August was 119 days, which is pretty similar to August of last year when the average days on market was 116.

Killeen is still among the most affordable places to live in the nation.

The average sales price in Killeen has dropped 1.7% since last year, from about $130,000 down to $127,600. The median sales price stayed almost the same, at about $200,000, and there was an 8.9% increase in total homes sold during these months, from 1,199 homes to 1,306. The average days on the market this past year was 123 days and 38% of sold homes sold the first 90 days as well.

VA financing remains the most popular form of financing, accounting for 56% of the loans taken out. Interestingly, 16% of those sales were cash transactions, which is very strong for this area.

So far this year, Killeen homes have continued to sell for about 98% of the asking price. I am also amazed to learn that 60% of these homes have sold with the first agent that they were listed with.

If you’re interested in stacking the odds in your favor by listing your home with an agent from the Jean Shine Team or you know somebody that is, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. We are already preparing homes for the coming winter and fall months and we’d be happy to help you!

Harker Heights Real Estate Market Update

The real estate market in Harker Heights is fantastic, and I have some MLS numbers to back that claim up.

Selling in the Central Texas area?  Get a market analysis report

 Purchasing in the Central Texas area? Get full MLS access

People ask me all the time, “How’s the market?” In Harker Heights, the market is absolutely, positively fantastic. Here are some numbers taken directly off the MLS:

In the month of August, the average days on market was 110 days. That’s a little bit longer than we like to see, but it’s still better than August 2015, where the average days on market was 129 days. Shaving off those 19 days saves a vacant homeowner about $1,000. There were 66 homes sold, which is an increase of 32% compared to August of last year. The average sales price was $204,525. The typical home sold at almost 99% of the asking price.

The year to date numbers are impressive.

The year to date numbers are equally impressive compared to last year. There was an 8.6% increase in the average sales price, rising from $189,668 to $206,058. There was a 9% increase in the median sales price, rising from $102,500 to $199,364. There was a 20% increase in total home sales, rising from 306 to 367. The average days on market dropped from 129 days to 118 days. This year, 40% of the homes that sold did so in the first 90 days. We also see that 9% of all sales were cash transactions, which is an increase of 77%.

Now, for a little bit of a humblebrag. So far in 2016, sellers that sold with the Shine Team averaged only 82 days on market. That’s 36 days better than our competition. Furthermore, only 62% of the homes that were listed for sale sold in Harker Heights, whereas the Shine Team sold over 81% of our listings. 

We’re already building our inventory for the fall, winter, and spring months, so if you or anybody you know wants to buy or sell a home, please give us a call, shoot us a text, or send us an email. We look forward to giving you positively fantastic service and great results! 

This Is What Really Matters Your Harker Heights House Hunt

We see a wide range of buyers, from those who want homes of a very specific size, style and architectural design, to buyers who simply want four walls, a roof, and electricity for their next home. Most clients are somewhere in the middle - they’re looking for a home that looks good and has most of the features they want.

You've probably looked at houses and checked off a few boxes making sure they have the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you want, but have you ever looked at a home and really thought, "Is this house right for me?"

Not many do. That's why I wanted to share a Consumer Reports video with you that I recently found. It's a nice checklist to go through in order to make sure the home you're considering actually fits you and your lifestyle. Here are my favorite items: 

1. ​Communicate with people at the local coffee shop or any place where locals hang out. Simply ask their thoughts on the area. 
2. You can tell a lot about the sense of community in a neighborhood based on the sidewalks and porches. Seriously! 
3. Proximity to places and amenities you frequent shouldn't be overlooked. Do you want to be close to restaurants and shops, the airport, or parks and trails? 
4. Mortgage cost shouldn't be the only factor when considering affordability. Look at transportation and utility costs too, for example. 

Remember, the average Harker Heights homeowner will stay in their home for about nine years. Don't ignore the important checklist items when considering the place you’ll call home for nearly a decade.

Now, this example is pretty broad. Each family has its own unique situation and its own unique checklist. I'd love to sit down with you and use my experience to help you come up with that all-important checklist of your own to help find the right home for you. Give me a call or send me an email and let’s talk soon.

How to Avoid the Biggest Remodeling Mistakes

Looking to buy or sell a home in Central Texas? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a free Home Market Analysis so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (254) 690-4321 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

I recently came across a great video from Consumer Reports about home updates and remodels that I just had to share with you.

Did you know that some of the best upgrades to add value to your home are actually some of the smallest ones? Big changes like a new addition won’t always make you all of your money back.

This video is all about seeking the help of professionals when you want to make updates, repairs, or remodels on your home. If you’ve been in your house for more than a few years, odds are that the value of your house could improve with some upgrading or remodeling. 

Now, it doesn’t always have to be expensive, but it’s important that you do it right. In this market, there is a lot of money to be made with the right upgrades.

Whether you want to make your home more valuable because you’re thinking about selling and want to get top dollar, or you just want to add to future resale value, it’s important to avoid falling into a money pit.

In the video, Consumer Reports specifically mentions pools as an over improvement. In many areas around the country, a pool may not provide additional return, depreciating much like a car does. However, in our market, we have seen pools add to a home and put money in the seller's pocket. Having a pool in your own backyard gives you a great area to entertain friends and family at your home and can build years of memories, so having a pool may be worth the investment.

Start by figuring out what you want to accomplish. For most people, that starts with finding out the value of their home at this time. That will go a long way in determining what kind of investment you should make in order to maximize the value of your home for the least amount of money.

For an accurate idea of your home’s value, use our free home market analysis tool. Send info like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, along with a few photos of your home - especially the important rooms like the kitchen and master bedroom - and we can quite accurately predict your home’s selling price, too.

The estimate won’t be perfect, but it will be extremely close. 

We can recommend upgrades or remodels that will bring you the best return on every dollar. As the Consumer Reports video shows, a survey of 300 contractors revealed that homeowners changing their minds in the middle of a job can increase costs by 10%!

Similarly, don’t waste your time with a contractor who isn’t licensed. Accredited contractors are better at keeping the cost to you down when you come across budget overruns. Since many hidden costs come from unseen structural problems, a pre-inspection may be your best bet to help you find out what you’re getting yourself into with a big project. 

Finally, we see that their survey showed that many contractors are, in fact, willing to haggle on an estimate. Your odds are better if you’re a repeat customer or are having work done on multiple rooms.

As an expert in the Central Texas market, I can also help you pinpoint areas of your home that will maximize your return when it comes to upgrades and remodels. I know exactly what buyers in the area want and can tell you exactly where your money is best spent to get the most out of your home. Send me an email, give me a call, or check out our free home market analysis tool to get the conversation started.


I hope to hear from you soon, and good luck!

Make Sure Your Kitchen Renovation Goes Smoothly

Looking to buy or sell a home in Central Texas? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (254) 690-4321 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

For homeowners, at least one kitchen remodeling session is practically inevitable. Unfortunately, almost everyone who’s done it has something they might’ve done differently if they could turn back time. When Consumer Reports asked people who’ve done renovations what they wish they would’ve known before getting started, their regrets included:

• Not paying more attention to the finishing details
• Not starting until everything that was ordered was delivered to the home
• Not knowing the dimensions of the appliances in greater detail

Center islands, in particular, are a hot topic. One common design mistake is making the island too big. The countertop should be big enough to be usable, but not too big for the space. Figure on three feet wide, and no more than 10 feet long. As for depth, you want one that measures at least 26 to 48 inches. That will give you plenty of workspace.

Storage space is another place that’s easy to goof. Carefully plan how much storage you’ll need and where to put it. For instance, dishes and glasses need four to six linear feet of cabinet space above or near the sink and dishwasher. Pots and pans need the same amount of space, and you want to store them near your cooktop.

And don’t forget about your garbage! You want to be able to hide at least a 30-quart bin close to the sink and dishwasher.

Picking the wrong range hood can leave you steaming. To clear the air, a hood should be at least as wide as the cooktop below. Over an island, your hood should be at least six inches wider than the cooktop. As for microwave ovens, some have built-in venting, which can save space. But Consumer Reports tests find that even those that vent best don’t clear steam as well as a good hood.

Another detail that’s often overlooked is lighting. Even the brightest overheads can cast shadows while you’re working. Under cabinet lights brighten the work surface and make cooking easier.

And what do contractors wish homeowners knew before diving into a renovation?

• To always use a licensed contractor
• A general idea beforehand of what things are going to cost
• Changing their mind about what you want is the worst thing you can do

"Changing your mind after the work’s begun can cost you an additional $1,500."

Changing your mind after the work has already begun is definitely one of the most expensive mistakes you can make, according to a survey of almost 3,000 Consumer Report readers. On average, it adds about $1,500 to the cost of a kitchen remodel.

Remember, all it takes to avoid these pitfalls is some careful planning. Also, check Consumer Reports Ratings for money-saving advice on appliances and building materials. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or send me an email.

How We Impressed Deborah with Our Communication

Tell me about your experience working with The Shine Team.

"We sold our home. I think the thing that was most remarkable was the communication with the agent and us. We were always kept in the loop as far as the process. We are out of town from the home we were selling, so that was particularly important."

To contact the Shine Team, call 254-690-4321 or email at Shine@ShineTeam.com. 

How We Were Able to Get Bill Speedy Results

Tell me about your experience working with The Shine Team.

"I got speedy results! I called them, told them I wanted to sell my house, and they had it all fixed up from the rental side of the house, and put it on the market. It was sold in three months which wasn’t too bad for me, it’s what I needed. [Now I'm working on] some of the repairs, trying to get that [taken care of] and not have any money out of pocket until the closing."

To contact the Shine Team, call 254-690-4321 or email at Shine@ShineTeam.com. 

How We Were Able to Work with Tom While He Was Out of State

Tell me about your experience working with The Shine Team.

"Really well. We ended up getting the house. Everything went off pretty swell. I'm not in Texas, I was in school in Arizona for most of the period. So, Laurie was able to work as a mediator between me and my wife while we were separated between states due to work."

To contact the Shine Team, call 254-690-4321 or email at Shine@ShineTeam.com. 

How We Answered All of Marvin's Questions

Tell me about your experience working with The Shine Team.

"We worked with Carol and Laurie and they were both extremely helpful and very friendly. Carol was very helpful with the house getting inspected by an inspector and once we were getting into a contract. Laurie was extremely helpful by explaining everything very thoroughly and making everything crystal clear for me, even on the weekends when I had questions. They also loaned some moving stuff for me. The experience was great! I’d be happy to recommend them to anyone else."

To contact the Shine Team, call 254-690-4321 or email at Shine@ShineTeam.com. 

How We Got an Offer on Jason's House in 14 Days

Tell me about your experience working with The Shine Team.

"I got awesome results working with the Shine Team. About a few days after they listed the house I had tons of people who were walking through. They were very professional and there was an instance where I knew the lights were being left on so I called the Shine Team and they made sure that all the realtors that were showing the house turned off the lights. They were definitely respectful of my wishes and within fourteen days I had an offer on the house! I was very ecstatic with the performance of the Shine Team. Everything went so smoothly and there really wasn’t anything that I needed more. There was a matter of selling some furniture that I had on the lawn and they went above and beyond in communicating with the realtor in getting that situation taken care of promptly. I was continually contacted with any updates and I was never left uninformed. I was pretty happy with my experience."

To contact the Shine Team, call 254-690-4321 or email at Shine@ShineTeam.com. 

How Ginny Was Impressed with Our Professionalism

Tell me about your experience working with The Shine Team.

"Well we sold our house. We closed on it a couple weeks ago. They were great. They were professional, knew exactly what was expected. Answered questions, were always available. When I called, somebody called me back. One time when I was out of town, my garage kept opening on its own. Rodney Shine was on the phone, trying to get someone over there so I didn't have to worry about it. It really made me feel safe and that they were concerned about me. They didn't have to do that. They took very good care."

To contact the Shine Team, call 254-690-4321 or email at Shine@ShineTeam.com. 

Oh, No! I Shattered My Phone

Looking to buy or sell a home in Central Texas? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (254) 690-4321 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

You’re not going to believe where I am today, but I am at the Cell Doctor's office! Steve is going to fix my shattered phone.

A few weeks ago, I came in and Steve advised me to wait until I absolutely needed my phone repaired. He knew I was going to drop it again! Sure enough, my phone went down on my bathroom tile floor.

All I have to wait is thirty minutes to get my phone repaired! His office is right behind Shine Team Realtors at 200 Commercial Drive #102. Come by with any of your problems. 30 minutes is all it takes! Thank you, Steve, for saving my life.

Don’t forget to tell Steven, the Cell Doctor, you heard about us through the Shine Team. You’ll receive a discount for being referred! When you break your phone, you know who to call.

If you have any questions about today’s topic, feel free to give me a call or send me an email! I’m happy to answer your questions.