It’s that exciting time of year again, where the 2010 proposed property values have come out.  Being a full-time Austin Realtor, I have a good idea of the fair market value of our home, and I am always curious to see what TCAD (Travis County Appraisal District) is going to do with our home value.  Some years the change in value is in line with the market and other times not.  We protest high property taxes!

If you feel as though your 2010 proposed value is not correct and are considering filing a protest, you may have a new option for filing if you live in Travis County.  Travis County has introduced a new online option for some homeowners to protest property appraisals.   If you are eligible to protest online, you would have received such notice along with the appraised value form.   The general criteria for homeowners with the online option is that their home be valued less than $300,000 and that they are in very homogenous neighborhoods (near similar homes in age, size and condition).

The online system will function similar to the traditional process.  Homeowners will be able to log in to the system and file their protest.  If TCAD decides to offer a settlement, the homeowner has the option to accept or reject it online.  If the offer is rejected, the homeowner will be scheduled for a formal hearing.  The online system should save homeowners both time and money.  Chief Appraiser Patrick Brown hopes that the electronic system will eventually be expanded to all homeowners.

Remember, whether you have the online option or not, the deadline for filing a protest is June 1, 2010.  Please contact us, Joe and Jessica Honegger, if you have any questions regarding your 2010 proposed property values or if you would like assistance with any other real estate need.

Whether you are getting your home ready to sell this spring or just have old appliances that need replacing, now is the time to take advantage of some amazing rebates offered by the State Energy Conservation Office, SECO.  The SECO is offering a number of rebates from economic stimulus money on energy efficient appliances.  This combined with the City of Austin and Texas Gas rebates means you can receive an amazing discount depending on which appliances you need.  To be eligible you must be a Texas resident.  The funding is limited and they will begin taking reservations on April 5^th, 2010.  The appliances must be purchased between April 16^th and April 25^th.  You can apply for up to 2 appliances and they must be different kinds.  The eligible appliances are:  refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, central air conditioners, air source heat pumps, and hot water heaters.

Here is a link to all the information you will need for SECO and Austin Energy.

In addition, the Austin Water Utility reinstated the free toilet program to help you improve your water efficiency!

If you are looking to sell your Austin home this year, contact JH Residential for advice on which appliances will bring you the most return on your investment.

Don’t spend money that you don’t have to improve your home.  But if you do have some reserve money, now is a great time to make your home more energy effecient. If you live in an older central Austin home and are thinking of selling in the next couple of years, then now would be a great time to take advantage of the rebates Austin Energy offers along with the tax credits the federal government is offering.  Here are the top incentives that we recommend:

• Purchase a new central air conditioner and get up to a $1500 tax credit and a $600 rebate.
• Put in attic insulation and get up to a $1500 tax credit and $650 rebate
• Purchase energy-efficient windows and get up to a $1500 tax credit and an average rebate of $164

Visit our Preferred Vendors  page to contact our recommended AC company, QLS (Casey even came to rescue me within a couple of hours when our AC went out last September and I had a new baby). To receive the tax credit , improvements must meet the new tax code requirements.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: In February of 2007 the City of Austin passed the Climate Protection Plan with the goal of increasing energy efficiency throughout the city. As a result, the Energy Efficiency Ordinance was passed in November of 2008.

What is required?
Under the Energy Efficiency Ordinance, owners of homes that lie within the Austin city limits and are serviced by Austin Energy are required to obtain an energy audit prior to selling their homes. Audit findings are then to be disclosed to prospective buyers.

When does the ordinance go into effect?
The Energy Efficiency Ordinance is effective June 1, 2009.

How do I comply?
The energy audit must be completed and disclosed before the home sale closes. We are recommending that homeowner’s interested in selling have their homes audited before they list their home for sale to prevent a last minute scramble to comply with the ordinance. The audit will also point out repairs to increase your home’s energy efficiency that will help your home sell more quickly.

Are there any exceptions?
Yes, the main exception is for properties fewer than 10 years old at the time sale. There are a number of other exceptions that you can find in the Austin Energy link below.

What will the Auditor inspect?
· Inspect and measure the attic insulation in various locations
· Pressure test the duct system and assesses it’s condition
· Examine heating and cooling equipment
· Inspect weather stripping around exterior doors, plumbing penetrations, beneath sinks, and air tightness of attic entries
· Identify and measure the amount of glass in windows that receive more than one hour of direct sunlight each day
Information provided by Austin Energy http://budurl.com/newaustinenergy.

To learn more and to find an approved auditor, visit Austin Energy at the link below: http://budurl.com/energycompliance or give us a call at (512) 497-9252 and we will be glad to answer any questions that you may have.