Kristina & Steph here, Co-Founders of Open House Austin: a woman-owned Austin real estate brokerage helping people break through the barriers of traditional home buying every dang day. Because, homeownership done well inspires community, income and creativity! Nothing excites us more than sharing our latest house hacking strategies with you - including info on buying with friends, sneaky duplexes, tiny houses, investing, and Airbnb management. Follow us on TikTok for more tips: @openhouseaus ...
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The Information presents Modest Conversations hosted by Sam Lessin, who writes the site's regular 'Modest Conversations' column. Modest Conversations are short conversations with interesting people about technology, culture, politics, and whatever else strikes our fancy.
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Matt Quinn has been on a mission to be a 10x better founder by meeting incredible founders who have gone before him to get an answer to the question: How did you get your first 1000....? Your first 1000 customers, sign ups, fans, users, clicks, dollars invested. I've learned 2 things: (1) No 2 companies are the same (2) What got them here, won't get you there But the stories are fascinating. They're stories of luck and grit and learning and they need to be shared. And this is how first 1000 ...
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Navigating the National Association of Realtors’ Changes Together: How This Impacts Your Home-Buying Journey (Featuring Our Agents, Sydney & Jenn)
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The real estate landscape is buzzing with discussions about the National Association of Realtors' (NAR) recent adjustments. We're here to cut through the noise for you! ⚔️ In today's episode of our podcast, experienced Realtors Sydney and Jenn speak on these timely changes that will take place in July 2024 and how this may impact your home-buying j…
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House Hacking Part 4: in Austin & Bastrop - While House Sitting! Featuring Our Experienced Realtor, Mandy
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Our incredible Realtor Mandy is back for another interview! Her real estate journey began when she bought a fixer-upper in 2017 in the McKinney neighborhood in Southeast Austin. She DIYed all renovations and house hacked by renting out a room, mostly short-term. She continues to mindfully invest, rehab, and rent out properties - most recently, in B…
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House Hacking Part 3: Legally Convert a Window Into an Exterior Door to Create an In-Home Airbnb Rental Unit, Featuring Marketing Director Holly
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This week, our Marketing Director Holly joins us for the first time (ever!) to share her sneaky duplex "why" and the exterior door permitting + installation process in Austin, Texas. She did her due diligence, putting her vision onto paper and vetting more than a dozen contractors to complete this project. Listen now to inspire your house-hacking j…
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House Hacking Part 2: 3 Proven Options That Generate Income, Helping You Reduce Mortgage Costs
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In this episode, Kristina and Steph dive into three proven house hacking options: investing in a duplex/triplex/fourplex, buying a single-family home, or adding a tiny home to your property. We'll guide you through each strategy, emphasizing how they can align with your personal values, such as privacy. Whether you're drawn to the idea of a "live-i…
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House Hacking Part 1: Sharing Our “Why” Behind This Game-Changing Creative Home-Buying Strategy
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New month, new theme! Throughout March and April, we'll focus on house hacking—renting out part of your home to cover your mortgage. In this episode, we delve into personal experiences: Steph partnered with her mom, renovating a back house to reduce expenses and increase net worth. Kristina strategically used house hacking in East Austin, transform…
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2023 First-Time Homebuyer Stats: Want to Buy a House in 2024? Listen to This!
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Did you know that in 2023, 57% of our clients were able to make a down payment of 5% or less when purchasing their first home? Additionally, 16% of our first-time homebuyers in 2023 closed on a home with a platonic partner (buy homes with friends ❤️)! Today, our incredible Realtor team - Jenn, Sydney, Alan, and Mandy - reveals more stats like these…
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Five Friends, One East Austin House: Our Shared Creative Home-Buying Journey! Featuring Our Expert Realtors Sydney & Jenn
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In this episode, Steph welcomes our amazing Realtors, Sydney and Jenn, to the show! Discover how these three, along with Kristina and another friend, joined forces to purchase a home in East Austin. This unique property featured a tiny home in the backyard and initially functioned as a communal space before transitioning into Sydney's personal resi…
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Buying Homes With Friends Part 3: Pitching The Idea to Friends, Family, Co-Workers & Beyond
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Considering buying a home with friends? Wondering how to pitch this idea to others? Join us as we highlight the crucial art of presenting yourself as a valuable partner. Co-Founder Steph shares her firsthand experience, recounting how she approached her mom to form a real estate relationship that has only grown stronger over the years. Get in Touch…
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Buying Homes With Friends Part 2: Red Flags & Creating Operating Agreements to Legally Protect Yourself
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Today, Kristina and Steph reveal red flags that you should look out for when buying with friends. Hear a real story about a partnership that didn't work out and grasp the consequences of ignoring these signs. Then, understand the importance of clear rules, known as operating agreements, to prevent conflicts and legally protect yourself. Get in Touc…
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Buying Homes With Friends Part 1: What Makes a Great Real Estate Partnership?
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Welcome back to the start of a new season. This February, we're laser-focused on a theme: buying homes with friends. In a challenging real estate market, forming partnerships is a creative solution. We'll share real-life examples, explore key considerations, and make this idea actionable for you over the course of several episodes. Get in Touch Com…
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Party Recap! Highlights From Our Community Space & Office Grand Opening Event
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Co-hosts Kristina and Steph chat about our epic 12th Street Community Space & Office Launch Party! Designed by interior decorator Dani Klarić, this spot’s more than just an office - it's a vibrant, inspiring place where we'll host future educational workshops, Women Investor Group Meetups, and one-on-one chats with our clients. We had Chi'Lantro BB…
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The Latest: Austin Real Estate Market Update and First-Time Homebuyer Success Stories from Our Experienced Realtor Team
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Join host Steph and our Realtor team - Sydney, Jenn, Alan, and Mandy - as they chat about today's Austin real estate market, sharing personal stories and client experiences. Are there still deals to be found? How do the current interest rates play a part in monthly payments and cash needed to close? Plus, they share thoughts on our soon-to-be-opene…
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The Real Cost of Buying a Home in 2023 + House Hacking Examples Using Active for Sale Properties in Austin, Texas
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The question we hear most often is, "What does it cost to buy a house?" To answer that, we've put together a focused mini-episode that delves into real-world examples of homes currently available in Central Austin, Texas. We don't stop there - we also discuss creative strategies like house hacking to help you reduce your living costs. Tune in for a…
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East Austin Office and Community Space Update! Renovation Challenges, Party Planning, and What We've Learned Along the Way
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About our 12th Street Office and Community Space... It's seriously crunch time! We're sharing challenges we've faced throughout this project as we manage contractors, work with Dani Klarić's decorating team, and plan a HUGE launch party (RSVP here). If you're curious about what it takes to launch a big project or just enjoy a good behind-the-scenes…
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Find Your People and Make New Friends! A Circle is Round Replay
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Y'all, we've received HUNDREDS of the same comments responding to our buying with friends TikToks and content: "I don't have friends." "Step 1) find friends." "I don't have any responsible friends..." You get it! Steph's other podcast A Circle is Round - which she created with her very own bestie, Julia Toro - strives to solve this friendship crisi…
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Renovating a Shipping Container and Shed to Create a Profitable Rental Home ($72,000+ Estimated Yearly Earnings)
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Neglected shed + container storage shell = MAJOR income potential. Stay with us... This week, Steph is breaking down her latest creative real estate investment in Southeast Austin. And, this is just the backyard property - there's a front house too! We'll reveal the biggest challenges she faced and the overall timeline a project like this takes. Ge…
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Our Favorite Things: Real Estate Edition! Hidden-Gem Neighborhoods, Investing Strategies, and Unique Home Features
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Have you been to a "Favorite Things" party?! It's a get-together all about exchanging awesome little things that people can't live without, and Kristina and Steph apply this concept to this week's discussion. For example, what's their favorite property? And, is there a hidden-gem neighborhood in Austin that's just a bit better than the rest?? For a…
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Ranch Home Dreams Vs. Reality: Two Years of Shared Ownership With Friends
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Steph chats with her co-owners about their shared ranch journey over the past two years. They discuss their successes, like good bookings in June and July, and the challenges they've faced. Ideas fly about turning the ranch into a filming spot, camping spot, or breathwork retreat! Listen in to hear about the balancing act of work and ranch life, an…
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Hesitant to Homeowner! A Conversation on Building Decisiveness as a First-Time Homebuyer
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This week, Kristina and Steph talk about making choices! They know that big decisions, like buying a house, can feel super stressful. So, they share how using apps like Asana - which helps break up milestones into smaller tasks - can make things easier. Kristina and Steph warn about getting stuck in "research mode" for too long without ever making …
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Catch Up With Kristina & Steph: Vacation Stories, Investment Property Updates, & Getting Scammed by an Architect?!
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Kristina and Steph share updates on their real estate investments, including managing vacation rentals and restructuring friend-oriented partnerships. Hear about Steph's restored ranch house (bought with friends!) and our exciting office renovation plans (RSVP to our re-launch/opening party below). + They were scammed by an architect?! 👀 Listen and…
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Building Wealth Together: Buying a Home with Friends
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This episode is such a great starting point for anyone that's considered partnering with friends or family to buy property! Purchasing a house on your own can be tough, and sometimes, it may not be something you can afford. But if you team up with a friend, you can split the work and the cost. Originally recorded in 2021, Steph and Kristina discuss…
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The Ups and Downs of Airbnb Ownership: Retreat House Update and Management Tips
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Join Kristina and Steph as they share their experiences managing a stay-cation rental property: The Retreat House! From dealing with a broken pool to improving communication with property managers, they offer valuable insights into running a successful short-term rental business. Discover their strategies for handling finances and enjoying the spac…
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Ready or Not: Are You Prepared to Purchase a Home?
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This episode is such a great starting point for first-time homebuyers! Originally recorded in 2020, Steph and Kristina help you decide if you’re ready by discussing debt-to-income ratio, credit score, and the amount of money you’ll need to invest in a home. You’ll leave this episode with a better sense of when you should buy, based on your personal…
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A Very Special 4-Year Anniversary Episode! Reflecting on Lessons Learned and Our Incredible Team + Community
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Kristina and Steph share their story about starting and running the real estate education company + brokerage you know and love today: Open House Austin! They break down their unique way of doing business, which focuses on making sure our team and they themselves are happy and fulfilled while helping 550+ people buy homes in Austin (so far). Lastly…
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Sneaky Duplex: How to Generate Income From a Private Room in Your Home
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Today, we're chatting about the Sneaky Duplex house hacking strategy. Totally fine if you've never heard of it before - we actually coined the phrase a few years ago! We define a Sneaky Duplex rental as: "...specifically the act of adding an exterior door to a bedroom in your home to make it a separate space for short- or long-term rental." Co-Foun…
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What's the Biggest First-Time Homebuyer Mistake? Breaking Free from Analysis Paralysis Through a Mindset Shift
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Join Kristina and Steph as they tackle the biggest mistake first-time homebuyers often make: getting stuck in analysis paralysis. In this episode, they'll take you through their journey of breaking free from this common trap by shifting their mindset. Using their own experiences, they reveal how understanding local markets, leveraging data, and emb…
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Hate Landlords? Listen to This! A Fresh Take for First-Time Homebuyers in Austin, Texas
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Kristina and Steph discuss the journey of becoming a first-time homeowner and landlord in Austin, Texas. They unpack the ethics of property ownership, making this episode essential for those considering investing in the greater Austin area. This conversation aims to clarify some misconceptions about landlords, offering fresh perspectives on their r…
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The Reality of Buying Real Estate With Family, Managing Property Together, and Generating Meaningful Income
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Partnering with family to buy real estate?? Yep! Kristina and Steph discuss tough money talks, how they've set personal boundaries with loved ones, and the amazing memories that can come from the initial commitment of teaming up to invest. If you want to explore the challenging yet rewarding world of family-run real estate businesses (there's a lit…
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Building a Tiny House in Los Angeles! Featuring Eric Mann, Creative Behind LeverCraft Coffee & Ultra Grinder
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In this episode, Co-Founder Kristina is joined by her partner Eric! They discuss the tiny house he's been working on at Stef's home in L.A. Eric provides a glimpse into his personal experience of constructing a tiny house and budgeting for changes. Plus, he teases his current project: an upcoming coffee product. You'll have to listen in to learn mo…
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They Partnered to Buy Land and Build a Duplex in East Austin! Featuring Women Real Estate Investors Chloe Kwon & Valerie Figlin
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Meet Chloe Kwon and Valerie Figlin, two determined women who embarked on a real estate journey together! Starting with no experience, they successfully navigated zoning, land development, and construction challenges to build a duplex from the ground up in East Austin (78702). Today, we discuss the invaluable role community and mentorship played in …
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40-Year Mortgages Explained! Factora Coffee & Coin Replay
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This week, we're sharing a fantastic episode from Factora's Coffee & Coin podcast featuring our Co-Founder Steph! Together, we cover new insights on the 40-year mortgage option and helpful tips on planning for a comfortable retirement, including: The story behind the FHA's introduction of the 40-year mortgage The pros and cons of choosing a 40-year…
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Buying a Home in the Current Market: Should You Wait or Invest Now (and House Hack)?
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If you're in the market for a home, or even just curious about the current state of the housing market, this episode is a must-listen! It's now possible to purchase a home with less money upfront than ever before. And, the pandemic-era bidding wars have subsided (for now!). Kristina and Steph discuss how these factors play into what's ultimately a …
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Our Top 5 Lessons Learned Running a Real Estate Education Company and Brokerage in Austin, Texas
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We officially opened our small business in 2019! But what inspired Kristina and Steph to team up in the first place? And, how have we grown our tight-knit team of 8 agents and employees since? We've soared and stumbled along the way - learning a ton. Today, we're unpacking our most valuable lessons and passing them on to you! Get in Touch Comments,…
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Our agent team joins us to share their stories and stats from 2022. Alan, Sydney, Mandy, and Jenn share wins and unique client learnings from last year - and, how these lessons can be applied to the 2023 home-buying process! If you want to see all the details of our first-time home buyer stats, check out our blog post with all the graphs and number…
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Building Up & Breaking Down: Lessons Learned From Renovation Projects
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Thanks to reality TV and aesthetic Instagram timelapses, home renovations are romanticized to the max. Let's be realistic for a minute and chat about the work that actually goes into updating a property. Steph and Kristina look back at their first reno experiences: as an 11 year-old along for the ride in Utah and a 25 year-old converting a run-down…
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What's Seller Financing? How We "Learn by Doing" as Real Estate Investors
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We're throwing it back! Early in our investment career, we closed on a property in San Antonio. We quickly realized it wasn't the right match for us, and our interest piqued when Steph heard about seller financing. We're sharing what that processed looked like for us, what we learned overall, and our return (because, yes - we did make it out alrigh…
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Should You Break Up With Your Realtor? Signs Your Agent is Good (or Bad!) For You
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In 2022, 67% of homebuyers interviewed only one real estate agent during their home search! So, we've got to ask - are people settling on the first Realtor they meet? You wouldn't buy the first house you see, so shouldn't you shop around for your agent as well? We're sharing what sets one Realtor apart from the other! And, why it's totally okay to …
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Friendship Meets Finances: The Why Behind Our Women Investor Group's Speed-Dating Style Event
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Searching for a welcoming space where you can make friends, ask questions, discuss real estate, and improve your financial literacy? Kristina and Steph attended event after investor event and simply couldn't find one. Their solution: creating Open House Austin's very own Women Investor Group! We have regular meetups at our office, and our Facebook …
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Ranch House Update With The Crew! Our Community & Income Goals
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What happens when you buy an old-timey ranch and saloon with five partners? Late-night DJ sessions and movie showings! Harvesting our own honey! Hosting multiple families for a super Thanksgiving event! Today, Steph brings the crew together to discuss goals for their shared property. Get in Touch Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at podca…
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Homeschool on YouTube, FREE and Available Now! Learn How to Buy a House With an Investor Mindset
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You read that right! Our first-time homebuyer course is 100% free on YouTube!!! This is huge, y'all. Now, we'll be able to help even more people overcome the barriers of traditional homeownership (like YOU). Check it out now! Special shoutout to our lovely Admin, Grace! Who we've had the pleasure of working alongside these last few months. 🙂 She tr…
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She Bought a House With Her Boyfriend, But It All Went Horribly Wrong...
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This is unusual for us! Let's discuss a real estate partnership of the romantic kind. As y'all know, we're very into buddying up with friends to invest in property and creating an operating agreement along the way to protect everyone involved. #housesbeforespouses ;) But here, we share what happened when a friend went the traditional route: teaming…
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Which of Our Educational Tools is Right For You? Our Homebuyer Resources in Review
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Educating homebuyers has always been our #1 priority. Now, we've got an agent and marketing team that's just as passionate about that mission. Together, we're able to provide y'all with meaningful resources on creative homeownership. We've got a quiz, mini-courses, blog posts, this podcast, a Women Investor group, and in-person workshops. Today, Co…
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What's Up With Airbnb? And, Our Reality TV Show That Never Was...
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Airbnb hosts are kind of a lot these days. The house rules! Cleaning requirements!! Quiet hours!!! Kristina & Steph chat through the current state of short-term rentals along with how their properties are holding up. Bonus: We were on track to get our own reality TV show earlier this year! But, the stars simply did not align. We'll share what's nex…
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What's The State of The Real Estate Market Today? And, Who Should Actually Buy Property at This Time?
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With talk of recession continual and interest rates at a stable high, who should buy in this real estate market - rather than wait? Because it's honestly always a good time to buy, specifically for a certain type of person in a given situation. Today, we discuss today's market and who might use this opportunity to mindfully invest - and ideally, th…
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Buying a Home With Soul Friends to Build a Better, Community-Oriented Future Together
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What happens when a Facilitator of Change, Community Builder + Environmentalist, and Reiki Energy Healer connect at a local song circle? A soul family is born. Emily, Leilah, and Roxanne partnered together to buy a house - but, it's going to be SO much more than that. Learn how they addressed their fears and created a thoughtful plan for their inve…
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What’s an Interest Rate? Why Are They Going Up? 2-1 Buydown Explained + Timely Tips From Experienced Loan Officer, Moose Mau & Investment-Minded Realtor, Jenn Carey
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We bring on an experienced loan officer (Steph's uncle, Moose) & investment-minded Realtor (our teammate, Jenn) for a market update + unique ways to overcome increased interest rates. You've probably heard this phrase: "Marry the home - date the rate." But what does it reallyyyy mean? And, how could a '2-1 Buydown' loan increase your home-buying po…
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Real Estate Horror Stories From Us, Our Agents, & Community
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Chains on the wall. Random broken mirrors. Secret doors. Severed doll heads galore. This extra-spooky special episode is a real scream, to be sure. Turn the lights down and grab a cozy bevy. We're sharing real estate horror stories from us, our agents and neighbors. Get in Touch Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at podcast@openhouseaustin…
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Steph Keeps a Colony of 80,000 Bees! What's an Agricultural Exemption and How It'll Save Her $10K a Year
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Steph teamed up with 7 friends to buy a ranch! It's a 24-acre property with endless potential. But, their first thought was to move a native bee colony onto the land. They'll be jarring honey by the dozen in the coming years. Meantime, they're saving a significant amount of money on taxes with an agricultural exemption. Listen up for all of the swe…
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Buying a Fixer-Upper Home in Downtown Bastrop, TX Featuring Our Agent Mandy
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Meet Mandy! The latest addition to our amazing Realtor team. 🥰 Mandy set out to expand her portfolio and buy a second primary residence this year, but she soon learned that she had been priced out of the Austin market. Soo many of us can relate! By expanding her search, she was able to remove that barrier to entry AND move closer to family. Now, sh…
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Catch Up With Our Agents, Austin-Area & Creative Homeownership Experts!
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Our agent team takes the mic: Alan, Mandy, Jenn, and Syd! We hold team meetings on Tuesday to discuss real estate market trends, client wins, and creative homeownership possibilities. Today, you're listening in! 🙂 Get in Touch Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at podcast@openhouseaustin.co Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on I…
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