Downtown Austin Condo For Sale Resource

When you buy a home that’s not built yet, there can be setbacks before you move in. Here are steps to buying a pre-construction condo

Pre-construction condos are units that have been proposed by a developer, but have not yet been built. When you purchase a pre-construction unit, you are putting money down before construction begins. Buying a pre-construction condominium can be a great opportunity, but you should proceed with caution. Because you are buying into something that does not yet exist, there is greater potential for unforeseen problems and setbacks before you move into your home. By understanding the risks and planning carefully, you can avoid complications and come out a winner.

Advantages
The main advantage to buying into a condominium development before construction starts is that you often get a lower price than if you buy when construction is complete. The reason for this is that developers typically need pre-construction sales of 50 percent to 90 percent of the units in a development before they can borrow funds to begin construction. Pre-construction condos can also get you in on the ground floor of an investment that will appreciate. The market value of pre-construction units generally increases during the one to three years it takes to build a development, so your unit may be worth more than you’ve paid for it before you set foot in the place. In addition, you can often choose from a variety of finishes and flooring options, allowing you to customize your home.

How the process works
There are several steps to buying a pre-construction condo. They can vary from developer to developer, but the basic components are:

1. Reservation agreement You give a deposit (usually between $5,000 and $10,000) to reserve the unit and set the price (although the builder can reserve the right to change the price in the contract). The deposit is held in escrow and you can cancel the agreement at any time with a full refund.

2. Condominium documents When a development is approved for construction, the developer submits condominium documents (including budgets, association rules, unit descriptions, materials and other important information) for approval by the state. Once the documents are approved, they are sent to you for review. Read them carefully to make sure that you will be comfortable living by the association rules.

3. Right of rescission Once you receive the condominium documents, you have a 15-day period to decide whether you would like to proceed into a binding contract. If you don’t, you can exercise your right of rescission and withdraw with a full refund.

4. Hard contract If you don’t withdraw, you’ll provide the balance of the required down payment, usually 15 to 20 percent of the purchase price, and sign a binding contract agreeing to purchase the condominium. You generally have seven days after that to cancel. This is your last chance to walk away with no penalty.

5. Closing When construction is nearly finished, the developer will issue you a Certificate of Occupancy. A closing date is set when you will hand over the balance of the purchase price and sign the final documents. If all goes according to plan, your closing will coincide with your move-in date, and you will be ready to enjoy your new home.

The 240 units of Milago Condominiums offer wonderfully comfortable living within walking distance of all the music, art, culture, dining, and nightlife that Austin’s downtown has to offer. Surrounded by natural beauty, Milago Condominiums are designed to offer urban stylishness with a cosmopolitan flair. Located at the foot of Rainey Street on Town Lake Trail, this condominium community offers easy access to both outdoor activities and urban amenities.

Built in 2006, Milago Condominiums offer the latest in modern designs and amenities. Right on the edge of Town Lake, with stunning lake views, this building offers a natural environment as well as 1, 2, and 3-bedroom residences that must be seen to be believed. This high-rise in Austin has 13 stories containing 240 units. The architecture of the building itself is very attractive, with soft curves that mimic towers. The Milago Condominiums hearken back to a time when beauty of architecture was important.

When you drive by the Bridges on the Park, the “sold banners” leave you with the feeling that everything is gone but that is not true. I visited today and got the scoop that 40 units are left.

Here is the kitchen and bath layouts but there are a lot of upgrades so don’t expect all of this to come in at the modest $400 a sq. ft. entry price.

What I like bets about the project – great location by Hike and Bike Trail.
WhatI like least about the project – No nieghborhood charm

Here’s some pictures of progress on the new central park area at Mueller:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/366485@N23/pool/

Here’s 2 snapshots of the model home for the kitchen and bath:

I just pulled these 4 photos together to show you how to make sense of this condo craze going on.These are two condo projects in downtown Austin that have a “vibe”; 21C and Star Riverside. Personally, I’d live at both of them because they are both service focused.

This is what you get at 21C
Location: Prime location in heart of the city.

Austin Lifestyle: Contemporary – Creative

Kitchens look something like this:

And the bathrooms look something like this:

At Star Riverside

Location: Rare contemporary condos with both city and lake views. Valuable redevelopment zone.

Austin Lifestyle: Modern contemporary – Zen.

Kitchens look something like this:

And the bathrooms look something like this:

Both are simliarly priced and a 2 bedroom will probably be in the low to mid $400’s.

Here are some snapshots of the new 21C sales center. The vibe is cool and contemporary art. I just asked them to approve our $5000 down payment program too.

If this is the type of property you like and have an interest in selling downtown cool lifestlye, we have 5900 luxury buyer leads to distribute to new agents on January 1 from a $8700 lead gen campaign. I hope this is one the projects we can include on the promotion.