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Published: 21 December 2016

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Texas Association of REALTORS® releases 2016 Texas Annual Housing Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—

CONTACT: Danielle Urban - Pierpont Communications, 512-448-4950

Dec 01 2016 — Austin, Texas

The demand for Texas real estate grew in 2016 with robust sales activity among several types of property, according to the Texas Annual Housing Report released today by the Texas Association of REALTORS®.

“Texas is a national leader in real estate growth, housing demand and development, which attracts homebuyers from across the country and around the globe,” said Leslie Rouda Smith, chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS®. “Texas’ diverse economy, rapid population growth and high quality of life continue to fuel home sales activity across the state.”

Texas real estate demand increased among first-time homebuyers, single women and international homebuyers over the last year. The Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report showed that 30 percent of homebuyers in Texas were first-time homebuyers and that single women were twice as likely to purchase a home than single men.

According to the Texas International Homebuyers Report, Texas real estate is increasingly in demand among international homebuyers from Asia. International homebuyers from India purchased more homes in Texas than any other state, with one in five homebuyers from India purchasing a home in Texas.

Condominiums, new homes, luxury homes and small land parcels also saw higher demand. The Texas Condominium Mid-Year Sales Report showed condominium sales experienced double-digit growth in most of Texas’ major metropolitan areas in the first half of 2016.

Small land sales were the highest-performing segment of Texas real estate, with small land sales volume increasing nearly 19 percent year over year. According to the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, Texas families are increasingly viewing small land purchases as a wise investment strategy as well as making land purchases for a second home, recreational property or agricultural operation.

New-home sales activity continued at a strong pace in 2016. The Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report showed that 30 percent of Texas homes purchased in a 12-month period were new homes, while the Texas Luxury Home Sales Report showed that sales of homes priced $1 million and higher continued to rise throughout the state.

The 2016 editions of the Texas Quarterly Housing Report indicated that the total number of Texas home sales is on track for another record year in 2016. Texas home sales posted modest but steady gains throughout the year, while statewide housing inventory continued to remain low.

Chairman Smith concluded, “The continued growth of the Texas housing market this year despite a slowing Texas economy has been remarkable. As in 2016, housing development and affordability will remain key areas of focus throughout the state next year.”

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Published: 08 November 2016

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NEW Water Meter Installation

Here At Lake Kiowa

In June the Lake Kiowa Utility District announced they were currently in the process of installing new meters as shown above to assist in creating a fixed based reading system. Once all the meters are changed out and the fixed based system is completed, they will be able to receive daily notifications of high usage on meters that will assist us in notifying all Lake Kiowa customers that they might have a possible leak. There also will be a customer login where each customer will be able to setup an account to monitor their own usage. LKSUD will notify customers when this is available. We hope that this will enable you to be more aware of how much water you are using and let you control your cost.

Once the installation is complete all meter boxes will have lockable lids and it is very important that all customers locate their own shut off valve. Please understand if you need help with the location of this new meter, please contact us here at the LKSUD office. If you have an emergency leak in your home, you need to have a working valve that can be found and that is usable. Most homes already have a shut off valve installed but some are hard to locate and some may not work due to age. They might be located just outside of the meter box or in front of an outside faucet where the water line enters the home. As shown in the pictures the new water meter has a five-foot cable attached to the lid and if the cable or meter gets damaged the customer will be responsible and will be billed for the replacement.

The Lake Kiowa Special Utility District is taking every step possible to conserve our precious resource water. Please watch for more information to follow on the status of the fixed based system. If you have any questions you may contact the LKSUD office. Remember the mission here at Lake Kiowa Special Utility District will continue to provide dependable water service that consistently meets or exceeds TCEQ water quality standards.  Services will be delivered at a fair and reasonable price that reflects the cost of producing, testing, storing, and distributing this precious treasure.

It is the stated goal at LKSUD to always treat our customers at Lake Kiowa equally with respect and honesty.

Lake Kiowa Premiere Real Estate looks forward to many years of serving the Lake Kiowa community and working with all community utilities in keeping our Lake Kiowa residents informed. Please come see us for all of your real estate needs, information about the community and please feel free just to stop by any time and say hello too!  Lake Kiowa Premiere Real Estate is open 7 days a week – Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The agents of Lake Kiowa Premiere Real Estate are always available to help you with any questions or concerns. 940-665-3300

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Published: 03 November 2016

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All Residents Are Required To Complete This Course

Are you a new resident here at Lake Kiowa? The everyone here at Lake Kiowa Realty wants to welcome you and your to the Lake Kiowa Community. If you are new then you have probably been given a lot of information about the Lake itself, the Lodge, and the Golf Course. We would also like for you to read this article and take the Boating & Safety Test. This piece is specifically geared towards the education about Boating Requirements & Rules on Safety here at Lake Kiowa. More specifically if you own a boat, will be using a boat, or are in the process of purchasing a boat, you will be required to comple the Online Boater Safety Test of 2016. Please make sure you are aware of the Rules regarding this matter as soon as possible.

Enjoy Your New Boating Experiences!

All homeowners and residents here at Lake Kiowa need information about the Online Boater Safety Test - 2016.  Everyone must take Lake Kiowa's Boater Safety Course. It's the law and this means if you live here, are a renter here, and will be using a boat on the lake, and if you were born after 9-1-1993, you must complete the State of Texas Mandated Texas Boater Safety Course and Must Carry the Boater Education Card on board the vessel you drive and make it available for inspection by an enforcement officer. You do not have to be a Texas Resident to complete this test, but if you will operate a boat on the Lake here, you must complete the exam.

If you want to take the test, please click on this link below and start the process:

Take The Test Here:

• Gather together the following items and have it ready when you go to the link above. Education in the form of a Kiowa Rules & Regulations document, as well as a Boating Cheat Sheet will be made available on this page as well.
• Lake Kiowa Boat Safety Test - The link above asks you the information below. Please provide your Lot #, first & last Name, date of Birth & Email address in the required fields on next page. The Lake Kiowa Boat Safety Test are
• common sense questions that regard to the Boat Safety and Lake Kiowa rules.
• As a study guide use the links below to prepare:
• Lake Kiowa Home page:  http://www.lakekiowatx.com/
• Kiowa Rules and Regulations: http://www.lakekiowatx.com/document_list.asp?id=11&name=Rules+%26+Regulations
• Boating Cheat Sheet:  http://www.lakekiowatx.com/document_view.asp?id=1657
  http://www.lakekiowatx.com/document_view.asp?id=1681
• Texas Parks and Wildlife: https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/

Lake Kiowa Realty looks forward to many more years of serving the Lake Kiowa community. Please come see us for all of your real estate needs, but feel free just to stop by any time and say hello too!  Lake Kiowa Realty is open 7 days a week – Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The agents of Lake Kiowa Realty are always available to help you with any questions or concerns. 940-665-0724

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Published: 09 September 2016

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Fall Household Tips

Did you realize that your home will undergo seasonal changes as the temperatures begin to drop, weather conditions worsen, your home ages, and of course as we human beings add our wear and tear? In order to keep all of your home's systems running smoothly, and to avoid potential costly repairs, it's helpful to conduct regular seasonal maintenance around the house now before it gets cold. Let's start on these tasks now to help save you money, avert costly repairs by waiting, and get a jump on the season.

• Check Your Roof Gutters & Downspouts For Debris: Remember to check on and all around the roof. Because its not at eye level, little piles of leaves in gutters or branch pieces stuck in corners and by chimneys may be giving you little reminders as you walk by. Leaves, dirt, pine needles and other loose debris can clog up your gutters and downspouts too. Examine and remove the debris. Be sure to check the flashing around any opening, vent pipes, skylights and your chimney for potential leaks.
• Change All Home Filters: If you have central heat and air conditioning, change your air filters monthly. Also change the filters in stove vents, clothes dryers and room fans if applicable. Clean air filters will help keep your family healthy this fall, eliminate pollen and dust, and keep your heating/ac units running at full air flow.
• Check Your Windows Doors & Wood Trim: Probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks with a screwdriver lightly to see if the wood is dry rotted. Use caulk to fill any holes or completely replace the wood where necessary. Check around your windows and doors, both inside and out, for leaks and drafts. Caulk any cracks or install weather stripping around windows and doors, including the garage door. Replace screens with storm windows and clean them if needed.
• Schedule Pest Control: Here at Lake Kiowa, bugs, spiders, insects, and all manner of flying things nestle in every nook and cranny both inside and out. Make sure to schedule interior pest control every month to avoid infestations. For exterior peace of mind, have your pest control company spray all the trees for spiders and mites, around all the screens, and most especially around the slab. Insure that no bugs can get in when it starts getting cold.
• Fix All Leaky Faucets & Cover Exterior Faucets: Before the temperatures really drop here in the Lake Kiowa community, examine the faucets in your kitchen, bathrooms and utility room locations. Correcting any issues now can save you time and effort in the future. It will absolutely save dollars by not wasting water.
• Check & Drain Your Water Heaters: Most areas have some minerals in the water, and the sediments and rust could be building up in your tank. Extra buildup in your water heater tank can cause it to work harder than necessary. If your water heater is over 10 years old, you may want to consider an new, energy efficient, water heater.

If you have any questions about a handyman out here at the Lake who can help you prepare for the winter, please give us a call. Enjoy the fall season. The cold days of winter will be here soon enough and we will decorating for the holidays before your know it.

The agents of Lake Kiowa Realty are always available to help you with any questions or concerns.

940-665-0724

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Published: 08 September 2016

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Heat & Cool Efficiently

The most important question to ask yourself about heating and cooling is related to the cost. The Energy Star web site reports that as much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. Keeping this figure in mind, it is very important to review your current systems in place and if changes are needed, making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort.

One way to action is to address how to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Here are some tips that will help you save this winter:

• Change your air filter regularly - Begin now checking your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system which leads to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
• Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly - Maintenance on any system is required to operate efficiently. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.
• Install a programmable thermostat - A programmable thermostat is a great way for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
• Seal your heating and cooling ducts - Air ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Proper sealing and insulating of those ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.
• Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage are a great start. Various types of mastic and metal back foil tape are options for this project to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, they can be wrapped in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. You can also seal any other ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house.
• Consider installing ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment - If replacement is an option and the equipment is more than 10 years old, have it evaluated by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can cut your annual energy bill by more than $115. But before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and the duct system. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than your HVAC equipment.

Ask about Proper Installation of your new equipment -Replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with new, energy-efficient models is a great start. But to make sure that you get the best performance, the new equipment must be properly installed. In fact, improper installation can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent - costing you more on your utility bills and possibly shortening the equipment's life.

Go to Energy Star now for more information