Author: bdowdy

Categories
Homebuilder

What First-Time Homebuyers Need to Know

Searching for your new home in Kyle is an exciting time. For first-time homebuyers, it can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? Never fear, here is a simple guide on what you need to know as a first-time homebuyer.

  1. Determine What You Can Afford

Try to aim for the middle of what you can afford rather than the high end. Things happen and there are fees associated with buying a new home. These fees may include insurance, property taxes, homeowner association dues, maintenance, and utility. And the rate varies based on your location.

Zillow has an affordability calculator to help you do the math. You can enter the amount you plan to make on a down payment, your household’s combined annual income, any debt, and monthly expenses.

  1. Find a Trusted Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents do more than help you search for the right home and get you inside to look around. The best ones walk you through the buying process. You also want to find an agent that knows Kyle or whatever location you’re looking into. To find a trusted agent, ask friends for referrals. Interview them before you select one.

  1. Calculate Your Potential Home Loan Mortgage

After you narrow down your list of homes you like, start crunching some numbers. Realtor.com has a mortgage calculator to determine your estimated monthly home loan mortgage payment.

  1. Request an Inspection

Yes, even if you’re buying a new home in Kyle, you want to have a home inspection. While the Crosswinds community has hand-selected the builders with exemplary records of high-quality construction, it’s still a good idea to request a home inspection. Sometimes things get overlooked and the inspection will help find them.

  1. Round up Your Documents Early

When it comes time to sign the papers, you’ll be signing a lot of them. The final paperwork is about the size of a small book. Before you can sign anything, you’ll need to pull together many documents. That’s why it’s a good idea to start this process early.

You’ll need almost everything from the past two years including pay stubs, bank account statements, tax returns, W-2s, statements from any loans including auto and credit lines.

We hope this list will ease the feeling of being overwhelmed as a first-time buyer. A good real estate agent should be able to guide you every step of the way.

If you’d like to learn more about new homes in Kyle, please contact our Crosswinds team. To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

Categories
Education Homebuilder Lifestyle

5 Top Tax Benefits of Buying a New Home You Need to Know About

Searching for a new home in Kyle is a wonderful adventure. That ideal home and all its possibilities await you out there somewhere. Buying a new home, no doubt, is one of the most memorable times in a person’s life. And it will increase your net worth for all its worth and other advantages.

Here are the top tax benefits of owning a home.

  1. Deduct Interest on Your Mortgage

Homeowners will be able to deduct the interest they pay on their mortgage. Be aware that this applies to home financing that’s under $750k. if you’re shopping for a home in Kyle, Texas, you’re most likely to gain the full benefit of this. One of the reasons people love living in Kyle is for its affordability.

Any interest you pay as part of the closing costs associated with the purchase will be deductible. You can usually find this information on the settlement sheet. Prior to tax time, your lender will send IRS Form 1098 to you. This shows all the money you’ve paid in interest on your loan for the past year.

  1. Deduct Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

Private mortgage insurance is often required for buyers who put down less than 20 percent of the value of their home. Its purpose is to protect the mortgage lender in the event the buyer quits making payments toward the loan.

Just like the ability to deduct interest that you pay on a mortgage, you can also deduct the amount you pay for private mortgage insurance. It can slightly reduce the financial burden for those who can’t put down 20 percent.

  1. Deduct Property Taxes

Homeowners can deduct up to $10k per year on property taxes. You may pay property taxes either through your lender or municipality. In both cases, it’s critical to keep financial records of the amounts you paid for the year. You can save thousands of dollars when deducting property taxes.

  1. Deduct Home Office Space

With many people getting to switch to remote working thanks to the pandemic, this will be a new benefit. People who work from home can deduct the square footage of the space used as an office. You can also deduct resources you use to conduct business such as computers, printer toner, and webcams.

To prevent the abuse of this deduction, the IRS caps this to 300 sq. ft. This is one where a tax professional is your best bet to ensure you optimize this deduction while following the rules.

  1. Deductions for First-Time Buyers

Homebuyers sometimes take out money from their IRA to put toward their down payment. However, the IRS often imposes a 10 percent penalty for withdrawing from an IRA before 59-and-a-half years old. The good news is that anyone who has never owned a principal residence in the past year may be able to withdraw up to $10k without penalty, or $20k for married couples.

You can use this method when buying a home for a family member. Be aware that any funds you withdraw from your IRA need to be used within four months of the withdrawal.

Don’t let the homebuying process daunt you. There are people who can help you. Ask them about these tax benefits. Good luck with your home search.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

Categories
Amenities Area Attractions Events Family Fun Lifestyle

Why Is Buying a New Home in Kyle Better Than in Austin?

Austin is one of the coolest and quirkiest cities in the U.S. People love it for its music venues, booming tech scene, diversity of entertainment, some of the best BBQ in the U.S., and Bat City. “Keep Austin weird” is a celebrated moniker and for good reason.

And of course, when you stroll along Sixth Street, you’ll encounter a lot of college students from the University of Texas at Austin and other colleges.

Here are the reasons why buying a new home in Kyle may be a better option than in Austin.

  1. Affordability

In the last decade, Austin has grown massively popular. Along with that comes soaring median housing prices. Many area real estate agents say happy homeowners love the affordable homes and lifestyle in Kyle. You can find a brand new house in the Crosswinds community in Kyle starting in the mid-$200s.

Property taxes are another advantage of living in Kyle. The city has recently reduced the property tax rate by 4 percent as Fox 7 Austin reports.

  1. Quieter Small-Town Lifestyle

With Austin being a quick trek away, Kyle residents relish the small-town lifestyle. They can go to Austin anytime they want to take advantage of its many offerings. Besides, more businesses have moved close to Kyle, some of which are big wigs like Lowe’s Kyle, Amazon’s Kyle facility, Tesla, and ENF Technology U.S. headquarters.

  1. Location

Kyle is located only 20 miles from downtown Austin. Additionally, many of the places you want to visit are located within 30 minutes from Kyle. And you can fly to many places, even international destination, from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA).

Kyle citizens love to visit Austin and find a happy medium by living on the outskirts of Austin. They’re close enough to take advantage of Austin’s incredible resources and entertainment.

These are not the only reasons, but they’re the biggest reasons Kyle residents share. Browse this blog and you’ll see all that Kyle has to offer! Besides, you cannot find a community like Crosswinds in Austin.

The landscape architects of Crosswinds worked to preserve the natural beauty of the Texas prairies that captivated the area’s first explorers. At the same time, the landscape architects wanted to design a community for families that brings everyone and the outdoors together.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

Categories
Area Attractions Family Fun

Keep It Kyle Pie Series: Fox’s Pizza Den

As y’all may know, Kyle is the Pie Capital of Texas. OK, if you didn’t know, you do now! Granted, the first kind of pie that comes to mind is the sweet version. Kyle specializes in pie of all kinds including many people’s favorite: pizza.

This town has an incredible medley of pizza. And one of those is Fox’s Pizza Den in Kyle, just 12 short minutes from Crosswinds, on 147 Elmhurst Dr., Kyle, TX 78640.

Welcome to the Den

Fox’s Pizza Den’s story begins with $500, a rented storeroom, and used equipment covered in snow and ice rescued from the scrapyard in Pittsburgh. Founder Jim Fox could finally make his lifelong dream of opening a pizza place come true. The first location appeared in his hometown of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania. From the first pizza sold, it only took six hours to completely sell out.

Fox opened a few more locations around Pennsylvania and incorporated Fox’s Pizza Den in 1974. Now the chain has more than 200 franchises in 25 states. Texas has only two locations and Kyle is the lucky recipient of one of them. Fox’s has been voted best pizza franchise of 1993 by the National Pasta and Pizza Association. It has received PMQ and Pizza Industry Enterprise (PIE) awards.

What’s on the Menu at Fox’s Pizza Den?

Fox’s pizzas come in multiple sizes ranging from the small 9-inch pizza to the Big One that’s 30 inches and contains a whopping 52 slices. Too much? Perhaps, the Big Daddy with 21 slices will do. Too hip for round pizza? Square is available in the Champ, which is 16 inches by 16 inches and contains 16 slices.

Their gourmet pizzas range from buffalo chicken and bacon double cheeseburger to steak rancher and veggie. Want something other than a slice? Stromboli, hoagies, and wedgies are available. Salad fans have a variety of options from tossed to taco salad. Sides include breadsticks, chicken tenders, chicken wings called Fox’s Wing Ditties, and wedge-cut fries.

If you save room for pie, they have round pizza cookies cut like a pie. Flavors include s’mores, brownie with chocolate chips, and the original. And for the non-pie kind of dessert, order cinnamon sticks.

As usual, this is making us hangry. We’re going to make like a fox to head to Fox’s!

More Kyle pies:

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

Categories
Education

Educational Opportunities Near Kyle, Texas

Residents in Kyle, Texas, have a diversity of educational opportunities available. You’ll find something for every kind of learner at every age.

Hays Consolidated Independent School District

The first option is the Hays Consolidated Independent School District with a mission of changing lives one student at a time. The district serves more than 20,000 students across 25 campuses.

Students who live in the Crosswinds community attend the following Hays CISD exemplary schools:

The district offers many specialized career programs such as an elementary magnet school for science, engineering, technology, and math. Every elementary school has art, music, library, and PE in their weekly rotation.

Students at the high schools can participate in Project Lead the Way, a STEM-based curriculum created by a nonprofit. Lehman High School features Navy JROTC and a culinary program. Graduates of Hays CISD have received more than $10 million in scholarships and grants.

Post-Secondary Options Near Kyle, Texas

Residents have excellent college options in Austin Community College and its nearby ACC Hays Campus, University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, St. Edwards University, Hutson-Tillotson University, San Antonio College, Trinity University, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

The University of Texas’s McCombs School of Business ranks No. 5 in the country among business schools. Artificial intelligence and software engineering in UT Computer Science both appear in the top five list of schools. The Cockrell School of Engineering is No. 11 nationally with petroleum, environmental, and civil engineering specialties ranked in the top five.

Texas State University boasts being the only Texas school to have graduated a U.S. president. (Lyndon B. Johnson.) Its students come from 74 countries and all 50 states. The school is No. 1 in Tier 2 Research Institutions in the Military Friendly Schools: Top 10 Award, and it’s classified as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education.

Charter Options Near Kyle, Texas

IDEA Public Schools Kyle is part of the fastest-growing network of tuition-free, Pre-K through 12 public charter schools in the U.S. They’re a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 66,000 college-bound students in 120 schools in Texas and Louisiana. IDEA Kyle serves more than 700 students in grades K through 9.

In the past 13 years, all IDEA students have received college acceptances. They’ve increased the average ACT score from 17 to 21.5.

A new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) charter school is coming to nearby Buda. Dorsal Academy, a K through 8 charter school, aims to provide a rigorous and relevant STEM curriculum. Doral Academy has received approval from the State Board of Education and the Texas Education Agency to open Fall 2021. The new location serves students in Hays, Wimberley, San Marcos, and Lockhart.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

 

Categories
Area Attractions Family Fun

Kyle Spring Break Destination: Wimberley Zipline Adventures

You may be one of many who will opt out on traveling for Spring Break. Still, you may like to do something out of the house. Fortunately, Kyle residents have a great option that’s safe and takes you to the great outdoors. This might be the perfect time to venture out to Wimberley Zipline Adventures. They’re open, they’re outdoors, and they’re fun!

What’s Wimberley Zipline Adventures?

First, if you’ve never gone ziplining, prepare to have an amazing time. You do not need experience to enjoy ziplining. Their highly trained guides will set you up with the proper fitting equipment and take you through “flight school.” You will learn how to work with the equipment and practice.

Wimberley Zipline Adventures has one huge advantage over other ziplines. The Texas Hill Country views. This is your chance to soar in the air like a bird while admiring the surrounding hills, meadows, and canyons. The course contains 10 different ziplines ranging from 150 feet to 900 feet long. The ziplines run between two hillsides above the valley with a maximum height of 100 feet.

The adventure runs for 1 1/2 to 2 hours and requires reservations. You’ll find Wimberley between San Antonio and Austin. For Kyle residents, it only takes 30 minutes West to get to Wimberley. All of the action takes place on the Four Winns’ Ranch where the Winn family has lived since 1937. You can access the ranch off County Road 1492, south of the Village of Wimberley.

Are There Any Other Activities at Wimberley Zipline Adventures?

They’ve opened a Biergarten where you can take in the scenery while treating yourself to beers, ciders, spritzers, and sodas. What a perfect way to end the adventure. Before you schedule your adventure, check out the Wimberley Zipline Adventure FAQ. They answer every possible question including what to wear, what to bring, and more.

They’ll be adding ax throwing soon. Stay on top of the latest news on the Wimbelery Zipline Facebook page. We’re so ready to Cowabunga down the line!

Wimberley Zipline Adventures
376 Winn Valley Dr., Wimberley, TX 78676
(512) 847-9990
Office Hours: Everyday 10 am-5 pm
Tours daily. Reservations required.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

Categories
Area Attractions

Keep It Kyle Pie Series: MOD Pizza

There’s a reason why Kyle is the Pie Capital of Texas. OK, maybe the pie most people think of is more the sweet kind like apple pie and pumpkin pie. Or perhaps, savory pies like chicken pot pie and Frito pie. Kyle’s version of pies refers to all of these and the pizza version.

This town has an amazing selection of pizza pies including MOD Pizza in Kyle Crossing on 151 Evans Dr., Suite 105, Kyle, TX 78640.

It’s a MOD, MOD, MOD World: The Story

The business says it’s the original superfast pizza experience. Fast does not sacrifice taste or quality. They say this fast-casual concept puts you in the driver’s seat with its artisan-style pizzas and salads that are individually-sized and made on-demand. You have a choice of more than 30 toppings. And the price stays the same no matter which you pick.

The company loves to spread MODness, a platform for doing good. What this means is they take care of their employees, their employees take care of you, and the business will thrive. Husband and wife Scott and Ally Svenson founded MOD in 2008 in Seattle. Yes, there were plenty of pizza options. But they explored the possibility of giving customers what they wanted, fresh and on-demand, and for as little as possible.

At the same time, they wanted to pay their employees aka the MOD squad as much as possible and provide them with a real chance for growth. And it’s working. They also aim to use ingredients that are mindful of animal ethics and environmental impact. Simply put, if they wouldn’t serve it to their kids, they’re not going to serve it to you. Now they have locations all over the U.S. and right here in Kyle, Texas.

What’s on the MOD Menu?

MOD’s pizzas are 11-inches and their menu lists their most popular 10 combinations. You can go with those or choose your toppings. Since you don’t have to share it, there’s no arguing over the toppings. They offer all the sauces including BBQ, pesto, red, white, and EVOO.

Even their cheeses aren’t the typical suspects like mozzarella, though they offer that. You can order dairy-free cheese or go with asiago or gorgonzola. Crust options include original, gluten-free, and cauliflower. If you’d like to know where they source their ingredients from, the website goes into detail on that. They have a 6-inch pizza item for those with smaller appetites.

Aside from salads, other options include cheesy garlic bread and no name cake. This is a chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream covered with a chocolate glaze.

This series is a dangerous one to cover. It leaves us starving after we finish writing it. Off to Mod Pizza we go!

More Kyle pies and food:

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

Categories
Area Attractions

Vámonos Poco Loco Supermercado in Kyle

Residents in the Crosswinds community in Kyle have an awesome neighborhood market nearby on Windy Hill Rd. called Poco Loco. Local customers love the store and it’s a foodie’s paradise.

It’s a wonderful place to grab a breakfast taco or pick up some lunch. Or perhaps, you want to treat yourself and try their amazing pan dulce.

One reviewer says it’s the closest thing to authentic Mexican food in Texas and their personal favorite is the creamy jalapeño salsa. Another customer recommends trying the caldo when it’s available. They also make fresh hot corn and flour tortillas in-house.

You’ll find plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit from which to choose. Many residents shop there regularly for their meat products including steaks and pork chops. They also have a selection of gourmet products made right in Texas. And yes, you can buy beer, wine, and even frozen wine there.

If you’re lucky, you’ll see a sweet Hispanic woman outside the store selling freshly-made churros. Head on over to Poco Loco in Windy Hill as soon as you can. You’ll be glad you did. Word on the street is that they have competitive prices.

You know what? We’re getting famished writing about Poco Loco. ¡Vámonos! Let’s go now! It’s located at 1095 Windy Hill Rd., Kyle, Texas 78640.

Other Kyle places to explore:

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

Categories
Area Attractions Lifestyle

Kyle, Texas Real Estate Market Heats up in 2021

The Austin Board of Realtors (ABoR) has released its Central Texas Housing Market Report. It provides an overview of the housing market data in the region for the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This area includes Austin, and the counties of Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson. Kyle is in Hays county and part of the hot San Marcos-Buda-Kyle market.

The latest edition from December 2020 indicates Austin-Round Rock MSA has closed 2020 with a record-breaking $17 billion housing market. Housing demand has soared to an all-time high in Central Texas. In December, residential home sales rocketed more than 16 percent year-over-year.

Why Central Texas Real Estate Is Heating up

According to Susan Horton, 2021 ABoR president, it’s an unprecedented time for the housing market. It turns out the pandemic increased demand for all housing in the region that inventory is near-zero. “That said, if you are ready to buy a home, now is the time to take advantage of low interest rates that boost your buying power and plant roots in Central Texas,” Horton says.

What could be driving the demand for housing in Austin-Round Rock MSA? Former Chief Economist for the Texas Real Estate Research Center Dr. James Gaines believes the demand is a combination of economic growth and higher consumer buying power. It’s also driven by population growth, employment gains, lifestyle changes, and low-interest rates.

“The pandemic fostered an environment where many families increased personal savings helping some transition from renting to ownership while others needed to ‘move up’ for more space while working from home,” Gaines says.

What Hays County Data Reveals

At close to 24 percent, the San Marcos-Buda-Kyle market is showing a stronger year-over-year growth than the average for all of Austin-Round Rock MSA. Why is it hot? Many new businesses are moving into new commercial developments that have sprung up in Kyle. The city is more affordable than Austin and still within an easy drive. Those that are flocking south of Austin tend to be of a younger demographic seeking affordability without sacrificing lifestyle and activities nearby. Numerous new eateries, local shopping and wineries have popped-up in the Kyle and Buda area—making it the next place to be.

The average day on the market for a home in Hays County is 40 days. The number of active listings has dropped but the number of new listings has gone up a little bit. If you’re shopping for a home in Kyle, Texas, be sure to visit the community’s website often for new listings.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team

Categories
Area Attractions

Oracle Moves to Austin

Considering all the corporations that have moved or are moving to the Austin area, it’s a strong indicator that it’s the place to be. The big one is Tesla, which is building a Gigafactory on a 2,100-acre site. ENF Technology is investing $45 million in its U.S. headquarters, which is right here in Kyle. Lowe’s Company Inc., a home improvement retailer, plans to add a distribution center in Kyle Crossing Business Park.

And now California-based Oracle is jumping on the Austin bandwagon. It’s departing Silicon Valley for the Texas Hill Country.

What draws these companies to Austin? It’s quickly becoming a tech hub and housing is far more affordable than it is in California and other places. And best of all, Texas has no state income tax.

Creating a Flexible Workplace

Oracle is a cloud and software services provider that employs 135,000 people all over the world. What’s interesting is the company has a flexible work policy for employees. This means they can choose their office location, continue remote working, or do a hybrid. “By implementing a more modern approach to work, we expect to further improve our employees’ quality of life and quality of output,” the company said.

This isn’t the company’s first foray into Austin. In 2018, it opened a campus with an on-site apartment building for employees. Located at 2300 Oracle Way, the purpose of the campus was to recruit a younger and more affordable workforce. The campus can support up to 10,000 employees. It’s unknown how many jobs the move to Austin will bring.

The company plans to maintain a presence in Redwood City, Santa Monica, Seattle, Denver, Orland, and others.

Oracle’s History

Engineers Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates founded the company in Santa Clara in 1977. Initially called Software Development Laboratories, their first office was only 900-square-feet. In 1982, the company changed its name to Oracle Corporation. In fewer than 10 years after its founding, the company joined the NASDAQ exchange as the company went public under ORCL.

By 1989, the company outgrew its headquarters and headed to Redwood City, California. In 2010, the company acquired Sun Microsystems, the creators of Java. This move has allowed the company to bridge hardware and software. We look forward to seeing what they achieve in Austin.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

Sign up for our Newsletter