Concrete cancer has become one of the most talked-about swimming-pool concerns in the Austin area. Buyers see a crack and wonder whether the shell is failing. Sellers worry that a pool problem could derail the transaction. Homeowners are trying to understand whether an issue is ordinary wear, soil movement, a plumbing leak, or something more […]
Concrete Cancer in Swimming Pools: The Complete Visual Guide
If you have been hearing the term concrete cancer and wondering whether you should be worried about your swimming pool, you are not alone.This topic has become one of the biggest conversations in Central Texas real estate, but there is also a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding it. That is exactly why I created […]
Concrete Cancer FAQ: Answers for Central Texas Pool Owners, Buyers, and Sellers
The phrase “concrete cancer” can create more fear than understanding. This FAQ is designed to answer the questions Central Texas buyers, sellers, and homeowners are most likely to ask about alkali-silica reaction, swimming-pool inspections, repairs, insurance, disclosure, home value, and real estate transactions. The answers are intentionally direct, but a short answer cannot replace evaluation […]
Understanding Concrete Cancer in Swimming Pools Without Panicking
If you have recently heard the phrase “concrete cancer” connected to swimming pools in Central Texas, you may feel like every crack is suddenly a warning that the entire pool must be demolished. That is not a helpful way to approach the subject. Concrete cancer is a real concern, and affected pools can require expensive […]
How to Sell and Buy a House at the Same Time
Selling one home while buying another can feel like a timing puzzle: you don’t want two mortgage payments, but you don’t want to sell and have nowhere to go. You can coordinate both deals by setting your financing plan first, choosing a sequence that fits your finances, and making the key dates work together. Table […]
How to Choose Affordable Austin Areas to Buy
Buying your first Austin-area home may be possible without taking on a payment that strains your budget. The key is to look beyond the list price and compare each neighborhood by property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, commute costs, loan terms, and any MUD or PID charges. As I would explain to a buyer sitting with […]
How to Choose an Austin Neighborhood to Buy
Buying your first Austin home gets easier when you stop chasing a perfect neighborhood and start weighing trade-offs. Price and distance from downtown don’t always move together, so I look at the full daily picture with each buyer. The phrase “best Austin neighborhoods for first-time buyers” sounds simple, but the right answer depends on your […]
How to Evaluate Austin Resale Value
Austin resale value can look strong on a spreadsheet and weak at the kitchen door. I’ve seen buyers focus on a citywide median, then miss the roof, tax bill, or competing homes that will shape their future sale. To evaluate resale value before buying in Austin, I start with local sales data, then test the […]
How to Maintain Your Pool to Help Prevent Future Concrete Problems
Good pool maintenance cannot guarantee that a concrete shell will never crack, move, leak, or develop alkali-silica reaction. Some problems begin with the original materials, engineering, construction, soil conditions, or workmanship. Once those conditions exist, ordinary maintenance may not be able to remove them. What regular maintenance can do is reduce avoidable stress, catch changes […]
Is Concrete Cancer Common in Central Texas Pools?
Concrete cancer has become a serious enough concern in Central Texas that buyers, sellers, pool owners, inspectors, engineers, and real estate professionals should understand it. That does not mean most Central Texas pools have the condition, and it does not mean a pool can be diagnosed based only on its age or location.The most accurate […]
Condo vs. Single-Family Home: How to Choose
Choosing between a condo and a single-family home comes down to more than the listing price. I look at the full monthly cost, your tolerance for upkeep, how long you may stay, and what the property could mean for your next move. In Austin, that matters even more because the available price data is clearer […]
Can A Pool Cause A Home Sale To Fall Apart?
A swimming pool can help sell a home, but it can also become the issue that brings a transaction to a stop. The problem is not always the pool itself. More often, the sale begins to unravel because buyers discover something they did not expect, the repair scope is unclear, the parties cannot agree on […]
Temporary Rate Buydown: Costs and Risks
A temporary rate buydown can make your first mortgage payments easier, but the lower payment does not last. I’ll explain how the math works, who usually funds it, which loans may allow it, and what happens when the payment reaches the full note rate. With over 40 years in Texas real estate, I’ve learned to […]
Should Sellers Repair Pool Problems Before Listing?
A swimming pool can help a home stand out, but it can also become the part of the property buyers question the most when there are cracks, leaks, aging equipment, structural concerns, or a history of repairs. That leaves many sellers facing a difficult decision: should the pool be repaired before the home goes on […]
How Does Escrow Work? A Texas Homebuyer Guide
Escrow sounds like one account, but Texas homebuyers usually deal with two. One holds your earnest money before closing. The other collects taxes and insurance after you buy. I’ll walk you through both, including who controls the funds, what you’ll pay, and what can change after closing. Table of Contents Step 1: Open Escrow and […]
Christmas in Marble Falls 2026: The Glory Tree and Small-Town Holiday Magic
With a new Glory Tree planned for Christmas in Marble Falls 2026, I have another reason to look forward to the holidays in a town I love. I’ve spent Christmas in the Texas Hill Country for decades, and there’s something about the holidays in a small town that never loses its magic. I think about […]
Texas Seller Disclosure for Pool Damage: What Sellers Need to Know
A swimming pool can be one of the most appealing features of a Texas home, but it can also become one of the most closely examined parts of the property when there have been cracks, leaks, structural movement, equipment failures, insurance claims, or prior repairs. The seller disclosure process is not the place to guess, […]
What to Expect at Home Closing
Closing day is usually quieter than buyers expect. The hard work happens before the signing table, especially in Texas, where most closing tasks fall to the buyer. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty, and I’ll walk you through what happens, what to check, and when you can get the keys. Table of Contents […]
Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home With a Pool
This article is designed as a practical checklist for buyers considering a home with a swimming pool. The goal is to identify potential issues before they become expensive surprises after closing. TLDR Ask about the pool’s age and repair history. Review inspection, engineering, and warranty records. Understand maintenance costs and equipment condition. Confirm insurance and […]
How to Choose a Real Estate Agent
Choosing a real estate agent can feel like sorting through a stack of nearly identical resumes. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker, and I’ve spent over 40 years in real estate. The right choice comes down to a few clear checks: verify the agent’s work, test their local knowledge, ask how they communicate, and read the […]
Austin Open Houses Today: A Practical Guide
Finding an open door in Austin is easy. Finding out whether the home is still available, when the tour starts, and what you’re actually seeing takes more care. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker, and I’ll show you how I check today’s listings without treating an old post as a live schedule. Table of Contents What […]
Should You Buy A House With Pool Damage?
A damaged swimming pool does not automatically make a home a bad purchase. It does mean the buyer needs better information before deciding whether the property is still worth pursuing. Some pool problems are manageable. A worn pump, failed heater, loose tile, or aging finish may be expensive but understandable. Other problems, such as structural […]
HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan: Which Fits?
A HELOC and a home equity loan both let you borrow against your home, but they work in very different ways. A HELOC gives you flexible access with a rate that can move. A home equity loan gives you one lump sum with a fixed payment. I’ll explain how each works, what it can cost, […]
How High Inventory Changes the Way I Price a Highland Lakes Home
Pricing a Highland Lakes home has never been as simple as finding a few nearby sales, calculating an average price per square foot, and choosing a number that sounds appealing. In a market with high housing inventory, that kind of shortcut becomes even more dangerous. When buyers have more homes to consider, sellers are not […]
Mortgage Points Explained: Costs and Break-Even
Mortgage points can lower your interest rate, but they can also raise your rate while giving you cash at closing. That trade-off catches many buyers off guard. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker, and I’ve spent over 40 years helping people understand Texas real estate decisions. Here’s how points work, what they cost, and when the […]
How Concrete Cancer Affects Home Value
A swimming pool can add enjoyment, visual appeal, and marketability to a home. When that same pool has suspected or confirmed concrete cancer, it can quickly become a source of uncertainty instead of value. Concrete cancer is the informal name often used for alkali-silica reaction, or ASR. In affected concrete, a chemical reaction can create […]
The Things You’ve Learned to Live With May Matter to a Buyer
Every home has things the people who live there eventually stop thinking about. Maybe the window has been fogged for years. Maybe a door sticks when the weather changes. Maybe one faucet drips if you do not turn it just right. Maybe the air conditioner still works, but it has not been serviced in a […]
Leave Your Ego at the Door: Real Estate Works Better When Both Sides Cooperate
Real estate has a funny way of making people feel like they have more power than they really do. A seller gets a listing. A buyer gets under contract. An agent represents a desirable property. Another agent has a strong buyer. Somewhere along the way, it can become easy to start thinking that the other […]
How to Read a Property Survey in Texas
Ever looked at a Texas property survey and felt like you were reading a secret code? I’ll show you how to by starting with the document type, then tracing the lines, symbols, easements, structures, and notes that affect the land. Those colorful flags and small marks are not decoration. They can warn you where not […]
How Sellers Should Handle Buyer Repair Requests
Repair requests are one of the places where a real estate transaction can get emotional very quickly. The buyer has inspected the home, the inspection report arrives, and suddenly the seller is looking at a list of things somebody else thinks need attention. Some of those items may be legitimate. Some may be minor. Some […]
