Ask Cathy

The Austin Modern Home Tour celebrates 13 years of collaborative exchange between architects, developers, designers and real estate professionals. Founded by Krisstina Wise of Goodlife Luxury and produced and developed by co-owner James Leasure and his Modern Architecture + Design Society (MA+DS), the Austin Modern Home Tour has become an annual landmark Austin event. For more information, click here.

Q. Do you see the trend in downsizing changing the mix of the types of properties being sold? A. Yes I do. In fact so does the Austin Board of Realtors who track home sales in the greater Austin area. Their latest report for January and going forward will now reflect all residential properties — single-family homes, condominiums and town homes — rather than single-family homes only. This is because more home buyers purchase condos

I keep telling Cathy that making our home "smart" is a good investment. This lets me get away with buying and playing with cool new technology which l love to do. But it really is a smart thing to do that will cut down on utility bills, allow us to manage our home from afar, keep it safer and ultimately add value to our home when the day comes that we take Cathy's advice and

As we honor Earth’s revolution around the sun, we create new resolutions, set new goals, and of course, seek out new trends. While our personal lives may need a bit of refreshing, our homes deserve the same kind of attention too. Infusing your spaces with what’s au courant can be tricky, but Elle Decor has got you covered with this list of home trends projected to be in and out in 2020, from color palettes

Q. We have a number in mind that we want to sell our house for but want to know how realistic we are about our expectations? A. Whether it's personal attachment, what a neighbor's house sold for or some number on a popular third party real estate site, people often have their own idea of what they want for their property.  But is that price realistic? The only way to get an idea is to

One of the ways you can really improve the value of your home is with an attractive fence. It not only defines your property but also improves security. I built a "hog wire" fence at our rental house. I chose the open wire design to retain the open view of the yard and house but it still separates the property from the street and neighbor. And it's affordable. The project cost around $1000 for the

Thinking of downsizing can be stressful. Better Homes & Gardens recently published and article featuring several realtors who specialize in helping homeowners make the transition to a smaller home. I was excited to be one of those who shared their thoughts. Here's what Itold them. Giving yourself more time can also help you make more informed decisions. You can check out new neighborhoods, states, and even countries. "I recommend to my clients that perhaps they

Ho, ho, ho! Playing Santa this year and struggling to think of the perfect gifts for family and friends? Not to fear... Architectural Digest has rounded up their favorite ideas for everyone, from jet setters to fitness buffs and beyond. Check out their full list here. Goof luck finding the perfects gift that you are looking for.