Austin Real Estate Building Code Function:

Austin real estate building codes are established by local Austin realty authorities to set out minimum public-safety standards for design, construction, quality, use and occupancy, location and maintenance. There are specialized real estate codes for plumbing, electrical and fire, which usually involve separate inspections and inspectors.

All buildings must be issued a building permit and a certificate of occupancy before it can be used. During construction, licensed housing inspectors must make checks at key points. To enforce the building codes it is standard practice to deny permits, occupancy certificates and by imposing fines.

Austin building codes also cover most remodeling projects. If you are buying a home that has been significantly remodeled, ask for proof of the permits involved before you purchase to avoid future liability for fines.

Process to Determine the Value of Austin TX Real Estate:

You have several ways to determine the value of Austin TX real estate. A real estate appraisal is a professional who will estimate the market value of a property, based on recent sales of comparable properties, location, square footage and construction quality of the home. This service varies in cost depending on the price of the home. On average, a real estate appraisal costs about $300 for $250,000 homes.

A comparative real estate market analysis is an informal estimate of market value performed by an Austin real estate agent based on similar sales and property attributes. Most real estate agents offer free analyses in the hopes of winning your business.

You also can get a comparable sales report for a fee from private Austin real estate companies that specialize in local real estate data or find comparable sales information available on various real estate Internet sites.

Resources:

• "The Ultimate Language of Real Estate," John Reilly, Dearborn Financial Publishing, Chicago; 1993.