Central Texas Investment Guide
Castle Hill Investments’ “Turnkey” Partner Team
Lending
Unless you’re one of the lucky few that are able to pay cash for your properties, you’ll need a lender to maximize the advantage of leverage in real estate.
Please do not fall prey to using your sister’s best friend that just broke into the mortgage business (“No Experienced Required!”) or the cheesy salesman pitching “Incredibly Low Rates”. Lending is a serious business requiring serious experience. More importantly, your lender MUST be based in Texas – it’s a rule specific to Texas and as a “bricks and mortar” state, out of state lenders who claim to be able to lend here actually must use a local lender to close their deals. Castle Hill Investments, as a listing representative, does not as a rule recommend to our seller clients that they accept any offers from out of state lenders, due to the serious problems (probably 30 deals the past few years have been seriously jeopardized or terminated) we’ve had with their poor performance, delayed transactions, and ultimately – unpleasantness for all involved.
We’ll cover the types of mortgage options available to you in the next
Amy Krause with Mortgages Direct has earned our highest respect as a mortgage professional, and we recommend that all new clients speak with Amy to review their mortgage options, rates, and strategies. Not only does Amy excel with the best rates, loan programs, and customer service, she also understands investment property and strategies as an investor herself – and can provide an element to the investment experience that other mortgage brokers are unable to provide.
Amy may be reached at (512) 219-5858 or via email at amy@amykrause.com.

Next Page: Property Management
Table of contents
Why Central Texas?
- A Brief History Lesson (up to 2000)
- A Temporary “Bug” in the Software (2001 to 2003)
- Back in the Saddle (2004 to Present)
- Why? Jobs and Relocation!
- “Keep Austin Weird” – Seriously
- Austin is Pro-Business – Pay Your Rent or “Hit the Road!”
- There’s No Bubble Here (aka “Have I already missed the boom?”)
- Supply and Demand – “Save Our Springs” & The University of Texas at Austin Effect
- Austin Moving from 3rd to 2nd “Tier” Status
Castle Hill Investments’ “Turnkey” Partner Team
- Investors Need More than Just a Buyer’s Agent
- Lending
- Property Management
- Leasing
- Insurance
- Title and Escrow
- We’re Here for you Today, Tomorrow, and 5 Years from Now
Why Should I Work With Castle Hill Investments?
Property Types – What Should I Buy?
- Equity Appreciation vs. Cash Flow
- The Duplex – the Perfect Central Texas Investment?
- Different Geographic Regions
- "But I Want a NEW Construction Property!"
A Closer Look At "The Numbers"
- Owning Investment Property Is More Expensive Than You Think
- How The Process Works – One Investor Couple´s Experience
- Show Me the Money – Numbers at Closing
- Show Me the Money – After Closing
- Other Expenses
After the Sale – an Owner’s Manual
- After the Sale – an Owner’s Manual
- The First "Make Ready" and Realities of Purchase
- Limiting Landlord Liability and Deeding to LLCs/LPs, etc
- Real Estate Capital Gains Taxes: A Primer
- Texas Property Taxes – "Huh?"
- 1031 Exchanges
- After the Sale – Checklist and Action Items
- Real Estate As a Component of a Well-Balanced Portfolio
- Cash Flow Calculator
- Three "Real World" Investor Stories
- Austin and Central Texas Neighborhoods
