[fintstone]

Problems are: wrong time of year, very expensive home for Austin (so few buyers for an expensive home), $ per sq ft not always a good indicator over homes are new, have pools, etc.

Otherwise a beautiful, big house. Looks to be in great shape. Some dark granite in the kitchen would really help (tile counters are pretty pedestrian for a home in that price range as are the plain, painted cabinets).

Personally, I would not look down on verbal offers. Just don't consider them binding on either until you have a written one. I have bought many houses (I have 6 rentals now) and always make verbal offers. I am not going to waste my time with an offer that is something you would not consider and am trying to feel you out for what might make both of us happy. Hell, I already have a house to go home to, so I can wait forever for the right deal. There are plenty of houses for sale if you want to be a dick (unless you are in CA and people make offers for more than the list price and almost everyone in real estate is a flipper/dick). It just tells me that if you are not willing to talk about it, I need to play hardball. The last house I bought (live in it now), their realtor would not present a verbal offer or let me talk to the owner. (I was at full price and just wanted to keep a couple curtain rods so I would not have to put them up) Annoyed me enough thats I made the written offer at $50K less plus keeping all the curtain rods, curtains and their best furniture (my time is money). ..which they eventually took. I ended up buying the house and they lost a great deal of money.