We Love Austin

5 dollars off Yo Gabba Gabba-Live!

2011-12-01T14:00:00.003-06:00

5 Dollars off Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Here

Central Texas Wildfires Relief Benefit

2011-09-07T17:31:00.000-05:00

WILL TAYLOR AND STRINGS ATTACHED HOST BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS WILDFIRE RELIEF

Partners: KVUE TV and Randalls Neighbors in Need Program

Austin, TX - Saturday, September 10th, 2011, 9:00 pm-12:00 am – The Nutty Brown Café 12225 West Hwy 290, 78737

An All Star line-up & Silent Auction is set to hit the stage at The Nutty Brown amphitheater this Saturday to garner support for the Travis County Red Cross to benefit the families and communities affected by the recent rash of violent wildfires sweeping across central Texas.

The growing line-up features:

Jon Dee Graham
John Pointer
Tameca Jones
Los Texas Wranglers
Karen Mal
Robert Kraft
Strings Attached House of Wills Show
Steve Carter
Mark Utter
Jennifer Jackson
Mike Sailors and more...

The Nutty Brown Cafe hosts up to 3,000 people.

The benefit immediately follows the Strings Attached Tribute to The Police featuring John Pointer show. Donation items will also be accepted at any time during both events. To see a full list of preferred items to bring visit www.stringsattached.org/shows.php..

Advance Tickets(suggested 10 donation) are available on http://www.eventbee.com/v/stringsattached/event?eid=815730373 and http://stringsattached.org.

**Contact Dianne Preston at 512-567-397 or dianne@mikendi.net to make a gift certificate or item donation.
**Cash is preferred at the door to help prevent credit card fees(An ATM will be available onsite.)
**All ticket sales will go to the Travis County Red Cross to aid the central Texas wildfire relief.
**The Nutty Brown Café is also donating 10% of its total sales on that day.

Central Texas Bloggers Link Up For Relief Efforts

2011-09-06T10:40:00.002-05:00

Like most of you in central Texas, I have been completely consumed with the Fires. The thought of anybody losing their home saddens me and the fact that these fires are within our community terrifies me. Our community needs us, but where and how and what can we do?? Missy from www.wonderfriend.com wrote up this wonderfully informative post(read below) that can lead us in the right direction. Thanks Missy for centralizing information among the choas.

Texas Blogger Link up For Relief by Missy@www.wonderfriend.com

It’s dark in Texas right now. We are physically covered in a cloud of smoke, and more significantly, we are looking at a stretch of emotionally dark days. Days filled with too much worry and not enough rain.
And Texas isn’t alone. You need only to click over to CNN.com or turn on any news network to see coverage of flooding, tornadoes. And fires. Alongside these stories are other stories remembering the darkness that blanketed all of us ten years ago. We’re familiar with disaster, aren’t we? Each one bringing its own unique darkness, but something else, too.
Amid the ugly, the destruction, the loss, the snarky politically and religiously fueled comments on news stories, there is something else, something bigger than all of that: we are not content to dwell in the ugly. We are so much more than that.
Right now there are thousands of Texans with no home, no belongings. And very likely, no energy to rise above the ugly just yet. That’s where the rest of us step in. We fill the gap for those who have lost so much.
Austin-area bloggers are working to fill the gap this week. Unfortunately, we still don’t know how far this will go. We have no idea the final reach of the fires. One week from now, one month from now, one year from now the gap will look different than it does today. What we have today is a place to start.
If you want to get involved by donating your time, goods, or dollars, Austin-area bloggers are putting together lists of relief organizations that need your help. There’s something for every schedule and every budget. So take a look at the ideas here, and then visit some of the other blogs for more options (linked at the bottom of this post).
Texas is burning. Most of us can’t do a thing to stop the raging fires, and none of us have the power to make it rain. But we all have the power to help someone else.
As mentioned, this is a partial list. There are countless organizations providing relief, and I’m only listing a handful here. If you know of something that’s not listed, please add it in the comments (or if you’re a blogger, write a post and link up, below).

Many of the bloggers who are participating in this link-up will also be out to support the LiveMom.com Austin Family Brunch on Sunday, September 11. This brunch will now be a benefit & donation drive for our Central Texas neighbors who have lost their homes. I’ll be there, and invite you to come out & join us!

American Red Cross of Central Texas is accepting donations and volunteers. This site also links to additional wildfire resources.

Catholic Charities of Central Texas is taking donations on Tuesday, September 6. Visit the site for details.

Hill Country Bible Church is accepting donations all week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit the website for more details. HCBC also needs volunteers to help with donation intake/distribution. If you are interested in volunteering at a shelter, this site has information about that, as well.

Call the Hays County Volunteer Coordinator if you’d like to make donations or volunteer your time: 512.393.7302

All of the local news outlets have links to ways to help. Some of those outlets: FOX, News Radio KLBJ, KEYE, KVUE, KXAN, Your News Now.

The readers of Free Fun in Austin are providing information on the Facebook page.

Chili’s Round Rock is donating a percentage of sales all day on September 6.

For general information about the fires, I suggest taking a look at some – or all – of the following:

A map of active fires, here. (This page is busy, not surprisingly. You may have to refresh a few times.)

Facebook pages that are providing regular updates:

If you’re on Twitter, look for these hash tags: #centraltxfire and #centraltxfires, #TXBlogFireRelief.

Now it’s your turn! Link your own post below, or leave a comment with relief information. And thank you. Thank you for joining Texas Blog Fire Relief, and shedding some light here in Texas.

UPDATE: Just a note that most of us (Austin-area bloggers, that is) are kind of new to this whole link-up thing. I believe if you want to add a link, just click where it says “Click to view/add link” (obvious, perhaps?); if you want to see the other posts that are linked up, you just click somewhere on that frog or on the text, and it should take you to a list. As of now there are a few posts linked, but it’s only showing one below… Be patient with us, we’ll figure this out!

Add your link below:

http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=81298

Labor Day Wildfires{No Grilling today}

2011-09-05T11:02:00.003-05:00

Have a fun safe labor day and please remember no grilling! The wildfires are out of out of control with perfect conditions for new ones. Low humidity, drought, wind gust over 20mph = danger!

How can you help? I will try to have a complete list throughout the day:
Distribution Center for Relief-Bastrop

KXAN Help List

We Love Snow Cones{Sweet Caroline's}

2011-08-29T20:53:00.001-05:00

What else is there to do when its 112 outside? Meet the Superman at Sweet Caroline's Snow Cones

Top Chef Coming To Austin/{Austin Living Blog}

2011-08-23T11:56:00.000-05:00

Its about time Top Chef! We love the show and are delighted that they are finally coming to Austin. IF there is one thing we have in Austin, its a great food scene! Read more about Top chef coming to Austin here.

Condo For Sale In Northwest Hills

2011-08-01T23:09:00.001-05:00

Lo-burn? Living in Austin Texas

2011-07-16T08:45:00.001-05:00

Just got word that the north loop area business owners are changing the name of that area to Lo-burn, thoughts?

Personally, we like the term mid-town.

We Love Zhi Tea//Best of Austin Texas

2011-07-11T17:36:00.000-05:00

These past couple of weeks I have been drinking tea at coffee shops, its not the same but since I am cut from coffee it will do. The more I read about the benefits of tea vs. coffee the easier the transition. A few weeks ago I paid a visit to Zhi's tea and got my oolong on and do they know about oolong. I love everything about this place and hope it stays in business. Go to Zhi's Tea and learn about the health benefits of tea and support our local businessmen and women!

Mega Hotel To Be Built In Austin//Austin Texas

2011-07-07T11:00:00.000-05:00

Renderings have been release today for a 50 story hotel to to be built here in Austin, I am not too sure how I feel about this just yet. Read the whole story here. Your Thoughts?

Austin Weekend Fun

2011-06-24T08:23:00.000-05:00

Looking for stuff to do this weekend? Whatever you decide hydrate and wear sunscreen!

1. Keep Austin Weird Fest & 5k
2. TXRD Rollergirls
3. Round Rock Express
4. Big Range Austin Dance Fest
5. Cedar Park Rodeo

Be Cool Austin Be Cool

2011-06-18T16:59:00.004-05:00

Its June 18th and we have already had several days of 100+ temps., I doubt anybody would argue that Hell can't be much hotter. Before you explore job opportunities in cities with cooler temps. Take a look at how we deal.

1. Early Bird Gets The Worm and the cooler temps. The heat doesn't start sucking the breath out of you until early afternoon. Get up and get outside and enjoy the mid 80's.

2. Get In The Water. Unless you have something clinically wrong with you, you will not enjoy 105+ unless water is involved. Live Mom put a list together of Splash Pads, Pools, and Water Parks that we love.

photo of K.Grossman and his daughter at Peace Park Splash Pad

photo by Amiee R.

3. Drink Water. Before you leave your house be sure to refill your water bottle with ice and water EVERYDAY. We live in the we in the subtropics which is the same client as the Sahara, would you hop on a camel in the Sahara without water? exactly. Just because you don't see sand everywhere doesn't mean its not hot and dry.

photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/afrikrnvision/

4. If You Cant Handle the Heat STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN, well, go in the kitchen but step away from the stove. There are plenty of no cook recipes to keep you and your house cool most of the summer. We adore this list of "no cook" recipes that Food 52 put together a couple of weeks ago.

food52's no-cook swordfish tostado bites

5. Two Words: Summer Vacation. We usually try to escape the heat once a year(usually in August) anywhere in the country where the highs stay in the 80's and lows in the 50's. A vacation to me is wearing a pullover in the middle of summer.

North Woods of Wisconsin

Free Fairy Tea Party-Terra Toys Today!

2011-06-12T09:58:00.000-05:00

I just got wind of a free Fairy Tea Party at Terra Toys another reason why I love Austin, what other city host these types of parties. Grab your fairies and go!

Max & Ruby are Coming To Austin!

2011-05-25T14:35:00.000-05:00

Koba Entertainment proudly welcomes the newest addition to its family of touring musicals - Max & Ruby: Bunny Party!

It's a surprise party for someone special, and bunny siblings Max and Ruby have a-million-and-one things to do before the big event. Join in the fun as they embark on a musical bus ride to East Bunnyhop General Store, where they deliberate on what to buy for the Super Duper Special Birthday Guest. Max & Ruby never quite want the same thing and their plans always collide - with hilarious results! Coming June 3 to the Backyard at Bee Cave. Get your Tickets now!

***Tell us what you love about Max and Ruby by June 2 and winner will receive four tickets to the show!

CNN Money's Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities

2011-03-25T17:12:00.000-05:00

Check out our real estate blog to see where Austin landed.

SXSWi PBS KIDS Sunday Brunch//Austin PBS KIDS

2011-03-15T14:01:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday, the PBS Kids programming and interactive team was kind enough to invite us to their annual SXSWi brunch at the four seasons to give us a sneak peak of upcoming webisodes,programing, and iphone applications. I have always loved that most of their programs are junk free & Sunday I discovered the passion of the entire team.

Sara Dewitt,VP of PBS Kids Interactive, & her team are committed in assuring that the applications and websites that our children access are user friendly + fun + educational.

Linda Simensky,VP of PBS Kids Programming, made it her mission to single handily change child & parent perception of science and more importantly to make science more accessible. For years, a scientist was perceived as a crazy man in a lab coat fumbling around with beakers that only appealed to a small segment. Linda, a self proclaimed activist mommy, knew that science is so much more and it was on this false premise that inspired Sid the Science Kid (one of my son's favorite shows). "After all" Linda told me " Science is about sparking curiosity".
Here are some of the highlights I took away from the brunch:

Every single element of every show,website, & phone application is extensively researched and constantly tweaked for perfection. Their level of commitment is reassuring.
In reference to their applications and websites,the teams commitment to staying current and even ahead of the curve is astounding.
I can't wait until their two new webisodes go live, Jacob is going to love them..

The Austin 100 on NPR

2011-03-07T09:00:00.000-06:00

Be Sure to tune in to NPR from March 16-19 for SXSW LIVE !!

About This Blog

2011-03-01T10:57:00.007-06:00

A little over 15 years ago I drove to San Marcos visit a friend, I never wanted to leave. On my way home from that life changing visit, I had already devised a plan to transfer colleges & make the move. While in San Marcos, I realized that I was drawn to everything Austin. I could not wait to be apart of it. As soon as I graduated college and accepted my job offer from Dell Computer, I made the move.

I worked at Dell for three years and then worked for a major home builder for three more years which gave me state of the art sales training but I still felt like I wasn’t connected to my city. I had to figure out how I could live,promote and be connected. And then it dawned on me, with my background in geography(The study of the earth and its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and the effects of human activity),psychology, and equipped with extensive, solution oriented sales skills; I was a born to be a real estate agent. I don’t think there is a better career out there for someone like me who loves everything Austin and meeting new people. My speciality is helping people discover where in Austin best suits their lifestyle. I have been making perfect matches since 2005!

In this blog, I try to keep up with the ever changing landscape, post about my favorites and anything else find interesting about this great city.

If you are moving to Austin and want to chat about it, feel free to email me or give me a call. shannan@kw.com, 512-762-9205.

Does Facebook Give You Anxiety?

2011-02-28T15:19:00.000-06:00

According to a recent study, the more friends you have on face book the more anxiety. After reading this article, you might want to think twice before you "friend" that acquaintance.

Thursday Music Listings in Austin

2011-02-10T09:22:00.000-06:00

We LOVE the Austin music, here are Thursday's listings:

Bates Recital Hall, 27 E. Campus Dr.
Jennifer B. & the Groove Kings
anderson Mill Tavern 10401 Anderson Mill

Lissie (9:00)
Antone's 213 W. Fifth

Ky Hote (7:30)
Artz Rib House 2330 S. Lamar

Emanuel Ax (8:00)
Bates Recital Hall 27 E. Campus Dr.

We Know Where You Live, Scrabble Robot, OBN III's, The Stuffies
Beerland 711 Red River

Pee Wee Calvin & the Way 'Tis, Jo Hell (8:00)
Blue Moon Rock & Blues Bar 422 E. Sixth

Tony Harrison, Dance Lessons, Jesse Dayton (6:00)
Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar

Krishna Lee & the Notions, Mudbone Hustler, Lizzie & the Lovers (7:00)
Carousel Lounge 1110 E. 52nd

Much Love, Suede (6:00)
Cedar Street 208 W. Fourth

CM All-Stars w/ Paul Klemperer (6:30)
Central Market North 4001 N. Lamar

Jordan Minor, Chris Knight (9:00)
Cheatham Street Warehouse 119 Cheatham St.

Jonathan Horne (9:00)
Cherrywood Coffeehouse 1400 E. 38 1/2

Gallery: Robert Kraft Trio, Continental Graffiti (8:15); In the Club: Planet Casper (6:30); the Greyhounds, Mudphonic (10:00)
Continental Club 1315 S. Congress

Driskill Bar: Ruby Dee & the Snakehandlers (6:00)
The Driskill Hotel 604 Brazos

Robert Kelly
Eddie V's Edgewater Grille 301 E. Fifth

Albanie & Her Fellas (6:00)\
Elephant Room 315 Congress

Butch Miles (9:30)
Elephant Room 315 Congress

Mardi Gras w/ Big Star Burlesque (9:00)
Elysium 705 Red River

Schmillion, Petals, Vanity Theft, Hunter Valentine
Emo's 603 Red River

Harry Bodine (7:00)
Evangeline Cafe 8106 Brodie

Mustache Contest w/ Hatch, Phines, Kind 2-Piece (9:00)
Flamingo Cantina 515 E. Sixth

Troy Campbell (6:00), Open Mic w/ Lisa Kettyle (8:00)
Flipnotics Coffeespace 1601 Barton Springs Rd.

The Cornell Hurd Band (8:00)
G&S Lounge 2420 S. First

Eets Feats, The Daze, Rayon Beach, Shapes Have Fangs (9:00)
The Ghost Room 304 W. Fourth

Alvin Crow (9:00)
Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon 5434 Burnet Rd.

The Fabs (6:30)
Güero's Taco Bar 1412 S. Congress

Dale Watson & His Lone Stars (8:00)
The HighBall 1142 S. Lamar

Jonathan Richman, Thunderosa, The Heroine, Bexar County Bastards, Hyde Park Showdown (8:00)
Hole in the Wall 2538 Guadalupe

David Webb (8:00)
House Wine 408 Josephine

Union Specific, Suzanne Sherwin (8:00)
Jax Neighborhood Cafe 2828 Rio Grande

Paula Held, Lick Lick, Secret Trains, Trashy & the Kid (7:00)
Jovita's 1619 S. First

Eve & the Exiles, T. Tex Edwards
Lovejoys Taproom & Brewery 604 Neches

Ian McLagan & the Bump Band (6:00), Vinyl Dharma (10:00)
Lucky Lounge 209-A W. Fifth

The Memphis Strange (8:00)
Mean-Eyed Cat 1621 W. Fifth

Outside: Marmalakes, Quiet Company, Fastball (8:00); Inside Later: Grape St., Til We're Blue or Destroy (10:30)
Mohawk 912 Red River

Knuckle Yummy, Suzanna Choffel, Laura Scarborough, Smile Smile, Daily Brothers
Momo's 618 W. Sixth #200

My Place Trio (7:30)
My Place Bar & Grill 6507 Jester

Wayne Brooks & the Piney Grove Ramblers
NeWorlDeli 4101 Guadalupe

Joy Davis, Patrice Pike (7:30)
One 2 One Bar 121 E. Fifth

Denitia Odigie (11:00)
One 2 One Bar 121 E. Fifth

Bombing Stassney, Michael Dillard, Aimless Gun CD Release (9:00)
The Parish 214 E. Sixth

Shane Smith (7:00)
Patsy's Cafe 5001 E. Ben White

Wharf Rats
Poodie's Hilltop Roadhouse 22308 Hwy. 71 W.

Lee Bucker & the Riverbends, The Bread, Old Man Markley (9:00)
Red 7 611 E. Seventh

Sara Joyner, Dem Waffle House Boyz, Chesterfield, Done Deal, The Noontimes
Red Eyed Fly 715 Red River

Jean Claude Van Jamme (9:00)
Red Fez 209-B W. Fifth

Mike Ethan Messick (9:00)
Riley's Tavern 8894 FM 1102

The Jitterbug Vipers
Romeo's 1500 Barton Springs Rd.

Duqaines, Darren Hoff & the Hard Times, Mike & the Moonpies
Ruta Maya 3601 S. Congress Ste. D-200

Jeff Lofton (7:00)
Ruth's Chris Steak House 107 W. Sixth

Caribbean Steelpan Trio (7:00)
Satellite Bistro & Bar 5900 Slaughter #400

Eightysixxed (6:00)
Saxon Pub 1320 S. Lamar

Joel Guzman, Sarah Fox & Andrew Hardin; George Devore; HalleyAnna (8:00)
Saxon Pub 1320 S. Lamar

Western Ghost House, Juke Joint Sandinistas, Kill County (9:00)
The Scoot Inn 1308 E. Fourth

Shinola
Sherlock's Baker St. Pub & Grill 9012 Research Ste. C-1

Big Sam's Funky Nation (9:00)
Stubb's 801 Red River

Luna Tart
Swan Dive 615 Red River

Lisa Marshall (10:00)
T.C.'s Lounge 1413 Webberville Rd.

Bruce James (6:00)
III Forks 111 Lavaca

Junior Scott & Scott Morrison (6:00), Green Mountain Grass (10:00)
Triple Crown 206 N. Edward Gary St.

Chadd Thomas & the Crazy Kings
Trophy's 2008 S. Congress

Eric Hanke (7:00)
Waterloo Ice House 1106 W. 38th

Three Jazz Collective w/ Ephraim Owens (7:00)
Whip In 1950 S. I-35

Kris Kimura
Z'Tejas 1110 W. Sixth

Source:www.austinchronicle.com

Top 10 Things To Do In Austin

2011-02-09T16:08:00.001-06:00

Source:tourtexas.com

1. Completed in 1888, the pink granite Texas State Capitol stands 302 feet high and is 14 feet higher than our nation's capitol. Guided tours are offered weekdays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; and Sundays, 12-3:30 p.m. Free admission. 512-463-0063

2. Relive the pages of Texas history at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Interactive exhibits, artifacts, an IMAX Theatre and the multi-sensory Texas Spirit Theatre bring the myth, legend and fact of Texas all together under one roof. Open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sundays, 12-6 p.m5.1 2-936-8746

3. The University of Texas is home to the Blanton Museum of Art, recognized for its European paintings and modern and contemporary American and Latin American art. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sundays, 1-5 p.m. 512-471-7324

4. Enjoy the spectacle of the Congress Avenue bats, the largest urban bat colony in North America, as 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats depart nightly at sunset, April through October, from beneath the bridge. 512-327-9721

5. See the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center where planting areas, wildflower meadows, exhibits and observation tower pay homage to Lady Bird’s devotion to native landscaping and preservation. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.;Sunday, 12-5:30 p.m5. 12-232-0100
6. Visit the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum to see copious volumes of presidential papers, a scale replica of the Oval Office during his presidency, and a First Lady's Gallery devoted to the work of Lady Bird Johnson. Open daily, except Christmas, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission and parking. 512-721-0200

7. Swim in the constant 68-degree waters of Barton Springs Pool, an artesian spring-fed swimming hole in Zilker Park.Open daily 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Closed Thursdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Nominal admission charge. 512-476-9044

8. Take in all the sights on The University of Texas campus, one of the largest public universities in the nation. Tours are Open available of the UT Tower by reservation only on Saturdays and Sundays, 2-6 p.m.5 12-475-6633

9. The heart of Austin is found along the The University of Texas campus, one of the largest public universities in the nation. Tours are through downtown. 512-974-6700

10. Head to music venues. On the first Thursday of each month, merchants keep their doors open until 10 p.m., playing host to an array of events and activities.

Food Love/Conscious Cravings

2011-01-27T22:25:00.003-06:00

Today Chris and I had every intention to go to lunch in a sit down restaurant but when we passed the Conscious Cravings food truck, I had to give them a shot. LOVE. Such a nice surprise on my Thursday afternoon. I took the employee's suggestion and ordered the spicy chickpea on a bed of lettuce,rice and quinoa(their gluten free substitute for the wrap). I was warned that it was spicy(again love) and as I was walking away to wait for my food I noticed they served rosemary french fries(swoon). I got it all. The quiona and spicy chickpea was delicious-I want more. The french fries are now my favorite in town-go. go. go.

Spicy Chickpea w/quinoa

Love Torchy's Tacos

2011-01-25T22:22:00.000-06:00

Dear Mr. Torchy,

Thank you for your damn good tacos, we love you.

love.

Best Steak In Austin

2011-01-22T14:46:00.000-06:00

Okay, you have an out of town guest and you want to take them to dinner for steak-what restaurant pops in mind?

For me, Ruth Chris & Perry's seem like a no brainer and not to take anything away from these great but I want more. When I eat at these expense account steak house type restaurants no doubt they have great steaks, perfect asparagus and decent desserts I leave the restaurant satisfied not inspired. Its hard to go out for steaks and not think we should have gone to Costoco picked up some steaks and grilled them at home. When I spend the time, energy and money to go out to eat, I want leave the restaurant inspired. Austin Land & Cattle(dont confuse this with Texas Land and Cattle) has decent steaks but then again I am looking for a WOW factor. Where do you go for the perfect steak?

Do-It-Yourself Interior Painting Is Like Money in the Bank

2011-01-06T12:20:00.000-06:00

RISMEDIA, January 6, 2011—Trying to decide whether to do some home remodeling this year or leave your money in the bank? You can do both if you remodel with paint. “The cost of do-it-yourself interior painting is so low, it’s almost like remodeling without touching your bank account,” says Debbie Zimmer, spokesperson for the Paint Quality Institute.

The key, of course, is investing some sweat equity.

“While a professional painter might charge up to $500 or more to paint a room, if you’re willing to provide the labor, you can complete the job for a small fraction of that amount,” says Zimmer.

Looked at another way, do-it-yourself interior painting is a great way to “earn” money. Since painting a room is usually a two-day proposition, if a contractor-applied paint job costs $500 in your area, you’re essentially paying yourself $250 a day to paint.

Absent the labor cost, do-it-yourself interior painting is downright thrifty. Your only outlay is for paint, application equipment like brushes and rollers, and some miscellaneous expenses for things like tape and a drop-cloth. Total cost? “Less than $100 a room,” says Zimmer. That’s little more than pocket-change in today’s remodeling world.

Whether you’ve decided to do your own interior painting to save money or simply to have a hand in beautifying your home, Zimmer offers the following tips:

“Take the time to properly prepare the walls and other surfaces before starting to paint,” she says. “That means cleaning them with a solution of detergent and water, after which they should be rinsed and allowed to dry. If there are any cracks or holes in the walls, this is the time to repair them with spackling compound or a good-quality acrylic caulk.”

Zimmer also recommends using only high quality brushes and rollers. “These will help you apply the paint more evenly to get professional-looking results, even if this is your first time painting,” she says.

When applying latex paints, be sure to use brushes and rollers with synthetic bristles and covers. According to Zimmer, the brushes will maintain the proper stiffness and the rollers will maintain their shape even when exposed to a lot of water.

Lastly, Zimmer recommends that do-it-yourselfers buy only top quality 100% acrylic latex interior paints, which she describes as “the do-it-yourselfer’s best friend.”

“If you’re going to spend time and effort doing your own interior painting, you want the job to last, and that’s where these paints really pay off,” she says. “Top quality 100% acrylic latex paints are extremely durable, plus they resist fading, so your paint job will look great for years to come.”

So if you think you’re up to the job, put yourself to work doing your own interior painting. You’ll be rewarded not just with the money you save, but also with the satisfaction of a job well done.

For more information, visit www.paintquality.com.

source:RISmedia

We Love Austin for Hosting Titaya Thai//Austin Restaurants

2010-09-15T11:30:00.001-05:00

Its 11:30, I am getting hungry and then start to feel the panic of what to eat for lunch. Usually, I don't have time to go home and cook lunch and when in the conundrum of doubt I will always pick Thai. Titaya Thai that has never disappointed me. Their curry dishes have the perfect amount of heat and sweet, the "essential" spring rolls are the seriously the best in town, and I have tried every speciality item on the menu sans gluten and leave with a full belly, smile on my face and excited to come back again. I know there are the loyal Madam Mam fans out there but quite frankly I feel like their ingredients are not as fresh and prices are a little inflated, Thai Kitchen is good but spring rolls are not as fresh which is a travesty! Fresh spring rolls are just as important as a perfectly cooked and fried french fry with a juicy burger. If you are feeling like Thai to go to Titaya's and you will not leave disappointed.

Why We LOVE Austin -Coffee & Austin Children's Museum

2010-09-09T10:59:00.000-05:00

Today as I work in daunting real estate files( I love people & houses NOT the tedious paper work in between) at Halcyon Coffee in downtown Austin, Chris is taking our tot to one of our favorite places in Austin-The Austin Children's Museum. I just know they are having a wonderful time, we always do! I myself am relaxing in comfy cushioned seats, sipping on a delicious half-caff latte(30wks pregnant) listening to Willie Nelson's Georgia. Perfect. Next time when I don't have work to catch up on, I will be sure to get my latte to go and head over to the museum.
Back to work...

Fabulous Freebies 2010 - Kiplinger

2010-09-03T10:18:00.000-05:00

Fabulous Freebies 2010 - Kiplinger

Keller Williams Remains At The Top of the JD Powers List//Austin Real Estate

2010-07-29T15:39:00.001-05:00

Daily Real Estate News

July 28, 2010

More Buyers Pleased With Real Estate Firms

Satisfaction with national real estate companies among home buyers has improved while satisfaction among home sellers has declined in the last year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Buyer/Seller Study, released Thursday.

J.D. Powers collected 3,000 evaluations from 2,817 respondents who bought or sold a home between March 2009 and April 2010. Overall satisfaction with the buying experience is determined by rating satisfaction with the practitioner, the office they represent, and a variety of additional services. Four factors are examined for the home-selling experience: the quality of the practitioner’s performance, marketing, the office they represent, and other services.

"Among both home buyers and home sellers, the importance of [practitioners] and salespersons has increased substantially in 2010, compared with 2009," said Jim Howland, senior director of the real estate and construction practice at J.D. Power, in a statement.

"Buyers are increasingly relying upon negotiating skills of [practitioners] and seem to be satisfied with the purchase prices they are obtaining. Despite the fact that sales practitioners appear to be doing a good job of negotiating and marketing on behalf of home sellers, the tough economic conditions are negatively impacting their overall satisfaction with real estate companies," Howland added.

On a 1,000-point scale here are the scores in the home buyer segment:

1. Keller Williams, 817

2. Prudential, 811

3. Coldwell Banker, 805

4. Home-Buyer Segment Average, 803

5. RE/MAX, 801

6. Century 21, 798

7. ERA, 785

8. GMAC/Real Living, 765

Satisfaction ratings on a 1,000-point scale from home sellers:

1. Prudential, 760

2. Keller Williams, 751

3. RE/MAX, 744

4. Coldwell Banker, 743

5. Home-Seller Segment Average, 742

6. Century 21, 727

Source: J.D. Power and Associates (07/28/2010)

10 Things To Do While In Austin

2010-07-21T13:11:00.001-05:00

We love this list we found on Tour Texas of the Top Ten Things to do when visiting Austin:

1. Completed in 1888, the pink granite Texas State Capitol stands 302 feet high and is 14 feet higher than our nation's capitol. Guided tours are offered weekdays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; and Sundays, 12-3:30 p.m. Free admission. 512-463-0063

2. Relive the pages of Texas history at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Interactive exhibits, artifacts, an IMAX Theatre and the multi-sensory Texas Spirit Theatre bring the myth, legend and fact of Texas all together under one roof. Open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sundays, 12-6 p.m. 512-936-8746

3. The University of Texas is home to the Blanton Museum of Art, recognized for its European paintings and modern and contemporary American and Latin American art. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sundays, 1-5 p.m. 512-471-7324

Tour the State Capitol of Texas, one of the most beloved landmarks in the Lone Star State

4. Enjoy the spectacle of the Congress Avenue bats, the largest urban bat colony in North America, as 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats depart nightly at sunset, April through October, from beneath the bridge. 512-327-9721

5. See the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, where planting areas, wildflower meadows, exhibits and observation tower pay homage to Lady Bird’s devotion to native landscaping and preservation. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12-5:30 p.m. 512-232-0100

6. Visit the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum to see copious volumes of presidential papers, a scale replica of the Oval Office during his presidency, and a First Lady's Gallery devoted to the work of Lady Bird Johnson. Open daily, except Christmas, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission and parking. 512-721-0200

7. Swim in the constant 68-degree waters of Barton Springs Pool, an artesian spring-fed swimming hole in Zilker Park. Open daily 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Closed Thursdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Nominal admission charge. 512-476-9044

8. Take in all the sights on The University of Texas campus, one of the largest public universities in the nation. Tours are available of the UT Tower by reservation only on Saturdays and Sundays, 2-6 p.m. 512-475-6633

9. The heart of Austin is found along the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, a 10.1-mile path bordering the lake on its flow through downtown. 512-974-6700

10. Head to South Congress Avenue to discover eclectic shops, trendy restaurants, unique accommodations and popular music venues. On the first Thursday of each

SOURCE: http://www.tourtexas.com/

HomeAway signs deal with Keller Williams - Austin Business Journal

2010-07-01T07:44:00.000-05:00

I am pretty excited about this new Co-Marketing merger!

HomeAway signs deal with Keller Williams - Austin Business Journal

America's most recession-proof cities

2010-06-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

America's most recession-proof cities

HGTV Casting Call for First Time Home Buyers in Austin

2010-06-25T09:29:00.000-05:00

BUYING YOUR FIRST PLACE?

Then HGTV is looking for you!

MY FIRST PLACE, HGTV’s hit series, is coming back for a ninth season and we’re looking for first-time homebuyers (and their agents!) in the Austin area RIGHT NOW!

We are looking for fun, high-energy people who are just starting the home-buying process for their first place and would like to share their story with HGTV! Our goal is to capture all the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on and buying your first place.

Taping takes place this summer. Ideal candidates will be enthusiastic buyers with a great story to tell and a desire to share their experiences. Singles, couples and families are all invited to apply!

Candidates who complete taping will receive a surprise housewarming gift as part of the show and also a DVD copy of their episode to document their first home buying experience for all time!

emjail shannan@kw.com for an application!

10 Best Cities for the Next Decade - Kiplinger

2010-05-26T14:12:00.001-05:00

10 Best Cities for the Next Decade - Kiplinger

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Austin top Memorial Day destination, Priceline says - Austin Business Journal

2010-05-22T07:31:00.000-05:00

Austin top Memorial Day destination, Priceline says - Austin Business Journal

Keep mosquitoes off of yourself, your property | Richmond Times-Dispatch

2010-04-18T14:41:00.000-05:00

Keep mosquitoes off of yourself, your property Richmond Times-Dispatch

Household Myths and Mysteries Explained | Real Simple

2010-04-07T11:01:00.000-05:00

I have always wondered about most of these myths:
Household Myths and Mysteries Explained Real Simple

City of Austin Free Toilet Program

2010-03-14T18:31:00.001-05:00

The City of Austin is great for many reasons and now they are giving away free toilets! Yes, you fill out a form and they will send you a voucher for a free standard white toilet-the fancy elongated toilets are also available for an additional 21.78 dollars plus tax. Check out this link to find out how to get your FREE high efficiency toilet!

Home For Sale in Rosedale

2010-02-21T22:43:00.001-06:00

Check out our newest listing in Central Austin:

Schlitterbahn Planning $360M Cedar Park Waterpark//Cedar Park Real Estate

2010-02-08T16:52:00.000-06:00

Austin Business Journal - by Jacob Dirr Staff Writer

Schlitterbahn Waterparks is slated to announce a $360 million resort development and convention center in Cedar Park today.
The city will provide up to $6 million to cover infrastructure costs, according to city documents. While reports have varied on the project cost, a Schlitterbahn spokesperson confirmed early Thursday the final cost is $360 million.

The 95-acre project will be a partnership between Rick Redmond, who co-owns the Volente Beach Waterpark on Lake Travis, Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Cedar Park city hall, Schlitterbahn spokesman Jeffrey Siebert said.

The Austin Business Journal reported in 2008 a similar proposed park will also include a convention center that could span up to 100,000 square feet.

Cedar Park gets its water from Lake Travis, and the Lower Colorado River Authority hasn't determined how the water park may affect local water conservation efforts, spokespeople for the LCRA and Save Our Spring Alliance said.

Multiple Cedar Park officials could not be reached or declined to comment, and it appears the city instructed employees not to discuss the park until the council meeting.

In 2008, Redmond denied he was working with Schlitterbahn owners on a Cedar Park water park.

“I know them, but right now there’s nothing there,” he said in 2008. “We’ve talked a little bit. … If someday it works out, you never know.”

Phil Brewer, Cedar Park’s economic development director, could not be reached Wednesday. He declined in 2008 to give details about incentives Redmond was seeking from the city, saying a package had not been finalized.

Jill Redmond, owner of Volente Beach Waterpark on Lake Travis and wife of Rick Redmond, said that park will remain open.

10 Reasons To Buy A Home/Austin Texas Real Estate

2010-02-02T10:36:00.000-06:00

TEN GREAT REASONS TO BUY A HOME

1. Quality of life – a home provides stability and security for you and

your loved ones.

2. Pride of home ownership – it’s your personal haven and you’re

your own landlord.

3. Historically low interest rates – around 5.5 percent in the U.S.

4. Tax Credit – U.S. government provides a special $8,000 incentive

for qualifying first-time buyers.

5. Appreciation potential – your home investment can grow in value.

6. Equity buildup and debt pay down – homeowners enjoy an

average net worth of approximately $184,000 vs. $4,000 for renters.

7. Leverage – where else can you buy an investment of this magnitude

with 5-10 percent down?

8. Tax deduction advantages – property tax and mortgage interest

write-offs (in Canada, home owners gain a tax benefit upon selling).

9. Tax exemption – up to $500,000 per couple or $250,000 per person

on sale of a primary residence in the United States (no tax upon sale

in Canada).

10. The real cost of renting – at $800 per month, with the average

6 percent rental increase per year, you will pay $126,536 over a 10-

year period but have zero ownership of the property.

Austin's East Seventh St. in store for $11.5M revamp

2010-01-07T14:25:00.000-06:00

(Austin) - Construction will begin in February to completely overhaul part of East Seventh St. between downtown and US 183. The $11.5 million project will improve traffic and business conditions from Navasota St. to North Pleasant Valley Rd.

Last month the city awarded contracts to two Austin-area firms — Capital Excavation and Cash Construction — to execute the East Seventh Street improvements, funded through the 2006 bond election and federal earmarks.

Upon completion of the revitalization, brick pavers will replace the cracked asphalt and palm trees will line the treeless corridor.

The city is paying contractors $5,000 per day, up to $250,000, for every day the project is completed ahead of schedule. Such efforts have helped get road projects on Second St. and Lamar Blvd. completed ahead of schedule.

source:Austin Business Journal

Homestead Exemption Scams

2009-12-28T09:45:00.000-06:00

All Texas homeowners qualify for a homestead exemption on their principal residence. This exemption reduces the taxable value of a home—meaning a lower annual bill to local taxing entities.

You must apply for the exemption, but there is no fee associated with applying for a homestead exemption.

Scammers send official-looking stationery to suggest that a fee (usually $50 or more) must be paid for a homeowner to get the exemption. They may also imply that their company is an official taxing authority or a "tax processing center." These claims are false and deceptive.

Texas state law requires these companies to make it clear that they are not a governmental agency. Yet, many people are confused by these solicitations and send in the fees. These letters usually start appearing in mailboxes during the first few weeks of the new year, so be on your toes.

You can download the application for residential homestead exemption from the state comptroller’s Web site and send it in to your appraisal district.

Read more about the homestead exemption.

Source: Texas Real Estate.com

Austin Ranked 3rd in Forbes.com Fastest Recovering Cities

2009-11-30T14:11:00.000-06:00

Austin Ranks 3rd for Fastest Recovering cities:

Real Estate

America's Fastest-Recovering Cities

Francesca Levy, 11.19.09, 4:00 PM ET

Though Omaha, Neb., seems second-rate to some, Warren Buffett may have been on to something when he chose it for the headquarters of his massive holding company, Berkshire Hathaway. According to our research, the city has hit upon a formula to weather the economic downturn better than any other in the country.

While no region has escaped the recession, in Omaha, three Texas metros, a handful of Northeastern manufacturing bases and select southern cities, diversified industry and relatively stable housing fundamentals have provided local residents with comparatively secure standards of living.

Omaha has had a healthy 1.3% gross metropolitan product (GMP) growth in the past year, and a low foreclosure rate (only one in every 3,246 housing units is in foreclosure), but it sails to the top spot on our list because of its unemployment rate: At 5%, the lowest of the metros we surveyed. Omaha's economy is less dependent on manufacturing than other Midwestern cities, and is boosted by a strong agriculture sector and growing biofuels industry. And while the city has a big stake in the financial industry--a factor that nearly spelled ruin for metros like New York--it doesn't specialize in the types of institutions that took big risks and chased exotic financial structures. Instead, it's home to roughly 30 insurance companies and regional banks like Mutual of Omaha.

Lone Star Luck

In No. 2 city San Antonio, home to four military bases, and Austin, our third-ranked city and the state seat of government, municipal jobs supplement Texas' robust energy sector. In Dallas (No. 6), it's a thriving tech industry that buffers it from energy highs and lows. Although Houston (No. 8) is invested mostly in oil, it has diversified its energy industry beyond oil rigs into refining and chemicals manufacturing.

Full List: America's Fastest-Recovering Cities

What's more, the state's housing prices never ascended to the unsustainable levels the rest of the country hit at the peak of the housing bubble. Thus, it didn't crash as hard. These factors have toughened the local economy against a recession that is inextricably tied to real estate.

"Texas didn't have as big of a boom," says James P. Gaines, research economist at the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. "So we're not having anywhere near the kind of bust."

Behind the Numbers

To form our list, we ranked the 100 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas--geographic entities that the U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines and uses in collecting statistics--in five categories: unemployment rate, GMP (a measure of the size of a city's economy), foreclosures, home prices and sales rates.

We ranked September unemployment rates (the most recent available by metro) using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; the percentage of a metro's homes in foreclosure with September data provided by RealtyTrac; and the change in GMP between the first and second quarter of 2009 from the Brookings Institution's MetroMonitor. We also included the second-quarter 2009 year-over-year change in Freddie Mac's Conventional Mortgage Home Price Index--a measure of housing price inflation--and the average days on the market for properties currently on sale (to measure sales rates), using data from Zillow.com. We then averaged the scores for each measure to arrive at an overall ranking.

While there is no foolproof method for resisting recession, a common thread in thriving cities is an economy fed by multiple industries. Former Northeastern industrial hubs like Pittsburgh, and Rochester, N.Y., while they may not seem the likeliest models of economic health, have been able to supplement industrial sector decline with a boost from public-sector jobs that have pumped up the economy even as the private sector declined. They land in the fourth and seventh spot on our list, respectively.

But Rolf Pendall, associate professor of city and regional planning at Cornell University, warns that for upstate New York, this promising news may be temporary.

"We've had government spending plugging the gap," he says. "But it's hard to say what's going to happen in the next two years if government spending has to get withdrawn a lot, as it might."

Pittsburgh's GMP grew .8% between the second quarter of 2008 and 2009, consistent with the .8% national average. Home prices there remained relatively stable while those in other cities plummeted because the area's prospects still seemed dim during the housing bubble and speculators looked elsewhere.

"These metros have been so troubled for so long," says Pendall, "that people didn't develop irrational exuberance about the prospects in their housing markets."

Cities where home prices that don't fluctuate wildly are particularly well-positioned to ride out this recession, because they were spared the domino effect of foreclosures, lost jobs and lost productivity. In San Antonio and Austin, quick sales rates (homes in these cities spend 54 and 73 days on the market respectively compared to a 100-day national median) and home prices that fall above the national average--Austin's median home price in September, for example, is a healthy $240,000, 7% higher than the average for the top 100 metros, according to data from Zillow.com--indicate that they escaped the perilous zeal for building, and lending, that swept the rest of the country between 2001 and 2007.

There's a lesson to be learned from these cities, some of which aren't economically thriving, but all of which are well-equipped to emerge from the recession in a similar position to where they started. Rather than chasing rising home prices or apparently plentiful jobs in one-industry towns, families looking for long-term economic stability should seek spots where industry is diverse and housing price shifts are benign.

Full List: America's Fastest-Recovering Cities

Source: Forbes.com

36 Hours in Austin, Tex. - NYTimes.com

2009-11-28T17:07:00.000-06:00

Great article from NYtimes
36 Hours in Austin, Tex. - NYTimes.com

$8,000 homebuyers tax credit extended

2009-11-17T14:16:00.000-06:00

By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
November 6, 2009: 3:18 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- President Obama signed an extension and expansion of the first-time homebuyers tax credit on Friday.

The $8,000 credit was scheduled to lapse on Dec. 1 but will now be in effect through the end of June. Homebuyers must sign a contract before April 30 and close by June 30. The income limits were also raised: Single buyers can now earn up to $125,000 and still get the full credit while a married couple can earn $225,000.

The bill also made more homeowners eligible to claim the credit on their taxes. First-time buyers -- those who have not owned a home in the past three years -- still qualify for an $8,000 rebate. But now people who want to trade up can also qualify. Those who have owned and occupied a residence for at least five years out of the past eight can claim a $6,500 tax credit if they close on a purchase by the end of June.

"The new version of the tax credit has the potential to stimulate the housing market even more than the old version due to the fact that more people will qualify under the new rules," said Gibran Nicholas, chairman of the CMPS Institute, an organization that certifies mortgage bankers and brokers.

Who qualifies?
Nicholas provided four scenarios illustrating how the tax credit rules for existing homebuyers will apply:

• Harry owned a home in 2001 and 2002 but sold it to relocate for a job. He would qualify for the $8,000 first-time-buyer credit because he has not owned a home in the past three years.

• Sue purchased a home in 2004 and has lived there since. If she decides to buy a new home, she would qualify for the $6,500 tax credit because she has lived in the same residence for five consecutive years in the past eight.

• Jane purchased her home in 2002, lived there for five consecutive years before she rented it out in 2007. She would qualify because she was an owner/occupier for at least five consecutive years in the past eight.

• Mark purchased a home in 2006 and lived there for the past three years. He would not qualify because he is neither a first-time homebuyer nor someone who lived in the same primary residence for five consecutive years out of the past eight.

How it helps the economy
Legislators and industry experts expect that the credit will encourage buyers such as Jane and Sue to move up their purchase plans.

"This bill will shift demand from the second half of 2010 into the first half," said Pat Newport, a real estate analyst with IHS Global Research. "As a result, home sales and prices will get a boost in the first half of 2010, with payback in the second."

That's not a bad thing, according to Bill Kilmer, vice president of advocacy for the National Association of Home Builders. It's important to stabilize real estate markets quickly to help bring the economy out of its tailspin.

The original $8,000 tax credit appears to have helped accomplish that goal: Home prices have inched up the past few months, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index.

Would it have happened anyway?
But critics still see the program as being ineffectual because it rewards buyers who would have purchased a home anyway. Newport estimates that fewer than 400,000 of the 2 million who have claimed the original credit made their purchases solely because of the tax advantages.

Furthermore, buyers do not, in reality, receive the entire benefit. "The credit helped prices stabilize," said Newport. "So the credit has been split between seller and buyer. The sellers are getting higher prices and buyers paying more than they would have without it."

The housing industry, however, is pleased with the extension, although the credit has not been quite as effective as they hoped.

The industry thought the credit would provide a ripple effect, with sales to first timers triggering as many three additional "move-up" sales.

That did not happen, according to Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist.

"It did not have the chain reaction impact it was supposed to," he said. "Instead, many first-timers turned to vacant, foreclosed or other distressed properties the sellers of which were unlikely to be move-up buyers."

So, the tax credit helped prop up the low end of the market without having much impact on the rest of the spectrum. Expanding the benefit to existing homeowners should boost those segments. That should produce additional benefits, according to Yun.

"Preventing further price decline or even nudging prices up a bit stabilizes housing wealth, which makes homeowners more comfortable in their spending," said Yun. "They're more likely to go out to the stores or buy a new car. That provides a boost to the overall economy."

Cypress Creek Town Homes

2009-11-13T11:07:00.002-06:00

Paradiso Villas In Cedar Park

2009-11-12T12:34:00.000-06:00

10 Affordable Home Redos: Buyer's Guide: REALTOR Magazine

2009-10-27T08:20:00.000-05:00

Are you thinking about selling your house? Before you head to the bank for a home equity loan read this:

10 Affordable Home Redos: Buyer's Guide: REALTOR Magazine

Heading to College Towns

2009-10-22T22:19:00.000-05:00

According to a recent report by Forbes, Austin is among the top college towns attracting new residents. The report analyzed the number of residents in 2008 that moved to high populated areas and determined that college towns are attracting new residents because of the stability of local universities as employers and the young population that inhabits these areas. Austin was on the list, along with Raleigh, N.C. and Provo, U.T. Big cities, with high costs of living, are not as attractive to new residents

Source:Forbes

Termites: Home: REALTOR® Magazine

2009-10-19T09:21:00.001-05:00

Termites: Home: REALTOR® Magazine

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Sprouts opens in Rollingwood in Austin

2009-10-15T19:57:00.000-05:00

Austin) - Natural foods retailer Sprouts Farmers Market has officially opened its third Austin-area location. Located in Rollingwood, the 27,800-sf natural foods grocery has taken part of the space that John-Williams Interiors moved out of in the Shops at Mira Vista at Bee Cave Road and Edgegrove Drive.

Sprouts stores are already open on I-35 in Round Rock and on Brodie Lane in Sunset Valley. Another is scheduled to open at the Arboretum in January 2010.

(Austin Business Journal)

Americans Tame Their Wanderlust - Yahoo! Real Estate

2009-09-29T18:13:00.001-05:00

Americans Tame Their Wanderlust - Yahoo! Real Estate

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Millions of Homes May Have Health Hazards//Real Estate News

2009-09-28T09:10:00.000-05:00

An estimated 5.7 million U.S. families live in substandard housing, with one in every three houses in U.S. metropolitan areas plagued by health hazards, according to a study released Thursday.The National Center for Health Housing, which culled the information from U.S. Census data, said the most common problems are water leaks from the outside (11 percent) and inside (8 percent), roofing problems (6 percent), damaged interior walls (5 percent), and signs of mice (5 percent).Charlotte, N.C., Anaheim-Santa Ana, Calif., and Atlanta, Ga., rank at the top of the list for having the healthiest housing. The metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and New York ranked as having the least healthy housing.Source: National Center for
Healthy Housing (09/24/2009)

Northwest Austin Better Than Expected//Austin Texas Real Estate

2009-09-24T13:37:00.003-05:00

Overall in Central Texas, home sales from last year are off by about 35 percent. But in Steiner Ranch near Lake Travis, home sales have only dipped 13 percent below last year’s level.
Through August, brokers had sold 143 homes in Steiner Ranch compared with 164 during the same period last year. Housing prices at the development on RR 620 in Far Northwest Austin remain strong during the economic downturn because of its amenities combined with the reputation of its schools, according to developers.
The median sale price in Steiner Ranch reached $350,000 this year, officials said. In Central Texas, the median price for a house has slumped to $191,500 this year versus $195,000 last year, according to the Austin Board of Realtors.
Meanwhile, Memphis, Tenn.-based CRSA Management LLC in association with the Ex-Students Association of the University of Texas are developing Longhorn Village within Steiner Ranch, which will feature more than 200 villas and apartments along with assisted-living and health services. The $50 million retirement community planned near Lake Travis aims to give University of Texas alumni a place to reconnect with university life.

Source: [Austin Business Journal]

Support your Austin Musicians Today//Austin Texas

2009-09-22T12:42:00.001-05:00

Unemployed Home Owners May Get Assistance// Austin Texas Real Estate News

2009-09-22T09:04:00.002-05:00

The Obama administration has opened a dialogue with major lenders, economists, and government officials over the possibility of extending a financial lifeline to home owners who no longer can afford their mortgages because of job losses. Possible strategies range from encouraging loan servicers to allow unemployed borrowers to skip some payments to providing grants or loans to temporarily cover mortgage obligations for home owners who become unemployed. The talks have drawn praise from some real estate groups and other interests, who say that without aid to this subset of homeowners, the housing recovery could lose momentum.

Source: USA Today, Stephanie Armour (09/18/09)© Copyright 2009 Information Inc.

Best and Worst Schools in Austin//Austin Texas Real Estate

2009-09-20T17:40:00.001-05:00

Best, worst schools in Central TexasSunday, September 20, 2009
Greater Austin Texas rank, Campus, District rank

Top high schools

1 Westlake Eanes 14
2 Westwood Round Rock 15
3 Lake Travis Lake Travis 27
4 Anderson Austin 40
5 Dripping Springs Dripping Springs 45
6 Cedar Park Leander 51
7 Bowie Austin 54
8 McNeil Round Rock 75
9 Wimberley Wimberley 76
10 Georgetown Georgetown 85
Bottom high schools
43 Luling Luling 829
44 Lanier Austin 860
45 Travis Austin 878
46 Reagan Austin 892
47 Johnston Austin 894

Top middle/junior high schools

1 Harmony Science Harmony Science 46 Academy-Austin Academy-Austin
2 Canyon Vista Round Rock 143
3 Canyon Ridge Leander 164
4 Liberty Hill Liberty Hill 250
5 Benold Georgetown 277
6 West Ridge Eanes 293
7 Hudson Bend Lake Travis 299
8 Cedar Park Leander 301
9 Lago Vista Lago Vista 315
10 Kipp Austin Kipp Austin 328
College Prep College Prep
Schools Inc.

Bottom middle/junior high schools

75 Manor Manor 1,615
76 Webb Austin 1,653
77 Burnet Austin 1,662
78 Martin Austin 1,667
79 Pearce Austin 1,676

Top elementary schools

1 Pillow Austin 200
2 Doss Austin 208
3 Canyon Creek Round Rock 228
4 Spicewood Round Rock 239
5 Barton Creek Eanes 287
6 Elm Grove Hays 320
7 Laurel Mountain Round Rock 375
8 The Village Georgetown 377
9 Ford Georgetown 395
10 Highland Park Austin 401

Bottom elementary schools

203 Pleasant Hill Austin 3,292
204 Prairie Lea School Prairie Lea 3,295
205 Norman Austin 3,296
206 Neidig Elgin 3,297
207 Decker School Manor 3,309

Note:Austin's Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, LBJ High School and the Liberal Arts and Science Academy were among two dozen campuses not ranked because of insufficient data. (LBJ and the Academy share a campus but were only recently counted as separate schools for academic reporting purposes.)
Source: Children at Risk

8000 Tax Credit Will Expire Soon//Austin Texas Real Estate

2009-09-18T10:35:00.001-05:00

Don't miss out:

The clock is quickly ticking away for first-time buyers looking to qualify for the $8,000 tax credit. Closings for first-time buyers must occur before Nov. 30, 2009 at midnight in order to qualify for the tax credit. While November seems far off, the deadline is fast approaching, as it can often take weeks, even months, to complete a real estate transaction. The Thanksgiving holiday will be an added road block for individuals looking to meet the deadline.

Currently, there has been no indication from Congress that the tax credit will be extended, so this leaves a small window for first-time home buyers take advantage of the tax credit. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has also enacted measures and procedures that will block any claims for the credit that fall after the Nov. 30 deadline. The IRS has the tools in place to spot and catch these attempts by individuals, who try to push claims through after the deadline.

Basic tax credit rules to remember:
The buyer cannot have owned home in a three-year period prior to the purchase.

Only the primary residence will qualify; vacation and investment properties will not.

If a spouse has owned a home in the last three years, a married person is not eligible for the credit.

Income limits: single tax payer is $75,000 and married tax payers, who file jointly, have a $150,000 ceiling.

Source: Houston Chronicle

Williamson County One of the Nations Best For Job Growth

2009-08-24T10:52:00.001-05:00

(Williamson County) - With a population that has more than doubled in the past ten years, Williamson County is one of the nation's top counties for job growth, according to a new report from CNN/Money.com.
The report ranks Williamson the 14th best county for jobs based on its 53 percent increase in employment between 2000 and 2008.
CNN/Money.com cited Williamson for major employers such as the Round Rock computer giant Dell Inc. and the expansion of major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Sears.
"While farming remains the backbone of the fertile terrain, the health care industry is quickly sprouting roots," the Web site said. "Three new hospitals opened in the last two years in Williamson County and a nursing school affiliated with Texas A&M University is in the works."
The rapidly expanding public school systems in Round Rock and Leander were also referenced in the report.
The study period ended in 2008 and regional job losses experienced in recent months are not taken into account.
The top 10 counties for job growth, according to the report, are:
Pinal County, Ariz. Rockwall County, Texas Kendall County, Ill. Loudoun County, Va. Douglas County, Colo. Fort Bend County, Texas Henry County, Ga. Lake County, Fla. Matanuska-Susitna Bourugh, AlaskaUnion County, N.C.

Source: Austin Business Journal

Forbes + Austin = LOVE

2009-07-31T09:44:00.001-05:00

Austin) - From now until the end of 2010, the Austin economy is projected to grow by $5 billion. That, coupled with relatively subdued unemployment, has the Texas Capital poised for the quickest economic rebound in the nation, according to Forbes.com.

Texas cities such as Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and McAllen are in a good position, Forbes' analysis found. That's due in part to the fact that Texas did not see the massive real estate bubble that formed in states like California, Nevada and Florida.

To determine the ten cities that look best poised for recovery, Forbes examined estimates from data provider Moody's Economy.com of the projected gross domestic product of metropolitan areas across the U.S., as well as unemployment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and home prices, incomes and affordability data from the National Association of Home Builders.

The analysis shows the importance of a city's economic make-up. In essence, the more diverse the industry base is in a particular city, the better off that city is when it comes to quick recovery.

The top five cities for recovery, in order, are Austin; Fayetteville, Ark.; Boulder, Colo.; Huntsville, Ala.; and San Antonio.

Source:Austin Business Journal

10 Cities Most Likely to Bounce Back Quickly

2009-07-14T14:46:00.000-05:00

(RealTrends 6/16/09)

Some cities are likely to recover more quickly from the housing downturn than others. Forbes magazine has identified the top 10 cities that it believes are poised for recovery by examining unemployment figures, projected gross domestic product from Moody's Economy.com, and housing affordability data from the National Association of Home Builders.

Overall, cities most likely to recover first are those with strong technology capabilities.
Here is Forbes' top 10:

1. Austin-Round Rock, Tex.
2. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.
3. Boulder, Colo.
4. Huntsville, Ala.
5. San Antonio, Tex.
6. Mobile, Ala.
7. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Tex.
8. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W. Va.
9. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex.
10. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.

Good News Austin

2009-07-06T11:09:00.002-05:00

(Austin) - Austin was the only major city in the country, and one of few overall, to increase jobs in May, the fourth month in a row it has won that distinction, according to a Labor Department report.
Of the 38 largest cities that the department tracks, only Austin had more jobs in May than a year earlier. The Central Texas job growth rate was 0.5 percent.
Only 15 cities of all sizes increased jobs in that period, and 295 had job losses.
All metro areas had higher unemployment rates in May 2009 than they did in May 2008.
Source: Austin American Statesman

Fourth of July In Austin, Lakeway, Cedar Park & Round Rock

2009-06-30T15:01:00.011-05:00

We love everything from the food to the fireworks on Independence Day. Here is a list of Firework shows in Austin and the surrounding areas. Enjoy!

4th of July Kayaking Tour-Come watch the BATS and the FIREWORKS from the best view available……On the water from your own kayak!Call Live Love Paddle at 512-804-2122 or email livelovepaddle@yahoo.comfor more info or to book your excursion!

4th of July Austin Symphony Orchestra-Auditorium Shores
This is the largest 4th of July event in Austin. Held at Auditorium Shores at The Long Center, more than 100,000 Austinites will attend. The Austin Symphony will perform patriotic music, including the 1812 Overture, which will feature the shooting of cannons by the Texas National Guard Salute Battery. Fireworks will be shot over Lady Bird Lake. The orchestra will begin playing at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks start at 9:30 p.m., lasting through 10. Arrive early to grab a good spot! The event is free and open to the public. Please note that alcohol and glass containers are not permitted, but concessions will be sold.

Pioneer Farms Independence Celebration-Pioneer Farms

Cedar Park 4th of July Celebration-Milburn Park

Face paint,Washers, Food, and one of the Best Firework shows in the Austin Area sponsored by HEB.

Round Rock Express Freedom Fest-The Dell Diamond

4th of July "Sno Cone Inc." DVD Release

Volente Beach 4th of July Fireworks: Volente Beach Waterpark, which is on Lake Travis, offers another wonderful way to celebrate July 4th in Austin. There will be live music and a firework show that starts at dusk. The event is free to guests who purchased park admission prior to 8 p.m., and costs $5 for guests entering the park after 8

July 4th Celebration in Lakeway
The city of Lakeway, which lies on the outskirts of Austin, has its own Independence Day celebration. At 8:30 a.m., there will be a 4th of July parade down Lakeway Drive. The Pageant at the Lakeway Activity Center for the Grand Marshal Speech begins at 10:30 am.. Starting at 6 p.m., attendees will enjoy food, live entertainment, and fireworks. The events will end at 10:00 p.m

Carlos 'N Charlies Fireworks Extravaganza:
Music,Food and Fireworks July 3rd.

Source: Austin.com

Kiplinger Adds Austin To Their Top 10 Best Cities

2009-06-29T15:58:00.003-05:00

Best Cities: It's All About Jobs
Stable employment and new career opportunities give these cities an edge.
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, July 2009

What a difference a year makes. Last summer, the energy and finance sectors of the economy seemed to be thriving, and manufacturing was going strong.
Today, many cities are relying on government programs, universities and stalwart industries, such as health care, to bolster employment in a weak economy. Those factors appeared frequently when we assembled candidates for our 2009 Best Cities list, which focuses on places that have stable employment plus the talent to create new, well-paying positions. A robust job market makes these cities safe havens during the recession and will give them a head start toward growth when the recovery takes off.
When our numbers guru, Kevin Stolarick, evaluated U.S. cities for their growth potential, he looked not just at the overall number of jobs, but also at the quality of those positions and the ability of cities to hold on to them when the economy softens. (See our Methodology) Says Stolarick, who is research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity: "Although downturns are felt by everyone, our research has shown that the impact is less severe for those in the creative class -- people who are paid to think."
One key indicator of such heartiness is the presence of people who work in professional occupations, such as science, engineering, architecture and education. And given that many of you, our readers, work in such professions, these are places where you may find not only a job but also the company of people like yourselves.
We included the cities' greater metro areas because the suburbs and surrounding communities contribute to job stability. And big cities don't have a monopoly on vitality; this year we considered smaller metro areas as well.
Take a spin through our 2009 Best Cities to see which places have the right stuff in these tough times.
No. 1: Huntsville, Alabama
No. 2: Albuquerque, New Mexico
No. 3: Washington D.C.
No. 4: Charlottesville, Virginia
No. 5: Athens, Georgia
No. 6: Olympia, Washington
No. 7: Madison, Wisconsin
No. 8: Austin, Texas
No. 9: Flagstaff, Arizona
No. 10: Raleigh, North Carolina

Austin Homes For Sale//Agave//Austin Real Estate

2009-06-28T12:33:00.006-05:00

Click the Flyer Below:

LIVE IN THE AWARD WINNING NINE SIXTY NINE'S AGAVE ULTRA MODERN COMMUNITY

Location: Nine Sixty Nine-Agave

THIS HOME IS AS ARTISTIC AS YOU.ECO FRIENDLY,ARTISTICALLY DESIGNED HOME BOASTS THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN VOLUME,LIGHT& STYLE, BAMBOO FLOORS,JELD WEN DOUBLE PANNED LOW E2 SOLAR REFLECTIVE WINDOWS,GOURMET KITCHEN COMPLETE WITH UPGRADED JENNAIR APPLIANCES, QUARTZ SILESTONE COUNTERTOPS,RECESSED LIGHTING,LARGE MASTER BEDROOM WITH READING NOOK AND CALIFORNIA STYLE WALK IN CLOSET,RHEEM TANKLESS WATER HEATER,WRAP AROUND YARD, ALL THIS WITH IMPRESSIVE HILL TOP VIEWS SIX MILES FROM DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.

Agave is a unique development for a unique city. Renowned for its independence, creativity, and initiative, Austin and its residents have long embraced cutting-edge ideas without sacrificing personality.Today, the buzz about agave is at a fever pitch with continual articles, tv spots, and awards showcasing this unique neighborhood. In fact, agave recently garnered the national win of "The Coolest U.S. Neighborhood" in a national contest sponsored by Dreyer's Ice Cream as well as being named "Best Cubist Neighborhood" locally.

Information

Contact Information

Chris & Shannan Riemer

http://shannanriemer.vflyer.com/home/flyer/home/2367463

512-791-5837

Forward to a Friend

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Pricing

Price: $279,000.00

Additional Pricing Information: We are priced to sell, bring your offer today!

Property Location

7401 Ava Lane
Austin, TX 78724
View Map

Features

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.5

Parking Spaces: 2

Year Built: 2007

Subdivision: AGAVE

Lot Size: .22

Square Footage: 1796

Agent Name: Shannan Riemer

Broker: Keller Williams Realty

MLS #: 5446677

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Interior Amenities

Security System

Kitchen Island

Attic

Bamboo Floors

Energy Star

Low E2 Solar reflective windows

Exterior Amenities

Patio

Fenced Yard

Grass Lawn

Secluded setting

Photo Gallery

View as Slideshow View Photo Gallery (8 Photos)

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 2367463

Austin Parents Stay Cool

2009-06-22T21:11:00.008-05:00

*photo taken by melissawestonphotograhy.com

Austin Parents are you looking for an inexpensive way to entertain your little explorer? The Baby Bloomers Program at the Austin Children’s Museum is a program for toddlers and babies three years and under. The cost is $4 dollars for members and$8 dollars for non-members (if you go with a friend/member you pay $4,too).They have a story time, sing-a-long, and Little Explorer’s lab starting at930-11:30. So, next Monday instead of sweating it at your neighborhood park, bring your toddler to the museum and relax in the nice air conditioned building as your toddler sings, dances and explores all morning long.

photo taken by www.melissawestonphotography.cm

First-Time Homebuyer//Austin Real Estate

2009-06-18T10:26:00.004-05:00

The Down Payment Assistance Program (DPA) provides qualified, first-time homebuyers, with a zero interest loan to assist with purchasing a home located within the Austin City Limits. DPA funds cover the down payment and eligible closing costs and pre-paid expenses associated with buying a home.
Standard DPA: Up to $10,000 in a deferred, forgivable, 0% interest loan for 10 years. The loan is forgiven if the borrower remains in the home ten (10) years without transferring title. Otherwise the loan is due and payable if the borrower sells, leases, transfers title, refinances, gets a home equity loan, or pays off the first lien within ten (10) years.
(NEW) Shared Equity DPA: Up to $40,000 in a deferred,0%-interest loan for 30 years. Borrowers must pay back the DPA loan plus a percentage of their equity (that is the same percentage as AHFC's contribution) when the borrower sells, leases, refinances, gets a home equity loan, pays off the first lien, or otherwise transfers title within 30 years. When selling the home, the borrower agrees to give AHFC the chance to purchase the house at market rate ("right of first refusal").

THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM! CONTACT US TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Free Fun in Austin

2009-06-17T15:28:00.007-05:00

Blues on The Green

If you are are like us and think music just sounds better live then you must check out Blues on The Green. All summer long on alternating Wenesdays, bring a blanket, chairs,water,sunblock, mosquito repellent(just in case) and enjoy. It is events like this one that make Austin great. Show starts at 7:30 at Waterloo Park

Farmers Market At the Triangle

Come out and suport your local farmers, listen to music, and when it gets too hot take your tots over to the water feature. Our toddler loves it. Starts at 4:00.

KGSR'S Green Home Makeover Drawing

2009-06-13T09:35:00.004-05:00

Green Tips and a drawing to win a green makeover worth over 54k! Click below:

Green Austin Real Estate

2009-06-08T10:21:00.004-05:00

Were you ever wondering why Austin Energy Owns 300 acres 25 miles east of Austin? In an effort to make Austin the Emerald City, Austin Energy is going to build the largest solar power facility in the nation. It just seems like we Austin, Texans are finally putting our money where our mouth is and that makes me proud.

Relocating to Austin?//Austin Real Estate

2009-06-08T09:46:00.003-05:00

Austin tops yet another list...relocation.com posted a list of best cities to relocate.

I am a tad bit bias but I agree 100% with the post. Austin is the ideal city to raise a family, go to college, start your career, vacation, and retire. We have it all. Come see for yourself!

10 Tips To Get Top Dollar In A Buyers Market//Austin Real Estate

2009-06-03T17:28:00.002-05:00

1. Exterior- It is essential that your home has curb appeal. This is the first impression so check the area for debris, toys, dead flowers, mailers, wood rot, peeling paint and cobwebs. Clean, paint, add fresh flowers where needed.
2. Repairs- you know that honeys do list that has been sitting on your refrigerator? Call the handyman and get them done.
3. Flooring- I f you have been considering replacing your flooring, now is the time. Trust me! In order to get your house sold at or above market, it must not appear to be a fixer upper.
4. Paint- Fresh paint can go a long way! Make sure if you repaint the house it’s a neutral color. Bright Green, Purple, Yellow walls are never a good idea. You may love the Pepto Bismol pink walls in your little girl’s room but what if the future prospects A. Don’t have kids or B. Have boys, always go neutral.
5. Remove all clutter from your home is a must before selling. Clear away your toaster oven, refrigerator magnets, knick-knacks, ECT. I usually ask my sellers to get a shower caddy to put all their bathroom toiletries. This minimizes the bathroom clutter sprawl. After your morning routine, simply put your caddy under your newly organized bathroom cabinet.
6. Closets and Cupboards-Clean them out! Take anything you will not be using for the next few months and pack it away. After you clear out all the stuff you don’t use on a weekly basis, organize the rest. Buyers will open your closets and cupboards to see how their stuff will fit and if your closet looks stressed out guess what? It will do the same to the buyer. Make sure the shelves on top of the closet are clear with a couple of stylish shopping bags. I learned this trick from the model homes.
7. Deep Clean everything-This is self-explanatory. If your house is dirty, you will not sell it for top dollar. Period.
8. Odor-Our senses do amazing things to our memory and they can especially make or break the buyer’s impression of your home. When listing your home it is crucial that you remove all odors from your home. You may need to outsource some sniffers to help you identify the sources.
9. Pets- Think about how your four-legged family member will react to intruders in their home and plan accordingly. If they usually go crazy when you have visitors then removing them when you have showings might be something to consider. If you have a cat box make sure to clean it constantly.
10. Hire An Experienced Realtor-Selling you home is more than putting a for sale sign in the yard. An experienced realtor will use their expertise in pricing your home to yield top dollar.

It is true, in most areas of Austin we are in a buyers market. That is why it is crucial that you take proper steps to make sure your house is as close to show room quality as possible.

Austin Memorial Day Fun

2009-05-24T08:54:00.004-05:00

Austin Wine fest today tomorrow. Be Responsible! Go. Enjoy.

Austin Tops Another "Best City" List

2009-05-16T16:20:00.001-05:00

America's Best Bargain Cities
Zack O'Malley Greenburg, 05.13.09, 4:20 PM ET

Nearly a decade ago, after making a donation to a volunteer-run radio station in Austin, Texas, local librarian Red Wassenich was asked why he chose to support a broadcaster with a penchant for playing strange crooner music. "Because it keeps Austin weird," he said.

Since then, the phrase "Keep Austin Weird" has become the city's official rallying cry against the establishment of large chain stores near mom-and-pop shops--and, more generally, for maintaining the city's eccentric feel. The city may be weird, but perhaps more redeeming is that it's also a bargain to live there: Austin is the place where people pay the least to get the most.

In Depth: America's Best Bargain Cities

"Austin has always been really different from the rest of Texas," says Wassenich, 59.

He's talking about the city's weirdness, but he might as well be talking about its affordability and profusion of job opportunities. Four other Texas cities make the list of America's Best Bargain Cities, but none come close to Austin, whose 5.5% unemployment is the best in the country and about half the national average.

Behind the Numbers
To determine which U.S. cities are the best bargains, Forbes looked at the country's 50 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas and metropolitan divisions--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget used by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics.

We assigned points to metro regions across four data sets: Average salary for workers with a bachelor's degree or higher, from PayScale.com; annual unemployment statistics, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; cost of living, from Moody's Economy.com; and the Housing Opportunity Index, from the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo, which measures the amount of homes sold in a given area that would be affordable to a family earning the local median income based on standard mortgage underwriting criteria.

Austin earned high marks across the board.

"They have the triple-whammy of being a university town, a state capital and a technology center," says Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis at PayScale.com, a salary data aggregator based in Seattle. "It makes for a very robust economy and a great place for people to work."

Second on our list is Phoenix, Ariz., but what makes this city affordable isn't quite the same formula as in Austin. The real estate bust left the desert oasis as one of America's emptiest cities, which has also driven down home prices. As a result, Phoenix is one of the most affordable big cities in the nation.

Washington, D.C., rounds out the top three, thanks to an employment rate rivaled only by Austin. That comes as no surprise to Lee.

"Between defense spending under Bush and stimulus spending under Obama, it's been an incredibly strong time," he says.

Further on, the list includes a few places that may raise an eyebrow or two. Ritzy Cambridge, Mass., clocked in at No. 11 because of extremely high salary scores, while Detroit's rock-bottom housing costs earned the city a No. 15 rank--despite an astronomical 13% unemployment rate. That's roughly twice Austin's rate.

Austin Energy Audits//Austin Realtors

2009-05-13T18:20:00.005-05:00

If you are selling or planning on selling your home and you live in Austin, you have to have an energy audit completed by the time of sale. There are a few exemptions to this ordinance, so email us to see if you are exempted. shannan@kw.com

Why Texas Missed the Bust//Austin Real Estate

2009-05-07T14:27:00.003-05:00

Jennifer Hiller-Express News

While residents of some other states gleefully flipped houses for enviable profits a few years ago, Texans settled for solid yet totally unremarkable price appreciation.
Now that the merrymaking has stopped elsewhere, Texas remains one of the few states that the national real estate bust hasn't messed with — at least not too much.
But why?
Several factors led Texas to this so-far fortunate position, experts say.
Easier development regulations make home building — and buying — more affordable in Texas and keep price appreciation in check. And more stringent home equity restrictions also have helped Texas dodge some of the worst problems of the bust.
By and large, home prices across the state have held steady. In the cities where prices have declined, the drop hasn't been the of the lose-your-lunch variety.
“Obviously slow and steady is the preferred rate to move when you look at other parts of the country where there was a bubble,” said Cassie Gibson, senior vice president of research and consulting at Residential Strategies Inc.
But before “Everything's-Better-in-Texas” pride takes over, there are also the state's high property taxes and home insurance premiums, which increase the carrying costs of homeownership.
“It's all tied together,” said Jim Gaines, research economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. “A big part of the monthly mortgage payment is for taxes and insurance, so home prices can't go too high.”
And although local builders and developers might disagree, both Gibson and Gaines said Texas throws far fewer barriers in front of residential development than other parts of the country.
“We're a highly nonregulated state and an easier state for our home builders to build houses without undue delay and cost,” Gaines said. That keeps the cost of new and existing homes in check.
The state's homestead law — the same one that keeps creditors from seizing your house — also likely played a role in insulating Texas.
Jeffrey Forrester, past president of the San Antonio chapter of the Texas Association of Mortgage Brokers, said that while residents in many other states could borrow up to 125 percent of the value of their home, the Texas homestead law limited Texans to borrowing no more than 80 percent on a home equity loan.
Forrester said the ease and availability of 125 percent loans encouraged prices to keep rising in states like California, then discouraged owners from keeping homes once the market turned.
“People would flip a house in two years because the next buyer knew they also could go out and get a 125 percent loan,” he said. “Our homestead law actually looks out for the homeowner's interest. It says, ‘We want you to have a reason to own that home and not work it like an ATM machine.'”
So can Texans gloat now that it missed out on the misery?
Not yet.
Gibson noted that the Dallas branch of the Federal Reserve predicts job losses in all Texas metropolitan areas this year.
And Gaines said that the Texas economy often lags the national economy.
“Is it coming?” Gaines asked. “I think it is. We're just entering the recession that the rest of the country entered 18 moths ago. But I don't think it's going to be nearly as bad here as everywhere else.”

RRISD Trustees Set New Boundaries

2009-05-01T15:23:00.003-05:00

During a Special Called Meeting held Tuesday night the Board of Trustees approved new school boundaries for the district. The majority of the changes will go into effect during the 2010-2011 school year with the exception of the Cactus Ranch Elementary enrollment relief which will begin next school year.

Cactus Ranch Elementary for the 2009-2010 School Year
Trustees voted to send students living in the Mayfield neighborhood to Sommer Elementary and those living in the Stone Oak neighborhood to Teravista Elementary for the 2009-2010 school year. All students entering the fifth grade in August 2009 and their siblings will have the option to remain at Cactus Ranch Elementary with parents providing transportation to and from school. In 2010-2011 Mayfield and Stone Oak students will attend the new elementary campus located in the Stone Oak neighborhood area.

Elementary School Boundaries
Trustees voted to maintain the boundaries of the elementary campuses in the southeast quadrant as they currently exist. Trustees also established a new elementary attendance boundary in 2010-2011 for the elementary campus located in the Stone Oak neighborhood area that is bounded by the district line on the west and north, IH35 on the east, and FM 1431 on the south reducing the Cactus Ranch attendance area. Fifth graders in 2010-2011 will have the option to remain at their current campus with parents providing transportation to and from school.

To check to see if your property vaule has increased with the new boundaries email us now: riemerresidential@gmail.com

Middle School Boundaries
Trustees established boundaries for a new middle school at the site of the current Stony Point 9th grade center which reduces the Hopewell and Ridgeview attendance boundary. The area is generally bounded by Hwy 79 on the south, the district line on the east, Old Settlers Blvd on the north, and a line just east of Texas Baptist Children’s Home on the west not including the Greenhill neighborhood. Trustees also expanded the CD Fulkes Middle School boundary to incorporate the entire Callison Elementary boundary and reduced the current Ridgeview Middle School boundary by that amount. The area is roughly along and south of Hwy 45 between IH35 and Schultz Lane to the southern district line not including Melagrano Apartments but including Louis Henna Townhomes just north of Hwy 45. The Canyon Vista Middle School boundary was also extended to east of Research Blvd and the Deerpark Middle School boundary was reduced by that amount. The area is roughly bounded by Research Blvd on the west, McNeil Road on the north, the quarry on the east, and the district line on the south. Eighth graders in 2010-2011 will have the option to remain at their current campus with parents providing transportation to and from school.

email us: riemerresidential@gmail.com to get a list of homes available in this area.

High School Boundaries

High School Boundaries High school attendance boundaries were approved for the 2010-2011 school year. Trustees created an attendance boundary for Cedar Ridge High School and reduced the Stony Point High School boundary. This area is generally bounded by the district line on the south and east, Hwy 79 and the Onion Creek Village neighborhood on the north, and IH35 on the west. In addition to this area, the Wells Branch area currently attending Round Rock High School is assigned to Cedar Ridge High School. This area is roughly bounded by IH35 on the east, the district line on the south, Hwy 45 with the exception of the La Frontera area on the north, the quarry on the west, and down Merrilltown Drive from FM 1325 to Bratton Lane, then north on Bratton Lane to just below Long Vista Drive. Trustees voted to expand the Round Rock High School boundary to include the Great Oaks Elementary area which reduces the McNeil High School boundary. This area is roughly bounded by RM 620 including the Highlands Horizon neighborhood on the south, O’Connor Drive with the exception of the Monterone Apartments on the north and east, and an imaginary line just west of The Woods of Brushy Creek neighborhood including The Park at Brushy Creek Apartments. The Stony Point High School boundary was expanded to include the Mayfield Ranch and Stone Oak neighborhood which reduces the Round Rock High School boundary. This area is bounded by the district line on the west and north, IH35 on the east, and FM 1431 on the south. Trustees also voted to extend the Westwood High School boundary to include the area bounded by Research Blvd on the west, McNeil Road on the north, the quarry on the east, and the district line on the south which will reduces the McNeil High School boundary

High School Grade Levels Affected by Change

Trustees approved opening Cedar Ridge High School with a freshman and sophomore (sophomores must have complete credits) class. Students zoned for Cedar Ridge High School will not have the option to stay at their current campus unless the student is on an approved transfer to a program or academy not available at Cedar Ridge High School. The two grade level option will be applied to all high school boundary changes affecting existing high school campuses in the 2010-2011 school year and that the district provide transportation for incoming freshman students who elect to begin their freshman year within their newly assigned high school boundaries during the 2009-2010 school year.
source:www.roundrockisd.org

Click here to view school ratings.

Austin Real Estate for 150k//Austin Home Search

2009-04-22T13:39:00.016-05:00

Are you a first time home buyer or considering on becoming an investor? There are still great houses available for 150,000. Yes, you read that correctly, 150k can buy a nice house in the Austin area. I picked out three that I thought were seriously good deals.

The first house is a fantastic deal in south Austin ( just north of Slaughter Ln and west of south 1st street). It is 4/2/2 1362 sqft. home with open floor MIL floor plan. Approx 109. per sqft, built in 1986 and is very close to shopping, restaurants, parks, and the hip SOCO area. Location, Location, Location! Here is the house: (to see the complete listing email me shannan@kw.com)

If the city life is not quite your thing and are interested in a master planned community in the 'burbs, I found two houses that are seriously good deals.

The first is in north Cedar Park/south Leander in the Block House Creek community. Cedar Park/Leander is considered a hot spot in residential and commercial growth. This community is very close to area shopping centers, excellent schools, parks, metro rail, ect. The house is approximately 2000 sqft 4bedroom 3 bathrooms, 2story, high ceilings, built in 1986 for about 75 dollars a sqft!! Here is the house:

(to view the complete listing email me at shannan@kw.com)

The third property is located in a gated community of Round Rock Ranch. Close to area shopping, excellent schools, Dell,parks, pools, and quick drive to the Dell Diamond. This house is 3/2/2 1958 sqft, built in 1996, new carpet and paint throughout the home, study with french doors and custom built in bookcases. All this for approx. 76 dollars a sqft. Check out the house below:

(to view the complete listing email me at shannan@kw.com)

There are several incentives right now for first time home buyers. USDA,Tax Credit, and today I just received another email about the state of Texas down payment assistance program. To learn more about any of these programs please do not hesitate to email me or chris at shannan@kw.com. We are professionals that can help you navigate through the the jargon.

Austin Takes #1//Austin Real Estate

2009-04-21T17:21:00.005-05:00

New Geographer
Best Cities For JobsJoel Kotkin,

04.14.09, 12:01 AM EDT

In hard times, metropolitan areas in Texas and college towns hold out the best opportunities for employment.

Over the past five years, Michael Shires, associate professor in public policy at Pepperdine University, and I have been compiling a list of the best places to do business. The list, based on job growth in regions across the U.S. over the long, middle and short term, has changed over the years--but the employment landscape has never looked like this.
In past iterations, we saw many fast-growing economies--some adding jobs at annual rates of 3% to 5%. Meanwhile, some grew more slowly, and others actually lost jobs. This year, however, you can barely find a fast-growing economy anywhere in this vast, diverse country. In 2008, 2% growth made a city a veritable boom town, and anything approaching 1% growth is, oddly, better than merely respectable.

So this year perhaps we should call the rankings not the "best" places for jobs, but the "least worst." But the least worst economies in America today largely mirror those that topped the list last year, even if these regions have recently experienced less growth than in prior years. Our No.1-ranked big city, Austin, for example, enjoyed growth of 1% in 2008--less than a third of its average since 2003.

The study is based on job growth in 333 regions--called Metropolitan Statistical Areas by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provided the data--across the U.S. Our analysis looked not only at job growth in the last year but also at how employment figures have changed since 1996. This is because we are wary of overemphasizing recent data and strive to give a more complete picture of the potential a region has for job-seekers. (For the complete methodology, click here.)
The top of the complete ranking--which, for ease, we have broken down into the two smaller lists, of the best big and small cities for jobs--is dominated by one state: Texas. The Lone Star State may have lost a powerful advocate in Washington, but it's home to a remarkable eight of the top 20 cities on our list--including No. 1-ranked Odessa, a small city in the state's northwestern region. Further, the top five large metropolitan areas for job growth--Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Ft. Worth and Dallas--are all in Texas' "urban triangle."
The reasons for the state's relative success are varied. A healthy energy industry is certainly one cause. Many Texas high-fliers, including Odessa, Longview, Dallas and Houston, are home to energy companies that employ hordes of people--and usually at fairly high salaries for both blue- and white-collar workers. In some places, these spurts represent a huge reversal from the late 1990s. Take Odessa's remarkable 5.5% job growth in 2008, which followed a period of growth well under 1% from 1998 to 2002.

Of course, not all the nation's energy jobs are located in Texas, even if the state does play host to most of our major oil companies. The surge in energy prices in 2007 also boosted the performance of several other top-ranked locales such as Grand Junction, Colo., Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodoux, La., Tulsa, Okla., Lafayette, La., and Bismarck, N.D.
Looking at the energy sector's hotbeds, however, doesn't tell the whole story. Another major factor behind a city's job offerings is how severely it experienced the housing crisis. There's a "zone of sanity" across the middle of the country, including the region around Kansas City, Mo., that largely avoided the real estate bubble and the subsequent foreclosure crisis.
Still other factors correlating with job growth--as evidenced by Shires' and my current and past studies--are lower costs and taxes. For example, the area around Kennewick, Wash., is far less expensive than coastal communities in that same state, and residents and businesses there also enjoy cheap hydroelectric power. Compared with high-tech centers in California and the Northeast, such as San Jose and Boston, places like Austin offer both tax and housing-cost bargains, as do Fargo, N.D. and Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.
College towns also did well on our list, particularly those in states that are both less expensive and outside the Great Lakes. Although universities--and their endowments--are feeling the recession's pinch, they continue to attract students. In fact, colleges saw a bumper crop of applicants this year, as members of the huge millennial generation, encompassing those born after 1983, reach that stage of life. More recently, college towns have emerged as incubators for new companies and as attractive places for retirees.
Specifically, the college town winners include not only well-known places like Austin and Chapel Hill, but also less-hyped places like Athens, Ga., home of the University of Georgia; College Station, Texas, where 48,000-student Texas A&M University is located; Morgantown, W.Va., site of the University of West Virginia; and Fargo, the hub of North Dakota State University.
Democratic states are glaringly absent from the top of the list. You don't get to a traditionally blue state--in a departure from past years, Obama won North Carolina--until you get to Olympia, Wash., and Seattle, which ranked No. 6 among the large cities.
But political changes afoot could affect the trajectory of many of our fast-growing communities--and not always in positive ways. It's possible that the Obama administration's new energy policies, which may discourage domestic fossil fuel production,could put a considerable damper on the still-robust parts of Texas and elsewhere where coal, oil and natural gas industries are still cornerstones of economic success.
By contrast, the wind- and solar-power industries seem to be, as of now, relatively small job generators, and with energy prices low, endeavors in these areas are sustainable only with massive subsidies from Washington. But still, if these sectors grow in size and profitability, other locales that have not typically been seen as energy hubs over the past few decades may benefit--notably parts of California, although Texas and the Great Plains also seem positioned to profit from these developments.
Another critical concern for some communities is the potential for major cutbacks on big-ticket defense spending. This would be of particular interest to communities in places like Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia where new aircraft are currently assembled. Over the years, blue states like California have seen their defense industry shrivel as the once-potent Texas Congressional delegation and the two Bushes tilted toward Lone Star State contractors.
These days it's big-city mayors and big blue-state governors who are looking for financial support from Obama. Northeast boosters are convinced more money on mass transit, inter-city rail lines and scientific research will rev up their economies. Boston--No. 16 on the list of large cities and a leading medical and scientific research center--could be a beneficiary of the new federal spending.
The most obvious winner from the recent power shift should be Washington, D.C. The Obama-led stimulus, including the massive Treasury bailout, has transformed the town from merely the political capital into the de facto center of regular capital as well. Watch for D.C. and its environs to move up our list over the next year or two. Already the area boasts one of the few strong apartment markets among the big metropolitan areas in the country, which will only improve as job-seekers flock to the new Rome.
Yet Washington is an anomaly, because most of the places that stand to benefit from this unforgiving economy are ones that are affordable and therefore friendly to business, reinforcing a key trend of the last decade. It also helps regions to have ties to core industries like energy and agriculture, a sector that has remained relatively strong and will strengthen again when global demand for food increases.
Some areas have attracted new residents readily and continue to do so, albeit at a somewhat slower pace. Over time this migration could be good news for a handful of metropolitan areas like Salt Lake City, which ranks seventh among the big cities for job growth, and Raleigh-Cary, N.C., which was No. 1 among large cities last year and No. 8 this year. Over the last few years, these places have consistently appeared at the top of our rankings and are emerging as preferred sites for cutting-edge technology and manufacturing firms.
Below these winners are a cluster of other promising places that have already managed to withstand the current downturn in decent shape and seem certain to rebound along with the overall economy. These include the largely suburban area around Kansas City, Kan., perennial high-flyer Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Greeley, Colo.--in part due to their ability to attract workers and businesses from bigger metropolitan centers nearby--as well as Huntsville, Ala., which has a strong concentration of workers in the government and high-tech sectors.
In the end, most of the cities at the top of the lists--whether they are small, medium or large--have shown they have what it takes to survive in tough times. Less-stressed local governments will be able to construct needed infrastructure and attract new investors so that job growth can rise to the levels of past years. If better days are in the offing, these areas seem best positioned to be the next drivers of the economic expansion this nation sorely needs.

Joel Kotkin is a presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University. He is executive editor of newgeography.com and writes the weekly New Geographer column for Forbes.

For a free vaule Check of your home email us now shannan@kw.com.

East side//Austin Real Estate

2009-04-20T16:53:00.005-05:00

(Austin) - Constructive Ventures has sold out the 2124 condominium project on East Sixth Street. Low mortgage rates and the new tax credit for first-time buyers are helping bring buyers into the market.
Barton Place, the firm’s 250-unit project on Barton Springs Road, is approaching 50 percent sold.

Source Austin American Statesman

For more information about properties on the East Side email us at shannan@kw.com

Do Something For Your Community

2009-04-14T17:56:00.003-05:00

The SafePlace Field Day & Festival is an invitation to all to join us in working to end sexual and domestic violence. At SafePlace, we work toward this goal with programs that address safety, healing, prevention, and social change.
It takes a community to spread the word and stop the violence against women, children and men. By joining us to raise funds and spread the word through the SafePlace Field Day & Festival, you join us in moving toward promoting change around the issues of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence.
Ending sexual and domestic violence—it’s not a walk in the park.
Learn more about SafePlace and our mission here.

Families, friends and co-workers will gather to participate in an afternoon of Team Competitions, Ridiculous Relays, Entertainment, Fabulous Food, Games, Activities for All, Bark’n Play, and Family Fun benefiting SafePlace in an enjoyable Festival atmosphere!
So pull up those tube socks and get your sweatbands ready!

Just five dollars will help break the cycle of abuse. Click here

Saturday April 18, 2009: 11 am to 4 pm
General Admission: $5 per person, Kids 12 and under are FREE
Entertainment & Festival Fun begins at: 11 am
Team Competition begins at: 12:00 pm
Fiesta Gardens Park: 2101 Jesse E. Segovia Austin, TX 78702Lady Bird Lake at Chicon Street and Jesse E. Segovia, east of IH-35

Just five dollars will help break the cycle of abuse. Click here

Austin the 8th//Austin Real Estate

2009-04-08T18:13:00.001-05:00

Austin Business Journal

Texas' Capital City rose significantly from 47th on last year's list. Austin was behind cities such as No. 1 Raleigh, N.C. and No. 4 Fayetteville, Ark. The list was ranked according to factors such as cost of doing business and projected employment growth.

Forbes.com cited Austin's projected annual job growth rate of 2.3 percent--the fifth fastest in the country, and its relatively low subprime mortgage exposure.

For its reporting on Austin, Forbes.com spoke with the Charles Schwab Corp., which expanded its Austin presence in 2007 when it purchased the 401(k) Co. "The city of Austin is extremely business-friendly. They have bent over backwards to accommodate us," Glenn Cooper, head of real estate at Schwab, told the news site.

The top 10 cities on the list were as follows:

Raleigh, N.C.
Fort Collins, Colo.
Durham, N.C.
Fayetteville, Ark.
Lincoln, Neb.
Asheville, N.C.
Des Moines, Iowa
Austin, Texas
Boise, Idaho
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Riemerville is Going Green

2009-04-06T09:06:00.005-05:00

Since Chris and I are personally remodeling our 1938 Bungalow, I thought I would share our experience throughout this process. We bought this home three years ago with all the intentions of adding on sqftage but since then, we got pregnant and now have a year old baby so, there has been a slight change in plans. I decided to minimize our projects so, we can live in the house as much as possible. Since we are updating anyway, why not go green? Our first project will be the kitchen. Again, our initial plan is to add on to it but since I don't know when that is going to happen I figured I would work with what we have. Currently, I am thinking butcher block bamboo counter tops. Depending on price, I am thinking of going bamboo counter tops with mother of pearl 3x4 inch recycled glass backsplash. I have been searching for a way to receive tax credit on these improvements but as of now I can only find tax credits on Windows,Doors,HVAC,ect. which we will be addressing next. Here is a great link to see how you can benefit from the new tax credit.

400k in Austin//Austin Real Estate/Austin Home Search

2009-04-05T10:45:00.009-05:00

For 400,000 you can live in 4/4/3 3677 sqft. home in Circle C located in southwest Austin.

To view the complete listing click here.

You could live in a completely remodeled 3/2/1 1526 sqft home located in Central Austin.

For the complete listing click here.

or You can live in a 5/4/2 3941 sqft home located in Avery Ranch (north Austin/west Round Rock)

For the complete listing click here.

Central Texas Is Growing//Austin Real Estate

2009-03-31T08:51:00.002-05:00

Central Texas counties experienced considerable population increases over the period - emphasizing the need for a continued focus on managed growth, Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) officials said.
The numerical and percentage growth break down among counties in CAPCOG’s service area is as follows:
Bastrop: 1,364, 1.9 percent
Blanco: 81, 0.9 percent
Burnet: 901, 2.1 percent
Caldwell: 299, 0.8 percent
Fayette: 241, 1.1 percent
Hays: 7,526, 5.3 percent
Lee: 115, 0.7 percent
Llano: 58, 0.3 percent
Travis: 28,651, 3 percent
Williamson: 22,172, 6.0 percent
Source: Austin Business Journal

290k in Austin//Austin Real Estate

2009-03-26T16:56:00.016-05:00

Since Chris and I are sirva certified representatives, we have the opportunity to work with clients that are relocating to Austin. One of the first things I like to do with all of my clients is to sit down and chat with them about their lifestyle. What do they like to do in their free time, what is more important space or location? What do they love about their current home and what would they love to change. You get the point. With that information, I show a map of Austin and explain to them what you can get for x amount. Right now the market is so interesting, some areas are selling and selling fast and others houses are just sitting on the market begging to be sold. I decided to pick 290k for my first what you can get for your money.

For 290,000 you can live in a 3305, 4/3/2 two story home in the Buttercup Creek which is located in Cedar Park (a suburb located NW of Austin). For the complete listing click here.

For 289,900 you can live in a 1796 sqft, 3/2.5 one story, ultra-hip home located in the new modern, eco friendly Agave which is located in the newly revived East Austin. Click here for the complete listing.

Below is a photo of what the rest of the neighborhood looks like:

For 289,900 you can live in a 3/2/2 one story ranch style, completely remodeled home located in South Austin. Click here for the complete listing.

As you can see these are three very different houses that will be sold and loved by three very different buyers. For all you "numbers" types out there, here are the numbers

MLS / Area /Bed/Bath/Garage /SqFt/Price Per SQFT/List Price/ Avg days on market

3795218/ CLS / 4 /3 /3 / 3,305 /$87.75 / $290,000 /238

5446677/ 3E /3 / 2.5/ 0 / 1,769 /$163.88 / $289,900 /6

3010419/10N / 3 / 2/ 2 / 1767 / $164.06 /$289,900/ 69

Enjoy!

Good News For Austin Real Estate

2009-03-26T09:28:00.002-05:00

Austin was the nation’s second-fastest-growing metropolitan area between 2007 and 2008, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The population in the Austin-Round Rock area grew 3.8 percent to 1.65 million between July 2007 and July 2008. Among major U.S. metros, that growth rate was second only to Raleigh-Cary, N.C., which experienced a 4.3 percent population uptick during the 12-month period.

Large metro areas - those with 2008 populations of 1 million or more - were home to nine of the ten fastest-growing counties. Texas had the largest number of counties on the 100 fastest-growing counties list with a total of 19. The Lone Star State was also home to ten counties among the 25 with the highest numerical gains.

Four metro areas - including two in Texas - increased their populations by more than 100,000 people between 2007 and 2008: Dallas-Fort Worth (147,000); Houston (130,000); Phoenix (116,000); Atlanta (115,000).

Source:Austin Business Journal

Are You A Hipsta//Agave Austin Real Estate

2009-03-23T10:32:00.005-05:00

Modern Living at its Finest!

THIS ECO FRIENDLY,ARTISTICALLY DESIGNED HOME BOASTS THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN VOLUME,LIGHT& STYLE, BAMBOO FLOORS,JELD WEN DOUBLE PANNED LOW E2 SOLAR REFLECTIVE WINDOWS,GOURMET KITCHEN COMPLETE WITH UPGRADED JENNAIR APPLIANCES, QUARTZ SILESTONE COUNTERTOPS,RECESSED LIGHTING,LARGE MASTER BEDROOM WITH READING NOOK AND CALIFORNIA STYLE WALK IN CLOSET,RHEEM TANKLESS WATER HEATER,WRAP AROUND YARD, ALL THIS WITH IMPRESSIVE HILL TOP VIEWS SIX MILES FROM DOWNTOWN AUSTIN!!!!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LISTING.

Mark Your Calendar for Girl Start

2009-03-16T18:34:00.002-05:00

GIRLSTART TO HOST “EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS”MARCH 28 AT UT; AMY’S ICE CREAM FOUNDER TO DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Day-long program designed to educate girls about exciting careers in math, science, technology and engineering
Presented by Applied Materials
(Austin, TX —March 1, 2009) Girlstart, an award-winning Austin-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) has announced that it will be hosting this year’s “Expanding Your Horizons” (EYH) once again at the University of Texas at Austin on March 28, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration for girls is $35 and includes lunch plus other materials, and will remain open until March 18. To register go to http://www.eyhaustin.orgwww.eyhaustin.org%3chttp//www.eyhaustin.org/%3E%3Chttp://www.eyhaustin.org/%3C/a%3E%3E.%20Seats%20are%20extremely%20limited,%20so%20early%20registration%20is%20encouraged.%20EYH%20is%20presented%20by%20Applied%20Materials%3C%3Ca%20href=>, with additional support from FOX 7<http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=DC093014DA80D80AA20639EC876B81A1?contentId=5831452&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1>.
The day-long program will be jam-packed with up to thirty-five exciting and inspiring workshops to choose from presented by professional women from throughout the community. The workshops and demonstrations explore a wide range of careers. Topics include learning how to take vital signs from animals; exploring the basics of starting and running a business and entering the fascinating world of inventions, and much more.Amy Simmons, founder of Amy’s Ice Creams, will open the day-long event with the opening address. EYH participants will have this unique opportunity to hear from a smart, motivated, and successful entrepreneurial woman.
Workshops will be conducted by women who will answer questions about a variety of industries and fields. Each session provides hands-on, fun-filled learning experiences for girls in the 4th-8th grades.
To request an interview with Ms. Wamsted, please contact Jennifer Hill Robenalt at 512.382.0303, or simply email mailto:jennifer@hooplamedia.

SXSW Film 2009//Austin Events

2009-03-15T11:38:00.003-05:00

Here is the link to all the SXSW films for today! Have fun!

SXSW Festival 2009

2009-03-14T20:24:00.005-05:00

Austin has several festivals every year but two of the mama jammas are the SXSW interactive,film and music fest and the ACL festival. Yesterday kicked off the film and interactive part of the fest. HEre is the description posted on the offical website: The SXSW FILM CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL explores all aspects of the art and business of independent filmmaking. The Conference hosts a five-day adventure in the latest filmmaking trends and new technology, featuring distinguished speakers and mentors. The internationally-acclaimed, nine-day Festival boasts some of the most wideranging programming of any US event of its kind, from provocative documentaries to subversive Hollywood comedies, with a special focus on emerging talents.

So, if you are looking for something fun check out the schedule and don't let the fun pass you up.
Here the link for all you SXSW needs.

East Avenue secures $39M loan for first phase

2009-03-12T11:06:00.000-05:00

The developer of the mixed-use East Avenue project on the former Concordia University campus has secured a $39 million loan for the first phase of office construction. East Avenue IG LP is building the $750 million project on the 23-acre site north of downtown Austin. Capmark Finance Inc. lined up the loan through lenders U.S. Bank and Texas Capital. The loan is for the 215,000-sf initial phase of the project, which lead developer Andy Sarwal said is now 70 percent preleased. That eight-story building is set for completion in late summer 2009.
Source: Austin Business Journal

Great Deal in Austin Area Real Estate

2009-03-06T14:55:00.005-06:00

Housing Plan

2009-03-05T15:56:00.002-06:00

Here is a link to explain what on earth is going on with the Government Housing Plan. It is worth checking out!

8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit//Austin Real Estate

2009-03-02T22:31:00.004-06:00

This new tax credit is awesome but there is a ton of confusion of how it works. I have been searching everywhere for a concise explaination and so far I think this link is the best.

Who is eligible to claim the tax credit?
First-time home buyers purchasing any kind of home—new or resale—are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when closing occurs and the title to the property transfers to the home owner.

What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?
The law defines "first-time home buyer" as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse.

For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit. However, unmarried joint purchasers may allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as may occur if a parent jointly purchases a home with a son or daughter. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a principal residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer.

How is the amount of the tax credit determined?
The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit?
The tax credit amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of more than $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The tax credit amount is reduced to zero for taxpayers with MAGI of more than $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (married) and is reduced proportionally for taxpayers with MAGIs between these amounts.

What is "modified adjusted gross income"?
Modified adjusted gross income or MAGI is defined by the IRS. To find it, a taxpayer must first determine "adjusted gross income" or AGI. AGI is total income for a year minus certain deductions (known as "adjustments" or "above-the-line deductions"), but before itemized deductions from Schedule A or personal exemptions are subtracted. On Forms 1040 and 1040A, AGI is the last number on page 1 and first number on page 2 of the form. For Form 1040-EZ, AGI appears on line 4 (as of 2007). Note that AGI includes all forms of income including wages, salaries, interest income, dividends and capital gains.

To determine modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), add to AGI certain amounts such as foreign income, foreign-housing deductions, student-loan deductions, IRA-contribution deductions and deductions for higher-education costs.

If my modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above the limit, do I qualify for any tax credit?
Possibly. It depends on your income. Partial credits of less than $8,000 are available for some taxpayers whose MAGI exceeds the phaseout limits.

Can you give me an example of how the partial tax credit is determined?
Just as an example, assume that a married couple has a modified adjusted gross income of $160,000. The applicable phaseout to qualify for the tax credit is $150,000, and the couple is $10,000 over this amount. Dividing $10,000 by $20,000 yields 0.5. When you subtract 0.5 from 1.0, the result is 0.5. To determine the amount of the partial first-time home buyer tax credit that is available to this couple, multiply $8,000 by 0.5. The result is $4,000.

Here’s another example: assume that an individual home buyer has a modified adjusted gross income of $88,000. The buyer’s income exceeds $75,000 by $13,000. Dividing $13,000 by $20,000 yields 0.65. When you subtract 0.65 from 1.0, the result is 0.35. Multiplying $8,000 by 0.35 shows that the buyer is eligible for a partial tax credit of $2,800.

Please remember that these examples are intended to provide a general idea of how the tax credit might be applied in different circumstances. You should always consult your tax advisor for information relating to your specific circumstances.

How is this home buyer tax credit different from the tax credit that Congress enacted in July of 2008?
The most significant difference is that this tax credit does not have to be repaid. Because it had to be repaid, the previous "credit" was essentially an interest-free loan. This tax incentive is a true tax credit. However, home buyers must use the residence as a principal residence for at least three years or face recapture of the tax credit amount. Certain exceptions apply.

How do I claim the tax credit? Do I need to complete a form or application?
Participating in the tax credit program is easy. You claim the tax credit on your federal income tax return. Specifically, home buyers should complete IRS Form 5405 to determine their tax credit amount, and then claim this amount on Line 69 of their 1040 income tax return. No other applications or forms are required, and no pre-approval is necessary. However, you will want to be sure that you qualify for the credit under the income limits and first-time home buyer tests.

What types of homes will qualify for the tax credit?
Any home that will be used as a principal residence will qualify for the credit. This includes single-family detached homes, attached homes like townhouses and condominiums, manufactured homes (also known as mobile homes) and houseboats. The definition of principal residence is identical to the one used to determine whether you may qualify for the $250,000 / $500,000 capital gain tax exclusion for principal residences.

I read that the tax credit is "refundable." What does that mean?
The fact that the credit is refundable means that the home buyer credit can be claimed even if the taxpayer has little or no federal income tax liability to offset. Typically this involves the government sending the taxpayer a check for a portion or even all of the amount of the refundable tax credit.

For example, if a qualified home buyer expected, notwithstanding the tax credit, federal income tax liability of $5,000 and had tax withholding of $4,000 for the year, then without the tax credit the taxpayer would owe the IRS $1,000 on April 15th. Suppose now that the taxpayer qualified for the $8,000 home buyer tax credit. As a result, the taxpayer would receive a check for $7,000 ($8,000 minus the $1,000 owed).

I purchased a home in early 2009 and have already filed to receive the $7,500 tax credit on my 2008 tax returns. How can I claim the new $8,000 tax credit instead?
Home buyers in this situation may file an amended 2008 tax return with a 1040X form. You should consult with a tax advisor to ensure you file this return properly.

Instead of buying a new home from a home builder, I hired a contractor to construct a home on a lot that I already own. Do I still qualify for the tax credit?
Yes. For the purposes of the home buyer tax credit, a principal residence that is constructed by the home owner is treated by the tax code as having been "purchased" on the date the owner first occupies the house. In this situation, the date of first occupancy must be on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

In contrast, for newly-constructed homes bought from a home builder, eligibility for the tax credit is determined by the settlement date.

Can I claim the tax credit if I finance the purchase of my home under a mortgage revenue bond (MRB) program?
Yes. The tax credit can be combined with the MRB home buyer program. Note that first-time home buyers who purchased a home in 2008 may not claim the tax credit if they are participating in an MRB program.

I live in the District of Columbia. Can I claim both the Washington, D.C. first-time home buyer credit and this new credit?
No. You can claim only one.

I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I claim the tax credit?
Maybe. Anyone who is not a nonresident alien (as defined by the IRS), who has not owned a principal residence in the previous three years and who meets the income limits test may claim the tax credit for a qualified home purchase. The IRS provides a definition of "nonresident alien" in IRS Publication 519.

Is a tax credit the same as a tax deduction?
No. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in what the taxpayer owes. That means that a taxpayer who owes $8,000 in income taxes and who receives an $8,000 tax credit would owe nothing to the IRS.

A tax deduction is subtracted from the amount of income that is taxed. Using the same example, assume the taxpayer is in the 15 percent tax bracket and owes $8,000 in income taxes. If the taxpayer receives an $8,000 deduction, the taxpayer’s tax liability would be reduced by $1,200 (15 percent of $8,000), or lowered from $8,000 to $6,800.

I bought a home in 2008. Do I qualify for this credit?
No, but if you purchased your first home between April 9, 2008 and January 1, 2009, you may qualify for a different tax credit.
Is there any way for a home buyer to access the money allocable to the credit sooner than waiting to file their 2009 tax return?
Yes. Prospective home buyers who believe they qualify for the tax credit are permitted to reduce their income tax withholding. Reducing tax withholding (up to the amount of the credit) will enable the buyer to accumulate cash by raising his/her take home pay. This money can then be applied to the downpayment.

Buyers should adjust their withholding amount on their W-4 via their employer or through their quarterly estimated tax payment. IRS Publication 919 contains rules and guidelines for income tax withholding. Prospective home buyers should note that if income tax withholding is reduced and the tax credit qualified purchase does not occur, then the individual would be liable for repayment to the IRS of income tax and possible interest charges and penalties.

Further, rule changes made as part of the economic stimulus legislation allow home buyers to claim the tax credit and participate in a program financed by tax-exempt bonds. Some state housing finance agencies, such as the Missouri Housing Development Commission, have introduced programs that provide short-term credit acceleration loans that may be used to fund a downpayment. Prospective home buyers should inquire with their state housing finance agency to determine the availability of such a program in their community.
If I’m qualified for the tax credit and buy a home in 2009, can I apply the tax credit against my 2008 tax return?
Yes. The law allows taxpayers to choose ("elect") to treat qualified home purchases in 2009 as if the purchase occurred on December 31, 2008. This means that the 2008 income limit (MAGI) applies and the election accelerates when the credit can be claimed (tax filing for 2008 returns instead of for 2009 returns). A benefit of this election is that a home buyer in 2009 will know their 2008 MAGI with certainty, thereby helping the buyer know whether the income limit will reduce their credit amount.

Taxpayers buying a home who wish to claim it on their 2008 tax return, but who have already submitted their 2008 return to the IRS, may file an amended 2008 return claiming the tax credit. You should consult with a tax professional to determine how to arrange this.
For a home purchase in 2009, can I choose whether to treat the purchase as occurring in 2008 or 2009, depending on in which year my credit amount is the largest?
Yes. If the applicable income phaseout would reduce your home buyer tax credit amount in 2009 and a larger credit would be available using the 2008 MAGI amounts, then you can choose the year that yields the largest credit amount.

A little Bit of Optimism

2009-02-22T16:02:00.002-06:00

So, I was browsing real estate news dredging through all the negative forecast and stumbled upon some optimistic news. I am quite aware that our market has become stagnant;however, we are still holding strong comparably speaking to the rest of the nation's cities.

Featured Listing//Austin Real Estate

2009-02-21T11:54:00.004-06:00

8000 Tax Credit For First Time Home-Buyer

2009-02-19T16:42:00.001-06:00

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit: 6 Things to Know
February 17, 2009 06:19 PM ET | Luke Mullins |

While the proposed $15,000 home-buyer tax credit died in negotiations between the House and the Senate, the $787 billion stimulus bill that President Barack Obama signed into law Tuesday includes a similar--albeit smaller--measure designed to help revive the real estate market. Here are six things you need to know about the freshly-enacted $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit.

1. Eight grand, new buyers: The tax credit included in the economic stimulus legislation is much narrower than the $15,000 proposal. This credit is equivalent to 10 percent of the purchase price of the home--although it's capped at $8,000--and applies only to first-time home buyers and principal residences. But unlike an earlier $7,500 home buyer tax credit, this one does not have to be repaid.

2. First time buyers defined: For the purpose of this legislation, a "first-time home buyer" is someone who hasn't owned a principal residence for three years before buying a house. (The date of purchase is considered the day that the title is transferred.) That means if you've owned a vacation home--but not a principal residence--within the past three years, you would still qualify for the credit.

3. 2009 buyers only: Only those who purchase a home on or after January 1 and before December 1, 2009 are eligible for the credit. Anyone who bought a home last year won't be able to take advantage of it.

4. Income limits: The tax credit is subject to income limitations. Single buyers need a modified adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less to qualify for the full credit, that's $150,000 for married couples. Those earning more than these thresholds may be eligible for reduced credits.

5. Refundable: Because the tax credit is "refundable," qualified buyers can take advantage of it even if they don't have much tax liability.

6. Recapture: Buyers have to own the home for at least three years in order to capitalize on the credit. If they sell the home before then, they will have to return the credit to the government. (Exceptions will be made in certain cases, such as death or divorce.)

Mandatory Energy Audits

2009-01-30T08:49:00.004-06:00

Okay not for everyone, but if you are planning on selling your house this year you must read this article: http://www.cityofaustin.org/edims/document.cfm?id=123737. The auditing will start in June, if you would like to become an energy auditor you can get certified at the Austin Institute of Real Estate. Good Luck!