Just Listed: Wells Branch Hottie
August 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Get the Details:
- 14501 Robert I. Walker Blvd.
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- 1,278sf per tax record
- 2 car attached garage
- Great trees and flower garden
- Koi pond and patio
- Near The Domain
- HOT Location: just off 1325 Tollway AND by IH-35
I Want More!
*Become FRIENDS with this house on Facebook
*Send either video to your spouse, mom or dog
*Tell your Realtor about MLS#3002466 OR call 512.879.3741 for a tour
Hunger in Austin- Take Action!
August 28, 2008 | 1 Comment
slides designed by Lani Anglin-Rosales
Hunger is a Problem
After watching the above slideshow, it’s hard not to feel called to action and it’s not hard to do. September is Hunger Action Month and Austinites are reaching out in a big way by participating in the first annual HAM-up (short for Hunger Action Month twitter user’s meet up) on September 13th. With so many thousands of people in Austin living in hunger every day, we can take simple steps to help, starting with the HAM-up- everyone’s welcome, will you be joining us?
Worst Places to Search for Real Estate Online
August 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Misleading Americans
Stories on TV about the national real estate market are misleading to Americans.
This is because there is no such thing as a “national real estate market”.
Consider the latest American Housing Survey. It found that there are 124,377,000 homes in America spread across:
* 50 states, with
* More than 30,000 incorporated cities, and with
* An innumerable number of neighborhoods
And yet, the media repeatedly groups all 124 million homes into one giant lump and then gives an analysis. No matter how you slice and dice the data, a million dollar vacation condo in Florida does not compare to a single family home in Round Rock.
This is why national real estate statistics are somewhat useless.
Problem Solved
To get real estate analysis that matters, look local instead. And I don’t mean stats from your state — I mean stats from your neighborhood. It’s the only way to know what’s driving home prices on your street.
Unfortunately, finding local data like this isn’t easy; it’s far too narrow to be covered by the press. So, the best place to get local real estate data is from your local real estate agent (obviously why you are here!) because we have access to raw real estate data in and around your neighborhood and are really good at sharing it with you on the blog.
By talking to the “in the market” professionals that know your backyard, you’ll get a much clearer picture of your local market — good or bad — than the national media could ever provide.
Real estate is a local market so your real estate data should be local, too.
Austin Attraction- Spider House Coffee
August 21, 2008 | 4 Comments
My Favorite Coffee House
When we’re not practicing real estate, we’re drinking coffee- true story. Many people move to Austin assuming that the only coffee is from the most visible presence in any American city- Starbucks. This is just not so, there are many wonderful independent coffee houses in Austin and we’ll highlight our favorites over the coming weeks.
So although we like Starbucks, we will always prefer to visit local coffee houses and our favorite is the Spider House located just north of campus. When I got married, we most sincerely considered being the first wedding at Spider House (although we went traditional). I spent a lot of time there during high school and then it was my favorite study spot during college. Where else can you get a cold IBC Root Beer, a coffee or a beer from 7am-2am and sit outside on grandma-style hipster chairs all day while listening to indie music?? Here is why we love Spider House via pictures:
em>photo credit
Travis County Property Tax Hike? Maybe…
August 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Who likes high taxes?
Not me! But it’s not up to me, it’s up to the collective residents of Travis County as to whether or not City Council will be hiking the property tax rates from an average of $927.02 annually to $988.36 based on *this* year’s current rate. Remember though that your individual taxes will fluctuate with changes in value to your property.
Where will the money go?
According to the Statesman,
The increase would pay mainly for a new county criminal court, increased fuel costs, a 3 percent pay raise for most county employees and 31 corrections officers to staff a new detention building at the Del Valle Correctional Complex.
Umm, I’m not sure about that…
If this sounds really good to you, go support City Council! Or if this sounds awful to you, voice your opinion to them on Thursday August 21, 2008 at 6:00PM and Thursday August 28, 2008 at 6:00PM at the Austin City Council Chambers at 301 West 2nd Street.
Home Prices & Foreclosures Up, Sales Down
August 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
original image courtesy of allyaubry
Mixed News
We’ve been watching the median price of the Austin real estate market continue to climb while other parts of the nation experience sharp declines. According to data from the National Association of Realtors, the median price for Austin are homes has increased 4.1% to $194,2000 over the last 12 months.
This news comes on the eve of the Austin Board of Realtors’ data revealing that home sales in the Austin market are down 20% while the number of listings has risen. Foreclosure Listings Inc. shows that Travis County foreclosures increased 45% in the last year while Williamson County experienced a 34% increase.
The Austin real estate market is in a good news / bad news scenario but the people in the best position are those who are ready to sell but aren’t in a rush- there’s competition on the market but the median price increase indicates that sellers are getting more for their homes proving patience to be the advantage. Also, buyers benefit in this market because there is no shortage of choices between foreclosures, short sales, resale and new homes.
Get Your Home Ready to Sell in a Jiffy!
August 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Home Staging
Home staging is the art/science of preparing a residence for sale. It includes combined elements of lighting and color, use of space, and emotional triggers to help make a home appear “more desirable” to a potential buyer.
In the above 5-minute video from the NBC Today Show, real estate expert Barbara Corcoran shows how to stage within a budget, and how to do it quickly.
In less than 48 hours, Corcoran and her crew convert a “stale” listing that’s been listed for 6-plus months, turning it into a home with curb appeal and good looks. And they do it for less than $700.
Home staging can be do-it-yourself endeavor, but hiring a professional can help squeeze extra dollars from a sale price. If you’d like a referral to a trusted home staging professional, we’re glad to point you in the right direction.
Apartment Data *is* Important
August 15, 2008 | 1 Comment
So I made this cool little table which at first glance may seem stupid if you’re not apartment hunting. But guess what, it IS pertinent information because the real estate market rises and falls on the merits of many many little tiny puzzle pieces that fit together to make a whole ranging from apartment rentals, home sales, industrial and commercial space to land.
What’s interesting about apartment rentals state wide is that the prices are climbing independently of their occupancy rates. Typically, when occupancy drops, so does price but this market has created an environment for pricing to rise regardless of standard indicators. The good news is that it is a steady incline rather than a sharp incline and the numbers have not spiked in many many years. In light of a freaky national real estate market, Austin remains level as this one piece of the puzzle reinforces.
It is interesting that Austin appears to have the most drastic change, the numbers in comparison to the nation’s are still very level. I’m not surprised that the Austin rental market is more high dollar than even that of Dallas and multi-family housing is growing in all cities across the state and should be watched as you temp test the market in preparation for buying or selling (or even renting).
Austin Named Top City for Hispanics
August 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
In the August issue of Hispanic Magazine, Austin is listed as one of the Top Ten Cities for Hispanics. This is the seventh year our city has been included on the list, which remarks on the importance of education to our city, the moderate cost of living here, and Austin’s dedication to the environment. The magazine also says that our fair city has earned “a reputation as a place that not only supports artists, but where artists can make a living at their craft.”
Filling out the list are Albuquerque, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami, San Diego, Tucson, and our neighbor to the south, San Antonio. Factors the magazine considered in their listing included representation of Hispanics in local government, a city’s obesity rate/overall state of health, and whether a city’s diverse and welcoming community included a high number of Latinos.
President and CEO of Austin’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Bob Lander, responded positively to our city’s inclusion on the list, saying, “We are proud that Austin is once again recognized as one of the best cities in the nation for Hispanics to live and work . . . Our world-class cultural attractions and diverse population continue to draw attention to Austin, bolster our reputation as a premier travel destination, and enhance the local experience for residents and visitors alike.”
Energy Bill Reduction: Window Tinting
August 8, 2008 | 1 Comment
image courtesy of rephlektiv
Window tinting isn’t just for cars, did you know that you can drastically reduce your electric bill and keep your home cooler during our hot summers? You can do it yourself (read a hysterical tutorial here) if that’s your thing.
I’m not good at that kind of stuff, so I would also suggest that in your quest for your new home, it’s easy to have your windows tinted professionally before you move in, it takes a few hours and makes a big difference. I recently learned that the owner of Razor’s Edge in Cedar Park not only does car window tinting (and we’ve used him before and recommend him) but will come to your home to do your house windows!
Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail?
August 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
According to the Austin American Statesman,
“Building a 145-mile-long freight rail bypass around Austin and San Antonio at a cost of $2.4 billion, making commuter rail possible between the cities, would generate about $1.4 billion in public benefits over 20 years, a study to be released today says. That $2.4 billion, however, does not include the estimated $600 million cost of building passenger rail between Austin and San Antonio, or the $41 million annual operating costs estimated by the agency charged with running such a line. And at this point, no matter the public benefit, it remains unclear how either the state or Central Texas governments will raise the money for the freight line bypass or the commuter line.
This would have a negative impact on our city financially if we are stuck paying for it (which probably won’t fly after the Tollway debacle) but could positively impact our economy and where we will see more subdivisions pop up. Bridging the gap between San Antonio and Austin has been coming for years, just drive down IH-35 to see the massive growth between our cities, but we’ll see if the State sees a need to inject itself into the natural progression of growth.
Green Roofs Drastically Reduce Energy Bills
August 6, 2008 | 1 Comment
image courtesy of thingermejig
According to KXAN News Austin,
Researchers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center have completed the first study comparing the effectiveness of different types of green, vegetated roofs against traditional roofs. The study compared green roofs created by six different manufacturers to find out how much they cooled a building’s interior and how much rainwater they captured.
The lead investigator in the study, Dr. Mark Simmons, said not all green roofs are created equal, and that some do not capture rainwater and prevent it from reaching the ground.
The most interesting part of the study to me was that the study revealed a building’s A/C bill can be reduced up to 21% in comparison to traditional black tar rooftops. Depending on the size of a home, office or industrial building, that is a heavy chunk of dough that can’t be overlooked. Many people think the “green” movement is silly but rarely does anyone think “hey, I hate money and I want to get rid of as much as I possibly can.”
During one 91 degree day, a black top box with no air conditioning reached 129 degrees inside, compared to 97 to 100 degrees inside the green roof box.
So if money or the environment aren’t enough for you, perhaps comfort is. I don’t think it’s realistic that our city go rip off their roofs and put in green roofs but I do think it’s reasonable that new home builders trend toward green roofs as a start toward more environmentally sensitive building practices that will help homeowners save money AND remain comfortable.
Austin Named 2nd Best Homebuying City in US
August 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment
image courtesy of lwf
According to Forbes Magazine, Austin ranks second nationally in the Ten Best Cities to Buy a Home while fellow Texas cities Houston ranked first, San Antonio fifth and Dallas sixth.
Forbes examined the country’s 40 largest metropolitan areas, culling vacancy and home price information from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Association of Realtors.
It’s no surprise to us on the ground that Austin’s so hot for homebuying and in the midst of continuing bad news nationally, the scene on the homefront is looking great!
$1.3 Billion Gas Pipeline to Texas
August 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment
original image courtesy of cinto2
As a follow-up to yesterday’s article regarding wind power coming to Texas, we learned that other changes are coming to the energy industry in Texas (according to the Houston Business Journal):
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a $1.34 billion natural gas pipeline project, which will be owned and operated by the joint venture firm Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC.
The 500-mile pipeline system will pump natural gas extracted from highly prized shale deposits in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
The first 40 miles of the system will begin in Lamar County, and are expected to be in service by the end of October. The entire first phase will be complete by February.
This summer has brought about a change in the attitude of policy makers and industry shakers and we anticipate there to be more changes on the way. The belts will losen up in light of energy prices and I suppose we’ll pay a few dollars more (to get the energy to our cities) in order to pay a few dollars less.
Wind Power- a New Texas Reality?
August 3, 2008 | 1 Comment
photo courtesy of warrenski
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
The state’s Public Utility Commission yesterday put Texas on course to spend $4.8 billion on power lines needed to carry electricity from wind farms in the Panhandle and High Plains to the state’s urban centers.
Getting wind power from turbines to consumers has been problematic because of insufficient transmission lines running from the remote wind farms. The project would allow hundreds and possibly thousands of miles of power lines to be added. However, officials say it would be at least five years before the lines would be ready to handle electricity.
The costs would be covered by customers served by ERCOT, the Texas power-grid operator. Customers would pay an estimated $4 monthly fee for several years.
Texas leads the nation in wind-energy production, and the utility commission’s move, which still faces one more procedural hurdle, would put the state’s output ahead of the combined production of the other 14 states producing wind energy.
I’m still curious about the wind farm projects on the Texas coastline- we all see the massive turbine propelors on big rigs rolling down IH-35 and when we visited Corpus Christi last week, we saw the raw parts taking up city blocks, simply waiting to be installed. I don’t know anything about this project but heard it was held up by the State which wasn’t approving the wind farms due to the environmental impact.
Whether it’s true or not, it seems that with the northwestern and southeasternmost parts of Texas being fueled by wind power, our entire state should have great alternative energy coverage sooner than later. I don’t personally mind an additional few bucks on my bill if it means alleviating fuel consumption, how about you??
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