South Austin Texas Real Estate blog: October 2008

I went to look at my statistics a bit ago, for some unexplainable reason, and I realized that the viewership of some blogs has grown tremendously lately.  Why?  I don't have a clue, but I did realize this ...  what I wrote a few days ago, a few weeks ago, some months ago, is still being read.

I knew that whatever one writes stays online forever, its out there!  I have cautioned new bloggers to be about this very thing, don't say something that you could regret later, that can come back to bite you in the tush.

We all have seen the YouTube vidoes of every candidate in this upcoming election being posted over and over about any thing they have said at some point in their life.  That happens with your blogs too... especially with "re-blogging" your words are repeated over and over..  Be sure its the message you want out there about your ideas and ideals.

One of my blog posts was a simple notice about an Open House I was holding, to date that post has been viewed over 900 times.  That is incredible to me, was it because it was in an area that is very popular? yes most likely... but that means even though that Open House was held in September I am still receiving benefits from folks viewing that post.  Wow.  Think about that! 

So I want to say, post and post and post, its great to be out there .. that's how we become known and familiar, that's what we want to do .. this is free advertising folks.  Please just be careful and realize that what you post today is still available for folks to read next week, next month, next year..  and maybe as Buzz LightYear says.. TO INFINITY AND BEYOND.

Yesterday morning I heard about this on the news and 2 of my colleagues and I went over during our lunchtime, donated our $$ and rolled up our sleeves, YES it really was drive thru.  Now how convienent was that? So easy I couldnt believe it and I also got a BUGS BUNNY BANDAID!

All shots are free-suggested donation is $10..  Here are the upcoming dates.

Drive-thru Clinic - Givens Recreation Center
Wednesday, October 29
3811 E. 12th St 
7:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Drive-thru Clinic-Travis County Expo Center
Wednesday, November 5
7311 Decker Lane
7:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Walk-in Clinic - South Austin Neighborhood Center
Saturday, November 8
2508 Durwood Street
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Walk-in Clinic - Fire Station #5
Tuesday, November 11
1201 Webberville Road
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Walk-in Clinic - Fire Station #24
Tuesday, November 11
5811 Nuckols  Crossing Road
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Walk-in Clinic - St. James Episcopal Church
Wednesday, November 12
1941 Webberville Road
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Walk-in Clinic - Toney Burger Center
Thursday, November 13
3200 Jones Road
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Walk-in Clinic-Northwest Recreation Center
Saturday, November 15
2913 Northland Dive
10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Montopolis Recreation Center
Wednesday, November 19
1200 Montopolis Drive
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Flu Shot Information for the public is available by calling 2-1-1, 3-1-1, 972-5520 or by visiting our website at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/

There is an unusual amount of activity in early voting all over the country this year.  This election has so much energy in it and not many people are "sitting it out", it seems everyone has an opinion and the best way to voice that opinion is to vote.

Most of Austin, Tx is in Travis County and I found this information this morning that I thought was timely and of interest so I thought I would pass it along.

From the KVUE, TV News report  "We've shattered [the] 2004 record for the entire early voting period," said Dana DeBeauvoir, Travis County clerk".  Two mega sites -- one on Airport Boulevard and one on the southeast corner of Highway 71 and Westgate Boulevard. Both are designed to handle 100 voters at a time, and starting Wednesday, they will be open until 9 at night.

If you haven't voted "EARLY" you do still have time, as for me, I live in HAYS County and I will be visiting the BelTerra Clubhouse for my early voting today, Oct 30,2008 THURSDAY,  10:00AM-8:00PM at 801 Belterra Drive.

So get out and VOTE for the candidates of your choice!!!

I have a question that has been plaguing me....  having sold many homes to folks with less than 20% down and watching at the closing table the closer explain PMI... and stating it will cost the new homeowners $70-100 a month... here is the question...

IF ALL THE MORTGAGE MELTDOWN WAS CAUSED AND CREATED BY THE LOWDOWN PAYMENTERS THEN WHERE DID THE PMI COMPANIES COME INTO PLAY AND WHY ARE WE BAILING OUT THE BUNDLED LOANS? Isn't that what the PMI was for?

I know the bailout is a done deal ... I just can't figure out how and why I am going to sit across the table from another new homeowner and smile about the PMI they will pay monthly...  every month... each month.. for years.. where is it going? to a big black hole in the Universe maybe?

Yesterday I heard Alan Greenspan who was a champion for so much deregulation say he thought the banks would "self regulate" and "deregulation would be good" ... did he forget the basic animal premises of people.. GREED.

Many years ago I read a book about Corporations that only cared about their bottom line, not about the Rain Forest or the Environment or the Atmosphere... the bottom line,  Cash IS KING.   As I recall it was a novel about a man who made a choice to not climb the corporate ladder anymore, some part of my brain has never forgotten that book although the rest of my brain forgot the name and author of the book.

I recall at the time that I thought it was alotof hogwash, but was it?  Corporations don't have a human mind with guilt or innocence or feelings.  Corporations are printed pages of income in and out.... Bottom lines, how does one put a consciousness in a corporation?  Who puts it there?  Is that what we are lacking in our Society?  A humanness?  Is this how a plant shutsdownDec 23rd? Leaving a family with a hopeless Christmas Holiday Season?  Sure it wouldn't be much better to be laid off Dec 30th but for one more week the family could have a spirited holiday.  We have all heard about corporate greed and need before, it was the theme as far back as the days of Tiny Tim and Mr Scrooge.

I believe I work at a Real Estate Corporation that does have a human heart, last night we did our annual OKTOBERFEST, ending the food drive we as agents do for our community...  Keller Williams Austin Texas Agents gathered over 23,000 pounds of food last week for our Community Food Bank, the chairman of the Food Bank stated each pound of food makes approximately 13 meals... so we helped to create 299,000 meals for Central Texans.

I'm very proud to be associated with Keller Williams Realty of Austin Tx, and I would be happy to make you a part of our tradition of helping people find their home.  Call me if I can be of assistance to you in finding a new home or selling your current one.   Gail Tassey  512-217-9482   or gailnttexas@gmail.com

What could cause a near riot in a quiet Austin Texas neighborhood yesterday?  Well, some nice gas station owner dropped gas for a limited time yesterday to $2.09 a gallon.  Lines ensued, tempers flared, there was no shortage of angry words.

Humans are amazing creatures and in this case it was almost like a pack of hungry lions arriving at a freshly fallen antelope.  One of the local news teams was nearby and filmed some of the antics.  I saw a senior aged man getting all upset because he thought someone crowded in front of him, the police had to be called to "talk him down" and then all was quiet.

Funny how someone trying to do a good thing, the price drop by the station owner, can turn people into angry mean spirited animals.  Just goes to show you how little seperates the human animal from the jungle animal.

Today, I will gladly pay the $2.35 I saw in my neighborhood and be thankful its not $3.25 like it was a month or just a few weeks ago.   Happy Friday all..... keep smiling and remember you will get your turn at the pump.

I just heard on the local morning news over at KEYE-TV, that the mega tech company GOOGLE is having an OPEN HOUSE Today.  They are showing up at the Scarborough Building and are employing 100 engineers and support staff.

Welcome GOOGLE to "Silicon Hills".  A tag that Austin Texas has earned over the years with many silicon chip makers moving here, AMD, MOTOROLA, SAMSUNG, INTEL, and many I don't know but who help to make up our local economy.  

Austin has a growing economy because of its diverse and varied industries and jobs.  We have a large music (Austin City Limits) and entertainment sector, (Last week I was driving thru the Onion Creek Golf Community and another film company was setting up shop)  the computer fields to include dot.commers, medical fields with the New Dell Childrens Hospital and more. 

Plus we have great Universities to supply educated and eager students from Saint Edwards, University of Texas@ Austin, Hutson Tillison and an arms reach away to Southwestern or Texas A & M University in College Station.

While our weather can get very hot in the summer months we have mild and temperate winters with great springs (and you should see the wildflowers, THANK YOU LADYBIRD for your influence) and our falls though not ablaze of  color like New England we have enough color to know its October.

So, WELCOME GOOGLE and enjoy your stay... I know you will bring great folks to us and be another asset to our economy. 

If you need to purchase a home in Austin Texas, I would like to help you.            Call me, Gail Tassey 512-217-9482, you will find me at Keller Williams Realty in Southwest Austin, just a hop and skip from downtown.

Active Rain is a ONESTOP shopping trip to Awaken my Brain in the mornings.  I am an early riser so I have an hour or so of coffee time most mornings.  I spend that time with my AR friends, whether they know it or not.  I read their blogs, I comment, I enjoy the pictures and catchup on news around these parts.  Sometimes I just vegetate here and read blogs. 

 I have found folks can read or not read what they chose so I can pass up any blogs I don't want to read.  My time is limited here and I like the human INTEREST stories, the real estate hints, the information about technology that I can understand in my simpleton brain.  And I love the photos posted and I can giggle at the cartoons, AR can be a onestop shop for my awakening brain.

Sometimes I have a burning issue I need to write about, I write about it for me, and maybe others will read it and have an opinion, maybe not.. but I write for me.  Ohhhh,  oh occasion I write for readers, like when I do the Onion Creek buyout posts, what is happening there and the timeline of the US Corp of Engineers, how these people are in virtual limbo until issues are resolved.

Occasionally I will post an Open House here, one never knows who will see this stuff afterall... and the buyer I just signed a contract with was met at an Open House last month.  I learn here in the Rain, I have met fantastic people here that due to time and distance I would never have met.  Its a great place to spend a few hours each week.  Thank you AR members, for giving me many enjoyable hours to begin my day. 

An advertisement on the radio station this morning said. ..  100% financing is still available, even if you have poor credit... contact  XYZ Finance Company for this USDA Loan.

I thought the ad was a bit misleading since USDA Loans are limited to certain areas in our locality... nothing in the ad addressed this.... USDA Loans are for underdeveloped areas, with small populations.

USDA Loans also have income caps, meaning, limited income but as the number of family members rise so does the dollar amount of the loan available.  This varies with areas.

A link to the USDA Loan Website... where you can view loan amounts, look up an address and find a lender that is trained in these specialized loans.

http://www.usdaloanapproval.com/index.html

A USDA Guaranteed Loan is Government insured
100% purchase loan. These Loans are only
offered in rural area's.

If you would like to further check out the availability of a USDA Loan program give me a call and I can help you.   Gail Tassey, Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Austin Texas

Sometimes when I am commenting on a blog I realize I have many thoughts on the same subject, or a personal reference to relate and the old wheels start spinning.  So here I am again with the spinning wheels turning. 

Every Tuesday we have a Team Meeting, also known to some as an Office Meeting, it takes an hour and we discuss the market, buyers needs, sellers needs and ways to stay on top in your business.  The normal stuff. 

 Yesterday we had an informal panel of 3 Top Producing Agents who all started their real estate careers during the last real estate slump, 1983-1985. So what I found most interesting was the fact that all 3 said, "You must get out and face to face with people.  Create relationship.  Do not sit in the office and do nothing." 

Now thats great advice.  BUT, doesn't the national statistics say that 80% of buyers and sellers look on the INTERNET FIRST.  BEFORE THE FIRST CALL TO ANY AGENT.  So I left our Team Meeting feeling as though I didn't do the face to face enough.  Maybe I spend too much time online?

Then I remember the success stories I read here, I can GOOGLE various terms and there I am.  Isn't this face to face in another way?  I do believe I am building relationships here, I blog about the Yarrabee Bend buyout and in the past few months while waiting for the powers that be to finalize their decisions I have built a rapport with several of the residents, thru my blog.

While having all these thoughts I read a blog this morning from Richard Weisser and I think ya'll would like it too. http://activerain.com/blogsview/717392/So-is-blogging-in

 so with this all being said, I'm off to do some more face-to-face online.  Blogging is the new face to face. And Active Rain gives me Free Space to do it all I want. FREE.  Did I say FREE, oh yeah, the 3 Top Producing Agents all agreed we all need to cut expenses to the bare bones in times like these.. So what do you not get about FREE?

Face to face time for me would include Blogging, Open Houses, community events and all types of meeting people.  Never think of blogging as a waste of time.  80% of buyers and sellers are looking at agents. Thats huge.  Put yourself out there to be stumbled upon, found, discovered.  Write what feels right to you.   Because you are in a face to face meeting each time someone reads your blog.