South Austin Texas Real Estate blog: May 2009

Barton Hills area is a wonderful area of Austin, Betina has provided a glimpse of the market for May 2009.

Very good Information that Betina has provided here.  Having worked in the UT Condo area for awhile last year the market there still is strong.

Austin is the #1 City to Relocate to a Fresh Start for a variety of reasons says Relocation dot com, a site that helps people determine who, when and if they are ready for a life changing move.  It is a very interesting site and after browsing a few minutes on their site I can see it has value for their readers with tons of information. (http://www.relocation.com/blog/relocationcoms-top-cities-for-a-fresh-start)

The outcome of their survey doesn't surprise me, I love Austin, it is a vibrant city full of life and has a real heartbeat.  Austin has family events, charity events, singles events, music events, down -home festival events, you name it, it's probably here or nearby.   We have parks aplenty, access to lakes and rivers for boaters, fishermen and natural pools for swimmers, like Barton Creek and Hamilton Pool areas.  

With the opening of the new Long Performing Arts Center, Austin has entertainment for all, host to the Austin City Limits a popular music television event, and the acclaimed SXSW, music and film event every year drawing thousands to our city for a preview of live acts and whats often new in the entertainment field, with movie previews...  Austin has so much to offer.

Jobs, yes we have them, high tech, low tech, medical centers, according to the Forbes list and prediction for the upcoming 3 years Austin is one of the BEST places to be. (Forbes March 2009).  Although our commuting time has expanded during peak hours, those peaks are brief and still tolerable.

Housing, yes, we have plentiful housing with prices that would amaze most people.  The average median price for a family home is about $190,000.  Of course location is always paramount in pricing, so there are areas that are a bit out of town for $120,000 for a 3 bedroom 2 bath, and places right near downtown where the prices are over $500,000 for a 3/2.   New builders are offering tremendous value now. 

Schools, yes we have them, University of Texas is a shining star downtown of course, the 40 acres is acclaimed for more than their award winning football teams.  St Edwards University, a beautiful campus offering courses for all...  Hutson Tilliotson College and the Austin Community College are just two more higher education establishments that offer the ultimate education.    The Austin area has several Independent School Districts tht serve the area, several have a level of education of exemplary ratings. 

Did I tell you about the scenery here yet?  The natural beauty?  Austin is rolling hills, it's not the flat desert filled with tumbleweeds and cactus country of the old-time cowboy movies.  Austin has a river that runs thru the midst of the city and parks with hiking and biking trails meander along the riverfront.  Zilker Park with the Botanical Gardens is a walk that should not be missed.   The LadyBird Johnson Wildflower Center is here...  LadyBird left a glorious legacy in Texas with her dedication to beautifying America and no where is it more evident than Austin, our roadsides are filled with flowers from March to October.  Flowers are eye-candy to the soul.  Austin has Oak Trees, glorious old Oak trees and Pecan Trees with spreading limbs that provide shade to sit under on the hot summer days.

Yes it does get hot here in the summer with temperatures that reach over 100 degrees but it never gets too cold here, oh sure, we did have an ice storm, back in 1990-something... and we have a few cold nights that reach down to 20-30 degrees, but that is about it.  People wear shorts here about 10 months of the year.  Which brings up dress, we are a casual town.  Yes there are times we drag out the "good suit and shined shoes"  but mostly we are casual.  Jeans and sneakers are common, even cowboy boots don't go out of style here.

Green? Sure we are doing our best to convert everything to becoming more green, we reduce, reuse, recycle all we can, we have energy rated homes, City incentives and our City Council is leading edge on adapting more ecological and environment friendly measures. 

So Congratulations Austin on being the TOP CITY to relocate to.

If you want to relocate to Austin, or want to know more about Relocation here, give me a call or email and lets talk ... I can help you find the right home in Austin, Dripping Springs, Kyle and Budaor other South Austin  areas.           Gail Tassey 512-217-9482

PENNY MAC Mortgage Investment Trust is planning an open stock sale.   Well my friends, this is the Corporation that is buying up faster than a dropping shoe the delinquient residential mortgage loans and related assests.  This morning in the Austin American Statesman newspaper there was a tiny column about the upcoming sale. (I read the article in the printed version of the paper, not online)

Since I first heard of Penny Mac, back a few months ago, and that it is headed up by former CountryWide CEO, Stanford Kurland, I have been following along in a curosry way... I saw the article where they bought up a gazillion dollars of bundled bad loans from the FEDS for Pennies on the Dollar... hence PENNY MAC,,  then I thought , how does one get to ride on this to be gravy train?   Looks like I'm going to go see how much the opening stocks will sell for... if Stanford Kurland is in for a few bucks, maybe others can make a few pennies.  Is this a real opportunity?  I don't know, you be the judge.

here are two links to those who wish to check it out further.

..  I first read about Penny Mac Stocks on Endre's blog.  in Feb 2009.

The LA Times has a story about the sale..

What do those school ratings in Texas mean ?  Based on the  Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skill testing, or known as the TAKS test.

Ever wonder what the terms actually mean?  Exemplarty? Recognized? Academically Acceptable?  Thanks to one of the great title companies in Austin, Alamo Title who passed along the information,  I am going to try to explain it briefly here...
   
    Exemplary...for every subject at least 90% OF THE TESTED STUDENTS PASSED

    Recognised... for every subject at least 75% of the tested students passed

    Academically Acceptable.. varies by subject.. reading at least 70% passed, writing at least 65% passed, social studies at least 65% passed, math  at least 50% passed and science at least 45% passed.

Many families looking to move into a new home are always concerned about the schools. Knowing what the ratings are and how they are explained should make a buyers decision easier.  One can go to the website of the community school district and see what the ratings of each school  has been.  

If you are thinking of selling your home, check the local neighborhood school, if its a wonderfully rated school.. that can be a real bonus when selling your home.  be sure to point that out to prospective buyers.  

Websites for Schools in our area can be found here..

http://www.dripping-springs.txed.net/       Dripping Springs ISD


http://www.austinisd.org/           Austin ISD


http://www.hayscisd.net/              Hays County ISD


http://www.williamsoncountytexas.us/zzPublicSchools.htm    Williamson County ISD

If you are thinking of buying in the Austin, Dripping Springs, Kyle or Buda area call me and I can help you find the right home for you.   If you have a home to SELL call me and I can market it in the best way to get it SOLD.    Call  Gail Tassey, 512-217-9482 or email me.   I will work for YOU.

Travis County Texas is home to the City of Austin, each year about this time the Property Tax Bill comes out to local homeowners.  If you believe you are wrongly assessed then your right to protest and have that corrected has a time limit.  June 1,2009 will be the last date to protest for this year.

According to the Travis County Central Appraisal District here are some things you will need in order to state your case.

The deadline for protests is June 1. The appraisal district said protesters need to arrive thoroghly prepared.

Bring the following:

• photographs of property
• closing/settlement statements
• cost of repairs
• everything pertaining to the condition of the property
• BRING FIVE COPIES OF ALL EVIDENCE

Now don't ask me why 5 copies, I don't know, thats what they want and if it were me, thats what I would take with me.  Check the website for further details.

Now if you are looking to purchase a home in Travis County, Austin, South Austin, Kyle, Buda or surrounding areas call me and I can help you find the right home at the right price.  If you wish to sell your current home in any of those areas, I can help you with that also.  512-217-9482, see my website for additional information and to browse thru the homes for sale in these areas. http://www.austincomeshome.com

This is one good way to learn to help yourself with building a Revelant website.  Check it out and remember that on this past Saturday, NAR went not in favor of the frontline REALTOR, but tabled for 6 long months something that is beneficial to all Realtors, now 3rd party sites definitely can get the upper hand with our information and sell it back to us. 

Summer comes early here in Central Texas, this week we saw daily temperatures of 90 degrees, thats not the heat index, that is the real time temperature.  So that brings up the issue of cooling off.  Gratefully Cetnral texas has Municipal SWIMMING POOLS.

IN Travis County check out ... www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/pool_schedule.htm check for prices and times

                    Bartholomew Park @ 1800 E 51St Street.

                    Deep Eddy in Zilker Park,  401 Deep Eddy Dr

                    Garrison in Garrison Park,  6001 Manchaca Rd

                   Mabel Davis in Mabel Davis Park, 3427 Parker Ln,

                   Northwest,  Beverly Sheffield Park, 7000 Ardarth

                   Walnut Creek, in Walnut Creek Park, 12138 N Lamar

IN Hays County

                  Kyle Pool, 1100 West Center Street. Kyle     http://www.cityofkyle.com/parks/Aquatics.php

                  Founders Memorial Park Pool, 27900 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs     www.cityofdrippingsprings.com

have some fun this weekend and go for a dip in the pool. 

Yesterday I wrote a blog post explaining why Sky Realty of Austin Texas has taken the step to no longer syndicate the listings.  One of the comments on our own blogsite by a Realtor within our organization is following.   Read the original blogpost by Curtis here:

http://www.skyrealtyaustin.com/blog/why-we-no-longer-syndicate-our-listings.html

This was researched by Kim and her comment will speak to most of us ... NAR board members also sit on the TRULIA and ZILLOW advisory boards?  Is this the fox watching the HENHOUSE?  You decide.

Kim Luttrull wrote:
I find it it interesting that the following individuals represent us at NAR and are a part of Zillow/Trulia. http://www.zillow.com/corp/WhoWeAre.htm The Broker Advisory Board Bob Blount Bob Blount is CEO of RE/MAX Allegiance with 35 offices, 1,150 agents in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. He is a Director for NAR, MRIS, REIN MLS, and REBR. He serves on several VAR committees and work groups and was on the NAR Gateway PAG. He is recognized as an expert in integrated brokerage business systems. Bob is a former RE/MAX International Broker/Owner of the Year and resides in Virginia Beach, VA. http://info.trulia.com/index.php?s=62 Trulia Advisory Board - also has a member of NAR that is currently the federal coordinator for NAR's REALTORS® Legislative Network Trulia Advisory Board Bob Peltier, Edina Realty Mr. Peltier is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the Minnesota Association of REALTORS®, and the St. Paul Area Board of REALTORS®. He also served on the Regional MLS Committee for five years (two years as chairman), and is currently the federal coordinator for NAR's REALTORS® Legislative Network

Posted on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 at 5:18 PM.

Just thought you all should be as informed as we can make you.

I had never seen that word before but it was descriptive enough to be able to envision what it would be like.    Its a huge barn of a building, like an Industrial warehouse, inside its filled with fun and excited children, all ages from toddlers to teens.

Last Saturday was my grandson Bryce's 5th Birthday celebration.  What a celebration it was!  Goin Bananas was the perfect place for a bunch of 5 yr olds and friends to run and play and whoop and holler.   Mothers, dads, grandparents were all in attendance, along with a great Staff, the staff was very intune with what was needed at each party table.  

The party theme areas were large enough for 2-3 picnic tables that one could fill with pizza and cake and bring their own drinks too, it was a great reststop for the parents and yet visible with the half wall to see the action going on in the playscape areas.

It was my first time to Goin Bananas, and it was fun, it was a great party atmosphere and safe environment for the kids, and we got to pick up our ice chest at the end and walk out happy and cake filled!   I think we will be seeing more of Going Bananas in the future.