Betina's Austin Texas Real Estate Blog

Looking for a home for Christmas - Animal Rescue in Brevard, NC

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:26:57 -0600

North Carolina is a little out of my jurisdiction in Texas, but I want to help Charlie any way I can. I hope that re-blogging this post will help him find a forever home. Every dog deserves people who will love and appreciate a great dog.

Happy Tails!

Betina

Via Carol Clay, Broker/REALTOR Brevard NC Real Estate Specialist (Keller Williams Realty, Brevard, NC):

My name is Charlie!
Charlie is a boxer/lab mix, approximately 8 months old. Right now he's about 35 pounds of pure love and affection. He's neutered and up to date on his shots. We're working on learning how to walk on leash, but he is very good at sitting, and playing with his squeaky ball. He loves attention and being with people.

But what he really wants for Christmas is his own family.

Charlie is just one of many dogs in the Brevard, NC area who have been rescued as strays and deserve to be adopted into a warm loving home they can call their own. Even if you don't live in the Brevard, NC area you can help Charlie by sharing his story with as many people as possible by re-posting this blog, forwarding it to friends and family, or letting one of your local rescue groups know that he is available. Transportation out of state is possible!

If you are interested in giving Charlie a home, or if you'd like more information,

please contact me at carolclay@kw.com,

or at 828-551-6290.

Thank you in advance!

Carol

Looking for a home for Christmas - Animal Rescue in Brevard, NC

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:26:57 -0600

Happy Tails!

Betina

Via Carol Clay, Broker/REALTOR Brevard NC Real Estate Specialist (Keller Williams Realty, Brevard, NC):

My name is Charlie!
Charlie is a boxer/lab mix, approximately 8 months old. Right now he's about 35 pounds of pure love and affection. He's neutered and up to date on his shots. We're working on learning how to walk on leash, but he is very good at sitting, and playing with his squeaky ball. He loves attention and being with people.

But what he really wants for Christmas is his own family.

Charlie is just one of many dogs in the Brevard, NC area who have been rescued as strays and deserve to be adopted into a warm loving home they can call their own. Even if you don't live in the Brevard, NC area you can help Charlie by sharing his story with as many people as possible by re-posting this blog, forwarding it to friends and family, or letting one of your local rescue groups know that he is available. Transportation out of state is possible!

If you are interested in giving Charlie a home, or if you'd like more information,

please contact me at carolclay@kw.com,

or at 828-551-6290.

Thank you in advance!

Carol

Looking for a home for Christmas - Animal Rescue in Brevard, NC

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:26:08 -0600

Happy Tails!

Betina

Via Carol Clay, Broker/REALTOR Brevard NC Real Estate Specialist (Keller Williams Realty, Brevard, NC):

My name is Charlie!
Charlie is a boxer/lab mix, approximately 8 months old. Right now he's about 35 pounds of pure love and affection. He's neutered and up to date on his shots. We're working on learning how to walk on leash, but he is very good at sitting, and playing with his squeaky ball. He loves attention and being with people.

But what he really wants for Christmas is his own family.

Charlie is just one of many dogs in the Brevard, NC area who have been rescued as strays and deserve to be adopted into a warm loving home they can call their own. Even if you don't live in the Brevard, NC area you can help Charlie by sharing his story with as many people as possible by re-posting this blog, forwarding it to friends and family, or letting one of your local rescue groups know that he is available. Transportation out of state is possible!

If you are interested in giving Charlie a home, or if you'd like more information,

please contact me at carolclay@kw.com,

or at 828-551-6290.

Thank you in advance!

Carol

Looking for a home for Christmas - Animal Rescue in Brevard, NC

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:25:53 -0600

Happy Tails!

Betina

Via Carol Clay, Broker/REALTOR Brevard NC Real Estate Specialist (Keller Williams Realty, Brevard, NC):

My name is Charlie!
Charlie is a boxer/lab mix, approximately 8 months old. Right now he's about 35 pounds of pure love and affection. He's neutered and up to date on his shots. We're working on learning how to walk on leash, but he is very good at sitting, and playing with his squeaky ball. He loves attention and being with people.

But what he really wants for Christmas is his own family.

Charlie is just one of many dogs in the Brevard, NC area who have been rescued as strays and deserve to be adopted into a warm loving home they can call their own. Even if you don't live in the Brevard, NC area you can help Charlie by sharing his story with as many people as possible by re-posting this blog, forwarding it to friends and family, or letting one of your local rescue groups know that he is available. Transportation out of state is possible!

If you are interested in giving Charlie a home, or if you'd like more information,

please contact me at carolclay@kw.com,

or at 828-551-6290.

Thank you in advance!

Carol

Something you don't see everyday in Austin; a dinosaur skeleton on the street.

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:55:47 -0600

OK maybe this qualifies for a Freaky Friday post. While in the car on 4th Street in Austin I saw a dinosaur skeleton on wheels being propelled down the street by a five guys on bikes inside the skeleton. If you look closely you can just make them out inside the ribcage. You had to see it to believe it. Regrettably I was not faster with the camera, so it does not show the entire skeleton. There are several art studios in the area and I can only assume it must be a work in progress.

If you are in the market for an Austin area home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying or selling a home. I specialize in Relocation and I make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. MOPAC, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.CentralTexasGreenHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, ActiveRain.com-RainMaker, Trulia-Top Realtor Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

Tips to properly winterize your Austin home

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:20:41 -0600

Here are some energy saving tips to help homeowners to save more money this winter.

Heating

Heating a home takes two to three times more energy than cooling a home, so the work you do could add up to savings during the winter months.

· Install plug outlet covers on any unused outlet. About 20 percent of the air that escapes your home escapes through outlet openings.

· If you have a fireplace, install a glass fire screen to keep heated air from escaping through your chimney.

· Insulate indoor water pipes in unheated spaces.

· Inspect insulation to make sure it's not blocking ducts or vents. Blown-in insulation can settle over time and may need to be fluffed up or just more layers of insulation to increase your R-Value.

· Set your thermostat at 68 degrees. For every degree you raise the temperature, you add 3 to 5 percent to your electric bill.

· If your home uses a heat pump, raise the thermostat setting two degrees at a time when adjusting the temperature. This will avoid running the compressor and supplemental heat at the same time.

· Air can enter and escape your home through cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and other areas. Effective caulking can help prevent this heat loss.

· Caulk when the temperature is over 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If the weather is too cold, the caulk may not adhere.

· Caulking should be used only on joints that don't open or close, such as the seam between a window frame and a wall.

· Although most caulk lasts at least 25 years, settling makes it necessary to check your home for cracks in the caulk every few years.

Lighting

· Turn off lights when leaving a room for a short time.

· Keep the dust off lampshades and light bulbs. It can reduce lighting levels as much as 50%.

· Change your bulbs to fluorescent. Fluorescent light bulbs use 70% less electricity than regular light bulbs, give off five times more light, emit 90% less heat and last 10 times longer.

Water Heater

· Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120º.

· During daily use, turn off running water when you're not using it (i.e. soaping hands, brushing teeth).

· Wrapping your water heater with an insulation blanket can reduce its energy use by 10% to 15%.

Refrigerators and Freezers

· Set the temperature between 36o and 38o.

· Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator rather than on a counter-top. Not only is it safer, but the frozen items will help cool the refrigerator as they defrost and help reduce its running time.

· Freezers work better fully loaded, but remember to leave enough room for air to circulate.

· Make sure your refrigerator and freezer doors seal properly.

Cooking

· Microwave ovens use up to 70% less energy, cook food up to 75% faster, and produce much less heat than an electric or gas oven.

· Using covers on pots will bring liquids to a boil more quickly and allow continued cooking at lower temperatures, reducing energy use and heat in your kitchen.

Other Appliances

· Wash/dry full loads of clothes and use cold water as often as possible.

· Never put lamps, TV sets and other heat-generating gadgets beneath a wall-mounted thermostat. Rising heat from these appliances may trigger your conditioning system to overwork.

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. MOPAC, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.CentralTexasGreenHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain-RainMaker, Trulia-Top Realtor Voices, Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

Help Austin conserve water and protect our quality of our drinking water.

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:40:25 -0600

As a longtime Austin resident I have long been a strong proponent of water conservation. There is a limited supply and we need to do what we can as individuals to save our dwindling natural resources. Until "water Desalinization" becomes less costly and more widely available we all need to take steps to reduce our water usage. Some people in Austin think because we have had a little rain in the last month that they can stop conserving. This is just plain wrong. One month of rain is not enough to pull us out of a multi-year drought. Conservation is still necessary to maintain our quality of life and the natural gems around Austin; like Barton Springs, Lake Austin and Lake Travis.

If everyone participates in water conservation we can avoid the costly and un-necessary $850 million dollar proposed water treatment plant. To read more about this City of Austin proposal click here: http://www.sosalliance.org/?alerts&id=470

Today the Austin American Statesman reported that a proposal benefiting neighboring cities: Leander and Granite Shoals was narrowly defeated. This proposal would have allowed effluent from those cities to be dumped into Lake Travis. Lake Travis is the drinking water supply for many of the lake area residents. In my opinion this "proposal" should never have been considered. Thank goodness TCEQ-Texas Commission on Environmental Quality saw fit to shoot this proposal down.

You can do your part to help the conservation efforts by attending the Annual Save Our Spings Holiday Party on December 12th, 2009. This years party and Silent Auction will be held at Mercury Hall at 7:00pm. There will be plenty of live music and refreshments to get you in the mood for the Silent Auction. Please join me at the party and help raise money to protect our water. If you need more information or wish to see a list of the auction items follow this link: http://www.sosalliance.org/?page=105

If you are in the market for a new home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home. I specialize in Relocation and I make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.ZilkerParkHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

South Austin original "Batteries Plus has what you need.

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:09:09 -0600

Recently I discovered a great shop on South Lamar. I was looking for a replacement watch battery. I searched online to find a shop that could replace the battery on my watch. I saw several reviews on the Batteries Plus location in Austin Texas on South Lamar. Every reviewer had great things to say about this shop. Fast service pleasant and knowledgeable employees, convenient location, reasonable prices, excellent customer service, etc.

So I gave them a try and I am happy to report it was all true! I stopped into the store and was greeted by Andy within seconds of walking in. Andy took my watch and was installing the replacement battery within two minutes of me walking in the door. He handed it back to me and told me it would be $8.50. I was impressed that I was in and out of the store, problem solved in less than ten minutes! This place is amazing and it is because of the great staff!

Batteries Plus is a locally owned and operate business with several locations around town. I stopped in to the location at 2300 South Lamar Suite 100. This location is just north of Artz Rib House and south of Zygmont Chiropractic. They have been in Austin about fifteen years, and at this location for ten years. The owner is Chris Patel as UT Alumni and longtime Austin resident.

Batteries Plus in south Austin has everything you need for all types of: toys, tools, laptops, cameras, cell phones, cars, scooters, motor-cycles, etc. They also carry battery chargers for many of these items. If your looking for rechargeable batteries, they have those as well in a variety of sizes. Batteries Plus offers a one year "in store" warranty depending on the item.

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.ZilkerParkHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

Mama Fu's Asian House Cafe Woks the Casbah! New Austin eatery is a big hit!

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:50:57 -0600

There is a new restaurant in A-town and its called Mama Fu's. This establishment has incorporated good design and wonderful food for an all around perfect dinner or lunch out. They cater and offer delivery and they have 4 locations in Austin.

Today I went to the Mama Fu's location at The Triangle after visiting a condo in The Lofts. Lunch was spectacular. Everything was hot and freshly made. We would have eaten on the lovely sunny patio but today is very windy. So we stayed inside in a cozy booth.

Inside you will notice lots of fun graphics throughout the restaurant. The aqua circles on the walls had little hidden messages, that are only revealed when you get really close. They have modified lines out of some fine music. For example: "Wok the Casbah" is a play on The Clash song Rock the Casbah. In honor of Johnny Cash they have "I wok the line because your mine" which is a modified version of "I walk the line because your mine."

If you want to try some quick fresh Asian food stop by Mama Fu's. They have happy hour specials and on Sundays the kids eat free. Some locations even offer Free Wi-Fi! There are four Austin locations:

4615 N. Lamar Blvd #307, Austin, TX 78751

100 Colorado Street, Austin, TX 78701

11301 Lakeline Blvd Suite 300, Austin, TX 78717

9600 S. I-35, Austin, TX 78748

Showcasing Local Austin Texas Artists Work

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:32:19 -0600

November 14^th, I attended a local Austin artist's show. The artist Gretchen Gardner is a native Texan that attended the University of Texas in Austin. She received her Bachelor's of Fine Art in 1984 with an emphasis in graphic design. Twenty years later she took an informal painting class, which inspired her to begin painting. Her passion is painting her pets and the pets of friends. She is now painting pet portraits on commission. She says the joy of painting family animals inspires her to keep painting. Clients bring photographs of the family pet and Gretchen creates colorful pet portraits from these photographs. Gretchen also paints still life paintings in a style similar to Andy Warhol on occasion. You may find Gretchen's paintings at various art galleries around Austin. Right now she has an exhibit at The Imagine Art Gallery in east Austin, 2830 Real Street running through the end of November 2009.

If you want to commission Gretchen Gardner to paint your pet's portrait you may contact her at www.GretchenMakesArt.com

If you want to commission Gretchen Gardner to paint your pet's portrait you may contact her at www.GretchenMakesArt.com. She also has select paintings available as numbered prints. Her art studio is wonderfully convenient in south Austin's hip zip, 78704.

If you are in the market for a home in Austin and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home. I specialize in Relocation and I make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.ZilkerParkHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain-RainMaker, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

Lake Austin has much to offer if your looking for a place to play on the water.

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:10:49 -0600

Austin Texas is the home of many great attractions both historical and natural. We have the Texas Capitol and two great lakes and Barton Springs. If you don't feel like driving thirty minutes to Lake Travis, Lake Austin might be the place for you. It is a narrow lake that works well for motor boats but is not so great for sailing. If you are a sailor you want to stay on Lake Travis and there are many marinas to choose from: Mansfield Marina, Rough Hollow Marina and Emerald Point Marina just to name a few. There are many waterfront homes with docks on both lakes if you choose to keep your boat closer than the marina.

There are a multitude of parks and docks and restaurants on the lake. Lake Austin runs from Mansfield Dam at Lake Travis down past the 360/Pennybacker Bridge and further to Red Bud Trail. If you go south of Red Bud Trail it becomes Lake Ladybird or Town Lake as the long time Austinites know it.

Lake Ladybird was re-named two years ago when Ladybird Johnson passed away. She was the person responsible for the lake beautification project when LBJ was president. So when you walk or ride the trails say thank you to this great lady for making it possible to enjoy this beautiful area.

If you start at Red Bud Trail and head north you will find the following attractions: Lake Austin Riverboats, Tom Miller Dam, The Hula Hut, Westlake Beach, Motzart's Coffee Shop, Walsh Boat Landing, Laguna Gloria Museum, Lake Austin Marina, Mount Bonnell Park, The Austin Country Club, The 360 Bridge AKA The Pennybacker Bridge, The HWY 360 Bridge Boat Ramp, Ski Shores Cafe, Emma Long Metropolitan Park, Lake Austin Spa and Resort, and lastly Mansfield Dam.

If you are in the market for a home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home. I specialize in Relocation and I make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.ZilkerParkHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

Senate close to approving more tax credits. A GREAT THING!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:51:36 -0600

This hot topic has been a daily conversation in our office. Reinae and I share an office at Keller Williams and the opinion that the tax credit extension and modification is a great thing for home buyers. The new version allows existing home owners to get $6500 to move up to a larger home. This segment of the home buying population was over looked in the first version. Now is a great time to buy a home or "move up"!

Betina

Betina Foreman Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. MOPAC, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78746

512-771-6318 www .BetinaForeman.com

Via Reinae Kessler (rhkessler@aol.com):

So...yes...it appears the looming deadline for our tax credit will be extended! HURRAY. I have to admit I was a bit of a skeptic initially. I knew first hand how the banks were struggling and weren't even able to process the offers they had because of the short sale crisis and foreclosures. But, it appears all but certain after the Obama administration will push Congress to go ahead with a new and improved version of the bill. The new bill will effectively extend the tax credit for new buyers all the way through April. But even better is that you just have to purchase by April and have an additional 60 days to close. The new bill also will allow current homeowners and more affluent buyers to claim a $6500 credit as long as you have lived in your current property for at least 5 years. This is great news for all who were under the time crunch, as well as those who have not been able to find their perfect home. A shortage of inventory has been an issue for many of my clients as folks have just been hesitant to sell in a declining market. I say, if you need to move, or want to move, there has never been a greater time. If you must sell your home for less...you will likely make it up when you buy for less. Buyers and sellers alike will win with this new extended and expanded program. And I say "way to go" to the politicians who are spending our tax dollars on something that can make a difference. Now if we can just get health care on track!

The 34th annual Charity Garage Sale is at Palmer Events Center this weekend!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:44:45 -0600

The Settlement Club's 34th Annual Charity Garage Sale is not just for people that live in Bouldin,Travis Heights or Barton Hills. The Settlement Club charity Garage Sale is held November 6,7,8, 2009 at the Palmer Events Center on Barton Springs Road. This event raises money and recycles items that would otherwise go into a landfill. The very first garage sale in the 1970's raised $20K, last year they raised $472K! The garage sale has all kinds of items for sale. There are household items and designer clothing and more!

The merchandise categories are: Clothing, Children's items, Toys, Holiday Items, Books, Linens, Collectibles, Arts and Crafts, Shoes, Kitchen Items, Garden Items, Tools, Small Appliances, TV and Business, Sports Equipment and Sports Memorabilia.

Admission Fees: Friday-10:00-7:00pm $5. Admission

Saturday-10:00-5:00 Free Admission

Sunday-10:00-2:00pm Free Admission

The event has 450 volunteers, and 15,000 attendees. The Box Sale is from 3-5 Sunday. The Box Sale allows you to buy a $3-$7 box and fill it with whatever items you choose that fit in the box.

Happy Shopping!

Betina

If you are in the market for a new home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. We would be happy to help you with the process of buying or selling a home. We specialize in Relocation and make the process easy to navigate. We look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746

512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com Betina@KW.com www.ZilkerParkHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

South Austin has a new wellness provider: Active Life Wellness & Healthcare Center on South Lamar Blvd.

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:58:52 -0600

There is a new wellness and health-care center in south Austin! Active Life Wellness & Healthcare Center opened this spring at 809 S. Lamar. They provide help with low back pain, carpal tunnel, sports injuries, auto accident injuries, and tendon & ligament problems. They offer massage therapy, weight loss clinic, physical therapy, and chiropractic services. They specialize in Graston Technique which is a form of soft tissue mobilization that detects and breaks up scar tissue that would impede normal function of muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments. If you have back pain, they can treat it with "Floating Decompression" which is a comfortable, effective and natural way to treat disc problems and back pain.

The doctors are: Dr. Cynthia Schade, Dr. Nick Foure, and Cynthia Lara. They also sell supplements from: Standard Process, Xymbgen, Genesis, and Xeenix. They accept most insurance and they take VISA, AMex, Discover. For more information about the clinic please visit their website: www.GetAnActiveLife.com or call them at (512)474-LIFE (5433).

The practice also hosts a revolving art gallery in the waiting area. The art that is on display is also for sale at reasonable prices. This clinic is easy to find due to the amazing sign at the street. It is a huge tile mosaic created by a local artist.

One of the most interesting architectects you never heard of Bruce Goff.

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:11:24 -0600

Great interesting architecture is often hard to come by, so I wanted to showcase one of my favorite architects: Bruce Alonzo Goff. Anybody can build a basic home with four walls and a roof, but this man built dreams that you could live in. Bruce Goff was creative in a way that no modern architect I have seen can match.

Bruce Goff was born in Alton Kansas in 1904. He was considered a child prodigy and had his first apprentice job at twelve years old. He later became a partner with that firm Rush Endicott & Rush. His first famous work was and Art Deco building to house the Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa Oklahoma.

Goff's design portfolio had over 500 projects and he actually built about 146 of his designs. As of 2009 only 80 of his creations remain. His work was considered to be "organic" and was always very specific to the individual client and project site. Goff loved using recycled materials and unconventional objects. It was not uncommon to find parts of airplanes, rocks, coal, ropes, zebrawood, cake pans or chunks of recycled glass in his designs.

Despite not having architecture credentials he taught at the University of Oklahoma for a period. Unfortunately he was caught up in a scandal involving one of his students in the mid 1050's and lost his tenure and position with the school.

One of his last designs The Pavilion for Japanese Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art was begun in 1978 but was not completed until after his death in 1988. It is infused with natural light through translucent panels in many places.

Sadly Goff died in 1982. One of his students, Grant Gustavson designed his headstone and even incorporated a piece of glass from one of Goff's works; the Price House.

Here is a link to photos of several of Goff's designs. Take a look at several, as he designed homes with a variety of styles. http://www.narrowlarry.com/nlgoffindex.html

Here is a link to photos of the Duncan House http://www.brucegoff-castle-bandb.com/castleinfo.htm This home is currently functioning as a Bed & Breakfast, so you can experience Goff first hand.

Here is a link to photos of the Durst Home. http://www.narrowlarry.com/nlgoff-durst.html Since I grew up in Houston I had seen this unusual home and always marvelled at its unique exterior. To this day I still wonder what the inside must look like!

Here is a link to the Bavinger house. This is my favorite Goff house and this home is open to the public. Amazingly this link has interior photos! http://www.narrowlarry.com/nlgoff-bavinger.html

Here is an incomplete list of Goff's works in chronological order.

1926: Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
1929: Riverside Studio, Tulsa, Oklahoma
1938: Turzak House, Chicago, Illinois
1939: Cole House, Glenview, Illinois
1940: Colmorgan House, Glenview, Illinois
1940: Unseth House, Park Ridge, Illinois
1941: Bartman House (also known as Triaero), Fern Creek,Kentucky
1947: Ruth VanSickle Ford House, Aurora, Illinois
1947: Ledbetter House, Norman, Oklahoma
1948: Hopewell Baptist Church, Edmond, Oklahoma
1950: Bavinger House, Norman, Oklahoma
1952: Corsaw House, Norman, Oklahoma
1954: Garvey House, Urbana, Illinois
1955: John Frank House, Sapulpa, Oklahoma
1956: Joe D. Price House and Studio (also known as Shin'enKan), Bartlesville, Oklahoma destroyed by arson in 1996
1957: Comer House, Dewey, Oklahoma
1957: Motsenbocker House, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
1958: Durst House, Houston, Texas
1958: Freeman House, Joplin, Missouri
1958: Gutman House, Gulfport, Mississippi (destroyed by fire)
1958: Jones House, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
1959: Collins House, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
1960: Grydor House, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
1961: Fitchette House, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
1961: Adams House, Vinita, Oklahoma
1963: Pollack House, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1965: Duncan House, Cobden, Illinois
1965: Hyde House, Prairie Village, Kansas
1965: Nichol House, Kansas City, Missouri
1965: Searing House, Prairie Village, Kansas
1966: Jacquart House, Sublette, Kansas
1968: Mitchell House, Dodge City, Kansas
1970: Glen Harder House, Mountain Lake, Minnesota (destroyed by fire)
1974: Barby House, Tucson, Arizona
1978: Pavilion for Japanese Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California
1979: Struckus House, Woodland Hills, California
1980: Jacob Harder House, Mountain Lake, Minnesota

I will warn you upfront I am not including photos as I was not able to reach anyone to get permission. You know me, I would rather be safe than sorry. All information was culled from Encyclopedia.com and Wikipedia.com.

If you are looking for an unusual home in the Austin area, call me. I will leave no stone unturned to find the right home for you! If you are interested in selling your unique home, I can help you find the right buyer to take care of your castle!

Betina Foreman Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. MOPAC, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78746

512.771.6318 www.BetinaForeman.com

Open House in Barker Ranch at Shady Hollow Sunday Nov 1st 1-4.

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:03:59 -0500

Please join me at the Barker Ranch at Shady Hollow open house Sunday November 1st 2009 from 1-4. This home is an amazing 5 bedroom home on a third of an acre with many upgrades. This home is about 15 minutes from downtown Austin and feeds into Bailey, Barronoff and Bowie High School. This wonderful home was just reduced $20,000 this month! This is currently the lowest price per square foot ($93.85) for Barker Ranch at Shady Hollow.

5 Beds & 3.5 Baths * 1 Bed Down
All Sides Brick
Extensive Tile Throughout First Floor
Study Down & Gameroom Up
Formal Living & Formal Dining Room
Gas Cooktop * Built-In Oven & Microwave
Center Island & Tile Backsplash In Kitchen
Sitting Area & Large Walk-In Closet In Master Suite
High & Coffered Ceilings
Full Sprinkler & Security System
3 Car Garage (2 Side Entry & 1 Front Entry)
Back Covered Patio & Large Yard
Fruit Trees In Backyard (Apples, Pears, Plums, Figs & Pecan Trees)

DIRECTIONS: From Mopac and Slaughter, head east on Slaughter to Brodie and turn Right, Proceed about 1.5 miles to Gatling Gun and turn Right, Turn Left on Gun Metal Drive.

If you are in the market for a new home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you with the process of buying a home. I specialize in Relocation and I have a team of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.BetinaForeman.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

For The Dog Lover In All Of Us

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:16:08 -0500

I loved this so much I just had to share it! My friend Gary Wotal posted this initially and I thought it worth sharing. I think my next dog will be an Irish Water Spaniel or a Derriere.

Via Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty):

New Dog Breeds

The following breeds are now recognized by the AKC:

Collie + Lhasa Apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up easy for transporting

Spitz + Chow Chow = Spitz-Chow, a dog that throws up alot

Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet

Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed

Pekingnese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog

Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer, a dog fresh and clean as a whistle

Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors

Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes

Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador, not a popular dog with CIA agents

Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, owned by... oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway

Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work

Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere, a dog that's true to the end

The First time home buyers $8000 Tax Credit deadline may be extended!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:21:14 -0500

My contacts at Gracy Title of South Austin just shared some great news. Granted this is something we have thought was in the works, but the powers that be had not announced anything until now. The program may be extended as it is today or it may have some modifications, that is yet to be decided. So if your unsure about waiting, the time to buy a home is now. In order to qualify for the tax credit you must: make no more than $75K a year, be a first time home buyer (if you have not owned a home in three years you will qualify as first time buyer in this program), and be ready to buy now. You must be able to close on the home sale before December 1st 2009.

Senate likely to extend homebuyers' tax credit

October 28, 2009 8:36 pm

Washington (CNN) -- Senate leaders have reached a tentative deal to extend the first-time homebuyers' tax credit that was originally passed earlier this year as part of the stimulus bill, Republican and Democratic sources told CNN on Wednesday.

The agreement would extend and expand the credit to include current homeowners who want to move, according to the sources.

The original credit in the stimulus bill is set to expire at the end of November and offers a tax credit of $8,000 to first-time homebuyers.

Senate sources told CNN they have tentatively agreed to extend that $8,000 credit for first-time buyers until the end of April. In addition, they are adding a $6,500 credit for some current homeowners who buy a new residence by then.

To qualify, current homeowners must have lived in their primary residence for five continuous years.

Senators have not agreed on how the tentative deal would come up for a vote, but sources from both parties said they are considering adding the housing credit to a bill that would extend unemployment benefits.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated she also is interested in extending the homeowner credit, but House leaders have yet to endorse any one bill.

Looking for some exceptional mexican food in Austin, try La Condesa on 400 West 2nd Street.

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:40:05 -0500

Living in Austin means residents have a multitude of choices when it comes to great Mexican food. Some of my regular favorites are Chuy's, Maudie's, Jovita's, Manuel's, El Arroyo and Serrano's. There is a new player on the field and they mean business. La Condesa recently opened up at 400 West 4th Street, just across the street from the new W Condos & Hotel and Lambert's. They are really upping the bar for downtown Mexican food.

The space is open and inviting with several smaller intimate spaces for drinking and dining. When you enter La Condessa the bar is to your right up a few stairs. There is also an elevator for those that need it. It has an intimate patio area that has a wall that slides away to open the bar to the street for fresh air and natural light. The space has a very modern feeling with a nod to old Mexico. The mural on the west wall is comprised of a multitude of old vintage Mexican billboards that have been cut into smaller pieces and fanned out to radiate like the sun. (see photo below) La Condesa has won several awards for their modern designed space. The Austin Institute of Architecture awarded them the best restaurant in Austin.

As you enter the main dining room on your left, you will notice the unusual lighting. There are a number of thin black cords suspended from the ceiling like an octopus with a slender light-bulbs with numerous tiny filaments in each bulb. These lights radiate a soft light that creates a relaxing atmosphere. If you continue out to the patio it is a sleek modern space that is open to the street and allows for wonderful people watching experiences.

The food is divine, simple and yet complex. I know that is a contradiction, but how else can I put it in words. The Pibil pork tacos were perfectly cooked and served on two double corn tortillas with a sweet and spicy pickled Habenaro salsa and pickled red onions on the side. Every taco dish comes with a side of black beans and rice with a smattering of fresh sweet corn, red bell pepper and fresh cilantro. The presentation was beautiful and the service was prompt and kknowledgeable. Our server was Hannah and she never flinched, even when we bombarded her with a thousand questions about the food and drink specials. She suggested their signature cocktail as a starter. This is a Watermelon Martini served up, with two Mellon balls on a skewer instead of olives. This drink also just won an award as Best New Drink in Austin. We will be back often and I hope that if you read this you will take a chance and try La Condesa yourself. I promise you will be glad that you did!

If you are in the market for an Austin home & are not currently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you with the process of buying a home. I specialize in Relocation & I have a team of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.BetinaForeman.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

Betina's famous stuffed Pumpkin Bread/Muffins! A favorite family recipe just in time for the holidays!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:38:57 -0500

Every fall I make these wonderful pumpkin bread/muffins and everyone asks me for the recipe. So I thought I would share it with my AR friends and family, so you can share them with your friends too! I hope everyone likes this easy recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup oil

1/3 cup water

4 beaten eggs

3 1/2 cups Flour

2 TBSP Baking Soda

3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (hold back 1/4 cup of nuts for topping

1 1/2 TSP. Cinnamon

1 TSP. Salt

1 1/4 TSP Nutmeg

3 cups sugar (I never said this recipe was low calorie!!)

2 cups fresh cooked pumpkin (canned pumpkin is OK too)

12 oz. Cream Cheese- This ingredient does not get mixed into the batter!! This should be held until filling the muffin sheet.

Instructions: Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Mix the 'wet' ingredients in a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients gradually into the bowl containing the 'wet' ingredients. Stir well until batter is smooth. Use paper muffin liners in muffin pan. Add one medium spoonful of mix into the cups, then add a teaspoon of cream cheese into the muffin cups. Then add another spoon full of pumpkin batter on top, and sprinkle a few chopped nuts on top. Bake muffins at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes, If making a loaf of Pumpkin Bread bake for 50-60 minutes. Test to ensure its done by inserting a tooth pick in the center, and then removing the toothpick. If the toothpick has batter on it or is wet, leave it to bake a few more minutes.

Lake Point homes Market Analysis for September 2009

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:47:22 -0500

Lake Pointe is a lovely community in Austin Texas that is just minutes away from the Lake Travis area. These homes typically were built between 1996-2009, with an average of 3298 square feet. Most of the lots are just under a quarter acre, but occasionally you will find larger lots of a 1/3 or 3/4 of an acre. Some have hill country or distant lake views. A few back up to a quiet and serene greenbelt. Below you will find the Comparative Market Analysis for Lake Pointe's September 2009 home sales. The homes used in the C.M.A. are at least 4 bedrooms and 3 baths on at least a .20 lot or larger.

24 Homes Actively Listed For Sale:

Average Year Built 2002 3298SF Average Listing Price Per Square Foot $164.01

Low Listing Price Per Square Foot $99.68 High Listing Price Per Square Foot $241.00

Average 139 Days on Market

2 Homes Pending/Under Contract:

Average Year Built 2004 3385SF Average Price Per SF $151.44 Average 55 Days on Market

4 Homes Sold in September 2009:

Average Year Built 1999 2828SF Average Price Per SF $1o6.41 Average 49 Days on Market

Right now my favorite Lake Pointe home that is for sale is located at 3201 Santee. It backs up to the greenbelt and has an amazing yard. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, two living and two dining rooms and a 3 car garage. It is priced to move at $315K! If you would like to see this Lake Pointe home or any other please give me a call. I would be happy to assist you with a purchase or sale in Lake Pointe. Of course if you are presently working with a Realtor please contact them directly. Thank you for your time.

Betina Foreman, Realtor and Member of: ABOR, TAR, NAR, ActiveRain, Trulia, Zillow

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 South MOPAC, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746

512-771-6318 BetinaForemanREALTOR@yahoo.com

My private tour of The Austonian Condos in Austin Texas

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:39:10 -0500

Recently while attending another Realtor event in Austin Texas, somehow I managed to beat about 100 Realtors to win a private tour of the Austonian. To say I was excited was an understatement. This new luxury condo property from Momark Development has been in the news a lot, as it will be the tallest residential development in the United States. This property is definitely one of a kind and is making Austin a destination for luxury living on par with New York City.

The property is shaped like an ellipse, so every single condo has a view from every room, powder rooms excluded. There are spectacular views of the UT Tower and the state Capitol, as well as Town Lake/ Lake Ladybird. The building is so tall that on a clear day you can see St. Edwards University and even Round Rock. To say the views are spectacular is an understatement.

The property is still under construction so the photos I have are of this phase. I will go back in April once it is complete and take new pictures. One of the interesting things about seeing it built is seeing how it is built. Since my background is construction I had many questions for the developer Terry Mitchell. One of them was "how will you keep the street noise levels down?" Terry said they are installing all of the glass so that it goes down four inches under the floor and four inches up into the ceiling. Then it has a seal that runs the length and breadth of the glass. This creates a barrier so the sound is totally blocked from entering the unit. These magnificent windows allow for breath-taking floor to ceiling views from every room.

The property will be very secure, and there is a 24 hour concierge. You may only access an upper floor if you have a Resident key fob, and it will allow you to access your floor and the amenities floor. If you have friends on other floors, your fob may be programed for those floors as well. This is superior in my opinion to the public facilities provided by the W and the Four Seasons residences. Since these two properties are also hotels there may be increased public traffic in the amenity areas of those properties. The only people utliizing The Austonian facilities are permanent residents/owners. The amenities floor is on the 10th level and it has:

A spectacular pool and 12 person spa, as well 24 outdoor living areas and out-door kitchens. The out door living areas have several large planters with landscaping to provide privacy from other residents.
Dog Park/Walking station- This dog park is state of the art and is continually self cleaning and you don't have to pick up the poop! There is no need to go all the way to Town Lake to walk your dog.
Dog washing/grooming rooms. This is one of my favorite services- The concierge can pick up your dog and take them to the Dirty Dog Groomers suite in the building. Dirty Dog will groom your dog and the Austonian staff will return your pooch to your condo when its over.
There is a Media Room with curved wall and IMax style big screen with stadium style seating with leather recliners. This is a great place to watch the Longhorns games.
The Residents Game-room will have: a full service kitchen, pool tables, darts, and several TV's to watch sports events. This room has a view of the UT Tower and Capital. It may be reserved for private parties by residents.
The Residents may reserve a guest suite for their out of town guests. The suite has a beautifully appointed bedroom and a kitchenette. These rooms are located on the 10th floor with the other amenities. These guest suites are provided as a courtesy free of charge to residents that have more guests than their condo will accommodate.
There will be a day spa available to the owners. This spa will offer mani/pedis, facials, massages, etc.
Valet Parking is available to owners that choose this service. You may choose to have your packages delivered to your condo by the Austonian staff.
The elevators are the fastest elevators made and they are totally silent and yet give a gentle ride. No dramimine necessary on this elevator. There is also a dedicated service elevator for all deliveries and moving.

If you are interested in purchasing a luxury home in the Austonian please contact me. I would be happy to arrange a condo viewing for qualified buyers. I want to help you through the process of buying a home in Austin. I specialize in Relocation and I have a network of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com Betina@KW.com www.BetinaForeman.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain-Rainmaker, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

Market report for Lakeway waterfront homes in July 2009 (waterfront home for sale under $600K)

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:27:10 -0500

Lakeway has many gorgeous waterfront homes for sale. This Market Report shows you the current information on recent listings and home sales for Lakeway. The homes used in this report have at least 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms and are true Lake Travis waterfront properties.

11 Homes Actively listed for sale:

Average Year Built 1986 Average SF 3812 Average Price Per SF $346.09

Average List Price $1,334,545. Average number of days on market before selling 235.

1 Home Sold in July 2009:

Year Built 1965 3860SF 4 bedrooms 3 bathrooms on .85 acre lot List Price $1,399,000. (Sold Price not disclosed due to Texas laws)

Since Lakeway used to be a sleepy, bedroom community an hour from Austin there are still a few lakefront homes that were built in the 1940's-1970's. Occasionally one of these older homes is listed for sale. Right now there is an older waterfront home built in 1970 for sale for only $599K. This home has been updated somewhat and has four bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1673 square feet. The lot is very large with .49 of an acre and a new 9x25 dock. It is on a finger of the lake that has water at 659 feet. If your interested in this lake property or any other please give me a call.

Betina Foreman Realtor

Keller Williams Realty Austin and Lake Travis

BetinaForemanREALTRO@yahoo.com Betina@KW.com 512-771-6318 www.BetinaForeman.com

Lake Point Market Analysis for August 2009

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:20:42 -0500

Lake Pointe is a lovely community in Austin Texas that is just minutes away from the Lake Travis area. These homes typically were built between 1993-2005, with an average of 2997 square feet. Most of the lots are about a quarter acre, but occasionally you will find larger lots of a 1/3 or 3/4 of an acre. Some have hill country or distant lake views. Below you will find the Comparative Market Analysis for Lake Pointe's August home sales. The homes used in the C.M.A. are at least 3bedrooms and 3 baths on at least a .25 lot or larger.

4 Homes Actively Listed For Sale:

Average Year Built 1998 2997SF Average Price Per SF $121.52 Average 62 Days on Market

3 Homes Pending/Under Contract:

Average Year Built 2004 3385SF Average Price Per SF $151.44 Average 55 Days on Market

2 Homes Sold in August:

Average Year Built 1997 2735SF Average Price Per SF $114,92 Average 28 Days on Market

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Lake Pointe please give me a call. I would be happy to assist you with your real estate needs. I have a network of professionals to help make the process easy!

Betina Foreman Realtor Austin Texas

512-771-6318 BetinaForemanREALTOR@yahoo.com Betina@KW.com www.BetinaForeman.com

Once again Austin Texas is in the top five list of places people want to live!

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:27:36 -0500

According to the Business Journal, Texas is ranked as number four in the top ten states to live in. Of course if you asked a native Texan they would say Texas is the only state to live in! We have a little bit of everything for everybody: beaches, deserts, mountains, big cities, and small towns. Texas is home to both NASA, cowboys and everything in between. If you can't find what you want in Texas, you are just not looking hard enough! Austin Texas is consistantly in every top ten list of places that people want to move to.

Monday, October 5, 2009, 3:00pm CDT The Business Journal

"The Lone Star State is one of the most attractive in the nation, according to a new poll.

Texas came in at No. 4 on the poll that looked at where people want to live, according to a Harris Interactive poll.

"The most popular states and cities where large numbers of people would like to live tend to attract tourists and business," according to a release from Harris. "They are places where people like to take vacations and where companies like to have their offices and factories."

Coastal states tend to dominate the list. California ranked No. 1 for the sixth year in a row as the place Americans would like to live. Florida came in second and Hawaii was third." (Personally I find this number hard to beleive as I would move to Hawaii in a heartbeat! Well maybe just for a little while.)

If you are in the market for a new home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home in or around Austin Texas. I specialize in Relocation and I have a network of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate

1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.ZilkerParkHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.