Capital Metro is having free open houses the next few weeks in preparation for the upcoming MetroRail, the commuter train service. It will finish/start in Downtown Austin near the Convention Center, travel through East Austin, with stops at Plaza Saltillo and MLK, Jr. and then back West, with stops at Highland (Mall) , Crestview and Kramer Ln. and further up North, stopping at Howard Ln., Lakeline (Mall) and then it's beginning/final stop to Leander. As I write this, 2 open houses have already taken place in Leander and Plaza Saltillo (E. 5th and Comal), with more to come.

The next open houses are as follows from the Capital Metro website:

Crestview Station - Saturday, Feb. 21
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
6920 North Lamar Blvd.
 Access St. Johns for limited parking at adjacent development

MLK, Jr. Station - Saturday, Feb. 21
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
1719 Alexander Ave.
Limited parking next to station

Downtown Station - Friday, Feb. 27
2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
401 E. 4th Street

At the open houses, you can get a train schedule which will be effective March 30, 2009 thru August 22, 2009, plus you can learn how to operate the ticket machines. The preliminary schedule has trains operating between the morning hours of 5:40 a.m. and 9:40 a.m and then the afternoon trips from 3:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. There will also be free wi-fi on the trains and bicycle racks for the bike commuter. If all 6 racks are taken, there is even a spot where you can stand with your bike if there is room on the train. Tickets will range from $1 to $1.50 with discounts available to students, active duty and reserve military.

I live at the TwentyOne24 Condos in East Austin so I got a chance to make the 2 1/2 block walk to visit Plaza Saltillo this past weekend just in the nick of time. I was on the last tour of the day and had the pleasure of seeing the inside of the train, Downtown Austin in the background, and then watching the MetroRail as it took off to the East. Enjoy the video and if you want further information, please visit http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/capital-metrorail.shtml or call (512)474-1200

 

Early this morning, I got this call from a 1-800 number. I let it go to voicemail because usually it's a telemarketer, someone wanting me to extend my car warranty, or someone wanting me to pay for real estate leads. I do not need any of the above right now. I let it go to voicemail and then listened to the message. It was a call claiming to be from Chase Credit Card Fraud department and they said the last 4 digits of my credit card. They wanted me to call them back immediately, so I did. However, when I called the number, it asked me to enter my credit card information....hmmm...let me rethink this. I immediately hung up and then Googled the 1-800 number. Come to find out that half the online community posts say it's real and half say it's a scam.

Instead, I decided to look up the customer service number on the www.Chase.com website and called them directly. My goal last year was to pay off all my credit cards (which I did, yippee!) however, I have 2 Chase cards, one for business and one for personal (like hotels, rental cars, etc...) I paid off both cards and they each have a zero balance. They verified my information and I didn't even have to type in my credit card information. Why? Because it was Chase directly and they have all my information on the screen. Just a quick verification of my last for digits of my social security number and mother's maiden name -no need to type in my full credit card information.

Someone had tried to use one of my credit cards to make an online purchase. $92.58 to be exact, to IBM? Cosmetics, an online store. Apparently, they didn't know the correct expiration date so it was flagged. I told the woman on the phone that I haven't used that card in months and it should have a zero balance. She mentioned I had a $3.95 charge for a dermatology clinic that was revolving monthly charge. Again, a fraudulent charge, because I don't use the card. She reversed both charges and then told me they were going to close that account and reissue me a new card with a different account number, so it wouldn't affect my credit.

What is the lesson here? If in doubt, call your credit card company directly from the number off the back of your card or from their legitimate website. It could save you from identity theft. Good luck!

 

Just in time for the new year. If you have someone moving to Austin and they need a place for 6 months to 1 year, this is it! This condo unit comes with furniture, washer and dryer, plus refrigerator. Also, towels, soap, flatware, plates, pots and pans are available upon request. The owner pays for water, sewer and trash. Your tenant would be responsible for electric, cable and Internet. However, there are many coffeeshops within walking distance with free wi-fi. It's also only a $5 cab ride to Downtown.

 

 

 

 

Can be unfurnished for $1500 a month
2 bedroom/2 bathroom Loft style condo
Approx. 1083 sq. ft. Built in late 2007
Never Lived In!! Furnished with Refrigerator and Washer and Dryer
WrapAround Balcony with view of Downtown and State Capitol
Exciting East Austin neighborhood with many restaurants and bars
Stained Concrete Floors, Kenmore Appliances, Ceiling Fans, Track Lighting, Dining Room Table, Couch, Walk-In Closet, Travertine Tile Tub and Shower, Granite Countertops
$1600 a month/$1600 deposit/$40 application fee

See virtual tour at http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?T=1744544

 

And see YouTube video below

 

 

Debbie Barrera - REALTOR

Presidio Group REALTORS

www.DebbieKnowsAustin.com

Low gas prices are available right here in Austin, Texas! I noticed how much gas has gone down in price since my last post. In fact, most of the gas stations here in East Austin are under $2.00 a gallon. I filled up at my favorite place, Major Brand on Cesar Chavez and by paying with my debit card, it was 2 cents cheaper than advertised on the sign. I paid $1.92!!

I did notice one sign in Houston on my drive back from the Madonna concert this past weekend (a future blog to come) and it was advertised at $1.87. Can you believe it?

As a REALTOR who does lots of driving, I just have to say, Yippee!!! If you live and Austin and are paying over $2.00 for gas, you are getting ripped off! Visit www.AustinGasPrices.com to see the cheapest in your neighborhood. What is the cheapest you have paid lately and where?

 

 

My 2006 VW Passat was running low on gas a few days ago and I passed a station on Cesar Chavez In East Austin that said $2.79 and and I was like, wow, I'm going to fill up there, however, time was slipping away so I decided to come back another time. And lo and behold, 2 days later it's now $2.59!! The Major Brand Gas store is a big yellow building with American flags on top of it. I waited in line about 7 minutes for my turn in line (there were quite a few cars already there) and then it was my turn. It felt so good to spend less than $45 to fill my tank, when just months ago I was spending over $60 of my hard earned cash. The VW is great on gas mileage, it gets about 26-33 MPG. Take note of this website www.austingasprices.com and check your neighborhood for the cheapest gas. I posted my find today and it's currently the least expensive gas in Austin right now. The 2 other stations that beat it are in Taylor.

In fact, while my car was in the shop recently getting repaired, I decided to buy a Scooter to run errands around town in. It was one of the best investments I've ever made. I took that Scooter back to the same station to fill up and it cost me $5.44, yes, that's right, just over $5. It's a 2-gallon tank. And it gets 80-85 MPG. The Austin American Statesman newspaper had a great article on scooters in Austin recently, here is the link. http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/style/07/24/0724scooters.html

I just joined a Scooter club here in Austin but haven't had time to go for a long-distance ride yet due to work. I'm not complaining, it's great that I live in one of the few towns in America with a strong real estate market. Check my website at www.DebbieKnowsAustin.com for the latest listings. So if you're one of my clients and you want to go see some homes on my Scooter instead of my VW, I won't mind...

 

 

 

Mmmm!!! Texas, BBQ and Football...Just got home from dinner and tried a "new" restaurant at 900 E. 11th called J. Kelly's Barbeque. I say "new" with quotations marks because it's actually an "old" restaurant with a new makeover. Ben's Longbranch Barbeque was an East Austin landmark just off I-35 and E. 11th (behind the CVS Pharmacy). Not to be confused with the Longbranch Bar down the street.

The very nice, helpful, and knowledgeable woman behind the counter said that Ben still comes in and that they use his original recipes. And that we can catch him down the street at Gene's Original Po-Boys one day (cause he frequents there too.) The dry rub ribs were awesome!  Sausage was very meaty and the brisket was yummy too. Mustard potato salad, nice and cold just like I like it. The beans were so-so, could have used some brown sugar in them for sweetness. But speaking of sweet, oh my gosh, the sweet tea was the sweetest tea I have ever tasted (even more than the year I spent in North Carolina and they know sweet tea!). I had to mix it with the unsweetened to make it to my liking.

The patio was a nice setting to a long day (yes, UT beat OU!!) and had televisions playing outside with sports highlights. (Texas Tech beat Nebraska!) I will be back and recommend that you visit this Austin establishment.

So as an experiment, I thought I would rattle off some restaurants, bars, and of course Real Estate while driving home one day on E. 6th (My Holly neighborhood). Yes, that is me driving, but please notice, I am following the rules of the roads and all watering holes are visited during non-working hours, which is few and far between in this business. Enjoy the video...

 

So on the weekends, I'm a tour guide at the TwentyOne24 Condos and the new ESTE condominiums for the developer Constructive Ventures in East Austin. I live with my partner at TwentyOne24 and know all about the neighborhood and it's perks. One Saturday afternoon, Capital Metro was out there testing the new upcoming commuter MetroRail. It's a really exciting thing that will be coming soon to my neighborhood. Originally they were supposed to be ready by the end of this year, 2008. However, it's now been pushed until April 2009. But once they are up and running, it will be fun to hop on one and go to Highland and Lakeline Mall without having to worry about parking. There will even be bicycle racks inside the trains and wi-fi too! Here's a link to more information about the routes and maps.

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/capital-metrorail.shtml

And here is a link to the video I took:

 

Since Capital Metro has taken away the trolley looking bus, the 'Dillo, on E. 6th from my Eastside neighborhood, I am even more excited about this upcoming event.

So here I am at the Presidio Group office. A Realtor's job is never done... Working on flyers for some listings, returning phone calls, adding pictures to our company website, and then working later tonight on Virtual (Visual) tours. With Austin being such a great town and active real estate market, there is never a dull moment.

Just thinking about all of the wonderful people I have met since I became a Realtor over 5 years ago. Played 9 hole golf with Jacob the other day and had a blast. Harvey Penick Golf Course, next door to the YMCA off 183, they have carts!!

However, I have an earache and can't hear anything currently out of my right ear. Went to doctor, got some medicine. Thank you Michael Dell for my medical insurance!!

The iTunes on my laptop just played some Ghostland Observatory and I want to get up and dance, but I don't feel well. I'm hungry. Will be headed out in a bit to go by some new softball equipment at the new Sports Authority before I head out to Seattle next week for the World Series of NAGAAA softball. Might catch a new restaurant at Southpark Meadows.

I know I'm supposed to be writing about current market conditions, real estate listings, blah, blah, blah, but for my first blog, I just wanted to write a stream of conciousness before I write later about my listing, buyers, experiences, etc...

Hello Active Rain, I've got a feeling we will be seeing a lot of each other. I'm a talker (typer)!