DeeinAustin

Manor Expressway: Central Texas Answer To Congestion

2008-08-15T09:27:01Z

Like many U.S. cities, the Austin area has a challenge with traffic congestion. Traffic on U.S. 290 has increased more than 78 percent since 1990 as Manor and surrounding cities increase in population.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is proposing construction of the Manor Expressway to alleviate congestion. This 6.2-mile toll road would be constructed in the median of the existing highway. Construction would begin in late 2009, with the road opening in 2013.

Residents learned the details of the Manor Expressway project last week at an Open House. A follow-up meeting to collect public input is planned for August 12.

The Mobility Authority focus is to create the modern regional transportation network in Central Texas. Current and future projects are key elements in a carefully planned, multi-modal transportation system designed to meet the diverse mobility needs of our fast-growing region.

The first modern toll roads in Central Texas began opening in the fall of 2006. First, the Texas Turnpike Authority opened the Loop 1 extension and portions of SH 45, and SH 130. Then in March 2007, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority opened the 183A project in Cedar Park and Leander. Throughout 2007 and 2008, the Texas Turnpike Authority continued opening segments of SH 45 and SH 130. In all more than 75 miles of new toll roads were constructed during this period at a cost of more than $4 billion.

Visit the Mobility Authority's website for maps of current and future projects, along with a new interactive tool showing what the Manor Expressway and other planned expressways in the region will look like. High speed tooled roads are planned to be built in the medians of currently congested highways. Drivers will have both tolled and un-tolled options.

Also read:
Will Light Rail Solve Downtown Austin Transit Woes?
Forbes Study Puts Austin's Growth Rate Among Best in Nation

Also visit:
Austin Real Estate Today

Spotlight: Las Casas Verdes, Austin’s First Eco-Friendly Neighborhood

2008-08-12T14:22:34Z

Las Casa Verdes will be the first eco-friendly neighborhood of its kind in Texas. Designed by architect, David E Martin, this new project is located in Southwest Austin, a mile for major shopping areas, on local mass transit routes and includes one of Austin's best high schools.

Las Casa Verdes will be comprised of twenty single family homes featuring the latest in solar, wind and water energy systems. All homes will meet the strict standards of the Austin Green Building Program, Energy Star and LEEDS certifications. Prices will fall within FHA guidelines for the area, with completion schedule for mid-2008. Las Casas Verdes Homes Each lot-specific, custom designed, 1800-square-foot Texas farm style cottage will have its own unique character while still maintaining the overall projects design concept and architectural detailing.

Las Casas Verdes will stress quality over quantity, be quaint yet efficient and offer eloquent styling and the comfort features most desired in a home today, all without having to alter your lifestyle to enjoy the benefits of saving energy and money. A media room, office alcove and generous exterior decks will compliment each home. Standard features will include a 3KW Solar Photovoltaic System for electrical generation and Solar Thermal panels for hot water. Every lot is properly oriented to obtain the most from its solar systems. The complete system includes an inverter and a reversing meter for selling excess power to the public grid. Batteries for on-site energy storage will be one of our few options.

Passive solar design will be used and orientated to best manage light from the sun. Overhangs, porches and shade trees will provide shielding to reduce heat load.Heat chimneys, operable awning windows and landscape features will combine with local breezes to move air throughout the home with little or no mechanical assistance during spring and fall months.

A Rainwater Collection System will gather water for use in toilets and Xeriscaped plant irrigation. The homes may offer a covered carport attached under a second floor or detached in the yard as an optional purchase. This arrangement maximizes natural ventilation through and around the home.

Homes will be constructed with structural insulated panels or SIPS. These prefabricated wall and roof panels are used to frame the entire exterior. SIPS offer superior insulation values, tighter seals, faster construction time and most importantly less construction waste. Other energy saving features built into every Las Casas Verdes home. A properly sized 14+ SEER or higher rated heating and cooling system with air ducts sealed and pressure tested per Energy Star specifications. Heat recirculation HVAC ducts to reuse pre-heated air in the winter. An in-duct dehumidification system. A Gas fired on demand tankless water heater as backup to the solar thermal system. Multi speed fan motors and duct controllers to cool or heat only the occupied portions of the home during specific hours. Low VOC paints, Reflected metal roofs and green / recycled building materials.

A recirculation hot water system will reduce water usage by providing immediate hot water to each tap in the home.

Reflective light wells and automatic light switches will be incorporated where applicable, a simple but effective energy saving feature.

Check out Las Casa Verdes if you are interested in living green and a reasonable cost.

Also Read:
Mueller Center Earns LEED Gold Certification For "Greenness"
Mueller Austin Among Best Green Real Estate in U.S.
Austin Real Estate Becomes Eco-Friendly With ‘Unbuilds'

Spotlight On Senna Hills: A Neighborhood Of Luxury

2008-08-08T04:17:55Z

Only 20 minutes to downtown Austin, Senna Hills is conveniently located in the heart of Texas Hill Country. Bee Cave Road offers access to Capital of Texas Hwy (Loop 360), a scenic loop through northwest and southwest Austin. Ten minutes away is Austin's largest and most upscale shopping mall, Barton Creek Square Mall. Less than five minutes away are the Shops at the Galleria, which are currently under construction, and coming soon, the Hill Country Galleria Mall.

This elegant and beautifully appointed neighborhood boasts an exceptional living environment with wonderful facilities for enjoyment by all age groups. Amenities include community center, full size pool, and wading pool, playscape, sports court, lighted tennis court, BBQ grills and picnic areas. Walking trails cut through rugged greenbelt offering year-round opportunities to enjoy a wide variety of wildlife.

Senna Hills benefits from the award-winning schools of the Eanes Independent School District, with children attending nearby Barton Creek Elementary, West Ridge Middle School and Westlake High School. The Mission of Eanes is to provide educational excellence by engaging every student in rigorous academic experiences and enriching opportunities.

Two Austin home builders, Drees Custom Homes and Taylor Woodrow are exclusively showcased in Senna Hills. Both builders offer homes priced from the upper $500,000s, with spectacular home sites offering glorious views of the hills.

Taylor Woodrow Homes offer you the assurance of quality construction, superior design and award-winning customer service. Award-winning designs combine an innovative and artful use of space, along with superior craftsmanship with a keen eye for detail. A dedication to quality in every detail makes your

Drees Home more than you ever imagined. Celebrating their 80 anniversary in 2008, Drees stands tribute to craftsmanship that endures. If you are looking for luxury surrounded by pebble sidewalks, old-fashioned lampposts and stone entryways, for a home that is the envy of all your friends, Senna Hills is exactly what you were looking for.

You can find more about Austin real estate at Austin Real Estate Today.

Mueller Center Earns LEED Gold Certification For “Greenness”

2008-08-05T14:06:39Z

Since we've been spotlighting the Mueller Austin community for a while now, we know that this planned development is one of the most eco-friendly of its kind. Featuring affordable homes and plenty of public green space, the mixed-use "urban village" is a model for sustainable community design.

When guests and potential residents visit Mueller, they first enter through the Mueller Center which acts the community information center and the Catellus Development Group's main office. But this is no ordinary welcome center: Catellus recently announced that the Mueller Center has earned LEED® Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System^TM awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria. The major areas of consideration are: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation/design. Buildings are awarded silver, gold, or platinum ratings based on the number of points they earn toward each category.

Mueller Central earned LEED Gold certification based on a number of features, several of which relate to the facility's adaptive reuse construction. Built in the 1930s, the former airport building played many roles prior to being redesigned for its current use in 1996. Other features contributing to the certification include the building's use of sustainable bamboo flooring and doors, drought-tolerant native landscaping, regionally sourced materials, an expansive amount of natural light, individual comfort controls, and highly efficient HVAC and water use equipment.

"Mueller Central is to be commended for achieving LEED® certification. This facility is one that both the community and its visitors can be proud of," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. "Mueller Central will be a showcase for high performance, energy-efficient buildings, and an inspiration for others."

Be sure to stay tuned for more information about this innovative Austin community.

for more information on Austin real estate, visit Austin Real Estate Today.

Proposed RV Park For Austin Homeless Put On Hold

2008-07-31T16:09:46Z

Many east Austin neighbors are resting easier now that plans for an R.V. park for the homeless has been put on hold. City Council member Mike Martinez heard the neighbors' opinions and promptly asked city leaders to table to project for at least a year.

Among the many issues presented by upset citizens at an informational meeting about the park was the opinion that the deal had been "backdoored," leaving neighbors in the dark about the plans. The project aimed to provide mobile homes and manufactured housing on city-owned land - an 11-acre property off Harold Court in east Austin - in partnership with Mobile Loaves and Fishes Habitat on Wheels program.

So - where are the homeless of Austin to go? Martinez says he will remain committed through the next year to finding a place for the homeless. Whether or not they end up with housing on city property remains to be seen, but in all likelihood the subject of the RV park will not come up again for at least a year.

Spotlight On Mueller: A Model for Sustainable Community Design

2008-07-09T13:22:38Z

Mueller Austin is quickly becoming an energetic community hub within Austin city limits. It's been almost a year since the first residents moved into one of the diverse neighborhoods, Located just three miles from downtown and two miles from the University of Texas.

Robert Mueller who first envisioned the redevelopment of Municipal Airport into a mixed-use urban village. The result is an award-winning sustainable community being developed by Catellus Development Group.

New homes and jobs

Mueller's 711-acre site, when complete, will become home to approximately 10,000 people, 10,000 permanent employees, more than 1,100 affordable homes and approximately 140 acres of public open space, including:

Nearly 4,600 single-family, condo or apartment homes (at least 25 percent reserved for families who qualify for affordable housing)
More than 140 acres of parks and perimeter greenways
A town center with cafes, shops, plazas and live/work spaces planned to include at least 30 percent locally-owned businesses
5 miles of new hike and bike paths
Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas (open)
The University of Texas Medical Research Campus
Austin Film Studios (open)
Connections to public transportation
Regional retail (open)
State-of-the-art rental apartments
A broad variety of new home opportunities-both for rent and for sale
Class A office space

Read the rest of this entry »

Austin Texas Real Estate Market Update: Rebound in 2009

2008-06-25T12:51:49Z

The buying season heated up in Central Texas in May according to the Austin Board of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service (MLS) May 2008 sales report. Single-family home sales in May are up slightly over April 2008 numbers, when 1,981, homes sold. Homes are spending fewer days on the market and overall, the real estate market continues to reflect conditions similar to those of 2005, before the unusual boom in 2006.

Take a look at May single family sales statistics compared to 2007:

Date	Homes Sold	Median Sales Price	Dollar Volume
May 2008	2,154	$196,120	$566,827,254
May 2007	2,679	$183,160	$671,716,386

No matter which city you live in, inventory is still high. Still, Texas is fairing better than the rest of the nation. Austin's current home inventory is below.

AUSTIN REAL ESTATE MARKET FORECAST- Mid Year Update 2008

The Austin Home Builder Association (HBA) held their semi-annual market update last week. Their research shows that the market is slated to remain low through Third Quarter 2008, then pick up by Winter 2008 or early 2009. Mark Sprague with Vesta Strategies thought buyers and sellers should be relieved to see a "cleansing of the market", which was overheated by real estate speculators.

Great areas to buy include the Southtown area in South Austin, but also other areas such as Round Rock, Pflugerville and Kyle due to coming Seton Hospital complexes and other large mixed-use developments.

Read the rest of this entry

Austin Tackles Affordable Housing Again. Anyone Care?

2008-06-23T13:43:43Z

Who pays if we don't create affordable housing for Austin real estate?

This question was posed at the Austin Neighborhood Housing and Community Development's Affordable Housing Forum, held last Friday (June 13). The third in the forum series on affordable housing issues for real estate in Austin featured Ken Bacon, VP for Housing and Community Development at Fannie Mae. (Fannie Mae recently reduced down-payment requirements nationwide).

Austin real estate consistently ranks among the fastest-growing metro areas in the nation. Demand continues to rise for housing. We recently wrote about the issue of affordable housing in Austin, citing key issues facing developers and investors. One example of development problems in Central and East Austin includes the building of duplexes on infill lots.

Are the duplexed condos more affordable than regular Austin homes or are developers just going for double their money?

Read more about the super-duplex debate in Central Austin.

Read also:Is an Affordable Austin just a pipe dream?

Read the rest of this entry

Austin Board of REALTORS Endorse Cid Galindo for City Council

2008-06-13T14:35:56Z

The Austin Board of REALTORS sent an alert last week to encourage agents to vote for Austin city council candidate Cid Galindo.

Galindo faces Laura Morrision in a runoff that ends on June 14th. The main point of contention is the recent Point of Sale Ordinance that is part of the Mayor Wynn's Climate Protection Plan.

Read also: Austin Board of Realtors Opposition to the Point of Sale Ordinance

REALTORS support the Climate Protection plan, but oppose the specific provision that requires upgrades before an Austin home sale is completed. REALTORS think this will increase Austin real estate sales times, hampering home sales and causing grief to Austin home buyers and sellers.

Read the rest of this entry

dAustin TX Foreclosure Market Keeps Real Estate Affordable

2008-06-11T08:51:08Z

Austin Habitat for Humanity needs more land to build affordable homes. Austin struggles with affordability, so charities like Habitat are needed to create more home owners. Habitat for Humanity offers affordable housing to low income families. The charity uses volunteers to rehab these newly acquired foreclosed properties or in extreme cases, tears them down and rebuilds.

While many struggle to keep their homes and avoid foreclosure, rising national foreclosures have created a window of opportunity for charities like Habitat, who strive to keep home ownership costs low. This controversial topic has even reached Congress (read later).

The National Foreclosure Crisis Rescues Affordability

The national foreclosure crisis caused hundreds of thousands to lose heir home, but Habitat for Humanity, to purchase properties below market value. Many Habitat for Humanity chapters across the US are snapping up dozens of empty lots and unoccupied homes - some for as little as half price.

"The down real estate market is a wonderful opportunity for all Habitats," said Gage Yager, executive director of Trinity Habitat for Humanity in Fort Worth. "As prices drop, we have the opportunity to acquire at prices that just weren't available a few years ago."

Habitat Homes Can Help Cities Grow

Some criticize that Habitat is taking advantage of someone else's misfortune, but renovating an already vacant property is far better than leaving it abandoned, resulting in higher crime rates and lower property values.

For example, in Fort Worth, Habitat is negotiating to buy part of a 160-lot subdivision that a developer left unfinished. The plan is to purchase 50 of the remaining 100 vacant lots at a 30-40% discount and put single-family homes on them. In Dallas, a Habitat affiliate has acquired approximately 150 lots at a roughly 50 percent discount.

Legislation before Congress might help Habitat and nonprofit housing agencies take greater advantage of bargains. One bill would provide $15 billion to the hardest-hit states for the purchase and improvement of foreclosed property. States could then make those properties available to nonprofits such as Habitat. However, the Bush administration has threatened a veto.

To learn more about Austin TX real estate, please call me at 512-697-9140 or visit CopelandGroupRealty.com. You may also begin searching for homes here!

Image Credit: Habitat for Humanity Maui

Austin real estate #2 in nation for younger residents

2008-06-05T18:27:22Z

According to a recent survey by BizJournals.com, Austin ranks as the number 2 city in America for young adults to live and thrive in the job market. The survey surveyed the 67 largest metro areas in America and then ranked them according to many factors, including size of the young adult population, job opportunities, and overall quality of life offered.

Of all the metro areas surveyed, Austin has the highest concentration of young adults, with 29% of residents between the ages of 18 and 34.

Young Crowds Pay

The results showed:

Areas with a higher concentration of young adults experience seven times greater population growth annually, 75% more job growth, and a greater rate of growth of personal income.
The effect of a growing young adult population is cyclical; more young people relocate to areas like Austin after graduation to look for work, purchase real estate, and start business and families.
Those people prosper, the economy is stimulated, and, in return, even more young adults head to the area to continue the trend.

Austin was ranked using factors that BizJournals thought would appeal most to workers in their 20's and early 30's. There were:

Relatively low cost of living
Strong growth rates
Large concentrations of young college-educated adults

Competition for real estate and jobs is beginning to escalate as more young people are becoming choosier about where they settle. "College-educated young people are looking for greater control over where they live," concluded a 2006 study by The Segmentation Co., a national research firm.

The conclusions from this study make it an excellent time for young people to consider investing in Austin, TX real estate. They can start building the wealth they came to Austin looking for, but it also helps to further stimulate the local economy and real estate market, allowing the cycle of prosperity to continue.

Baby Boomers Set Latest Austin Real Estate Design Trends

2008-06-02T15:59:08Z

We know that the Baby Boomers account for a large part of the real estate owning population in America. But did you know that they may be the latest trend-setters in Austin real estate also?

Sounds unlikely, but it is very true! As this article in the Wall Street Journal explains, designers and architects are catering more and more toward this fast-growing segment of the population. According to the latest data, most boomers plan to remain in their own homes as opposed to moving into retirement or "assisted living" communities as they age.

Innovating Better Living

Recently, this "aging in place" phenomenon has triggered home renovations and new construction including halls and doorways wide enough for walkers and wheelchairs, and master suites and laundries on the ground floor so residents can avoid stairs. Now, the technology behind home appliances and fixtures is catching up - making all kinds of appliances and home design elements more senior-friendly.

Some of the innovations in home design and appliance re-design include:

Stoves that monitor pots to prevent boiling over
Adjustable typeface on appliance control panels
Faucets that turn on and off with just a touch anywhere on the spout
Dishwashers designed to be mounted at a more comfortable height
Refrigerators with doors and storage designed to reduce bending over
Adjustable volume/pitch of oven alarms

Last but not least - yes, there is even a toilet on the market with an electric-blue nightlight built in and a motorized heated seat cover that rises with the touch of a button. I don't think you'd have to be a senior citizen to enjoy that kind of amenity during a late-night bathroom visit!

The impact these trends will have on the real estate market as a whole is uncertain; manufacturers, meanwhile, are certain of one thing - marketing to baby boomers now is sure to pay off in the long run. With the Austin TX real estate market gaining more and more of a reputation as haven for retirees, we might even be seeing heated/lightup/electronic toilets at our home improvement stores sooner than you think!

Villa Muse Talks Officially End with City of Austin

2008-05-29T05:00:56Z

You may remember reading a couple of months ago that the "Titanic-size" Villa Muse development project was in trouble and going under fast; a statement made by Villa Muse last week confirms the ship has sunk - at least in Austin.

After Austin City Council refused to release some 2,000 acres in East Travis County from its jurisdiction, it is now being reported that Bastrop, TX, despite its efforts to keep the dealings hush-hush, is courting the film-based developers. Villa Muse says it is also considering several other cities, all in Texas, with hopes to break ground before the end of the year.

Though the $2.5 billion mixed use commercial and residential project promised to bring up to 110,000 jobs and growth in the film industry, City Council looked long-term at the plans and ultimately ruled that 40 years of freedom from city regulations and environmental protection rules was not a risk worth taking for the city of Austin.

It remains unclear as to what will happen with the option Villa Muse holds on the original land east of Austin in Manor. Other cities with strong possibilities include Kyle, Cedar Park, Leander, and other outlying areas.

More About Villa Muse : Villa Muse Talks Officially End with City of Austin
$2.5 Billion Villa Muse Takes Titanic Downturn after Critical Austin City Council Vote

Neighborhood Spotlight: Plum Creek Provides Uncommon Living

2008-05-23T09:50:17Z

The goal of Plum Creek is to provide uncommon living for the common man. This 2,200 acre master-planned, new urbanist community is located 17 miles south of Austin in Kyle, Texas and incorporates all the amenities of schools, recreational parks, residential neighborhoods and commercial centers. Plum Creek is a pedestrian friendly community with winding streets, sidewalks and traditional architecture enhanced by neighbor friendly front porches. The goal is to get you closer to the other places in our lives including schools, parks, shops, and jobs.

Residential offerings are a mix of traditional cottages, elegant golf-course homes and duplex townhomes. Single family homes start in the low $100s $300,000 and townhomes in the $90s. Neighbors are the hardworking folk this country is know for...firefighters, teachers, medical personnel, and government or civic employees. Plum Creek is committed to providing ‘life-cycle' housing, allowing its residents to mature with the community.

Read the rest of the article...

Austin Board of REALTORS® Propose Alternative to Mayor Wynn’s ‘Point of Sale’ Ordinance

2008-05-20T14:13:12Z

Austin Board of REALTORS® sent an email alert today to propose a change to Mayor Wynn's Climate Protection Plan. So far, it looks like REALTORS® agree with most aspects of the plan. Like most solutions, there's a few areas of contention. Here's what the email alert outlined:

What's this about?
In early 2007, Austin Mayor Will Wynn released the Climate Protection Plan with the goal of making Austin the "greenest" city in the country, [including] the "Proposed Point of Sale Ordinance"....The city's proposal would require that homeowners upgrade their homes and obtain a "Certificate of Compliance" from the city before they're able to sell it. We oppose this plan for several reasons:

Affordability - This type of out-of-pocket expense will prevent many homeowners from having the option to sell their home, particularly if they need to sell due to a difficult financial situation. In addition, the cost will inevitably be passed on to homebuyers, making it even more difficult to afford a home in Austin.

Read the full article...

Why Central Austin Lot Values Could Drop By 50% Tomorrow

2008-05-14T11:34:39Z

If you own or recently purchased a lot in Austin with the intent to build more than one unit or a duplex, throw your current plans away. A crucial City Planning Commission vote tomorrow could drop some Central Austin land values by at least 50%.

For background, the Austin City Planning Commission reviewed changes to city design standards through a task force. The Residential Development Standards Task Force first met December 2007 and briefed Austin City Council in February.

Most guidelines are well-received, but one in particular may negatively impact Austin duplexes and infill lots, especially in East and Central Austin.

Read the rest of this entry »

Austin Real Estate Becomes Eco-Friendly With ‘Unbuilds’

2008-05-07T13:19:06Z

In today's ‘green conscious' society, not only is there a moral obligation not to destroy and discard, but to recycle and reuse.

The eco-friendly ‘unbuild' has now become an option to the traditional ‘tear-down' of Austin real estate. According to a Wall Street Journal article, an unbuilt house can be carefully disassembled, piece by piece, and the parts used for a new house and/or donated for reuse elsewhere. Whatever is donated can be deducted from income tax.

‘Unbuilding' an Austin home may be the right thing to do for many reasons, but saving time and money is not top of the list. It will take longer to ‘unbuild', but at least a couple of weeks and may end up being more expensive in the long run, even after any tax deductions. But, other benefits are the reuse of materials such as beautiful aged brick from fireplaces, stone foundations, custom woodwork, decorative tile or antique fixtures and working appliances.

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Spotlight: Travis Heights in 78704 South Austin

2008-05-05T13:30:23Z

Here's some background on popular Travis Heights, one of South Austin's oldest neighborhoods. Making a drive through the area a pleasure to the eyes with its lush mature landscaping, charm and history.

Located south of the Colorado River and tucked between Interstate 35 and South Congress Avenue and in the 78704 zip code, Travis Heights is a desirable address among professionals who are looking for a quiet neighborhood close to downtown.

Development of Travis Heights started in the late 1880s. It was an ideal place for a "country mansion" away from downtown. At that time, the only way across to cross the Colorado River was by ferry, making the Travis Heights location extremely desirable. However, few mansions were ever built.

In the 1920s, real estate developer, Travis Heights, built smaller homes with carriage houses and detached garages, which today have been turned into much desired apartments. There is an ongoing battle between developers and residents who wish to preserver the integrity of the neighborhood. Many of the older homes have been torn down in recent years for ‘McMansions, which are usually bigger than the older 1920s homes.

Reasons To Buy Travis Heights Real Estate Read the rest of this entry

Will Light Rail Solve Downtown Austin Transit Woes?

2008-04-30T08:31:44Z

Texas State Senator Kirk Watson and Austin City CouncilMember Brewster McCracken have led the charge to change how we commute to within Central Austin.

After struggling with congession from our population growth, Mayor Will Wynn charged various groups, community leaders, transit experts and other residents to come up plans for a final vote in November.

Roma Design Group was hired as a consultant to the city to evaluate the dire situation and make a proposal. Roma's final solution: place 14 miles of light rail line through Central Austin.

Top concerns for Central Austin light rail were:

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Spotlight: Towering Towers II Condo Project To Replace State “Capital”

2008-04-28T09:17:03Z

(Note: this was a satirical article reprinted by the Austin Statesman that points. Read comments for further discussion.)

Today's Spotlight focuses on the proposed condominium project, Towering Towers II, which is being developed by Baulsy Bros Builders LLC, based in Miami. The proposed 100-story towers will become the tallest in the state and include 2,361 units.

Towering Towers II, will include a number of ‘Green' features, including no-flush" toilets that will pipe residents' waste products directly into a holding tank below the building which can then be recycled and used as fertilizer by the Austin Parks Department. Each unit will have solar-powered coffee makers and reusable canvas grocery shopping bags inscribed with "Keep Austin Weird."

As innovative and environmentally friendly as these buildings will be, two concerns arise.

The first is the demolition of our historic State Capital and the second is whether downtown Austin need yet another condominium project.

Read the rest of this entry

Please update your bookmarks and continue reading this article on our new site at www.AustinRealEstateToday.com.

Tech Roundup: Top 8 Mobile Tools for Real Estate and Business Use

2008-04-25T09:30:13Z

I receive questions each week from real estate agents, small business owners and other professionals about mobile marketing tools and where they can find more information.

Mobile software is used on mobile devices such as the iPhone, BlackBerry, PDAs, and/or other cell phones and handheld devices. Some are specifically for real estate while others have more general applications.

This article lists the the top mobile real estate or business tools that stand out in today's marketplace.

Top Mobile Real Estate Tools for Home Buyers

Home buyers typically want to search for listings information from their phone. Besides listing information, some mobile sites and software provides also provide local real estate information and chat. A few top home buyer tools:

Continue reading "Tech Roundup: Top 8 Mobile Tools for Real Estate and Business Use"

Gotcha Guide™: Green-ify Your Home Service Contract

2008-04-23T09:19:58Z

NOTE: This article is part of the forthcoming book, the Gotcha Guide^TM to Buying or Investing in Real Estate. by DeeinAustin^TM

I was elated to see the Home Warranty of America (HWA) announcement of their GreenPlus Program earlier this year.

GreenPlus is an upgrade to HWA's 13-month contract, which covers appliance and mechanical systems. GreenPlus makes Energy Star exchanges, replaces your water heater with a tankless version, and upgrades your heating system to 90% efficiency upon disrepair.

This is especially useful in Green cities like in Austin, where our mayor is preparing to roll out a Climate Protection Plan, requiring all Austin home owners to make green upgrades before they can sell their home.

The Dark Downside of Home Service Contracts

Continue reading "Gotcha Guide^TM: Green-ify Your Home Service Contract"

Spotlight: Park Place Village Homeless RV Park in East Austin Creates Criticism, Praise

2008-04-21T18:59:50Z

Today's spotlight is on controversial Park Place Village, a 10-acre gated RV site for 150-175 "chronically homeless" individuals.

The 99-year ground lease for the city-owned land in East Austin was approved by council to help fight homelessness.

Opposing East Austin residents faced an uphill battle at this week's city council meeting. Reporters said hundreds of homeless Austinites and their supporters packed council chambers to ensure approval for the 3-year project. Park Place Village residents would rent the RVs and cottages for $100 to $375 a month, including electricity, water and TV services.

Three Major Reasons Why East Austin Opposed Park Place Village

Continue reading "Spotlight: Park Place Village Homeless RV Park in East Austin Creates Criticism, Praise"

Is Affordable Austin Real Estate Just a Pipe Dream?

2008-04-16T07:35:22Z

Austin is consistently one of America's top places to live, causing demand for housing to remain steady in most areas of the city.

As the Greater Austin metro area grows, we face rising home prices. Austin and other Texas cities are among the few in the nation to continue to appreciate while we face a recession.

We face tough questions every day. Their answer will affect our children and future generations.

Top Housing Issues in Austin

1. How can we create walkable, sustainable communities as the population increases?
2. How far should we take density if we want to remain livable?
3. How can we keep our city affordable, not just for low income wage earners, but for the working class, students, artists, musicians and young professionals.

What is affordable Austin real estate? An "affordable" home in Austin is about $160-180k with payments around $1300 to $1500 per month. This can get you a 3 bed, 2 bath, 1200-1700 square-foot home with a 2-car garage.

Continue reading "Is Affordable Austin Real Estate Just a Pipe Dream?"

Three Reasons Why Austin is Among Top U.S. Real Estate For Empty Nesters, Boomers

2008-04-14T09:08:18Z

Empty Nesters are moving to cities like Austin and Las Vegas in droves, keeping the local economy afloat during the current recession while growing housing demand.

Empty Nesters are couples whose children no longer live at home. They're often members of the Baby Boomer generation, between 55 and 64 years of age. Baby Boomers have made huge impacts on health care and real estate due to the fact that there's going to be about 78 Million of them.

Both Empty Nesters and Boomers are mobile and unafraid of change. In their lifetimes, they experienced America sending a man to the moon, the advent of the television and internet, and huge swings in retirement planning.

Top Three Reasons Why Empty Nesters and Baby Boomers are Hot for Austin Real Estate

Continue reading "Three Reasons Why Austin is Among Top U.S. Real Estate For Empty Nesters, Boomers"