Austin, the "Live Music Capital of the World", is a slogan based on the very essence of this city that is supported by residents and local government alike. There are virtually hundreds of venues where locals and visitors can enjoy every type of live music imaginable.
In 1991, blues musician Lillian Standfield approached the City's Music Commission to propose Austin be labeled the "Music Capital of the USA". After extensive research, city officials discovered that Austin had more live music venues per capita than any of the major cities including Nashville, New York City or Las Vegas. It was suggested the city slogan be upgraded to the "Live Music Capital of the Universe", but the council compromised, and on August 29, 1991, the "Live Music Capital of the World" became Austin's official slogan.
Since that day, Austin has more than 'walked its talk'. Not only do they organize a number of regular musical events, they have integrated music into the day to day running of the local government. City officials have also developed various programs to assist up-and-coming musicians with the promotion of their music. Here are just a few of the events and programs supported by this city.
Events
Live from the Plaza provides a series of free concerts on the plaza at City Hall.
Parks and Recreation provides an extensive calendar of events that have musical performances. They sponsor annual events such as the Trail of Lights (a holiday music venue) and a number of summer concerts.
South by Southwest is a major annual film and music festival.
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is a three-day music and art festival held in the fall.
In the summer, local businesses support a series of free blues shows in Zilker Park
Memorials:
Austin Music Memorial at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts honors deceased individuals who have contributed to the music community in some way.
Stevie Ray Vaughan has a striking life size memorial at Lady Bird Lake.
Local Promotion:
Music on Hold is a program where local music is played in the City's telephone hold music system.
Austin Music Channel is a local station devoted to showcasing local talent.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has live music throughout three different venues in the terminal.
City council meetings include live music in their weekly sessions.
Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau actively promote "Live Music Capital of the World" as a travel destination and also provide assistance in booking local musicians.
Texas Music Office - Texas Talent Registry provides a listing of over 1700 bands and their contact information.
Local Government Support:
Creative Industries Loan Guarantee Program provides loans to individuals or companies involved in music, film, art and technology.
The Austin Music Economic Impact Study describes how music affects the economy and discusses various ideas to promote the music community.
Austin Energy is a rebate program that provides energy savings incentives to over 220 of Austin's live music venues.
This article was written on behalf of Jim Olenbush, fully accredited Austin REALTOR ®. Contact him for all your Austin real estate needs.
Yup, its true folks! Austin is not buying that woebegone story that everyone else is reading. The latest reports show that the "Live Music Capital of the World" is proving that it still rates as a residential retreat and a bustling business center.
However, Austin is also ranked the #1 for Business among U.S. cities and the employment statistics can attest to that. Austin area job growth is holding steady with unemployment figures remaining at an all time low of 3%.
Austin has a lot to offer as a residential choice, but it also has a lot to offer in the business market, and with many new businesses moving in, the local economy is remaining strong.
Austin has been selected out of nearly 400 U.S. cities by Moody's Economy and is rated #1 for the economic vitality index. Both commercial building and infrastructure construction continue at a rapid pace.
The local economy is remaining strong and last week analysts in the Austin American Statesman reminded residents that the housing market differs dramatically in various parts of the country, and that all real estate is local. The local real estate in Austin is holding steady and active listings are showing an increase over the same time last year.
Perhaps wisely, the newly-built home sector has been kept to a minimum and this has avoided an over-supply of homes. Consequently new homes are a smaller percentage of the Austin housing market.
In fact, four fifths of the listed properties for sale are re-sale homes. In spite of a slow down in sales which is normal for this time of the year, realty prices in the Central Texas area have continued to rise.
Interest rates remain low and to some extent, the recent changes in national lending requirements may have slowed things down, but Austin is still a sellers market. Some homes are still selling within days and still some homes receive multiple offers.
According to a study published by the First American Loan Performance, Austin prices are up by 8.6%; the average sale price is up from 2006 comparisons. The sold average sale price has increased compared to 2006 and the new listings average price is up by 5%.
This is all good news for any businesses that are planning their move to Austin, and it is also good news for real estate investors. There may not be many safe markets in the real estate world, but in the face of adversity Austin is still holding its head up high!
This article was written on behalf of Jim Olenbush, experienced Austin real estate professional. His website includes a comprehensive local home search, financing information, and relocation resources for anyone moving to the Central Austin TX real estate area. For more information, visit Jim at www.JimOlenbush.com.
When the city of Austin renovated the Congress Street Bridge in the 80s, they unwittingly created the single most popular urban bat-cave in the country. The bridge is now home to over 1.5 million Mexican Free Tail bats at the peak of the season. The colony also ropes an additional 10 million dollars every year for Austin's burgeoning tourist industry. Though the bats were once maligned, after more than two decades, environmental groups, farmers, tourists, local business owners and even real estate developers are all showing an overwhelming interest in making their furry flying friends feel at home in Austin.
THE NIGHTLY FLIGHT
Every summer night, hundreds of people witness one of the most spectacular wildlife displays in any major urban center. Rising like a black cloud of birds at sunset, the colony of mother bats and their pups take off over Ladybird Lake (Town Lake) and into Texas hill country in search of food. This is great news for farmers, as the bats consume about 15 tons of insects and crop pests in a single night. It's also great news for the city and local businesses as the bat show continues to draw attention from tourists around the world. Popular boat tours and a city sponsored festival are other signs that Austin is eager to roll out the red carpet for the free tails. This year marked the third annual Austin BatFest - a public celebration in early September that includes more than 150 artisans and vendors, musical performances, educational displays and of course - bat watching. But if there ever was a sign that the welcome was official it could be coming from local condominium developers.
LUXURY FOR NATURE LOVERS
While tourists flock to the city, the burgeoning condominium market in Austin is making room for the bats and the residents who love them. The latest wave of downtown development has got condo developments going up all around Ladybird Lake in the heart of the city, some of them with perfect views of Austin's most novel tourist attraction. And while a room with a view is nothing to be sneezed at, what about a sixth floor terrace with resort-sized pool, fire-pits, dining tables and a completely unobstructed view of the Congress Street Bridge? The Shore condos at the corner of Davis and Red River Streets will luxuriously offer just that. From the comfort of the terrace, lucky residents can easily host poolside barbecue parties while their guests are entertained by Austin's latest natural phenomenon.
The two-tower project will include 192 luxury condominiums linked to a new upscale hotel. A perfect roost for the most urban environmentalists, the development also meets the requirements of Austin's Green Building Program. Developers have ensured that the condos meet program requirements for energy efficiency, natural resource conservation, recycling and environmentally-friendly building materials.
The Shore Condos will be complete in January 2008. For more information on this project or any of the other great new condos in downtown Austin, contact Jim Olenbush, Austin Real estate agent, or visit www.jimolenbush.com.
So you are ready to buy your dream home. If you're serious about buying in the near future, here are a few ways to make sure you'll get a mortgage when you need it.
First, submit a pre-qualification application to the loan officer or financial institution you have in mind. Oftentimes, going with the bank you already deal with will be your best bet, as they'll have some records of your finances already. However, you need to get the best deal possible, so you might have to look elsewhere to get it. Talk to several lenders to compare fees and interest rates. Don't be too hasty and jump on the first offer you get.
You want to avoid signing up for a loan that seems too good to be true. If a lender offers you a mortgage that doesn't require proof of income, be leery. These loans often end up having huge interest rates attached to them. In fact, it is this kind of lending that has led to the recent surge of home foreclosures. When the teaser interest rates adjust a year or two down the road, loan payments skyrocket, and the homeowner struggles to make ends meet.
The bank's goal is to get a payment from you every month—re-payment on your mortgage loan. They will asses your mortgage eligibility based on the maximum you can afford to put towards your mortgage each month. You will need to provide the lender with proof of employment and income. Be sure not to do anything that will jeopardize your eligibility for the highest mortgage possible. Here are a few things that can do that:
Let's say you buy a car or other big ticket item. Maybe you think you can afford to make payments on both a vehicle and a mortgage, but a large existing payment will dramatically reduce the amount of mortgage you are eligible for. Decide which you'd rather have, because it is a rare person who can afford both. Knowing this, your existing vehicle, or even a new-to-you used car, becomes far more appealing.
Whatever you do, don't change jobs. An unstable employment record is one of the biggest no-no's in the mortgage industry. Lending institutions need to know your income is stable, and in general, at least a year at one job is what it takes to assure them you have good financial footing. Even a transfer can leave you on shaky ground, so be careful to time your home purchase carefully.
Also, be sure to maintain good credit. Pay off as many debts as possible, and be sure to make all of your bill payments on time. To stay on track, it's a good idea to set up automatic bill payments for your non-variable monthly expenses. This way you don't have to worry about remembering which bills still need to be taken care of. It's also a good idea to save your credit reports to make sure that no mistakes are made, and so that you know exactly where you stand on all outstanding debts.
This home in Highland Village has recently been listed for sale. It is conveniently located in Central Austin and close to everything! The property has just been remodeled and updated and is looking great. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and an open floor plan. The property also features shining wood floors, stone countertops, custom lighting, and a spacious covered deck for entertaining. The property is being offered for $364,000 and it will sell quickly. Please call 512-344-6000 for more information or to schedule a tour.
Never underestimate the importance of preparing your home for showing. If your home is up for sale, staging is of ultimate importance, and can net you thousands in profits after your home sells. A well staged home will attract buyers even if there is a surplus of homes on the market. Similarly, in a shortage, a staged home attracts more and higher offers when there is a shortage of homes available. Either way, you win.
The major factor in staging a home is to eliminate as much as possible from the home. But this doesn't mean create empty rooms. On the contrary, the home must looked lived-in and homey, but extremely tidy and simplified. For example, rent storage space for all your storage. If you have boxes and piles of stuff in your basement or attic, get it out of the house. Then, rearrange things to make the attic look like an office, and the basement to include a nice exercise room—even if you never used them as such. This will give the potential buyers a sense of the potential of your home.
Excess decorative things in your home need to be eliminated. Any furniture placed awkwardly, in a way that requires one to walk around it to get to the next room, needs rearranging. If you look at it like a stage, and not what you need to live, do without those extra chairs and the foot rest for the (hopefully) short time until your home sells. Set your rooms up like a hotel: everything is there, but without the extras.
However, some designers insist that some extras can make or break the feel of the home. For example, if you have a barren spare bedroom, be sure to hang some art up—just one or two pieces. Also be sure there's a bed and dresser, arranged in a way that they aren't in front of the door, and show off as much of the room as possible, while still looking lived-in. If the home is in a family neighborhood and you expect to attract parents, including a teddy-bear on the bed will give them the idea that this room would be great for their kids.
Bathrooms are key, so be sure it's tidy and clean. And don't neglect the cupboards. Potential buyers almost always open cupboards and drawers, so repair any sticky hinges or latches, and clean the cupboard shelves along with the rest of your home, getting rid of all the things you no longer want or need as you go.
Finally, things like replacing an old roof and freshening up a weathered paint job, while they might cost a bit, are virtually guaranteed to get you your money back.
The bonus of thoroughly cleaning your home and boxing up some of your less important belongings is that you're well on your way to being ready to move.
When your home is for sale, you probably have mixed feelings. You may be excited to move, and looking forward to what is coming up in your life. Chances are, though, you are also feeling a bit sentimental about the place you've called home for some time. While you feel like you know the home best, and can tell viewers all about it, the truth is, this is a job best left to the Realtor®.
While you know a lot about your home, the Realtor® knows a lot about the client viewing the home. They have discussed this potential buyer's needs and wants with them, and they know what they are looking for in a home. The future new owners may appreciate things about the home that you have barely noticed, and may not value what you think are the home's best features. A Realtor® has an objective view of the home. They not only understand the viewer better, but they don't have the emotional attachment that you have, and can therefore do a better job at showing your home.
The best thing to do is arrange with your Realtor® ahead of time when you will be out and they can most easily show your home. Lock boxes were created for this purpose, allowing agents access to the house without you needing to give out a key. Modern digital lock boxes record the id of the agents who used them, so there is never any mystery as to who was in your home. Obviously, Realtors® are bond able, must pass criminal record checks in order to gain their license, and their reputation is like gold to them,so there is no risk to you in having your home shown while you are not there.
If you must be home when the home is shown, be sure to stay out of the way. Let the Realtor answer their client's questions, unless you are specifically asked. Some people will want to meet the homes owners, but for other people, it breaks their illusion of the home potentially being theirs.
Don't forget about pets. Perhaps your pet can visit a kennel for show dates. For safety reasons, a dog should definitely not be home if you aren't. And be sure that pet's dishes are clean and out of the way when the home is being shown.
Jim Olenbush is an experienced Austin Texas real estate professional. His website includes a comprehensive local home search, financing information, and relocation resources for anyone moving to the Austin real estate area.
The city of Austin has been a popular spot the last few years, and we are enjoying record appreciation even as the rest of the country is seeing a slow down. Just in the first quarter of this year Austin has seen more than 10% appreciation in housing costs according to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. We had been a little behind the rest of the US market in our appreciation rates the last few years, and now we seem to be catching up in 2007. We may see some slowing at the end of this year as a result of the national real estate market, but overall things still look pretty good for Austin.
The unemployment rate is Austin is very low and the job growth has been robust. This seems to be giving the Austin real estate market a real boost. The city is also a hot spot for out of state investors. We have seen lots of investment activity in all areas of town.
Austin is also one of the top markets for new home construction starts. Home builders have picked up and moved here from previously hot markets. And it is not just the single family homes in the suburbs – The downtown area is seeing a high rise condo construction boom at the moment, and it will forever change the Austin skyline with many new skyscraper towers.
The most popular neighborhoods in Austin are on the scenic West side of town. These include Davenport Ranch, Seven Oaks, River Place, Steiner Ranch, and Spanish Oaks. The Lake Travis area is also very popular and it includes waterfront luxury home neighborhoods like Vineyard Bay, Costa Bella, and Lakeway. Each of these neighborhoods has its own personality and we would love to discuss them with you and give you a property tour. If you are looking for a home in Austin please give us a call at 512-344-6000 or check out our Austin real estate blog for the latest updates on new listings and the local market conditions.
Meeting people is easy - especially on the Internet. In recent years social networking websites have helped blur the line between online and offline socializing, and simplified target audience marketing to a single mouse click. The hard part now is deciding where to meet everybody, and which version of yourself to present. But if you know your audience well enough, as do most social networkers, you'll find your niche quickly.
Real estate has proven an especially good application for the new networking, and some Realtors have been very successful here. The best are able to mix a fun personality with business and marketing expertise, turning client leads into friends, and vice versa. Social networking works for real estate because it combines the casual with the commercial - many consumers like to browse home for sale listings or talk about investment in their spare time, and networking sites are where they hang out.
Real Estate networking sites like ActiveRain are great for making professional contacts and learning from your peers, but most buyers and sellers aren't spending time there. They're on the fun sites connecting with their friends, and tapping the occasional business opportunity. Myspace and Facebook are the two best examples, where the agenda is completely user-defined and different each day. Entertainment professionals were the first to use these sites as calling cards, but now everyone in the private sector does business on them. Real Estate agents look good on these sites because they can use the available multimedia applications to market listings and other products. It's also common for new home communities and condo developments to have their own Myspace or Facebook profiles. For savvy consumers, it becomes easy to integrate business and pleasure, and they can always disassociate with users or profiles that stop being fun.
Before social networking sites were common, forums were the best place to combine marketing and personality. The best read industry forums were informative and entertaining, evolving into self-sustaining communities that didn't require input from its creator.
Forums are still a big part of the social networking landscape because they provide a place for people to interact without divulging a lot of personal information. By the same token however, if you can connect with a consumer on a place like Facebook where you're more exposed, you might make a more lasting impression.
Marketing professionals are calling this "the golden age of pr," and Realtors are in a great position to make the most of it.
Jim Olenbush is an experienced Lake Travis Texas real estate professional. His website includes a comprehensive local home search, financing information, and relocation resources for anyone moving to the Lake Travis real estate area.
Bloggers like to tinker and constantly update things, which is part of what makes them so fun to watch. If you follow a blog you've probably noticed its look changing over time, and the writer's voice evolving as particular stories and catchphrases shape his or her language. Real estate, in particular, is a well-blogged subject, where new sites appear and old ones change every day. If you have a real estate blog you'll be well aware of the extra effort it takes to stay current in this industry, and ensure your posts are relevant to ever-shifting local and national markets. With so many information resources and competitive voices out there, the challenge in this endeavor is how to target the best content ideas and blog-related features for use on your site.
Since most blogs use a scrolling design dominated by text, there's never a lot of space for third party tools, outbound links, and links to other parts of the blog. Many blogs include a large, well organized block of links at the bottom of the page, underneath the posts. The most important links can go at the top of the page and in the side-nav, but if the text and headlines are minimized too far, readers will start to disappear. Space for advertising is also important to keep in mind - ads can help a blog look more legitimate (and generate revenue), but they can quickly intrude onto the page. Most bloggers stick to just a banner ad at the top and bottom, and maybe a skyscraper next to the side-nav.
Understanding why you blog is perhaps the most important step in organizing your posts and on-page features. If you're blogging mainly for people who have already been to your real estate site, you probably won't need to include as many tools, like maps, market stats displays, and listings - a prominent link back to your site will almost always suffice here. It's best to second-guess including features like these in any case. To track user traffic, and whether or not to tools like these should migrate to your blog, pay close attention to the stats provided by your hosting company, or if your blog isn't hosted (perhaps it's a free blog on blogger.com), you can use a free stats plugin like Google Analytics, or Firestats. More common non-native blog features like social networking links and email feed subscriptions should be always be considered, but used in moderation. For example, you should only have links to social networking sites you know and use on a regular basis.
By default, your blog will probably have links in the sidebar for things like Blogroll (links to other blogs), Categories, About, Archive, and Recent Comments. Even these should be minimized (usually easy within the blog's control panel) to avoid redundancy, and keep the blog from looking formulaic.
As your blog design and features become more focused, you might find that your content follows suit. By this point you'll have a better idea what your blog is for, and where each story fits in, or not. The latest real estate web application mashup might fall off your radar screen, or become the story of the day - either way, you won't spend as much time wondering and making unnecessary posts, and your readers will appreciate it.
Jim Olenbush is an experienced Lake Travis Texas real estate professional. His website includes a comprehensive local home search, financing information, and relocation resources for anyone moving to the Lake Travis real estate area.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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