Jim Olenbush's Blog

Austin, the "Live Music Capital of the World"

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:07:33 -0800

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.

Greenshores Real Estate Barton Creek Real Estate Long Canyon Real Estate

River Place Austin Rob Roy Austin Rollingwood Texas Seven Oaks Austin Spanish Oaks Austin

Steiner Ranch Austin Westlake Austin Texas Westminster Glen Austin Courtyard Austin Davenport Ranch Austin

Austin Economy Defies National Trend

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:59:28 -0800

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!

Greenshores Real Estate Barton Creek Real Estate Long Canyon Real Estate

River Place Austin Rob Roy Austin Rollingwood Texas Seven Oaks Austin Spanish Oaks Austin

Steiner Ranch Austin Westlake Austin Texas Westminster Glen Austin Courtyard Austin Davenport Ranch Austin

Austin Condos Go Batty

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:17:03 -0800

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.

Tips for Getting a Mortgage When You Need It.

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:39:14 -0800

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 article was written on behalf of Jim Olenbush, fully accredited Austin Texas Realtor. Contact him for all your Austin real estate needs.

4811 W Park Drive, Austin, TX

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:07:23 -0800

4811 W Park Drive, Austin, TX - $364,000

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.

Greenshores Real Estate Barton Creek Real Estate Long Canyon Real Estate

River Place Austin Rob Roy Austin Rollingwood Texas Seven Oaks Austin Spanish Oaks Austin

Steiner Ranch Austin Westlake Austin Texas Westminster Glen Austin Courtyard Austin Davenport Ranch Austin

The Basics of Home Staging

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:44:54 -0800

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.

By Jim Olenbush, Austin Texas Realtor. Visit JimOlenbush.com for access to Austin real estate listings.

The Heart Break of Home Selling

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:44:28 -0800

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.

Austin Texas Market Report

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:05:00 -0700

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.

Network Online While You Sell Houses

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:44:34 -0700

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.

How to Organize Your Real Estate Blog

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:44:00 -0700

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.

Save a Salamander, Raise your Property Value

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:27:35 -0700

In every major urban center the ongoing battle between sensitive ecosystems and urban development is de rigeur, but in quirky Austin, when an SOS was sent out on behalf of the rare Barton Springs Salamander, the city rushed to the rescue. Fortunately for Austin homeowners, the decision to funnel their tax dollars into saving this urban amphibian seems to be paying off in more ways than one.

The only place in the world to find the four-inch Barton Springs Salamander is in the natural springs located in Austin's downtown Zilker Park. And since it was listed as an endangered species in 1997, the city of Austin has really gotten behind their little buddy. Perhaps spurred by regulations set out by the endangered species act, or maybe just living up to it's reputation as one of the greenest cities in America, Austin has managed to raise the local Salamander population in just a few years and is making plans to keep it rising.

Green City USA

Austin's commitment to the environment is undoubtedly part of it's charm and the push to save the Barton Springs Salamander is in keeping with the city's green approach to urban planning. Named the Greenest City in America by MSN and the Greenest City in the American South by National Geographic, Austin residents are proud of their commitment to the environment. In a 2007 survey citizens gave Austin top marks for its water and energy conservation programs, the preservation of green space, and its clean good-tasting drinking water.

The Price of Austin's Green Real Estate

So what does this all mean for Austin homeowners? On a very basic level, improving the critter's habitat also improves the habitat for other living creatures - most notably humans. For instance, saving the salamander will mean even cleaner water for Austinites. It also represents a significant investment in a public green space at the heart of a city of 660,000 people, which is certainly nice. But could Austin's tenancy to do things like save their salamander actually be boosting the value of their real estate?

Almost everywhere else in the country the housing market has taken a swift downturn and over the past year sales have dropped in most urban centers - except Austin. Austin continues to see fewer houses on the market for fewer days while prices continue to rise.

It's not rocket science. For homeowners around the perimeter of Zilker Park, the preservation and recovery efforts are having a favorable impact on quaility of life - it's simply a nice place to live - and when a lot of people want to live in a place, the property values go up. In Barton Hills and Zilker where the average home is already listed at $450 to $550K, this is outstanding news. Properties in the Rollingwood, Town Lake and other nearby neighborhoods are also seeing steady appreciation that's not likely to slow down.

Rescuing Austin's Amphibian

The three acre Barton Springs is a natural spring fed pool with a year round average temperature of 68 degrees. One of three main pools, the springs are located in Zilker Park, voted the "Best Outdoor Public Space" by Austin Chronicle readers in 2006. A popular gathering spot and event site, the park also hosts the annual Austin City Limits Festival, the Kite Festival and the Trail of lights.

To date, the smaller Eliza Springs which is also in Zilker Park, has been the test location for improvements to the salamander's habitat. Here workers have restored the springs, increasing necessary water flow, improving water quality and clearing rock formations. As a result of their efforts, monthly counts have seen the area's salamander population increase from a scant 12 in 2002 to a stable 400 in 2007, an increase of 3,333%.

Last year, a master plan for improving the ecosystem for the entire aquifer was commissioned by city council. The first phase of the plan, which outlines a series of short term projects, will be presented to council this month (August 2007) for inclusion in the 2008 city budget. Longer term projects will be presented to council in the fall. The last phase in the project will measure the results of these efforts - a process that may take up to two years.

Jim Olenbush owns Cantera Real Estate in Austin Texas. With over 12 years experience, Jim and the professional team at Cantera can save you time and money on the most important purchase you'll ever make. Visit Cantera Real Estate online at www.jimolenbush.com to learn more about green homes in this exceptional region or call Jim directly at: 1-800-790-7910.

The Green Homes of Austin

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:25:10 -0700

Though concern for the environment might be why more people are buying green homes today, Austin buyers are definitely falling for the way they save them money on overall operating costs and maintenance.

In 2007 there were more green homes built, bought and sold in the US than ever before. And why wouldn't there be? Green building techniques and standards have improved dramatically over the past decade, making environmentally friendly houses an attractive alternative. Consumers and builders are learning that a green home doesn't have to be a geodesic dome or pit house, it just has to meet certain standards and be kind to the environment. Similarly priced and designed, today's green homes also promise significant savings on utility bills, lowered maintenance costs, a healthier indoor environment and increased peace of mind. Naturally, all these benefits are also translating into a higher resale value when it comes time to move on.

Austin's Green Home Building program is the oldest in the country and has a lot to do with the predominance of green buildings in this part of Texas. Launched in 1991 and now under the wing of Austin Energy, the program supports builders and homeowners to make Austin homes more energy efficient by allowing them to tap into information, rebates, loans and free upgrades.

This New Austin House

This past year, Austin's green homes were in the spotlight again when "This Old House" featured a green renovation to one of Austin's drafty old character homes. Taking an old fangled little bungalow and adding eco-friendliness with features like photo voltaic cells on the roof, rainwater collection for irrigation, spray-foam insulation, recycled-glass tile and counter tops, and formaldehyde-free wood managed to garner Austin Energy's coveted five-star rating for the finished project. For the house's owners this added efficiency translates into $720 less in utility bills every year and a $10,000 rebate from Austin Energy's Solar Rebate Program. For the city or the world for that matter, it means 3 tones less carbon dioxide, 14 pounds less nitrogen oxide and 20 pounds less sulfur dioxide.

Buyers interested in purchasing a new green home can expect to see more of them on the market in years to come. Early in 2008, the National Association of Home Builders will release the National Green Building Standard, an ANSI standard for green home building based on guidelines the NAHB released in 2005. The soon to be released standards cover a range of green factors including lot prep and design, resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water conservation, comfort and indoor environment.

The Expansion Of Austin

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:48:27 -0700

Let us, for a minute consider what sort of environment makes for a strong and stable real estate market. This is an alarmingly simple question to answer, a state of expansion is what buyers are looking for. When a city expands and the population increases there is a natural increase in the number of homes and subsequently there is an increase in the services and amenities that go along with an increased population base. The real mark of a city that is poised to expand is the speed with which the city keeps up with the expanding population. We have seen no shortage of cities that grew too quickly and rapidly outgrew the services that the area could reasonably provide. This creates a vacuum where the city cannot cope with the number of residents and the whole area suffers. however, what this has done is shine favorable light on cities that have been prepared for such growth like Austin, Texas.

Austin was perfectly primed for expansion, as the state Capital and one of the major educational centers of Texas there was room for the expansion and the city is blessed with an abundance of amenities so the increased population was easily handled. Now home to over 1.5 million people, Austin has seen a steady influx of almost 275,000 new residents over the past 6 years. This has created an increased need for quality housing and in turn helped to foster a growth in construction related industries. In fact the increased population has helped to spawn a remarkably strong and expanding business sector that has only seen benefit from the additional consumers in the area. For most cities a population jump of 21% in 6 years might be difficult to deal with but Austin has handled the influx with grace, style and a proactive rather than reactive stance on amenities and community services. This proactive attitude is likely one of the cardinal reasons that Austin has been able to handle the expansion as things done in a reactive stance are usually rushed and as such sometimes have integral details overlooked. Come and have a look at what is going on in Austin, you never know; you might just end up staying!

Jim Olenbush is a broker and Realtor that is proud to assist home buyers and home sellers with the world of Austin real estate. Jim is a top producer and an expert on the Greater Austin area. For more information on real estate in Greater Austin contact Jim today or visit his site at www.jimolenbush.com

What Is The State Of The Market?

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:44:59 -0700

There has been a lot of speculation on the state of the U.S. real estate market as of late. Buyers, sellers and realtors alike are wondering if we will see a return to the remarkable market that much of the nation enjoyed for the last few years. At this point it is unclear whether or not the market will see the same kind of dynamic action that it enjoyed previously. What is more reasonable to expect is that the market will stabilize and then begin a climb back to prominence. And while that may not be the same kind of prominence that we saw before it will be enough to bring a sense of stability back to a fluctuating market.

There are certain areas of the nation whose markets have stabilized and are recovering faster than others and Texas is one of them. In fact Texas has shown a nice appreciation in home values and in addition it seems to be bucking the trend of homes being sold for less than they are worth. With the slowdown that happened on a national scale we saw a lot of homes being sold for less than their value as a direct result of the market lull. Indeed many areas are showing a turn-around in this trend but few have been as dramatic as Texas where homes are now selling at full price. So, owners that chose to hold on to their properties during the cool down are realizing that now is a good time to sell as the market is once again in a state of growth and expansion in Texas.

One problem that has not quite disappeared quite yet is the sub-prime lending concern. This has lead to almost a record number of foreclosures in the U.S. One the flip side, this has also enabled many to purchase homes at lower than expected values. And while this may not bode well for the former owners it has benefited investors looking for good deals. Another point of hope is the fact that the Federal Reserve Board has not increased the borrowing interest rate for some time after a period where the rate was consistently increased . Leaving the prime lending rate as it is may be good indication that a drop ion the rate could be around the corner so keep your eyes peeled.

Jim Olenbush is a broker and Realtor that is proud to assist home buyers and home sellers with the world of Austin real estate. Jim is a top producer and an expert on the Greater Austin area. For more information on real estate in Greater Austin contact Jim today or visit his site at www.jimolenbush.com

Real Time Market Stats for Austin, Texas!

Austin Texas Real Estate - Cantera Real Estate, Inc. — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 23:19:35 -0700

I am excited to announce that our new website now has real time market statistics! This page will be updated each day with the latest market information.

Take a look here: http://www.jimolenbush.com/market.htm

These statistics are being generated by the IDX feed for MLS property listings. I will continue to experiment with the possible uses for this and incorporate as much info as possible into my site. We should have some interesting new updates to the site over the next few months.

Cantera Real Estate is a new residential brokerage in Austin, Texas. If you would like more information about the current Austin market please give us a call! 512-344-6000.

Here is a great resource for real estate related blogs -

Real Estate Blogs Directory - Directory of real estate blogs and blogs of industries affiliated with and serving the real estate industry.