tx: Austin Adults Add Halloween as their Favorite Holiday! - 10/25/06 03:45 PM
Halloween is becoming steadily bigger business, it's second only to Christmas among consumers — and that's largely credited to adults.
According to a study by the National Retail Federation on Halloween spending, 47 percent of people ages 45 to 54 said they would participate in Halloween this year, and a quarter said they would dress in some sort of costume, each spending just over $30 a costume. With costume companies across the country reporting that their adult lines have overtaken or are about to overtake their children's lines, it appears that Halloween has grown up.
The U.S. Census Bureau says the number … (1 comments)
|
tx: Anybody else having issues with Dell? - 10/21/06 08:19 PM
Last September I purchased a new Dell computer. It came in a cool box, sleek and gunmetal gray. Everything on it was wireless and worked seamlessly with this little box in my office with the blinking lights. I was happy as a clam for almost a year, and that is when the computer developed a mind of it's own.
It would freeze...alot. Sometimes it would decide it wanted to shut itself off and would do so smack dab in the middle of a very long typed letter or something. Then it would make odd "whirring" noises for hours on end.
The last … (6 comments)
|
tx: Big fan of off-beat horror shows? You will love this home! - 10/15/06 10:55 AM
Sandra McKee is such a huge fan of the '60s-vintage TV horror sendup The Munsters that she decided to build a new house that looks just like the one on the show. And now she's living in it with her husband Charles. Remember the Munsters? The main characters were a collection of horror-movie rejects.
It's not an exact replica. The kitchen looks pretty normal since they have to actually live in this home. The TV show kitchen had cabinets falling down which isn't too user friendly.
The suit of armor at the top of the stairs doesn't rotate yet like the one on … (1 comments)
|
tx: Austin's Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail Gets A Facelift - 10/02/06 05:22 PM
Austin's Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail winds around the city's Colorado River for 10.15 miles. It is shady, full of nature and has a view to die for. A recent stroll around the lake was so absolutely beautiful that we did not even notice the crowds!
A few blocks on either side of IH-35 are re-routed to sidewalks instead of the trail at the rivers edge. It goes for about a mile section of the lake along the Riverside Drive section. This is the part that gets a bit sketchy as you weave through the traffic, the freeway and gated apartment … (5 comments)
|
tx: Austin's New Proposed Skyscrapers Forcing us to Grow Up - Literally! - 09/28/06 05:35 PM
This cool new building is the brain child of developer Tom Stacy and designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects...
This is one of the many proposed buildings that a lot of firms submitted for the new Austin Museum of Art. One firm included a condominium tower over a 75,000 square foot museum. The architects here seem to bo going for the cool. modern looking buildings. Is this an effort to support our city's moniker "Keep Austin Weird?"
There is also a 36 story tower planned for 101 Colorado St. Our city is getting more and more skyscrapers and the smaller buildings are getting dwarfed … (0 comments)
|
tx: Are you in the top 10 of the most overvalued housing markets? - 09/25/06 07:47 PM
We are lucky here in Austin. We were on CNN just a few months back and gloating about how great and undervalued our property is! It opened up a flood of investors looking for a great deal in Austin. We tend to forget about the rest of the US. Some markets are not so lucky. Extremely overpriced homes are wreaking havoc on markets that were so popular just last year.
Money Magazine lists the most overvalued markets:
… (4 comments)
|
tx: How safe is your nest egg? - 09/25/06 07:38 PM
My father did everything right. Saved for college for his kids, retirement, 401k, etc. He was serious about saving and only paying for things with cash to avoid the credit card debt.
You can do everything 100% correct and still have life kick you in the butt. What will happen to your nest egg if you get a serious illness, job loss or disability? My father was diagnosed with a medical condition that forced him onto short term disability and also into his retirement money. He has bounced back quite well, but statistics show that most folks do not get so lucky. … (2 comments)
|
tx: Blanton Museum adds to AUstin's Arts Scene - 09/24/06 07:01 PM
Before "Austin City Limits" hit the national airwaves in 1976, who outside Austin knew the city nurtured such a vibrant music scene?
And really, Austin didn't insist it was the Live Music Capital of World until after 1987, when the South by Southwest Music Festival attracted waves of media attention.
The Blanton Museum of Art has acted as a similar catalyst for the city's visual arts scene — and, by extension, its self-image as a mature cultural destination.
The Blanton — the largest university art museum in the country and the third-largest art museum in Texas — is expected to join … (0 comments)
|
tx: Austin has free movies in the park on Saturdays - 09/23/06 06:16 PM
Austin Parks Foundation is proud to continue the Movies in the Park fall series. All movies will be shown at Republic Square Park (4th and Guadalupe St.) in downtown Austin. Bring your blankets and chairs and experience your favorite movies under the stars. Sponsored by AT&T with special assistance by the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
Good Stuff to Know: All movies are free. Dogs, picnics, and lawn chairs are welcome. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the park. Concessions will be available. Note: Movie begins at dusk.
This weeks movie? Saturday Night Fever!
… (0 comments)
|
tx: Austin is a pet friendly city! - 09/23/06 06:13 PM
If you are a dog, Austin is the place to live. We have 12 dog parks and numerous trails and lakes that are all dog friendly. Restaurants will let you hang out on the patio and even give you a few treats and a bowl of water while you hang out in the sun.
There is even a self serve dog wash (which is the coolest idea ever). You can put your filthy dog in a little metal bathtub, and scrub away and then use the blow dryers that are provided. It is only $12 and I think that is well … (1 comments)
|
tx: Austin, Texas area Market Statistics - 09/21/06 10:28 PM
I keep hearing that the Austin market is slowing down, but I have yet to have a day of fun and relaxation in about 6 weeks now! I am not complaining...Staying busy keeps me out of trouble. The August market summary is in and the results are pretty interesting.
Current Market SummaryAugust 2006 All Single Family SalesAny investors out there? Now is the time to get your little piece of paradise in Austin!
Kristin GunnKraft and Gunn Realtywww.AustinPropertySales.com
… (1 comments)
|
tx: Annual TREPAC Golf Tourney Register by 9-26-06 - 09/21/06 08:51 PM
Have you registered for the annual 2006 Austin Board of Realtors TREPAC Golf Tournament yet? The deadline is Monday Sept. 25.
Set in the rolling hills, twisted creeks and secluded canyons of River Place Country Club, this year’s tourney will provide excellent networking opportunities as well as a challenging round of golf.
Registration Fee is $150 per player and includes:
lunchrange ballsgreen feesgolf cartbeveragesdinner Family and Fans can cheer on their golfers and then have dinner with them for $25. All registration fees are direct contributions to TREPAC. To register for the tournament or to purchase dinner tickets, contact the Government Affairs Department at … (0 comments)
|
tx: Lack of rain and low lake levels are taking a toll on Austin! - 09/20/06 12:39 PM
We are in some serious need of rain here in Central Texas. We managed to get a little bit in the last few days. The water level on Lake Travis is dropping about a foot a week. To keep boats afloat the Marina employees had to push the boats farther out to deeper water. This is no easy task, and some marinas can take days to move around.
Austin's Mansfield Dam is one of the most popular boat launch ramps on the lake. If the lake manages to lose another 5 feet of depth, the Lower Colorado River Authority will most likely … (1 comments)
|
tx: Deer Resistant Plants - 09/19/06 07:04 PM
Texas hill country is full of deer. We love them when they wander up to the backyard. My question is, does anyone know of any "deer resistant" landscaping or plant ideas that will keep them from eating everything else on your lot?
I was told to use aromatic plants such as evergreen to keep them at bay. Also plants with a bitter taste...any ideas there? I am not a gardener, nor do I go around tasting random plants!I am aware that deer will eat almost anything. When plants and greens are growing like crazy they simply cannot resist. The deer corn that … (2 comments)
|
tx: Please prepare your home for a showing! - 09/19/06 06:53 PM
I arrived at a home today with a client and was completely appalled at the condition of the place. Im not talking a cheap house either. This house was in the high 700's.
First of all, the pet odor upon entering was almost unbearable. Why was Fifi left inside on a beautiful day when your home is being shown? There was a full, overflowing trashcan, beer bottles all over the kitchen counter and a pair of socks in the living room that looked like they were worn outside for a week.
I had to ask myself if this was some sort of … (5 comments)
|
tx: Austin's robust housing market is doing just fine! - 09/18/06 01:08 PM
Austin's robust housing market is doing just fine!
There are less homes for sale however, (listings down 7% from last year) and prices are rising. The average Austin median home price is $172,480. Austin has yet to catch up with the rest of the US as far as home values are concerned, and that makes it a great place to invest. Many people are doing just that. I get calls every couple of days from eager California investers looking to grab a piece of Austin paradise before the secret gets out!
The Austin area will add 20,800 jobs in the next 12 months, … (0 comments)
|
tx: Austin, Texas #5 "Best Place to Live" - 09/17/06 11:34 AM
You see a lot Austinites driving around with some of the best bumpers stickers around. "On Earth as it is in Austin", "Austin: We're all here because we're not all there", "Keep Austin Weird".
What is it about Austin that so many people love? For me it was the ability to swim just about anywhere, the beautiful clean lakes and the open minded, educated nature of the city. People here are protective of their city. Don't Mess with Texas applies here in full effect!
Austin is also known as The Live Music Capitol of the World. We are spoiled with some of the … (4 comments)
|
tx: Renting or Buying in Austin - 09/17/06 11:12 AM
Interest rates are on the rise and home appreciation has slowed (somewhat) in Austin, so fewer buyers are looking for new homes. There is a surge in people looking for apartments and rental properties. Austin's population is bulging at the seams, which allows for owners of local rental homes to raise their rent considerably.
Apartment rents are expected to rise 5.3% this year, according to the National Association of Realtors. That's about double last year's increase, and it's the highest jump since 2000.
I have clients right now who are toying with the idea of buying their first home. They are renting right … (2 comments)
|
tx: Blanton Museum hosts "Rembrandt's Etchings" through Dec. 10th - 09/15/06 03:07 PM
The new Blanton Museum of Art opened the doors of its new building in April. Located at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at Congress Avenue, the Blanton's new home is an impressive 180,000 sq.-ft. two-building museum complex. This move makes the Blanton the largest university art museum in the country and the third largest art museum in Texas.
Honoring the 400th anniversary of Rembrandt's birth, the Blanton Museum hosts "Rembrandt's Etchings," a collection of 23 examples of Rembrandt's work from the museum's collection. Also including 22 pieces by peers and admirers of Rembrandt, this exhibit features illustrations and prints commemorating the … (0 comments)
|
tx: The Don-Mar Motor Court on South Congress Avenue - 09/15/06 03:00 PM
The dilapidated Don-Mar Motor Court on South Congress Avenue is up for sale for $2.4 million after being bought in November for $1.5 million....this time for $2.4 million! The motel, which was built in 1935, is still in use.
… (0 comments)
|
;)
;)
