Ki's Austin Real Estate Blog

Mexic-Arte Museum

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:20:27 -0500

The Mexic-Arte Museum is the Official Mexican and Mexican-American Fine Art Museum of Texas, as designated by the state legislature. Although focused primarily on the arts from Mexico, their scope includes Latin America as well as Latino arts, both contemporary and ancient, as well as Chicano art. Its diverse and eclectic collections, exhibits and programs reflect the heritage of the area, which was once Mexico. The population of Texas remains heavily Hispanic, and the Mexic-Arte museum celebrates this culture.

Located in the heart of historic downtown, the Mexic-Arte Museum offers a modern, contemporary space through which over 75,000 visitors a year travel. The main gallery is normally used by traveling exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art from Mexico and other Latin American countries as well as for national, local and regional Chicano and Latino artists. One of the few museums to support fresh talent, their back gallery provides space for emerging artists to exhibit their works.

The museum's Permanent Collection has developed with the intent of showcasing the rich and diverse art and culture of our unique region. The collections include prints from the Taller de la Grafica Popular/Workshop of Popular Graphics, a collection of etchings, linocuts, lithographs and silkscreens created by prominent artists as part of a populist art movement in Mexico. The Ernest De Soto Collection was named for the first Mexican American Master Printer, and consists of contemporary Latin American and American lithographs, fine prints, and etchings by renowned artists. One of the most colorful and attractive exhibits is the Masks from the State of Guerrero, a collection of traditional ritual masks made by Nahua Indians. Over 200 silkscreen prints by regional artists comprise the Serie Print Project.

Traveling exhibitions have included Retablos: Miracles from the Border, Embracing Chaos by young Latino artists, and La Caja Museo Contemporáneo de Arte / The Box Contemporary Museum of Art. The diversity of the arts is clear when exhibitions include Aztec mummy movies as well as The Aztec and Maya Revival exhibition, which illustrates a fusion of Pre-Columbian visual patterns with modern Mexican material culture.

The museum's flagship event for over a quarter of a century, and one of Austin’s favorite celebrations, falls every year near Halloween. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is traditionally the day when Mexicans remember their loved ones who have passed on. The Mexic-Arte Museum celebrates with music, entertainment, and food in downtown Austin on 5th Street, between Congress and Brazos. Altars adorned with traditional offerings including candles, flowers, and images of calaveras (skulls) are on display, as a lively procession of people dressed in skeleton and Frida Kahlo costumes join other revelers for dancing and fun.

Educational outreach is paramount at the Mexic-Arte, which offers after school classes, free guided tours, and an entire program in anticipation of the Dia de los Muertos celebration. A corner of the museum is designated an Interactive Family area, and they host highly regarded scholars in a gallery lecture series. The Mexic-Arte Museum is located at 419 Congress Avenue in Austin Texas.

Escapeso Austin Real Estate is a small company working in central Austin. They run a website with information about Austin real estate. Their site also has information on Austin foreclosures and a search of the Austin MLS.

The Bat Fest in Austin Texas

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:15:14 -0500

Austin's love affair with those delightful little bug-eaters is epic, and is celebrated every year with a bat-tastic festival held right on the Congress Street Bridge, while the honorees sleep below. Bat Fest, although relatively new, has become one of the River City's most noted and well-attended events.

Bat Fest is usually held in late August or early September, when the bat population is at its highest - the females have given birth and the pups are starting to venture out on their own. The bridge is closed to traffic, allowing for the 40,000+ attendees to walk among the tents and kiosks set up on the asphalt. Beginning late, at 2PM, the festival is meant to encourage people to enjoy the festivities during the day, and to enjoy the spectacular emergence of all those bats into the night air at dusk. The revelry continues on until midnight on Saturday, 10PM on Sunday.

On Sunday, early-bats can partake of the Bat Breakfast, when Austin's finest chefs whip up delectable breakfast treats. The savvy participants of this satellite event are treated to the flip side of the celebrated evening launch - they get to view the return of the bats after a night of foraging, to their roosts under the bridge.

Keeping with Austin's other main love, the festival mounts two stages, and bands play throughout the entire festival - up to thirty of the best the Live Music Capitol of the World has to offer can be seen in one weekend. Bob Schneider, Soulhat, Breedlove, and Grady have all appeared, along with many other big names in many different genres of music.

In addition to the Bat Breakfast, food vendors offer savory and sweet treats for sale all day and throughout the evening, and beverages of all kind are available as well. Over 100 of Austin's finest artisans and craftspeople present their wares, including pottery, jewelry, fine art, woodwork, stained glass, metal sculpture, mosaics, dicrylic, photography and much more.

The entrance fee for this exciting and unique event is a paltry $5.00, and the proceeds go to local charities including Bat Conservation International. BCI is already a regular presence on the "Bat Bridge" providing information and selling bat-centric souvenirs, as well as promoting their efforts to educate the public about bats, and to protect the bat population here and throughout the world. They amplify their offering for the festival, presenting educational displays and activities for all ages. The kids will find a wealth of fun in store, including carnival rides, games, interactive exhibits, face painting, and more.

With the beauty of Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) as a back drop, the Bat Fest is a great celebration of one of Austin's greatest treasures. Done in Austin's inimitable style, the music, crafts, food and fun make this an affordable, one-of-a-kind celebration, the likes of which you won't likely find anywhere else.

Ki is a realtor helping individuals looking for Austin real estate. His site provides information on his Austin real estate blog along with a search of the Austin MLS.

Mortgage Rates Fall Again

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:36:28 -0500

For the second week in a row mortgage rates have fallen. For those that don't read my updates regularly I wanted to give a short background on what rates have been doing. From the end of April to the beginning of June 30 year mortgage rates hovered around 6 percent. Then during the month of June 30 year mortgage interest rates rose peaking out at 6.45 at the end of June. But since then rates have fallen through the month of July ot 6.26. So we are not down to 6 but rates have come down quite a bit from their recent high. Its also interesting rates have fallen although the FED has cut the Fed Funds rate or the discount rate since April 30th. Below are mortage interest rates for the major mortgage products for the last 5 weeks.

July 17,2008
30-yr 6.26 15-yr 5.78 5-yr ARM 5.80 1-yr ARM 5.10

July 10,2008
30-yr 6.37 15-yr 5.91 5-yr ARM 5.82 1-yr ARM 5.17

July 3,2008
30-yr 6.35 15-yr 5.92 5-yr ARM 5.78 1-yr ARM 5.17

June 26,2008
30-yr 6.45 15-yr 6.04 5-yr ARM 5.99 1-yr ARM 5.27

June 19,2008
30-yr 6.42 15-yr 6.02 5-yr ARM 5.89 1-yr ARM 5.19

Mortgage rates are nice to look at but what do these mortgage rates flucatuations mean for a mortgage. Using our free mortgage calculator we can run the numbers and see how these mortgage rate changes would affect the mortgage on a 200k loan.

July 17th
30-yr $1232.73
15-yr $1664.03
5-yr ARM $1173.5
1-yr ARM $1085.89

June 26th
30-yr $1257.56
15-yr $1692.03
5-yr ARM $1197.81
1-yr ARM $1106.88

June 5th
30-yr $1210.69
15-yr $1650.11
5-yr ARM $1136.83
1-yr ARM $1080.98

For a 30 Year mortgage on June 5th the monthly mortgage payment would have been $1210.69. Three week later on June 26th a mortgage on the same amount would have risen 4% to $1257.56. Now another 3 weeks the mortgage payment has fallen 2% to $1232.73

The other major change occuring with mortgages is that banks are becoming more selective in giving out mortgages. We have noticed over the last month that more restrictions from lenders have been coming into play. So although mortgage rates are relatively low it has become more difficult to get a loan. Over the last few years lenders would give a loan to anyone that could walk in the door this has changed over the last year. This is why potential home buyers should start paying more attention to their credit scores. Also lenders are expecting larger downpayments. Lenders are also cracking down on investment loans. The biggest change has been that most lenders are not allowing borrowers to get more than 4 investment loans. This has essentially stopped many investors from purchasing new properties.

So what do we expect to happen in the future. The general feeling among mortgage brokers is that lenders are unlikely to return to the free wheeling style we saw in 2006. But at the same time its likely that the current extreme restrictions in lending might ease up some over the next six months.

Ki is a real estate agent in Austin. His website has current information on mortgage interest rates. Along with a free mortgage calculator and information on historical mortgage interest rates

Central Texas Profiles : Elgin Texas

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:10:49 -0500

Elgin is a small city which is located 23 miles east of Austin and 17 miles north of Bastrop, and Elgin is also known as the Sausage Capital of Texas! Elgin covers an area of 4.7 square miles, and in the census of 2000, the city reported a population of 5,700 inhabitants. There were 1869 households reported, and 1349 families living in the Elgin area at the time of the census of 2000. The population density was 1214 people per square mile. 36% of the population reported family members being under the age of 18, and 51% were married couples living together. The average family size was 3.5 members, and there was a slightly higher percentage of women than men at the time of the census. There was a median income of around $38,000 during the 2000 census, and the per capita income for the city was around $17,000.

The students of Elgin attend the Elgin Independent School District Schools, and the city holds two annual events: the Hogeye Festival and the Western Days Festival. Part of Elgin is situated in Travis County and part in Bastrop County, and by the year 2005, the population had grown to around 8700 inhabitants.

Elgin was settled in 1872 and was named for Robert Morris Elgin, who was the railroad commissioner at the time. Elgin was settled around the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, and the train depot was originally in the center of the small community. The city was formed after Colorado River flooded in 1869, and the city was first intended to be built 10 miles east, but due to the flood, the land was unusable at the time.

Elgin has grown in recent years, and there are numerous churches, schools and restaurants, among other attractions. Some of the churches include the First Baptist Church, the First United Methodist Church, the Family Worship Center, and the Central Christian Church. Lodging can be found in and near Elgin for visitors, including the new Hyatt Regency Resort in Lost Pines near Bastrop, as well as the Sunset Lodge Motel and a few R.V. parks. Restaurants in or near Elgin include the Meyers Elgin Smokehouse and the Morelia Mexican Cafe, as well as numerous fast food joints, a coffee shop and a few other local eateries.

Some of the prominent employers in Elgin include the school district, the H.E.B. grocery store, Acme Brick Company, and the Southside Market, as well as Beall's Department Store and the City of Elgin. Elgin is a historic city, and a museum was built at the site of the original railroad depot called the Elgin Depot Museum, and Heritage Walking Tours are offered throughout the city, including historic Main Street. Elgin is also considered the Brick Capital of the Southwest, and there are numerous historic brick homes to display their many uses in homebuilding. A watermelon festival is held in nearby McDade every year, and musical events are regularly scheduled by the city, as well as sports events, including little league baseball. Elgin is also proud of their barbecue, and the Southside Market and Meyer's Smokehouse have both been in business for over 100 years. Meyer's Smokehouse was named one of the 14 top barbecue spots in the state of Texas in 2003, and the Southside Market, run by the Bracewell family, was founded in 1882 and has been in business since.

The Elgin Courier is the local source of news for the occupants of Elgin, and since the city is located east of Austin, it is reasonably accessible to Houston by Highway 290 as well as San Antonio, which is southwest via Interstate 35 through Austin. There are many parks in Elgin, including the Elgin Memorial Park on Highway 95, as well as the Morris Memorial Park, the Thomas Park, and the Veteran's Park.

Elgin is a great place to consider if rural living appeals to you, yet its proximity to metropolitan areas allows the advantages of the big city. When traveling to central Texas, be sure to visit Elgin, try some barbecue, and visit with the friendly citizens!

Escapeso Austin real estate is a small realty company in Austin Texas. Their site has information on Austin homes along with updated market statistics on their Austin real estate blog.

Allandale Neighborhood

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:12:10 -0500

Allandale is the name of a lovely neighborhood in central Austin, although the area was originally considered to be northwest Austin, before Austin’s expansion into a large metropolitan area. Allandale recently celebrated its 35th anniversary as an active central Austin community, and the Allandale Neighborhood Association has been a presence in the neighborhood since 1973. Currently, Allandale is home to over 21,000 residents, and two of the boundaries of the neighborhood are the MoPac Expressway and Burnet Road, which form the western and eastern perimeters, respectively.

Typical residences in Allandale are three to four bedroom single family homes, most within the $250,000 to $300,000 price range, although more and less expensive housing can be found too. The students in Allendale attend Austin Independent School District schools, and there is an elementary school named Gullet Elementary, as well as a middle school named Lamar and a high school named McAllen High School. Allandale has the 28th largest neighborhood association in Austin, and there is an activity center named the Northwest Recreation Center which is ideal for indoor as well as outdoor sporting activities. The Allandale Neighborhood’s other borders are generally considered to be Anderson Lane and Hancock Drive, as well as Shoal Creek, and the neighborhood is chock full of restaurants, shopping, and various types of dwellings.

The roots of the Allandale neighborhood go back to the 1930s, and at that time, it was considered to be a suburb outside of Austin proper. George Davis was the original owner of most of the land in the neighborhood, and he obtained the land from the President of the Republic of Texas in 1841. A grant of over 3,100 acres was given to him in exchange for his service in the battle of San Jacinto, and some of his descendants still live in the neighborhood today. The Davis family also has a family cemetery on Vine Street to this day.

Housing is slightly more expensive in the neighborhood than in some areas of Austin, and the vintage homes from the 1940s and 1950s frequently boast mature landscaping with large yards, a perfect setting for families with children. There are fixer-uppers to be found in the neighborhood too, along with apartments and duplexes, among other choices. Since Shoal Creek, with its numerous parks and hike and bike trails, runs along the Allandale neighborhood, there is plenty to do from a standpoint of recreation as well.

Some of the eateries in the Allandale area include Phil's Icehouse, Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon, and Amy's Ice Cream, all local hotspots, as well as many popular family restaurants, including the Hang Town Grill, and the Frisco, which occupied the same location on Burnet for years until it recently closed. A popular park in the neighborhood is named Beverly Sheffield Park, and the park is adjacent to Shoal Creek, and has a beautiful duck pond as well as an Olympic sized swimming pool. The park also includes picnic sites, barbecue pits, ball fields, tennis courts, and a fishing pier, and is a home away from home for the children of the area.

Escapeso helps buyers and investors looking for Austin real estate. Their website provides a map based search of the Austin MLS and updated market statistics on their Austin real estate blog.

Austin Restaurant Spotlight: Clarksville and West Lynn St.

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:39:54 -0500

One of Austin's most sought-after neighborhoods, Clarksville offers a close-knit neighborhood feel in a European style, pedestrian-friendly setting. With small privately-owned markets and delicious restaurants all a stone's throw away, Clarksville residents happily enjoy the best Austin has to offer.

And while Clarksville is home to a number of distinctive shops, including award-winning locally-owned coffee shops and a drug store complete with working soda fountain, the neighborhood's restaurants are perhaps the largest commercial draw. West Lynn Street alone is home to no less than four unique restaurants, each offering original, delicious fare, and all contained within just three blocks.

The most notable of West Lynn's restaurants is likely Jeffery's. A high-class, high-dollar establishment, Jeffrey's chefs pride themselves on culinary ingenuity. The award-winning restaurant, housed in a small, bright yellow home at 1204 West Lynn, has received accolades as a Distinguished Restaurant of North America and boasts a Wine Spectator Award for Excellence. From ceviche to caviar, Jeffrey's offers its patrons a wide range of dishes that, while extremely unique, manage to work together surprisingly synergistically for a truly one-of-a-kind dining experience.

Catty corner to Jeffrey's on the Northern side, at 1213 West Lynn, you'll find Cipollina Clarksville's own Italian bistro. With high ceilings, low lighting and massive mirrors adorning the walls, Cipollina offers a wonderful old-world atmosphere in addition to its traditional Italian fare. Delicious wood-fired pizzas, boasting exotic toppings like white truffles, prosciutto and arugula, and tasty items like handmade pastas and lavender me brule ensure Cipollina's patrons will enjoy an authentic, unforgettable culinary experience.

Just a stone's throw to the South at 1110 West Lynn sits Zocalo Cafe, in a striking white building with lime green accents, and a long outdoor patio, shaded by overhanging trees. With fresh ingredients, reasonable prices, and bold Mexican flavors, Zocalo's patrons enjoy delicious tacos, salads and other typical fare in a relaxed Cantina atmosphere the weekend brunch is also very popular. The Posole soup (a zesty concoction of pulled pork) and Mexican Totra are two notable menu items, and the frozen sangria keeps residents of Clarksville and beyond coming back again and again during the hot Texas summer.

Zocalo's sister restaurant, Galaxy Cafe, lies just across 11th Street at 1000 West Lynn. Offering a similarly relaxed atmosphere and budget-friendly prices, Galaxy's fare puts an original spin on the typical American diner menu. Clarksville's answer to fast food, Galaxy treats patrons to specials like grilled mahi mahi and skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, on top of the everyday menu of delicious salads, sandwiches, wraps (the fish wrap, in particular, is a local favorite) and burgers. And like Zocalo, Galaxy's weekend brunch always draws a crowd.

Regardless of your budget, your mood or your cravings, Clarksville's own little restaurant district at West Lynn literally offers something for everyone. And the success of each of the four restaurants that dot the street "despite their close proximity to one another" is a strong testament to the quality and popularity of each, and of their ability to keep both Clarksville and greater-Austin-area residents coming back for more.

Escapeso is website focused on real estate in Austin. They have a map search of homes in the Austin Tx MLS along with information mortgage interest rates.

An Inside Look at Five of Austin's Top Museums

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:33:45 -0500

Austin, Texas, is well known for its nightlife, but there is plenty to do during daylight hours, too. With a wide variety of museums and cultural centers catering to most every interest, Austin provides visitors and residents alike with countless options for cultural outings. Here is a closer look at five of Austin's best.

1)Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum
Dedicated in 1971, the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library and museum houses the single greatest collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the life and presidency of our nation's 36th president, including documents, photographs, clothing and automobiles. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum also houses traveling exhibits on American culture and lifestyle. Located on the edge of the University of Texas campus, the museum is open daily (except Christmas day) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and admission is free.

2)Austin Children's Museum
The Austin Children's Museum, located downtown at the Dell Discover Center, was founded in the early 1980s by a grassroots coalition of parents and educators striving to equip and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers. With more than 12,000 square feet of museum space, the Austin Children's Museum houses a wealth of interactive, thought-provoking displays and exhibits designed to get kids working together and thinking outside the box. In addition to the permanent exhibits, the museum also offers rotating exhibits and community programs to further engage young and old visitors alikeâ€”some of these include Discovery Time, Science Sunday and various on-site Spring Break and summer camps. Museum hours and admission prices vary.

3)Pioneer Farm
Located in North East Austin, Pioneer Farm is Austin's one and only outdoor living history museum. With historically accurate clothing, tools, architecture, livestock, crops and furnishings, the Pioneer farm and its costumed interpreters portray the realities of rural Central Texas life in the 1880s. Pioneer Farm operates on a seasonal schedule, and admission fees vary.

4)Blanton Museum of Art
One of Austin's premier art museums, the Blanton Museum of Art (or simply the Blanton, as it's often called) is renowned for its modern and contemporary American works, Latin American art, European Old Master paintings and an extensive collection of prints and drawings. Affiliated with the University of Texas, the Blanton is in fact the largest university art museum in the country, and the largest museum in Texas. The Blanton offers a wide range of community and educational programs year round, including an artist-in-residence program. Museum hours and admission prices vary.

5)Austin Nature and Science Center
Located in Zilker Park, one of Austin's most popular outdoor attractions, the Austin Nature and Science Center is a hands-on eco-exploration of the city's natural habitat. With more than 50 unique native mammal and bird species housed in its various wildlife habitats and a wealth of ancient fossils, visitors to the Austin Nature and Science Center can experience first-hand the richness and diversity of the central Texas ecosystem, both past and present. Center hours vary, and admission fees entail a suggested donation of $2.

Ki helps buyers in the Austin area. His site has a search of the Austin MLS and provides general information on Austin real estate and mortgage interest rates.

Current Mortgage News

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:01:02 -0500

So what has been going on in the world of finance and mortgages? Certainly the biggest news was the fall of IndyMac. Last week we heard that IndyMac had stopped giving out new mortgage loans and was going to concentrate on simply servicing the existing loans in its portfolio. Apparently this was due to the fact that regulators felt that IndyMac was not adequately capitalized.

Many experts speculated that the days of IndyMac were numbered and might not last the year. They were right and not only did they not make it through the year they didn't even survive the rest of the week. On Friday it was announced that IndyMac was seized by US banking regulators. This was preceded by a rush on the bank by panicked depositors. The insurance fund currently has around 53 billion so the failure of IndyMac should be a significant drain of the insurance fund. The failure of the bank should cost the government insurance fund between 4 to 8 billion.

Moving on what is going on with mortgage rates this month. After rates rose through the month of June rates have fallen off in the first 2 weeks of July. This is good news because the rates feel in spite of the FED choosing not to lower rates at their last meeting. Rates on all the major mortgage products (30 Year, 15 Year, 5 Year and 1 Year) from the week of June 26 to July 3. Then rates for the most part held steady from July 3rd to July 10th. Rates fell the most on 5 Year Arms.

Its interesting to note that the spread between 5 Year Arms and 30 Year fixed notes has increased over the last month making 5 Year Arms more attractive. Below are the rates for the major mortgage products for the last few weeks.

July 10, 2008
30-yr 6.37 15-yr 5.91 5-yr ARM 5.82 1-yr ARM 5.17

July 3,2008
30-yr 6.35 15-yr 5.92 5-yr ARM 5.78 1-yr ARM 5.17

June 26,2008
30-yr 6.45 15-yr 6.04 5-yr ARM 5.99 1-yr ARM 5.27

June 19,2008
30-yr 6.42 15-yr 6.02 5-yr ARM 5.89 1-yr ARM 5.19

June 12,2008
30-yr 6.32 15-yr 5.93 5-yr ARM 5.70 1-yr ARM 5.09

June 5,2008
30-yr 6.09 15-yr 5.65 5-yr ARM 5.51 1-yr ARM 5.06

Moving on lets look at mortgage payments. I like to translate mortgage interest rates into how they would affect a mortgage payment because at the end of the day that is what we are dealing with. So breaking out our free mortgage calculator lets see what these rates mean for a mortgage on a 200k house.

July 10th
30-yr $1247.08
15-yr $1678
5-yr ARM $1176.05
1-yr ARM $1094.51

July 3rd
30-yr $1244.47
15-yr $1679.08
5-yr ARM $1170.96
1-yr ARM $1094.51

June 5th
30-yr $1210.69
15-yr $1650.11
5-yr ARM $1136.83
1-yr ARM $1080.98

So what do we see happening over the next few months. At the beginning of the summer we felt rates would rise because the FED decided to stop cutting rates. Rates rose for a month and then recently have held steady and then felt a bit. Moving forward I don’t have a clear idea what will happen with rates. I would have thought rates might fallen but with the fall of IndyMac the mortgage industry does not seem to be stabilizing so its uncertain what will happen with rates over the next month.

Ki works in Austin. His site is filled with information about mortgage interest rates along with providing a free mortgage rates widget and a free mortgage calculator.

Coworking In Austin

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:44:07 -0500

There is a cafe and coffee shop circuit in every city that serves as the office for many freelancers, entrepreneurs and off-site workers. You’ve seen them. They are typing away at their laptops with the focused precision of a brain surgeon. When they come up for air they often are ready for their third or fourth round of espresso or a little chat with their neighboring typist. Then, they are desperately searching for an outlet for their rapidly dying battery. What are these people doing? How can they work to the sounds of frothing cappuccinos and pumping music?

These are the people who fall in between. Cubicle city does not work for them. Nine to five makes them squirm. Yet holing away in their lonely home office is about as appealing as the four meeting workday. Excruciating.

When one is an unofficial member of the café circuit one sees many of the same people over and over again. Often, due to deadlines, time constraints or other variables, they tend to keep to themselves even though they desire to be around people. Collaborating is not often the focus.

Finding the perfect balance of atmosphere that they crave with the practical aspects like being able to place or take a phone call is tricky. There is a virtuoso’s set of criteria that must be in place for something productive to come out of this environment.

That internal struggle and overwhelming desire to be motivated if not inspired by one’s working environment and be round people has created a new business model that is being replicated all over the nation.

Coworking is its name. Coworking has an additional benefit that takes it to another level. Collaboration. Coworking is not only about the perfect space to work in but it is about the alchemy of combined entrepreneurial pursuits benefiting from open communication with each other. This is an aspect not easily achieved in a hit-or-miss atmosphere like a coffee shop. There are three coworking spaces slated to open in Austin in 2008.

Launchpad Coworking and Café has a crew of dedicated and passionate people designing an environment that may suit a person desiringa well planned and professionally managed community. They are opening in September in downtown Austin.

Conjunctured is a coworking company that focuses on collaborating in a well thought out but slightly less formal space than Launchpad. They are located in Central East Austin in an older bungalow adapted for its use. It maintains an environment more similar to the quirkiness associated with working in a coffee shop. They opened on the first day of July.

Soma Vida strives to be a coworking space with wellness in mind. It is an integrated community that focuses on nurturing and support for each other. It is the only coworking space that offers on site childcare. The coworking space opened also on July 1st. It is located in Central East Austin. Their childcare and yoga facilities are set to open on July 15th.

Ki is a real estate agent in Austin. His site is focused on Austin Texas real estate and provides a search for Austin homes. His blog is updated monthly and provides statistics on the Austin real estate market.

How To Minimize The Stress Of Moving

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:30:42 -0500

Regardless of whether it's across the country or across town, moving is a stressful, expensive and time-consuming event. It requires extensive planning, organization, and a lot of physical activity. While there is no easy way to move house, there are several things you can do to simplify the process and reduce the amount of stress on yourself.

First things first: identify a target moving date. You'll want to take a variety of factors into consideration when determining your moving timeframe, such as work schedules if you're changing employment, school schedules for your kids, housing considerations such as rent or lease terms, and even the weather. A good rule of thumb is to give yourself a two-to-three week window to complete your entire move, from packing and cleaning your current residence, to moving itself, to unpacking and organizing in your new home.

Summer is always a peak moving time—particularly for families, as it provides for minimal interruption in kids' school schedules—but it’s also typically the hottest and least physically comfortable time of year to be doing all that heavy lifting. While unpleasant, blistering heat is not likely to be a deal breaker, but it is worth taking into consideration (scheduling your move for late May as opposed to mid-July, for example, could make a significant difference).

Once you've worked out a timeframe for your move, it's time to take inventory of your home. The most important part of this process is identifying what to keep, and what to get rid of before the move—there is no sense in moving items you don't plan on keeping long-term. A good way to determine what to keep and what to lose is to divide your household into three categories: 'Must Keep,' 'May Keep,' and 'Don't Need.' Once you’ve gotten rid of the 'Don't Need' items, go back through the 'May Keep' piles and eliminate everything you can.

If you're having trouble knowing when to let go of something, apply the six-month test: If it hasn't been used in the past six-months, you don’t need it (the exception here, of course, would be season items like winter coats, box fans, etc., that aren't intended for use year-round). Tip: Don’t automatically throw things you no longer need away—there are plenty of charity organizations that are constantly accepting donations of all kinds to help others in the community, and they would be happy to have your unwanted items. Plus, you can write off the donations for a nice tax break next April.

Now that your household is organized and you've done a thorough inventory of everything that will be making the move with you, it's time to start thinking about the logistics of actually moving it all. The easiest way to do it (but also the most expensive) is to hire a full-service moving company (*Note: Be sure to shop around for the best rate, and check out customer reviews online to make sure you choose a reputable company that won’t rip you off). They’ll come to your house, pack everything up, ship it off for you, and unpack at your new home. The next option—a bit more time consuming and work-intensive on your part, but certainly less expensive—is to pack and unpack yourself, but hire movers for the heavy lifting and physical transportation part of the process. All you have to pay for is the time they spend physically moving your possessions.

A third option would be to rent a truck and pack, lift and move everything yourself. There are plenty of truck rental services designed just for these kinds of projects, and their rates are typically very reasonable (although rising gas prices may make this option slightly less appealing). Finally, if you're determined to spend as little as possible, get a group of kind-hearted friends—and their cars—together and make moving a group activity. You can typically get away with a small payment to each helper, or the cost of dinner for the group. This is certainly the most labor-intensive option, but it won't cost you much at all.

Once you've chosen the right moving method for you, get everything planned out and scheduled at least 4-6 weeks in advance. Also, it's a good idea to begin the organization and overall move-out process as early as possible, so as to avoid having to cram it all—packing, cleaning, moving—into a few days or a weekend. Hit your local grocery or wholesale store to pick up empty boxes for free and pack up seasonal items and other things you don't use on a daily basis early on—fancy china, extra bedding, etc. While prolonging the moving process isn't exactly fun, spacing the massive task out will significantly reduce your stress level and help you feel more relaxed, prepared and in control of the process.

No matter how well you prepare, moving is always at least somewhat stressful, so do what you can to reduce that stress ahead of time, breathe deeply, and remember: it will be over before you know it.

Ki provides information on Austin real estate for buyers and sellers investigating the Austin market. His site has a search of the Austin MLS and information on Austin area neighborhoods.

Austin Real Estate Market Steady

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:49:58 -0500

After a rather neutral start in 2008, the real estate market for residential homes in Austin has increased its inventory of homes for sale, according to statistics from the Austin MLS. This is happening despite a continuation of one of the highest metropolitan growth rates in the country and a strong and growing local economy.

According to different Austin real estate agents, bad economic news from other parts of the country are causing prospective buyers to hold off as they wait and see what the economy might do. Some of them may be hoping that prices will fall even more before they buy, even though buying prospects are strong right now. Current mortgage rates are the lowest they have been in 35 years. The last time rates were this low during a buyer’s market was in 1973.

This wait-and-see approach has caused a slight drop in prices in some areas, but most area properties are holding steady in value. The market is slow right now, but is not depressed like it is in some other areas of the country.

Statistics from the U.S. Census bureau and compiled by the Texas A&M Real Estate Center and published on July 3 this year in the Texas Real Estate Market Reports show that the population in the Austin/Round Rock metropolitan area has increased by about 43% since 1997. Almost 1,600,000 people now live in the area. The city of Austin expects this growth trend to continue as far ahead as 2020, according to the report.

Experts also expect an increase in jobs and a low unemployment rate to continue during the next ten years. Austin and the Texas Hill Country will continue to be one of the fastest growing areas of the nation and is expected to enjoy one of the healthiest economies as well.

Some experts have pointed out that the rise in real estate values in Austin has remained steady over the years. The area has not seen increases in property value of 200% to 2000% as has been seen in some areas of California and Florida, for example. This, coupled with an equally consistent growth in jobs and a high rate of population increase, has worked to protect real estate from attaining overly inflated values which make it vulnerable to bubble bursting in times of economic difficulty.

The Texas Real Estate Market Report shows that Austin/Round Rock led the state in population growth between 1997 and 2007. The area consistently ranks in national top 10 lists for growth. For example, from July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2007, Austin was the 5th fastest growing metropolitan area in the US, according to Census Bureau population estimates.

All these new people moving into the city and its outlying areas(more than 65,000 of them from 2006 to 2007) need a place to live. Many will buy homes. It is this kind of growth that is helping to keep Austin real estate values from falling as much as they are in other parts of the country.

However, ironically, it may be that Austin's tech recession in the early 2000's that is helping to bolster the market today. According to a report published by the demographics department of the city of Austin, "We never had a housing bubble here because of the lingering effects of the tech recession, and ironically it was the depth of our local recession that then gave us protection from the ruinous fallout from a bursting bubble in residential real estate that has dramatically altered the economic landscapes of Florida, California, Arizona, New England and the Midwest."

One thing seems certain; the Austin real estate market remains one of the surest and safest in any of the metropolitan areas in the country. That coupled with the nationally recognized quality of life that the city offers makes Austin one of the "sexiest" urban areas in the country.

Ki helps homes buyers and investors interested in Austin real estate. His site has market statistics on his Austin real estate blog along with a search of the Austin MLS.

Austin Area Festivals: Music and More

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:44:42 -0500

What do music, chili peppers, bamboo, wine, watermelon, ice cream and Eeyore the donkey from Winnie the Pooh have in common?

They all have festivals devoted to them in Austin or nearby towns. In fact, there are so many festivals of all kinds in the Austin area that it is difficult to keep track of them. The Austin American-Statesman apparently gave up trying to keep count back in 2004, judging by a recent visit to the festivals page on their current website a quick count there reveals there were more than 50 festivals in existence then, and the compilers of the list noted that those were just some of the festivals.

Other festivals have appeared since then. The first-ever Pachanga Latino Music Festival, for instance, was held on May 31st of this year. The second annual Ice Cream Festival will take place on August 9.

Of course, everyone knows about the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the South by Southwest Conferences and Festivals. Those events feature what Austin has become known for around the world; great live music. Tens of thousands of music lovers flock to these events to see the international, national and regional acts that they showcase. These events bring in huge amounts of money to the Austin economy. In fact, SXSW is Austin's highest money-making public event, as reported by Wikipedia.

There are many more music festivals in the Austin area as well. The Old Settler's Reunion in nearby Driftwood, Texas attracts some of the premier national bluegrass and Americana acts, as well as many of the best regional Texas music groups and songwriters. This festival happens every April and attracts thousands of music fans to the beautiful grounds at the Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch.

The Reggae Festival, also in April, and the Austin Celtic Festival in November are just two more of the events held in Austin that feature music as their main raison d'etre. Of course, many other festivals include music in their programs as well. Some of these include Viva Cinco de Mayo in late April/early May, the Austin Fine Arts Festival, at the beginning of April, and the Old Pecan Street Fall Arts Festival in late September.

This latter event began more than 30 years ago to provide family friendly, free admission venue to collect arts and crafts from local and national artists and artisans, experience live music, theater plays, comedy, magic, poetry, film, parades, and take part of a long standing Austin tradition. More than 300,000 people attend this event every year, and festival promoters estimate it generates more than $43 million for the local economy.

Another long-standing, grass-roots festival is Eeyore's Birthday Party which occurs every year in late April at Pease Park. According to Austin American-Statesman writer Anita Powell. The party has grown considerably since its inception in 1963 by a group of University of Texas students. The free-spirited celebration usually features Maypole dancing, costume contests, a hippie queen pageant, food, birthday cake and entertainment by local bands. This festival, perhaps more than any other, reflects the spirit that Austin is famous (or infamous) for and that inspired the unofficial slogan for the city: "keep Austin weird".

What about bamboo, wine, watermelon and chili peppers? The Bamboo Festival is presented at Zilker Botanical Gardens in late August every year and features "all things bamboo". There are at least two important wine festivals in the area: the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival in early April and the Austin Wine Festival in late May. The Chili Pepper Fiesta is held in the town of Elgin, just east of Austin, on the second Saturday in September. The Luling Watermelon Thump in June garners national attention every year with its watermelon seed spitting contest.

All these festivals reflect what the city of Austin has been about through most of its history. It fosters and encourages creativity, diversity, freedom of expression and the celebration of the hard work and enterprise of its citizens.

If you are looking for a home in the Austin real estate market Escapeso Realty can help. Their site provides information on mortgage rates along with a search of the Austin Texas MLS.

Outdoor Fun In Austin, Texas

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:40:31 -0500

Austin, Texas, is known for a lot of things. It's the Live Music Capital of the World, the home of the UT Longhorns, and the capitol seat of the Lone Star State. To those who live and play here full time, it's also widely regarded as one of the most active cities in the country. From hiking and biking to swimming, boating or just soaking up the hot Texas sunshine, Austin offers residents and visitors alike a seemingly endless array of options for fun in the sun. Here are just a few to get you started:

Lady Bird Lake
Formerly called Town Lake, this man-made lake in the heart of downtown Austin is a Mecca for the city's outdoor enthusiasts. The rowing dock rents canoes, paddle boats and kayaks out by the hour, and the temperate lake waters provide a welcome respite from the mid-day heat. If boating isn't your thing, check out the Hike and Bike Trail, which circles the lake in a three-to-four mile loop (depending on the route you choose). Day and night, all year long, you'll see Austinites of all ages and fitness levels working their way around the trail--pushing baby strollers, walking their dogs, or just catching up with friends.

Zilker Park
A stone's throw from Lady Bird Lake lies one of the nation's largest inner-city parks--at 351 acres, Zilker Park is Austin's grassy playground, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, and even a miniature train, the Zilker Zephyr. The park offers several cultural attractions as well, including the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, the Zilker Botanical Gardens, and the Austin Nature and Science Center not to mention the famous Austin City Limits music festival each September. What started as a 35-acre deed in 1918 has evolved into one of the true treasures of Austin. Regardless of the time of year, visitors to Zilker Park will likely see lively soccer, kickball and ultimate frisbee games, colorful kites flying, and drowsy folks napping under shade trees.

The Veloway
If cycling or skating is your activity of choice, The Veloway is one Austin attraction you won't want to miss. Off-limits to runners or cars, this 3.1 mile loop of paved, winding road through South Austin's hill country provides a safe haven for cyclists and skaters alike.

Barton Springs Pool
Austin boasts a wealth of lakes, rivers and swimming holes, but none is quite as beloved and well known as Barton Springs Pool. Surrounded by Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool is a spring-fed, 900-foot oasis in the hot summer sun. The chilly, 68 degree water is a cherished refuge from the 100-plus degree heat June through September, but the pool is open year-round. In addition to man-made aspects like diving boards, Barton Springs Pool is perhaps most famous for its natural rock bottom. While entrance to the pool costs about $3 per person during the day, you can swim for free after 9:00 p.m. highlight of many Austinites' summer evenings.

Everyone knows Austin is a great place to let loose after hours and dance the night away, but locals know the city offers residents and visitors alike just as many options for daytime diversions. No matter what kind of outdoor activity strikes your fancy, Austin truly offers something for everyone.

Ki is a realtor / broker in Austin Texas. His site has a search of of the Austin MLS along with information about Austin Homes and neighborhoods. He also provides updated statistics on his blog covering Austin Texas real estate.

French Legation Museum

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:07:38 -0500

802 San Marcos Street, Austin, TX 78702 // (512) 472-8180 The French Legation Museum provides a uniquely historic experience. Both a historic site and a house museum, the story behind the establishment of the museum is fascinating, and helps to illuminate a way of life experienced by the residents of old Austin – before Texas was a state. Visiting the house and grounds, with its carefully chosen artifacts, brings the story to life. With many cultural events, educational programs, and supplementary information on their web site, the museum preserves and perpetuates a unique piece of Austin’s colorful heritage. The French Legation is located in central Austin just south of French Place.

The word "legation" originally referred to a diplomatic representative office just below the status of embassy. Sent by the French Legation of Washington D.C. in 1840, Monsieur Jean Pierre Isidore Dubois de Saligny intended to establish the French Legation of the fledgling Republic of Texas. Renting quarters on Pecan (now Sixth) Street at the corner of Guadalupe, de Saligny was appalled with Austin’s lack of urban sophistication, evidenced most egregiously by the pigs a local farmer allowed to run free in his yard. He determined to build a home and office worthy of a French diplomat.

De Saligny found himself at odds with the locals, both culturally and politically, and he was soon recalled from his post, leaving his servants behind in the building he had designed. A short time later, when the seat of the government was moved from Austin, the building was abandoned. When Texas was annexed as a state, the structure and its surrounding grounds were sold, eventually being purchased by John and Lydia Lee Robertson, who raised their eleven children in the house. When the last of those children died, in 1940, the property was placed under the custodianship of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who have operated the site as the French Legation Museum since 1949.

Restoration of the property began in 1953, with an effort be faithful to the period in which it was built. Although only three pieces of furniture currently on view belonged to de Saligny, many pieces remain from the Robertson family's ownership of the home. Gardens and outdoor landscaping, although not authentic to the bare dirt yards of early Texas, provide a refreshing oasis of green in a busy city, and make this one of the premier locations for weddings and other formal functions.

The French Legation Museum is committed to education, providing guided tours in addition to having curriculum supplements for elementary and middle school teachers available on their web site. During the summer, the museum often hosts a history-based summer camp, allowing children to immerse themselves in 1880's Austin. They offer different cultural events as well, including a twice monthly tournament of the traditional French game petanque on the lawn, and evening concerts under their beautiful old oak trees. Their annual Bastille Day celebration features French music and food, and their association with the Alliance Française d'Austin helps perpetuate a unique piece of Central Texas heritage.

Ki looks with buyers interested in Austin Texas real estate. Buyers can search for homes online using a Austin Texas MLS search or read updates on the market on his blog covering Austin real estate.

Labor Day Weekend in Austin

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:54:52 -0500

Labor Day weekend in Austin this year promises every imaginable kind of activity, with something for everyone, young and old, in the works. Some choices for end of summer fun locally include Texas Longhorn events, the Austin Bat Fest, and a day of yoga, among other celebrations. If you’re a sports fan, the Texas Longhorns are playing a home game the Saturday before Labor Day, and the game will be held in Darrel K. Royal Memorial Stadium, as usual. The beginning of Longhorn football season in Austin is always a day filled with excitement and anticipation, and this year is no different from any other, so get out your burnt orange and white clothing and head to the U.T. campus for a day of competition and rivalry.

Another popular event is being organized for its fourth year this year, the 4th Annual Austin Bat Fest, which will be held on and around the Ann Richards Bridge Saturday and Sunday prior to Labor Day. This event promises various activities, musical performances, a diverse choice of food and drink, and many other family-oriented arts, crafts, educational displays, and other bat-related festivities. The estimated attendance for BatFest is about 40,000 spectators and participants, so come early to see and hear thirty different musical acts perform on two different stages and watch as over 1.5 million Mexican free tail bats soar over the clear waters of Lady Bird Lake and the Austin skyline. This event partially supports the bats and their colony under the downtown bridge and admittance is just $5.00, so come out and see what all is being offered at the 150 different booths which will be set up in the festival area, on the Congress Avenue Bridge, which was recently renamed to honor former Texas Governor Ann Richards. While there, you can sample the different cuisines or enjoy shopping among the numerous offerings of stained glass, pottery, art objects, photography, jewelry, fine art, and other eclectic goods being sold at the festival. The event will remain open until midnight Saturday night and ten p.m. Sunday night, so there will be plenty of time to shop and celebrate during this event.

Another sporting event being held over the Labor Day weekend in the Austin area is the 7th annual Labor Day Cup, which is a soccer tournament for children which serves as a kind of practice for the coming season, and this event is being sponsored by Nike this year and promises fun for all. The games are being played at fields throughout the Austin area and the tournament is being organized by the Lonestar Soccer Club. In addition to the soccer tournament, a tennis tournament is also being held over Labor Day weekend in the Austin area, and those interested in participating may sign up online for both the soccer tournament and the tennis tournament, which is affiliated with the U.S. Tennis Association.

A free day of Yoga is being held again this year on Labor Day too, as it has been since 1999, and this event is the perfect opportunity to learn the different styles of yoga as well as become familiar with different teachers and studios, at an inviting price: free! The classes are being held at studios across town, and some individual studios are offering food and drinks after the classes as well, and participants are invited to stay, relax and enjoy the day.

Many water-related parties are also on tap, and one of these events is the Splash Days event which celebrates the gay community and includes an “adult swim” party with D.J.s and a dance. Some of the related activities will be held at a downtown hotel and a schedule is available online for this event too.

There are many other smaller events being held, and many celebrations on and around Lake Travis as well as Lake Austin, with cookouts being planned in local parks and other facilities. However, it is important to remember that motorized water c rafts are prohibited on some area lakes during the holiday, and the waters of Lake Travis are very low this year, so boaters are being advised to use caution when boating in area lakes at this time. There are many other choices of activities in the Austin area, and since the Labor Day weekend marks the end of the lazy days of summer and a return to school for the kids, use your time wisely and enjoy the day relaxing, celebrating, and having fun, since you won’t get another chance until next year!

Ki is a real estate broker in Austin. His maintains a site focused on Austin real estate which provides a graphical search of the Austin MLS. In addition he provides market updates on his Austin real estate blog.

Southeast Austin - 78741

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:49:59 -0500

Charming pockets of single family homes are studded throughout this hidden gem of a neighborhood, and although certain parts of the area are given over to apartment complexes, duplexes and fourplexes, this is an overlooked area with enormous potential. Bounded by I35 to the west, Ben White to the south, Riverside to the north, and Montopolis to the east, this rising star offers a wide range of restaurants, a big park with loads of amenities, an ACC campus, and the promise of an area on the way up.

Both Burleson and Parker streets, two of the main north-south arteries between Oltorf and Ben White/Riverside, have many smaller streets branching off, and these streets hold mature trees, a wide array of single family homes, and a feeling of being in a secret oasis. Prices are still extremely reasonable here, and there is easy access to central Austin, as well as Ben White and I35. Following Oltorf east past Pleasant Valley, the homes are newer, with manicured lawns and a more suburban feel.

Both Oltorf and Riverside offer an abundance of restaurants, from Vietnamese at Hai Ky, Indonesian at Java Noodles, Middle Eastern at Jerusalem, Italian at Aljohn’s, or the many great Mexican places in the area, including La Tapatia, Taqueria Vallarta, El Regio, and many more. Rapidly becoming the cultural center of the area is Café Ventana, an expansive coffee shop with a wide range of offerings and a large area for relaxing, meeting, or working on your computer.

Mabel Davis District Park, recently reopened after major renovations, provides a wonderful outdoor sanctuary in this urban setting. Close to 50 acres, including 30 acres of open green space, provide room for sports, picnics, and other activities. The park also has a basketball court, an olympic-size swimming pool, a great playscape, and a good sized picnic area with shade. To the great delight of teen aged boys, the first skate park in Austin was opened here in 2005, featuring a skate bowl, streetscape elements and lawn for nervous parents to observe.

Also on the horizon is the Roy Guerrero Colorado River Park, in the northeast corner of the area. Work is schedule to begin on this undeveloped tract, and the master plan includes trails, a large playscape, and as much acreage as Zilker Park, providing lots of open space. Also located in the neighborhood are the Riverside Golf Course, and the Krieg Field Softball complex.

This area provides both an urban feel, with the shopping, restaurants and businesses located on Riverside and Oltorf, and an idyllic, quiet, residential feel, with winding streets and hills tucked away from the hustle and bustle. With businesses looking more and more to Southeast Austin for development opportunities, this area is on the verge of becoming one of the hot-spots in town.

Escapeso Austin real estate operates in Austin Texas. Their website has information for buyers interested in Austin about Austin homes and Austin neighborhoods.

Happy Hours in Austin

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:28:33 -0500

Austin is a great restaurant town, and one of the best ways to explore all the different possibilities is to take advantage of the many great happy hours. Some of the city's finest establishments offer drink specials, discounted appetizers, and a great atmosphere to sample their fare without committing to a meal. Here are some of the best happy hour deals out there:

Manuel's: With two locations, one downtown, and one in the Arboretum, Manuel's is famous for their high quality Tex-Mex in fun and festive atmosphere. Their half-price appetizers include some of the best ceviche in town, chicken mole, sautéed mushrooms, guacamole, and more. (310 Congress and 10201 Jollyville, Austin // HH 4-6 daily)

Eddie V's: Also with a downtown and an Arboretum location, Eddie V’s focus on fresh fish is evident, even in their happy hour specials. Oysters always shine here, whether on the half shell or broiled, and their crab cake is justifiably famous. Tuna tartare and lobster bisque are among the other happy hour items. (301 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 // HH 4:30 – 6)

McCormick & Schmick: Although this is a chain, their Austin outpost is a popular downtown destination, and their happy hour is legendary. Oyster shooters, steamed mussels and ceviche are offered at insanely low prices, and the ½ lb cheeseburger is one of the best deals around. Spinach and artichoke dip, chicken satay and hot wings are also available, although the menu changes periodically. (401 Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78701 // HH 5-7)

Kyoto: One of the better and more popular sushi deals in town, Kyoto’s happy hour is brief, but incredible. With 2-piece orders of salmon, shrimp, conch, eel, and escolar running less than $3.00, diners may overlook the other delights, including savory yakitori and dumplings. (315 Congress Ave Suite 200 Austin, TX 78701 // HH M-S 6-6:45)

Austin Land & Cattle: This venerable Austin institution has a unique and steak-centric happy hour. With half price appetizers, carnivores can indulge in the steak sampler – 2 oz tasting portions of their rib eye, sirloin, and filet mignon. They also offer an upscale take on frito pie, as well as some incredible popcorn shrimp. (1205 North Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas 78703 // HH M-F 5-7)

Uchi: Although you will most likely need a reservation, the early evening deals at Uchi are always fantastic, and at great prices. Mussels in lemongrass coconut milk broth are heaven, "tako pops" are tender little octopus grilled with a trio of seasonings, and they always feature one of their creative sushi rolls. Try a cold unfiltered sake, and enjoy. (801 South Lamar - Austin, Texas 78704 // HH 5-6:30)

Wink: The wine bar just adjacent to the main restaurant is a sophisticated yet warm room, with a friendly bartender and fantastic deals on appetizers. Wine flights are available, and one of the highlights of the bar menu is the trio of mini-burgers with either brie or foie gras. (1014 N Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78703 // HH M-F 5-7)

Escapeso real estate is a small company in Austin. Their site has a graphical search of the Austin MLS along with information on Austin real estate and Austin condos.

Mortgage Interest Rates Continue to Move Up

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:00:48 -0500

Mortgage Interest Rates
Widget

Mortgage Rate Trends

After rising drastically last week fixed mortgage interest rates moved up slightly this week. 30 Year notes moved from 6.42 to 6.45 and 15 Year notes moved from 6.02 to 6.04. ARMS on the other hand rose a decent amount. 5 Year Arms rose from 5.89 to 5.99 while 1 Year Arms rose from 5.19 to 5.27. Below are mortgage rates for the last few weeks.

June 26,2008
30-yr 6.45 15-yr 6.04 5-yr ARM 5.99 1-yr ARM 5.27

June 19,2008
30-yr 6.42 15-yr 6.02 5-yr ARM 5.89 1-yr ARM 5.19

June 12,2008
30-yr 6.32 15-yr 5.93 5-yr ARM 5.70 1-yr ARM 5.09

June 5,2008
30-yr 6.09 15-yr 5.65 5-yr ARM 5.51 1-yr ARM 5.06

May 29,2008
30-yr 6.08 15-yr 5.66 5-yr ARM 5.62 1-yr ARM 5.22

May 22,2008
30-yr 5.98 15-yr 5.55 5-yr ARM 5.61 1-yr ARM 5.24

Using our free mortgage calculator lets run the numbers on a 200k loan based on todays rates. We also put in what the mortgage would be a week and a month ago.

June 26th
30-yr $1257.56
15-yr $1692.03
5-yr ARM $1197.81
1-yr ARM $1106.88

June 19th
30-yr $1253.6
15-yr $1689.87
5-yr ARM $1184.99
1-yr ARM $1096.98

May 29th
30-yr $1209.4
15-yr $1651.19
5-yr ARM $1150.68
1-yr ARM $1100.69

So looking at the numbers above one would have saved almost $50 by getting a 30 Year loan a month ago compared to today. In contrast a mortgage on a 1 Year Arm has remained relatively constant. Why Banks would want to promote 1 Year Arms is anyones guess. Based on the other recent decisions by banks it would not be a bad assumption to assume banks have no idea what they are doing this point.

At this point getting a 5 Year Loan doesnt really seem worth it compared to getting a 30 Year loan since the cost savings is not that high (5%). On the other hand if you plan on keeping the property for a short period of time a 1 Year loan seems attractive considering the cost savings(12%).

Ki lives in Austin. His website has information on Austin real estate along with search of the Austin MLS and market stats on his Austin real estate blog.

Eeyore’s BirthdayParty

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:09:16 -0500

One of the most quintessentially "weird" Austin festivals, Eeyore’s Birthday party was first held in 1963, and hasn’t missed a year since. A costume party, festival, fund-raiser and all around good time, this annual event is marked by games and contests, and lots of drumming. Although a hippie-atmosphere prevails, families and lots of children always enjoy the maypole, face-painting, and other family-friendly activities. Usually held the last Saturday in April, before the heat of the summer sets in, this is one of the most pleasant and fun experiences, and for many it is a spring time tradition.

Named for the adorably depressive donkey in AA Milne's classic children's book Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore’s Birthday Party began as a celebration of spring for UT English students and faculty, who would set up a Maypole and borrow a live donkey – a tradition that persists to this day. Originally held in the tiny Eastwood Park close to the UT Campus, the celebration’s popularity soared early on, and in 1974 the party moved to Pease Park, where it continues to be held.

As the attendance swelled to the thousands, Austin's Friends of the Forest Foundation got involved, both to provide much needed food and drink concessions to the participants, and to utilize the proceeds to distribute among Austin charities. This humanitarian aspect of the festival, for which admission has always been free, differentiates it from the other commercial festivals, engendering a feeling of longevity and community. The foundation has raised as much as $15,000.00 in one festival, making grants to a diverse number of charitable organizations including the Green Corn Project, Groundworks Music Project, Hearts and Hooves, Hospice Austin, and the Mother's Milk Bank.

The party usually begins mid-morning, and lasts until the sun goes down, and a dedicated children’s area is manned until 4PM. One of the hallmarks of this event is the drum circle, an amorphous group of drummers that constantly expands and ebbs and splinters and regroups during the course of the day. Although costumes are not mandatory, many take the opportunity to don colorful and festive outfits, trimmed with feathers and sequins, with big hats and silly masks. Musicians are invited to bring their acoustic instruments, and groups, both established and spontaneous, entertain throughout the day.

Parking is scarce, so the Friends of the Forest Foundation organizes shuttle service from designated parking lots downtown. No bottles, cans or coolers are allowed, but visitors will find countless food and drink concessions, including Texas beer and BBQ turkey legs. Crafts, commemorative tee-shirts and other curios are also for sale in the kiosks. Eeyore’s Birthday Party is a celebration of spring, but also a celebration f Austin. The things that have made Austin unique – music, food, counter-culture, whimsy – these are the backbone of this long lasting event. This festival has been doing its part to keep Austin weird for over forty years, and will likely continue for 40 more.

Ki is a realtor in Austin Texas. His website has a search for Austin Homes along with general information on Austin real estate. His blog also has detailed statistics on the Austin Texas real estate market.

Hamilton Pool Preserve

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:42:09 -0500

One of the most beautiful and unique attractions Austin has is Hamilton Pool Preserve, located just a half an hour out of the city, in the gorgeous Hill Country. The historic swimming area and its surrounding grounds were designated a preserve by the Travis County Commissioner's Court in 1990, and this idyllic, untainted spot is like an oasis, offering an accessible get-away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With 232 acres of nature preserve, the emphasis is on preservation of natural habitats, and environmental education, but the crown jewel is the pool and grotto.

Formed from the collapse of an underground river thousands of years ago, and the natural erosion since, Hamilton pool is a classic swimming hole, with the added spectacle of a fifty-foot waterfall. Hamilton Creek causes the spill, over limestone outcroppings, to create the waterfall, streaming down to the pool. One of the nicest naturally occurring benefits of Hamilton pool is that it is covered by a half dome-shaped ledge below the falls, providing cool shade for a refreshing dip. The pool leads into a brook that eventually feeds into the Pedernales River. Although the waterfall can deplete in times of drought, the water level of the pool stays fairly constant, making this a year-round destination in the warm environs of Central Texas. Water quality is gauged, and swimming is permitted only when the water quality meets safety standards. Updated information is posted at the entrance booth and provided on the park's telephone recorder message (512-264-2740).

Nature lovers will appreciate the lush plant communities, the diversity of wildlife species, and the natural shelter that attracted the area's first inhabitants over 8,000 years ago. The hike from the parking lot to the pool is about .5-miles round-trip; the hike along the creek from the pool to the river is about .75 miles, or for those who don’t stop to swim, 1.25 miles round-trip from the parking lot. A great variety of birds can be viewed, including the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, and in addition to the juniper and oak savannah, and the variety of native grasses and wildflowers, several rare plant species including canyon mock-orange, red bay, and chatter box orchid have been spotted in the canyon areas along Hamilton Creek.

Because this is a preserve, care must be taken not to disturb the ecosystem unduly, and therefore, no pets are allowed. A maximum of 75 cars are admitted, and should the number of visitors exceed this amount, cars will be held at the gate, and as visitors leave, new ones will be admitted.

Although no camping is allowed, Hamilton Preserve is close enough to make a day trip easy, and offers enough to make return trips essential. Visitors are welcome to participate in nature study, picnicking and hiking their many trails, and groups can inquire about naturalist-led programs on environmental education and nature study.

Ki helps investors looking for properties in the Austin Texas real estate market. His site provides a free graphical search of the Austin MLS along with market updates on his blog about Austin real estate.

Austin Texas Book Festival

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:47:34 -0500

If music festivals such as South by Southwest and the Austin City Limits festival are testament to the city’s reputation as the Live Music Capitol of the World, the Texas Book Festival is proof positive that Austin is a hotbed of creativity in the literary world as well. Founded by Laura Bush in 1995, it has grown to become a nationally important event, featuring over two thousand authors, local, national and international, in twelve years of existence. Exciting, fun, musical and educational, this all-ages event is considered to be one of the premiere literary events in the country.

Located primarily in the State Capitol, the festival takes place every fall, drawing upwards of 40,000 spectators to delight in panels, concerts, demonstrations, and other activities in the House and Senate Chambers, as well as tents and stages erected on the sprawling green lawn of the Capitol grounds. Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and other high-profile politicos have given keynote addresses, and the late Governor Ann Richards was a regular as well. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jim Lehrer, and Roy Blount Jr., and other such notables have made appearances as well.

A variety of themes are represented at the festival, with panels dedicated to mysteries, biographies, photography, retrospectives, periodicals, journalism, and many other topics. A “Lifestyle” tent hosts discussions and activities including parenting, wineries, birding, and yard art.

In keeping with the interests and expectations of Austinites, the festival emphasizes a high level of entertainment and music, dedicating one tent to musical performances throughout the festival, and hosting events at satellite locations including the legendary Continental Club. A concert featuring Austin’s finest musicians is held on the Capitol steps. Musician authors such as Joe Ely read from their works, as do those who write books about musicians, including Kathleen Hudson and Joe Nick Patoski.

Other aspects of the entertainment world are well-represented also. Actors including Eli Wallach and Marlee Matlin have appeared there, and Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi offered live cooking demos for exotic recipes. Food and cooking are also highlighted, with an entire tent equipped with cooking supplies and dedicated to cookbooks and examinations of food culture.

The Texas Book Festival has raised over two million dollars for Texas Public Libraries, and their commitment to children is clear. With one tent dedicated to children’s authors, one to children’s entertainment, and one to activities for the little ones, this festival is a perfect way to combine books and literacy with a fun and exciting event. Storytimes abound throughout the festival, and activities can include hula dance, puppet shows, drawing, and sing-alongs. When children’s authors are in town for the festival, they often take part in “Reading Rock Stars,” an affiliated program that brings them to public schools to read their works.

A truly Austin event in spirit, the Texas Book Festival is a lively, creative and exciting way to explore the literary world both on a local and national level.

Ki is a realtor and a blogger in Austin Texas. He runs his Austin real estate blog writing about market trends in Austin. His site features information about mortgage interest rates and general information about Austin real estate.

Zilker Park in Austin Texas

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:41:42 -0500

Austin is home to one of the best metropolitan parks in the state. With sand volleyball courts, a nine-hole disc golf course, soccer and rugby fields, and two enormous multi-use fields for the sports enthusiasts, Zilker Park is also home to Barton Springs pool, the Zilker Zephyr train, botanical gardens, a huge play ground, miles of hike and bike trails, and with many other permanent amenities within its 350-plus acres. A regular destination for Austinites, the park is also home to some of the city’s most popular events, including the Trail of Lights, the Austin Kite Festival, and the Austin City Limits music festival.

Over three acres large, Barton Springs is Austin’s favorite swimming hole. Fed from underground springs, the pool maintains an average water temperature of 68 degrees year round – most find it bracing, and a welcome respite from the summer heat. With a separate area that welcomes dogs in addition to human swimmers, Barton Springs has drawn a diverse crowd of swimmers for more than a century. Zilker Park is located close to downtown in the historic Barton Hills Neighborhood. Barton hills homes were built in the 1940s and the neighborhood offer a quaint charm of tree lined streets surrounding the park.

Zilker Park’s playground is enormous, with plenty of action for toddler and bigger kids as well. Slides, swings, climbing structures and even an old-fashioned fire truck entice the kiddos, while benches and picnic tables are available for the less active. Adjacent to the playground is a snack bar, featuring cold drinks and a limited menu. Just across from the snack bar is the train depot for the Zilker Zephyr, a miniature train that takes visitors on about a 20 minute tour around the park. Alongside the creek, under a bridge, and past people waving hello, the train delights kids of all ages.

With eighteen acres of grounds to explore, the Zilker Botanical Garden is a beautiful and serene destination. Among its many horticultural attractions are a Japanese garden, xeriscape demonstration garden, rose garden, cactus garden, bedding displays, floral display garden, butterfly trail and garden, and an herb & fragrance garden. The dinosaur statue located in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden is always a hit with kids, and the interpretive center holds a wealth of information.

The Zilker Hillside Theatre is perfected situated to allow the audience to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and picnic while enjoying the different performances. Home to the annual Blues on the Green series, the theater also puts on concerts in many different genres of music in addition to hosting Austin’s Shakespeare in the Park.

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is another tranquil cultural offering in Zilker Park, focused primarily on the work of American sculptor Charles Umlauf. With over 130 sculptures, drawings & paintings located throughout its lush green grounds, they offer educational programs and tours in addition to their regular hours for public visits.

The Austin Nature and Science Center can also be found in Zilker Park, and is a fascinating and educational destination. With an interpretive center, education programs and summer camps, kids of all ages will delight in viewing their rescued animal exhibit, and can practice being junior archeologists in the dinosaur pit.

Ki lives and works in Austin Texas. His site provides information on Austin real estate with descriptions of Austin neighborhoods and a search of the Austin MLS.

South By Southwest

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:51:08 -0500

Every year, Austin is descended upon by thousands of music, film, and web industry professionals, artists, and fans, all attending the annual South by Southwest Festival. Although it started as a local music festival, as it now enters its third decade, SXSW has become one of the premier industry conferences, and has gained a reputation for launching the careers of the artists involved.

SXSW is comprised of three components – music, film and interactive, but this being Austin, the music events are among the most popular, and it has become one of the most famous music festivals in the world. Dozens of local clubs are enlisted to become dedicated SXSW venues, and local residents can participate by volunteering for tours of duty at the different venues, or at the conference. Besides the talent and the local volunteers, the attendees at the music event number over 12,000 registrants. With this many people visiting downtown Austin, SXSW always heralds an exciting, vibrant time for our fair city, and locals often find themselves dining alongside people from New York, London, Tokyo and Australia – all at once.

Over the last two decades, the number of musical acts featured at the festival has grown to over 1,400, all playing during the four days of the music festival. Although impossible to see even a fraction of the offerings, many of shows are grouped with themes, featuring acts from a country such as Norway, or Japan, or featuring acts that share a label or genre. Headline acts including Morrissey, Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop, and Amy Winehouse are featured alongside up-and-comers including UGK, Blonde Redhead and The Gossip. Local acts must pass muster, but SXSW stays true to its roots by featuring a great number of the best Austin has to offer.

Austin’s burgeoning film industry gets its fair share of attention at the film festival, which features panels, screenings and discussions. Focusing on independent offerings including documentaries, animation, fictional drama and comedy, the film festival hosts many world premieres. The interactive festival shows Austin at its cutting edge finest, featuring top new media and technology entrepreneurs alongside visionary artists, designers and digital creators.

One aspect of the week is the number of free, renegade concerts that take place. No need for a wristband, and often advertised only in fanzines and through word-of-mouth, many of the artists participate in these under-the-radar shows to give back to the community that helped launch them. After all, Austin is the live music capital of the world all year round, not just for SXSW!

Whether you are a local, visitor, musician, auteur or fan, SXSW week is always an exciting one in Austin. Restaurants are jumping, stores are hopping, and music can be heard throughout the city.

Ki helps people looking for Austin real estate and land. His site allows users to search the Austin MLS and provides information on current mortgage interest rates.

Mortgage Interest Rates: Up Up And Away

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:13:45 -0500

Mortgage Interest Rates

Mortgage Rate Trends

Up up and away. Mortgage interest rates continue on their upward trajectory. 30 Year mortgage rates went from 6.32 to 6.42. 15 year notes rose from 5.93 to 6.02 and 5 year arms rose almost 20 basis point going from 5.7 to 5.89. 1 Year arms rose this week from 5.09 to 5.19. But unlike the other mortgage products (which are higher) 1 Year Arms remain about where they were a month ago. As we have talked about for the last several months since the FED is no longer cutting rates we can expected rates to rise throughout the summer. The only question is when they will stop rising and start stabilizing. Below is the rates for the last month.

June 19,2008
30-yr 6.42 15-yr 6.02 5-yr ARM 5.89 1-yr ARM 5.19

June 12,2008
30-yr 6.32 15-yr 5.93 5-yr ARM 5.70 1-yr ARM 5.09

June 5,2008
30-yr 6.09 15-yr 5.65 5-yr ARM 5.51 1-yr ARM 5.06

May 29,2008
30-yr 6.08 15-yr 5.66 5-yr ARM 5.62 1-yr ARM 5.22

May 22,2008
30-yr 5.98 15-yr 5.55 5-yr ARM 5.61 1-yr ARM 5.24

May 15, 2008
30-yr 6.01 15-yr 5.60 5-yr ARM 5.57 1-yr ARM 5.18

Breaking out our free mortgage calculator lets see how the increasing rates have changed the payment on a 200k loan.

June 19th
30-yr $1253.63
15-yr $1689.87
5-yr ARM $1184.99
1-yr ARM $1096.98

May 15th
30-yr $1196.53
15-yr $1639.47
5-yr ARM $1149.41
1-yr ARM $1103.16

Mortgage payments on most of the mortgage products went up quite a bit over the last month. Looking at a 30 year note the mortgage on a 200k loan has increased $57.10 or about 4.8 percent in a little over a month. In fact the only mortgage product to fall is the 1 Year Arm ($6.18 or about 0.5 percent). Why banks would want to push ARM which is the very loan product that caused all the problems in the first place is anyones guess. Although I typically avoid ARMs the cost savings on a 1 or 5 Year ARM is hard to ignore. That said I would only look at ARMs if you think their is a reasonable chance you will sell your property in that time frame. The general expectation is that rates should be higher and not lower in a few years.

So the question remains where are rates going to be in the next month. While I was fairly confident that rates would rise this month I am not as sure what will happen in a month. If the FED continues to avoid anymore rate cuts I would expect to see mortgage rates at about the same level or higher. Banks have been dealing with massive losses from foolish bets on subprime loans and are looking to make up for these losses through higher mortgage rates.

Another change occuring with loans is a limit on the number of investment properties an individual can recieve a loan on. It looks like most banks are limiting the number of investment property loans per individual to 4. This should obviously have a negative effect on investment properties. I also expect to see more cash offers from investors looking to pick up properties at currently depressed prices.

Personally I think this rule is a little bit foolish. I would make more sense to limit loans based on some networth to total loan amount ratio. For instance if someone has 2 million in the bank it seems reasonable to allow them to buy 5 duplexes for 180k. But if the banks were well run they probably would not be swimming in subprime debt right now.

Ki is real estate agent in Austin Texas. He runs a website covering the ins and out of Austin real estate along with providing a free search of the Austin MLS and market information on his Austin Real Estate Blog.

Restaurants In Austin With Live Music

Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate (Escapeso Austin Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:36:27 -0500

Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. One of the best parts about having that distinction is that even if you aren’t necessarily into the club scene, you can still hear live music at restaurants throughout the city. Whether you feel like hearing Cajun, blues, country, Latin or rock, you can almost always find a great meal enhanced by a great band playing.

Threadgill’s is legendary not only for their chicken fried steak and cheese grits, but for also being the place that gave Janis Joplin her start. With a newly refurbished north location, and their World Headquarters just south of the river, Threadgill’s features the best in bluegrass, country, and soul music, as well as hosting a delicious and rejuvenating Gospel Brunch. Steaks, seafood po-boys, and the best vegetable side-dish selection in town, this is the quintessential Austin food and music spot. 301 West Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas 78704 // 6416 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78752

Artz’ Rib House is another gem of a music/food venue in Austin. As their name suggests, their specialty is smoked ribs, with country style pork, baby backs, or big beef ribs to choose from. They also make one of the better burgers in town, offer the Texas BBQ staples of brisket and sausage, and even have an inventive vegetable kabob on the menu. Their musical offerings are just as tasty, with an emphasis on western swing and a monthly Old Time Fiddlers Jam. Artz is located in the barton hills neighborhood at 2330 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704

Quality Seafood is both a seafood market and a restaurant, serving some of the finest and freshest fish in town. Three days a week they feature music along with food and drink specials. Mondays they usually feature a hot jazz combo, and offer a great deal on succulent king crab legs, and on Wednesdays a folky blues duo entertains while the crowd feasts on peel and eat shrimp. A DJ holds forth on Thursdays, sometimes with live instrumental accompaniment, and the special rotates – recent Thursday food specials include spicy Texas crawfish and soft shell crab po-boys. 5621 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78751.

Las Palomas serves some of the finest Mexican food in the city, and features one of Austin’s best kept musical secrets. When they aren’t on tour with a major Texas country star, you can find the cream of Austin’s crop of pickers joining a gypsy jazz violinist for some jaw-dropping jazz every Wednesday night. Famed for their enchiladas “Tres Marias,” Las Palomas also offers ceviche, chicken mole, and other specialties. 3201 Bee Caves Road, Austin, TX 78746.

Having survived the ups and downs of Austin’s East Side, the Victory Grill is truly a piece of Austin history, but is just as vibrant today. Built in 1945, the club has hosted acts including B.B King, Ike and Tina Turner, and Billie Holiday, and today features Austin’s finest blues acts. With a rotating menu of down home cooking, the Victory Grill is a slice of Old Austin.

Ki works in Austin Texas with clients interested in Austin real estate. He keeps people up to date on his Austin real estate blog and has a free search of the Austin Texas MLS.