russell lewis: Amy's Ice Cream-Sweet Temptation: Taste an Austin, Texas Original
- 10/09/08 12:56 PM
Amy's Ice Cream-Sweet Temptation: Taste an Austin, Texas Original I love ice cream; in fact I would say it is my favorite food in the world. If ice cream had been available in the Old Testament it would have easily replaced the apple as Eve's temptation. History reveals many stories and myths surrounding the tasty treat dating back to Roman times. My favorite tale revolves around a King who wanted a dessert that had both the elements of summer and winter in the same dish. And some intrepid soul invented the hot fudge sundae. (My current personal favorite!) Austin, Texas is … (71 comments)
russell lewis: Waiting for the other shoe to drop… The paralysis of FEAR
- 10/04/08 05:35 AM
Well now, Congress finally managed to pass a bail-out..."Recovery Bill" at a cost $700 BILLION. But nothing has fundamentally changed. People from all walks of life are worried because everyone wonders what is going to happen next. Unemployment numbers skyrocketed this past week and worldwide economic indicators are falling. But that's just part of it. It seems like every time you turn on the T.V. there's more and more bad news. The level of worry and stress is going up everywhere while the overall mood of people keeps dropping. Who can blame anyone? The same culture of corruption that has increasingly … (73 comments)
russell lewis: Architecture at the Umlauf - Lecture Series - October 1st
- 09/29/08 03:01 PM
The next installment of the Architecture at the Umlauf Series is this week. This monthly series was founded by two of my associates at AvenueOne properties; Scott Harvey and Carla Umlauf (grand daughter of the esteemed sculptor) and is sponsored by our firm, AvenueOne Properties. The lectures take place at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and the series is now in it's second season. There is a minimal charge of $5.00 for the event but is free to museum members. The next lecture falls on First WEDNESDAY this month and is specially catered by the hot new restaurant Mulberry (interior architecture by Michael Hsu).
And don't forget the AIA Austin Homes … (8 comments)
russell lewis: Two Words...that could save your life!
- 09/26/08 06:16 PM
I'm sitting in traffic about a quarter of a mile from the stop light at one of the busier intersections in Austin, Texas. Behind me cars stretch as far as I can see. I begin to feel the tension in my shoulders as my frustration starts to build. I am just about to shout (at no one in particular just out loud,) when I notice movement in the car next to me. I look closer and see a man pounding on his steering wheel and shouting. Next to him I see his companion. Her chin in her hand staring out … (82 comments)
russell lewis: 1 in 10,859 - Standing Out in a Crowd of Agents
- 09/17/08 06:46 PM
While recently updating my E-key, I noticed that the roster function deleted 78 members and then added 84 members for a net gain of six. Looking at the roster total I saw that there were 10,859 agents currently registered with the MLS system in the greater Austin, Texas area. Now, that is a huge number of real estate agents in my part of the world. Out of curiosity I learned that in the last year approximately 12 percent of the agents had sold around 90 percent of the real estate. Further investigation showed that 70 percent of the new agents entering … (115 comments)
August 24th was the 18th annual celebration of The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Contest here in Austin, Texas. The event featured many vendors who promoted their sauces along with individuals vying for glory in the hot sauce world. The organizers raise money and collect food for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. Attendance is free, but patrons are asked to bring non- perishable donations for the bank. It is supposedly the largest Contest and Festival of its kind and I have entered in fourteen of the contests since the beginning eighteen years ago! I arrived early with three entries, one for each … (71 comments)
russell lewis: Art Meets Commerce - Musical instruments from car parts?
- 08/31/08 03:33 AM
Something Very Different! I just watched the most fascinating new clip on CBS Sunday Morning. Ford Motor Company commissioned an artist and musician to build instruments from the parts of two of the companies Ford Focus models. Not only that but they also assembled a group of musicians to perform a piece especially written for the instruments to be used in an ad for the company. Click heref or an interview with Bill Milbrodt, the creator of ‘The Car Music Project'band who led the large team of incredibly talented people that included all of the Car Music Project band members. … (16 comments)
This! it's a long version and really takes off at 2:25, enjoy! or this... and one of my life long favorites
Don't let my taste for this type of music fool you, I am not about any particular style or type of music (My ipod is the most confusing shuffle you will ever hear) and it is the same with the rest of MeMe too... I am - a serious person who does not take a whole lot of things too seriously. I think - thousands of different thoughts every day and sometimes … (48 comments)
russell lewis: Barton Springs Eternal!
- 08/25/08 05:03 AM
It is 102 degrees, the middle of August in Austin, Texas and IT IS HOT! I feel the sweat dripping down the small of my back as I step across the concrete to the edge of the pool. Looking back, I see my friend kicking off his sandals and realize he does not suspect anything unusual. I look out over the clear; inviting, incredibly beautiful water and pause...hesitating because I know what is coming. I turn and quickly push off before I lose my nerve, diving into the water. The crashing sound of the water and bubbles fills my ears as … (70 comments)
russell lewis: The sign said "OPEN HOUSE" but I felt like I was entering a Used Car Lot!
- 08/23/08 04:16 AM
Hello...hello??? Are you open today? I walk out from the kitchen to see the woman cautiously peering through the door and say "Sure...Come on in! There IS an Open House sign out front and several more planted at various nearby intersections so it should be obvious. The woman opens the door further and steps in followed by a man who quickly darts into an adjacent room before I can begin to introduce myself and start some kind of conversation. This was how it used to be! What changed everything was the day a close friend repeated the title of this post "The sign said … (120 comments)
russell lewis: Competing with Commission Cutters and Discount Brokers -Any other ideas?
- 08/02/08 12:15 AM
Sale! Sale! Sale Everyone deals with this question on a fairly regular basis. "Will you reduce your commission? I do not like people getting into my back pocket but it is a reality and of course everything is negotiable. Here are some questions I ask of potential sellers. •1) Would reduce your salary for the job you perform? This is what you are asking a Realtor to do and they also have to pay for all of their expenses, taxes and give a portion their commission to their broker. •2) Selling your home is not just putting a sign in … (84 comments)
russell lewis: America Sorts its Mail over the Trash Can!
- 07/30/08 05:08 PM
I do not know where I first heard that statement but caught myself doing it ten years ago (and I still do...don't you?). It was at that point that I wondered if my direct mail was ever seen before it went into the trash. I decided years ago that I would not send any more mail to my clients in envelopes. I set began sending monthly marketing cards and yes I still do. Even with all the wonderful ways of communicating through the internet and all of the new technology, it still works for me. I keep it simple and usually … (43 comments)
russell lewis: Four Texas Cities listed in Forbes Magazine-Best Cities to Buy a Home!
- 07/25/08 11:57 AM
I have recently been posting positive news about Austin in my Blog and in order to deflect comments from skeptics who often claim that realtors are just being "mindlessly positive" because it is our "bread and butter" I offer the newest data from a Forbes Magazine article as confirmation that, in spite of the current economic downturn things are still relatively good here in Texas. A great new article has announced that four of the top ten cities in America to buy a home are located in Texas. Stating that there is "Lots to Like In the Lone-Star State" the magazine noted … (14 comments)
•1. Start by doing a few hours of research on line and with friends who live in your area. Ask around... get to know who has the most signs, ads and marketing material in your neighborhood. Compile a list of agent names and use these questions to help you determine which agent is right for you. •2. Who are the most active agents? Not … (20 comments)
russell lewis: Has Texas managed to dodge the bullet (and avoid most of the current economic downturn)? Part II
- 07/21/08 07:29 AM
To follow up on my most recent post I came across some interesting information from the Texas State Comptrollers Office. Susan Combs has been quoted at several functions across the state. She has cited economic growth 60% above the national average and the creation of more than a quarter-million jobs statewide between April 2007 and 2008. Comptroller Combs has forecasted a 3.2% growth in the GSP for FY 2008 versus the national projection of just 2% economic growth, due in large part to the state's ability to avoid the widespread sub-prime mortgage crisis and housing crunch. She has also noted that "Our state does not have grossly overpriced … (3 comments)
russell lewis: Has Texas managed to dodge the bullet (and avoid most of the current economic downturn)?
- 07/21/08 07:14 AM
I wanted to continue my posts about how well Austin and Texas is doing and recently came across the following comment posted by a buyer: "Of course all the realtors are optimistic about buying in Austin, it is their job and their bread and butter." It is a shame that much of the general public has such a low opinion of our industry but that is just how it is these days. I offer the following information as reassurance that the current state of affairs in Texas is not just some realtor "pie in the sky" optimism. In reviewing 2007 and … (9 comments)
russell lewis: What's so Great about Austin and Texas at Large? Part 2
- 07/19/08 08:46 AM
In my last post I talked about the real estate market in Austin and Texas. We apparently have managed to dodge a bullet as far as suffering the same catastrophic losses and mortgage meltdown that has enveloped many parts of the country. Again, I am not adopting some sort of "Pollyanna" attitude but laid out convincing facts and figures supporting the idea that we still have a healthy and actually growing economy. Yes we are feeling the effects of problems in the rest of the country but have managed to avoid the extremity of the troubles. Market aside, we have some … (2 comments)
russell lewis: What's so Great About Austin and Texas at Large?
- 07/18/08 06:08 AM
As a fifth generation native Texan I know the old adage "you can always tell a Texan, you just cannot tell him anything..." I do think the Texas market has escaped suffering many of the dilemmas currently taking place in other parts of the country. I am cautiously confident that we will continue to prosper and grow in spite of the current economic downturn and problems throughout the real estate industry and other parts of the business environment. I do not want to sound overly optimistic or unrealistic but there are several factors that lead to the conclusion. •1) Texas went … (6 comments)
Amy's Ice Cream-Sweet Temptation: Taste an Austin, Texas Original
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