Archive for November, 2008
Austin Texas Holiday Events
November 21st, 2008 Categories: Austin Area News
Holiday Events - Austin Area
Jr. League - A Christmas Affair
November 19th-23rd / Palmer Events Center
Tickets are $10.00 in Advance and $12 at the door.
The Junior League of Austin kicks off the holiday season with the 33nd year of its premier fundraising event, A Christmas Affair. We welcome you to join us as we celebrate The Gift of The Magi, with over 200 merchants from across the country, four days of holiday shopping and nine parties and special events for the whole family. www.jlaustin.org
Chuy’s Children Giving to Children Parade
November 29th - 11am in Downtown Austin
Chuy’s Children Giving to Children Parade collects toys on behalf of Operation Blue Santa.Started modestly in 1989, the parade is now an Austin tradition complete with floats, marching bands, giant balloons, live music, and of course Santa Claus. Simply find a spot along the parade route, watch the fun, and have your unwrapped new or gently used toy in hand. At the designated time the parade will stop so that children can carry the toys up to one of the toy collection units in the parade. www.chuysparade.com
Trail of Lights Zilker Park
December 15th-23rd
Originally known as Yule Fest, this annual event began in 1965 as a holiday gift from the Parks & Recreation Department to the citizens of Austin. The festival includes a spectacular mile-long display of 38 lighted scenes, the age-old Yule log and an entertainment stage. www.ci.austin.tx.us/tol
MADD Jingle Bell 5K - December 14th
Kids’ K starts at 9:00am, 5K starts at 9:15am
2008 marks the 23rd year for the Jingle Bell 5K, which traditionally was hosted in Downtown Austin. This year, we are excited to move this unique and growing event to a scenic, fun and original location, featuring a great route and even more festivities than before! Welcome to the Domain! www.maddjinglebell5k.com
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
December 12th-24th • 11am-11pm / Austin Convention Center
The 33rd annual Armadillo Christmas Bazaar remains the same truly Austin honky-tonk bar shopping experience that has made the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar one of the region’s most beloved holiday traditions. There are 27 musical performances already booked on the Capital Metro Music Stage with more to come, a bar, food, over 130 local and regional fine artists & craftspeople. So come join us for a unique Austin tradition and show your support for the local artists and musicians who keep Austin cool. www.armadillobazaar.com
Luminations: A Winter Celebration
December 13th - 14th, - 6 to 9 p.m.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center- Admission free with two canned food items.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center invites the community to enjoy our lighted gardens and celebrate our anniversary. Enjoy luminarias, music, refreshments and fun for the whole family. During the Luminations winter celebration, the gardens are ablaze with lights from more than 3,000 luminarias, 5,000 twinkle lights and hammered copper torches. www.wildflower.org/luminations
Austin Symphony’s Christmas Sing-Along
December 16th, - 8:00 p.m
This is a free event, however, tickets are required for entry. Tickets become available Monday, December 1, 2008. A holiday tradition for more than two decades, families gather to get into the spirit of the season by joyfully singing along with the Austin Symphony and chorus. It’s a free evening of fun for everyone in the family. www.austinsymphony.org
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Mr. Move Up’s Energy Saving Tips!
November 17th, 2008 Categories: Austin Real Estate News
Hello Readers,
Colder weather is coming, and you can warm up your homes with some easy, but sometimes less-obvious fixes. Just following these simple tips can save you on your energy bills!
Share the following tips with friends and family:
- Add or change the weather stripping on your front door and any other doors to the outside of your home
- Add fireproof electrical insulation around your switch plates
- Add insulation around your window trim
- Add insulation around or weather stripping to your attic trap door(s)
- Insulate or add weather stripping around any bathroom fans vented to your attic
- Insulate your garage and attic
- Keep your fireplace damper closed when not in use
- Insulate the perimeter of your basement (the rim joists)
- Seal ducts and insulate any spots where pipes intersect with the floor or ceiling
- Insulate your basement / attic
You can also complete an online energy audit for your own home at the Government’s ENERGY STAR site by following the link below. All you need is a few minutes and 12 months worth of energy bills.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=home_energy_yardstick.showStep2
Most of these fixes are quick, easy and inexpensive, but can save you hundreds of dollars on energy costs annually, plus give you something to talk about with the neighbors on those long winter nights.
This blog was brought to you by Mr. Move Up
Jeremy K. Frost REALTOR & Real Estate Blogster
512-636-2746 or Jeremy@AustinHomeAndLand.com for all your Real Estate needs!!!
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Texas Leads the Nation…..
November 5th, 2008 Categories: Austin Real Estate News
Eldon Rude of Austin MetroStudy gave his third quarter report, “Housing Update and Economic Outlook,” last week, and I’d though I’d share some notes.In general, we have some ongoing challenges in our local market, but there are several factors that set us apart from more troubled parts of the country. Texas continues to be number one in job growth, with Austin high on all national lists for jobs, property appreciation and low inventory of homes for sale.
- Nationally, consumer confidence is at its lowest mark in many years, and we’re losing jobs. Keep this in mind when processing the national news headlines!
- Locally, Texas leads the nation in job growth, with 4 Texas metro markets in the top 10 for job creation, including Austin at #6 and San Antonio at #7. Read the rest of this entry »
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Dripping Springs High School State Rating Rises!
November 4th, 2008 Categories: Dripping Springs School News
Dripping Springs High School
College experience open house planned.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
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TEXAS A&M REAL ESTATE MARKET OUTLOOK FOR CENTRAL TEXAS
November 3rd, 2008 Categories: Austin Real Estate News, Tx Real Estate News
Dr. Mark Dotzour of the Texas A&M Real Estate Center gave a Market Outlook presentation yesterday at Realty Roundup. In general, Dr. Dotzour has some serious concerns about the government’s proposed solutions to economic woes, but does think the Central Texas economy is holding steady, particularly with respect to jobs, property values and population growth. Below are a few specifics.
Dr. Mark Dotzour
ABOR Realty Roundup
Oct. 22nd, 2008
- Dr. Dotzour began with an indictment of local news media, and a recent headline in Austin that projected a decline in real estate values. Dotzour said that the “evidence” is merely speculation on the part of two analysts, and that the headline should have read “Two guys speculate that home prices could possibly drop sometime in the future.” He cited Austin MLS statistics that show that prices have historically remained on a slow and steady increase for people willing to hold onto property at least 3-5 years, and concluded that anyone who tells a buyer with the desire and means to purchase property to wait is doing them a great disservice.
- Regarding inventory of homes for sales in Austin, Dotzour said we’re holding at 6-6.5 months, which he said is the point where we consider a market “balanced” between the interests of buyer and seller. According to Dotzour, there is no time in the last 18 years when home values did not rise overall in Austin.
- He said there will continue to be a lot of homes sold in Texas, where we still have positive job growth, and a population that is expected to grow 13-million by the year 2030. Read the rest of this entry »
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