Archive for April, 2009
2009 Tax Credit - First Time Home Buyer
April 27th, 2009 Categories: Dripping Springs Real Estate News
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This Month in Real Estate - April 2009
April 23rd, 2009 Categories: Tx Real Estate News
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Top 5 Tips To Green Your Home For Earth Week!
April 23rd, 2009 Categories: Austin Area News
Hello Readers,
In honor of Earth Day this week I wanted to share some top energy saving tips that can “Green” your home without breaking the bank!
1) The first step to making your home more eco-friendly or green comes down to taking advantage of your local environment (i.e. avoid cooling when it’s hot outside, use natural/local products).
2)The best eco-friendly changes balance short-term cost with long-term gains. Our experts preferred improvements with clear benefits to home value and low-to-medium cost – such as ways to reduce your heating bills.
3) Green improvements don’t have to cost an arm and a leg – from radiant floor heat to simply adding foam insulation – providing evidence that home owners can make green improvements at nearly any price range.
And of course, what would a “Greening Your Home” blog post be without great examples, from double-paned windows to radiant floor heat.
Here are some favorites - from economical, do-it-yourself upgrades to fancier improvements for the more cost-indifferent.
Fav #1: Energy Star certified appliances - Earth Advantage certified home
Fav #2: Window&door efficiency - Double-paned windows, digital thermostats
Fav #3: Water efficient fixtures- Tankless water heater, whole house filtration system
Fav #4: Better heating/cooling systems - Radiant heat floors
Fav #5: Insulation - Spray foam insulation, in-floor heating
For all your “Green” Real Estate needs contact Jeremy K. Frost 512-636-2746 or Jeremy@AustinHomeAndLand.com
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Things are looking good in Central texas…
April 17th, 2009 Categories: Austin Real Estate News
Central Texas Economy In Perspective
by Beverly Kerr, Chamber Vice President of Research
On a year-over-year basis, Texas job growth went negative (73,000 jobs or 0.7%) for the first time in the current recession with February’s numbers. The 11 Texas metros still seeing growth added a total of 11,800 jobs, however 12 Texas metros lost a total of 51,000 jobs. Austin was the only large Texas metro adding jobs (1,300 or 0.2%). The top three performers for both net new jobs and rate of growth were Odessa (2,200 or 3.5%), Midland (2,300 or 3.4%) and Killeen (2,500 or 2.0%). The metro loosing the greatest number of jobs in Texas was Dallas with 29,000 (-1.2%).
While the new February numbers for Texas provide further evidence that Texas is in recession (the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas declared Texas in recession with an article in Southwest Economy last month), Texas metros remain high performing relative to those in most of the rest of the country. In fact, job growth is negative in all 50 of the nation’s largest metros, except Austin!
The rates of job loss in San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth, and Dallas are still moderate enough for them to remain among the nation’s top 10 performing metros.
Creating the same kind of ranking on the 100 largest metros yields only six metros adding jobs between February 2008 and February 2009. In this ranking, Austin’s growth would be outpaced by Oklahoma City, Baton Rouge, Wichita, and Bethesda, with New Orleans following Austin as the only other metro with net job growth.
Our other ranking we customarily do when the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes its monthly press release of metropolitan area numbers is of the lowest unemployment rates among the nation’s largest metros. Austin’s usual top 10 ranking was speculated to be in jeopardy when the January’s rate was reported at 6.4%. However, as unemployment rates have climbed across the country, this ranking on the February estimates shows Austin and the other Texas metros continue to hold places among the best performing metros on this metric as well.
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More Good News for the First Time Homebuyer!
April 3rd, 2009 Categories: Dripping Springs Real Estate News
It just keeps getting better and better. There is even more of a reason qualified, first-time home buyers should buy a home now! With Obama’s stimulus plans, the real estate market is beginning to pick back up its momemtum. This is good news for sellers and encouraging news for the buyers who are still on the fence.
If you’re a first-time home buyer, there is no better time to buy than the current. Find a trust worthy lender and get pre-qualified. It’s very important to understand the maximum you can afford and then start your home search. With the stumulus plan, there are many options that you can act upon in order to receive a tax credit for having bought or going to purchase a home. Visit IRS.gov for additional details.
Next, visit FreeAutomatedHomeSearch.com or Search Available Homes Here. Most importantly, there is no better time than the present for you to buy a home.
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Drippings Springs’ 22nd Annual Founders Day Festival 17th - 19th 2009
April 3rd, 2009 Categories: Dripping Springs Real Estate News
If you haven’t attended the Dripping Springs’ Founder Day Festival… mark your calendars for a fun filled weekend! With the combination of good food, a BBQ cook-off, live music, dancing, a Hill Country wine tasting event, beer, a carnival, a Tiger 5k Run/Walk for DSHS, a washer-pitching tournament, plus over a hundred arts & crafts booths, it’s a good time for the whole family!Per tradition, the parade will begin at 6:30 pm on Mercer Street in Dripping Springs. Visit FoundersDayFestival.com for more details and look forward to seeing you!
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Dripping Springs Area open House!
April 3rd, 2009 Categories: Driftwood, Texas
This weekend April 4th from 2pm - 6pm don’t miss your chance to see this stunning estate by Valparaiso Custom Homes!
This home offers a stunning rock and stucco exterior plus an inviting front entry. The open and spacious floor plan boasts of arches and alcoves with interior features, such as coffered beamed ceilings throughout. There are 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths and a 3 car detached garage. Divine family room has a splendid coffered ceiling, a built-in fireplace, two alcoves with built-ins and two French doors which lead to a fabulous covered patio. Gourmet kitchen with center island, a breakfast bar, granite countertops, Alderwood cabinets, a closet-type pantry and opens to the family room.
There is a formal dining area with coffered ceiling and a breakfast area as well. A brilliant office, situated away from main traffic noise and offers plenty of room plus a closet, which could easily be converted into another bedroom. The master suite is phenomenal with arches, a sitting area, his and her walk-in closets, a separate shower, double vanities, a Jacuzzi-type tub and a French door that leads to the covered patio as well. The two extra bedrooms are could size with a Jack and Jill bathroom with pocket doors. Other spectacular features include: a wine room, Alderwood doors and cabinets throughout the home, Travertine flooring, high ceilings, energy efficient, numerous Oak tress and so much more!
For more information on this stunning home contact Jeremy K. Frost Realtor (512)636-2746
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Great Home in Highpointe on the Greenbelt!
April 2nd, 2009 Categories: Dripping Springs Real Estate News
Very Popular 5Bdrm/3 Ba Hanover Plan is the Perfect Place to Call Home! So Many Upgrades That You’ll Just Have to See It to Believe It! Open & Spacious 1-story Home Offers Decorator Colors, Arches, TV Niche, Recessed Lighting, Huge Mstr Closet, 18×18 Tile, Soaring Ceilings & Great Natural Light! Private Covered Back Patio Overlooks Amazing Greenbelt Views! Superb Kitchen w/Extra Large Center Island w/Seating, Stainless Appliances, Gorgeous Granite Counters & Abundant Cabinet/Counter Space. So Much More!
- Neighborhood: Highpointe
- Lot Size: .24 Acres
- Type: Single Family Residential for Sale
- Floors: Single Story
- Parking/Garage: 2
- Bedrooms: 5
- Baths: 3
- Square Feet: 2843
- Year Built: 2006
- School District: Dripping Springs ISD
For more pictures and additional information visit www.AustinHomeAndLand.com
Please visit www.LiveInHighpointe.com to learn about this award winning subdivision or better yet contact :
Jeremy K. Frost & The Steele Action Team 512-636-2746 or Jeremy@AustinHomeAndLand.com
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Austin Texas Sits Among The Top In Business & Careers
April 1st, 2009 Categories: Austin Real Estate News
Hello Readers,
I ran across this great article on Yahoo Business and had to pass it on…
The economy shed 651,000 jobs in February and 4.4 million since the recession began in December 2007. Only a handful of metro areas have escaped falling employment over the past three months. Yet there are still some places out there that remain attractive to businesses.
Our 11th annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers features clear winners in North Carolina and Colorado, home to a combined 10 of the 20 top metro areas.
Leading the way is Raleigh, N.C., which grabbed the top spot for a third straight year on the strength of strong job growth (both past and projected), low business costs and a highly educated workforce.
In Depth: Best Places for Business and Careers
Employment is expected to fall during 2009 in Raleigh after jobs were added at a 4% annual clip the past five years. But the job picture is expected to brighten in 2010 and 2011, and the three-year projected annual employment gain is 1.4%. according to Moody’s Economy.com, 15th best in the country.
Helping fuel Raleigh’s strong economy is the Research Triangle Park, one of the oldest and largest science parks in North America. It is located between Raleigh and Durhamand is home to 170 companies employing 42,000 people. Big employers include Biogen Idec, Cisco Systems and IBM.
“Raleigh is holding up better than any other place in North Carolina,” says Matthew Martin, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Va. He cites the significant higher education presence and low manufacturing base in the area for Raleigh’s steady economy.
Keeping Raleigh company at the top are fellow Tar Heel State metros Durham (ranked third), Asheville (sixth), Wilmington (13th), Winston-Salem (18th) and Charlotte (19th).
Our rankings looked at the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., which range from the New York metro and its 11.7 million people to Olympia, Wash., with a population of 241,000. We examined each on 11 different criteria. Economic research firm Moody’s Economy.com supplied data on job growth over the past five years and projections through 2011. Economy.com also provided business and living cost data as well as income growth and migration trends.
We also turned to Bert T. Sperling, city researcher and co-author of Cities Ranked & Rated for some labor supply and quality of life information. Sperling furnished data on college attainment, crime rates, local colleges and cultural and recreational opportunities in the area.
In a nod to the current economic climate, we added two new categories this year: projected job growth and subprime mortgagesas a percentage of total originations over a three-year period. This change helped boost several metros in the rankings, most notably Austin, Texas, which ranked eighth this year, up from 47th last year. Austin’sprojected annual job growth rate of 2.3% is fifth fastest in the country, and its subprime mortgageexposure clocked in at 13th.
The city has a fan in the Charles Schwab Corporation. “The city of Austinis extremely business-friendly. They have bent over backwards to accommodate us,” says Glenn Cooper, head of real estate at Schwab, which expanded its Austin presence in 2007 when it purchased the 401(k) Co. Cooper highlights the political environment, culture and cost of living as draws for Schwab to Austin.
Bringing up the rear of our rankings are the troubled spots in California. The Golden State had its worst showing ever in our tally. It is home to six of the seven lowest-rated spots, and Riverside was the only one of its 21 metro areas (among the country’s 200 biggest) that cracked the top 100. Most California metros are burdened with sky-high living and business costs, and the job outlook is week. The unemployment rate in 199th-ranked Merced, Calif., is expected to hit 21% in 2010.
The current recession is too deep and widespread for even our best-rated cities to escape damage. Yet when things do turn around, expect many places ranked at the top to be at the head of the pack, notes Marisa Di Natale, an economist at Economy.com.
“Austin, Boulder [Colo.], Fort Collins [Colo.] and to a lesser extent Raleigh all have a lot of high-tech investment,” she says. “We think that is one of the first things that comes back once the economy does recover.”
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