The Heart of Austin

Prepare Your Home for Arctic Air to Hit Austin

 The weather forecasters predict 20 degree temperatures and possible snow and ice to hit Austin later this week. Prepare your home to prevent damage to water pipes and landscaping.

Drip all indoor and outdoor faucets before the cold snap hits. Wrap exposed pipes. Open the door to utitlity rooms that have an exterior wall so that the heat of the house keeps connections from freezing. Turn thermostats to the 60's in buildings that are vacant.

Water lawns and flower beds thoroughly before the temperatures fall. Watering will help protect the plants from freezing. Add some protective mulch around bedding plants. A protective covering that resembles cloth can be purchased from Home Depot to cover sensitive plants. Plastic will not give the protection delicate plants need. Secure the covering with rocks or stakes since most of the fronts come in with strong winds. Taking a little precautionary action can protect your home and your garden.

Thursday, the overnight temperature at Camp Mabry is predicted to hit 21 degrees in West Austin and as low as 19 degrees at Bergstrom airport. This is supposed to be some of the coldest weather that we have had for two years. Highs on Friday are expected to remain in the low 30's. The weather service predicts that January will have below average temperatures this year.  So, bundle up, light a fire and read that new book that you got over the holidays!

Austin Events – December

December has begun with what is as much Winter as we typically see in a year—cold and wet. There is plenty to this holiday season in Austin.

UT Football is going into the post-season with a perfect record. UT will be facing a strong Nebraska team in the Big 12 Championship on their way to the National Championship in the Rose Bowl.

December 5th, UT v. Nebraska, 7pm. Kickoff in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys Stadium

The UT basketball team has started their season off. Check the website for upcoming games, there will be about 5 home games in December.

For more information, visit www.TexasSports.com.

On Friday, December 4th, the McDonald’s Lights of Love 5K will take place at the Mueller Development. The race is in support of the Ronald McDonald house. For more information, visit http://budurl.com/McDs5K.

 

Ballet Austin’s 47th production of The Nutcracker will take place at The Long Center. It is the longest running performance of The Nutcracker in Texas. The Austin Symphony accompanies the Ballet and depending on the night, you will see one of Austin’s local celebrities playing the role of Mother Ginger.

The Nutcracker will take place beginning December 5th – 23rd. For more information, visit http://www.balletaustin.org/atb/nutcracker.php.     

 December 11^th- 24^th, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a great place to get a lot of your Christmas shopping done. Combination shopping venue and music festival this Austin tradition is over three decades old. For more information, visit http://www.armadillobazaar.com/.

 

Zilker Park Trail of Lights is one of the best family events of the season. It starts with the tree lighting on Sunday, December 6^th, at 6pm. The tree stands 155 feet tall and contains over 3,300 lights.

The next event is the Zilker Tree Holiday Fun Run that will take place Saturday, December 12^th, at 6:30pm through the trail of lights and Zilker Park.

The Trail of Lights will be closed with a grand finale on December 21st, 8:30 pm - Asleep at the Wheel & Friends Holiday Sing-a-Long.

For more information about the Zilker Park Trail of Lights, visit http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/tol/.  

  

The Annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll will begin at the steps of The Capitol on Saturday, December 5^th at 6pm. The event begins with a group sing-along featuring John Aielli. At 7pm the countdown to the tree lightning begins. Shops and restaurants will be open late for the event. For more information, visit http://downtownaustin.com/holidays/?rewrite=holidays&query=.

 
 

The last major event every year in Austin is First Night Austin. This takes place on New Year’s Eve in the streets of Downtown. The event is a family-friendly alternative to traditional celebrations is in its fifth year. For more information, visit http://www.firstnightaustin.org/.

What are you doing this month that we should know about?

Patrick Birdsong is a Realtor with West Austin Properties. He is a second generation Realtor with over 7 years of experience in the Austin Real Estate Market. He can be reached at (512) 345-1252 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter: @patrickbirdsong

Austin Event Calendar - November

It is a crisp Monday morning, highly appropriate for the beginning of November. There is plenty to do in Austin this month, along with your traditional holiday events. 

UT Football is in high gear. Riding on a perfect season, the Horns are rounding the corner and in the home stretch of regular season action. Many fans are saying it feels like 2005 again, when UT had a perfect season in route to a National Championship in the Rose Bowl. Home games in November are as follows:

November 7^th, UT v. University of Central Florida, 11a.m. kickoff

November 21^st, UT v. Kansas, kickoff time is TBA

For more information, visit www.TexasSports.com.

On Sunday, November 8^th, The Run for the Water will take place in Downtown Austin. The race features a 10 mile run, 5K run and a 1K run for the kids. Every race participant that enters helps one person in the country of Burundi gain access to fresh drinking water for the rest of their life.

For more information, visit http://gazellefoundation.com/runforthewater2009/.

Veterans’ Day falls on Wednesday, November 11th this year. The Annual Travis County and City of Austin Veterans’ Day Parade will take place Wednesday morning on Congress Avenue. The parade will start at 9am and proceed from Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge up to the Texas State Capitol.

For more information, visit http://nov11.org/.

The City of Austin’s Green City Festival will take place Saturday, November 14^th from 10am – 3pm at City Hall. The event will be held to celebrate and learn more about Austin’s Environment. The Mayor will kickoff the event with a speech at 11am. There will be musical acts, presentations and tours throughout the day. 

For more information, visit www.greencityfest.org.

 

The 19^th Annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot will take place the morning of Thanksgiving, November 26^th. The race starts at 9:30am and begins at Waterloo Park. This is a great Austin tradition and a healthy way to start off Turkey Day! All proceeds raised during the race go to benefiting Caritas of Austin.   

For more information, visit www.thundercloud.com.   

The 21^st Annual Chuy's Children Giving to Children Parade will take place on Saturday, November 28^th in Downtown Austin. This parade is a fun way to give back to your community and share in some holiday fun. Supporting Operation Blue Santa, this parade give back to Austin by asking Austinite’s to bring toys for children who might not otherwise get presents at Christmas.  

For more information, visit http://www.chuysparade.com/.

If you feel like taking a quick trip down I-35, Wurstfest in New Braunfels started up over the weekend and will continue on until November 8^th.  This “Salute to Sausage” is in its 49^th year and features fun for all! Carnival rides, bands and plenty of food and drinks will keep you entertained and invoke your inner-German all day and all night!

For more information, visit www.wurstfest.com.  

What are you doing this month that we should know about?

Patrick Birdsong is a Realtor with West Austin Properties. He is a second generation Realtor with over 7 years of experience in the Austin Real Estate Market. He can be reached at (512) 345-1252 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter: @patrickbirdsong

An Austin - Dallas – Norman Tradition – Red River Rivalry Weekend!

Pack your bags and get on the road with your burnt orange or crimson and cream, because it is Red River Rivalry time at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas!

Formerly known as the Red River Shootout, this annual football game is one of the greatest rivalries in college football. The Red River itself lies along the Texas-Oklahoma border; representing a dividing line between two states and two states of mind. 

This year’s game will be the 104^th meeting of the two teams and will determine the future of the Texas Longhorn’s National Championship hopes. The Oklahoma Sooners come into the game plagued by injury, youthfulness and two heavy loses. Their goal for the Sooners is to salvage what is left of their season. A win against Texas might be their saving grace.

This blog post is not an analysis of the match up or a prediction of the results. It is a celebration of the tradition. Both schools represent the pinnacle of public school education. Just visit the websites for each school (www.utexas.edu and www.ou.edu) and you will get a feel for how hard hitting both schools are academically.

The Cotton Bowl, in which the game is played, is more storied than the rivalry itself. Visit their website to view the history of the stadium, http://www.attcottonbowl.com/stadium/, and you will be awakened by the spirit of the game of football.

The beauty of the game is that it is always on neutral territory. The stadium sits almost exactly 3 hours from both Universities. Come mid-afternoon today, I-35 Northbound out of Austin and I-35 Southbound out of Norman will be clogged with fans making the trek to Dallas. Checkout the map below for a better idea of how ideal the location really is.

View Red River Rivalry in a larger map

Upon arrival in Dallas awaits the largest State fair in the United States. The Texas State Fair surrounds the stadium and to gain entrance to the game you must pass through roller coaster rides and vendors serving up a plethora of fried concoctions. To learn more about the State Fair of Texas, visit www.bigtex.com.   

 

If you are traveling to the game this weekend, please drive safely. We will see you there!

Patrick Birdsong, West Austin Properties, (512) 345-1252, [email protected].

New Austin Energy Ordinance Begins June 1st

   The City of Austin and Austin Energy Utility customers will be required beginning June 1st, 2009 to have a home energy audit performed by a certified energy auditor before they can close on the sale of their homes. This new ordinance, the City of Austin Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance, applies to all homes 10 years old or older at the time of sale. Sellers have to have the audit done prior to closing even if the property was listed prior to June 1st.

Sellers who have had energy audits and made at least three energy efficiency improvements or who have received rebates totaling $500 or more through the current energy efficiency program offered by the City of Austin and Austin Energy in the last 10 years are exempt. Some other exemptions apply relating to estate properties, foreclosures and such.

The audit among other things will examine the insulation, duct work and air conditioning systems in the property. Deficiencies will be noted and recorded for disclosure to the buyer. The seller is not required to make repairs or remediate the property, only to disclose the report regarding the home's energy efficiency. The cost of the audit is approximately $400-500.

For more information about the new ordinance and to watch a licensed auditor explain the process, go to our website and click on the Austin Energy Audit button on the bottom left side. If you are thinking of selling your home, we can arrange the audit with a licensed auditor and supervise the process for you as part of our service.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 19th, by Laura Duggan, Broker/Owner of West Austin Properties. For more information about this topic or any real estate related topic, call us at 512.750.2425 or email [email protected]

10 Things I Love About April in Austin

 You are no April fool if you want to spend April in Austin. There are an abundance of festivals, food and wine events, outdoor gardening symposiums and, of course, more music!

1.  The weather is just about perfect and the bluebonnets, our state flower, paint hillsides and roadways blue along with a bouquet of other Texas native wildflowers. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has their Spring Plant Sale and Gardening Festival along with workshops about growing native plants and conservation, a sculpture event and Earth Day activities. April 11-12

2.  Austinities love their dogs and a challenge of any kind! Dog walking is at its best with the Mighty Texas Dog Walk, a fundraiser where dog owners compete for the Guinness World Record for most dogs walked.  Dogs of all shapes and sizes, along with their owners, compete to raise money for service dogs in the Austin area. Walk til your dogs bark for a good cause!  April 11

3.  Easter in Austin is always special from the sunrise service at St. Luke's on the Lake at Lake Travis to the flowering of the cross at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Tarrytown. When we were little girls we took Daddy's finest flowers to the service and stuck them in the appropriate sized holes on the wooden crosses. After service, the crosses were placed on the Church grounds to herald He had risen! Did I mention that my grandparents were founding members of Good Shepherd?  April 12th

4.  Music festivals celebrate Spring all over the area. Take in the Old Settler's Music Festival on any of the four days that you can camp out and enjoy bluegrass, roots and American bands out by the Salt Lick in Driftwood.  If reggae is more your thing, chekc out the Austin Reggae Festival on the shores of Lady Bird Lake and help raise 12 tons of food for the Capital Area Food Bank. The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival features events showcasing 100 restaurants and 60 wineries in their four day festival, a traditional passage to Spring. April 16-19th

5.  The Umlauf Gardens are some of the prettiest in Austin and celebrate the sculpture of Charles Umlauf in a natural setting close to Zilker Park.  Enjoy it all while strolling through the gardens sipping a glass of wine and enjoying tasty noches and music at the annual fundraiser, the Umlauf Garden Party.  April 23 

6.  Poetry is a staple in Austin, from the international poetry slams to private poetry readings;  Austinites are poets.  The Austin International Poetry Festival is the largest nonjuried poetry festival in the world!  For four days, in many venues, you can hear poetry of all kinds from locals and international participants alike. It will amaze you!  April 23-26

7.  Barton Springs Pool comes alive with visitors sunbathing on the hillside and dipping into the spring-fed waters of Austin's most famous swimming hole. Kids chase pigeons and ride the train around Zilker Park and everyone loves to worship the sun as spring melts into summer! Every day in April

8.  One of the funniest events in April is the Dragon Boat Festival and Race. Yes, it is nutty because Austinites build their 40 foot watercraft, decorate them like dragoss and race them on Lady Bird Lake's Festival Beach. Others get into the act too! It is not to be missed!  April 25th

9.  Take in the works of over 200 professional artists selected from applicants from all over the country as they showcase their art at Art City Austin. There is always lots of local music, food and fun. Bring your sunscreen!  April 25th

10.  April is birthday month!  Yes, Willie Nelson, Eeyore and I all share the same birthday on April 30th. This year Willie and I will be celebrating privately, but everyone can attend Eeyore's birthday at the Austin traditional party in Pease Park. Come dressed for the party in costume and celebrate Eeyore's 46th! April 25th

The Austin housing market is heating up and all things real estate seem to be seasonally normal. As always, if you know someone who wants to buy or sell a home, please let me know! Referrals are the heart of our business.

Submitted by Laura Duggan, West Austin Properties, Austin, Texas on April 9, 2009. Visit our website at www.westaustin.com to find your next home!

 

LOL at Esther's Follies

An Austin icon, Esther's Follies, is also an Austin treasure! With the infamous 6th Street as its backdrop, the crowd becomes part of the show as they interact through Esther's trademark window with the best comedy character actors on stage anywhere. (LA and NYC eat your hearts out!) Whether you are seeing the show for the first time or the 50th, founder Shannon Sedwick and her troupe deliver original, fresh humor that makes first timers and veterans alike of this "only in Austin" club howl. Last night's "news medley" rivaled anything Saturday Night Live ever produced. Derek Reid was hysterical as Barack Obama and Kerry Awn, of Uranium Savages fame and an Esther's staple, did a really, really funny George W "Lame Duck Presidents Last Words". The crowd forgot about the woes of the stock market and economic stresses and laughed until tears ran down their faces. Cindy Wood, a 15 year cast member, and Shaun Wainright-Branigan who logs in 10 years, delivered a hilarious bit, "Sam I Am", Dr. Seuss for the Dating Scene. The timing of their delivery was unbelievable, and I'm not sure where they got the wind to deliver those lines! Ray Anderson, the house magician, is truly magical, and oh so funny all at the same time. The Austin Chronicle named Anderson "the best spellbinder" for his great comedy---we love his routines with audience participation! Look out though if your sitting on the aisle in the first couple of rows!

With the same comedic charm, charisma and even the eyes of Lucille Ball, Shannon, is always the star of the show for me. Last night, I laughed so hard at her Middle Aged Woman routine that I cried off my make up. It was her funniest yet. And, of course, her Patsy Cline act is a favorite as she pulls everything from tissues to golf clubs out of her dress all the while crooning that "I've got these little things; she's got you!" When the music began playing her signature sign-off song, Cry Me a River, the finale delighted the crowd inside and out of the plate glass window, and soon we were greeted by Shannon herself and ushered past the cast members out onto 6th Street. An evening on 6th Street just doesn't get any better than that!  So, forget the raunchy and twisted Santaland Diaries at Zachary Scott Theater (not for kids or grandma!), and take in the best Austin has to offer at Esther's Follies this holiday season. The cast will make you laugh out loud through the entire show. Merry Christmas, Shannon. You just keep getting better! 

The Austin Farmer's Market Holiday Fun

Austin is really alive right now with the holiday spirit! Balmy weather in the 70's this weekend invited Austinites to take to the Hike and Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake this weekend, to drink in the amazing colors of the leaves as the wind blew them off of the trees and to explore all of the interesting home-grown booths at the Downtown Austin Farmer's Market. Located at Republic Square between San Antonio and Guadelupe at 4th Street, the Farmer's Market is a weekly treat for Austinites and visitors where farmers and ranchers sell seasonal and organic produce every Saturday morning between 8 am and noon. This week we lusted over the big plump tomatos, onions, tender green beans, cauliflower, kale, wild mushrooms, shelled peas, potatoes and squash. Among other locally produced things, you can also find freshly baked goods, shrimp, organically raised meats, breakfast tacos, freshly made pasta, soaps and lotions, local crafts, and even native Texas landscape plants and a variety of herbs.  This Saturday, The Austin Banjo Club entertained the crowd and children got to talk with Santa.  

Brad and I love to park our car at Austin High School and walk along the gorgeous trail beside Lady Bird Lake to the Congress Avenue Bridge where we turn north to 4th Street and then walk over to the Farmer's Market. We stroll through the vendors, munch on a freshly baked meat pie and purchase some of the local fresh fare. I am always grateful that we have the opportunity to buy these gorgeous fresh vegetables and never disappointed in the taste or quality of my purchases. We try to get something new and different each time we stop there. It is a great way to spend Saturday morning and a particular delight with the holidays approaching. An added bonus this time, the bell chime carols playing from the Buford Tower to mark each passing hour.

Austin Homes Sales by Price Band

It is interesting to look at the numbers of listings that have sold year-to-date by price bands. These are sales that were reported to the Multiple Listing Service of the Austin Board of REALTORS and are comprehensive through December 1, 2008.

The report demonstrates that certain market segments are still very active here in Austin, in fact, these homes are being absorbed at a greater than normal rate. A real estate market is considered "normal" when there is a 6 month inventory. Those segments that have more than a 6 month inventory are considered to be a "buyer's market" and those with less are a "seller's market". 

Homes under $300,00 are in highest demand and are being absorbed at quicker than normal rate. Over half of the 20,738 home sales which have taken place so far this year have sold for $200,000 or less. Another 38% sold between $200,000 and $500,000 with an average absorption rate of 7.6 months. Homes between $500,000 and $700,000 have an average absorption rate of almost 13 months.  Inventory is down slightly from last month with 11,164 active listings in the market place.

If you would like home sales and market statistics for your neighborhood or a particular market segment here in Austin, please contact us at [email protected] and we will do a custom report just for you. We can also set you up on an automated listing alert so that you receive real time email alerts when a new listing comes onto the market in your neighborhood or area of interest. It would be our pleasure to serve you!

Austin Real Estate Market Statistics

The real estate market in Austin is finally experiencing a slower pace than the usual seasonal slow down that we typically have this time of year. Last September we had 9,979 active listings and there were 10,217 active listings this year.  In September, 2007, 1816 homes sold. The 2008 figures report 1670 homes sales for the same period.  The true test of the market will come in December when we typically see a rebound in home sales over the holidays.