Austin Real Estate Market
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Austin real estate, along with the rest of the Lone Star State, continues to face mixed signals during the first few months of 2010. According to a March 19, 2010 article in the Austin Business Journal, “Austin area foreclosure postings increased 23 percent this month compared with March last year, exceeding 1,400 for the fourth time, Foreclosure Listing Service Inc. reported today. A total 1,451 notices were sent out this month, which was the fourth time in the past 10 months its exceeded 1,400. The record high was set in October last year when 1,481 foreclosure notices were filed.” The piece continued to say that “The Austin total has increase[d] 118 percent since March 2008 and 11 percent from February this year. Hays County was the only Central Texas region where foreclosure notices dropped from February to March, falling 19 percent.”
Austin home sales rallied in February, according to a March 18, 2010 article in the Austin American-Statesmen. The article noted that “Austin-area existing home sales rose 3.5 percent in February from a year earlier, the sixth year-over-year monthly increase in a row. The Austin Board of Realtors said Thursday that 1,145 single-family homes were sold last month. The median price was $189,500, unchanged from a year earlier.” The piece continued to state that “There were 1,738 sales in the pipeline to close in March, 24 percent more than a year earlier. In Central Texas and across the country, home sales have received a boost from a federal tax credit that include[s] $8,000 for first-time homebuyers and $6,500 for others, with certain income limits.”
This same positive trend was noted by a March 18, 2010 article in the Austin Business Journal, which stated that “Home sales increased and properties spent less time on the market last month, according to multiple listing service data from the Austin Board of Realtors. A total 1,145 Austin area homes sold in February, up 4 percent from the same month in 2009.” The Chairman of the Austin Board of Realtors, John Horton, said that “It appears we’re beginning to see an impact from this steady improvement, particularly in increases in pending sales and new listings…”
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Things to Do in Austin, Texas
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Many people think of Austin as an eccentric city, to the point that the local motto has become “Keep Austin Weird” – the locals here are rightly proud of their unique differences. Those who are looking for things to do in Austin will not be left unsatisfied, thanks to the number of live events, shopping experiences and culture in the city. You will have plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure here, and looking up some of the key points of interest can help make sure you get the most excitement out of your trip.
People who are interested in taking a trip to Austin should definitely make use of the information services that many hotels offer, as well as doing some research online so you have some activities in mind before you get there.
South Congress, often called “SoCo”, is a nice shopping district in Austin. Those of you seeking things to do in the city will be able to find quaint coffee shops, stores, eateries as well as festivals in the South Congress district. One of the more popular events in Austin is the O. Henry House Museum’s O. Henry Pun Off, which is held every year and sees contestants compete in a battle of wit.
Thanks to all of the live music events in Austin, the city has earned the well deserved nickname of “The Live Music Capital of the World“. It has actually got more live music events per capita than any other city in the United States, including both New York and Las Vegas. There is also an annual festival promoting now just music but also cinema and interactivity which is held in Austin. It is known as the South by Southwest and has many popular entertainers – the city’s Austin Film Festival also features many great movies of all different genres from around the globe.
Residents and tourists who are seeking things to do in Austin will not be left unsatisfied with the choices presented to them. The city has been the filming location for plenty of popular movies and has been named the best city to live in and create cinema by Moviemaker Magazine.
Despite the amount of cultural influences in Austin, the city is still the largest city in America to not have a professional sports team in any of the major professional sports leagues, which is why many of the residents of Austin support the University of Texas Longhorns. There are also some popular minor league teams including the Austin Toros and the Texas Stars.
Many outdoor sports including rock climbing, running, diving, swimming, snorkeling and mountain biking are popular in Austin. Those interested in museums may want to check out the Texas Memorial Museum and Blanton Museum of Art. Other museums are also found around town for the enjoyment of tourists and the city’s residents.
There are also plenty of sports to enjoy outside, including running, rock climbing, diving, snorkeling, swimming and mountain biking. Those of you who are interest in art and history can enjoy the Texas Memorial Museum as well as the Blanton Museum of Art. There are also plenty of other museums scattered around town for you to enjoy during your stay.
If you are traveling to Austin from Los Angeles you will only have to fly for three hours, then grab an airport taxi and get out there and start exploring Austin, where even the eccentric people can feel at home.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=eb5c728e-21a6-4083-84d8-326f91cf9093)
6 Things You’ll Find Only in Austin
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Once just a village on the banks of the Colorado River, then a small college town, Austin is today a center for state government, business, education and of course, technology. The city is a hugely popular destination amongst tourists and, being the 3rd fasting growing city in America, is also a very popular location for people looking to relocate. Every year thousands of people visit Austin for its fabulous mix of natural landscapes, comfortable weather and diverse cultural and historical attractions. There are least 6 things in Austin you cant find anywhere else in America.
1. Nicknamed the “live music capital of the world”, Austin has the most live music venues per capita. There are more than 200 live music venues in a city that has a population of 757,000 people – meaning that Austin is greater than both Las Vegas and New York in this regard. While in Austin one can enjoy a different variety of live music every night of the week. The music scene here is largely centered around the Sixth Street and Warehouse District, with plenty of restaurants and clubs to choose from. There is also the annual music festival known as the South by Southwest, which is held in Austin each year during spring time. Then in the fall one can enjoy a music and arts festival named the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which comes from Austin City Limits – the longest running music show on American TV. These attractions draw a crowd from all over the world – but of course for those with more classical tastes there is still the lyrics opera, symphonic band and the Austin Symphony Orchestra to enjoy.
2. The largest bat colony in the entire urban world. There is a massive colony of Mexican free tail bats that live below the Congress Avenue bridge between the months of March and November each year. The number of bats is estimated at somewhere between 750,000 and 1.5 million, who all enjoy their summers under the bridge – meaning that during these months the population of bats in Austin is greater than the human population here. Every night at dusk you can witness the spectacular sight of bats flocking out from their home to fly over the lack and into the middle of town to find something to eat.
3. The biggest state capitol building Texas is here. Its exterior is constructed from local red granite, and inside you can find a portrait of every single person who has ever served as president for the Republic of Texas, as well as governor of the State of Texas – you will also find the whispering gallery. There is an old local legend that any wish made while standing in the center of this gallery will come true. The Senate Chamber still houses the original desks which were bought back in 1888. Rumor has it that the ghosts and spirits of dead lawmakers can be seen roaming the halls – a great spot to visit if you are interested in the paranormal.
4. The only free presidential library is located in Austin, and it doesn’t charge any fee for admission. The library honors such people as Lyndon Baines Johnson, who was born and grew up in Johnson City, located around 50 miles to the west of Austin, then retired here after he chose not to run for a 2nd term. The building is ten stories high and is home to a museum which holds various displays surrounding the United States throughout the 1960s, gifts that Johnson received from various other heads of state, his papers, speeches and other items from his life and presidency – as well as a fabulous life sized replica of the Oval Office as it was during his time in office. It was at Johnson’s request that the museum became free of admission, as he hoped young people could come and enjoy the library and get a better understanding of their local history.
5. The largest solar array. Gemini Solar Development, a company based in San Francisco, was recently chosen by Austin Energy to create the largest solar power facility in the United States here. The array will remain under ownership of the company, but will be leased to Austin Energy. The array will be able to out put 30 megawatts, which is twice that of the current largest solar array in the country – or enough to supply power to roughly 5,000 houses. The array will be situated on a 300 acre lot just outside of Austin and is being installed as part of a green plan to increase the use of renewable energy sources 30% by the year 2030.
6. The only unusual downside of Austin is that it has the worst traffic congestion of all the medium sized cities in the United States. Residents of Central Texas spend on average 52 extra hours sitting in traffic each year than in other medium sized cities because of this congestion; which costs motorists approximately $1,00 a year. The congestion is largely due to the lack of funding for transportation to build new roads, a lack of planning for urban development as well as a lack of political willingness to offer more public transportation choices. Since 1992 the number of hours spent in vehicles waiting in traffic has more than doubled, and if nothing is done by the year 2040 traffic congestion in Austin will be the worst out of anywhere in the United States, including the notoriously bad New York.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=12a64814-af59-4d28-9254-74f4d9235053)
Austin, Texas Real Estate
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The capital city of Texas, Austin truly is a beautiful place to live. Overall, it is the fourth largest city in Texas and the 16th largest in all of America – and it continues to enjoy stable growth. The weather in Austin is quite mild, and the city houses many famous historical sites as well as culturally rich events. The city is often called the “live music capital” of the United States, thanks to its many music festivals, which attract musical artists from all over the globe who are eager to participate.
The real estate market in Austin is on the rise thanks to the good number of developmental projects in the area. There are several freeways and highways being built to help cope with the number of vehicles on the road, which is the result of a number of up and coming industry opportunities in the city. Many people are currently looking at Austin as somewhere to live and experience a higher quality of life paired with better employment conditions. Many of those who relocate here choose to purchase their own home, while those who are in rented accommodation in Austin often seek to buy as well when they can. Demand for homes in Austin is steadily growing and as such prices are rising, largely due to the number of people seeking to relocate to the culturally rich area – if you are now considering buying a home in Austin, don’t put it off, as prices will only continue to rise as the world recovers from the recent recession.
The demand for real estate is also being forced up due to the number of new immigrants in Austin. Local builders are erecting many different residential apartment buildings, which take into consideration the needs of potential home buyers in the city. Currently, many developers have affordable housing choices available to their customers. A home in suburban Austin has a price tag which is about half the cost of most similar homes to be found in the central city of other locations.
Potential buyers are encouraged to choose a reliable real estate agency before buying a home, and should thoroughly check their credentials and history first. It is important to only use a certified real estate agent in Austin, as you will need to protect yourself from possible fraud attempts; they are rare, but they do happen.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=d7d3b59d-c9f1-4be9-998f-bbc1f164bd94)
