Single Family Home on Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail

Our latest listing is my personal home and is a stone’s throw from the Hike and Bike Trail.  Located at 34 Chalmers Ave, this property is a great deal for anyone who might be considering some of the smaller, higher priced condos downtown.  Live the active lifestyle you dream of and have easy access to downtown and all Austin has to offer.  The listing can be seen at MLS Listing and more info can be seen at http://www.34chalmers.com

The best part is that the property has been fully updated AND there is potential to add much more square footage because of the abnormally large lot.  Makes for a great investment when you compare to the small condos going for similar prices!  Call me or email if you’d like to see it

Set yourself up for an active, healthy lifestyle in Austin Texas

City of Austin improving Mile Zero

I’m excited that Austin is considering some major improvements at Mile Zero on the town lake trail.  A few days ago, Karen and I drove down to have some time with Noodles at the Dog Park.  All the parking spots were filled, and several dozen cars had taken liberty to jump the curb and park on the grassy and gravel spots.  We thought of parking there too, and seeing if we could leave it unattended, but Karen noticed that two cops were writing tickets.  So we cut our play time short and went on to Whole Foods to get some ground bison and a purple onion for dinner.

Today in the paper I saw that the city is considering major improvements, including additional parking.  This is great for the public, but bad for the parking police revenue streams!  I’m looking forward to more parking and the new dock.

Congrats to Karen on her new designation!

I am excited to announce that Karen recently earned her Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) designation.  For years, she has been assisting me with our seller clients who are looking to better position their home for sale through creative staging methods.  Now that she has added this designation to her real estate license, we are better positioned to help sellers in the future.

Since most parts of Austin are in a buyers’ market at the moment, it is more important than ever to position listings in the top third with regard to condition and price.  If you know someone who needs staging advice, please give us a call.

Happy Birthday America

We live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  We believe that all are created equal and that our Creator has given us all the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  We live in the land of opportunity.  We are a generous nation, quick to help those in need.  We are a mix of many cultures.  Our land has plenty.  Our country is beautiful from sea to shining sea.

Happy Birthday America.  Stay strong.  Stay indivisible.  Maintain your liberties.  Practice justice.  God bless you.

Austin Board of Realtors now allows up to 25 photos

ABoR has now upgraded MLS to allow up to 25 photos.  I tried this on a new listing of mine and it sold in 3 days!  Karen took the photos for me and followed a strategy of taking photos in order of a buyer walkthrough, followed by some choice detail shots, and finishing with a closeup of the front door address.  Her artsy touch, coupled with the sellers ability to maximize presentation, gave prospective buyers a complete picture of the property before they even arrived.  Thank you ABoR!

Karen Saenz is Pfluger Pfast

2009 Pflugerville 5K champs

I’m proud of my wife for coming in 1st female at this last weekend’s Pflugerville 5K.  She set a personal best clocking 18.09 for the 3.1 mile stretch.  Attached is a photo of her and the 1st place male finisher, Michael Budde.  I took it at the finish line after the race with my cell phone.

Austin People’s Gallery Opening a Big Hit

My friend Tommy and I attended the 5th Annual People’s Gallery Exhibition last night at Austin City Hall.  The opening welcomed the public to view the latest installation of artwork showcasing Austin area artists.  I had never been inside city hall before, and here are my thoughts:

1)  City Hall architecture.  The building beautifully captures natural light in the main atrium and provides a great variety of spaces to feature art work.  The process of discovering art around every nook and corner is a large part of the fun.  I especially enjoyed the south-facing outdoor balconies.  From these vantage points, I enjoyed an Austin sunset over Town Lake.  I could see dogs frollicking at Auditorium shores, rowers on the water, and runners kicking it in as they approach Mile Zero.  The sheep sculptures on level 3 are a special treat.

2)  Variety of Artwork.  Austin has become quite the artist’s and art-lover’s city.  There is still a strong bohemian slant featuring the traditional folk-art type work around town; however, more and more I am seeing great examples of forward-thinking, political, abstracts, mixed-media and photo-realistic fine art.  I am no art expert by any means, but what I saw at the City Hall opening seemed to be an accurate reflection of the societal changes Old Austinites have witnessed over the last ten years.  I think our art scene is starting to give Houston a run for its money.

3)  The people.  I love how Austin continues to feel small to me.  A big reason for this is that I always see the same people around town.  Sure there are alot of new faces, but the same people seem to surface again and again.  Maybe its because we have nowhere else to go (or nowhere else we want to go).  After all, I-35 is gridlocked from Slaughter to Braker, Mopac is crawling at the pace of a 7-hour marathoner, and the Town Lake Running Trail has temporarily become a Town Lake Dodge and Dislodge Trail, at least if you are stuck in the 3-mile loop.

Looking for a cycling buyer client

Ever since the buzz about green living came about, I’ve had this idea that I wanted to work with a buyer client who loves to cycle.  With decent bike lanes, a healthy lifestyle, urban living choices, and our beloved town lake (Lady Bird Lake), Austin is a great city to find a home that meets the needs of a cycling enthusiast.

My wife and I live a stone’s throw from Town Lake, near mile marker 5 1/2.  It would be so great if I could find a client, preferably someone who rents near downtown, that would be interested in finding a home near town lake so that they can enjoy Austin’s outdoors and urban lifestyle.  As part of our buyer representation agreement, we would agree that 100% of our real estate purchase process would employ bicycle transportation.  What a great way to see if prospective houses and neighborhoods are truly bike-friendly!

We would tour homes on our bicycles, check out different neighborhoods and business hotspots, and ride by the schools and other points of interest until we found the perfect home (with a good place to park the bikes of course!).  Once we were under contract, we would do any inspections, appraisals, contractor meetings, and subsequent visits on our bicycles.  Then, the morning of our closing, we would meetup at Mellow Johnny’s and get some coffee, ride to the title company, and seal the deal!

After my client is all settled in, we could have a big housewarming party and have all the guests come over on their bikes.  The cake would have a big bicycle on it.

The whole process would truly be a “green experience”.  Zero emissions.  Good for the environment.  And a salute to Austin’s healthy lifestyle.

Any takers???

Comments on Perryman Forecast

I did not attend the Perryman economic forecast yesterday, but I do have some thoughts on aspects of the forecast reported on KXAN.

1)  “Area’s economy will get worse before it gets better.”  I agree generally.  I talk to business owners around town all the time.  Times are pretty tough, and lower revenues lead to lower profits lead to lower spending which is a negative cycle.  People are tight with their money right now.  I think once it is clear that the investment markets globally have carved out a bottom, the collective psyche will start to change.  Austin will bounce back alot faster than other places, I think.  Buying local keeps money home, which should exponentially speed recovery.

2)  By 2013, Perryman “expects to see improvements in the housing market.”  Are you crazy???  I don’t think it will take that long.  We have seen a considerable drop in transactions in Q4 and a slight softness in pricing values; however, talk to any experienced Realtor, lender or title company and they will all tell you that the new year has brought a renewed level of activity in the real estate business.  Homes that have sat for almost a year are starting to sell, and others are getting showings and interest.  The pent-up demand buyers that are waiting for a bottom might miss out because history tells us when markets turn, they turn fast.

3)  “Austin’s personality is key to its growth and economic potential”.  100% agree.  That’s why I stay here.  Austin is one-of-a-kind.  People are still moving here every day.  I meet 10X the number of people moving in as moving out.  The real estate business is in the forefront of those trends.  Just like the UHaul companies.  The successful home sellers in this market are also realizing this truth.  Their home and neighborhood’s personality is key to maximizing their sales price (and chances of getting sold).

House matching in the new year

Happy New Year friends!  It is so exciting and refreshing to start anew each year.  Each year brings the possibilities of hope and promise, and it is a great time to think of change for the better.

I often advise clients on house matching, or finding the best house for their personal situation at that point in their life.  Many people will buy a house based on previous needs or perceived future needs, and will live for years in a suboptimal comfort because they didn’t think things through on what they really need.  They may be living in a house that is too small for a growing family, or a house thats too big for a small family or single person (have you ever met someone who has an upstairs that they haven’t entered in months?).  Now may be the time for you to consider if your house matches your situation.  With most of Austin moving toward a buyer’s market, it might make sense to snag a good deal on a home that is a good match!

Here are some questions to ask:

1)  Do I use all the space I have right now or do I find myself shopping for furniture and decorations just to fill it?

2)  Do I have to drive long distances to visit the stores and other venues I frequent?

3)  Is there too much for me to maintain in my current home?

4)  Do I enjoy the social fabric of my local neighborhood or do I find that I am somewhat of a misfit?

A home that is a good match helps eliminate stress, provide enjoyment, more time, and efficient use of money and resources.  I wish you the best in 2009!