New Years Resolutions

I have many, both personal and professional, and high on my list is to blog on a regular basis, about interesting topics in and around Austin. Last year I became bogged down trying to keep my blogging narrowly focused on real estate, which resulted in sporadic blogging as best. This month, while I was working on my goals for 2011 I realized that although I sell homes for a living, what I really sell to my clients is the Austin lifestyle.

This morning I attended the Leadership Austin's Engage Speaker Series. This year's theme is "Innovate or Else" and topics have already included a Legislative Preview and Race Relations. This mornings topic was Innovative Relationships: Non-Profit/For Profit Collaborations and was one of the most interesting and inspiring panels of the past 2 years. Justin Evans with CapitalOne Bank and Matt Kouri with Greenlights for NonProfit Success were the panelists, with the always entertaining Jim Walker (director of Sustainability at UT Austin) as moderator.

Thinking outside the box and creating collaborative relationships between for-profit and non-profit corporations is such an obvious solution that it's amazing that we don't do this more often. For-profit employee engagement with non-profits help create long term relationships and can be a win-win for both the for-profit and non-profit organizations. So can collaborations between similar non-profits (pet adoption agencies for example) banding together and approaching a single donor for a long term relationship.

Upcoming Engage Speaker Series topics include mental health, artistic innovation and redistricting. Interested? Breakfasts are held at Chez Zee once a month.

Back to resolutions, I'm going to "Innovate" in 2011, both personally and professionally. What are you going to do?

It's SXSW time!

It's back, the amazing SXSW Film and Music Festival. When spring break comes to Austin and all the students leave for the beach or the ski slopes, the movers and shakers in the music and film biz, along with fans from all over, head to the Capitol City for SXSW (South by Southwest).

In its' 24th year, the music festival showcases nearly 2000 musical acts with 80 stages, spanning the musical spectrum from alternative and electronic to rock, pop, latin and country. There is something for everyone and many popular performers got their start here at SXSW, think Red Hot Chili Peppers and Los Lonely Boys.

In 1994 SXSW added the Film and Interactive to the line up, usually starting in the days just before the music. 2007 highlighted Elvis and Annabelle, 2010 has The Hurt Locker.

Although finding a place to stay can be challenging and getting around is easiest on foot, (there are shuttles set up just for the festival) it is well worth the trip. It's best to get a reservation well in advance at area hotels, or find one of the many residents in Austin willing to rent their home/condo out for the week.

If you missed it this year, start making your reservations for 2011, it will be the 25th Anniversary and I can only imagine the celebrations being planned.

For something a bit different, check out the Star of Texas Rodeo, held at the fairgrounds. In addition to bull riding, roping and children's activities (petting zoo, pony rides) this years musical lineup features acts from the Doobie Brothers to Lady Antebellum to Kevin Fowler.

For a break on Sunday the 14th, pick up something to eat at one of the food trailers on S. 1st Street or S. Congress then head to the Zilker Park Kite Festival. Kites will be up and flying from 10-5.

Keep Austin Weird!

http://www.sxsw.com/

http://www.rodeoaustin.com/

My Favorite Things - Part One

Often when I meet clients who are new to Austin we spend at least part of the day driving around to get a feel for the city. They ask me for a "tour" and want to know my favorite places, things to do, etc.

The tour is easy, my favorite things are a challenge, there are so many! Do they want to know my favorite places to eat? shop? my favorite art venues? sports teams? What about parks? hiking? biking? So to bring an end to a decade and welcome in the next I have decided to tackle a few of my favorite things each month and paint a picture of my favorite city, Austin. Here goes...

As anyone who is familiar with life in Texas knows, football is like a religion. We eat, drink and breathe the game at all levels. Football begins in school in the seventh grade, (flag & pop warner are earlier). But it really takes hold in high school. Fridays in the fall consist of pep rallys, tailgating and games. Stadiums are packed throughout the State and Austin is no exception. Many of the teams in Central Texas go to State playoffs and my "home" team is no exception.

I live in the Eanes school district---home of the Westlake Chaparrals. The Chaps are a 5A school and consistently compete for a State Title. Once the regular season has ended "Going to State" means playing football every weekend (hopefully) until just before Christmas. This year the Chaps made it all the way to the final game, playing December 19th at the Alamo Bowl. They have played there so often it's like a second home field. Unfortunately they lost, in OT to Euless, a team outside of Dallas.

One of the things that makes Friday nights so much fun is the community involvement. Everyone gets behind the team (and the band, and the hyline, and the cheerleaders, and the technical crew....) Red & blue bows are tied on trees, antennas and even the stop signs. The local businesses post messages on the signs outside their doors and local nursery, Pots and Plants, lets the parents paint its trademark flamingos Chaparral blue and red.

And then there is college football, and the University of Texas, down the road a few short miles. Friday night colors change to burnt orange on Saturday mornings as the locals cheer their Longhorns to victory (and the National Championship game at the Rose Bowl on January 7th).

Living in Eanes is like living in a small town with all the amenities of the big city. Neighbors know each other, local businesses remember your name and the schools bring the community together. It's a wonderful place to raise children. I have a son and a daughter who went through Eanes Elementary, Hill Country Middle School and graduated from Westlake High School. They left the state for college, but still enjoy coming home and seeing their friends, many whom they have known their entire life.

There are many different neighborhoods in Eanes, something for everyone. Small homes, large homes, condos, old or new they all have their own hill country personality. And there are many similar communities in the Austin area. All with their own neighborhood identities. So if you or someone you know is looking to make a move, please think of me first, I would like to be your agent.

America Recycles Day

In keeping up with the Opportunity Green conference at UCLA this weekend I was reminded that Sunday, November 15th is America Recycles Day. Begun in 1997, America Recycles Day promotes recycling and the buying of recycled products. To kick off the weekend, Austin is having a Green City Festival on Saturday, November 14th from 10-3 at City Hall.

The Green City Festival has something for everyone. Hear Mayor Lee Leffingwell's welcome at 11:00 then chose your event. From tips on various types of recycling, to cooking locally (hosted by the Sustainable Food Center), composting and bird watching.

Learn how to make a rainbarrel and how to have a green yard. There is a Green Kids Corner, music, and at the end of the day you can participate in a guided bike tour hosted by Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop.

For more information on free locked biking (courtesy of Bicycle Sport Shop), pedicabs, bus routes or free parking go to the website (below).

And don't forget to stop by the Austin Farmers Market at Republic Square Park (4th & Guadalupe) between 8a.m. and noon. http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M6376

For more information on the Green City Festival http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/greencityfest/gcfestival2009.htm

And if you are moving or need to buy/dispose of boxes, don't forget to use EcoBox. http://www.ecobox.com/

This is Why I live in Austin.

It's November 1st, the sun is shining and it's 73 degrees outside. This morning I went for a 4.5 mile walk on the hike and bike trail. For those of you not from Austin, this is a beautiful trail that borders Lady Bird Lake. You can walk, run or bike for 2, 4, 10+ miles. There are all sorts of people along the trail. This morning I saw families, couples, serious runners, joggers, singles and bikers. But my favorite visitors to the trail are the dogs. They come in all sizes and shapes. I take my dogs, German shepherd mixes, and they love to visit in the "off leash" part of the trail, although getting in the water is not their favorite thing. They know the routine and it's hard to get them back in the car to leave. Then home via my neighborhood Starbucks, where they say hi to their favorite barista's and have a bowl of water.

This afternoon I met a friend at Mighty Cone on South Congress. It's been there quite a while & this was my first visit. It's great, I had a hot and spicy avocado cone. It's a hot and spicy cabbage mix with fried (this is Texas) avocado in a tortilla.

Then off to the Texas Book Festival at The Capitol. Since this was a spur of the moment decision, we didn't have an agenda, and didn't have the schedule of the speakers so we skipped the lectures. Instead we perused the vendors up and down Colorado Street. What an interesting mix of exhibitors, from the Harry Ransom Center to the New York Times Newspaper to Poetic Earth Handmade Journal to the Junior League of Texas. Not enough time to see everything, but had a great time. Next year I will be sure to schedule some lectures.

On the way home I stopped at the new Sprouts Farmers Market in neighborhood. Everything looked great, had trouble deciding what to buy. Fabulous fruits, vegetables and meats.

Now home to wash the dogs, cook, take down the Halloween decorations and get ready for another fabulous week selling homes in Austin.

Hang in There Sellers!

For those of you who missed the Austin Business Journal's article September 15th, recovery is just around the corner for the Capitol City. The article cited a report from IHS Global Insight which stated that "the first two U.S. cities to recover from the recession will be Austin and San Antonio (2010)." Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston are in the group expected to bounce back in 2011.

It's another report stating that Austin is surviving this recession better than most of the country. But what does this mean for our real estate market? Ask your neighbor who has had their home on the market for the better part of the last year, and I doubt they will tell you things are looking up. Their home has probably been on the market for months, and they have been adjusting their price as the market has dictated. Adding insult to injury, many sellers have received offers so far below market value that they have refused to respond.

But the truth is that while the Austin market has declined in the past year, the Austin Board of Realtors just reported that although home sales in August were down 10% from August 2008 there was only a 4% decrease in price. Sellers are willing to have their homes on the market longer and wait out the decline rather than accept an unreasonable offer. For instance a house that would have sold for $1,300,000 last August would sell for $1,248,000 today. And while luxury properties are taking longer to sell and inventory is still high, the percent of price decline is still between 4 and 5 percent.

So the question surfaces, why leave a house on the market allowing it to accumulate a high number of "days on the market"? Simple answer, buyers are still buying (90% is a healthy number) and if the house is off the market a showing and possible sale may be missed. Of course there are hip pocket listings and silent listings, especially in the luxury market (I admit I have one), but it is impossible to market to all agents at all times any more efficiently than through the MLS system. And most sellers are savvy enough to understand the power of this network.

Now there are still a few uninformed buyers/agents focused on "days on the market" who are under the assumption that most sellers are in dire straights and are willing to discount their homes, but many buyers/agents are noticing that Austin's housing market may be at its' lowest point and now is the time to buy. Low interest rates are also enticing buyers to get under contract.

So hang in there sellers, as frustrating it may seem right now, your buyer is nearby. While I don't think we will see a boom in real estate sales in 2010, I do think that we will continue to see a steady strengthening of the market.

Sustainable Development

Is it possible to build high density, sustainable, mixed use developments close to Lady Bird Lake while still preserving the integrity of the landscape? That is the question facing the Austin City Council this week. The current proposed development includes a building with a maximum height of 90 feet (7 stories) exceeding the current city maximum of 60 feet.

There seems to be gray area in the interpretation of the height restrictions along the lake. The attorney for the project, Steve Drenner, was quoted in the Austin American Statesman in August saying that "the project meets or exceeds the city's requirements for planned unit development zoning, which allows more density in large, mixed use projects if developers provide certain benefits".

Some of those proposed benefits are additional roads, bike paths, and street level retail space. The developers would also donate $225,000 to the city's parks system and for a police substation nearby. The proposed project is 390 feet from the shore at its closet point, on the south side of Lakeshore Blvd., with Lakeshore Park between the development and Lady Bird Lake.

Save Town Lake and the East Riverside/Oltorf Neighborhood Planning Area groups are concerned about preserving the waterfront and staying within the City Guidelines. They are also concerned with losing affordable housing in the neighborhood, an apartment building (lower income) will be demolished if the proposal is approved, with no plans for relocation of the residents.

As I see it, this could be a win-win situation for both sides.  Currently, the 30 acre site is in shambles, and does not encourage visitors along the banks of Lady Bird Lake. The apartments are in disarray with no plans for improvement and the crime rate is high. The site is not directly adjacent to the lake, but  provides for beautification of existing and future park space.  The proposed development encourages urban renewal, uses less land space and provides for a more sustainable living environment than currently exists. A flourishing neighborhood with public shops, restaurants and parks fits into the Austin's vision of re-gentrification of the city.

While the height restrictions may be in question, there are a handful of other developments which exceed the proposed 90' maximum.  Most recently the Milago (142') and Legacy at the Lake (339'), neither of which have park land included.  The San Jacinto Bldg (324'), Four Seasons (140'), Hyatt Regency (185') and Radisson (129') all exceed the current maximum height restrictions and have improved the waterfront sites to which they are adjacent.

A well planned, flourishing, sustainable development has got to be better than the high crime, run down neighborhood that currently exists on this site. Hopefully the neighborhood associations, Save Town Lake group and the developers will find a way to work together and make this work for the entire community.

If the City Council does approve this or any other development, it will be their responsibility to monitor its' progress.  They must be sure that promises to improve the sites with park land, shops and pedestrian friendly trails are completed. 

Active input from the community has helped Austin grow while preserving its' green spaces. Please take the time to get informed. For more information about the proposed vote on Thursday: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/

Click on the Contact button on the bottom left side of the page to email the council members with your opinions.

FYI~Grist named Austin the 6th most sustainable city in the US in July.  http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-16-sustainable-green-us-cities/PALL/