May 2008

Found 17 blog entries for May 2008.


Despite all of the talk of a recession and a troubled economy, you would have a difficult time seeing signs of trouble if you were to visit Austin.  In fact, Austin has somehow managed to go against the norm and has been finding ways to prosper while much of the nation struggles with the current state of the economy.

One area that continues to boom in the city of Austin is employment.  In fact, when compared to national averages, Austin and the state of Texas are both outperforming the majority of the country.  According to recent reports, the total number of nonfarm employment rose by 2.6% in Texas when comparing April 2007 to April 2008.  Overall, the United States has only seen a 0.3% raise during that same period of time.  In addition, the seasonally…
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Do you drink bottled water?  If so, you probably choose to drink bottled water so you can avoid the chemicals and pollution that still manage to make their way into city water.  If you live in Austin, Texas, however, this is not a concern.  According to Forbes.com, Austin has some of the cleanest tap water of any city in the United States.  In fact, Forbes.com lists it in second place in terms of cleanliness, with Des Moines, Iowa taking the first place spot and Sioux Falls, SD taking third.

A number of factors were considered when determining the cleanliness of the water in Austin.  For example, the researchers looked at the bacteria level of the water as well as its cloudiness and the amount of lead and haloacetic acid the water contained.  The…
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When you hire a real estate agent to help you with the sell of your home, you will likely need to find a location for a lockbox on the outside of your home.  Utilizing a lockbox is an important component of the selling process, as keys to your home and other locked areas of your property are contained within the lockbox.  By keeping these items inside of the lockbox, the Realtor can easily access your home when it comes time to show it to a potential buyer.

Using Lockboxes to Reach More Buyers

In addition to the fact that the lockbox makes it easier for your Realtor to access your property, it also makes it possible for other agents to gain access to your home.  Unless you have specifically requested to work exclusively with just one agency, your

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When you move out of a home to a new residence, there are several things you need to do in order to prepare the home you are moving from.  Unless the new owners are going to be moving in as soon as you move out, one of the things you will need to do is prepare the house for being empty.  For example, you need to make sure all of the water is turned off in the home and that all of your appliances are turned off.

Since the home will be left alone for a period of time, you also need to make sure all of the windows and doors are locked before you leave.  Although there are likely no belongings inside of the home, you still need to keep it securely locked up in order to prevent vandalism or other damage to occur to the home.

Of course, there are things you…
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If you love to shop, you will be thrilled to learn about the many malls and other shopping opportunities that are available in the Austin area.  Not only are there many great stores to shop at, there are entire streets and blocks that are filled with great boutiques and shopping opportunities.

The Domain


If you are looking for high-end specialty stores, The Domain is the answer.  Here, you will find stores such as Tiffany and Co, Neiman Marcus, and Louis Vuitton.

The Arboretum

The Arboretum offers a number of specialty stores and restaurants, all of which are centered around a Saks Fifth Avenue.  Gateway Market, which is home to several large chain stores, is also located near the Arboretum.

Barton Creek Square

Barton Creek Square is home…
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If you are looking for reasons to consider moving to the Austin area, you won’t have to look very far.  In fact, the city has received a number of awards and recognition throughout the years for a wide variety of reasons.

Finding a Job in Austin

One of Austin’s strengths is the availability of jobs in the area.  In fact, the Forbes website recognized Austin as the third best place to get a job in 2008.  This is partially due to the fact that it is a great city for new businesses to start up operation.  This was demonstrated in 2007 when MoodysEconomy.com named the city the best place for business in the United States.  In 2006, Expansion Magazine also named the Best Place to Live for Future Business Locations and Entrepreneur.com listed it as the 9th

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As a taxpayer in Texas, you certainly want to save as much money as possible.  After all, you don’t want to have to pay money in taxes if you don’t have to!  At the same time, in order to reduce the amount of money you have to pay on property taxes, it is important to work within the parameters of the law.

There are four different types of home exemptions that you can apply for as a property owner in Texas.  These apply to your primary residence and they include…

    * School taxes
    * County taxes
    * Optional exemptions
    * Age 65 or older


Understanding these exemptions and how they work is important so you can take full advantage of the benefits they offer.

School Taxes

School tax exemptions are available to all homeowners and qualifying for one is quite

4,984 Views, 2 Comments

Since you will most likely need a loan in order to purchase your dream home, you might want to consider getting pre-qualified beforehand.  By getting pre-qualified for your home loan, the lender will be able to verify whether or not your credit is solid as well as the price range you can comfortably pay for a home.  In addition to these perks, there are several other benefits to getting pre-qualified for a loan.

Save Time and Rest Easy

One of the perks to getting pre-qualified for a loan is the fact that you have a clear idea of how much you can afford and you can rest easy knowing that you will be able to acquire a loan once you find the perfect home.  In addition, since you know how much you can truly afford for the home, you won’t waste time

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Just Listed!  Take a look at this gorgeous home situated on the greenbelt in Travis Country.  Beautiful inside and out!  It includes a hot tub and covered deck surrounded by mature landscaping.  The exterior was recently painted and the kitchen has been updated.

To schedule a viewing contact Laurie Loew at 512-344-6000!

Austin Real Estate Blog

Travis Country Homes for sale

Travis Country Real Estate

Laurie Loew's Listing
4,601 Views, 1 Comment


A visit to Austin will provide you with a number of entertainment opportunities.  From theme parks to caverns, from family-friendly activities to fun for adults, there is plenty to do and see in the Austin area.

Austin Duck Adventures

Austin Duck Adventures take guests on a 75 minute narrated tour of the land and the lake with te help of its amphibious vehicles.  These vehicles even take a trip through downtown Austin.

Austin Ghost Tours

Austin Ghost Tours take guests along a walking tour through downtown Austin.  Offered on Saturday and Sunday nightes throughout the year, this guided tour tells of all of the Austin “haunts.”  Reservations are required to join this tour.

Austin Nature and Science Center

The Austin Nature and Science Center is a…
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