Mortgage interest rates moved down again this week. This marks the fifth week in a row where 30 Year mortgage rates have either fallen or held steady. This is of course good news for people looking to buy a house. This is also good news for the real estate market. A few weeks ago a weakened real estate market was dealing with additional burden of some of the highest mortgage rates we have seen in a year [mortgage rates graph]. Below are the mortgage rates for the major mortgage products for the last few months. As we can see while the 30 Year rate has fallen both the 5 year and the 1 year arm have for the most part held steady. This brings the difference between the 30 Year rate and the 5 year and 1 year arm back to roughly normal levels. The 15 year mortgage rate has been falling as well over the last month but not as much as the 30 year rate.

August 28,2008
30-yr 6.40 15-yr 5.93 5-yr ARM 6.03 1-yr ARM 5.33

August 21,2008
30-yr 6.47 15-yr 6.00 5-yr ARM 5.99 1-yr ARM 5.29

August 14,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.07 5-yr ARM 6.02 1-yr ARM 5.18

August 7,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.10 5-yr ARM 6.05 1-yr ARM 5.22

July 31,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.07 5-yr ARM 6.07 1-yr ARM 5.27

While 30 mortgage rates have fallen they are still above what we saw a few months ago when mortgage rates where hovering around 6.0. So while mortgage rates are relatively high I still think this is a pretty good sign. Why? Basically mortgage rates have fallen in spite of the fact that recently the FED has decided not to lower rates. Does this mean that banks are feeling better about handing out mortgages? I would not go that far. If anything I would think that rates rose suddenly a month ago and simply overshot. And now they are simply reacting to that original large increase by moving down a bit. So let's look at what the mortgage rates mean for an actual mortgage. Using our mortgage calculator let's run through the numbers based on a 200k mortgage. We looked at what a mortgage would be this week plus a week and a month ago.

August 28th
30-yr $1251.01
15-yr $1680.15
5-yr ARM $1202.96
1-yr ARM $1114.33

August 21st
30-yr $1260.19
15-yr $1687.71
5-yr ARM $1197.81
1-yr ARM $1109.36

July 24th
30-yr $1281.28
15-yr $1707.22
5-yr ARM $1219.75
1-yr ARM $1134.32
So what is going to happen over the next few months? It's always hard to predict but here is my guess. I think rates will hold steady or fall a bit over the next two months. I am expecting rates to come down a bit after the election. Of course a lot could happen between now and then. If the market runs into more problems I would expect rates to increase. Why? The Fed has their hands tied behind the back they cannot lower the Fed rate too many more times.

Escapeso Austin Real Estate provides information on mortgage rates. They have a graph of historical mortgage rates along with a free mortgage calculator and a mortgage interest rates widget.

Every year, during the sweltering late summer months, bands from across the country converge on Austin, Texas for one weekend of music, food and hot, sweaty fun. Thousands upon thousands of people, young and old, flock to Austin each year for the massive music event that is the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Some of the biggest names in music show up every year. The festival's eight stages, spread out across Zilker Park, host more than 100 bands over the course of the weekend, each playing for sold out crowds. In recent years, music legends such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, The Flaming Lips, Beck, The Foo Fighters, N.E.R.D., Gnarls Barkley and many others have graced the ACL stages.

Ideally situated in downtown Austin, Zilker Park closes down each year for the massive three-day event, and the music can be heard throughout downtown. But ACL isn't just about music. A local artisan village is set up each year to allow Austin's local businesses and artists to showcase their work to the thousands of attendees, who hail from across the nation. Likewise, many of Austin's top local restaurants have booths set up selling menu favorites at the expansive food court on site. With the coveted three-day passes selling often selling out six months before the festival, ACL poses a prime opportunity for Austin businesses of all kinds to showcase their products and reach new (and substantial) audiences.

But, really, it's all about the music. With a wide range of genres represented, including country, bluegrass, rock, hip hop, folk, and pretty much anything else you can think of, ACL truly offers something for everyone. There is even a dedicated children's stage. Attendees of all ages, races, and musical interests can be found here, making it one of the most unifying music festivals in the country.

And it's not just the biggest names in music that grace the stages at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. In fact, many ACL provides many up and coming groups a break out opportunity. It's the holy grail of every struggling Austin musician's career, which adds one more reason Austin thrives as the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world. Competition for a spot in the lineup is cut-throat, yet each year the array of artists manages to remain strikingly varied and comprehensive. From funky bands like G. Love and the Special Sauce and breakout stars like Vampire Weekend, to old school legends Asleep at the Wheel and gospel groups like the River City Christianettes, ACL is quite literally a melting pot of musical talent and expression (and the 100 + degree heat makes the analogy all the more appropriate).

In 2008, Austin City Limits is being held on the weekend of September 26-28. Three day passes have been sold out for months, but stragglers can purchase single day passes on the festival web site for $80 apiece. With almost 50 bands playing daily, starting at 11:00 am and running until the headlining show wraps up at 10:00 pm, Austin City Limits is the place to be in Austin, Texas, (and many would assert, the entire country) for one raging weekend each year.

Ki is an Austinite that enjoys the local music scene. He works as a realtor in the Austin real estate market. His internet site has a tool that graphs mortgage interest rates along with a search for Austin Homes.

Mortgage Interest Rates Mortgage Rates Widget

Mortgage interest rates moved down slightly this week. This was a good sign since it was not preceded by any rate cuts from the FED. The 30 year mortgage rate fell from 6.52 to 6.47 and the 15 year mortgage rate fell from 6.07 to 6.00. For arms the 5 year rate fell from 6.02 to 5.99. The 1 year arm was the only one of the 4 rates to increase going from 5.18 to 5.29. If anything the mortgage rates are not more in align with each other. Over the past few weeks the difference between the 1 year arm and the other rates has seemed larger than normal.

To put this weeks changes in context of what has happened over this summer mortgage rates are still quite a bit higher than earlier. For the 30 Year mortgage on May 22 rates fell to 5.98. Then by July 24 rates raised to 6.63. So rates have fallen since then but we are still quite a bit higher than the rates we saw in May. Below are mortgage rates for the last few weeks.

August 21,2008
30-yr 6.47 15-yr 6.00 5-yr ARM 5.99 1-yr ARM 5.29

August 14,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.07 5-yr ARM 6.02 1-yr ARM 5.18

August 7,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.1 5-yr ARM 6.05 1-yr ARM 5.22

July 31,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.07 5-yr ARM 6.07 1-yr ARM 5.27

July 24,2008
30-yr 6.63 15-yr 6.18 5-yr ARM 6.16 1-yr ARM 5.49

So let's see what these mortgage rates would mean for an actual mortgage payment. We ran today's mortgage rates through our free mortgage calculator for a 200k loan. We also looked at what the payments would have been on the same mortgage a week and a month ago.

August 21st
30-yr $1260.19
15-yr $1687.71
5-yr ARM $1197.81
1-yr ARM $1109.36

August 14th
30-yr $1266.76
15-yr $1695.28
5-yr ARM $1201.67
1-yr ARM $1095.75

July 24th
30-yr $1281.28
15-yr $1707.22
5-yr ARM $1219.75
1-yr ARM $1134.32

So what else is going on in the mortgage industry. First it looks like the government might take over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. A few months ago it was made clear that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae would be protected while other smaller banks would be allowed to fail. Now with Freddie and Fannie running into serious financial problems (Freddie Mac stock has sank from 65.88 to 4.75). Oddly enough one of the problems Freddie Mac faces is that because the US government has made it clear Freddie Mac is too large to fall, investors are hesitant to give funds to Freddie Mac under the assumption that their investment will not be repaid following a government takeover.

So what will happen following the government takeover of Freddie Mac. Personally I think it will be positive. Over the last several months Freddie Mac has created a pretty large list of loans they will not provide backing for. This has hurt the ability of people to get loans and in turn has been one of the negative factors dragging down the national real estate market. If the government takes over Freddie Mac a lot of these restrictions will probably be pulled back. So while it won't magically cure all the problems with the national real estate market it will alleviate at least one of the negative factors weighting it down.

Ki works as a realtor in the central Austin real estate market. His site provides a search of the Austin MLS and a free mortgage calculator along with general information for buyers about Austin real estate.

Staging a home can end up being a valuable tool in selling the house. Not only can it assist in selling a house, but it can also help the seller get top dollar.

The amount of staging needed varies wildly from a small scale de-cluttering of a home to hiring staging professionals to the tune of several thousand dollars, but the goal is the same- creating a pleasant mood by making a house appear bigger, brighter and warmer while neutralizing the area so prospective buyers can visualize how their own furniture and belongings can be incorporated into the home.

In a good or bad housing market, some studies have shown that staged homes can add between 10 and 15 percent to the sale price of many homes. Sellers who don't take the time to properly stage may end up with their house on the market for longer periods of time, and agreeing to a lower selling price to a buyer who can see the potential the home has that other viewers did not.

Though professional home stagers may be needed if a home is completely empty, the majority of staging can be accomplished by the seller. A quick visit to some newly built model homes can help a seller get an idea of how interior designers and stagers prepare a home. There's a delicate balance between keeping the home sparse enough to appear as spacious as possible, and picking the right pieces to maintain a warm and livable space.

The first impression a potential home buyer will have of a house will be of the exterior, so nice curb appeal is important. A fresh coat of paint on the front door, a nicely trimmed lawn, and fresh flowers in a garden or on the front porch are easy and effective staging techniques. A brightly colored patio set in the backyard can help the home's exterior appearance when the buyer steps out the back door.

Kitchens and bathrooms are two of the most important rooms in buyers' eyes. Kitchen counters should be clear of all small appliances and other items that tend to gather on them. When counter tops are cleared of clutter, the amount of working surface increases. A splash of color, such as a bowl of fruit is acceptable, but a refrigerator, covered in personal pictures and comic strip cutouts, is not.

Bathrooms should look as open and airy as possible, and above all clean. A new white toilet or tub, or a new set of sink faucets could be a worthy investment during the staging process. Personal toiletries, like toothbrushes, should be removed from sight, while the addition of scented soaps, lotions and clean white towels could give the room more of a spa type feeling.

For bedrooms, remove as much unnecessary furniture as possible, and keep it in the garage or in storage if need be. For smaller rooms, hang curtains high on the wall, and do not cover the actual window with them. Doing so will increase the apparent height and width of the room. Neutralize the rooms by removing all personal pictures and keeping wall colors a nice warm, clean color.

By following a few simple and effective staging guidelines, a home seller can increase his or her chance to sell the home quickly, and the time and effort will pay off by netting the highest offer as well.

Working as a realtor in Austin Texas Ki helps people search for Austin homes. He provides general information about Austin real estate online as well as tool that graphs mortgage interest rates.

For the second week in a row 30 year mortgage rates held steady at 6.52. 15 year mortgages last week moved from 6.07 to 6.1. The week they returned to 6.07. So basically the fixed rates are holding steady. 5 Year Arms fell from 6.05 to 6.02 and 1 Year Arms fell from 5.22 to 5.18. So they didn't move that much. But what is interesting is the overall trend. This week marks the 3rd week in a row that both 5 and 1 year arms have fallen. The 1 year arm has fallen from 5.49 to 5.18. This continues an overall trend of the difference between 30 Year Fixed mortgages and 1 Year growing. On May 1st 30 Year Arms were at 6.06 and 1 Year Arms were at 5.29. Mortgage rates since then have risen up to 6.52 while 1 Year arms have fallen to 5.18. The question of course is why banks are making arms (the mortgage product that is partly responsible for the high rate of foreclosures) more attractive. And I don't have an answer on that. Below are the mortgage rates for the last few weeks.

August 14,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.07 5-yr ARM 6.02 1-yr ARM 5.18

August 7,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.1 5-yr ARM 6.05 1-yr ARM 5.22

July 31,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.07 5-yr ARM 6.07 1-yr ARM 5.27

July 24,2008
30-yr 6.63 15-yr 6.18 5-yr ARM 6.16 1-yr ARM 5.49

July 17,2008
30-yr 6.26 15-yr 5.78 5-yr ARM 5.80 1-yr ARM 5.10

As always I like to translate the mortgage rates into an actual mortgage payment. So using our free mortgage calculator below are what today's rates would translate into for a 200k mortgage. I also run the numbers based on what mortgage rates were at on May 1st.

August 14th
30-yr $1266.76
15-yr $1695.28
5-yr ARM $1201.67
1-yr ARM $1095.75

May 1st, 2008
30-yr $1206.82
15-yr $1643.73
5-yr ARM $1164.60
1-yr ARM $1085.89

On the one hand in general I am against arms. They are generally dangerous so I don't like to recommend them. But with such a wide gap between arms and traditional mortgages they are hard to ignore. If you do get an arm I would be prepared for your mortgage to jump substantially. For the most part I would consider an arm if you had enough money in savings to pay off the property if rates jumped up dramatically over the year.

The other factor to consider when getting a mortgage is credit scores. While for the first half of 2007 all one had to do to get a mortgage was show up at a bank over the last years banks have gotten a lot tighter. Additionally, interest rates now more than ever are tied to ones credit score. So if you are planning on buying a house sometime in the near future its a good idea to figure out what your credit score is now to make sure there are no outstanding debts or problems you need to fix.

Escapeso Realty provides current information on mortgage interest rates on their site. They also provide a free mortgage calculator and a mortgage rates widget.

One of the more recent developments in the Austin real estate market are the multitude of loft condominiums springing up smack-right in the middle of downtown. This new push towards urban living reflects an interest in a pedestrian-oriented community, optimal for those who work in Austin's business center, but also attractive to others who appreciate an abundance of amenities offered within walking distance. Downtown Austin has much to offer Austin residents, whether they work, live, or visit this area which truly represents the cultural heartbeat of the city.

Austin's downtown is bursting with shops, cafes, galleries and nightlife. Whether looking for antiques at the beloved Whit Hanks, seeking esoteric ethnic treasures at Tesoros, or shopping for home furnishings at Bella Home or Zanzibar, the shops are local, and the wares are unique. In addition to Starbucks, there are plenty of cafes around, including Little City, and Drogo's Cafe do Brazil. Art galleries, including Art on Fifth and Artworks, are scattered throughout the area, and the nightlife – well, it can’t be beat.

Most of the new lofts are far enough away from the entertainment districts to provide relative quiet, but are close enough to make a night out on the town just a short walk or cab ride away. The bars, music venues and restaurants of the famed Sixth Street district now have competition from the bustling young crowds of the Red River scene. The Warehouse District continues to be one of the most vibrant entertainment areas in the city, although the new 2nd Street shopping and dining area is thriving as well.

Downtown Austin is home to some of the finest restaurants in the city. Louie’s 106 has enticed downtowners with its Mediterranean tapas and steaks for years, and the Driskill Grill offers another close fine dining experience. Eddie V's and McCormick & Schmick offer superlative seafood, and Sullivans, Ruth's Chris Steak House and Fleming's are top-notch steak houses. The varieties of food run the gamut as well – from Spanish food at Malaga, to Italian at La Traviata, from sushi at Kenichi or Kyoto to Southwestern cuisine at Z-Tejas.

One the most attractive parts about Austin's downtown is its proximity to the nature and beauty found at Lady Bird Lake, as well as the Town Lake parks and trails. The plentiful outdoor activities provide the urban dweller with opportunities to walk, run, bike, and boat - all within walking distance of the sleek and sophisticated apartment buildings springing up. Waterloo Park, Republic Square, and other smaller patches of green add to the options for outdoor activity.

Downtowners will find their grocery needs admirably met by the flagship store of the Whole Foods Market chain. This Austin-based business launched their enormous new store in 2005, making fresh and organic produce, dairy, meats and seafood available. In addition to staples, an on-site bakery and international groceries, Whole Foods offers an abundance of prepared foods, from soups, salads and sandwiches, to pizza, seafood and a raw foods stand.

With all of life’s necessities within walking distance, it is no wonder that Downtown Austin real estate is thriving as a residential community.

Ki is an Austin real estate agent. He runs a site with information about Austin real estate and a search of the Austin MLS. He also talks about current events on Austin real estate blog.

Mortgage interest rates were virtually unchanged this week. The 30 Year rate stayed even at 6.52. The 15 year rate moved up a little from 6.07 to 6.10 and the 5 year arm moved down from 6.07 to 6.05. The only rate that moved much was the one year are which fell from 5.27 to 5.22. The one year Arm had the biggest fall last week as well. So in total for the last two weeks the 1 year arm has fallen from 5.49 to 5.22 while the other 3 major mortgage products have not fallen more than .11. Why the one year ARM is looking so good is another question. A high percent of the foreclosures the country is currently dealing with are from ARM based mortgages. So it seems odd to encourage ARMs when they are partially responsible with the current mess we are in. Of course the people in charge of the various mortgage companies didn't lose billions in shareholder wealth in just two years by making prudent decisions. So who knows what their current strategy is. Here are mortgage interest rates for the major mortgage products for the last few weeks.

August 7,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.10 5-yr ARM 6.05 1-yr ARM 5.22

July 31,2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.07 5-yr ARM 6.07 1-yr ARM 5.27

July 24,2008
30-yr 6.63 15-yr 6.18 5-yr ARM 6.16 1-yr ARM 5.49

July 17,2008
30-yr 6.26 15-yr 5.78 5-yr ARM 5.80 1-yr ARM 5.10

July 10,2008
30-yr 6.37 15-yr 5.91 5-yr ARM 5.82 1-yr ARM 5.17


As always what do all these crazy numbers mean. To put these numbers in perspective lets see what these rates translate into for a mortgage on a 200k house.

August 7th
30-yr $1266.76
15-yr $1698.53
5-yr ARM $1205.53
1-yr ARM $1100.69

July 31th
30-yr $1266.76
15-yr $1695.28
5-yr ARM $1208.11
1-yr ARM $1106.88

July 24th
30-yr $1281.28
15-yr $1707.22
5-yr ARM $1219.75
1-yr ARM $1134.32


On the one hand I am usually pretty against ARMs. But a difference of 166.07 a month is pretty hard to ignore. If you are thinking of getting a 1 Year ARM this my advice. 1) Make sure you have 12 months of mortgage payments in a liquid account. 2) Watch the rates over the next year and wait for rates to come down a bit. If they don't come down and instead come up make sure you can afford to refinance at a higher rate. 3) this should be obvious from point one and two but if you are getting a 1 Year Arm dont get anywhere near your maximum loan amount. So if you are approved for a 300k loan it might be ok to get a 1 Year ARM if you are buying a house that is 150k-200k. If you are approved for a 300k loan and get a house for 280k get a 30 Year loan its simply not worth the risk. With an ARM your mortgage rate will simply start to flucuate after a year unlike a balloon where you are forced to refinance.

Escapeso Realty is a small brokerage in Austin Texas. Their site provides updated graphs on mortgage interest rates. They provide a free mortgage calculator along with a mortgage rates widget

The residential neighborhood around Barton Springs which is now called Barton Hills is one of the earliest settlements in the Austin area, and the community was originally a small town itself. This unique neighborhood is so old that dinosaur footprints dating back millions of years have been found on the banks of the creek and springs!

More recently, shortly after the Texas Revolution in 1836, William Barton, for whom the community was named, patented the land near Barton Springs and named the springs for his three daughters. Prior to that, the Spanish had established three settlements around the springs in the early 1700s, and the creek and community were called Spring Creek at the time, which was in the Mexican state of Coahuala, but later granted to Benjamin Milam and referred to as Milam's Colony.

In 1875, passage could be bought from Austin to Barton Hills on the Steamboat Sunbeam for 50 cents round trip, and later, in the early twentieth century, the land was acquired by Andrew J. Zilker and deeded to the City of Austin as a park in 1918 and later 1931, on the condition that the city support educational programs. Robert E. Lee was also an early visitor to the area, and a well known street in the neighborhood is named for him today.

One of the earliest architects who built homes in the area was named A.D. Stenger, and his eclectic "contemporary" style, which favored low, sloping roofs and decks and balconies which extended into the treetops, was well known and he was frequently compared to Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1956, the neighborhood was named in Austin's Parade of Homes as the world's largest air-conditioned subdivision, and the neighborhood was later subdivided by S.R. Sheppard, among others, into six sections with 1585 planned lots on 535 acres of land.

In 1990, the population of Barton Hills was 6,796, and today it is over 9,000, with 8,036 residents being reported in the census of 2000, so the area is expanding rapidly as well. Today, there is an active neighborhood association, named for the neighborhood, and many schools, churches, small grocery stores and other small businesses around Barton Hills Drive.

There are also many activities and events in Zilker Park, which is the home of the Barton Springs Pool and hike and bike trails, as well as Umlauf Sculpture Gardens and the Zilker Botanical Gardens. In addition, there are and many campsites, picnic tables, and the Austin Nature Center in the park, which includes a small wild animal habitat which features animals, birds, reptiles, and other forms of wildlife native to central Texas.

The Barton Creek Hike and Bike Trail runs the length of the neighborhood, with entry points in various locations, and Campbell's Hole, a historic swimming hole which is formed from the waters of the creek and springs, is a popular spot for neighborhood children and families, as well as their dogs, since the trails are ideal for dog walking and hiking.

Barton Hills Elementary School is directly across from the greenbelt, and St. Mark's Episcopal Church, at the corner of Barton Hills Drive and Barton Skyway, is a pristine and very majestic neighborhood church which features a serene meditation walk on the grounds behind the church replete with tables, benches, and quiet, peaceful spots for prayer, worship, and meditation.

Since the neighborhood is adjacent to the Mopac Expressway, the area is easily accessible to visitors and residents alike, and with its natural beauty, many amenities, history, and gracious homes, it is one of the most popular and well-respected neighborhoods in Austin, for good reason!

Ki works as a realtor in the Austin real estate market. His site provides information on barton hills homes along with a search of the Austin MLS.

Before we talk about what happened with mortgage rates this week lets do a quick recap of what happened last week. Last week mortgage interest rates made a sudden jump over the previous week. For the entire month of June and July 30 year mortgage interest rates fluctuated from 6.09 to 6.45. Then last week 30 year mortgage rates jumped from 6.26 to 6.63. At the time we predicted that rates would probably fall this week because usually after big spikes there is a bit of correction. We saw exactly that with all four of the major mortgage products falling, but not back to their levels from two weeks ago. 30 Year rates from 6.63 to 6.52. The only mortgage product to fall substantially this week was the 1 Year ARM. Last week the 1 Year rate rose from 5.10 to 5.49. This week the 1 Year mortgage rate lost most of that gain falling to 5.27. Below are rates for the major mortgage products for the last month.

July 31, 2008
30-yr 6.52 15-yr 6.07 5-yr ARM 6.07 1-yr ARM 5.27

July 24, 2008
30-yr 6.63 15-yr 6.18 5-yr ARM 6.16 1-yr ARM 5.49

July 17, 2008
30-yr 6.26 15-yr 5.78 5-yr ARM 5.80 1-yr ARM 5.10

July 10, 2008
30-yr 6.37 15-yr 5.91 5-yr ARM 5.82 1-yr ARM 5.17

July 3, 2008
30-yr 6.35 15-yr 5.92 5-yr ARM 5.78 1-yr ARM 5.17

Ok so mortgage interest rates tell part of the story. But how does this translate into a mortgage payment. Using our free mortgage calculator lets translate the mortgage interest rates over the last few weeks into a mortgage payment for a 200k loan.

July 31th, 2008
30-yr $1266.76
15-yr $1695.28
5-yr ARM $1208.11
1-yr ARM $1106.88

July 24th, 2008
30-yr $1281.28
15-yr $1707.22
5-yr ARM $1219.75
1-yr ARM $1134.32

July 17th, 2008
30-yr $1232.73
15-yr $1664.03
5-yr ARM $1173.5
1-yr ARM $1085.89

So it looks like for now rates are still relatively high. The only mortgage product that remains relatively low is the 1 year mortgage rate. Comparing it to the 30 Year mortgage rate at 6.52 the 1 Year mortgage rate is 5.27. For a 200k mortgage the mortgage payment with a 30 Year loan would be 1266.76. For a 1 Year Arm the mortgage payment would be 1106.88 or about 12.6% less. The only problem with 1 Year ARM's is that their is no guarantee mortgage rates will be less in one year. And with all the volatility in the mortgage markets right now they could be somewhat higher.

Ki works in Austin Texas as a realtor. His website provides information on mortgage interest rates along with a free mortgage calculator. Their is also graphs that show historical mortgage interest rates

With the recent push towards local, sustainable eating, Austin residents are lucky to claim quite a few local farms. Many of these farmers bring their freshly harvested produce in to town periodically as part of one of the farmer's markets located throughout the city. Not just produce, Austin's farmers markets also feature locally made products such as cheese, tamales, breads, jams, soaps, and other handicrafts. With live music, entertainment for the kiddos, and an air of celebration, these bi-weekly events provide sustenance for the spirit as well as the body.

Austin Farmer's Market: With two locations, this aptly named market is held on Wednesdays from 4PM to 8PM, and Saturdays from 9AM to 1PM, year-round, rain or shine. A growers-only market, all of their produce and products are grown or produced within a 150 mile radius of Austin, and produce farmers make up at least 51% of their vendors. An offshoot o f the Sustainable Food Center, a local 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, the market is an important extension of their mission, to improve access to local, healthy and affordable food for children and adults in Central Texas. A unique feature of this group is their Chefs' Circle - a group of well known local chefs who periodically present cooking demonstrations at the Market. (Triangle Park, 4600 Guadalupe - 46th Street between Lamar and Guadalupe, AND Republic Square Park - 4th and Guadalupe)

Sunset Valley Farmer's Market: Claiming "The Spirit of the Farm in an Urban Setting" this weekly market is festival-like in atmosphere. With farmers, artisans, bakeries and restaurants all hawking their wares, shoppers are just as likely to get lunch as they are to get their weekly produce. Live music, face painting and inflatable slides and jumping structures make this an attractive destination for families. Held in the parking lot of the Toney Burger Center just east of Brodie off of Ben White, this weekly market is held on Saturdays from 9 to 1:00, year round, rain or shine. (3200 Jones Rd, Sunset Valley, TX, 78745)

Boggy Creek Farm: Although this market is held at, and features produce only from one of Austin's premier organic farms, it merits inclusion in this list due to its expansive offerings of things other than produce. Boggy Creek Farm provides local, organic produce to many local restaurants, and at their Wednesday and Saturday morning market, also offers local cheeses, breads, and other carefully selected products to the general public. The eggs from their free-roaming chickens go early, but the chickens remain strolling about to delight the kids, who can also take advantage of a small play area with farm-oriented toys. (3414 Lyons Road, Austin TX 78702)

South Austin Farmers Market: This small but tenacious market features local produce, and occasionally local products may be offered as well. Held on Saturdays, year round from 8AM to 1PM, they are located in the parking lot of El Gallo Restaurant on South Congress Avenue, across the street from St. Edwards University. (2910 S. Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704)

Escapeso Realty is a small company in Austin. The provide a free search of the Austin MLS along with updated information on the Austin real estate market. Their site also provides updated mortgage interest rates for potential home buyers.

After falling for most of the month of July Mortgage interest rates jumped up. And not only did they move up they jumped to the highest levels we have seen in 2008. 30 Year rates jumped from 6.26 to 6.63 last week. To put that in perspective for the entire month of May mortgage rates fluctuated between 5.98 to 6.08. The increases were not confined to 30 Year rates, 15 year rates went from 5.78 to 6.18, 5 Year Arms went from 5.80 to 6.16 and 1 Year Arms went from 5.10 to 5.49. The interest rates we saw this week for all the major 4 mortgage products were the highest numbers we have seen for all of 2008. When was the last time we saw mortgage rates this high? I looked back through 2007 to find the last time we saw rates this high for the different mortgage products.

30 year - August 2 , 2007
15 Year - August 16, 2007
5 Year - September 20, 2007
1 Year - December 27, 2008

Below are mortgage rates for the last few weeks.

July 24,2008
30-yr 6.63 15-yr 6.18 5-yr ARM 6.16 1-yr ARM 5.49

July 17,2008
30-yr 6.26 15-yr 5.78 5-yr ARM 5.80 1-yr ARM 5.10

July 10,2008
30-yr 6.37 15-yr 5.91 5-yr ARM 5.82 1-yr ARM 5.17

July 3,2008
30-yr 6.35 15-yr 5.92 5-yr ARM 5.78 1-yr ARM 5.17

June 26,2008
30-yr 6.45 15-yr 6.04 5-yr ARM 5.99 1-yr ARM 5.27

Ok so mortgage rates are one thing. But what does this mean for an actual mortgage. using our free mortgage calculator and pulling a number out of a hat we looked at how these rate increases would affect a 200k mortgage.

July 24th
30-yr $1281.28
15-yr $1707.22
5-yr ARM $1219.75
1-yr ARM $1134.32

July 17th
30-yr $1232.73
15-yr $1664.03
5-yr ARM $1173.5
1-yr ARM $1085.89

So starting off the monthly payment on a 200k mortgage with 30 Year loan would be $48.55 more this week compared to last (1232.73 to 1281.28). A 15 Year mortgage would have increased $43.19, a 5 year mortgage increased $46.25, and a 1 year mortgage would have increased $48.43.

So why have rates risen so dramatically. A few bank closures have probably caused some uncertainty in the market. Additionally the FED spent the early part of the year trying to keep rates down and basically ignoring the risk of inflation. That has changed as inflation signs have started to crop up. So now the FED is worried more about the risk of inflation.

So usually when one mortgage product rises I advise potential home buyers to look at the other mortgage products. But this week all the mortgage products rose more or less equally. Therefore my advice would be to start looking at putting down more cash. With interest rates moving up near 7 it might be a good idea to evaluate other investments and consider putting a large down payment on a house. If you are thinking of buying a house in the next few months its probably a good idea to start paying more attention to savings.

So what is going to happen next week? Usually after we see a sudden large increase or decrease the next week we see rates move a little bit in the opposite direction. But what happens with mortgage interest rates over the next week and the next few months to a large extent is going to be based on what happens with the banks and the mortgage industry and at this point with all the turmoil in the markets its a little hard to predict what is going to happen next.

Ki provides updated information on mortgage interest rates along with a mortgage interest rates widget. His site also provides a free mortgage calculator.

Allandale is the name of a lovely neighborhood in central Austin, although the area was originally considered to be northwest Austin, before Austin’s expansion into a large metropolitan area. Allandale recently celebrated its 35th anniversary as an active central Austin community, and the Allandale Neighborhood Association has been a presence in the neighborhood since 1973. Currently, Allandale is home to over 21,000 residents, and two of the boundaries of the neighborhood are the MoPac Expressway and Burnet Road, which form the western and eastern perimeters, respectively.

Typical residences in Allandale are three to four bedroom single family homes, most within the $250,000 to $300,000 price range, although more and less expensive housing can be found too. The students in Allendale attend Austin Independent School District schools, and there is an elementary school named Gullet Elementary, as well as a middle school named Lamar and a high school named McAllen High School. Allandale has the 28th largest neighborhood association in Austin, and there is an activity center named the Northwest Recreation Center which is ideal for indoor as well as outdoor sporting activities. The Allandale Neighborhood’s other borders are generally considered to be Anderson Lane and Hancock Drive, as well as Shoal Creek, and the neighborhood is chock full of restaurants, shopping, and various types of dwellings.

The roots of the Allandale neighborhood go back to the 1930s, and at that time, it was considered to be a suburb outside of Austin proper. George Davis was the original owner of most of the land in the neighborhood, and he obtained the land from the President of the Republic of Texas in 1841. A grant of over 3,100 acres was given to him in exchange for his service in the battle of San Jacinto, and some of his descendants still live in the neighborhood today. The Davis family also has a family cemetery on Vine Street to this day.

Housing is slightly more expensive in the neighborhood than in some areas of Austin, and the vintage homes from the 1940s and 1950s frequently boast mature landscaping with large yards, a perfect setting for families with children. There are fixer-uppers to be found in the neighborhood too, along with apartments and duplexes, among other choices. Since Shoal Creek, with its numerous parks and hike and bike trails, runs along the Allandale neighborhood, there is plenty to do from a standpoint of recreation as well.

Some of the eateries in the Allandale area include Phil's Icehouse, Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon, and Amy's Ice Cream, all local hotspots, as well as many popular family restaurants, including the Hang Town Grill, and the Frisco, which occupied the same location on Burnet for years until it recently closed. A popular park in the neighborhood is named Beverly Sheffield Park, and the park is adjacent to Shoal Creek, and has a beautiful duck pond as well as an Olympic sized swimming pool. The park also includes picnic sites, barbecue pits, ball fields, tennis courts, and a fishing pier, and is a home away from home for the children of the area.

Escapeso helps buyers and investors looking for Austin real estate. Their website provides a map based search of the Austin MLS and updated market statistics on their Austin real estate blog.

Charming pockets of single family homes are studded throughout this hidden gem of a neighborhood, and although certain parts of the area are given over to apartment complexes, duplexes and fourplexes, this is an overlooked area with enormous potential. Bounded by I35 to the west, Ben White to the south, Riverside to the north, and Montopolis to the east, this rising star offers a wide range of restaurants, a big park with loads of amenities, an ACC campus, and the promise of an area on the way up.

Both Burleson and Parker streets, two of the main north-south arteries between Oltorf and Ben White/Riverside, have many smaller streets branching off, and these streets hold mature trees, a wide array of single family homes, and a feeling of being in a secret oasis. Prices are still extremely reasonable here, and there is easy access to central Austin, as well as Ben White and I35. Following Oltorf east past Pleasant Valley, the homes are newer, with manicured lawns and a more suburban feel.

Both Oltorf and Riverside offer an abundance of restaurants, from Vietnamese at Hai Ky, Indonesian at Java Noodles, Middle Eastern at Jerusalem, Italian at Aljohn’s, or the many great Mexican places in the area, including La Tapatia, Taqueria Vallarta, El Regio, and many more. Rapidly becoming the cultural center of the area is Café Ventana, an expansive coffee shop with a wide range of offerings and a large area for relaxing, meeting, or working on your computer.

Mabel Davis District Park, recently reopened after major renovations, provides a wonderful outdoor sanctuary in this urban setting. Close to 50 acres, including 30 acres of open green space, provide room for sports, picnics, and other activities. The park also has a basketball court, an olympic-size swimming pool, a great playscape, and a good sized picnic area with shade. To the great delight of teen aged boys, the first skate park in Austin was opened here in 2005, featuring a skate bowl, streetscape elements and lawn for nervous parents to observe.

Also on the horizon is the Roy Guerrero Colorado River Park, in the northeast corner of the area. Work is schedule to begin on this undeveloped tract, and the master plan includes trails, a large playscape, and as much acreage as Zilker Park, providing lots of open space. Also located in the neighborhood are the Riverside Golf Course, and the Krieg Field Softball complex.

This area provides both an urban feel, with the shopping, restaurants and businesses located on Riverside and Oltorf, and an idyllic, quiet, residential feel, with winding streets and hills tucked away from the hustle and bustle. With businesses looking more and more to Southeast Austin for development opportunities, this area is on the verge of becoming one of the hot-spots in town.

Escapeso Austin real estate operates in Austin Texas. Their website has information for buyers interested in Austin about Austin homes and Austin neighborhoods.

Mortgage Interest Rates Widget Mortgage Rate Trends

After rising drastically last week fixed mortgage interest rates moved up slightly this week. 30 Year notes moved from 6.42 to 6.45 and 15 Year notes moved from 6.02 to 6.04. ARMS on the other hand rose a decent amount. 5 Year Arms rose from 5.89 to 5.99 while 1 Year Arms rose from 5.19 to 5.27. Below are mortgage rates for the last few weeks.

June 26,2008
30-yr 6.45 15-yr 6.04 5-yr ARM 5.99 1-yr ARM 5.27

June 19,2008
30-yr 6.42 15-yr 6.02 5-yr ARM 5.89 1-yr ARM 5.19

June 12,2008
30-yr 6.32 15-yr 5.93 5-yr ARM 5.70 1-yr ARM 5.09

June 5,2008
30-yr 6.09 15-yr 5.65 5-yr ARM 5.51 1-yr ARM 5.06

May 29,2008
30-yr 6.08 15-yr 5.66 5-yr ARM 5.62 1-yr ARM 5.22

May 22,2008
30-yr 5.98 15-yr 5.55 5-yr ARM 5.61 1-yr ARM 5.24

Using our free mortgage calculator lets run the numbers on a 200k loan based on todays rates. We also put in what the mortgage would be a week and a month ago.

June 26th
30-yr $1257.56
15-yr $1692.03
5-yr ARM $1197.81
1-yr ARM $1106.88

June 19th
30-yr $1253.6
15-yr $1689.87
5-yr ARM $1184.99
1-yr ARM $1096.98

May 29th
30-yr $1209.4
15-yr $1651.19
5-yr ARM $1150.68
1-yr ARM $1100.69

So looking at the numbers above one would have saved almost $50 by getting a 30 Year loan a month ago compared to today. In contrast a mortgage on a 1 Year Arm has remained relatively constant. Why Banks would want to promote 1 Year Arms is anyones guess. Based on the other recent decisions by banks it would not be a bad assumption to assume banks have no idea what they are doing this point.

At this point getting a 5 Year Loan doesnt really seem worth it compared to getting a 30 Year loan since the cost savings is not that high (5%). On the other hand if you plan on keeping the property for a short period of time a 1 Year loan seems attractive considering the cost savings(12%).

Ki lives in Austin. His website has information on Austin real estate along with search of the Austin MLS and market stats on his Austin real estate blog.

Austin is home to one of the best metropolitan parks in the state. With sand volleyball courts, a nine-hole disc golf course, soccer and rugby fields, and two enormous multi-use fields for the sports enthusiasts, Zilker Park is also home to Barton Springs pool, the Zilker Zephyr train, botanical gardens, a huge play ground, miles of hike and bike trails, and with many other permanent amenities within its 350-plus acres. A regular destination for Austinites, the park is also home to some of the city’s most popular events, including the Trail of Lights, the Austin Kite Festival, and the Austin City Limits music festival.

Over three acres large, Barton Springs is Austin’s favorite swimming hole. Fed from underground springs, the pool maintains an average water temperature of 68 degrees year round – most find it bracing, and a welcome respite from the summer heat. With a separate area that welcomes dogs in addition to human swimmers, Barton Springs has drawn a diverse crowd of swimmers for more than a century. Zilker Park is located close to downtown in the historic Barton Hills Neighborhood. Barton hills homes were built in the 1940s and the neighborhood offer a quaint charm of tree lined streets surrounding the park.

Zilker Park’s playground is enormous, with plenty of action for toddler and bigger kids as well. Slides, swings, climbing structures and even an old-fashioned fire truck entice the kiddos, while benches and picnic tables are available for the less active. Adjacent to the playground is a snack bar, featuring cold drinks and a limited menu. Just across from the snack bar is the train depot for the Zilker Zephyr, a miniature train that takes visitors on about a 20 minute tour around the park. Alongside the creek, under a bridge, and past people waving hello, the train delights kids of all ages.

With eighteen acres of grounds to explore, the Zilker Botanical Garden is a beautiful and serene destination. Among its many horticultural attractions are a Japanese garden, xeriscape demonstration garden, rose garden, cactus garden, bedding displays, floral display garden, butterfly trail and garden, and an herb & fragrance garden. The dinosaur statue located in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden is always a hit with kids, and the interpretive center holds a wealth of information.

The Zilker Hillside Theatre is perfected situated to allow the audience to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and picnic while enjoying the different performances. Home to the annual Blues on the Green series, the theater also puts on concerts in many different genres of music in addition to hosting Austin’s Shakespeare in the Park.

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is another tranquil cultural offering in Zilker Park, focused primarily on the work of American sculptor Charles Umlauf. With over 130 sculptures, drawings & paintings located throughout its lush green grounds, they offer educational programs and tours in addition to their regular hours for public visits.

The Austin Nature and Science Center can also be found in Zilker Park, and is a fascinating and educational destination. With an interpretive center, education programs and summer camps, kids of all ages will delight in viewing their rescued animal exhibit, and can practice being junior archeologists in the dinosaur pit.

Ki lives and works in Austin Texas. His site provides information on Austin real estate with descriptions of Austin neighborhoods and a search of the Austin MLS.

Pemberton Heights is the name of a beautiful and historic area of Old West Austin, centrally located and convenient to downtown, the University of Texas campus, and the State Capitol complex, as well as easily accessible by the MoPac Expressway, also known as Loop One. The gateway to Pemberton Heights is considered to be the Keith House, at 2400 Harris, and this historic home was built in 1933 and has an unobstructed view of the Texas Capitol building from the front balcony, since it is located in the northern area of Austin’s State Capitol view zone. The Keith House was exhibits characteristics of both the Monterey Revival style as well as the Colonial Revival Style, with a wooden balcony and low-pitched roof, as well as varied exterior wall materials. This home is considered to be the earliest example of the Monterey Revival Style in the Austin area, and has chimneys at the gable ends, a central hallway, and shutters throughout, illustrating the Colonial Revival style. Two other historic and majestic homes in the neighborhood are Pemberton Castle, also known as the Fisher-Gideon home, at 1415 Wooldridge Drive, and the Catterall Mills House, at 2524 Harris, very near the Keith House.

Pemberton Castle is a limestone structure, with ivy-covered walls, which was built in 1926 from the remnants of an old cistern that was built on the spot in the late 1800s, and which was originally used to help Austin’s first fire fighters access water in the area. The home was originally owned by Judge John Harris, of Galveston, who was one of the earliest settlers to the area, and for whom Harris Boulevard is named. Harris was the Attorney General of Texas in the 1940s under then-governor Elisha Pease, for whom Pease Park is named, and Pease and Harris were real estate partners at the time. In 1925, the tower of the home was converted into a gothic structure by Samuel Fisher and his wife, Lucille.

The neighborhood was named Pemberton Heights about the same time, in 1927, when the developers filed a plat with the Travis County Clerk’s office for the first home in the new subdivision to be called Pemberton Heights. Shortly thereafter, the Castle became the sales office for the new development.

The Catterall Mills House was built in 1937 in the style of Early American Georgian Revival, and it is a plain, symmetrical, wooden structure covered with red wood siding. The home was bought by the Chester Family in 1999, and features some very unusual architectural amenities, including a bomb shelter built in the backyard during the Cold War. There is also an Italian marble fireplace and many stained-glass windows throughout the home.

Pemberton Heights roughly encompasses the area from the intersection of MoPac and Windsor, south along Windsor Rd., and north along Shoal Creek to 29th Street. The street which encompasses the eastern edge is Harris Boulevard, which eventually intersects with Northwood and then Jefferson. Westover Road is considered the last bordering street of the neighborhood, and the land contained within these boundaries is generally considered to be Pemberton Heights. The subdivision is considered to be one of the most prestigious as well as livable neighborhoods in Austin for a variety of reasons.

The Pemberton Heights subdivision was named in the 1998 issue of Town and Country magazine as one of the twenty-five Platinum Addresses in the United States, and in 2007, this neighborhood, along with its Old West Austin counterparts, was named by the American Planning Association as one of its “Great Places” neighborhoods. There is a very active neighborhood association in the subdivision, open to all residents, and some of the issues they are involved with include the preservation of trees and other foliage, less expansion by the MoPac into the neighborhood, and retaining the historic character, as well as creating and maintaining a pedestrian friendly environment in Pemberton Heights, which is also considered to be a very family-friendly area.

Today, residents and visitors can become knowledgeable about issues by reading the Pemberton Journal, which is published by the neighborhood association, and the subdivision has numerous single-family dwellings for sale and rent as well as condominiums and apartments available for rent. Pemberton Heights is one of the most desirable locations to live in Austin, and is minutes from downtown and various other attractions. If you are looking for the good life, Pemberton Heights has it all.

Ki works in the Austin real estate market. His site has a free search of the Austin MLS and information on mortgage interest rates.

Mortgage Interest Rates Historical Mortgage Rates

After several weeks of staying relatively flat mortgage interest rates jumped up this week. 30 Year mortgage went from 6.09 to 6.32. 15 Year Mortgage moved from 5.65 to 5.93. 5 Year rates went from 5.51 to 5.70. The only rate that was somewhat stable was 1 Year Arms which went up from 5.06 to 5.09. Two weeks ago we predicted that rates would increase over the summer and they seem to be doing exactly that.

June 12,2008
30-yr 6.32 15-yr 5.93 5-yr ARM 5.70 1-yr ARM 5.09

June 5,2008
30-yr 6.09 15-yr 5.65 5-yr ARM 5.51 1-yr ARM 5.06

May 29,2008
30-yr 6.08 15-yr 5.66 5-yr ARM 5.62 1-yr ARM 5.22

May 22,2008
30-yr 5.98 15-yr 5.55 5-yr ARM 5.61 1-yr ARM 5.24

May 15, 2008
30-yr 6.01 15-yr 5.60 5-yr ARM 5.57 1-yr ARM 5.18

May 8, 2008
30-yr 6.05 15-yr 5.60 5-yr ARM 5.67 1-yr ARM 5.29

Using out free mortgage calculator lets see what the rate increase mean for the payments on a 200k mortgage. We calculated out the mortgage payments based on today's mortgage interest rates and rates a week and a month ago.

June 12th
30-yr $1240.55
15-yr $1680.15
5-yr ARM $1160.80
1-yr ARM $1084.67

June 5th
30-yr $1210.69
15-yr $1650.11
5-yr ARM $1136.83
1-yr ARM $1080.98

May 8th, 2008
30-yr $1205.53
15-yr $1644.79
5-yr ARM $1157.00
1-yr ARM $1109.36

So for a 30 Year Mortgage on a 200k loan the mortgage payment went up about $30 or about 2.5 percent. The mortgage on a 15 Year mortgage also went up about $30. What is weird is rates on 1 Year ARMs stayed about the same and are actually down from a month ago. This makes no sense. Banks are dealing with foreclosures that are mostly coming from borrowers that got 5 and 1 Year ARMs. Basically when the ARMs reset borrowers are frequently unable to make the higher payments and wide up facing foreclosure. One would think banks would be discouraging these high risk loans. I would like to think the banks know something I don't. But looking at their foolish behavior over the last few years (giving loans to everyone that walked in the door from 2004-2006) its a distinct possibility they are just plain foolish. So again this week 1 Year ARMs look attractive. Just remember in a year your rate and mortgage could be higher so it would be wise to have some cash on the side to pay a potentially higher mortgage. And I would expect rates to be higher one year from today.

So what would I expect to happen over the rest of the summer. First off I don't see rates going down. The FED has given numerous signals they don't plan to lower rates. Will rates continue to go up? I am not sure. I expected rates to creep up over the next month instead of jumping up this month. So I hope rates stay relatively flat but they could go higher over the next month.

Escapeso Realty operates in the Austin real estate market. They work with investors interested in Austin commercial real estate and provide a search of the Austin MLS on their website.

As the Austin Texas real estate market expands in all directions, areas we used to think of as “way out there” are not only seeming closer, but are getting their own infrastructure. Maple Run in Southwest Austin is just one of those areas. Located south of William Cannon, north of Slaughter, west of Brodie and east of Mopac, this little oasis offers quiet streets, attractive and affordable housing, burgeoning businesses and is a hop, skip and a jump to one of the city’s cleanest, newest and nicest parks.

Each street in the area seems to have its own personality. The Deer Park subdivision is full of brick homes, with meticulously manicured gardens and lawns. These folks do a magnificent job with holidays – their Christmas lights are worth a trip, and Halloween is always scary! A few blocks down, you will find a more relaxed atmosphere, maintained just as nicely, but with a more casual feel. The busiest street is Copano, which is not busy at all! The houses in this area can run the gamut from a 3,000 square foot two story brick home with a pool to a 1200 sq. foot one level 2 br/ 2 bath with a nice yard. Many of these homes back to a greenbelt – nice and quiet.

Brodie Lane, one of the main north-south thoroughfares of the area, is full of convenient businesses closer to Ben White, but as you follow the street south of William Cannon heading down to Slaughter you find new business popping up almost every day. Take the intersection of Alexandria and Brodie – you have the best Cajun food and live music in town, an Austin Regional Clinic, Love Pet Hospital, Shipley’s Donuts, a florist, nail salons, a JiffyLube, and more! Just up the road is a Montessori school, just down the road is the Kid’s Zone preschool and daycare. Austin Telco and Advance Auto just came to the area, although the property adjoining them still has cattle on it – a truly Austin juxtaposition.

Families will love the Longview playground and park located at the eastern end of Harper’s Ferry. Swings and a play structure perfect for toddlers on up to school age are in great condition, and there are lots of trees for shade. A big field is perfect for kicking the ball or throwing the Frisbee, and there is a basketball court right up the hill. If you are looking for a little more, just head over to Dick Nichols – just west of Mopac off Davis. The toddler structure here is brand new, and the bigger kids one is in great repair. Picnic tables, a fountain for splash play, volleyball courts (or the world’s largest sandbox, depending on your age), tennis courts and a hike/bike trail can all be found here. Their pool is one of the best, with separate shallow and deep ends, plus a toddler wading pool – all crystal clear and in excellent condition.

It might seem “way out west,” but Southwest Austin is only 15 minutes to downtown, and the bang for your housing buck make it well worth considering.

Escapeso Realty helps buyers looking for properties in the Austin Texas real estate market. Their site allows potential to home buyers to search the Austin MLS and read about the latest market updates on their blog about Austin real estate along with info on mortgage interest rates