Austin is well known for the South By Southwest Music and Media Conference and Festival each spring and the Austin City Limits Music Festival each fall. But music isn't the only thing putting Austin on the map. Austin also hosts the Texas Book Festival and the Austin Film Festival and Conference every year.

Started in 1994, the Austin Film Festival is all about the creative process of screenwriting and film making. The annual film festival and conference held in October highlights local organizations and businesses that work in all elements of the film industry.

This year's festival features films starring actors like George Clooney and Meg Ryan. The conference and festival bring many big names from the film industry to Austin, but the event stays true the capital city's laid back feeling. There are no red carpets and little paparazzi at the eight day event.

The conference itself offers panels, lectures and roundtable discussion on all aspects of the film and screenwriting industry, and encourages budding film writers to take part. The festival is a series of screening of all types of films: shorts, documentaries, animation, independent and premieres. Unknowns in the film industry rub elbows with the bigwigs and many have had their work move into prominence due to this film festival.

The film festival is also a series of parties with different themes at many different downtown venues. Austin restaurants, bars, shops and hotels benefit from the festival patrons. The awards at this year's festival will go to industry greats like Ron Howard.

The Texas Book Festival, also going on this October in Austin, was started in 1995 by Laura Bush. The former first lady has always been a literacy advocate and started the ball rolling on the Texas festival to honor Texas writers and promote the love of reading.

The two-day event has the unique venue of the Texas State Capital buildings and grounds. Hopefully, the weather gods will smile down on Austin with more blue skies and sunny fall weather in the forecast for the last weekend in October. Nearly 50,000 people will fill the marbled halls and hallowed chambers of the state house to listen to lectures and panels. Other downtown venues also get involved, like the historical Paramount Theater and the Austin Children's Museum hosting special events for children's authors.

The festival not only celebrates literature, but also addresses some of the issues faced by the book industry. One of this year's lectures, "Are Books Dead?," addresses the future of books and the changing ways we will read them. This year will feature over 200 authors, like Margaret Atwood, Jane Smiley, Harold Evans, Gail Collins and Buzz Aldrin. The festival is free and open to the public, with lots of opportunites for book signings.

SXSW and ACL might bring the national camera crews and the big names in music, but they aren't the only festivals promoting the arts in this unique capital city.


Ki works, and lives, in Austin Texas. His website has thorough descriptions of Austin Texas real estate. It also has a map based search of the Austin MLS along with a blog covering news and events in Austin real estate.

Home building costs can often be a challenge to control when you've got so many variables in the building or remodeling project. You can avoid overages or, at least, keep them at a minimum if you are armed with some valuable advice.

When planning your build, pad your budget with a 15 percent Contingency Fund. This fund will enable you to pay for overages you have no control over, like unknowns behind walls and ceilings and problems found once excavation commences.

You may not be able to avoid all of them, but you can certainly keep overages under a certain amount of control if you consider the following tips and tricks.

Home Size, Style and Shape -

If you are building your dream home, these are three of the most significant factors that contribute to your bottom line - size, style and shape.

* As a rule, size your home in increments of two feet in order to reduce wasted material. In addition, industry experts advise that your home be built no deeper than 32 feet in order to eliminate the need for custom-made trusses. This will also reduce your expenses.

* Typically, the cost to build a multi-story home is less than building a ranch home with equivalent square footage. Multi-level homes have smaller roofs and foundations, and plumbing and ventilation are built more compact. Roofs and foundations can be quite expensive when building a ranch with equal square footage.

* The cost and need for labor and materials will increase the more corners and angles you build into the home, so you'll want to consider the shape when building your initial plan. A square or rectangular home costs less to build than homes with others shapes - e.g. L-shaped, round, octagonal, etc.

Before You Begin - Plan

* Plan your buildings costs. Take time to put your plan on paper.
* Itemize every activity you think will be involved in the project and every product you think you'll have to purchase to complete it.
* Visit home improvement stores and obtain pricing for all items you believe you'll need.
* Add all your projected expenses up and include the total in your budget.

Before You Sign - Specify

* Make sure you have an architectural plan or very specific drawing and measurements of your new build to eliminate as much gray area as possible.
* If you want specific products to be used in the build, state your requirements to the contractor and make sure that they are included in the contract for bid before signing.
* If you expect granite countertops, but only state high-end countertops, you can't expect your contractor to accommodate your request. You must be specific.
* Make sure language is included to reflect that all building permits will be obtained by your contractor.
* Make sure language is included in the contract that requires the contractor to be responsible for all costs associated with removal of demolition performed in the project.

Before Work Begins -

* If the contractor you use is reputable, he should obtain the appropriate permits with local authorities.
* Don't let the project proceed until you know that all permits have been obtained and are posted where required.

Contractor Change Orders - Beware

* This is the primary reason that projects experience overruns.
* A change order typically increases the cost of your build. If you agree to the change order and the associated expense, you are responsible to pay for it.
* If the change order is an expense incurred due to the contractor creating it, then you should not agree nor should you be held responsible for the cost - i.e., contractor accidentally tears down a wall not in the original bid or causes damage to your property while working the project.
* Be aware of your contract and the condition of your project along the way, so that you will immediately notice issues that come up for which the contractor should be responsible.
* Keep in mind that some change orders may require local officials to revisit the project to approve modifications.

Most Common Milestones for Overruns

Historically, there are two most common milestones when your building project will experience an overrun if building a new home or adding on a new room to your existing home.

Beginning of Project -

* When excavating and installing a well, if necessary, overruns are often experienced due to the terrain.
* If your contractor hits unusually rocky ground, it will take longer for him to excavate and will cost you more out-of-pocket.
* If drilling a well, it is not always known how deep it will be necessary to dig before finding water.

End of Project -

* Wrapping up the final touches to your countertops, cabinets, lighting, plumbing, flooring, electrical and other aspects to the project.
* Again, take time to shop around for all these items, price them, include them in the cost for your project, and deviate as little as possible.
* If you have excess from your Contingency Fund, you can always tap into it for extras at the end.

It's almost impossible to avert all overages in a building project; however, if you plan up front and keep your eyes open along the way, you could reduce and eliminate the most costly ones.

Ki lives and works in Austin Texas and works in Austin Texas real estate as a realtor and investor. He has a website to help buyers seamlessly perform an Austin home search online. He also writes a monthly blog covering Austin real estate with statistics and market updates.

After falling for the last 6 weeks mortgage rates started to rise this week. The 30 year rate rose from 4.87 to 4.92. The 15 year mortgage rose from 4.33 to 4.37. Both arms rose as well with the 5 year arm rising from 4.35 to 4.38 and the 1 year arm rising from 4.53 to 4.60. Below are mortgage rates for the last several weeks along with mortgage rates from March 19, 2009.

Oct 15, 2009
30-yr 4.92 15-yr 4.37 5-yr ARM 4.38 1-yr ARM 4.60

Oct 08, 2009
30-yr 4.87 15-yr 4.33 5-yr ARM 4.35 1-yr ARM 4.53

Oct 01, 2009
30-yr 4.94 15-yr 4.36 5-yr ARM 4.42 1-yr ARM 4.49

Sep 24, 2009
30-yr 5.04 15-yr 4.46 5-yr ARM 4.51 1-yr ARM 4.52

Sep 17, 2009
30-yr 5.04 15-yr 4.47 5-yr ARM 4.51 1-yr ARM 4.58

Mar 19, 2009
30-yr 4.98 15-yr 4.61 5-yr ARM 4.98 1-yr ARM 4.91

Overall its not that interesting that rates moved up. Moving up .05 points is not that significant. For the last few months the speculation has been that rates are going to eventually move up. Additionally, the federal government has been pulling back on the amount of mortgage securities it was buying (which was pushing mortgage rates down). So the question is whether this weeks rise in mortgage rates was just normal volatility or the beginning of the steady rise in mortgage rates that some have been predicting. At this point it's an impossible question to answer for the most part we will have to wait and see.

In addition to rates it's also interesting to look at mortgage payments. We took today's rates and determined the mortgage payment on a 200k loan. We also did the same thing with rates from October 1st (2 weeks ago) and March 12, 2009 (6 months ago).

Oct 15
30-yr $1063.88
15-yr $1516.73
5-yr ARM $999.16
1-yr ARM $1025.28

Oct 01
30-yr $1066.32
15-yr $1515.71
5-yr ARM $1003.88
1-yr ARM $1012.18

Mar 12
30-yr $1077.31
15-yr $1544.33
5-yr ARM $1072.42
1-yr ARM $1049.33

Overall looking at mortgage rates/mortgage payments from 2 weeks and 6 months ago we are not seeing a lot of movement. Compared to March 12 (6 months ago) a mortgage payment on a 200k loan would only be $13.42 less a month or 1.24 percent less. By comparison if rates rise to 7 percent (historically about average) a mortgage payment would be 266.72 more a month or a rise of 25%. While a rise to 7 percent seems like a lot many experts are expecting rates to move up to 9 or 10 percent.

So what is our advice for people looking for a mortgage? First it's probably best to start looking for a mortgage early on in the home buying process. It's more difficult to get a loan and waiting to the last minute is not advisable. Additionally, it's probably advisable to lock in a rate earlier instead of later. While mortgage rates could fall its doubtful they could drop by much at this point. On the other hand it's possible that mortgage rates could move up dramatically. So there is more to lose than gain by waiting to lock in on a mortgage. If mortgage rates do start to rise dramatically it could deal a serious blow to the real estate recovery we are currently seeing in several markets around the country.


Ki works in Austin real estate. His site has different mortgage widgets to keep track of mortgage rates. His site escapesomewhere.com has information on Austin along with a blog focused on Austin Texas real estate

No matter what profession you are in, you will be impacted by real estate in some form or another. Whether you own, rent or sub-let, your life is impacted by real estate and the professionals or individuals that sell, manage or own it.

With that in mind, it would make sense that you just might be interested in people who have made it big in real estate. There are a select few in the entire world who have made their tremendous mark on the real estate landscape. Although, there were many struggles along the way, they arrived at that coveted spot of being a famous real estate tycoon.

Sarah Beeny is a developer and a host of Property Ladder, a British television program in the U.K. Beeny is a die-hard optimist and proponent for incorporating energy efficiency into building or remodeling.

Tim Blixseth is an American real estate mogul and billionaire businessman. He made a promise early on in his investment life to only collect assets, not liabilities, for the remainder of his life. He says he's stuck to that promise.

Donald Bren, according to Forbes.com, is the wealthiest real estate tycoon on the planet with a $12 billion net worth. He currently owns hundreds of office buildings, along with 90 apartment complexes.

Conrad Hilton is the founder of Hilton Hotels. Hilton was known as a tremendous philanthropist who believed charity was a basic requirement for humanity.

Stanley Ho is one of the richest people in Asia. He's a Macau and Hong Kong billionaire and casino mogul.

Lee Shau Kee is recently most famous for losing around $8 billion in net worth just in the past two years. Even with the huge losses, Kee continues to be noted as a real estate magnate as owner for Henderson Land Development. China's greater region still considers Kee as one of the area's richest people.

Ray Kroc is a entrepreneur who founded the McDonald's Corporation franchise. Kroc purchased all rights to the McDonald's name from the founding brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. He took the franchise internationally to Japan and Germany in 1971.

Akira Mori is a famous Japanese real estate tycoon and billionaire. He's one of the richest men in the world. President and CEO of Mori Trust, his family's company owns real estate and hotels in Tokyo and all over Japan.

Minoru Mori is also a famous Japanese tycoon and billionaire. He and his brother Akira are sons to Taikichiro Mori.

Donald Trump is a famous television celebrity and billionaire real estate developer. Although his investments fluctuate with the waves of the sea, he always seems to come out on top.

Steve Wynn is a well-known Las Vegas casino and resort developer who developed some of the most opulent casinos and resorts in the City of Las Vegas.

Sam Zell's net worth exceeds $6 billion. He is ranked 68th on Forbes' list of richest Americans. He co-founded Equity Group Investments LLC that launched Equity Residential and Equity Office Properties.

Ki worked on 6th street in college. Today he has a business focused on Austin Texas real estate in the older neighborhoods of central Austin.. He also has a website, which encourages buyers to search the Austin MLS. Potential buyers can keep up with the market from afar by following his blog filled with statistics on Austin real estate.

State and local governments across the nation are gearing up to spend federal stimulus funds. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) birthed the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) that provides federal stimulus dollars to assist neighborhoods hardest hit by the home foreclosure crisis. The NSP falls under the umbrella of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

HUD's intent for the NSP is to provide assistance to more than 500 communities, cities and counties across America in the form of rent relief, for homeless prevention and to assist low-income families to buy homes. Organizations that are eligible for NSP funding are cities, non-profit agencies and housing authorities.

St. Lucie and Martin Counties in Florida hope to receive some $7.5 million in stimulus dollars. The counties recently applied for the funds through the state's Department of Community Affairs. Both counties intend on buying foreclosed homes, renovating them and selling them to low-income homebuyers. The other initiative for the funding will be to weatherize neighborhood homes.

Fresno County, along with the City of Fresno, has received a total of $18 million in NSP funding to address the abundance of local area foreclosed homes. Officials have already interviewed several developers that will be hired to buy, renovate and sell or rent the homes to low-income families.

Blighted areas will benefit the most from the funds. A byproduct of the dollars will be construction jobs associated with renovating the properties.

Massachusetts may see some activity soon in many of their local cities and neighborhoods, since the state applied for funds in the total of $54 million. Boston Community Capital, alone, applied for $50 million in NSP funds in order to broaden the organization's ability to assist the state's residents who are facing foreclosure on their homes. The group has already committed $4 million in assistance to purchase abandoned property, loan funds to small developers renovating vacant properties and assist struggling homeowners in keeping or buying back their homes.

Connecticut has thrown their hat into the ring for $45 million in NSP dollars, which will target the state's four most hard hit cities. The Connecticut Consortium falls under the state's Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), and will be responsible for allocating the funds to local communities. Low- to middle-income families will be the primary beneficiaries of the program.

Chicago received $5.4 million in stimulus funds earlier this year. The city's goal is to reinvest profits made from selling renovated properties back into other foreclosure properties.

Ohio was allocated $45 million NSP dollars to jump start the housing market in blighted neighborhoods. The intent is to allocate the stimulus money quickly, so that communities will be enabled to attack the growing numbers of abandoned and boarded up homes.

Kentucky was awarded $44 million, Evanston, Illinois applied for $39.4 million and Virginia received $45 million. Brad Pitt even entered the fray with his Make It Right Foundation. If funding is approved, it will benefit New Orleans and a project the group will launch in Newark, NJ. His organization, as part of a consortium of non-profits, is asking for $65 million.

Ki works to help buyers searching for Austin Texas real estate. He has worked in real estate for almost a decade. He maintains a searchable Austin MLS directory on his website. His site has current information on mortgage rate trends.

South Lamar has become more and more popular for pedestrians, bicyclists, shoppers, and other visitors, and a stroll down the boulevard can include every imaginable activity and meal or drink. New additions to the "SoLa" scene include the Black Sheep Pub and a couple of other new eateries and pubs, as well as old favorites like the Saxon Pub and the Broken Spoke, both of which are landmarks on the Austin music and dancing circuit and regularly offer well known local musical acts.

The Black Sheep Pub is located a few blocks north of Kerbey Lane Cafe and Sonic Drive-in, and there is an outdoor patio out front with tables and chairs. The menu is down home and reasonably priced, and until recently, patrons could get a complimentary beverage with their meal, since the restaurant had not gotten its liquor license. The burgers are big and inexpensive, and the fries are crispy and spicy, along with the tator tots, which have gotten tremendous word of mouth among the neighbors.

Across the street and a few blocks south, the Half Price Books remains a mainstay among local residents, and used books, music, reading glasses, gifts, and lots of other unique items are available, most literally at half price, as the name promises. Next door to Half Price Books is the Old Alligator Grill and The Rockin' Tomato, both popular among locals.

A half block east, on Manchaca at Lightsey, the small strip center has many interesting businesses, including an inexpensive family medical practice that accepts walk-ins called Access Co-Medical, an unusual convenience store called On the Run, and a family-friendly Laundromat with WiFi access and T.V., as well as a supply of reading material and courteous, helpful employees.There is also a spa and beauty shop called Olga's and a comic book and cards store, both with unique products.

A quick walk north and one arrives at Walgreen's, which is open twenty-four hours and has an amazing array of cosmetics, grocery items, clothing, medicine and toiletries, and almost everything else. The Sonic is just across the street, and one block south of Walgreen's is Austin's venerable Matt's El Rancho, which has been reincarnated numerous times over the years and is one of the most well-established restaurants in Austin. Matt's is famous for their shrimp enchiladas and coconut pralines, among other delights, and there is something for everyone, including a frosty margarita for the adults.

The neighborhoods east and west of Lamar are some of the only ones remaining in the Austin real estate market where one can find affordable housing, and there are many kitschy old fourplexes and duplexes, as well as interesting homes and small apartment complexes. It is a quick walk to these homes and apartments from the strip of restaurants and clubs, and anything can be found within a few blocks of these homes.

Until recently, an art show called Art Outside was held regularly at the Enchanted Forest, an outdoor venue with a creek running through it and every imaginable type of artwork, music and dance, and many of the artists and musicians make the SoLa area their home as well. The Forest is near the intersection of Lamar and Oltorf, and an organic foods lunch stand called Organic Seeds is currently operating near the Forest, with positive reviews from those who've had the pleasure of dining there. Seeds offers patrons a choice of healthy wraps, coffee, breakfast tacos and other favorites.

A block south of the intersection of Oltorf and Lamar is a local coffee bar and music spot, with beer, wine, and lunch specials called the "Irie Bean". It is another locally owned venue and has great coffee, wine, sandwiches, and occasional live music, so it's another hidden jewel in SoLa. Every sidewalk leads to something new and/or different, including Irie Bean.

South Lamar is one of the oldest yet fastest growing areas in Austin, and homes are reasonably priced,compared to many areas of Austin, so stroll down the boulevard and take a look, and you'll like what you see.Friendly neighbors always make you feel welcome, and there is always something to do.

Ki maintains a website on Austin Texas real estate. His site allows buyers to search for listings in the Austin MLS he also writes a blog with updated information on Austin real estate.

The saying "No news is good news" might be applicable with the recent trend with mortgage rates. For the last 2 or 3 weeks for the most part rates have stayed pretty much unchanged. The reason why this could be considered good news is that the economy and stock market seem to be improving. There was a lot of discussion that an improving economy would lead to inflation and in turn higher interest rates. While I still think we are eventually headed to higher interest rates it's nice that at least that is not happening now. This week the 30 year mortgage rate dropped from 5.25 to 5.22. We also saw the 15 year rate drop from 4.69 to 4.63. The 5 year arm and 1 year arm both dropped .02 points this week (4.75 to 4.73 and 4.80 to 4.78 respectively). Below are rates for the last few weeks and from January 15th (6 months ago).

Aug 06, 2009
30-yr 5.22 15-yr 4.63 5-yr ARM 4.73 1-yr ARM 4.78

Jul 30, 2009
30-yr 5.25 15-yr 4.69 5-yr ARM 4.75 1-yr ARM 4.80

Jul 23, 2009
30-yr 5.20 15-yr 4.68 5-yr ARM 4.74 1-yr ARM 4.77

Jul 16, 2009
30-yr 5.14 15-yr 4.63 5-yr ARM 4.83 1-yr ARM 4.76

Jul 09, 2009
30-yr 5.20 15-yr 4.69 5-yr ARM 4.82 1-yr ARM 4.82

Jan 15, 2009
30-yr 4.96 15-yr 4.65 5-yr ARM 5.25 1-yr ARM 4.89

Looking above the 30 year mortgage rate has only moved from 5.14 to 5.25 in the last month which is remarkably stable considering the changes in the economy and the mortgage industry. Rates are still higher than what we saw six months ago but the change is not huge. To illustrate this let's look at changes in actual mortgage payments. Using our free mortgage calculator we took today's rates and translated them into a payment for a 200k loan. We did the same thing with rates from July 23 (two weeks ago) and rates from January 15th, 2009 (6 months ago).

Aug 06
30-yr $1100.69
15-yr $1543.3
5-yr ARM $1040.88
1-yr ARM $1046.91

Jul 23
30-yr $1098.22
15-yr $1548.44
5-yr ARM $1042.08
1-yr ARM $1045.7

Jan 15
30-yr $1068.75
15-yr $1545.36
5-yr ARM $1104.4
1-yr ARM $1060.23

From two weeks ago we are see a change of $2.47. This is pretty insignificant. When mortgage rates first started dropping we saw a difference of $35 from one week to the next running this same calculation. Compared to 6 months ago we see a rise of $31.94 or 2.98 percent. Considering the time frame this is still a relatively small change.

First off what is my advice for people looking for a home and a mortgage? I would still avoid arms. Nothing has changed basically arm's offer a small benefit right now but with most experts predicting higher rates in the future it makes sense to look in for a longer period of time with a 30 year fixed mortgage. What is our prediction moving forward? Long term I would expect rates to move up perhaps to 10 percent or more. In the short term I have been saying that it's hard to know. Know with the economy improving I would expect to see higher rates than what we are currently experiencing a month from now. That is assuming the economy doesn't start sliding backwards.


Ki lives and works in central Texas. His website covers the Austin Texas real estate market. It also has information on historical mortgage rates along with a mortgage rates widget

Austin area home sales are down from a year ago, but prices are holding steady. There are many factors making now a good time to buy: low interest rates, tax incentives for first time buyers and cooperative sellers. As consumers change their spending habits, houses are once again being seen as a long-term purchase of a home and not a quick investment. While the days of the house-buying frenzy are long gone, plenty of serious home buyers remain.

Like the rest of the country, Austin's real estate market is still lagging behind other areas of growth in the economy. While local economists predict Austin will gradually recover from this recession in 2010, housing isn't expected to rebound as quickly. Jim Gaines, a research economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University recently told the Austin-American Statesman that he sees the housing market ending this year with numbers comparable to those in 2002 and 2003. He predicts the Austin area median home price will end the year down somewhere between 1 and 5 percent. Currently the median home price is down one percent from a year ago.

Nationally, home sales have grown at a slow but steady rate since the beginning of the year. According to the Associated Press, sales of previously occupied homes rose by 2.4 percent from April to May, marking the third consecutive increase this year. Foreclosures across the country are bringing out the bargain shoppers and account for about a third of home sales nationally. This has also lowered the national median home price 16.8 percent from where it was a year ago.

Austin certainly has seen a rise in the number of foreclosures over the last eighteen months, but they don't seem to be affecting home values. Foreclosed properties have dragged home values down significantly in some parts of the country, exacerbating the housing crisis even more. However, Austin area foreclosures represent a relatively small fraction of the supply of homes on the market.

Just like the rest of the news on the economy these days, the housing market falls into the category of "not as bad as expected" rather than actual gains. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index measuring home values in 20 major cities is down 18.1 percent, a decline for the third straight month. However, the decline was not a record low and better than analyst expected, according to the Associated Press. In fact, eight of the metro areas in the index posted price gains, including Dallas with the largest increase at 1.7 percent. Overall the index is off nearly 33 percent from the peak in home prices in the spring of 2006.

So, is it a good time to buy a house? All indications are that home prices are fairly stable overall in the Austin area. In fact, analysts like Gaines believe it's much more likely that prices will creep up rather than take a sudden plunge. That may not be good news for the bargain hunters, but it does mean that buying a home right now is a sound investment.


Ki began working with Austin Texas real estate a decade ago. He created a searchable website where buyers can search for Austin homes for sale. In his free time, Ki enjoys the Austin music scene. He also writes on his blog which covers news and statistics on the Austin real estate market

It may seem a little crazy to go hiking in the hot Texas summer, but if you can stand the heat the summer months can be a perfect time to visit an iconic Austin spot without any crowds. Even though it is 780 feet above sea level, the climb up to the top of Mount Bonnell is not a serious hike, especially with the stone steps along the way.

Mount Bonnell, like so many favorite Austin spots, is full of history as well as legends. The peak is named in honor of George W. Bonnell, a Texas publisher and Commissioner on Indian Affairs under Sam Houston. The peak and surrounding park land off FM 2222, which is actually called Covert Park, was donated to the city in 1939, one hundred years after Bonnell arrived in Austin. That's the history part; the legends and folklore are much more whimsical.

The legend goes that a young woman jumped off the peak to escape the Indians who had killed her finance, which is why Mount Bonnell is also known as "Antonette's Leap." Another legend has it that Golden Nell and her husband Beau leaped off the peak to avoid being captured and tortured.

Romance is often in the air at Mount Bonnell. It is said that if a couple climbs the long stairway to the top once they will fall in love, twice they will become engaged and if they make that climb a third time they will get married. Going at sunset or to see the stars above the city lights is a popular Austin date. It is a romantic spot that has seen many Austin couples get engaged.

A tourist attraction since the 1850s, Mount Bonnell has a pavilion at the top with picnic tables, making it a popular spot to pack a cooler and bring the camera for tourists and locals alike. The views of lakes, hills and cityscapes are amazing. The rugged Hill Country views to the west and the manicured lawns below the peak show the diversity of the Austin landscape at its best.

Hiking around the pavilion can allow visitors to take in different views, including the downtown skyline. For anyone wanting to show an out-of-towner just what Austin has to offer, this is the perfect spot.

If a someone is looking for a tougher hike, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area out towards Fredericksburg offers challenging hikes, along with a nice drive through the Hill Country. Shade is sparse on this granite dome, so hikers may want to wait until summer is over. McKinney Falls State Park is a little closer to Austin and offers climbs, as well as cool water for hikers more interested in nature than the view.



Ki worked on 6th street in college. Today he has a business focused on Austin Texas real estate in downtown Austin. He also has a website, which encourages buyers to search the Austin MLS. He also also had a blog with updates and news on Austin real estate.

The neighborhood of Brentwood in north central Austin was originally a cotton farm until about 75 years ago, when the City of Austin annexed the land and land was purchased to build a school, Brentwood Elementary, which opened in the early 1950s. Brentwood is the name used to refer to the area of Austin between Lamar, Justin Lane, Burnet Road and 45th Street, and the school is in the middle of the neighborhood. There is also a tree-lined street called Arroyo Seco which runs through the middle of Brentwood and divides the neighborhood in half, forming what are jokingly referred to as Northern Brentwood and Baja Brentwood.

The median household size is smaller than average in Brentwood than most in Central Texas, at 1.9 people per household on average, and the demographics of the Brentwood neighborhood suggest a professional population of the age group most likely to be employed, with 45% of the residents being between the ages of 25 and 44; in addition, 50% of the homes in Brentwood are occupied by a single adult, many of whom are professionals in the high tech industry or U.T. grad students and professors.

There is a smaller percentage of school age children in Brentwood than most neighborhoods in Austin, and most of the residents of the neighborhood are slightly older than average, with 86% of the residents being over the age of eighteen, yet only 17% reporting being over the age of 65.

74% of the residents in Brentwood report Caucasian ancestry, with about 20% reporting ethnicity including both Hispanic and Caucasian roots, with the remaining population being comprised of a variety of ethnic backgrounds, so Brentwood has a fairly diverse population as well.
Students who attend school in Brentwood go to Brentwood Elementary, Lamar Middle School, or McCallum High School, and 95% of those who are employed in Brentwood work within Travis County. The median family income in Brentwood is around $47,000, and the residents are well-educated, with 57% having a college degree and 28% currently reporting working on their graduate degrees.

Since the University of Texas is in close proximity to the neighborhood, there are numerous housing opportunities for students, professionals, and young families, with a plethora of new condominium projects and apartment complexes as well as many single family homes. The average price of a home in Brentwood was about $170,000 in 2003, with the higher end of home prices being around $385,000. This is roughly about average for the Austin real estate market. Home values have risen dramatically in the area since the closure of Mueller Airport, since the flight paths of planes travelling to and from the field are no longer directly over the homes in the area, eliminating a great deal of the noise.

Brentwood is a very scenic area with a creek meandering through most of the neighborhood,along Arroyo Seco,and the neighborhood is known for old-fashioned hamburger joints and taverns, as well as the farmer's market, which has been in operation since 1947. At one point, the Stallion, Frisco Shop, and Threadgill's all offered a down-home chicken fried steak or juicy burger with home made fries in or very near the neighborhood, for a workingman's price.

There is a large, peaceful park in the neighborhood, Brentwood Park, which included nine acres of green space along with tennis courts, hike and bike trails, soccer fields, a baseball diamond and a playscape. There is also a festival called the Violet Crown Festival which is held on the lawn in Brentwood Park every year, and the neighborhood takes pride on its lights and decorations during the holiday season, especially on Arroyo Seco.

There are many churches and institutions, as well as city and state facilities in Brentwood, with choices of Faith Lutheran, Austin Bible, and Crestview Methodist Church for churchgoers, among many others, and some of the facilities in the neighborhood include the Texas School for the Blind, the Texas Department of Health, and the Austin Community Gardens, where residents can grow their own fresh produce.

For dining out, residents and visitors can choose between the Korea Garden, Fonda San Miguel, Phil's Icehouse, the Omelettry, and Jalisco, all of which are in or very near the Brentwood area, as are quite a few other restaurants and clubs, as well as fast food joints.

Brentwood offers something for everyone, and with its scenic beauty and history, yet urban, hip reputation, it is the perfect place to just visit or move in and settle down!


Ki works as a real estate agent in Austin Texas. His site is filled with information on the Austin real estate market. It also provides information on neighborhoods like Brentwood Austin along with a search of the Austin MLS.

After falling from 5.59 to 5.38 the previous week it looks like mortgage rates for the most part held steady this week. Of the four major mortgage products two fell and two rose. But for all four the movement was minimal. Thirty year mortgage rates rose from 5.38 to 5.42 and the 5 year arm rose from 4.97 to 4.99. The 15 year rate dropped slightly from 4.89 to 4.87 and the 1 year arm fell from 4.95 to 4.93. Below are rates for the last few weeks.

Jun 25, 2009
30-yr 5.42 15-yr 4.87 5-yr ARM 4.99 1-yr ARM 4.93

Jun 18, 2009
30-yr 5.38 15-yr 4.89 5-yr ARM 4.97 1-yr ARM 4.95

Jun 11, 2009
30-yr 5.59 15-yr 5.06 5-yr ARM 5.17 1-yr ARM 5.04

Jun 04, 2009
30-yr 5.29 15-yr 4.79 5-yr ARM 4.85 1-yr ARM 4.81

May 28, 2009
30-yr 4.91 15-yr 4.53 5-yr ARM 4.82 1-yr ARM 4.69

Dec 24, 2008
30-yr 5.14 15-yr 4.91 5-yr ARM 5.49 1-yr ARM 4.95

So while the 30 year rate has dropped from its recent peak of 5.59 on June 11, 2009 we are still up from the extremely low rates we saw in May. One interesting thing to note is that in the last 6 months 30 year rates have increased from 5.14 to 5.42. On the other hand 5 year arms have dropped from 5.49 to 4.99. Even with these changes I would still look for fixed rates over arms. There is a good chance that rates could be much higher in a year or 5 years when the arms would expire.

In addition to rates we also like to look at actual mortgage payments. Using our mortgage calculator we took rates from this week and converted them into a mortgage payment on 200k loan. We also did the same thing with rates from June 18th and from December 24th (6 months ago).

Jun 25
30-yr $1125.55
15-yr $1568.07
5-yr ARM $1072.42
1-yr ARM $1065.1

Jun 18
30-yr $1120.56
15-yr $1570.15
5-yr ARM $1069.97
1-yr ARM $1067.53

Dec 24
30-yr $1090.82
15-yr $1572.22
5-yr ARM $1134.32
1-yr ARM $1067.53

So as we can see the movement in the last week is minimal. Compared to 3 months ago a mortgage payment today would be $34.73 higher or 3.18 percent. Even though mortgage rates are higher than what they were before current rates are still low by historical terms.

Mortgage rates only provide part of the picture for how the lending environment is affecting the real estate market. The other part is that lenders remain very strict in their policies on when they will give out loans. So lenders are offering loans with low mortgage rates but they are not offering them to everyone.

This of course is having a serious dampening effect on the real estate markets potential recovery. Freddie Mac is particular is enforcing a number of new rules. While the government has spent significant resources on keeping mortgage rates low and easier and more effective method to help the real estate market would be to look through Freddie Mac's loan restrictions.

Ki is a realtor in Austin Texas. His site is a resource on Austin Texas real estate. It also provides a mortgage widget along with mortgage calculator code

Last week mortgage rates moved up rapidly, moving up from 4.91 to 5.29. This week mortgage rates again jumped up .3 points going from 5.29 to 5.59. On May 21st rates were sitting at 4.82 which was a 40 year low. Now just a few weeks later rates are at 5.59. This is the highest we have seen rates since November 26, 2008. Unlike last week this week all the other major mortgage products went up as well. The 15 year rate jumped from 4.79 to 5.06. The 5 year arm moved from 4.85 to 5.17 and the 1 year arm moved from 4.81 to 5.04.

So what caused the sudden spike in mortgage rates? Basically the government had a few recent auctions of government debt that went poorly. With less interest in government debt, t-bills and mortgage rates have started to increase.

Below are rates for the major mortgage products for the last few weeks.

Jun 11, 2009
30-yr 5.59 15-yr 5.06 5-yr ARM 5.17 1-yr ARM 5.04

Jun 04, 2009
30-yr 5.29 15-yr 4.79 5-yr ARM 4.85 1-yr ARM 4.81

May 28, 2009
30-yr 4.91 15-yr 4.53 5-yr ARM 4.82 1-yr ARM 4.69

May 21, 2009
30-yr 4.82 15-yr 4.50 5-yr ARM 4.79 1-yr ARM 4.82

May 14, 2009
30-yr 4.86 15-yr 4.52 5-yr ARM 4.82 1-yr ARM 4.71

Dec 11, 2008
30-yr 5.47 15-yr 5.20 5-yr ARM 5.82 1-yr ARM 5.09

In addition to rates we like to look at mortgage payments. Using a mortgage calculator we took rates from this week and translated them into a mortgage payment for a 200k loan. We also did the same thing with rates from June 4th, May 28th and from December 11, 2008 (6 months ago)

Jun 11
30-yr $1146.89
15-yr $1587.84
5-yr ARM $1094.51
1-yr ARM $1078.53

Jun 04
30-yr $1109.36
15-yr $1559.79
5-yr ARM $1055.38
1-yr ARM $1050.53

May 28
30-yr $1062.66
15-yr $1533.05
5-yr ARM $1051.74
1-yr ARM $1036.07

Dec 11
30-yr $1131.81
15-yr $1602.5
5-yr ARM $1176.05
1-yr ARM $1084.67

So as we can see mortgage payments have jumped drastically. Compared to 2 weeks ago the mortgage for a 200k loan has increased by $84.23 or 7.3 percent.

One point is that although rates have jumped rapidly historically speaking rates are still very low.

So what do we expect moving forward? There is some speculation that rates will fall after the recent rise. I am not sure if this will happen or not there are some powerful forces moving mortgage rates. And regardless of what happens in the next few weeks with the massive government borrowing its expected that in 6 months rates will be significantly higher than what we are seeing today.

So what is our advice to people looking for a home? First of all I would lock in immediately. While rates might go down there is a significant chance will continue to rise. If rates fall you can always relock at the lower rate. Additionally, I would avoid arms. Although the difference between 30 year rates and arm's has increased I would expect rates to be much higher in a year.


Ki lives in Austin Texas. His website provides information on Austin Texas real estate. It also provides a mortgage widget and a free mortgage calculator.

While the Austin City Council is not giving home sellers a break this year, the federal government is coming through with some tax breaks for the energy-conscious homeowner. For 2009 only, homeowners can get certain tax credits for making energy efficient improvements on a primary residence.

What does this have to do with the Austin City Council? As of June 1 homes older than 10 years are required to get an energy audit and disclose the results to prospective buyers. So along with the new coat of paint and fresh flowers in the yard, homeowners have an added expense to get their homes sold.

The idea behind the city council ordinance is a noble one of keeping Austin green, but the timing is lousy with job losses and a slower housing market looming over the city. "There's never a good time to add fees to a transaction," City Council Member Mike Martinez said in the Austin-American Statesman, "but I think this requirement is a good thing. It allows the consumer to fully understand the purchase they're about to make. If you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on an investment, you would want to know how efficient that investment is going to be for you."

Fortunately recession-strapped homeowners are not required to make improvements as a result of the $200-500 audit, however the idea is to encourage sellers or buyers to make their houses more energy-efficient. An audit can help pinpoint exactly what needs to be done to make a home greener.

This is where the tax credits come in. Under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, also known as the Obama stimulus package, Congress has provided two tax credits for homeowners making energy efficient improvements. There is a $500 lifetime credit, which gives a 10 percent credit for improvements such as new insulation, windows, skylights, energy-efficient roofing or exterior doors.

The other tax credit is a 30 percent-of-cost credit for energy improvements. This would include $50 for each advanced main air circulating fan; $150 for qualified furnaces, such as natural gas or propane; and $300 for qualifying energy-efficient heating and cooling systems or hot water heaters.

In a buyers market, sellers wanting an edge may go ahead and make some of the improvements indicated by an energy audit, which focuses on things like insulation and the condition of the heating and cooling systems. This year's tax credits may help offset some of those costs. Also, according to the Statesman, "Austin Energy offers rebates or zero percent loans for energy upgrades."

Of course, these tax credits and Austin Energy incentives aren't just for those wanting to sell their home. According to Austin Energy, in the past five years homeowners have made improvements that have collectively saved $3 million by reducing kilowatt-hours by 38 million.

It's a good idea to get the exact details on the tax breaks from a tax professional. The Austin Energy website also offers information on the audits, rebates and loans, along with energy saving tips.

Ki lives in Austin Texas. He created a site which has detailed information about Austin Texas real estate. It allows buyers to search for homes in the Austin MLS. He also maintains a blog with monthly statistics on Austin real estate.

With spring just around the corner, many Texans will be getting spring fever and will begin to til the land preparing for a garden. Having a garden is not only fun, it can be handy during hard economic times.

Growing your own vegetables and fruits not only cost less, but they taste much better than what you can buy in the grocery store.

You cannot have a successful garden unless you know when to plant and what to plant. Many gardeners begin planting in late March. The average last frost day in central Texas is March 15. To be safe, most people wait until the end of March to plant.

Not sure what to plant? Here is a list of a few vegetables that can be planted in late March.
* Broccoli.
* Chard
* Collards
* leaf lettuce
* mustard
It is important to follow planting directions when planting vegetables to get the best results.

Here are a few vegetables that can be planted in late March
* cantaloupe (it is important to make little mounds of dirt, plant several seeds at once)
* Corn (when planting corn, do not plant too close together. Planting corn too closely will result in missing kernels and smaller ears)
* Cucumber (make sure you have plenty of space in your garden, cucumbers like space. It is also good if you install a trellis for them to climb when they begin to grow)
* eggplant
* black-eyed peas
* summer squash
* Watermelon (sow watermelon seeds in hills or rows. Sow three to four seeds per hill, spacing the eight to ten feet apart)

Where you plant your garden is just as important as how you plant your garden. Make sure you have plenty of sunshine and water your garden regularly. If you decide to use a pesticide in your garden, try to choose something that is natural and not toxic to the ground. Remember, you will be consuming what you plant and what you fertilize with.

Don't get discouraged if your gardening is limited to insufficient space or poor soil conditions. There is an easy solution this problem. Try planting your vegetables in containers. Any vegetable that can be grown in the grown can most likely be grown in a container.

Just about any container will work. Make sure they are large enough for the type of vegetable you are planting. Tomatoes, eggplants, lettuce and peppers do especially well in containers.

Before you plant in containers, be sure to drill holes in the bottom of the container for drainage. Next, it is best to place a layer of course gravel on the bottom to help with proper drainage. Another great thing about container gardening is you can choose the soil you want to use, unlike ground gardening where you have to use what is available.

No matter where you live or how you choose to plant a garden, have fun and be creative with your projects. Not only are you helping your family and health, but you are also helping the environment!


Ki runs a website on Austin Texas real estate. His website provides a free Austin home search along with a statistics blog on Austin real estate.

What makes a neighborhood walkable? Streets and roads that are accessible for everyone; and have wheelchair ramps, lots of benches with shade and sidewalks on all streets.

Walkable neighborhoods have well designed streets that everyone can use, including bicyclists, pedestrians of all ages and abilities, people getting on and off transit vehicles.

Another thing to look for in walkable neighborhoods are well connected streets that improve traffic and provide many routes to any destination.

Austin has many walkable neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are easy to get around in, and have many amenities that pedestrians can access very easily.

Downtown Austin is our number one walkable neighborhood. Downtown scored a 92 out of a possible 100. The neighborhood has grocery stores such as Whole Foods, several convenient stores. There are also many restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment and parks for citizens to enjoy.

University Of Texas and West University both came in at second, with a score of 87. The University Of Texas is walkable for the students who live on or near campus. Living here makes it easy for students and visitors to be car free and still be able to get around campus and surrounding areas easily.
West University is a neighborhood just west of UT. Students, professors and many others make their home in this small Heritage neighborhood. It is just a short walk to the university, and the streets are lined with trees. Most of the homes in this neighborhood date back to the 1910's and 1920's, making it a nice scenic walk.

North University came in with a score of 83. This neighborhood is in central Austin. Residents have many places to walk in this old neighborhood. One of the most famous places is Trudy's Restaurant, Spider House Cafe and JP's Java, along with the 37th street lighting spectacular during Christmas.

Old West Austin and Bouldin Creek also scored a walkable score of 83. Old West Austin neighborhood has lots of history and plenty of landmarks. The streets are lined with shade trees and the neighborhood has Bed and Breakfast's for visitors. Old West Austin was named one of the 10 best neighborhoods in Austin in 2007. This neighborhood is enjoyable, safe and desirable. Residents of this neighborhood participate in keeping this neighborhood strong and preserving its roots. Chain stores are basically nonexistent in Old West Austin; instead visitors can find specialty shops, restaurants and schools.

Bouldin Creek is a neighborhood that is filled with apartments, homes and mom and pop shops. Running through the heart of the neighborhood is South First Street; with a melting pot of businesses and restaurants.

Austin is full of neighborhoods with shade trees covering the streets and sidewalks, restaurants, bakeries and tattoo shops. That is what makes Austin, Austin!

Next time you are in one of these neighborhoods, find a place to park your car and take time to walk through the streets and look at the yards, trees, homes and businesses that make each neighborhood unique.


At no charge, buyers can search the Austin MLS on Ki's website. The site provides a lot of detail on Austin Texas real estate. Ki started working in real estate as a hobby, and eventually quit his advertising job in Austin, Texas, because real estate was more interesting and fulfilling. He keeps buyers updated on his blog on Austin real estate with statistics and market reports.

Every Saturday morning Austinites gather in two different places for one purpose: to buy fresh, locally grown produce and specially made treats. Shopping at the grocery store these days can be a joyless experience. Prices seem to change on a weekly basis. Customers seem humorless and determined as they shuffle around with their carts, sticking to the list in hand. Spending a Saturday morning at a farmers market can bring some pleasure back to the food shopping experience.

A farmers market certainly won't have everything on a regular grocery shopping list, but it can be a fun way to pick up a few healthy things to eat. Typical things found at a Texas farmers market year around are onions, herbs, pecans, baked goods and various seasonal fruits and vegetables. Of course, with this being Austin there is music to be found at the local farmers markets.

The Sunset Valley Farmers Market takes place every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The parking lot of the Tony Burger Center, located on the eastbound side of Highway 290, is bustling with booths and shoppers. The market features local growers of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, plants, flowers, herbs and even artisan cheese makers. Local ranchers also bring chicken, beef, lamb, goat, and pork. There is even bison and gulf harvested shrimp available sometimes.

With Spring around the corner, look for fresh asparagus, strawberries and blackberries. The Sunset Valley Farmers Market advertises itself as a weekly celebration. "It is fun for the whole family, too! Rain or shine, we're always celebrating our weekly, open-air market with fresh foods, live music, kids entertainment, specialty events, festivals, a cafe for breakfast or lunch, and a great community vibe," says their website.

Another popular local farmers market is the Austin Farmers Market, located on the corner of Fourth and Guadalupe in downtown. This is also an open-air Saturday market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This market started in 2002 as a project of Sustainable Food Center. It was a collaboration of many members of the community with help from a City of Austin feasibility study grant.

As it was described in a recent Austin-American Statesman column, the Austin Farmers Market "provides so much more than Fredericksburg peaches from the Davis Orchard and Mark and Matt Seiler's Maine Root Fresh Brewed Tap Root Beer from their organic brewery in East Austin, though these are obviously righteously good and good for you even without a fulfilling communal experience."

It is the community of farmers intersecting with the Austin community at large that may be the biggest attraction of this market. Young and old are attracted to the opportunity to purchase a few fresh item, taste some local goodies or try something new. Even just strolling through and taking in the goings-on is perfectly acceptable. A band plays while children romp and shoppers roam, creating a fun mixture of sights and sounds. It is a completely different atmosphere than the local grocery store, that's for sure.


Ki works in Austin, Texas. Austin real estate is easily searchable on Ki's website. He provides a search of the Austin MLS along with a blog covering Austin Texas real estate stats and market updates.

Recent headlines suggest that home sales could be on the rise in some parts of the country, particularly in the South and Midwest. While analyst are being cautious not to sound too optimistic, the number of pending sales in December was up 6.3 percent according to the National Association of Realtors. This increase was largely credited to falling prices along with lower mortgage rates.

Austin home prices are actually on the rise, according to the most recent housing statistics from Yahoo. The median price for a home in Austin is currently $299,000, a 3.1 percent increase over January. While this may not be good news for bargain hunters, it was a positive sign that the housing market is still doing well in Central Texas.

Zillow shows that overall home values in the Austin area were down 3.6 percent at the end of last year, a sudden change after a steady climb in prices over the last three years. The stock market collapse last fall caused home values across the country to plunge in November and December of 2008. This was also the case in Austin, making the numbers in the local housing market look dire for the first time in years.

In other parts of the country the numbers at the end of last year were much worse. Boston home values were down 9.6 percent, while Santa Barbara, CA values were down 21.5 percent. While the housing crisis has been felt across the nation, the pain has certainly been deeper is some cities.

Lower new home starts and less inventory on the market both contribute to the better numbers in housing markets across the country. A recent Associated Press article noted that pending home sales were up in the South and Midwest, but fell 2-4 percent in other parts of the country. Finding the good news in the economy all depends on where one looks.

The vote this week to give a tax break to home buyers should be good news across the country. The new bill would provide a tax credit of 10 percent of the value of a residence, up to $15,000. This is an increase over the current $7,500 credit, which applied only to first time buyers. This amendment to the economic stimulus package being hammered out in Congress would apply to any home buyer of a primary residence this year. The hope is that this tax incentive will encourage banks to make loans thus stimulating the housing market with new buyers.

According to Senator Isakson, R-GA, who pushed hard for the tax credit, it will help the housing industry and the economy. A statement on Isakson's website says, "In the mid-1970s, America faced a similar housing crisis when a period of easy credit and loose underwriting flooded the market with new construction. Interest rates rose, the economy slowed and America was left with a three-year supply of vacant homes. Congress responded by passing a $2,000 tax credit for anyone purchasing a new home for their principal residence. Isakson believes the results were clear and swift as home values stabilized, housing inventory dropped and the market recovered." All of this can only be good news for the Austin housing market.


Ki works, and lives, in Austin, Texas. He converted a hobby investing in real estate into a business. His site covers the Austin real estate market. It has a graphical Austin home search along with a blog that has updated statistics on the Austin Texas real estate market.

South by Southwest; it is an Austin thing! It all started back in 1987 as "Austin Battle of the Bands, SXSW." Austin has been the home of this festival that showcases musicians, film makers and media from all over the country. SXSW is one of the largest music festivals in the United States. This festival is the highest revenue producing special event in Austin, pumping an estimated $110 million last year.

Beginning on March 13, 2009, Downtown Austin will be flooded with musicians and film makers from all over the world. There will be over eighty stages for performers to show their talents. It is estimated that there will be over 1,800 musical acts from all genres; most of the conferences will take place at the Austin Convention Center.

In 1994 South by Southwest added film and interactive conferences and since then has become one of the world's premier film festivals, focusing on new directing talent.

Although the convention center will be hosting most of the conference, there will be many venues within walking distance.

South by Southwest helps the Austin economy by bringing in such a large amount of revenue. Much of this revenue is from visitors booking hotel rooms, eating in Austin's restaurants and spending money on souvenirs and the convention itself.

For visitors who would rather not stay in hotels, Austin has several neighborhoods around the downtown area that have rental homes available for the SXSW festival.

Travis Heights is a historical neighborhood is tucked between Interstate 35 and South Congress Avenue and is one of the most sought out neighborhoods for professionals who work downtown. Most of the homes were built in the 1920's and many of these older homes have carriage houses and detached garages that have been turned into apartments. It is also ideal for renters who want easy access to the festival.

Hyde Park is a neighborhood that is located in central Austin. The neighborhood was developed in 1974. There approximately 2,000 homes in the neighborhood, which is within 38th Street, 51st Street, Guadeloupe, Duval, and Red River. This neighborhood has many amenities and is a historic neighborhood. Visitors to SXSW may be able to find families renting rooms or homes for the festival.

Austin has many neighborhoods within walking distance of downtown. Many homes are available for rent by the night or by the week. There are charming arts and crafts homes that were built in the mid 1920's that have been completely updated and are fully furnished with modern day style. Many of these homes are pet friendly too.

There are several restaurants within walking distance from these neighborhoods as well, making everything very accessible for the conference.

These neighborhoods are within walking distance from downtown. Whether you decide to take in the night life during SXSW or just decide to sit on the front porch and listen to all the music, Austin has something for everyone.

Visitors for this years South by Southwest conference can enjoy the downtown life, Austin style.


Ki created a website, which allows anyone looking for Austin real estate to search for free. They can investigate homes in the Austin MLS based on self-selected criteria. His office is located in Central Austin. His site provides updated statistics on Austin Texas real estate and Round Rock Texas real estate.

The Austin Friends of Traditional Music promise to erase our winter duldrums with this year's Mid-Winter Festival. The festival includes an impressive performance roster as well as workshops in Irish fiddle, Appalachian clogging, bluegrass vocal harmonies, jug band music, and more.

The festival kicks off with Mary Hattersly and the Blazing Bows, a children's fiddling group that applies the Suzuki method to playing Texas fiddle music. Next on the docket are the 1001 Nights Orchestra, a Middle Eastern group that plays songs ranging from Southwest Asia and the Caucuses in the East to the western shores of the Mediterranean, as well as original compositions. The group is led by Kamran Hooshmand, who brings the sounds of his native Iran with the oud, guitar, rabab, santour, and saz.

Rumbullion will be performing, a group that combines original and traditional instrumental music in a swinging, French jazz style. Jeff Moore and Heather Gilmer will be performing traditional Irish music, with their tunes ranging from jigs and reels to dance music from the Sliabh Luachra regions of Ireland.

Several bluegrass performers are included in the line-up. Brennan Leigh plays guitar and sings bluegrass, gospel, and Americana. The Electric Mountain Rotten Apple Gang bill themselves as a Texas thrash grass combo, inspired by the traditional sounds of bluegrass and mountain string bands, delivering a high energy stage act. Ranch Road 12, formed in April of last year and featuring Alan Munde on the banjo, Janice Rogers on the bass and Elliott Rogers on guitar, will play hill country bluegrass.

Rattletree Marimba play Zimbabwean style marimba, a high energy dance and trance music that they guarantee will get you on your feet. And the Big Jug band will finish the night with their eclectic American jugband music.

Food service will be available, and includes offerings for both the vegetarians and the carnivores among us, as well as drinks. Proceeds from food sales support the Austin Friends of Traditional Music (AFTM).

The festival takes places on Sunday, February 15th at the Dougherty Arts Center on Barton Springs Road, with performance and workshops running from noon to 9:30. Admission to the winter fest is $15 for regular admission, $12 for members of AFTM. Discounts exist for seniors and students. Children over 12 pay $5 and children under 12 are free. Admission not only gives you access to the great performances, but gives you entry to the wide range of workshops on offer. If the economic downturn has you pinching pennies, you can be admitted for free by volunteering to help with the festival, including setting up the auction, helping empty garbage, working as a stage hand or working in food service.

The seed for AFTM was planted in the autumn of 1974, when a group of musicians came together in an Austin living room to plan a convention for traditional music pickers and singers. By November, they held their first event, which was a huge success. Currently, AFTM presents two yearly music festivals, with an emphasis on central Texas music community and featuring both local and not-so-local talent. Check their website for more information about pre-registration or about signing up as a volunteer with the Mid-Winter Fest.



Ki serves the Austin area with his website. Interested parties can search for Austin Texas real estate. His site has a free mortgage calculator and statistics and information on Austin real estate.

Georgetown, Texas was established in 1848 by George Washington Glasscock on a fork in the San Gabriel River. Glasscock donated the fertile land, replete with numerous sources of clean, clear water, and the city became the seat of Williamson County. Until the mid-1800s, the area had primarily been inhabited by the Tonkawa Indians, and farming was a common source of income after the arrival of the settlers, as was the timber and logging industry.

The community remained mostly agrarian until the late 1800s, when the railroad was built, and about the same time, Southwestern University was established in the small community. The Chisholm Trail, which was used to transport cattle from Texas to Missouri and Kansas, also ran through the heart of Georgetown, so the cattle industry also provided jobs for settlers, along with cotton farming.

A large flood damaged the community in 1921, and efforts to control flood waters eventually led to the dam which created Lake Georgetown, which was finally complete in 1979, when the lake was officially opened for public use. Many of the city's historic homes were restored after the flood, and the downtown area of Georgetown reflects the Victorian style popular at the time, especially on historic Main Street. The Beaux-Arts Williamson County Courthouse, which dates to 1911, is considered the centerpiece of the historic downtown district.

Georgetown is also a very popular community for retirees, and the Del Webb retirement community of Sun City boasts numerous residents of retirement age; the area is quite popular with retirees due to its temperate weather, country flavor and rural charm, yet its close proximity to Austin, with its many benefits and big city amenities.

In the census of 2000, the population of Georgetown was around 28,000 inhabitants, but by 2008, the population had expanded to nearly 50,000, and a population density of 1241 people per square mile. The square area of Georgetown is just less than 25 miles, and 2.1 square miles of the area is water, mostly the river and Lake Georgetown. At the time of the census, there were 7,711 families in the community, and 10,393 households. The majority of the population is Caucasian, at 85%, and the remainder is an ethnic mixture of Hispanic, African-American, Asian, and a smattering of other nationalities.

The per capita income in Georgetown is a bit over $24,000, and the median household income in the city is about $54,000, and there are about 10,000 housing units in the city. Roughly 31% of the residents have children under the age of 18, and around 65% of the residents of the local households are married, and the percentage of women in the community slightly exceeds the percentage of men.

The San Gabriel River meanders throughout Georgetown, and there are parks along the river in many locations, most with hike and bike trails that border the river in many places and offer park visitors the opportunity to recreate in a serene and natural setting. One of the most well known parks is named for the river: the San Gabriel Park, and there are also two popular art galleries in the downtown area, the Winberg Art Gallery, and the 8th Street Art Studio, along with another popular park, Founders Park.

There are also many popular restaurants and nightspots, as well as libraries, museums, and ample shopping in the community. One of the most popular attractions in the Georgetown area is Inner Space Cavern, which is a natural cave on the south side of Georgetown near Interstate 35.

With its abundant amenities, beautiful scenery, and rural charm, as well as its historic past and proximity to the metropolitan advantages of nearby Austin, Georgetown is truly a place that has it all!

Escapeso Realty helps buyers looking for properties in central Texas. Their site has a search of the Austin MLS along with information on Austin Texas real estate and Georgetown Texas real estate.