Green Tip of the Week

Curbside Blues?
Curbside service in Austin currently leaves something to be desired.  New plans are in progress to bring more services to your curbside recycling program, but in the mean time, here is an easy way to waste less and save more.

Make use of those paper bags you bring home from the grocery store.  I know you mean to bring your own totes, but they aren’t always handy.  Find a place to line a few up based on the materials that you would like to recycle but curbside does not take.  Maybe this is in the garage, pantry, or on the back porch (if you don’t have nosy dogs!).  Make it a convenient place but keep it out of sight so that you won’t feel the need to “clean it up” later.  Designate one for styrophome, one for No. 3+ plastics, one for electronics, one for batteries.  If you have kids, you can involve them by having them decorate the bags and labeling them.  This can really help them get into recycling.  When the bags fill (or you have an opportunity), take the materials to other recycling centers like the one at 7th & I-35 or Goodwill for electronics (see more at Recycling in Austin).

If you prefer a more durable option, I like these bins that are conveniently available at Office Depots.  I have these in my pantry and at my office and designate them by material (like paper and plastics).

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Green by Design Workshop
Saturday, August 16th , 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Austin Energy Green Building™ holds its one-day Green by Design workshop four times a year. Austinites preparing to build, buy, or remodel a home can learn how to improve energy and water efficiency, increase comfort, and reduce maintenance.

This workshop will give you an overview of the green building process. You’ll come away with a framework for making better design and building decisions, including:

·Assessing what your family needs in a home
·Choosing a designer and builder
·Selecting a lot or making the most of the one you have
·Increasing comfort and reducing utility bills
·Making smart material and appliance choices
·Developing a beautiful landscape that saves water, time, and money
·Creating a home that benefits your family and the planet

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 la Crosse Ave
Austin, Texas 78739
Click here for directions

To register for the workshop:
Print the Registration Form (pdf) and fax to (512) 482-5441; or e-mail to register.
Registration fee is $35 per person.

Deadline for registration: Wednesday, August 13, by 5:00 p.m. Sorry, there is no registration at the door.

Click here for more information about this event

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“Going Green” doesn’t have to be complicated.  Sustainability is about making changes you can live with, especially those that actually make your life easier.  Make it simple!

Plant a Tree, Metaphorically Speaking
Planting a tree is one of the best things you can do for the environment both literally and metaphorically.  Plant a tree in your mind that will grow with new ideas and practical measures that you can take for greener living.  Find options that are practical and simple that you can live with!

Stay tuned for weekly green tips that will appear regularly first thing on Mondays!

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There are so many changes in the mortgage industry these days it is nearly impossible to keep up.  All a Realtor® can do is depend on a great lender to answer any new questions.

Here’s what you need to know if the foreclosure crisis is hitting you or your family close to home.

If you suffer from a forclosure or short sale on your credit report:

• Those who have been a victim of forclosure, you will not be eligible for a Fannie Mae loan for 5 years.
• Those who have suffered from short sales, you will not be eligibly for a Fannie Mae loan for 1 year.

So if financial troubles are hitting you this close to home, you may need to think of forclosure or a short sale as less of a way out than you coule before.  If you’re in trouble, contact your mortgage company and a Realtor® because you will need some professional advice.

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Austin Real Estate Market Report for June 2008

May housing statistics are out for Austin and there are no huge surprises unless you’ve had your head too far into national news.  Here in Austin, the housing market remains healthy and numbers are closely relating to those we saw in 2005 — a healthy year in Austin.  Keep in mind that 2006 and most of 2007 was a boom period for Austin, especially in dense areas like downtown and central Austin (Hyde Park, Brentwood, Allandale, Crestview, Rosedale, etc).  Although we currently have 5.7 months of inventory, this is not a sign of a crashing market, only a buyer’s market.

Those who will see the most benefit from our current market conditions are those relocating to Austin.  These buyers can find a great deal in Austin that is likely to appreciate well.

Another group that can do well in today’s market is the move-up buyer group.  If you are moving from a lower-valued home into a higher-valued one, you can reap the benefits of this rare buyer’s market in Austin.  Just be sure to take into consideration the amount of time and effort that will go into selling the home that you are moving out of.  It may take longer than expected to sell your home so be sure that you can afford both mortgages before you buy your new home.  And if you expect to bring in top-dollar, realize that in many areas of Austin, especially suburbs like Round Rock, there is a large amount of inventory.  That means more competition for your listing.  You’ve seen it on shows like HGTV’s “Designed to Sell,” homes that are prepared for sale get much more attention.  I recommend hiring help if doing it yourself is overwhelming.

Overall, there is no reason to panic over what the media is feeding you.  It is rare that Austin sees a buyer’s market, so take advantage if you are considering an investment in Austin’s real estate or even a second home as deals on new condo developments become easier to find.

As always, these statistics can be found in more detail at http://liveaustinrealestate.com/statistics

These statistics are from the Texas A&M Real Estate Center and include more comprehensive data than the Austin Board of Realtors MLS system.  If you have any questions, call or email!

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The Austin area, specifically the Texas Hill Country, has made the headlines again, this time in the New York Times.

“THERE used to be a time — oh, let’s call it 2007 — when summer was considered a time of almost limitless possibilities, a time of languorous vacations, of trips filled with the promise of discovery.

“But the summer of 2008 is starting out like a cruel joke, with air travel increasingly a nightmare and with wildly escalating gas prices threatening to make the road trip all but obsolete. It’s almost enough to make you sit at home and catch up on episodes of “Gossip Girl.”

…

“1. TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

Who needs Europe? The Texas Hill Country, west of Austin and north of San Antonio, might be the next best thing to crossing the Atlantic. The region is lush, colorful and, unlike much of the pancake-flat state, dotted with beautiful green hills that are evocative of Tuscany or the south of France. Moreover, the region is speckled with 22 wineries (www.texaswinetrail.com) that buzz with food and music festivals year round. And towns like Fredericksburg offer a taste of the Old World, with German-style biergartens and schnitzelhäuser.”

You can read the whole article here.  And of course, I post links to all great news stories in the Austin Real Estate News section of this website.

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It’s summertime, but that also means mosquito time.  They are not just annoying, they can be carriers of nasty diseases like West Nile.

With a higher number of forclosures looming in our neighborhoods, there are more properties being unattended.  That neglected pool can become a breeding oasis, not to mention all of the small sources of standing water that can be left behing by a family under stress.

Tags: Forclosure // Add Comment »