Hot off the press, the Austin-American Statesman is reporting today that the “Four Seasons condos break ground this week.” I’ve heard that before (for the past seven years, in fact!), and I know that many bets could be lost if the Four Seasons Residential does become a reality. The 32-floor, 166 unit luxury residential high-rise with views of the newly renamed Lady Bird Lake is now expected to open on 2010.

Many have been worrying that Austin’s downtown can’t support the prices of $400,000 to $4 million, but with nearly half of the units already sold with nonrefundable deposits, it seems that this project is very healthy.

Still, with sales slow in neighboring buildings such as Milago, which also has beautiful views of Lady Bird Lake and luxurious amenities, can Austin take all of the planned urban residential development?

For now, it seems that people are still willing to spend the money to live in Austin’s booming downtown. With sales still holding slow across the board (even in sub prime developments), it seems our quickly growing number of Austinites can afford the luxury of an urban downtown, but are taking their time like they are all over the city.

If you would like more information on this development or any other condos/flats in downtown Austin, call 512-771-1776 or email ariakristen@gmail.com.

Aria Schoenfelt McIntosh
BridgeOne Properties & Corias Homes, Inc.
http://www.liveaustinrealestate.com

Tags: austin, austin real estate, building, condos, development, downtown, living, real estate by Aria
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If you are in need of a Homestead Exemption Form for Travis, Williamson, or Hays Counties, they are available for download free from my website. Click the links below for a download. Homestead Exemption forms are due April 30th.

• Travis County 2007
• Williamson County 2007
• Hayes County 2007

Most homeowners qualify for a homestead exemption if they owned the property on January 1st and do not claim a residence homestead exemption on any other property. You may also qualify if you are older than 65 years of age, have a disability, or are a surviving spouse 55 years or older of a person who qualified for the over-65 exemption. Please see the forms above for complete details.

You may be eligibly to apply late for a prior tax year if you qualified in the previous tax year but did not apply for a homestead exemption.

Tags: homestead exemption by Aria
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If you’ve taken a road trip recently, you may have noticed seemingly endless rows of turbines lining the landscape along-side Texas’s interstate highways. I have, and it made me wonder…Austin Energy has recently announced a new GreenChoice® program using wind power from West Texas. If you would like to know more about the program and how to subscribe, click the link above. The energy will initially cost you just under $0.02 per kWh, but the rate is promised to stay fixed through 2023. Austin Energy is consistently rated #1 in the country for utility sponsored green power programs and this wind power is Austin Energy’s next step.

The obvious questions are.. Why haven’t we harnessed wind energy already? How much does wind energy cost? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

A great source to learn more about wind energy is the U.S. Department of Energy’s website. Here are the basics:

• Wind energy is cheaper that other sources
• Wind energy is renewable
• Wind farms can benefit economies of rural areas
• Wind energy must compete with other energy sources so wind farms have the potential to fail and with a high start-up cost, they can be high-risk
• Wind does not always blow, and in particular, wind does not always blow when energy is needed or during peak usage hours; it requires a back-up energy source or batteries for storage
• Wind farms locations are often far from cities which creates a large expense in getting the power to the cities
• Wind farms may not be the most valuable use of land sites and are in competition with other industries
• Environmentalist are concerned over the noise caused by the turbines and it’s effect on wildlife as well as the potential for birds being killed by the blades

Although wind power is still new, I see a great deal of potential when combined with other renewable sources such as solar technologies (many of which can store power). However, currently, I see very few people choosing green options when the expense is so much greater than traditional choices. The current green movement is wonderful, but still motivated by cost. I would like to see consumers switch to renewable sources so I wonder what would happen if the City charged more for non-renewable power to off-set the initial expense of renewable power such as the power brought in from wind farms (most of which are located in West Texas). We are on the right path, but there is still a great deal of work to be done.

Aria Schoenfelt McIntosh
BridgeOne Properties & Corias Homes, Inc.
ariaschoenfelt.com
ariakristen@gmail.com
(512) 771-1776

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Looks like curbside recycling in Austin is getting a lot easier thanks to success from a pilot program using 60-gallon recycling carts and not requiring sorting! Soon, instead of the small blue bins required for recycling pick-up, 90-gallon trash-like carts will be used. They will be distinguishable by their blue lids and recycling will be collected every-other week. Fill ‘em up because you will no longer be required to sort your #1&2 plastic and cans from paper and corrugated cardboard, and new items will be accepted including non-corrugated cardboard and a wider range of plastic materials.

The goal of this new program is to increase citizen participation in Austin’s Solid Waste Services Recycling by making recycling easier and more convenient.

Links:
News 8 Austin Coverage
Austin’s Solid Waste Services
All-in-One Pilot Program

Aria Schoenfelt McIntosh
BridgeOne Properties & Corias Homes, Inc.
ariaschoenfelt.com
ariakristen@gmail.com
(512) 771-1776

Tags: Uncategorized by Aria
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I was getting ready for the holidays when I got a call from clients interested in a house at the new Mueller development. I’ll admit that although it is a quick bike ride away from my home, I had yet to visit the new residential section. As a native Austinite, Mueller is still synonymous with Austin’s crammed old airport in my mind, but I had already enjoyed the benefits of having the shopping conveniences of Best Buy, Shoe Pavillion, and the future PetsMart in Central Austin.

Before meeting with my clients, I took myself on a drive-by tour of the homes going up on the meandering streets of Mueller. To my surprise, I was delightfully surprised by the look and feel of the neighborhood! It wasn’t at all what I have come to expect from the big cookie cutter builders who are typically limited to bulk-land tracts on the edges of Austin’s suburbs. I’ve toured these builders’ homes before, but at Mueller, expect something wonderfully creative. It’s as if the volume builders have found an outlet for their creativity at last!

But my experience didn’t stop there, and yours shouldn’t either. Along with my clients and a representative from Standard Pacific Homes, we toured a beautifully decorated model home. The furnishings and colors were fresh yet simple and elegant with a throw-back feel with the understated retro-styling that I love. If you know me, you know I love the simplicity and quality of the Craftsman and Arts & Crafts period. It’s no surprise that I call Hyde Park home. What I loved about Mueller was how they blended classic features that have stood the test of time with the contemporary, urban feel that is heading Austin’s newest projects. Options available on these homes make them feel custom, yet they are built with the efficiency of large companies. These are all things I never expected from tract builders!

As a builder, developer, and concerned Austinite, I am very pleased with the product of all of the hard work put into Mueller. Everything I have seen is a very well-planned urban community with options for everyone as well as plenty of shopping, open spaces, and community centers. Best of all, my clients are pleased and excited as their new home takes shape with views of Mueller’s hike & bike trail and the frost bank tower from their second-story windows.

I recommend you take a look; you might be pleasantly surprised yourself! The website for Mueller is http://www.rmma.net/. And don’t forget how many pockets of east Austin are booming these days. If you would like any additional information about anything here or on Austin’s Real Estate Market in general, feel free to email me at ariakristen@gmail.com.

Expect the best you’ve seen from these builders:

• David Weekly
• Meritage Homes
• The Muskin Company
• Saldana Homes
• Standard Pacific Homes
• Streetman Homes

Mueller’s plan includes:

• Open Space
• Streets & Transit
• Green Urbanism
• Residential Homes, Townhomes, & Apartments
  
• Commercial
• Retail
• Open Spaces

Aria Schoenfelt McIntosh
BridgeOne Properties & Corias Homes, Inc.
ariaschoenfelt.com
ariakristen@gmail.com
(512) 771-1776

Tags: Uncategorized by Aria
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What to do with that pile of old phone books… If you’re like me, you prefer to recycle phone books as soon as they appear. After all, how is a static book more convenient than the always bustling internet. A simple Google search yields much more than a phone book can. But if you are still a hard-copy user, you still need to dispose of out-of-date phone books.

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Ecology Austin is Austin’s downtown recycling center and they do accept cell phones. They accept other items that curbside does not accept including: aluminum foil, pie plates, scrap metal, paperboard (including non-corrugated), books, phone books, ink cartridges, toner cartridges, and cell phones that include the battery. They are located at 9th Street and IH-35 on the Southbound Access Road - Open M-F 10-6 and S-S 9-5. You can also take items that are accepted at curbside.

CollectiveCood is an organization that connects cell phone donors with charities that need them.

Earth 911 can help you figure out how to dispose of many things, including cell phones. They can help you find the local resources you need.

The Texas Campaign for the Environment is a more local group with information for you on recycling your cell phones among many other environmentally-conscious ideas.

The EIA has a website where you can find electronic recycling and re-use centers near you. Most of the listings I found are for computer equipment, but this is a good resource to have.

myGreenElectronics has a website to help you learn about ways to reuse and recycle.

Best of luck with reducing your carbon footprint!

Your Green Realtor,
Aria Schoenfelt McIntosh

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