Dianne Bartlett's Lakeway Lake Travis Real Estate Blog

Be a Good (Quiet) Neighbor When You Have a Back Yard Party.  I attended a wonderful Halloween party last week in a South Austin neighborhood.  When we parked the car along the street, it was eerily quiet!  In fact, we were walking up to the house and were worried we had the wrong address.

The party host was insistent that we all come dressed in costume.  So when we saw Alice and the Mad Hatter walking up, we knew we were at the right place.  The couple directed us along the caution tape in the front yard to an opening in the fence that led to the back yard.  There, flaps of black visqueen plastic formed a curtain that we parted and walked through.

Then, we walked through a tunnel formed by the side fence and the plastic.  We hunched under spider webs and foliage along a path all the way to the back of the yard.  There, we turned and followed the back fence line between the large plastic sheet and the fence until we finally reached the opening to the party into the back yard.

Wow!  There were 30 costumed folks already talking, laughing and listening to music.  The large, thick sheets of plastic had formed the perfect sound curtain!

We found out later that the owners had two reasons to shield the noise and keep it quiet.  The neighbors were serving as the baby sitter for the young children & babies of party goers.  Even attendees wanted it quiet for sleeping babies.

We stayed until 1pm and enjoyed a costume contest announced by microphone, raucus laughter, a stunt show which included a pocket bike and a pole dancing show put on by Juno & her boyfriend.  There were no neighbor complaints, and when we left the party that was still going strong, we were amazed at the quiet as we walked to our car.

Investment Opportunity for Hudson Bend Home Buyer!  How many homes can you find for less than $200,000 in the coveted Lake Travis Hudson Bend area?  According to our multiple listing system today, there are only 17 homes for sale in the entire 78734 zip code that are less than $200,000!  There are only 8 homes listed for less than $160,000 in 78734 as of today, AND there is only ONE home less than $200,000 in Hudson Bend.

4503 Weletka Drive, Austin, Texas 78734 has just been listed for $157,000 - a true investment opportunity.  The property is over half an acre and conveniently located within minutes of Lake Travis and less than 20 miles to Downtown Austin.  This home was originally located in Central Austin just south of Disch Falk Field.  The 1940's original was moved to its present location and refurbished to preserve its vintage charm.  The lot is wooded and private with two convenient out buildings for plenty of storage.  Look out every window to see hill country views or wooded groves.

This home has two bedrooms and two baths.  The master plus full bath is located on one side of the home, and a spare bedroom plus hall bath are on the opposite side of the house.  The original wood floors have been refinished, hard tile has been added to the baths and wood laminate preserves style in the upgraded kitchen.  Fixtures reflect an early 1900's vintage, and the master bath includes a claw foot tub and beaded board walls.  The living area is extra large, and the windows have been recently upgraded to wood-clad, energy efficient with easy-to-care for 2 inch blinds.  Keep warm in the winter with a wonderful wood-burning stove!

The kitchen has Corian counters with a porcelain sink.  The dishwasher is recent, and the range is a smooth-top, convection oven.  You'll appreciate all the shelving and cabinets as well as multiple closets throughout the house.  There is an additional over-sized mud room plus an enormous utility room at the back of the house which all could be converted to an additional bedroom and bath or more living space if desired.  The flexibility of this floor plan contributes to its value as an investment opportunity.

The home is located in the Travis Landing 2 neighborhood in Hudson Bend.  Children in this area attend the prestigious Lake Travis schools.

To see all homes for sale in 78734, click here.

Waterfront Home Sellers Welcome More Rain for Lake Travis. More rain is currently falling over the Texas Hill Country which means that Lake Travis may once again be on the rise.  The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is oddly quiet on their web site today, and that sometimes means they really don't know if the raining falling now will make a difference or not.  In my experience, when LCRA is quiet, it can mean a several feet rise on Lake Travis when rain is falling in the upper watershed as it is right now.  Last week's rains brought a 13 foot rise in elevation and brought the lake level to approximately 642' msl.  That means the lake is still 39 feet below full (681' msl is full).  Right now the lake is at 643' msl and appears to be rising as I look out my window.

The elevation of Lake Travis makes a difference to waterfront home buyers.  Many buyers can't imagine what the lake looks like when it's full, especially if they only see the particular waterfront home they are considering when lake levels are at historic lows.  Plus, there are so many waterfront homes located in coves that go dry when the lake drops.  At 643' msl, most coves are dry, very shallow or hard to navigate.  Even the best coves on the lake begin looking ugly at approximately 660' msl.  Fearing flooding, some waterfront home owners find comfort when the lake hovers around 670' msl - a level often quoted as "average" by the news media.  I personally prefer a full lake at 681' msl.  It's the level most boat docks are optimally designed for, and most waterfront property lines fall along the full pool elevation.

Lake Travis waterfront home sellers should always wish for a full lake.  Even if a waterfront home is located on the main body and not in a cove, the view is always better when the lake is full.  Docks are easier to access, and buyers don't have to use their imagination to determine the full value of living in a particular waterfront home.

Two factors will determine whether or not waterfront home sellers on Lake Travis can have success selling.  One is definitely more rain to fill the lake.  The second factor is more availability of Jumbo Loans!

Find waterfront home listings here.

Keller Williams Food Drive in Travis Landing Austin Texas is a Huge Success!  The Travis Landing home owners donated over 35 bags of food this weekend to the Capital Area Food Bank of Austin.  Home owners generously opened up their hearts this past week, allowed me to knock on their doors and accepted a bag to fill with food items for Austin's hungry.  The Capital Area Food Bank usually experiences a shortage of food around the holidays when hungry families and children need it the most.  Austin area real estate agents at Keller Williams Realty comb their neighborhood streets for donations every year to help collect food and donate it at a time when it's most needed.

When I drove around to pass out the bags, I wanted to speak with as many people personally in order to introduce myself since I'm fairly new to the neighborhood.  Plus, I know I'm more likely to donate if someone asks me face-to-face.  Hunger in Austin is a bigger problem than many of us know.  I just wanted to give this food drive my best effort in order to help as much as possible.

What I found is that Travis Landing residents are the coolest!  I met so many wonderful people and saw lots of great landscaping and home decor.  Oh, and lots of big dogs, too.  About half the neighborhood was home when I walked around Monday afternoon, and I did my best to leave bags on porches of anyone not there.  The homeowners' association was nice enough to let me post a sign at the entrance of the neighborhood so that everyone would know what to expect.

Next year, I hope to be a little better organized and do a better job to make it as easy as possible for residents to donate.  One thing I learned is that I got a little over-anxious this morning and started picking up bags too early.  Afterall, it is Saturday morning!  I just wasn't sure how long it would take me.

When I arrived at the church parking lot where the trucks were waiting, several volunteers opened up my Honda Pilot and started unloading.  I stayed about an hour and watched several other vehicles come through with their donations.  And guess what!  I think Travis Landing residents donated the most!

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated.  I'll see you next year!

Welcome Rains Flood into Lake Travis Texas!  Hurricane Rick is hovering over Central Texas right now and has brought the area several inches of rain.  The heavy rain has fallen over two important watersheds that flow into Lake Travis.  The Pedernales (pronounced Purdanaless for you non-Texans) River rose 15 feet which brings welcome relief to a drought-stricken area.  This river flows directly into Lake Travis.  The Colorado River also received its fair share of rainfall.  The Colorado River creates the Highland Lakes chain, of which Lake Travis is one of the down stream links.

Flood gates are open on the upstream lakes due to area flooding, and that water is now flowing into a very thirsty Lake Travis.  The lake level yesterday was 632 feet above sea level, and the lake is predicted to rise one foot per hour throughout today.  One news station reported a 12 feet rise by midnight tonight.  The other news station said that LCRA (the authority that controls the floodgates) has not finished its calculations on predicted lake levels but is saying a one foot per hour rise will continue throughout the day.  The rain continues to fall over the Hill Country as of 6:30 am this morning.

Lake Travis has plenty of capacity for this flood because the lake level is nearly 50 feet below full pool level.  Lake area residents and businesses welcome any rise on the lake and would love to see 50 feet of water come on down!

See Lake Travis homes on the market by clicking here.

Ted Jones, Leading Economist, Predicts:  Austin is Normal!  This is big news, since we all thought Austin is Weird!  Today, Ted Jones presented to my office (Ted Jones has presented to Congress - but did they listen - NO).  I'm listening, Ted.  I'm glad to know that home sales have increased, and if you aren't buying now, you'll be paying more next year.

Why will you pay more?  Interest rates will GO UP - maybe as much as 1%, which is the equivalent of paying 20% more for a home.  Ouch!  Why not buy now at an interest rate of 5%?  Even if interest rates don't go up, the average sales price in Austin is on the rise!

Why is Austin faring so well?  We have two GREAT economic stabilizers here:  THE University and THE State Capital.  According to Ted, these 2 intities never cut spending.  And, we have a third influencer:  Austin is a beautiful place to live!  Investors LOVE Austin because home prices go UP.  (That's what they are doing right now.)

You still have time to buy.  Ted says Austin is experiencing a normal market.  We were a bit below normal the past two years but the recent increase in home sales has returned us to a normal market.  The jobless rate in Austin is 25% less than the rest of the country, and Austin has grown jobs at double the national rate for the past 10 years.  This makes Austin a SAFE place to put your investment dollars.

Find out how much home you can buy by clicking here.

Start your home or investment search by clicking here.

Don't say I didn't warn you... Austin Texas is a Burnt Orange Town!  I guess it would be like living in Dallas and not liking the Cowboys.  If you want to live in Austin it really helps to be a Longhorn Fan.  Especially on a day like today.  Oh, you didn't know?  The Red River Rivalry occurs today.  Still don't know what I'm talking about?  The University of Texas Longhorns play the Oklahoma Sooners in the Cotton Bowl at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.  The game starts in under an hour, and I'm typing as fast as I can!

Austin doesn't have any professional sports teams, so most residents have adopted the Longhorns and joined their fan club even if they didn't attend THE university.  I had the privilege of attending UT twice in my life - once as an undergrad, and later as a graduate student.  Yes, my blood is burnt orange.

In the mid 1980's, Freddie Akers led the Longhorns, and the games were kind of boring.  Three yards and a cloud of dust, three yards and a cloud of dust, three yards and a cloud of dust.  Uh oh, fourth down and 1 yard to go.  Will we make it?  Yes!  We had some winning seasons but no real spectacular standout games.  But, I'm just a girl and was only a teenager at the time.  What do I know about football?

All I really know is that it's exciting to be a fan!  Especially on a gorgeous day like today.  The sunrise was burnt orange and I know it will be an exciting game.  The mild 1980's are long gone, and Mack Brown football reigns in Austin.  It's all excitement all the time.  Every year, we have stand-out players, Heisman nominees, fired up coaches and supportive fans.  The stadium is expanded, the turf renewed, and Austin's population grows even in an economic downturn.  That means...more Longhorn fans every year.

Do we have mixed households?  You bet!  My neighbors are an Aggie-Longhorn couple.  My friend from college married an Aggie.  I've sold houses to OU-UT families.  Many of the local high school kids didn't make it in to UT even though their parents went there.  That means a lot of parents here are forced to cheer for Texas Tech instead of their alum.  Most of take it all in good stride... Because, when you live in Austin, you have to know that it's a Burnt Orange Town!

New Construction on sale in Lakeway Texas.  Custom-built home in Lakeway conveniently located near the entrance for easy highway access, yet tucked away on a scenic hilltop street.  This is a two-story home with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, and one half bath.

Master downstairs with luxurious private bath with double vanity, Jacuzzi-type tub and edgeless glass separate shower.  Two bedrooms up with a game room.  Convenient studio or office, too.  Over 2700 square feet of living space that is open, light and bright.  Gorgeous granite and attractive wood floors.  If you are looking for a high-end, custom-crafted home, this is new construction on sale now.

Preliminary tax value is over $500,000, but you can purchase this home on sale now for just $329,900.  Lakeway homes like this one are truly “on sale” for a limited time.  Don’t miss out on being able to own a quality custom home for an incredible discount!  This home is within 20 miles of Downtown Austin on the scenic west side on the edge of the Hill Country.  You won’t find new construction on sale anywhere else in our hot Austin home market.

Click here to find out about financing options!

Save even more money when you purchase this home with its energy efficient features such as double paned windows, solar screens, ceiling fans, programmable thermostat and energy efficient appliances.  This new construction home offers all the benefits of energy efficient living.

This home includes plenty of indoor living, covered porches and very little yard maintenance.  Lake Travis marina, multiple golf courses, tennis, swimming complex, jogging trails, biking trails, parks and more are right in the neighborhood.

Top-rated Lake Travis schools offer children in the area a chance to graduate with the best.  Lake Travis is a who’s who of athletes, actors and musicians but manages to remain a warm and inclusive community for families.  If you like Fourth of July parades, Friday football and fun on the lake, you’ll feel right at home in this beautiful Lakeway custom.

Click here for more homes like this one.

You may not know this, but mountain biking in Austin Texas can be extreme!  Vancouver, Colorado, Arizona, California and many other mountain states may offer extreme trails, but Austin Texas can compete if you know where to go.

Austin Texas is home to all types and levels of bike riders, including, of course, one road biker in a yellow jersey.  But, even Lance has been spotted on the milder mountain bike trails in the Austin area.  The "inner circle" extreme mountain bikers love to gaffaw at him when they see him step off.  Everyone else, I'm sure, just admires the guy for everything he's done for his sport, his charity, and for the Austin area.  But extreme mountain bikers enjoy giving each other a hard time.

What are the extreme trails like in Austin?  Single track winds through scrub cedar over and along caliche rock ledges.  Some sections are littered with rubble-ly piles of limestone that turns to slippery marbles when wet.  Most trails wind along creeks, which are either dried up or gushing, depending on whether Austin is in a drought or a flood.  Extreme mountain bikers hate it when hikers or "regular" mountain biking folks "groom" the trail.  "Grooming" is when novices or other intruders move rocks aside to keep the trail smooth.  Almost all of the extreme trails in Austin were built by the "inner circle" extreme riders.  They've worked hard to make the trails challenging and fun, so they don't appreciate when Sunday strollers and cruisers adopt their trails and change them.

If you're not in tip-top physical condition with a high-end bike, stay away from the extreme trails.  You would spend most of your time walking and carrying your bike.  Extreme mountain bikers in Austin ride approximately 20 miles of grueling up and down single track at least 3-4 days per week.

Kinder, gentler mountain biking trails can also be found in the Austin Texas area.  The Barton Hills greenbelt, Walnut Creek greenbelt and many other areas provide miles of smoother trails with fewer rocks and ledges.

The Old Pecan Street Festival hits Austin, Texas this weekend, September 26-27, 2009.  Temperatures are already in the 90's, and there isn't much breeze, so wear light clothing and plenty of sunscreen.  I found parking in the Convention Center garage at 5th and Brazos (southeast corner).  UT gameday traffic is heavy right now, so you may want to wait until it clears out in about an hour.  If you go tomorrow, I recommend that you get there early.  We arrived at 10:50 am this morning, and all the booths were open.  Get there by 10:30 am tomorrow morning, and you'll beat the crowds.

This year's Pecan Street Festival offers plenty of shopping and food.  We didn't stay long enough to enjoy the entertainment but with plenty of stages, the music will be great as well.  I was impressed with the prices for plenty of homemade arts and crafts.  If you like to do your Christmas shopping early, bring your wallet and select from a variety of unique presents.  Evidently, pooches are welcome downtown on a leash, but I felt a little sorry for them in the heat!  Maybe the breeze will pick up later this afternoon.