Dianne Bartlett's Lakeway Lake Travis Real Estate Blog

Close-in Austin Texas Condos are Bargain-priced!  Have you considered downsizing?  Do you have thoughts of living closer to Downtown Austin?  Do you need to invest in a place for your college student to live?  Ever thought of benefitting from rental property?

If any of these thoughts have crossed your mind, now is a good time to consider a close-in, Austin condo.  I recently looked at several possibilities for a potential buyer and found bargain-priced condos fairly abundantly just north of Austin and less than 5 miles to the University of Texas campus.  These condos are located in pleasant neighborhoods on the west side of IH 35.

Prices for Austin condos start at $85,000.  I found a very nice 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo with a large balcony and outside storage closet for $86,900.  The complex is just off Anderson Lane and includes a well-kept pool and laundry facility.  The unit is ideal for 2 college students desiring a quieter environment that is still close to campus.  Investors could also place this unit in rental pool for out-of-town business folks & tourists visiting Austin who need something a little longer term than most hotels provide.  There was also a nicely-priced 3-bedroom unit in this same complex.

For empty nesters wanting to downsize and simply their living, I liked a group of condos near Northcross Mall.  These condos are completely renovated and start at $114,900.  These units include upgrades such as granite counters and stainless appliances.  Utilities (except electric) plus cable are included in the low HOA fee.  The complex has a large pool, fitness center, club house, on-site hotel and dining facilities.  These condos would also make excellent second homes for anyone wanting a central Austin retreat that's close to entertainment, shopping, sporting events, etc.

If you are interested in Austin condos, call me today.  I saw even more complexes that just had wonderful envirornments with units in excellent condition.  I haven't seen these kinds of bargain prices in several years and was pleasantly surprised to see what you can buy so close-in to Austin.

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!

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!

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.

Best deal on Hunters Pass Lot #620 in the Apache Shores subdivision in Austin, Texas.  This lot is over one half acre and has outstanding, panoramic hill country views.  Build your dream home within 20 miles of Downtown Austin.

Enjoy access to Lake Austin through the private homeowners' park in Apache Shores where you can launch your boat, tie up to a day dock, fish, swim and picnic.

This lot is located on one of the most beautiful streets in Apache Shores where you will find most homes were built in the last few years.  The larger size of this lot allows you plenty of privacy from your neighbors and backs to a greenbelt where you will overlook a dense, wooded area.

The lot has 3 terraced areas where you can choose your building site.  If you build on the middle tier, your home will be set back off the street, will still be high enough for stunning views, and you'll have a large terrace below for your spacious backyard.  This is a hard to find contour for a lot with views for miles!  The best part is the price:  $29,900 for a recently cleared lot.

Click here for detailed listing information and additional photos.

Beautiful Austin Texas home at 3203 Smoky Ridge listed for just $479,000 and less than 15 miles from downtown.  This home is located just a few blocks from Lake Austin in a tucked-away neighborhood just off City Park Road in Northwest Austin.

You could live super close in to Downtown Austin and still enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Texas Hill Country.

This Austin Texas home on Smoky Ridge was built new in 2004, is over 3000 square feet and includes 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 2 living areas as well as an oversized 2 car garage. 

The home is custom-built and includes beautiful finish-out and striking upgrades.

You'll enjoy living in the Austin neighborhood of Oak Shores On Lake Austin that includes a nearby park, hike and bike trails and is surrounded by nature preserves.

Children attend the best of Austin Independent School District schools, including Highland Park Elementary, Lamar Middle School and McCallum High School.

This is the ideal, upscale Austin setting for the home buyer who needs an affordable monthly mortgage payment.

3203 Smoky Ridge, Austin, Texas 78730

Looking for Apache Shores lots near Lake Austin and Lake Travis?  New lot listing on Hunters Pass priced below what owner paid is now available for just $49,900.  Imagine you could have Lake Austin access through a private owner's park and boat ramp for under $50,000.  How about beautiful views across Texas hill country?  Plus, plenty of elbow room so that when you do build your dream home, you'll enjoy the privacy you deserve.

The lot on Hunters Pass is located within the award-winning, Lake Travis School District boundaries, which assures that your investment will retain its value and provide the best setting for families who are concerned about quality of education.  Lake Travis schools are known for providing career path choices to students, such as engineering, health sciences and film-making.  The school's football team has won two state championships and has gained the nickname, "Quarterback High."  Many schools in the district have achieved the prestigious honor of "Exemplary" rating awarded by the Texas Education Agency.

What can I build on Hunters Pass?  The Apache Shores Property Owners Association provides guidance on deed restrictions and the home building process in the neighborhood.  This lot curves 150 feet across the front and gently slopes uphill with a level building site located in the middle.  Views from street level are already fantastic but building your home further back on the lot with multiple stories would best take advantage of possible panoramic views.

Hunters Pass is one of the most beautiful streets in Apache Shores.  Located just a few blocks from Lake Austin, this street curves around gentle hills and is dotted with mostly newer, custom homes.  You'll appreciate this peaceful setting for your future residence.

Click here to see all Apache Shores listings.