Austin Real Estate Today

Austin’s High End Systems Creates Olympic Gold For Opening Ceremonies

Staff — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:22:11 +0000

Unless you have had your head in the sand for the last week you have seen, or at least heard about, the spectacular Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The extraordinary celebration of Chinese history has been applauded around the world or its originality, creativity, technological achievement and pure beauty.

The Chinese set out to ‘WOW” to world and ‘WOW’ the world they did. The success of this extravaganza was due, in part, to the control technology for the massive display of video effects, provided by Austin-based High End Systems, Inc.

"It was pretty much a jaw-dropping response from entertainment people around the world," said Scott Blair, High End’s project manager for digital lighting. "Everyone was amazed by how it turned out, by the scale of it and the quality of it."

In an interview with Statesman.com, Scott Blair explained that High End supplied 120 networked video servers, plus the most recent version of its Axon Media Server video software, along with six control consoles to run the massive video displays on screens along the rim of the stadium, on a central globe and at ground level.

The main video screen that encircled the stadium was the largest video projection surface in the world, Blair said: nearly 1,950 feet long and about 45 feet high.

(more…)

ShareThis

Manor Expressway: Central Texas Answer To Congestion

Staff — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:22:32 +0000

Like many U.S. cities, the Austin area has a challenge with traffic congestion. Traffic on U.S. 290 has increased more than 78 percent since 1990 as Manor and surrounding cities increase in population.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is proposing construction of the Manor Expressway to alleviate congestion. This 6.2-mile toll road would be constructed in the median of the existing highway. Construction would begin in late 2009, with the road opening in 2013.

Residents learned the details of the Manor Expressway project last week at an Open House. A follow-up meeting to collect public input is planned for August 12.

The Mobility Authority focus is to create the modern regional transportation network in Central Texas. Current and future projects are key elements in a carefully planned, multi-modal transportation system designed to meet the diverse mobility needs of our fast-growing region.

The first modern toll roads in Central Texas began opening in the fall of 2006. First, the Texas Turnpike Authority opened the Loop 1 extension and portions of SH 45, and SH 130. Then in March 2007, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority opened the 183A project in Cedar Park and Leander. Throughout 2007 and 2008, the Texas Turnpike Authority continued opening segments of SH 45 and SH 130. In all more than 75 miles of new toll roads were constructed during this period at a cost of more than $4 billion.

Visit the Mobility Authority’s website for maps of current and future projects, along with a new interactive tool showing what the Manor Expressway and other planned expressways in the region will look like. High speed tooled roads are planned to be built in the medians of currently congested highways. Drivers will have both tolled and un-tolled options.

Also read:
Will Light Rail Solve Downtown Austin Transit Woes?
Forbes Study Puts Austin’s Growth Rate Among Best in Nation

ShareThis

Spotlight: Las Casas Verdes, Austin’s First Eco-Friendly Neighborhood

Staff — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:38:04 +0000

Las Casa Verdes will be the first eco-friendly neighborhood of its kind in Texas. Designed by architect, David E Martin, this new project is located in Southwest Austin, a mile for major shopping areas, on local mass transit routes and includes one of Austin’s best high schools.

Las Casa Verdes will be comprised of twenty single family homes featuring the latest in solar, wind and water energy systems. All homes will meet the strict standards of the Austin Green Building Program, Energy Star and LEEDS certifications. Prices will fall within FHA guidelines for the area, with completion schedule for mid-2008.

Las Casas Verdes Homes

Each lot-specific, custom designed, 1800-square-foot Texas farm style cottage will have its own unique character while still maintaining the overall projects design concept and architectural detailing.

Las Casas Verdes will stress quality over quantity, be quaint yet efficient and offer eloquent styling and the comfort features most desired in a home today, all without having to alter your lifestyle to enjoy the benefits of saving energy and money. A media room, office alcove and generous exterior decks will compliment each home.

Standard features will include a 3KW Solar Photovoltaic System for electrical generation and Solar Thermal panels for hot water. Every lot is properly oriented to obtain the most from its solar systems. The complete system includes an inverter and a reversing meter for selling excess power to the public grid. Batteries for on-site energy storage will be one of our few options.

Passive solar design will be used and orientated to best manage light from the sun. Overhangs, porches and shade trees will provide shielding to reduce heat load.Heat chimneys, operable awning windows and landscape features will combine with local breezes to move air throughout the home with little or no mechanical assistance during spring and fall months.

(more…)

ShareThis

Austin Real Estate Weekly Market Update

Staff — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:48:13 +0000

Austin Real Estate Weekly Market Update – August 1, 2008

The median single family home price in AUSTIN for the week of August 1, 2008 was $329,500. The 5448 homes have been on the market for an average of 103 days.

Inventory and days-on-market are climbing, while the Market Action Index has been flat recently. The trends point to a weakening market.

AUSTIN REAL ESTATE OVERVIEW

PRICE

The market has been on a downward trend recently and this week, while essentially flat, doesn’t break us out of that cycle.

(more…)

ShareThis

Spotlight On Senna Hills: A Neighborhood Of Luxury

Staff — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:27:20 +0000

Only 20 minutes to downtown Austin, Senna Hills is conveniently located in the heart of Texas Hill Country. Bee Cave Road offers access to Capital of Texas Hwy (Loop 360), a scenic loop through northwest and southwest Austin.

Ten minutes away is Austin’s largest and most upscale shopping mall, Barton Creek Square Mall. Less than five minutes away are the Shops at the Galleria, which are currently under construction, and coming soon, the Hill Country Galleria Mall.

This elegant and beautifully appointed neighborhood boasts an exceptional living environment with wonderful facilities for enjoyment by all age groups. Amenities include community center, full size pool, and wading pool, playscape, sports court, lighted tennis court, BBQ grills and picnic areas. Walking trails cut through rugged greenbelt offering year-round opportunities to enjoy a wide variety of wildlife.

Senna Hills benefits from the award-winning schools of the Eanes Independent School District, with children attending nearby Barton Creek Elementary, West Ridge Middle School and Westlake High School. The Mission of Eanes is to provide educational excellence by engaging every student in rigorous academic experiences and enriching opportunities.

Two Austin home builders, Drees Custom Homes and Taylor Woodrow are exclusively showcased in Senna Hills. Both builders offer homes priced from the upper $500,000s, with spectacular home sites offering glorious views of the hills.

Taylor Woodrow Homes offer you the assurance of quality construction, superior design and award-winning customer service. Award-winning designs combine an innovative and artful use of space, along with superior craftsmanship with a keen eye for detail.

A dedication to quality in every detail makes your Drees Home more than you ever imagined. Celebrating their 80 anniversary in 2008, Drees stands tribute to craftsmanship that endures.

If you are looking for luxury surrounded by pebble sidewalks, old-fashioned lampposts and stone entryways, for a home that is the envy of all your friends, Senna Hills is exactly what you were looking for.

ShareThis

Mueller Center Earns LEED Gold Certification For “Greenness”

Staff — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:55:53 +0000

Since we’ve been spotlighting the Mueller Austin community for a while now, we know that this planned development is one of the most eco-friendly of its kind. Featuring affordable homes and plenty of public green space, the mixed-use “urban village” is a model for sustainable community design.

When guests and potential residents visit Mueller, they first enter through the Mueller Center which acts the community information center and the Catellus Development Group’s main office. But this is no ordinary welcome center: Catellus recently announced that the Mueller Center has earned LEED® Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria. The major areas of consideration are: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation/design. Buildings are awarded silver, gold, or platinum ratings based on the number of points they earn toward each category.

Mueller Central earned LEED Gold certification based on a number of features, several of which

relate to the facility’s adaptive reuse construction. Built in the 1930s, the former airport building

played many roles prior to being redesigned for its current use in 1996. Other features contributing to the certification include the building’s use of sustainable bamboo flooring

and doors, drought-tolerant native landscaping, regionally sourced materials, an expansive amount of natural light, individual comfort controls, and highly efficient HVAC and water use equipment.

“Mueller Central is to be commended for achieving LEED® certification. This facility is one that

both the community and its visitors can be proud of,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and

Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “Mueller Central will be a showcase for high performance, energy-efficient buildings, and an inspiration for others.”

Be sure to stay tuned for more information about this innovative Austin community.

ShareThis

Spotlight On Mueller: A Model for Sustainable Community Design

Staff — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:10:15 +0000

Mueller Austin is quickly becoming an energetic community hub within Austin city limits. It’s been almost a year since the first residents moved into one of the diverse neighborhoods, Located just three miles from downtown and two miles from the University of Texas.

Robert Mueller who first envisioned the redevelopment of Municipal Airport into a mixed-use urban village. The result is an award-winning sustainable community being developed by Catellus Development Group.

New homes and jobs

Mueller’s 711-acre site, when complete, will become home to approximately 10,000 people, 10,000 permanent employees, more than 1,100 affordable homes and approximately 140 acres of public open space, including:

Nearly 4,600 single-family, condo or apartment homes (at least 25 percent reserved for families who qualify for affordable housing)
More than 140 acres of parks and perimeter greenways
A town center with cafes, shops, plazas and live/work spaces planned to include at least 30 percent locally-owned businesses
5 miles of new hike and bike paths
Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas (open)
The University of Texas Medical Research Campus
Austin Film Studios (open)
Connections to public transportation
Regional retail (open)
State-of-the-art rental apartments
A broad variety of new home opportunities–both for rent and for sale
Class A office space

(more…)

ShareThis

Austin Texas Real Estate Market Update: Rebound in 2009

DeeinAustin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:31:45 +0000

The buying season heated up in Central Texas in May according to the Austin Board of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service (MLS) May 2008 sales report. Single-family home sales in May are up slightly over April 2008 numbers, when 1,981, homes sold. Homes are spending fewer days on the market and overall, the real estate market continues to reflect conditions similar to those of 2005, before the unusual boom in 2006.

Take a look at May single family sales statistics compared to 2007:

Date

Homes Sold

Median Sales Price

Dollar Volume

May 2008

2,154

$196,120

$566,827,254

May 2007

2,679

$183,160

$671,716,386

No matter which city you live in, inventory is still high. Still, Texas is fairing better than the rest of the nation. Austin’s current home inventory is below.

AUSTIN REAL ESTATE MARKET FORECAST- Mid Year Update 2008

The Austin Home Builder Association (HBA) held their semi-annual market update last week. Their research shows that the market is slated to remain low through Third Quarter 2008, then pick up by Winter 2008 or early 2009. Mark Sprague with Vesta Strategies thought buyers and sellers should be relieved to see a "cleansing of the market", which was overheated by real estate speculators.

Great areas to buy include the Southtown area in South Austin, but also other areas such as Round Rock, Pflugerville and Kyle due to coming Seton Hospital complexes and other large mixed-use developments.

Read Also: Austin real estate is a great buy for boomers and empty nesters.

(more…)

ShareThis

Austin Tackles Affordable Housing Again. Anyone Care?

DeeinAustin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:34:10 +0000

Who pays if we don’t create affordable housing for Austin real estate?

This question was posed at the Austin Neighborhood Housing and Community Development’s Affordable Housing Forum, held last Friday (June 13). The third in the forum series on affordable housing issues for real estate in Austin featured Ken Bacon, VP for Housing and Community Development at Fannie Mae. (Fannie Mae recently reduced down-payment requirements nationwide).

Austin real estate consistently ranks among the fastest-growing metro areas in the nation. Demand continues to rise for housing. We recently wrote about the issue of affordable housing in Austin, citing key issues facing developers and investors. One example of development problems in Central and East Austin includes the building of duplexes on infill lots.

Are the duplexed condos more affordable than regular Austin homes or are developers just going for double their money?

Read more about the super-duplex debate in Central Austin.

Read also:Is an Affordable Austin just a pipe dream?

(more…)

ShareThis

Austin Home Builders Extend Parade of Homes to Save Rough Hollow

Staff — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:24:25 +0000

The Austin Home Builders Association already held their Annual Parade of Homes at Rough Hollow, but decided to have a second showing. “Dream Homes Become Reality!”, Parade of Homes, an annual tour of homes presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, as dates have been extended to include: Saturday, June 7 & Sunday, June 8 from 11:00am - 7:00pm

The Parade of Homes is located at Water’s Edge in Rough Hollow in Lakeway TX, near Lake Travis.

Read Also: Spotlight on Rough Hollow Lakeway

See Map and Directions

The rumor mill touts problems at Rough Hollow, which include lack of extensive marketing and overpriced homes in a saturated Lakeway market.

Rough Hollow is a prime location for golf, tennis, hiking, flying, scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding and many watersports with access to Rough Harbor Yacht Club and Marina. Great shopping is minutes away at the new Hill Country Galleria and schools feature the excellent Lake Travis School District.

(more…)

ShareThis

Date	Homes Sold	Median Sales Price	Dollar Volume
May 2008	2,154	$196,120	$566,827,254
May 2007	2,679	$183,160	$671,716,386