Popularity: 10% [?]

Austin Habitat for Humanity needs more land to build affordable homes. Austin struggles with affordability, so charities like Habitat are needed to create more home owners. Habitat for Humanity offers affordable housing to low income families. The charity uses volunteers to rehab these newly acquired foreclosed properties or in extreme cases, tears them down and rebuilds.

While many struggle to keep their homes and avoid foreclosure, rising national foreclosures have created a window of opportunity for charities like Habitat, who strive to keep home ownership costs low. This controversial topic has even reached Congress (read later).

The National Foreclosure Crisis Rescues Affordability

The national foreclosure crisis caused hundreds of thousands to lose heir home, but Habitat for Humanity, to purchase properties below market value. Many Habitat for Humanity chapters across the US are snapping up dozens of empty lots and unoccupied homes — some for as little as half price.

"The down real estate market is a wonderful opportunity for all Habitats," said Gage Yager, executive director of Trinity Habitat for Humanity in Fort Worth. "As prices drop, we have the opportunity to acquire at prices that just weren’t available a few years ago."

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Popularity: 95% [?]

You may remember reading a couple of months ago that the “Titanic-size” Villa Muse development project was in trouble and going under fast; a statement made by Villa Muse last week confirms the ship has sunk – at least in Austin.

After Austin City Council refused to release some 2,000 acres in East Travis County from its jurisdiction, it is now being reported that Bastrop, TX, despite its efforts to keep the dealings hush-hush, is courting the film-based developers. Villa Muse says it is also considering several other cities, all in Texas, with hopes to break ground before the end of the year.

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Popularity: 80% [?]

The goal of Plum Creek is to provide uncommon living for the common man. This 2,200 acre master-planned, new urbanist community is located 17 miles south of Austin in Kyle, Texas and incorporates all the amenities of schools, recreational parks, residential neighborhoods and commercial centers. Plum Creek is a pedestrian friendly community with winding streets, sidewalks and traditional architecture enhanced by neighbor friendly front porches. The goal is to get you closer to the other places in our lives including schools, parks, shops, and jobs.  

Residential offerings are a mix of traditional cottages, elegant golf-course homes and duplex townhomes. Single family homes start in the low $100s $300,000 and townhomes in the $90s. Neighbors are the hardworking folk this country is know for…firefighters, teachers, medical personnel, and government or civic employees. Plum Creek is committed to providing ‘life-cycle’ housing, allowing its residents to mature with the community.

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Popularity: 50% [?]

This hot alert was sent from Becky Hopkins at Austin Title.

A Special Edition of Real Estate Radio!

LIVE with David McMillan Saturday from 1-3 pm on TALK RADIO 1370AM…

You will not want to miss this special edition of Real Estate Radio Saturday from 1 to 3 on 1370AM.  We will get both sides of the controversial Austin City Council proposal calling for every home in Austin to pass an energy compliance inspection before it can be sold.

Attendees: Mayor Will Wynn along with Brewster McCracken and Mike Martinez of the city council, candidate Randi Shade and Socar Chatmon-Thomas from the Austin Board of REALTORS.

Live streaming audio on www.talk1370.com.

Popularity: 24% [?]

 Texas State Senator Kirk Watson and Austin City CouncilMember Brewster McCracken have led the charge to change how we commute to within Central Austin.

After struggling with congestion from our population growth, Mayor Will Wynn charged various groups, community leaders, transit experts and other residents to come up plans for a final vote in November.

Roma Design Group was hired as a consultant to the city to evaluate the dire situation and make a proposal. Roma’s final solution: place 14 miles of light rail line through Central Austin.

Top concerns for Central Austin light rail were:

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Popularity: 23% [?]

(Note: this was a satirical article reprinted by the Austin Statesman that points. Read comments for further discussion.)

Today’s Spotlight focuses on the proposed condominium project, Towering Towers II, which is being developed by Baulsy Bros Builders LLC, based in Miami. The proposed 100-story towers will become the tallest in the state and include 2,361 units.

Towering Towers II, will include a number of ‘Green’ features, including no-flush” toilets that will pipe residents’ waste products directly into a holding tank below the building which can then be recycled and used as fertilizer by the Austin Parks Department. Each unit will have solar-powered coffee makers and reusable canvas grocery shopping bags inscribed with “Keep Austin Weird.”

As innovative and environmentally friendly as these buildings will be, two concerns arise.

The first is the demolition of our historic State Capital and the second is whether downtown Austin need yet another condominium project.

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Popularity: 15% [?]