Real Estate Blog

Buying a House in Austin in 2016

Austin has grown fast in 2015 and experts predict it will grow even faster in 2016. Housing opportunities abound as new jobs are being created all over the city. Austin residents' loyalty to local business allows them to provide lots of employment. Budding technology companies offer jobs to Austin's huge business and technology school graduates. Local restaurants help Austin's college population finish their education by providing a wealth of part-time jobs.

Even among the fluctuation of housing costs, people of all incomes are seeing new housing opportunities. The positivity of the last quarter of 2015 will set the stage for home buying in 2016.

Should I Buy a Newly Built Home?

The short answer is yes, you should buy a newly built…

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Cool Places at Austin's Barton Creek

Barton Creek is a familiar memory for Austin residents and visitors alike. It conjures images of sweltering Texas summers spent cooling down in the gently flowing water. Green grass and tall trees come to mind. Barton Creek has rocks to climb, trails to conquer, paths to run, and nature to drink in.

It's more than just a pool of water, though. Barton Creek is also home to an extensive park belt that houses plenty of culturally significant areas.

What is Barton Creek anyway?

Barton Creek is a tributary off of the Colorado River that runs through the city. A tributary is a miniature river that flows from a larger river. The Colorado River runs southeast and Barton Creek flows southwest away from it. Because of its proximity to MoPac Expressway,…

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The 7 Most Stylish Austin Neighborhoods

Austin grew by a phenomenal 2.9% between July 2013 and July 2014. Its closest competitor was the very worthy Denver, Colorado - at only 2.4% growth. While 2.9% growth doesn't sound very impressive, it means an increase of about 25,000 people for a city of 855,000. But where do all these folks live?

Among the ordinary homes and apartments, you'll find historical districts and burgeoning neighborhoods full of character. Unusual looking houses and strangely structured apartments highlight the mom and pop businesses with that personal touch that makes Austin shine.

You won't find these places just anywhere. You have to know where to look. Fortunately, we've made a list of some of 2015's most stylish neighborhoods for you to peruse.

North Austin…

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How to Live Cheap in Austin

Want to keep more of the money you earn in your pocket and still enjoy all the cultural experiences of Austin?

Austin is a great place to live. But it's not always the cheapest. If more money in the bank sounds great to you, take advantage of these tips for living on the cheap and under the radar in Austin, Texas. The glamor of downtown Austin may look like it's ready to zero your bank balance. But underground Austin hides some incredible spots with rare treasures for the taking.

Outfit Your Home for Next to Nothing

Take a look at some of the places where you can fill your home, closet, and your wallet.

Vintage Furniture

There are more places packed to the brim with vintage furniture than we can list here. Take a look at some of the…

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6 Things You Need to Know About Austin City Limits

Photo by Ralph Arvesen

Austin is gearing up for the 2015 Austin City Limits Music Festival starting on October 2nd this year. If you've been fortunate enough to call Austin your home previous to this year, then you're very familiar with this local phenomenon. The festival brings popular and award-winning artists together with lesser-known and local music acts for two weekends filled with Austin food, drinks, and non-stop music. The festival brings over 75,000 people per day to Austin from all over the world and boasts one of the most musically diverse lineups among popular music festivals.

Newcomers looking to experience the festival for the first time can brush up on their ACL knowledge just in time for the festivities to begin. All of you…

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The Ultimate Guide to South Congress: Stop 'n Shop

Among the weird and wild eateries and bars that are sure to please the most particular palate is a sprinkling of shops that cater to the spirit of all those who call Austin home. The colorful and strange environments are a form of entertainment in and of themselves, and the contents of each store are so wonderfully unique that you would be hard-pressed to find them anywhere else. Have a look at some of Austin's favorite shopping spots for finding that rare treasure you've been daydreaming about.

Photo credit: Alison C. - Yelp

Allen’s Boots

South Congress has a great amalgam of stores, boutiques, and thrift stores. Allen's Boots has the biggest selection of boots you'll ever see. With boots wall to wall, you are sure to find the perfect pair…

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Austin's Top Secret Menus

Secret menus are more than just a trendy way to show your friends that you are a true local. They often give you access to combinations of a restaurant's food that you can't normally put together. In some cases, they can even open up a world of foods that you didn't know your favorite restaurant serves.

Austin is a food paradise. Its residents are proud of the food diversity that makes the city thrive. It's no surprise that there's such a huge variety of multi-cultural cooking to be enjoyed everywhere from Austin's sleepiest neighborhoods to its busiest streets. Among these one-of-a-kind eateries there are countless secret menus, but we'd like to reveal some of the secrets of Austin's more popular and tasty places.

The Secret Menus You Should…

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The Ultimate Guide to South Congress - Best Bars on SoCo

Read South Congress Must Sees and South Congress Restaurants here!


Austin is a town that wears many hats. Austin is the best food town. Austin is the live music capital of the world. Austin is one of America's fastest growing cities. Austin is this and that. One of the things that Austin truly, truly excels at is excellent alcohol. While other cities may have small distilleries, speakeasies, and the like, we have institutions dedicated to the drink.

South Congress is no different. There are killer bars that you must frequent. If you find yourself on South Congress, then you have to stop into these dives and take a sip of the best thing they've got. If you don't, you're depriving yourself of some of the most delicious ales this side of the…

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What You Need to Know About Your First Mortgage

Buying a new house is an exciting and fulfilling process, but it can become stressful if you aren’t prepared to handle all of the moving parts involved. One of the biggest areas of concern, especially for first time home buyers, is taking out a home loan or mortgage to finance your new house. Mortgage loan officers can walk you through the process, and our realtors can give you their advice, but nothing beats you learning the loan process and fully understanding mortgages yourself.

We thought we would share this handy infographic we found that illustrates the home loan process in the most basic way. It includes some interesting statistics, as well as some useful tips for you to read as you start your journey towards buying a home.

Some of the…

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The Ultimate Guide to South Congress - Can't Miss Eats

Look, if you're going to live in Austin, you're going to be eating. A lot. If ever there was a foodie town, then Austin is the pure embodiment. We have so many restaurants, we had to put them in trucks! South Congress is littered with amazingly amazing restaurants that are begging you to come visit. After you've seen the "must sees" from Part 1 of our Ultimate Guide, get to eating. Look at our essential list and your mouth will be watering in no time.

Photo from: Guero's Taco Bar Yelp

Guero’s Taco Bar

Foodies will have a wonderful time on South Congress, with unlimited choices that are all delicious. Guero's Taco Bar is a popular destination, because who doesn't love tacos? But that's not all they have. Partner your taco with a…

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