Austin Texas Homes and More

Archive for August, 2009

 

 Stop, Look, and Live. Remember to hang up or talk hands free in school Zones in Texas!

Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year! This year brings some adjustments to the new driving laws that you may not have practiced during the summer months. Here are some reminders and some new laws that will affect the way you drive through school zones and to help parents prepare and what not to do while waiting to pick up or drop off your child.

Reminders and Current Laws in School Zones:

Stop for any flashing red lights on a school bus, no matter which direction you are headed. Everyone must stop when a school bus has its flashers lit. Continue on your trip once the bus has moved and/or the flashing lights stop flashing, or the bus driver signals it’s okay to pass. Violations can be up to a $1,000 fine.

Don’t forget all school zones have a speed limit of ONLY 20 mph. There will be plenty of law enforcement out for the first few weeks. It is good to remember that fines are always double while your in a school zone.

New laws in school zones that will go into effect September 1, 2009:

It will be illegal to talk on any mobile device in a school zone unless it is hands-free.

ALL occupants in vehicles (regardless of passenger age) are required to wear the seat belt. It does not matter if passengers are in front or back seats!

 

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If you report good deeds the person doing the good deed can be rewarded. All you need to do is report them to the Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care. This is an Austin non-profitorganization that rewards good Samaritans for doing good deeds. They are holding a contest for the next six weeks (through September 30th, 2009). The total prize package is worth about $5000 and prizes include:iMAC computer, iPhone, and various other Apple products. If you want to nominate a good Samaritan simply go to www.recognizegood.com. Finally good deeds DO go unpunished. Please reward those that make the world a better place!

 

If you are in the market for a new home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home. I have a network of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate   1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100   Austin, Texas 78746   512-771-6318  BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com   Betina@KW.com   www.ZilkerParkHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

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The state of Texas just passed stronger seat-belt laws to protect both drivers and passenger on our roads. Starting September 1st, 2009 the changes will be in effect. The bill that makes these changes is called House Bill 537 and was produced by Leo Berman a Republican from Tyler Texas.  These changes were put in place because according to the Texas Department of Transportation 183 people died and 4046 people were injured when riding in cars or trucks without wearing seatbelts in 2008. If you break this law the fine will be $25 or $50 if adults in the back seat are not buckled up. The driver and or the passenger may be fined. If you have a child in the back seat that is not buckled up the fine is $100-$200.

The changes as of September 1st are:

• Children under eight years old must be in a safety seat or booster seat unless they are over 4 feet 9 inches tall.
• Children under five years old may not ride on the back of a motorcycle, but they may ride in a sidecar.
• Drivers may not use cell phones while in School zones unless they use a hands-free device. (this may cause headaches with some parents sitting in line to pick up children, as the time spent waiting can be considerable. The City of Austin plans to install signs notifying drivers of the phone free zones.

 

If you are in the market for a home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home in Austin. I have a network of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate   1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100  Austin, Texas 78746   512-771-6318  BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com   Betina@KW.com   www.ZilkerParkHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

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Living in Austin means you get front row seats to many music events. OK maybe not front row seats, but you get first crack at tickets to our local music events. For example Austin City Limits Festival is a very popular attraction that has attendees and bands from all over the world. This year tickets were sold out in record time.  Apparently this years music line up created such demand for tickets, they sold out faster than the last eight years. I am guessing scalpers will be selling some on CraigsList and EBay at inflated prices. The popularity of ACL is obvious when people keep wearing their wristband long after the three day event is over. I guess you could say some keep the wristband as a badge of honor or to increase the wearers “cool factor”. This years event has moved back ever so slightly to October 2-4. This will hopefully shave a few degrees of heat off the daily temperatures for the event. In past years it was so hot ACL officials set up misting/cooling stations for attendees. Hopefully the later date will help keep anyone from heat related illness. If you want more information about the musical line-up on the multiple stages check out their website: www.ACLFestival.com.

 

If you are in the market for a home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home. I specialize in Relocation and I have a network of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Betina Foreman, Realtor

Keller Williams Real Estate  1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100  Austin, Texas 78746  512-771-6318  BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com   Betina@KW.com   www.ZilkerParkHomes.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

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As your resident Shady Hollow Realtor I want to let buyers know how our local home market is doing. While the national economy may be down, locally things look great in the Austin home market. According to the Austin Chamber of Commerce there are still 1000 people a week moving into the Austin area. This number has not wavered much in the last eight years.

Shady Hollow has long been a desirable Austin community because of the short 15 minute drive to downtown Austin and our large lots with mature trees. Shady Hollow proper has homes with between 1600-2700square feet on about a half acre lot. If you go a few blocks south you will find Shady Hollow Estates. Here is a brief market snapshot for the Estates of Shady Hollow. In the last three months there has been one sale and there are presently 6 homes for sale and one that is under contract or Pending. Shady Hollow Estates has six homes actively for sale  on lots of at least one acre and the average price per square foot is $152.82.  The average home for sale in the neighborhood has about 3300 square feet and was built between 1985 and 1994. The average number of days a home remains on the market is 166 right now.

If you would like to see some homes in Shady Hollow or Shady Hollow Estates, please give me a call. I would be happy to welcome you to the neighborhood. I have a free relocation package for those moving from out of town. Let me help you find your next Shady Hollow home!

Sincerely,

Betina

Betina Foreman, Realtor
Keller Williams
1801 S. MOPAC, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78746
512-771-6318

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Austin Area Farmers Markets are thriving and have some amazing heirloom veggies!

Austin Republic Square Park

Saturday, 8 am to noon (Spring/Summer)

9 am -1 pm (Oct. 31st – March 6th, 2010 )

4th and Guadalupe at Republic Square Park

www.austinfarmersmarket.org

 

Central Austin

Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm/ all Year

2910 South Congress Avenue

www.austinfarm.org/safm

Sunset Valley

Saturday, 9 am – 1 pm / Year round

2300 Jones Rd. – Toney Burger Ctr.

www.sunsetvalleyfarmersmarket.org

Buda

Saturday, 9 am – noon / May – Dec.

100 Main Street (Loop 4 – DT, across from the Post Office)

www.sanmarcosfarmersmarket.com

  

Kyle

1st Saturday of the Month, 9 am – 2 pm

April through November

Historic City Square Park

www.cityofkyle.com/kylemarketdays.php

  

Dripping Springs

1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9 am – 1 pm

June 20th – Oct.

The Triangle at the corner of HWY 290 and RR12

Contact: Ashley at 512-858-4725

 

Local Farms that have local produce sold around town

Angel Valley Organic Farm

Wednesday, 10 am – 2 pm / Feb. – Dec.

11713 Jollyville Rd.

www.angelvalleyfarms.com

  

Boggy Creek Farm

Wednesday & Saturday, 9 am – 2 pm

3414 Lyons Road

www.boggycreekfarm.com

  

Green Gate Farm

Noon – Dark / Mar. – Nov.

Farm Stand and U-Pick

Martin Luther King Blvd., 8604 FM 969 – Decker Lane

Contact: Erin Flynn 512-929-2436

Greenling Organic

914 Shady Lane,  Austin

Contact: Mason Arnold

512-440-8449 / www.greenling.com

Farmhouse

914 Shady Lane, Austin

Contact: Elizabeth Winslow

512-529-8569 / www.farmhousedelivery.com

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The Shady Hollow Home Owners Association has announced there have been reports of a few unwanted visitors in our south Austin neighborhood. Apparently this extreme drought is causing the area wildlife to look harder for water sources and food sources. So a few home-owners with doggie doors have found uninvited “guests” in their homes. A few people have found raccoons and possums creeping inside their homes through doggie doors to get food and water. It is best to secure these doors at night when these critters are out and about looking for food and water. Also there have been some reports of foxes and coyotes on homeowners back porches to feed out of pet bowls that are left outside. While we are in this drought you may wish to refrain from leaving food in your back yard to attract these animals. Of course if you wish to help them survive this period of extreme weather, setting food and water well away from your pets areas would be an option.

  

 Betina Foreman Your Shady Hollow Resident Realtor

If you are in the market for a new home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home. The deadline for the first-time homebuyer tax credit is November 30th, 2009!  I have a network of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Keller Williams Real Estate   1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100  Austin, Texas 78746  512-771-6318  BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com   Betina@KW.com   www.BetinaForeman.com

Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.

 

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Today is a very sad day for music. He was a great man and changed music as we know it. I could not imagine my life without the soundtrack this creative man made possible. I was going to blog on this but you did such a fine job I can’t top this!
Betina

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The Hardeman’s House of Hellfire Chili Cook-Off is rockin the house and raising money for the Blue Dog Rescue!

Allow me to start at the beginning. It all started at a campsite in a park far, far away on the Frio River. There were campers grilling dinner after a long day on the cool river. One of these campers had a huge steak marinated in some special sauce and it was sizzling away on the fire. There were several campers that brought their dogs to this weekend of outdoor fun and games. Apparently one of the dogs snatched this steak and ran off with it. Alas our poor friend was going to go hungry this evening and I could not let that happen. So I asked if he liked hot/spicy food. He said of course I do, why what do you have? I said Habenaro and Mango marinated chicken breasts. He replied are you sure there is enough? I said of course there are plenty; you can have two if you like. He did have two and enjoyed them immensely. In fact after the second bite he timidly asked “So do you make chili?” I said “of course any native Texan worth their salt makes their own chili.”  I refuse to eat the stuff out of a can as that is sacrilege. At that point he invited me to participate in the Hardeman’s House of Hellfire Chili cook-off a few months into the future. I put the date in my blackberry and the rest as they say is history.

I went to cook in my first chili cook-off with no expectations. I brought a little table, a couple of collapsible camp chairs, the camping cook-stove and my biggest gumbo/chili pot and one medium cooler for chili ingredients, snacks and one big cooler for sodas, waters and beers. I had a few friends join me in this all day competition. The set up was at 10:00am and cooking started at noon, judging at 6:00 or so, winners announced at 9:00. The rules are all chili is made onsite and there are absolutely No Beans anywhere near the cook-off period. Ok to be fair I made a small pot of re-fried beans to use in the “OMG that’s too hot emergency”. A good cook knows that if something is too hot/spicy a spoonful of beans will lower the white hot heat felt on your tongue. Being Texas it was already hot outside (101 degrees) and standing over a 4 gallon pot of bubbling hot chili was very very hot. I tried the ice cold beer infusion method of cooling but it only worked a little bit. We are now considering the baby pool filled with water and a few bags of ice for the cook’s immersion therapy in between stirring the chili.

 

There were lots of music and some UT football and lots of chatting with friends on this day. After the judges took the bowls to be judged, all the attendees got to taste the contenders. If they like your chili they can vote by placing a dollar in your doghouse. The owner of the doghouse with the most money wins the People’s Choice category. Wait, did I forget to mention this cook-off is held every year to raise money for The Blue Dog Rescue? Blue Dog is a cause that is near and dear to my heart, as they save so many dogs that need forever homes. Each year they bring a few dogs to the cook-off and they bring a book with all of the dogs that need to be adopted. To attend the cook-off you only need to bring a donation for Blue Dog Rescue: bags of dog food, food bowls, leashes, collars, toys, treats, dog-beds, or plain cold hard cash.

This all day and well into the night event is more fun than most folks can stand. It is a kid friendly event, but the late night portion after the judging may be too late for the little ones. During the day the children have a big silver AirStream full of games and videos all to themselves. At night the lights in the trees illuminate the musicians and the cooks cleaning up their mobile kitchens and then relaxing under the trees with a cold one while the judges do their thing. The last three years we have been lucky enough to have local food critic Rob Balon as our celebrity judge. 

  

In my first year competing “Betina’s Radioactive Amazon Red Chili” took second place, and won the People’s Choice Award. It has been three years now that I have been cooking in this competition and every year I have won the People’s Choice Award. I could not have done it without the support of my friends that keep me hydrated and entertained during this arduous and did I mention hot cook-off. So here’s a big shout out Thank you to Laura Coe, Colleen OHeren and Terri Sheets. These girls are the best friends a girl could have. Every year Colleen brings the big blue shade, Terri brings the killer Mexican margaritas and Laura brings the tunes and plenty of beer. Thank you and hugs to all my friends and remember Blue Dog Rescue needs your donations 365 days a year!

  

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Barton Creek Greenbelt was created many years ago to provide Austinites with a multitude of trails to walk, hike and bike around Austin. Since the beginning there have been a few people cutting out rogue trails in the park at the southwest corner of HWY360 and South MOPAC. Right now there are about 65 miles of trails and about 63% of them are not legal or not created by the parks department. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department maintains all of the authorized trails in the Austin parks.

For many years they have tried to protect the unauthorized trails from use by roping off those areas. However some person just comes and cuts the rope and brings a chainsaw or hacksaw to cut new trails without regard to the native habitat they are destroying. It is difficult to catch the rogue trail cutters red-handed, but many people have been seen with saws in hand leaving or entering the trail area. Now I don’t want to live in a “1984″ type state of constant observation and control, but something needs to be done to protect our wild areas and parks. Our wilderness and inner city green spaces are a huge part of what attracts people to Austin. Therefore we need to protect that like our life depends on it, because in a way it does. Our natural areas and parks bring millions of dollars from tourism each year. It also brings people relocating to Austin because they want to live in a beautiful “green city” not some concrete jungle.

The first residents of the area are being driven out. For example this park area is home to the Golden Cheeked Warbler. There was a study in 2003 that showed the nesting success was 50% lower in areas of biking areas of the trails. Several biologists warn that this type of trail creation and constant use are driving away the very wildlife this park was created to preserve. I know that a part of Austin’s new culture exists on two wheels, however we have to remember the wildlife was here first and we need to be responsible stewards of the land. There has to be a happy middle ground between the bikers and the preservationists. We need to find a way to maintain the existing trails an prevent the New Trail Bandits from robbing Austin of the nature we so desperately work to maintain.

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