Austin Real Estate Info

 Prior to 2003, women’s flat track derby was essentially nonexistent. Those who played did so nonprofessionally and got no credit for their skill, athleticism and dedication. But that has since changed. Today there are more than 300 Flat Track Derby leagues in the world. The women skaters are the primary owners of the league - they dictate the rules, make sure all is fair and keep interest in the sport alive. But none of this could have happened without the creation of the first league, which happened to be in Austin.

The Texas Rollergirls formed in 2003 as a league owned and run by the skaters themselves. There are officially four local teams: the Hell Marys, Honkytonk Heartbreakers, Hustlers and Hotrod Honeys. Additionally, an all-star team, the Texecutioners, was created in 2006 to play in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association National Championship. Competitions are held at the Playland Skate Center, where crowds of up to 1,100 spectators can be accommodated and almost always are. There are also exhibition games and interstate competitions throughout the season. Information on those meets can be found at the Texas Rollergirls Web site, www.txrollergirls.com.

But the Rollergirls do more than skate. After the death of one of the Rollergirls’ most beloved members AmberDiva, the league came together to form the Tulsa Fund. Tulsa is Amber’s son and was promised by the girls that all of his needs would be met. Any donations made through the Rollergirls Web site for Tulsa are used to help the little boy, who may grow up without a mother but will never be without support.

The Texas Rollergirls have also formed a junior league. The league is a result of collaboration between the Rollergirls and the Austin Derby Brats. It is open to all girls, ages 8-17, and in the eyes of the league, represents the future of the derby. The girls are trained by the Rollergirls themselves and have just begun their first season back on Sept. 18, 2008. Any interested in joining are more than encouraged to and can get information from the Rollergirls’ Web site.

If you are looking for a more involved way to be a part of the Rollergirls, consider trying out. You have to be female, naturally, and over the age of 18, but if you have the skill, the Rollergirls are ready and waiting. If you lack skating ability but have a musical ear, you could always vie for a spot at one of the season’s bouts. Considering how often the meets sell out, you couldn’t ask for much better coverage.

Of course, if you’d rather just watch, that’s an option too. Information about all of the bouts can be found at www.txrollergirls.com. Regular season games are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Children under 12 are free. You can purchase your tickets at Playland Skate Center, Rio Rita Café or Cheapo Discs. And if you have the opportunity, you definitely should. The Texas Rollergirls are history - they are the first in the country to take a sport that was barely recognized and make it an international phenomenon.

That’s right, the splendid St. Edwards University campus sits on a hilltop that overlooks downtown Austin. You not only get a great view; you get a great education, too. With the St. Edwards University Main Building as its historic landmark, the campus is a collection of architectural wonders of academic buildings and classrooms, outdoor parks and other recreation facilities.

Established in 1878, St. Edwards University was named after the saint Edward the Confessor by its founder, Reverend Edward Sorin. History and faith is evident in much of the elements of the campus. In fact, the university’s Main Building is listed as an historical landmark in the National Register of Historic Places. It should be, having been designed by the famous architect of his time Nicholas Clayton, what with the building’s Gothic Revival theme.

Inside the campus, all the amenities of a comfortable community life are available within walking distances. Social and sports events are continuously ongoing. For the health buff, there are fitness centers and jogging trails, not to mention the racket sports courts. There is the Casitas, an on-campus residence which allows students or visitors a great living environment, aside from apartments that dot the campus. A new residence hall, 119,000 square foot of it all with diners and coffee shops, is expected to be finished in 2009.

For a closer view of the campus you can take the regular tours St. Edwards University offers. Registration can be done online and tours go from Mondays to Fridays except Wednesdays. The tours feature a one-hour and a quarter leisurely walk through the campus to view the academic buildings, the recreation facilities, the gathering nooks. Tour guides are available to answer all your queries. Or you may opt for the quieter weekend Saturday special tour.

You will find that the St. Edwards University campus is one that has been planned carefully. It retained its classic architecture evident in the overall design of the buildings and the campus as a whole. In 2002, the 33,000 square foot Trustee Hall academic facility opened. There is also the Basil Moreau Residence Hall and the Jacques Dujarie Hall, both relatively new having opened in 2003 and 2005 respectively. You can visit the John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center, the first phase in the science complex development to house all natural sciences programs. A new chapel is in the drawing board, to be designed by 2004 Smithsonian Institution National Design Awardee Rick Joy.

Ranked as one of the top 20 best colleges in America, St. Edwards University is a balanced mix of academic, historic, and contemporary campus life. With all its amenities and luxuries, students and visitors to the campus are assured of long-term or overnight stays.

You can get directions online or from anyone in the downtown area on how to get to St. Edwards University. Public transport is available or you may arrange for your personal or hired vehicles to get there. At the end of your visit, you’ll definitely agree that St. Edwards University is worth the trip.

When buying a new home, particularly a custom-built home, it is very tempting to do so without the middleman, i.e. the Realtor. After all, is he not just a third party who will require more expenses and resources from you in the end? Won’t he simply do what you could do (talk with the builder, negotiate and buy the home) but with more time, as he will have to discuss first with you, then with the builder, and finally with you again? Couldn’t you do it all on your own, getting the best deal and saving money in the end? The builder seems to think you could, and he wouldn’t lie, would he?

Honestly, he might. The custom builder is not your friend, regardless of how nice he may be or how many fine dining establishments he escorts you to. In the end, the builder is looking to pad his pockets and build his portfolio. He has a business to run, and if he gives you the best deal he can, he may not make enough of a profit to continue running it. He has no choice but to act in his best interest. It’s not malicious; it’s not personal. It’s business and it’s fact.

Now you may believe that being aware of the builder’s motives will enable you to prevent getting duped and actually get the best deal. But how much real estate experience do you have? Maybe you’ve bought a building before, or a home, or maybe you’ve executed some leases on your own. All of that is great experience, but it’s not enough. You don’t know the ins and outs of the real estate world; you aren’t constantly working within the market. You have other things you have to attend to: your family, your work, etc. No matter how much you think you know about real estate and how well you think you can manage, you need to realize that you do not have the experience, education and know how to manage on your own.

A realtor, at least a well-known and reputable one, does. You cannot become a realtor without proving your worth. You must first take classes and work towards obtaining your license, which requires a test (i.e. proof of your worth). You also need to build a reputation through experience and positive interactions with clients. This requires you to only secure the best deals possible for your clients and to remain on top of the latest trends and regulations involving real estate. In short, you must know every inch of the market, never faltering and never waning in your knowledge.

While you may think that the realtor will have to behave much like the builder - working only to get the commission and make the deal - you’re wrong. A realtor is only as good as his clients are happy. So, his best interest is your best interest. He also may know of things you don’t, like when a deal must be requested, when an area is not as prestigious as it’s made to seem, and when you are getting the raw end of the bargain. Further, his only job, aside from his other clients, is you. He doesn’t have to devote 9 to 5 to anything but real estate. You and the market are it. When that’s the case, how can you honestly think not using a realtor is even remotely a possibility?

If you can’t go anywhere without your four-legged buddy, you probably have experienced not a few times with much difficulty getting a seat in a restaurant that’ll allow you to dine with your dog along with you. Fortunately for you, there are a lot of restaurants in Austin that are dog-friendly and will allow your pets to relax in the restaurant’s patios or other special nooks while you dine in comfort.

Some of these food places have several outlets and you will not have a hard time finding them. Amy’s Ice Cream for example has 9 locations scatterd in Austin, from Guadalupe to the Lake Austin Boulevard, from Burnet Road, and Mesa Drive, and at Round Rock along Highway 79. Other multi-outlet places that also allow you to check on your emails while dining, through their Wi-Fi facilities are Opal Divine’s and Grind Coffee. Opal Divine’s outlets are along 6th Street in the downtown area, South Congress to the South, and North Mopac to the North.

There also other single-outlet dog-friendly diners that offer regular Wi-Fi services like the Dog and Duck Pub on 17th Street, Dolce Vita on Duval Street, Club de Ville on Red River Street, Copa Cabana along Congress Avenue, the Crown and Anchor Pub on San Jacinto Boulevard and the Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza.

To the south, your dog-friendly restaurant map should take you to the Irie Bean Coffee Bar located in South Austin; note their ‘yappy hour’ at the patio area every last Friday of the month. On South Congress, there is the Hotel San Jose, where your best four-legged friend can also relax at the patio while you sample the hotel’s dinner fare. Then there on the South First is Freddie’s Place for great American dishes you can enjoy while your pet lounges along with you. For great ribs and a place to park your pet, there is Artz Rib House at number 2330 along South Lamar Boulevard.

Your touring of the city with your doggie best friend will be exhausting enough without you stopping by for a cup of coffee or two at Austin Java, along Barton Springs Road; their outlet at 1206 Parkway features Wi-fi, too. You go for a beer and grilled specialties and let your friend rest awhile as you sample BB Rover’s Pub and Grill on Research Boulevard. On Lamar Boulevard there is Central Market, a favorite hangout of dog lovers, too. Along Hancock Drive, at number 2105 is Billy’s on Burnet. If it’s pasta you want and a little cheese for your dog, try out Carmelo’s Italian Restaurant at 504 East 5th Street.

There are a lot of other dog-friendly restaurants in Austin, and they can be reached by any number of modes of land transport, whether you go by your car or take the public transport facilities. The Austin Cab Company is also there at your beck and call; they are just a whistle away. While dining and although these places are used to pets hanging around, be mindful also of your pet’s best behavior in public; it’s your responsibility to others and to your pet, too, to maintain that responsibility.

Everyone knows the Astros, at least everyone in Austin and in Texas. They are the major league baseball team of Texas, hitting homeruns and striking visiting players out whenever possible, from their home-base of Houston. While they may not be as nationally known as the Yankees, the Dodgers or the Red Sox, they are still a baseball force to be reckoned with, and part of that can be owed to a team within Austin, a minor league team known as the Round Rock Express.

The Round Rock Express is the minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros. For the past 10 years, the team has dedicated itself to commemorating America’s favorite pastime in a fun, safe and healthily competitive manner. The best in minor league staff are employed to take care of the fans, the sponsors and the players. Tickets are affordable, so whole families can go on a regular basis, and players are regularly given the opportunity to play to the best of their ability and advance in an appropriate manner.

In addition to entertaining the community, the team gives back as well. An example of this is the Miracle League, a league that helps and encourages children with disabilities to play ball - a feat that for many is nothing short of a true miracle. It all began in 2005 with the donation of $5,000, proceeds raised in an Express Charity Bowling Tournament. Then, in collaboration with the Nolan Ryan Foundation, $250,000 more was added, and the Miracle League was able to build a facility for its games and events. Now several seasons in, the Miracle League is an inspiration to all Austin citizens. It is a display of what can be accomplished with enough effort, time and caring.

The Round Rock Express has also established a Baseball Camp, led by former Texas Longhorn and Major League player Spike Owen. Owen was a Team USA Gold Medal Winner in World Games and Intercontinental Cup (1981); he was the University of Texas All American in 82; played shortstop in the Major League for 14 years; and coached baseball from 2002 to 2006. Every year he and the Round Rock Express offer an Overnight Camp, a Full-Day Camp and three Half-Day camps. Attendees are taught how to hit, field, throw, base run and pitch. It is an invaluable experience for baseball fans everywhere.

In keeping with the tradition of education, although in a more scholarly than sports manner, the Round Rock Express has established several school-based programs. The Grand Slam Attendance Program rewards students who achieve perfect attendance during the final grading period of the year. Open to children K-5, the honorees receive four complimentary tickets to an Express game. For those who earn straight As in the final grading period, the All-Star Honor Roll Program also awards four complimentary tickets. And in an effort to promote literacy, the Round Rock Express has created a reading program in which elementary and middle school students take part in a 10-week summer reading program.

That is just the tip of what the Round Rock Express does. It is truly a team that gives back to its community, offering not just baseball and fun, but education and values, as well.
For more information on the Round Rock Express, visit www.roundrockexpress.com.

The evening news always finds a way to ruin your appetite. Skyrocketing fuel prices don’t help any to alleviate the discomfort. If you are just about at your wits’ end trying to fit your gasoline expenses into the budget, try the following tips on how to save on fossil fuel and avoid pain at the gas pump.

1. Find alternative modes of transport.

If you used to take the car several blocks down to the local grocer, try a bike. It can prove healthier in the long run. If you can, walk, but if you don’t feel like it, riding a bike can be healthy, enjoyable, and downright economical. You not only get extra treadmill time as if you’re on a regular gym regimen but you get to see the sights that you used to miss in the confines of your car when you ride a bike. This saves you on trips to the gas station and saves you those precious bucks.

For the daily trip to the office, consider taking the bus or the train. The bus fare or train fare will definitely be a lot cheaper than your regular tankful of fuel. Consider the following benefits aside from saving you the pain at the pump: you get to sleep on the train or bus instead of slaving behind the wheel weaving in and out of traffic; you get to read the news while on travel; and if you’re rushing through your workload, you can check your email on the fly. You’ll end up with less stress and more fuel savings.

2. Keep your car in tip-top condition.

Keep to your scheduled tune-up. Skipping the regular oil change or the check up of your car’s engine might save you a few bucks now but think how much gas is guzzled by a poorly maintained car.

Check the air-conditioning and the thermostat. Poor air-con performance weighs heavily on your engine and you end up wasting precious fuel. In cooler weather, roll down the windows and feel the breeze. It can be a worthwhile way of saving fuel and avoiding pain at the gas pump.

Tires that are poorly or under-inflated convert into added drag translating into more fuel burned by the engine to move the car. Make sure the tire pressure is at the manufacturer’s recommended level. The manufacturer knows more than you do in terms of safety and efficiency.

3. Drive with discipline.

Jump starts and screeching halts not only burn tire rubber, burden the engine, and wreak havoc on the car’s carburetor; they guzzle up fuel in surprising amounts, too. Adhere to the recommended acceleration rate and watch that tach.

Ease up on the gas pedal and drive within city limits. You not only save fuel but avoid fines otherwise paid for every speeding ticket you get. On the highway, know what your car’s ideal cruising speed is and stick to that. The bonus is you get to your destination in one piece with nary a bruise or a cut.

With a little discipline and concern, you can avoid pain at the pump as you conserve fuel and increase your savings.

It is not enough that you are aware of water being a very important resource. You should also be aware that it is a very scarce resource. In some countries, women walk tens of kilometers to fetch clean water. Before you soak on that bath or let another dripping faucet off the hook, know that when you conserve water, you not only add up to your savings, but your water conservation efforts constitute your social responsibility, too.

Here are a number of tips on how you can conserve water, save to fatten your wallet, and also help others get their fair share of this precious resource.

1.  Repair leaking faucets and bathroom fixtures. That faucet or cistern drip adds up to gallons of water wasted and water bills being bloated. A wrench and some sealer may be sometimes all it takes for you to do your share of water conservation.

2.  Learn a few water-saving tricks like putting a brick inside the cistern so that instead of 7 gallons being flushed down the drain, you are down to 5 or 6 gallons. Don’t flush trash in the bowl; not only do you waste clean water but you run the risk of your toilet being clogged, too. Turn off the shower while you are lathering; you save on water and you save on the shower gel. Don’t let the faucet run when your brushing your teeth; fill a glass with water and proceed to brush. Your dishwasher drinks up dozens of gallons of water so optimize each run by having all your dishes done one-time. Same holds true for your washing machine: wash at the machine’s optimum load, not a few hankies and undies at a time.

3.  Don’t flood your lawn with the automatic sprinkler; make sure the grass just gets the required amount of watering and turn off that sprinkler on time. Your garage or driveway may be awash with oil spills but before washing them off, sprinkle sawdust or sand first so that don’t use that much water washing those spills off. The patio and the gazebo are dusty and strewn with dry leaves? Of course you can wash the dirt away but if a broom and pan will do, why waste that precious water?

4.  The exterior walls of the house and the fences are in need of a wash-over but you can time it during the next rain-shower so that you don’t use as much water as when you do clean during a hot sunny day. The glass windows can maybe use just a damp cloth and old newspaper to have that sparklingly clean look instead of pouring water on them.

5.  Teach your kids and other house mates to be responsible in their use of water. Turning off the faucet or the shower to its tightest takes just a little effort and ensures there are no precious drips. Don’t let the tub overrun; they can soak and yet be responsible at the same time.

Follow these simple water conservation tips to help the environment and your wallet at the same time.

One of the few bright spots in the real estate market has been the commercial building sector but that is starting to change. Despite the fact that residential housing was down nearly 30%, austin commercial real estate showed an increase of nearly 25%. However, the rising costs of running a business and the unemployment rate hitting all time lows has created a potential for decline with commercial real estate that has yet to be seen.

Home foreclosure rates are on the rise and this looks to have a dramatic effect on the commercial buildings around the country. This can be clearly seen with the decline of commercial development projects. While there was a time when this area of real estate was enjoying an increase despite the housing market, developers are being ever more cautious now. The appeal of developing land for commercial use has dropped significantly over the past few months and it looks to continue that decline well into 2009.

Part of the increase in the commercial building projects is attributed to what has become known as “loose lending.” This is a method where lenders are boosting the market by lending to those who would normally not be qualified. With the new restrictions in place the funds that are being dispersed for such projects are much lower causing a decline in the commercial building projects. In most cases the building projects are going to slow in this slumped market despite the fact that they appear on the rise. The reason being is that the commercial building market is much slower than the residential market so less information is available at such an early stage.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_sperling&sid=a.X91SkgOd8g

Every city has a library. There is one building dedicated solely to preserving the thoughts and ideas of the writers and composers of the world. The shelves in this building are lined with book after book, arranged by genre and author, waiting for someone to wander in and gobble up the words in a manner that could only fill each writer with sheer joy and contentment. In Austin, that library is the Lyndon B. Johnson Library, located on the University of Texas campus at 2313 Red River.

The library is named after President Lyndon Baines Johnson, lovingly known as LBJ. LBJ was the 36th president of the United States. However, before LBJ moved into the White House he was a Texan. LBJ was a Texas State Senator, just as his grandfather was (his father was on the Texas legislature). He also served as the majority leader for six years. Then, in 1960 he was elected vice president to John F. Kennedy’s president. When JFK was killed, LBJ took over. Given JFK’s popularity, LBJ had some big shoes to fill, but fill them he did. In 1964, after finishing JFK’s term, LBJ was reelected in a landslide victory as President of the United States. In office, he got the country through part of the Vietnam War and remained, although not always popular, one of the more reputable Presidents our country has seen.

Thus, it is no wonder that the library of Austin is the Lyndon B. Johnson Library. What other Texan would you name it after? It is also no surprise that LBJ’s library is one of the most visited and largest presidential libraries in the U.S.

Within the library, there are, naturally, books. But there are also memorabilia and important papers from when LBJ was in office. These papers cover the turbulent years of the Vietnam War and leave all who see them with an important view of history and what happened in those violent 60s. Those who wish to sit in the reading room and . . . read can do so Monday through Friday, free of charge. The remainder of the library is open 364 days a year (all excluding Christmas) and is, again, free of charge. After all, how could a president deny literacy to his people?

If you plan on visiting the Lyndon B. Johnson library, it is recommended that you make a day of the trip, using the hours that surround your book perusal to take in the nearby sites of Austin. You will already be on the University of Texas’ campus, so why not take a tour? And if you have someone of college age, it’s all the better. From there, head down the street to check out the Bass Concert Hall, the UT Football Stadium, the Texas Memorial Museum and the University of Texas Tower. All are great attractions to see and will make your day all the more memorable.

Don’t forget why you’re there: books! Get into that library, soak up some history and most importantly read!!!