LIFE. AUSTIN. REAL ESTATE

disregard - test posting

2011-11-14T10:13:00.001-06:00

testing, testing...

2010-12-29T14:31:00.003-06:00

Tony DeLisi, Director of Research for the Austin Chamber of Commerce provides a wealth of information pulled from the 5 year US Census surveys. These reports are NOT based on the recent census conducted every 10 years but rather a summary of the American Community Survey done annually. By incorporating the data over the last five years, Tony provides an accurate and up-to-date profile of the Austin Region.

The article below notes that:

· Household Income: $57,109 for Austin vs. $48,199 for Texas and $51,425 for the US. 24% of Austin area residents earn above $100,000 a year.

· Education: 39% of Austin residents hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 25% in Texas and 28% nationally

· In-migration of Educated Workers: High income and education levels in the Austin region and attracting new businesses have been drive by the influx of educated workers from across the state, nation, and world

· Mobility Patterns: Mobility patterns show that only an estimated 77% of residents lived in the same house one year previously, with 13% moving locally within their county, 6% moving from within Texas, 3% coming from out of state, and 1% coming from abroad

· Housing Vacancy: The residential real estate market had only an estimated 8% housing vacancy rate over the 5-year period

· Median Home Value: Heat maps are provided showing the median home value and change in median home value since 2000

· Median Rents: Heat maps are also provided showing the same information for Rents

Link to article: http://austinchamber.com/LiveWork/Economic/report.html

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending December 11

2010-12-14T10:59:00.001-06:00

Properties For Sale:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 2.01%

New listings – 14.13%.

Pendings + 17.13%

Solds units + 14.12%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices – 3.19% to $256,508.

In 2009 it was $266,938.

Austin had 10,005 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 10,206 active listings.

That is + 2.01% from last year.

Home Inspector

2010-12-14T10:52:00.004-06:00

Phillips Property Inspections

3502 Eldorado Trail

Austin, TX 78739

(512) 934-8789

Scott Phillips is very knowledgeable. And he takes the time to dish out that knowledge in digestible chunks so as not to overwhelm or terrify the home buyer. I call this bedside manner, and Scott's is superior to many other inspectors I have worked with.

His written reports are intense. In a good way. They are chock full of photographs and he uses his tablet PC to fill in the blanks on site so you get his real time observation of issues versus a foggy memory.

I was originally introduced to Scott a couple of years ago when he brought lunch to a class that I was attending as part of my continuing education as a REALTOR. In exchange for his sandwich payola, the room listened while he did a short commercial for his business. That's how it works.

I related to Scott's approach immediately. Attentiveness, technology, follow-through. I decided right away to add him to my list of preferred vendors.

Since then, Scott has served a dozen or more of my clients and counting. He consistently wins their trust and business not for being the cheapest inspection, but for giving them confidence that they will learn everything they need to know during this HUGE purchase decision.

Bravo, PPI. Keep up the great work!

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending December 4

2010-12-06T10:42:00.001-06:00

Properties for Sale:

Nov. 28 - Dec. 4, 2010
[compared to the same week in 2009]
New listings - 15.54%.

Pendings + 10.78%

Solds + 1.34%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices - 4.77% to $250,928. In 2009 it was $263,488 for the same week.

We had 10,055 active listings during the same week in 2009. Today there is 10,331 active listings! That is 2.74% increase from last year.

Austin Market Stats :: NOV 2010

2010-12-02T10:40:00.000-06:00

Proerties for Sale: (compared to November 2009)
New listings - 19.77%.
Pendings + 1.97%.

Solds - by 27.05%

Average Prices:

The "New Listings" average list price - .08% to $298,104. In November 2009 the average list price was $298,353.

Sold average sales prices + 4.63% to $244,026. For November 2009 it was $233,225.

Austin Market Stats :: OCT 2010

2010-11-04T10:38:00.000-05:00

Properties for Sale: (compared to October 2009)
New listings - 16.41%.
Pendings - 22.86%.

Solds - 34.51%

As for Average Prices:

The "New Listings" average list price + 8.64% to $300,898. In October 2009 the average list price was $276,975.

Sold average sales prices + 10.37% to $258,626. For October 2009 it was $234,320.

A Day At Shipe Park :: Hyde Park, Austin, TX

2010-10-11T10:48:00.000-05:00

Facebook Album Here

Austin Market Stats :: SEPT 2010

2010-10-06T10:37:00.000-05:00

Properties for Sale: (compared to September 2009)
New listings - 12.90%.
Pendings - 26.66%.

Solds - 32.31%

Average Prices:

The "New Listings" average list price is - 6.73% to $281,120. In September 2009 the average list price was $301,416.

Sold average sales prices + 4.29% to $249,017. For September 2009 it was $238,763.

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending October 2

2010-10-04T22:04:00.000-05:00

Properties For Sale:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 14.81%

New listings – 19.14%.

Pendings – 31.80%

Solds units – 33.26%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 1.14% to $271,216.

In 2009 it was $268,165.

Austin had 10,746 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 12,337 active listings!

That is + 14.81% from last year.

EUREKA! :: Making Quality (versus Quantity) Homes Workable

2010-09-28T13:44:00.004-05:00

DIGIHITCH ONLINE AGAIN :: Happy Birthday Morgan!

2010-09-25T23:46:00.006-05:00

It has been a long time coming but I'm extremely pleased to announce the return of digihitch! It was great to see that so many of you already noticed the return before this announcement, and have returned to the site to share your stories, and contribute to the community.

As some of you may have heard, digihitch creator Morgan ‘Sal’man Strüb, passed away this last March. Morgan is still today an inspiration to so many, and our goal is that he always live on, in part through the continued existence of digihitch now and forever as the foremost hitchhiking destination on the internet. digihitch will remain as his lasting legacy. He is loved and will be deeply missed by his family, as well as by everyone whose life he touched.

For this reason, Morgan’s family has been diligently working to get the site back up and running. They know what this site meant to Morgan, and what this site means to so many of you. There are currently plans to start a non-profit in Morgans memory for digihitch, to help keep the site running. We are also hard at work on plans for a complete overhaul of the backend of the website. Doing so will not only make digihitch much more technically stable, but will also allow the site to easily grow and evolve over time.

We look forward to bringing you more news and developments very soon. It's so exciting to have the official return of digihitch coincide with his birthday, which is today, the 25th of September.

Thank you for all of your continued support!

MORGAN JAMES STRÜB

“All those who wander are not lost.” - TOLKIEN

Morgan ‘Sal’man Strüb has always been a catalyst for uniting people in ways that produce interactions greater than the sum of their parts. Morgan was an early pioneer in the concept of Web 2.0. Via the internet he has gathered families from across the globe to celebrate their common bonds. He has connected travelers to share inspiration and resources. Out of Morgan’s passion for getting off the beaten path to connect with people in unique and unconventional ways, DIGIHITCH.COM was born. The premier hitching site on the web, it has received millions of hits from its many thousands of registered members plus countless other visitors who appreciate it as a hub for hitchhikers and a portal for adventures of all kinds.

Beyond DIGIHITCH.COM, Morgan served many others from all walks of life as an effective and prolific webmaster. It could never be told how many lasting friendships have begun on his pages, or how many lives have been improved as a result of his creations.

He quietly battled neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, for years before his diagnosis in June of 2009. Despite the intensity of the fight and the devastating effects of the disease, Morgan never let cancer define him. It was merely another piece of his story. His strength and spirit profoundly inspired all who were there to support him in his fight. CANCERCAW.COM/BLOG

Morgan’s legacy lives on. His devoted family has committed to complete his life’s work and passions- DIGIHITCH.COM and AMERICAN WAYSIDE, Morgan’s personal life story and tremendous memoirs of his years hitchhiking across America.

MORGAN JAMES STRÜB

September 25, 1973 – March 28, 2010

“The road will provide.” - ‘SAL’MAN

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending September 11

2010-09-13T22:01:00.000-05:00

Properties For Sale:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings 16.11%

New listings – 9.21%.

Pendings – 22.92%

Solds units – 18.42%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 6.33% to $249,611.

In 2009 it was $234,754.

Austin had 11,108 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 12,898 active listings!

That is +16.11% from last year.

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending September 4

2010-09-06T21:57:00.000-05:00

Properties For Sale:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 16.91%

New listings - 9.24%.

Pendings - 21.63%

Solds units - 26.28%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices +14.50% to $253,646.

In 2009 it was $221,531.

Austin had 11,174 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,063 active listings!

That is + 16.91% from last year.

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending August 28

2010-08-30T11:03:00.001-05:00

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 18.54%

New listings - 16.09%.

Pendings - 28.82%

Solds units - 37.93%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 25.07% to $283,462.

In 2009 it was 226,649$.

Austin had 11,378 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,488 active listings!

That is + 18.54% from last year.

GET PERSONALIZED STATS FOR YOUR OWN HOOD.

Since When Have Eggs Grown On Trees?

2010-08-29T14:10:00.005-05:00

Omelettry

Category: Breakfast & Brunch

4811 Burnet Rd

Austin, TX 78756

Neighborhood: Rosedale

(512) 453-5062

CASH ONLY. Boo!!

Everything else is so darn good. And so much more than omelets. The menu is pretty huge, actually.

I like their "it takes a village" sort of service concept. There are no assigned tables so all of the servers cooperate to take care of the customer. Any server you see is your server. So that keeps coffee full and food served fast. A cold omelet is a friend to no one. Am I right or am I right?

Brunch is my favorite meal of the day. Any time of day, really. Pancakes. Eggs. Coffee. Fruit. Potatoes. ...mmmmmmm I know a good brunch spot when I see it. I'll be seeing a lot more of this place.

OH!
P.S. They toss some toys on the table when they seat a party with kids. Pretty clever. Not much can keep a kid interested (AKA quiet) like somebody else's toys can.

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending August 21

2010-08-25T16:01:00.004-05:00

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 17.47%

New listings - 1.66%.

Pendings - 22.82%

Solds units - 22.26%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 2.41% to $275,371.

In 2009 it was $268,883.

Austin had 11490 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,497 active listings!

That is + 17.47% from last year.

GET PERSONALIZED STATS FOR YOUR OWN HOOD.

Big Boy, Little Man

2010-08-24T22:26:00.008-05:00

Meet The Teacher Day!

2010-08-22T20:17:00.006-05:00

Jackson Hames Strüb | Class of '23

Jack starts school tomorrow. Real school. Big boy school. I am so proud of him. The adjustment from Pre-K to Real K is going to be a big one for both of us, but we are really excited to begin this chapter. He is definitely ready.

Friday was Meet The Teacher Day. I was really happy that we got Mrs. Gonzales. All 3 of the teachers there at Lee Elementary, a Blue Ribbon School, have been there for 20 years so I knew we would get a great teacher regardless. But Mrs. Gonzales reminds me of my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Waldrip, and that's a really good thing.

Now for the waking up part... wish us luck!

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending August 14

2010-08-19T18:35:00.008-05:00

Properties For Sale

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 18.10%

New listings - 8.02%.

Pendings - 30.81%

Solds units - 37.13% [!]

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 13.83% to $272,883.

In 2009 it was $239,726.

Austin had 11,548 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,638 active listings!

That is + 18.10% from last year.

GET PERSONALIZED STATS FOR YOUR OWN HOOD.

BUY BUY AUSTIN!

2010-08-15T10:52:00.004-05:00

Austin Region Likely to See Shortage of New Homes with Continued

Population Growth on the Horizon

AUSTIN, TX., July 15, 2010 - The Home Builders Association (HBA) of
Greater Austin held the 2010 Mid- Year Economic Housing Forecast this
morning at the Phillips Event Center. The program was presented by Dr.
Ted C. Jones, PhD, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist for Stewart
Title Guaranty Company. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in
Agricultural Economics from Colorado State University, Dr. Jones earned
a PhD in finance with a minor in statistics and a master's degree in
land economics and real estate from Texas A&M University, where he
served as chief economist at the university's Real Estate Center, the
nation's largest publicly funded real estate research group.

According to Dr. Jones, the growth of the regional housing market is
directly tied to the area's ability to create and maintain jobs and
positive consumer confidence. While the US lost 1.37 million jobs since
June 2000, Austin grew 94,700 net new jobs between May 2000 and May
2010. The region has gained 9,900 jobs year-to-date through May 2010
with 1,000 of those jobs gained in May 2010 alone. "Simply stated,
Austin is a job-growing machine," says Dr. Jones.

The population of the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is
forecast to grow by roughly 273,000 people every five years; doubling
our current population of approximately 1.7 million by 2035. "The
current rate of new construction of all types of residential dwellings
is just 10,000 per year. This is not even close to keeping up with the
forecast population growth of the region," says Dr. Jones.

Buyers are encouraged to buy now. If interest rates were to tick up just
1%, the price of a home would have to decline by 10% to make up the
difference. Home prices are already on the rise in the greater Austin
region. Expected population growth coupled with the lack of new home
starts that will keep up with the region's growth will likely cause
prices to rise further.

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending August 7

2010-08-13T10:34:00.002-05:00

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 17.78%

New listings - 19.66%.

Pendings - 12.53%

Solds units - 45.06% [!]

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 21.68% to $290,727.

In 2009 it was $238,935.

Austin had 11,581 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,640 active listings!

That is + 17.78% from last year.

GET PERSONALIZED STATS FOR YOUR OWN HOOD.

Making Moving a Little Easier On The Young Ones

2010-08-11T13:43:00.005-05:00

THANKS TO WALLY TINGLY AT CHICAGO TITLE FOR THIS POST!

Moving can be an exciting time in any family's life, but it can also be a time of worry and uncertainty for the smallest members of your clan. To make the transition a bit easier on everyone, here are a few popular children's books to read with your little ones.

The Berenstain Bears series has a book entitled, "Moving Day" (Random House). This book follows the Bears as they make a move to a home with better soil for their farm.

Children may have a hard time understanding where their toys are going, and if they'll ever see them again. As parents, it's a hard, but important job to make the transition of moving easy. These books may help to open a dialogue with young children.

To open up conversation, consider "Moving House" by Anne Civardi (Usborne Books). One parental review says, "This book is great to make moving to a new house, school, or city easier. It isn't one that we read again and again, but it did give a great opening for conversations of topics related to the move."

Another preschool geared book is "We're Moving" by Heather Maisner (Kingfisher).

Receiving a 5 star review on Amazon.com, "I'm Not Moving, Mama," by Nancy White Carlstrom (Aladdin Publishing), is the story of a little mouse who refuses to leave his room on moving day.

And finally, for your own reading, check out Lori Collins Burgan's "Moving with Kids: 25 Ways to Ease Your Family's Transition to a New Home". Library Journal writes of the work, "A no-nonsense, compassionate guide to helping children deal with the stress, trauma, and potential excitement of relocating...there are no other comparable titles in print. Easy to read and eminently useful, this is the ideal parents' helper when faced with a move across town or across the world."

Self Respect

2010-08-08T16:49:00.004-05:00

"The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs."

Joan Didion

“Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.”

Marcus Aurelius

“True humility is intelligent self respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves. It makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be.”

Ralph W. Sockman

self-re·spect (sĕlfˌrĭ-spĕktˈ)

noun

Due respect for oneself, one's character, and one's conduct.

2010-08-06T19:39:00.004-05:00

The following movies have a special place in my life. There are so many others I can't think of at the moment, but this is a start. In no particular order:

Happiness Is (2009),

This Boy's Life (1993),

Good Will Hunting (1997),

La vita è bella (1997),

Inglourious Basterds (2009),

Se7en (1995),

Crash (2004),

Killing Zoe (1993),

Reservoir Dogs (1992),

Jerry Maguire (1996),

The Departed (2006),

Return to Paradise (1998),

Wedding Crashers (2005),

A Cool, Dry Place (1998),

Stand by Me (1986),

The Godfather: Part II (1974),

The Godfather (1972),

Kalifornia (1993),

Pulp Fiction (1994),

True Romance (1993),

This Boy's Life (1993),

Breaking the Rules (1992)

What are some of your "must see" movie titles?

Austin Market Stats :: July 2010 + Week Ending July 31

2010-08-04T19:30:00.002-05:00

JULY 2010

Properties For Sale:
[compared to July 2009]
New listings - 1.97%.

Pendings - 20.30%

Solds - 25.80%

Average Prices:

[compared to July 2009]

Sold average sales prices - 17.30% to $284,443.

In 2009 it was $242,498.

Week Ending July 31

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 17.58%

New listings - 5.37%.

Pendings - 21.19%

Solds units - 23.49 %

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 25.16% to $308,295.

In 2009 it was $246,316.

Austin had 11,613 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,655 active listings!

That is + 17.58% from last year.

GET PERSONALIZED STATS FOR YOUR OWN HOOD.

FAMILY DOCTOR :: James Hahn, MD

2010-08-03T16:41:00.009-05:00

Hahn, James S MD

Category: Family Practice

631 W 38th Street

Austin, TX 78705

Neighborhood: University of Texas

(512) 459-3177

Dr. Hahn is top notch.

I grew up in a home where we had no doctors, dentists, etc. that we could call "ours." Colds and scrapes got prayer not care. Bleeding might get you to the the clinic, but probably not. So I didn't develop strong habits for seeking out good pre-emptive and routine care. Until my son was born.

For the last few years, I have been proud to call Dr. Hahn "my" doctor. He is never rushed in our appointment. He talks to me like I am as smart as he is. He does not rush to drugs to fix every problem. He takes a holistic approach without having an ounce of hippy-dippy in it.

I feel like Dr. Hahn cares about me and my well being. Strange how that needs to be stated these days- like it's unique from a DOCTOR. Well, it is.

100 DAYS :: Crisis In the Gulf

2010-08-02T16:55:00.005-05:00

BP. Oil. Ugh.

Recently I read this article about the first hand account from a man who was actually on the rig the night it exploded. Horrific. I highly doubt anything like this has ever happened on a windmill.

Just sayin.

KISS :: keep it simple...

2010-07-28T18:19:00.004-05:00

A couple of years ago, when Jack was still a toddler, I re-learned a valuable lesson about how to communicate über important ideas. Clearly. Directly. Simply.

I was feeling overwhelmed with happiness about being Jack's Papa [you know, the usual], and I said to him very emphatically, "Jack, I could NOT love you more."

He looked sad. I was surprised. "What's wrong, buddy?!"

"You said you you didn't love me..."

WHOA! I can't really be sure that my copious amount of explaining and reiterating the message in more simple, audience-appropriate verbiage ever truly reversed the initial impact of that original interpretation. An expensive lesson indeed.

You may have noticed how the design and presentation of my company's identity strives to be concise. I sorely hope you do, anyway. We put a lot of thought and concern into it. We want our flyers to present the meaty details in an aesthetically pleasing way, for example. We hope the website is easy to navigate. We like our business cards to feature the info most important to you in a way that makes you want to see it more than once. These are all very deliberate ideas.

Of course, we are a work in progress. Professionally and personally. The road to improvement is winding and long with no opportunity to simplify that I'm aware of. Drop me a line if you find a shortcut.

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending July 24

2010-07-27T16:53:00.003-05:00

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 16.80%

New listings + 2.34%.

Pendings - 19.18%

Solds - 27.83%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 14.09% to $272,747.

In 2009 it was $239,059.

Austin had 11,860 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,853 active listings!

That is + 16.80% from last year.

FIND OUT WHAT HOMES ON YOUR STREET ARE SELLING FOR.

What you don't know...

2010-07-25T22:46:00.004-05:00

Today was the last full day of an extended period of uninterrupted days with Jack. 10 days and 9 glorious nights, to be exact. His mom and I have a 50/50 hussle and shuffle schedule otherwise. This week was a real treat.

Anyway, while I was toiling away building a fort in Jack's bedroom today while he supervised and peeled some fruit for us to enjoy... something happened. But I wouldn't have known about it if not for the pure honesty of a 5 year old.

Handing me exactly half of a peeled Clementine orange, "Here you go, Papa."

"MMMMMmmmmm. Thanks, Jack."

"It tastes really good even though I dropped it on the floor, right?"

Laughing, "It sure does!"

It occurred to me a bit later how different my day to day work life would be if I was this totally transparent with people. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm honest and credible. Absolutely. But I'm also diplomatic and careful. You would be AMAZED at how much emotion I filter out of dialog between two negotiating parties, for example. Or how many problems I solve without ever letting my clients know there was one (or a dozen). This is part of my value. I'm a fixer. My job is to get things done.

After doing this as long as I have now, I'm pretty good at predicting how things are going to go. But my clients aren't as practiced. So as they melt down, heat up or outright blow a gasket- my diplomatic, careful side takes over. I believe that ability is a large contributor to how people feel and the great things they have to say at the end of their Real Estate Roller Coaster Ride when they've had me as their trusted carny.

Who's ready to ride?

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending July 17

2010-07-23T17:10:00.002-05:00

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 15.92%

New listings - 8.63%.

Pendings - 3.85%

Solds - 9.45%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 13.53% to $291,418.

In 2009 it was $256,690.

Austin had 11,863 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,752 active listings!

That is + 15.92% from last year.

FIND OUT WHAT HOMES ON YOUR STREET ARE SELLING FOR.

First Things First

2010-07-18T13:29:00.004-05:00

"You must be the change you want to see in the world."

Mahatma Gandhi

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

Barack Obama

"Inspire yourself and others will be inspired. Motivate yourself and others will be motivated. Develop yourself and others will start to develop themselves. Be an example first and then the world changes around you."

Author Unknown

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending July 10

2010-07-14T17:46:00.002-05:00

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 17.34%

New listings - 2.14%.

Pendings - 25.79%

Solds - 38.13%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 15.59% to $285,765.

In 2009 it was $247,221.

Austin had 11,657 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,678 active listings!

That is + 17.34% from last year.

FIND OUT WHAT HOMES ON YOUR STREET ARE SELLING FOR.

SAGO :: Modern Mexican

2010-07-12T17:28:00.003-05:00

Category: Mexican

4600 W Guadalupe St
Blg B, Ste 5
Austin, TX 78751

(512) 452-0300

sagomodernmexican.com

I like Sago. It's solid.

Aside from the location being a real convenience for me, I really love their chips and salsa. The salsa is made in-house. They also have a really unique honey-cilantro rice as a standard side with most dishes that I think is great.

I've never tried something I didn't like, and I've had quite a few different things from the robust menu of apps, soups, tacos, enchiladas, and specialty entrees. Ingredients are fresh and interestingly combined.

Last night I had a Taco Salad. That sounds lame just based on the name, but there was nothing typical or road-side Tex-Mex joint about it. This item is a great example of how they earn the "modern" designation in their name. They take the standards and re-work them into something special.

Drinks and drink specials are decent too.

EPIPHANY :: Kid Birthday Party Theme

2010-07-10T17:24:00.003-05:00

Jack and I were at a really fun birthday party today for a friend of his from school. We were at a great spot in Tarrytown called Reed Park. Safe and harmless enough of a place, right? Well sure- unless there is a group of 5 and 6 year old boys gathered together. A lot of the morning was spent washing off scrapes, narrowly saving little guys from bone-threatening slides down hill faces and other general threats and perils. In between those adventures we talked stories of all the recent injuries that have befallen our respective party goers.

If you are the parent of girl(s), the only people who understand this explosive combination less than you are those with no children at all. We who are blessed with snips and snails and puppy dog tails for offspring should appreciate my new idea for a birthday party venue.

It would look something like this...

We would call it "THE ASYLUM" and little guests would be fitted with straight jacket party favors as they came in the door. Maybe then the parents could kick back and relax on a Saturday morning. What do you think? Million dollar idea, right?

Austin Market Stats :: JUNE 2010 + Week Ending July 3

2010-07-09T14:15:00.005-05:00

JUNE 2010

Properties For Sale:
[compared to June 2009]
New listings - 2.86%.

Pendings - 30.61%

Solds + 6.56%

Average Prices:

[compared to June 2009]

Sold average sales prices - 3.47% to $238,460.

In 2009 it was $247,041.

Week Ending July 3

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 16.83%

New listings + 16.89%.

Pendings - 14.31%

Solds - 4.98%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 13.19% to $287,371.

In 2009 it was $253,879.

Austin had 11,603 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,556 active listings!

That is + 16.83% from last year.

GET PERSONALIZED STATS FOR YOUR OWN HOOD.

My City Can Beat Up Your City

2010-06-30T16:41:00.003-05:00

Use this handy-dandy reporting tool to compare Austin, TX to other cities you might be considering calling home.

Or, if you already live here, input your less fortunate friends' and families' city of residence for comparison and let the teasing commence.

Just click "View Community Reports" to get started.

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending June 26

2010-06-29T16:59:00.003-05:00

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 15.55%

New listings + 3.34%.

Pendings - 24.61%

Solds - 17.27%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 24.92% to $312,422.

In 2009 it was $250,093.

Austin had 11,742 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,568 active listings!

That is + 15.55% from last year.

GET PERSONALIZED STATS FOR YOUR OWN HOOD.

WOW :: A Memorial in Pictorial

2010-06-28T16:32:00.016-05:00

MORE PHOTOS HERE

SO TRUE :: Austin According to Southern Living

2010-06-27T11:10:00.002-05:00

“Some say Austin marches to the beat of a different drummer. We’re convinced the city broke off long ago to start its own band.

Austin’s greatest appeal lies in its ability to balance its trendy scene with an inclusive attitude.

The cowboy, the politician, the punk rocker, and the soccer mom all groove at the same music clubs and palm tortillas at the same Tex-Mex joints.

No matter who you are, you’ll fit in. Snugly.”

– Southern Living magazine, April 2007

Buenos Aires Cafe, Este

2010-06-24T15:19:00.009-05:00

Buenos Aires Cafe, Este

Category: Argentine

1201 East 6th Street

Austin, TX 78702

Neighborhood: East Austin

(512) 382-1189

www.buenosairescafe.com

Buenos Aires is to TASTING as Derek Zoolander is to LOOKING. Ridiculously GOOD.

I have always heard really great things about the food- even before they opened the Este location. But I just never managed to make it down the S 1st location during operating hours. Do they have some weird ones or was it just me? But since this is not a review of the Sur locale, let's get back on topic.

Nearby street parking was easy to come by. Upon entering, we were immediately addressed by a server with her hands full. I appreciated the gesture. She was obviously unable to seat us herself at the moment, but it was important enough to her that we felt welcome that she did not allow her armload of dirty plates to prevent her from saying hello and letting us know someone would be right with us.

We got a table right by the big plate glass windows in the front. I liked that. But the menu I liked even better. It was hard to decide, actually. It all sounded really good.

Our server was a good guy. He was very pleasant and took a genuine interest in our enjoyment of the food. We decided to split an app a salad and an entrée.

In order, we selected the spicy beef empanada, baby spinach salad [with feta, apples, candied pecans and sweet balsamic dressing] and the Gnocchi Quartet. The salad was conveniently split into two portions for us. The entree was the same, but carried a $3 surcharge. Not awesome, but the presentation and portion was really nice on each so I'll let it slide.

The food? Ay dios mio, mis amigos! SO GOOD! The empanada was so very tasty, in fact, that I ordered a second one when the entrée came. We really savored every bite of each dish. And the atmosphere was a compliment not a distraction. That's a nice change of pace compared to a lot of my favorite spots.

Since we split the dishes, it was easier to accept a recommendation to browse the dessert menu. Quatro Leches stood out to me. The server endorsed my hunch. I could write a page about that cake, but I'll just sum it up by saying that we literally had a spoon duel over the last bite. Not just a little tapping on the plate, but a full on crossing of swords in mid-air with a dastardly abduction in the end. I jokingly requested a straw to finish the sauce when our waiter came to get the plate. I know, I know... I'm simply hilarious.

If you couldn't tell, this is one of the best meals I've had out in quite a while. I will rush back again soon. And I will add it to the must-eat places on my list for out of towners or newbies.

I feel compelled to include a description of each dish I enjoyed. Here you go:

Spinach
A refreshing blend of organic baby spinach, feta cheese, organic Fuji apples and spicy roasted pecans tossed in our homemade sweet and tangy vinaigrette.

Carne picante
Spicy ground beef, green onions, raisins, green olives, herbs and spices.

Gnocchi Quartet
Our homemade pumpkin-cinnamon, sweet potato-chipotle, cilantro-jalapeno, and potato-herb gnocchi tossed with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and haricots verts and olive oil, finished
with specialty sauces and fresh parmesan.

Quatro Leches
Traditional Latin-American sponge cake with four distinct Argentine sauces.

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending June 19

2010-06-23T17:07:00.004-05:00

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 14.76%

New listings + 11.85%.

Pendings - 20.83%

Solds - 3.47%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices + 14.60% to $287,196.

In 2009 it was $250,610.

Austin had 11,677 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,400 active listings!

That is + 14.76% from last year.

GET PERSONALIZED STATS FOR YOUR OWN HOOD.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY [to me]

2010-06-20T21:54:00.004-05:00

Those that know me well know that there is nothing more sacred to me than my relationship with Jackson Hames Strüb. What an HONOR to be his "Papa!" This day is a really fun time to relish in that joy and fulfillment. Therefore, it is my favorite holiday of the year.

Happy Father's Day to all you lucky guys out there. I'd love to hear what you did on your special day. Leave a comment and let me know!

*****************************************************************

It is much easier to become a father than to be one. ~Kent Nerburn

It is a wise father that knows his own child. ~William Shakespeare

My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: he believed in me. ~Jim Valvano

Father taught us that opportunity and responsibility go hand in hand. I think we all act on that principle; on the basic human impulse that makes a man want to make the best of what's in him and what's been given him. ~Laurence Rockefeller

One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters. ~George Herbert

A man's worth is measured by how he parents his children. What he gives them, what he keeps away from them, the lessons he teaches and the lessons he allows them to learn on their own. ~Lisa Rogers

I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection. ~Sigmund Freud

My father always told me, "Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life." ~Jim Fox

Every dad, if he takes time out of his busy life to reflect upon his fatherhood, can learn ways to become an even better dad. ~Jack Baker

It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. ~Johann Schiller

A father is a man who expects his son to be as good a man as he meant to be. ~Frank A. Clark

At a time of reproductive freedom for women, fatherhood must be more than a matter of DNA. A man must choose to be a father in the same way that a woman chooses to be a mother. ~Mel Feit

COMMITMENT

2010-06-18T22:12:00.001-05:00

"There is a difference between interest and commitment.

When you're interested in something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results. "

~ Ken Blanchard

I'm interested to know what you are committed to. Post a comment and let me know.

NOT The Golden Arches...

2010-06-17T22:41:00.005-05:00

Categories: American (Traditional), Burgers

10611 Research Blvd
Austin, TX 78759

(512) 382-5864

www.terraburgeraustin.com

Equally or more important than the concept (organic, etc.), I have something to say: TASTY. This could be my new favorite burger in town, and I LOVE burgers.

Jack and I were encouraged to make the trip north to nosh some meat and burn some calories on the playscape; we're glad we did. The food did not disappoint. He loves the cheeseburger, but he thinks it's silly how little the slider in the kids' meal is. They do offer a 2 slider option for the little ones. Not a bad idea if your munchkin is an eater. Mine is.

To me, the sweet potato fries are DELICIOUS. First time I had the beef and this time the turkey. Both were top notch in my book. The cane sugar sodas are rad. The basic paper packaging of everything puts me at ease. I'm not a tree hugger, per se, but I'll vote for biodegradable over styro any day. I would pay an upcharge for that vote if necessary, but I didn't feel like that was the case here. Prices are fair.

The play pen is fully enclosed- very cool for parents hoping to catch a few minutes of texting with your guard down.

The irony of the big Yellow Arches across the highway struck me enough that I actually snapped a picture of them in the same frame as the Terra Burger sign boasting all natural and organic. But, again, that's not the extent of what makes this place special. The food is good. The kids will be happy. Nuff said.

In closing, Jack and I still LOVE Phil's Icehouse- and it's closer to home- but we have already made room in our hearts for Terra Burger as well.

JACK JACK :: Monkey On The Bed

2010-06-15T17:56:00.001-05:00

This is a little bit of an oldie [+/- one year], but still a goodie. This is about how excited Jack has been leading up to our trip to Phx this week for major QT with family.

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending June 12

2010-06-14T21:25:00.002-05:00

Properties For Sale:
[compared to the same week in 2009]

Active Listings + 13.36%

New listings + 1.89%.

Pendings - 29.01%

Solds - 20.85%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices - 4.5% to $248,350.

In 2009 it was $260,065.

Austin had 11,577 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there are 13,124 active listings!

That is + 13.36% from last year.

GET PERSONALIZED STATS FOR YOUR OWN HOOD.

RETT TA GO! :: Take a Note From These Sellers

2010-06-11T15:51:00.005-05:00

When I turned to the "Preparing Your Home" page of my presentation to these Sellers, I did it with a grain of salt. Wow. This SW AUSTIN home is immaculate and RETT TA GO!

But don't take my word for it. Come see for yourself at an OPEN HOUSE this SUNDAY from 1 - 4 PM.

And considering they manage to keep their house looking this way with 3 young children hidden quietly away somewhere, A.Ma.Zing. But I wasn't surprised; this is my 3rd transaction in as many years with these wonderful people. I'm honored to be rep'ing their home.

Toast + Tribute to Morgan on His Wedding Day - June 10, 2009

2010-06-10T21:43:00.005-05:00

My brother Morgan and I are separated in age by slightly less than 3 ½ years. By adult life standards, that’s practically the same age. Growing up, however, that span of time created a hierarchy in our brotherhood/bunkmate arrangement of which Morgan assumed the lead role.

I recall the EARLY mornings where I would awake to find Morgan perched on my bed in the room that we shared. He was looming over me- incessantly requesting my assistance with his paper route that day. It wasn’t actually help that he desired. It was companionship. I eventually gave in… most of the time.

Back in those days, paperboys had to do their own subscription fee collections- a bona fide nightmare for an introverted people pleaser like my brother. So what would he do? Drag me along. Not for muscle, but for companionship.

I knew that at the end of that abhorrent task we would go and blow the loot on video games at Alpha Beta or Appetito’s. We shared a compulsion for those “Machines” as our grandpa would call them. “Now don’t go and put all of this in The Machines!” He would admonish us anytime he handed out a little pocket change. But boy did we. All of that and then some. Personally, I enjoyed the games that pitted us against each other, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, etc. On the screen our size and strength was evened up. So I could beat him pretty much all of the time. He was frustrated and would gesture physical retaliation. But I couldn’t help it. I was compelled to beat him to assert myself- even if there was some potential harm on the horizon.

And those who know Morgan well know that he also finds it very important to fiercely, albeit quietly, assert his own values in the face of potential adversity. While many of us might not relate always to his means and methods, we can recognize his passion. And his loyalty. And his strong sense of honor. In fact, the rest of should be so lucky as to emulate his commitment to family and friends. Many people say “There is nothing more important than family,” but Morgan walks the walk. He is as empathic and supportive as one can be with never a foul word to say about anyone. I believe that people often give gifts they would cherish in the own lives. And for those of us fortunate enough to recognize and accept it- Morgan’s companionship is his greatest gift.

In closing, I want to say to Mrs. Kasha Strub, thank you for accepting Morgan for all that he is. In good times and in bad. In sickness and in health. God bless you both. We love you. Salud!

[I read the speech from a pdf stored on my phone.]