Austin Real Estate

It's been a long time since the real estate industry has had anything good to report. Since 2007, things have been steadily worsening. Interest rates rise almost daily; stocks drop at the same rapid pace; and Austin real estate buyers and sellers alike struggle with the fees of financing a move in the realty world today.

Most recently, MBIA Inc revealed it had lost $2.41 billion or $13.03 a share in the first quarter. In that same time period, it took $3.58 billion in write-downs on derivative contracts. Similarly, PMI Group Inc announced it had lost $274 million or $3.37 a share in the first quarter. Radian Inc. lost $215.2 million, and IndyMac Bancorp Inc lost $184.2 million or $2.27 a share. None of these losses bode well for the upcoming year.

However, the slight turnaround we're now experiencing does.

While IndyMac recently dropped 37 more cents per share, the shares of MBIA, PMI Group and Radian have all risen: MBIA's shares went up 42 cents to $9.85 a share, for an increase of 4.5 percent. PMI Group saw an 18-cent increase, and Radian experienced a 12-cent growth. The changes may not make up for the past year of losses, but they do offer us a great deal of hope.

The situation won't stay as bad as it is right now. Better circumstances await the Lakeway real estate market. Soon, mortgages could return to reasonable, and home buying and selling will become a legitimate plan rather than a financial disaster.

Texas has long been a leader in the renewable and sustainable energy sources for the entire country. They have made use of these resources in various projects and each year the projects become far more complicated and encompass far more of the state. As such the Texas legislature has enacted several incentive programs for the commercial sector if they are willing to go green with their energy sources and help salvage the environment of the state itself.

The first incentive is for the corporate sector. Texas has adopted a franchise tax, which is directly related to the corporate tax in most states. This tax is paid by all corporate bodies in the state. However, if the company agrees to solar energy devices to their buildings for the purpose of heating and cooling then the cost of said devices can be deducted from the franchise tax. Under the guidelines that companies may also deduct those devices for wind energy up to a certain amount.

Secondly Austin Texas commercial real estate allows major property tax deduction for commercial owners with the green incentives plan. Each company that chooses solar or wind power for their buildings may take a 100% tax exemption on the cost of the devices from their appraised property taxes. This exemption has no maximum attached which allows the companies to introduce otherwise expensive modifications to their buildings and still maintain the maximum exemption.

Those wishing to claim these deductions/exemptions should contact the State Energy Conservation office for the proper forms and regulations applying to said exemptions.

Source: http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/map2.cfm?CurrentPageID=1&State=TX&RE=1&EE=1

Eco friendly day care centers have to qualify to be considered and rated as eco friendly. There are twenty-five steps included in a checklist that need to be met before a day care center is considered eco friendly. Some states already have eco friendly day care centers. Michigan, California, Oregon and Colorado are just some states that have qualified eco friendly day care centers. This is important in today's world. No centers have been started for those with Austin Texas real estate. Parents want a place to take their children that is safe and eco friendly. It is important that the building have no lead paint, pesticides or other toxins present.

The checklist can also be used a s a guide to buying a home or making your home eco friendly. The questions pertain to household chemicals, lead, air quality, pest prevention and pesticides, mercury, condition of the furniture and carpeting, recycling and storage for garbage as well as any plastic toys or play equipment for children. You want to have a safe place to send your children, but it is important to have an eco friendly home as well. The checklist goes into more details about what should be and not be used or exposed to children and adults.

Having a checklist to check areas of a home is just as important as the checklist for the day care centers. Running an eco friendly day care center is important if children are going to be safe while they are in the building. Homes and day care centers alike need to have a save environment.

Westlake Hills is one of Austin's more affluent suburbs, however they do not have a large population. The 2000 federal census indicated only 3053 residents in the 3 square mile community; however the average income was more than 116 thousand dollars. This is a solid attraction for builders and developers to move in and improve upon any unused area of real estate. This is also an attraction for banks. The banking industry is seeking markets who have financial means to maintain the branches they see. The down side is that for a time Westlake Hills had so many banks that new restaurants and retail shops were not able to open in prime locations.

The lack of taxes being generated through retail and the related establishments has brought a great frustration to the residents, as well as the city government. The non income drawing revenue from the banks has limited what services and opportunities the residents can receive from being a part of the city and raising their families there. It will also force city council members to take positions to cut programs in the long run, so drastic steps were taken last fall to rectify the situation. The council passed a moratorium on new banks to limit further expansion in Westlake Hills. The Cronfel Firm office is located in the Westlake Hills area.

In the current market Westlake Hills may not see a reduction in the number of banks that are interested or established in the city. As is often the case, banks are not going to move out because the city believes they are over run by them. The best chance this suburb has to see a reduction in banks is through mergers, which could certainly occur.

In 2007, everyone stopped building homes. For that matter, they stopped buying and selling homes, too. They weren't wanted; they weren't needed; and they certainly weren't in the budget. That wasn't the case, however, for commercial structures. Offices, malls, hotels and public institutions continued to be built throughout the year. These buildings seemed to feel very little of the economy's tightening, remaining strong and newly erected while everything else weakened.

Unfortunately, that's no longer true.

Current trends show that nonresidential construction is about to hit a standstill. Projects already in the works are tentatively continuing, unsure if they'll have enough funds for completion. And projects only in the planning stages seem to be ultimately doomed. In March, the number of nonresidential starts dropped by 23 percent; hotels dipped 67 percent, offices 28 and stores 18. Since the dip is relatively recent, it could be hoped that this is only temporary, but with the increased difficulty of obtaining a loan, the weak dollar and the high price of building materials, it's doubtful that's true. This won't be turning around any time soon.

That means the economy is only going to get worse. An estimated $250 billion is put into the economy annually by commercial buildings. Without them, there will only be a tighter squeeze - more strain on your wallet. Construction jobs will dwindle even more than they already have, and the real estate market will take yet another hit, making it doubly difficult to stay afloat, whether you are commercial or residential, buyer, seller or builder.

Across the majority of the country, listings of pre-existing homes are skyrocketing and prices are dropping, due to the mortgage crisis we are facing. Many cities and states are seeing enough homes on the market to sustain buyers for the next two years, or even longer in some areas. One area that has been missed by this national trend is Dallas-Fort Worth. This metro area has only seen a slight increase in listed pre-existing homes in the past year, staying very close to their four-year average.

A recent article in the Dallas Morning News states that the tight market in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is helping to keep the real estate values very stable, considering the country's rocky real estate market. The average value for an existing home has only dropped and average of two percent over the past few months, which is a minor drop compared to what other areas in the region are facing.

The only portions of the metro area that seems to be struggling in the wake of the current market situation are the more affluent areas, like Park Cities. Homes in these neighborhoods can list into the millions, and homes are sitting on the market for far longer than in middle class neighborhoods. These areas have seen an increase in listed homes since the beginning of this year and turnover time has shown an increase.

Price drops on newly built homes could make a difference in whether this trend of stability continues. With thousands of newly built homes sitting vacant, the pressure on builders to sell is growing, and these prices may drop significantly in the near future, putting a strain on the market for pre-existing housing. Even with the streak of luck the area has had, keeping one eye on the market is a good idea for both buyers and sellers, alike.

Creating a home that is environmentally friendly is an admirable goal, one that you should be commended for adopting. However, you can't think that deciding to go green will automatically make you green. It won't. You have to know the ins and outs of eco-building in order to achieve your goals. Fortunately, as a resident of Austin, you have several resources available to you.

Austin's Green Building Program (www.austinenergy.com) offers you great tips and ideas on how to green your home. It provides you with informative links, refers you to reputable builders, and offers workshops and consultations just so you can make a home that is safe not just for you but for the environment, too. And because it's regionally based, the program gives you suggestions that specifically pertain to you.

For example, air conditioning is something of a necessity in Texas. Aware of this, the program lists ways to minimize the energy used by air conditioners, including methods of keeping as much heat as possible outside with solar panel design and light colored roofing materials and gives you advice on what type of unit to buy. An oversized system, it says, will leave your home clammy and uncomfortable, while a smaller system will cool down the space comfortably and with less energy.

You also want to consider water systems, building small, recycling and reusing, and relying solely on safe and renewable materials. This will help ensure that you have the greenest house possible.

Going green is something that can be done, but it requires so work, some know-how and some research. A little time and reliance on the right sources, will help you accomplish your goals in no time.

Although the concept of solar power was developed many years ago, the affordibility of solar panels has been out of reach for most. The few who have made the expensive investment in the natural power source have reaped great rewards. This positive impact encourages even the most strapped families to seek methods of implementing solar power in their daily lives. Although powering an entire home is yet out of the question for most, powering the out door amenities may not be.

In recent years the price of solar panels has decreased to a more reasonable rate, however it is still costly to invest in roof top paneling. Currently in reasonable pricing is the more portable version of solar paneling. Among them include the solar powered tent, and outdoor lighting and in a more costly version, the sprinkler system. As they are right now, the systems are still developing, however the growth and possible development continues to be a positive aspect for most homes.

A major plus for the solar panel performance is the introduction of amorphous solar cells which utilize both UVA sun light and inferred light. This new panel is versatile in that it is usable even on the cloudiest of days. Today it is possible to locate solar powered products for your landscape at places such as Target, and other major department stores. Keep in mind this is defiantly an industry where you will get what you pay for. Look for what you need while doing you research. This applies to looking for the amorphous solar cells when you are looking for your walk way lighting. A helpful and economic tool, needs to also be as useful as needed.

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When you prepared to buy a home, you made a plan. You plotted out an ideal time frame, considered when to list your own house and with whom, and determined what types of properties you wanted to purchase. You determined the right neighborhoods, the right price and the right size. By the time you took action, you were ready for anything and capable of handling any unforeseen (or foreseen) bumps along the way. It was a beautiful thing. So why wouldn't you do the same for your finances?

A financial plan will help you determine what investments you should make, how much money you should save and how much you can spend. It will ensure that you are able to finance your new home, and that down the line, you are set for retirement. It's one of the smartest things you can do and one of the easiest, considering the first step is the hardest: calling a financial consultant and finding a time to schedule the appointment. Once you do however, there are only a few simple steps you'll have to take before you've mapped out your financial future.

The first step will be an introductory meeting. You'll sit down with your consultant to discuss what your goals are and how your finances are right now - what is already in order, what is in complete disarray. You'll go over retirement plans, college planning, tax liability, disability, death, career plans and estate. You'll lay out the framework for the remainder of your plan.

You want to have good walls; you want to have good floors. You want an interior that reflects a positive nature and gives you a sense of calm. The indoor, the floors and the walls are, after all, what you will see the most of. But they aren't the only things that need taken care of. You need to pay attention to the exterior, too, particularly the exterior you see the least. Protecting your roof, chimney and gutters will guarantee you have a home that is stable from the top down.

Begin with your roof. It takes up nearly half of your home's exterior and acts as a shield for the rest of the house. Without it you would have an extremely damaged and unlivable interior and crumbling, abused exterior walls. So, monitor its condition regularly. Inspect the shingles and flashings every few years, replacing them as needed. If your shingles are strong, your flashing should be, too. Flashing is the point where roof surface, walls and chimney meet, so obviously it's vital that it remain in good condition. Every 20 years, or following a particularly harsh season, you may want to replace the roof entirely. This is a large chore, however, so don't do it unnecessarily. If you replace the shingles as they are damaged, do the same with the flashing and keep your attic well ventilated to avoid excess heat and moisture, you should be fine for a few decades at a time.

Once you have the roof secure, move on to the gutters. As annoying as the task may seem, you have to keep them clean. There should not be, under any circumstances, an excess amount of leaves or debris in your gutters. This will cause water to back up, which can cause leaks, which can destroy your house. Therefore climb the ladder and clean your gutters - once in late autumn, when the leaves have finished falling, and once in the spring to get rid of leaf buds and seedpods.

If you have a lot of difficulty keeping the gutters clean, try a blowevac. Many come with gutter attachments and clean gutters easily, if the gutter can be reached. Additionally, a gutter protection system could keep maintenance to a minimum and turn your bi-annual chore into a quick and easy task. There are a number on the market that are definitely worth investing in.

Finally, with a sturdy roof and clean gutters, turn to your chimney. A decrepit chimney could send bricks tumbling, injuring a passerby. A clogged chimney could ruin your first winter fire, sending smoke tumbling through your home, clouding the atmosphere and leaving a lingering smell for days to come.

For the chimney, hire outside help. Get someone to come in and inspect and sweep the chimney, at least once a year if you use it regularly. Make sure the chimney sweep looks for cracks, flue problems and anything else that could go wrong, like a family of squirrels setting up their nest in the top. Be sure all repairs are done properly and with great care. Afterward, take over responsibility for the chimney. Keep the damper shut when it's not in use, clean it regularly to avoid unintentional fires and consider a chimney cap to keep out those pesky rodents and birds. If you do all this, your chimney should stay standing and working properly for some time to come.

And if you pay attention to all three aspects of your homes exterior - the roof, the gutters and the chimney - you should be able to sleep easy at night, knowing that overhead is a structure that won't let you down and won't come down on you.

In every city there is one street that cannot be missed. It is the place to shop, the place to eat, the place to be and the place to be seen. It has everything from chic art galleries to popular bars to live music to quiet cafes. In Los Angeles, it's Rodeo Drive. In New York, it's 5th Avenue; and in Austin, it was 6 Street.

Six Street is one of the first streets created when the city of Austin was laid out. Running east to west, it was named, as all east to west streets were, after a tree: the pecan tree. For years it was known as Pecan Street. Beautiful houses lined the road, houses that now add a historical air to the popular scene. But it wasn't always popular. Six Street saw its years of ups and downs, the first and one of the greatest ups occurring in the 1970s.

It was in 1975 that the first Six Street blues club opened. Clifford Antone opened his nightclub at the corner of 6 and Brazos. Suddenly, a street that had been nearly deserted and considered dangerous for years was a popular nighttime hangout. University of Texas students frequented the club and bands like Paul Ray and the Cobras, featuring radio jock Paul Ray found a home on stage. From there, the music scene escalated. Already The Ritz had been hosting live music, and then Esther's Pool, Maggie Mae's and Steamboat followed suit. Six Street was officially the place for good songs, good times and cheap beer.

Unfortunately, that scene didn't last for long. As quickly as the live music moved in, it also moved out. Six Street became the place where frat kids went to find dates for the evening or at least the next hour. The only thing that remained from the 1970s hey days was the cheap beer. Musicians found other venues and tourists other hot spots. Today, the situation remains, although there is hope for improvement. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night young kids cram the bars hoping to find some fun, some alcohol and some friends. During the day the streets are crowded with trucks and cars, people looking to shop and people looking to eat. It is a pattern, a cyclical one, but one that the people of Austin are trying to break.

A study was conducted in 2003 to determine how best to turn around 6 Street. It is, after all, a goldmine for tourism. It is a place that can be once again the Rodeo Drive and 5th Avenue of Austin. The goal is to bring back not just the twenty-somethings but those in their thirties and forties, as well. It will be a change that requires effort, but thanks to places that are already there - Gallery Soco, The State Theatre, Esther's Follies, Friends and many, many more - it won't be an effort without promise.

Six Street was once the place to be and it will be again. So the next time you are in Austin, stop by and see what's changed; see what one of the first streets has done to become and remain one of the last great streets in the country.

It would be ideal if we all had green thumbs, if we could each turn a seed into a brightly blooming bud that would return year after year to add fragrant beauty to our yards and windowsills. But we don't. Most of us can barely keep a pot of mums alive. Fortunately, the few individuals blessed with a true skill at gardening are willing to share the aesthetic scenes they create. In Austin, those people have done so through Zilker Botanical Gardens, a 31-acre area of variable and beautiful topography.
Zilker Botanical Gardens is actually a complex comprised of many different gardens. At the garden center are the garden offices with the gift shop and restrooms. Educational displays inform visitors of the flowers and plant life they have or will be viewing throughout the remainder of Zilker. These displays are in the Green Room, which was created and donated by Tony Novak. A beautiful stained glass window pictures numerous bromeliads, and a bust of Isamu Taniguchi adds to the aesthetics. From the center, you can see the Violet Crown Fountain, awash in natural beauty, birds and of course flowers. But the most important thing obtained at the garden center is a map that allows you guides you through the rest of the Gardens.
One of those gardens is Austin's Green Garden. To inspire the residents of Austin, it is filled with landscape that positively rather than negatively impacts the environment. Native and adaptive plants are presented in arrays designed by nine different landscapers, in a way that allows homeowners to learn which plants go well together and what will work in their own yards. This creates both an eye catching and practical garden for any Austenite to see.

The Cactus and Succulent Garden pictures are what many Yankees think of when they imagine the Southwest: a desert, but a desert bathed in glory. Dedicated in 1989, this beautiful arrangement is best viewed between April and May. It is certainly a delight for the eyes and spirit.

For those interested in a more historic arrangement of plant life, the Hartman Prehistoric Garden gives guests a glimpse into the past - the prehistoric past, when dinosaurs rather than humans roamed the earth, and wildlife was free to grow wild. Tracks and bones discovered in 1992 in the area are housed in this 2-acre plot, for an even more realistic look at history.
Perhaps the luckiest part of Zilker Botanical Gardens is the Herb Garden. Shaped like a four-leaf clover, the garden involves raised beds and a number of fragrant, delicious herbs. At the center of the clover is Rosemary, goddess of herbs casting a blessing on all that grows within her reach.
Nearby, the Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden, built by Taniguchi himself, give visitors a taste of Japan with a decidedly Austin twang. The ponds in the first part of this section spell out the word Austin, proving that the garden was in fact a gift to the city. The Mother Tree and "Bridge to Walk over the Moon" also fill this space, creating a garden that is both delightfully exotic and simply beautiful.
Other gardens include the Mabel Davis Rose Garden, the Doug Blachly Butterfly Trail and Garden and the Pioneer Village. Each has its own theme and twist, but one thing is always certain - all are uniquely beautiful and not to missed by any visitor or resident of Austin.

When buying a new home, prospective homeowners are looking for the best deal possible, giving them the best home and amenities for their money. Many buyers mistakenly believe that bypassing a Realtor will save them commission dollars, as they are cutting out the "middleman" who will certainly take their own cut. In some industries, direct buying is a wise, money-saving choice, but in real estate, foregoing the services of a Realtor can cost you big in the long run.

When selecting a new home for purchase, a Realtor can help you to select the features that best fit your needs. Many times, when working directly with a builder, buyers are offered excessive upgrades or substandard materials at a premium price. A Realtor can assess your financial situation and lifestyle needs to help you determine exactly what you need and can afford in your new home. They also will help to protect you from shady builders, looking to make extra money by tricking buyers into allowing them to use a lower quality product.

Employing the services of a Realtor, particularly when purchasing a newly constructed home, will give buyers an extra line of defense against many of the common issues that arise during the buying process. Rather than battling the builder directly when problems arise during construction, your Realtor will take matters into their own hands and work to assure that any problem is corrected in a way that is suitable to you. With plenty of mediating experience between buyers and builders, an experienced Realtor knows what needs to be done to get the desired results.

Many people are fooled by builders and contractors into believing that dealing directly with them will offer big discounts. It is a rare case in which this is true. Most builders who ask to work directly with a buyer will park the price of a new home up to include what would have been paid to the Realtor. Buyers who take advantage of these "deals" direct from a builder's representative will pay the same as they would when using a Realtor, but will lose the benefit of having an experienced voice working to help them with their purchase and any issues that may come up with the builder.

Realtors are also experienced in contracts and contract negotiations. While the wording of a contract may be somewhat cryptic to the buyer, a Realtor can clarify any wording that is confusing and work to get changes made to contract stipulations that are unsuitable. This will help to prevent misunderstandings and misleading contract terms that are binding, once a purchase agreement is signed.

While have successfully purchased homes directly from a builder, buyers should ask themselves if this is a risk that they are willing to take. In most cases, the peace of mind and protecting that is given by using a Realtor is well worth their commission. By choosing to purchase a newly constructed home through a Realtor, the likelihood of a positive outcome is almost assured, from start to finish.

You just bought the perfect house. You love it, it's close to work, the kids school, shopping, your doctor's and dentist's offices. It's really too bad it's also very close to Interstate 35. What to do about that incessant traffic noise? "Control the weak point," says Tony Sola, founder and owner of Acoustics.com.

Acoustics.com is an alliance of educators, experts and design professionals dedicated to promoting the importance of acoustics 'to the general public.' Their mission is to create awareness in the architecture, construction and health industry of the threat to public health too much noise presents. Studies have shown that excessive noise can have an effect on the human immune system as stress levels rise and rest is denied in a noisy atmosphere. Acoustics.com aims to make this problem more understandable and easier to solve.

Mr. Sola explains that home owners will often do the wrong thing when trying to solve a noise problem: add more drywall, or acoustical tile. This does nothing to alleviate noise from outside the house. "The weak point" is almost always the windows. "The sound almost always goes through the window," he says, "and doing anything to the walls will be pointless until you have fixed the noise that comes through the window." Although this is often an obvious thought, it is rarely the first consideration when attempting to resolve the outside nuisance.

Like most construction materials, windows have a rating related to their ability to buffer outside elements. In the window's case, it's called an STC, or sound transmission class, rating. A higher rating indicates the window has a better ability to buffer noise. Single pane windows have an STC rating of between 22 and 25, while dual pane windows rate between 27 and 32. Check this when you are getting ready to replace or upgrade your windows.

Windows aren't the only culprits that let in sound, though. A look at some of the outside fixtures around your home may be advisable. Outside elements can help reduce noise within the house, but are especially important in order to cut down on traffic noise, while enjoying your backyard. A fence with gaps in it, or a row of shrubs, for example, will do nothing to hold back noise. A solid wall is more effective at blocking out noise. As can be expected, the higher a wall is built the more effectively it will block the noise from local traffic or the near by highway.

While a backyard wall may dampen some of the noise, it won't eliminate it completely. In fact, nothing will, but certain elements, when done right, will help to filter or mask out the noise. A water fountain or pond with a decently noisy waterfall, for example is very helpful. This solution is very localized, however, and may mask the noise for only one small part of the yard. A few water features, scattered about a large yard, may be in order here. Also consider utilizing some unique features to promote more of a bird or natural animal population.

It's probably beneficial in the long run to consult with a landscape architect and acoustical expert when working to alleviate traffic noise outside, as well as inside, the house for the home owner's peace of mind, and for his or her peace and quiet.

There's something about swimming outside, in a nature-made watering hole that just makes for summer satisfaction and all around happiness. When that watering hole is sixty-eight degrees year round and three acres big, there is no such thing as disappointment. Such is the case with Barton Springs Pool, a pool fed from underground springs that sees thousands of tourists and Austin citizens each year, including, in his youth, Robert Redford who learned to swim in Barton Springs.
Barton Springs was created millions of years ago by the land shift that created Balcones Fault. It is located in Zilker Park, a 358-acre park donated to the city of Austin by Andrew Jackson Zilker, the first Coca-Cola Bottler in Austin and a man who after coming to Austin with no more than 50 cents in his pocket was able to buy up more than enough land for a supreme park. But before Zilker owned the land, it was a place the Native Americans considered sacred. They called Barton Springs - the three that make up the one - the Sacred Springs and relied on the water in them to heal wounds. Spanish missionaries set up temporary missions along the springs and Billy Barton erected his cabin on the tract of land surrounding them, naming the three springs after his daughters.
As owner of the land, Zilker slowly sold it all to the Public Free Schools of Austin. He did so having made the deal that the city of Austin would buy it all from the schools at higher than cost prices. As the city did, the area became a popular swimming area, as well as a place for baptisms, picnics, live performances and fishing.

Over the years, Barton Springs has been the location of many historical events, including Robert Redford's first 5-year-old stab at swimming. In 1943, for example, the first female Barton Springs lifeguard, Jean Parker, stood guard over the swimmers after the Texas Pool and Beach Association decided to allow female guards. More noteworthy than historical, the director of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Beverly Sheffield, set the record for longest regular Barton Springs swimmer by swimming there three days a week every week from his tenth birthday until his death, in his mid-eighties.

Today, the land is protected under federal law, since a petition to do so was filed by zoologist Mark Kirkpatrick and his wife Barbara Mahler in 1992. In 1998, the US Fish and Wildlife Services named Barton Springs a protected area, as it is home to the Barton Springs salamander, an endangered species.
More so, however, it is home to the people of Austin. They flock there to swim and to celebrate. It is one of the best places around for a lazy afternoon in the water or lively swim through the springs. It is where you want to be when the heat is too much, and thanks to the constant average temperature of 68 degrees, it is where you can be when snow is surrounding the chillier parts of the country and moderate temperatures have settled over Texas. It is Barton Springs - the natural place to swim.

One of the most impressive things about Texas is the landscape. It is a state filled with unbelievable outdoor beauty from desert scenes to lush lakefronts; even if only there for a moment, there is no possibility of not being awed by the fragrant and natural aesthetic perfection. Among the sites to be admired is Mount Bonnell, a limestone mountain that rises more than 700 feet above sea level and more than 200 feet above its surrounding area.
The formation was named in honor of George W. Bonnell. Bonnell moved to Texas in 1836 and spent his career publishing the Texas Sentinel, a well-known newspaper in the Austin area. However, before taking Bonnell's name, it is rumored that the mount was called Antoinette's Leap. Antoinette allegedly leapt from the top of the landmass to her death after Native Americans killed her fiancé.
Since the mid-1800s, Mount Bonnell has been a popular location for picnics and family gatherings. Visitors are able to get their fill of hiking and find enjoyable places to sit and relax within the park. At the top sits a pavilion with an engraved stone commemorating the day Frank M. Covert Sr. dedicated the land as a park - July 15, 1938.
Lake Austin sits to the south of the Mount, and on clear days visitors can sit atop Mount Bonnell's peak watching as boats and swimmers make their way through the cool, relaxing water. Depending on how high up the visitor is, it may be difficult to distinguish between specs of light and individual people, but the resulting view will never change: absolute beauty.
To the East is a more urban view, with Downtown Austin and UT Tower. Those who choose to peer in this direction will realize just how close and yet far from the metropolis they are. They will see that it is possible to have the best of both worlds - urban business and natural quiet.
For those who would rather hike, than sit and soak up the view, there are plenty of criss-crossing trails, lined with beautiful vegetation. Cacti, sage and wildflowers line the walkways, and sections of exposed rock form natural steps. Man made steps can also be found on the mount; they lead from the base to the peak and serve as a main entrance to the park.
There are a few things you may want to consider when visiting the park. First, it is open from 5 am to 10 pm, no earlier and no later. Second, it is a 100-step climb to the top, something you may want to consider if you or your traveling partner is not in the most robust of shape. If you are willing to take the hike, make sure you wear appropriate footwear. It's easy enough to lose your footing; you don't need a flip-flop to help you along. Without a doubt you need to be sure to take plenty of water; it's not hard to work up a sweat and become unknowingly dehydrated.
Other than that, the only rules are to respect the park and to have fun. Mount Bonnell is one of the most beautiful parts of the city. Soak up the sun and enjoy the view.

The University of Texas at Austin, with its main campus no more than a mile away from the State Capitol of Texas, is the famous research university at the heart of Texas. As part of the University of Texas System, UT Austin is consistently well attended since its founding in 1883. In 2007, it had the fifth largest fall-season enrolment in the nation. In Texas, it holds the record for the largest enrolment amongst all the local colleges.

The university is noted for the J. J. Pickle Research Campus, an academic research center. In addition, there are other auxiliary facilities and programs that the university operates. Interested parties, students meaning to enroll, or tourists can go on campus walking tours to see the UT Austin for themselves. Aside from the regular day tours there is the nighttime Moonlight Prowl guided tour. Also available is the Tower Observation Deck Tour, taking place at the observation deck of the Tower, the university's landmark. It is a premium to see the architecture, the construction, the interiors, for yourself.

Public art is a main attraction at the University of Texas at Austin campus. Landmarks is a collection of the finest public art-works on campus. Sculpture is a feature in the online Campus Statues Tour highlighting the more notable statues and other landmark sculptures in the campus.

Go back in time when you take the historic Main Building Tour either online, to sample the architecture, the sights and sounds, the personalities behind the making of the Main Building, or on an actual day tour of the building itself. With the Victorian-Gothic style of old being retained as much as possible, the new Main Building with its modern day tower is one hallmark of the campus you cannot afford to miss.

University of Texas in Austin also plays host to seventeen libraries, 7 museums, a football stadium, a Student Activities Center, the Gregory Gym, the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the Blanton Museum of the Arts. Art, history, activity, all rolled into one. There can never be an idle time for the intellectually and physically aroused in the campus. There is KUT, a public radio station operated by the university to provide internet streaming audio and regular FM radio broadcasts.

If you really want to see everything there is to discover in the University of Texas at Austin, time your visit for the biggest Texan open house: the Explore UT yearly open house. Every year the university plays host to Texans to discover for themselves the wonders of the UT Austin Campus. From guided tours to special performances, from lectures to demonstrations, from interactive and other do-it-yourself activities, the Explore UT is one event that bares them all about the university.

The UT Austin campus sits on 3.4 square kilometers of land inclusive of the main campus and the research center campus in North Austin housing the J. J. Pickle Research. To get there, Capitol Metro provides regular bus transport, both for students and tourists in-campus and all around Austin.

UT is only one of the many favorite places to see in Austin!

If you are ever in the Austin area, you must definitely visit the Laguna Gloria Art Museum. The museum is one of the most popular museums in the area and one of the most beautiful at that, too. With its historic Italian villa style, the museum's original intention was to become the home of Stephen Austin, the centerpiece in the sprawling grounds of the site. That never happened, though, and the property was later sold in 1914 to the husband and wife tandem of Hal Sevier and Clara Driscoll.

The couple built a home for themselves two years after the purchase and their original villa became what was to become then the Austin Museum of Art. The lady of the house, Clara Driscoll, was the prime mover in developing the surrounding areas into a veritable showcase of flora - flowering plants, trees, foliage that complemented the Italian-style villa of the couple. Half a century later, their home was converted in 1961 to a museum. It was a fitting structure to house art in various forms and soon enough, the place became known for its art exhibits and other attractions.

The Laguna Gloria Art Museum became the gathering place of social aficionados of art events, fundraisers, and charities. With its exotic gardens and wide spaces - there is even an amphitheater and a gazebo, too - varied events can be held on the grounds or indoors.

The museum is such a hit that it had to expand. Two decades after its conversion into a museum, a 5,300 square foot art school was built in 1983. Nine years later, it became formally known as the Austin Museum of Art. Even when the Austin Museum had to relocate years later, the original Laguna Gloria still retained the school for the arts which even renovated to feature more exhibition halls for both local and regional artists' works.

Why go there

The original mistress of the place, Clara Driscoll, was behind the development of the Laguna Gloria. Not content to merely making a home for herself and her husband, Clara's passion for gardening prompted her to make the grounds a veritable exhibit of flowering plants and all sorts of greeneries. Statues and monuments of grace and beauty dot the grounds combining the Texas landscape with exotic European touch. History and art can be seen in every aspect of the Laguna Gloria.

How to get there

Check out the National Register of Historic Places; Laguna Gloria is listed there. Fifteen miles from Congress on downtown Austin, the Laguna Gloria lies to the west of the Mapac Expressway intersection of Loop One. With its acres and acres of landscape, with some portions bordering Lake Austin, you won't miss it. It is near Mayfield Park and Camp Mabry.

Definitely must see

If you are looking for nature, history, the arts all rolled into one, you must definitely visit the Laguna Gloria Art Museum in Austin. Catch an exhibit or fundraising event there, and enjoy the artworks, the lush gardens, the serene surrounding areas. Laguna gloria is certainly one of Austin's favorite places!

The Hamilton Pool Preserve just outside of Austin is a favorite destination of nature lovers looking for lush flora, varied fauna, and natural landscape in one place. With a canyon and a collapsed grotto both water-eroded to be formed, this nature's wonder is a sight to behold and enjoy. The peace and quiet, the cool atmosphere, the away-from-the-city-buzz laid-back ambiance, all these contribute to the attraction that drives locals and tourists to the Hamilton Pool Preserve year in year out.

The Hamilton Pool Preserve, transformed over the years by both natural and man-made interventions and land management restorations, has recently made a comeback as a tourist attraction with its cliffs, canyon, rolling hills, and upland meadows. All of the preserve's 232 acres of natural habitat is a collation of various features including a 50-foot waterfall pouring onto a jade-green pool, limestone walls surrounding the pool, stalagmite-like formations serving as a natural ceiling, fern- and moss-covered cliffs, and a sprinkling of exotic flora here and there.

Hamilton Pool Preserve amenities may be a bit Spartan for the average tourist but that's what you can expect from a nature trip. Swimming, hiking, backpacking, picnics - alone, with a friend, with the family - all these you can enjoy. On a clear sunny day, the trails are available to explore, although the preserve is sometimes closed after a heavy downpour.

Online, you can take a virtual tour of the Hamilton Pool Preserve to sample the excitement. As you finally decide to go there, you take the route along Highway 71 and 30 miles to the southwest of Austin is the Hamilton Pool Preserve. At Bee Cave, you then take the Hamilton Pool Road for a 13-mile ride to the Hamilton Pool Preserve entrance.

The preserve is open daily from 9 o'clock in the morning up to 6 o'clock in the evening, barring inclement weather. Reasonable entrance fees are charged ($8 for vehicles, $3 for hikers and cyclists) and special permits and passes are available for regulars (so you get annual permits at lower rates) and senior citizens. The seniors and veterans can avail of the Lone Star Senior Pass and the Lone Star Veteran Pass. Overnight camping and trailer parking passes, both regular or annual permits, are also available.

Once there, go on and swim, picnic on the grounds, hike and backpack, go biking, nature-trekking, on your own or with the preserve's tour guides that may be arranged by appointment.

Some notes for visitors: bring potable water; call ahead if you want a guided tour; parking is available only for up to 75 vehicles; footgear made for hiking is recommended; pets are not allowed; firearms and fireworks are not allowed, too; and take note of the weather as the park is closed after a heavy rain. Swimming in the preserve's pool is sometimes suspended when water conditions (as in bacteria levels of the water) do not permit.

So if it's nature trekking you are after, it's definitely the Hamilton Pool Preserve just outside of Austin you'd be meaning to go to. Surely one of Austin's favorite places!

History and fantasy rolled into one. Every old town or city will have its share of history, legends, and ghost stories along with it. Each place is the subject of legends of old and these legends make up the core of ghost tours that thrive on the fascination of a lot of people with folklore.Austin, Texas is no exception and has its share of Austin ghost tours.

With its old buildings and structures, Austin is not only historic, it can even be legendary, and with legends, expect ghosts and monsters along with them. For the thrill seekers, there are Austin ghost tours that take them to the historic buildings of Austin to see and 'feel' for themselves the legends behind the facts. From the founding of Austin as the capital of Texas, it has had its share of stories, folk lore and legends that inevitably point to ghosts and spirits that continue to haunt to this day. The colorful past metamorphosing into the present, with exciting and even frightening stories, these are the attractions of the Austin ghost tours.

Austin ghost tours are walking tours that take you through the oldest and most historic of Austin's buildings where you retrace history with tour guides and 'the spirits'. A regular stop is the Driskill Hotel on the corner of Sixth and Brazos. More than a century into its opening in 1886, the ghost of its founder Colonel Driskill remains to care-take the building. Watch out for that smoke wafting along your way; it's probably from Colonel Driskill's trademark cigar. Sharpen your senses to hear and feel the bouncing ball that the ghost of a four-year old girl who died in the hotel is playing with. Watch as goose-bumps sprout all over you as you sense the spirits hovering as you tour the hotel's aisles and rooms.

The ghost tour will take you on the Capitol Tour, too, which covers the Capitol, even the Driskill Hotel, and the Governor's Mansion. Feel the presence of the late leaders of the State who used to work on these structures and have not abandoned them even after their deaths. There is the Ghosts of the Warehouse District Tour; this takes you through the oldest city buildings especially those that have been the site of some of Austin's most mysterious murders in the 1800s. You are led on a tour of ancient buildings with the Sixth Street Pub Crawl tour, through the entertainment district which naturally had its share of chaos and mayhem in the past, with bar brawls ending in killings and the ghosts remaining there. Then there is the Servant Girl Annihilator Tour, based on the story of the serial murders of maids and servants in the late 1800s.

If you are up to it, there are combination tours that take you through the most chilling of sites and legends, sampling each of the aforementioned tours. These combo tours are usually fully booked on Halloween nights so be sure to reserve in advance.

Check out the Austin registry at (512) 853-9826 for these Austin ghost tours or go online searching for the ghosts of Texas for more info and bookings. Be sure to see these favorite Austin places!