Austin Real Estate Blog

Have you heard? Texas is recession-proof. Need more proof? Just check out these stats.

Of the nation's 100 biggest labor markets, Texas cities claimed four of the top 5 spots for most private-sector job gains since the recession in a report by On Numbers. That means Texas dominated the top labor markets that regained lost recession jobs. Business Journals’ On Numbers report used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to compare 2011 private-sector employment levels against 2006, the last full year before the recession’s onset.

In 2011, the biggest job producers were Houston with a blow-out of 109,700 jobs gained since the recession, New Orleans ranked 2nd with 39,400 jobs, Austin ranked a close third with 37,900 jobs, Dallas-Fort Worth ranked 4th…

Eleven Realty Austin agents were recognized as winners and finalists at the Platinum Top 50 Awards Program this January. The Platinum Top 50 Awards Program annually recognizes fifty residential REALTORS® for their outstanding achievements in sales, education, industry participation and civic leadership. Platinum Top 50 Winners exemplify initiative, involvement, success, and philanthropy through their work as Austin, TX Realtors.

Below are Realty Austin's Platinum Top 50 winners and finalists.

Winners

• Cara and Joe Keenan
• Lisa Munoz
• Denise Bodman

Finalists

• Drew Griffin
• Lori Anne Goto
• Sonny & Erin Bara
• Tammy Elliott
• Tom Thornton
• Beverly M. Williams

Click here to see all the PT50 winners and finalists in Austin…

In 2011, Realty Austin's leadership team recognized the need to revamp its office space with artwork that would complement the team's lively spirit. Our real estate agents love Austin, and they especially love showing off that love of Austin to their clients - simply put, they are fun to work with. What better way to show our team's fun character than to showcase it on our walls? Realty Austin's new artwork brings life to the office and gives personality to a team that's full of energy and not too serious.

With the help of two other local businesses, Realty Austin's leadership team proudly accomplished their goal. Now Realty Austin's Downtown Austin office reflects its neighborhood's lively atmosphere with collages of Austin landmarks featuring ACL…

This guest post was provided by Jason Grote, co-founder of I buy ugly houses in Austin.

If I had a dime for every time I heard the reply, “I want to do that someday” after I tell people I am a real estate investor, I could change my answer to “retired!”  Currently, there is a lot of intrigue surrounding the occupation of being a real estate investor; yet, I want to demystify any illusive ideas and offer a realistic glimpse of what is truly involved. Read on for three steps to getting started in real estate investing.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Austin shops are stocking their windows with love-filled gifts, couples are submitting photos to cutest couples contests, and restaurant reservations are filling up fast. Have you made reservations yet? Not to worry! Austin is known for its support of small business and has a number of charming restaurants to take your special someone. Whether you’re moving to a new part of Austin or finally joining us from afar, the friendly folks at Realty Austin will get you into the home you want with time to devote to these more important things. Once you’re settled in, try one of these great restaurants for your most romantic of evenings.

MapMyFitness, a mobile app that helps users track workouts, releases a Fittest of the Fit Index once a month which ranks the fittest US states and cities. Each month, MapMyFitness updates the rankings from almost 2 million exercisers actively updating fitness activities on their fitness profiles.

This month, Austin ranked 9th fittest city in the large city category. In January, Austin ranked 8th fittest city. With over 18,000 MapMyFitness members, almost 115,000 recorded activities, and a lower-than-average overweight and obese BMI, Austin remains one of the Top 10 fittest cities month over month. 

Click here to see a full list of fittest US cities and states.

Several reasons account why new developments stall, but in the case of Sweetwater Community – which is expected to take a decade to complete – it was a case of growth vs. nature. Since its inception, the project has stirred controversy. Sweetwater developers wanted to provide housing for a growing city and Save Our Springs Alliance wanted to protect local waterways. With a start and stop pace, the beautiful Sweetwater community in the Texas Hill Country has survived a tumultuous development.

In 2004 when Sweetwater's original developer announced plans to develop 3,000 new homes on land with canyons, scenic ridges, and steep hills in western Travis County, Save Our Springs Alliance intervened and sued the developers stating that the development will pollute…

This December, Realty Austin's Leadership Team met on several occasions to discuss the past, present and future of our rapidly growing company. Several great things came from these meetings including a decision to release the newest version of our website by the end of January.

This new version has been under wraps for almost a year while we simultaneously worked to improve the content and features on our current site, which, by the way is the most widely used home search website in Austin.  

We are all excited to get this new version launched and cant wait for you to tell us what you think. Here's what's to come very, very soon.

• Even faster than our current site (which is already pretty fast).
• Much cleaner, brighter and appealing look and feel
• All MLS…

Main Street has placed Austin as one of the top 10 cities poised for greatness in 2012. Having a 6.6% unemployment rate to go along with decreasing home prices, many are able to live comfortably and enjoy all that Austin has to offer. Living recession proof while keeping it weird is what Austin's all about.

 Click here to read more.