Advice

4 Ways to Save on Home Water Costs This Summer

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012 at 2:44pm. 931 Views, 0 Comments.

Water conservation will not only reduce the cost of your utility bill, but it will also extend the life of your septic system and help to prevent water pollution in nearby lakes and rivers. Below are a few tips to help you conserve water and save on your Austin water costs this summer.

Be mindful of water consumption
The first step to water conservation in your Austin home is to stay mindful about your daily water usage. One way to cut back is to simply take shorter showers. A 15-minute shower uses, on average, 75 gallons of water. If taking shorter showers is out of the question for you, then look into installing water-saving showerheads and low-flow faucet aerators. These…

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5 Things to Consider Before Remodeling Your Home

Monday, June 25th, 2012 at 4:59pm. 2712 Views, 2 Comments.

Remodeling your home is a great option if you are less than satisfied with your current home but love your community, have great relationships with your neighbors and simply don't want to deal with hassle of moving. However, before you start the remodeling process, it is extremely important to think through your plan thoroughly. Below are some helpful tips on what to consider before you remodel your home

Re-Sale Value
Re-sale should always be in the back of your mind when remodeling. If you plan to stay in the home short-term, 3-5 years, try to keep the remodel design basic so as to appeal to many different lifestyles. Unique elements and preferences should be kept to a…

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10 Reasons to Visit Austin, TX in 2012

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012 at 9:25am. 1805 Views, 1 Comments.

Welcome to "The Live Music Capital of the World"- Austin, Texas. The City of Austin continues to grow at a rapid pace in large part because visitors to Austin decide to make this city their permanent home. Listed below are 10 reasons to visit or relocate to Austin, Texas in 2012!

Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL)
After Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) celebrated its 10th Anniversary last year, the festival continues to be one of the best music festivals in the nation, attracting star performers such as: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, and the Eagles. ACL is an annual three-day music festival that takes place in the heart of Austin at Zilker Park, usually in September or October.…

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Relocating to Austin? Here Are Some Tips For A Successful Move!

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012 at 8:08pm. 1771 Views, 1 Comments.

Listed as the second largest state in the US in both land size and population, Texas is known to do everything in large measure, whether it’s the size of its value-added real estate, its attention to culture and sports, or its cuisine. Widely recognized as a cultural and artistic hub in Texas, Austin is also the capital city of the state and is rapidly attracting those seeking a more subdued lifestyle mixed with access to entertainment, sports, and outdoor activities.

Everyday more and more people are packing up and moving to Austin, and it is those people that have propelled this city into one of the fastest growing in the nation. If you are thinking about calling Austin your home, there are a few things to keep in mind in order…

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Austin Traffic Commute Times - Where to Live to Get Best Commute Times

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 at 9:41pm. 1934 Views, 0 Comments.

Are your commutes to and from downtown Austin so dreadful that you're willing to move? Are you new to the area or have a new route to travel and not sure how much time to set aside for your travel? Here's a nifty map that shows about how long it will take you from anywhere in the local Austin area to downtown in rush hour.

Realty Austin developed the map based off of commute times from its agents and employees. We are always looking to find the best data, so please help us make it better! Do you live in an area in Austin that is misrepresented on the map? Let us know in the comments below.

Realty Austin's Communte Times Map Find where you should live if you want to avoid commute times and make your life a little easier. This is a great graph for…

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Things to Do in Austin in April 2012

Monday, March 19th, 2012 at 3:35pm. 1905 Views, 0 Comments.

Looking for cool, Austin-y things to do this month? Check out these fun, family-friendly events in Austin this April. We have compiled a list of activities for you to easily jump into Spring.

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Best Austin TX Hotels for SXSW

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 at 11:53am. 1214 Views, 0 Comments.

March is an exciting month in Austin. It's the time when the world comes to Austin for the annual SXSW Music, Film and Interactive Festival and Austin becomes a Metropolis with swarms of people and activities on every corner of Downtown Austin.

Festival attendees want to stay at the best Austin hotels, the best ones being in Downtown Austin where the action is or hotels far enough from the action so you can get a good night's rest. Luckily for them, Portfolio.com put together a list of the best places to stay for business travelers and those attending SXSW. Portfolio.com's list of the best five hotels in Downtown Austin and North Austin details each hotel's business staples, standout features and even their downsides.

Enjoy SXSW and choose one of…

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Things to do in Austin in March 2012

Saturday, February 25th, 2012 at 3:43pm. 1943 Views, 0 Comments.

Looking for cool, Austin-y things to do this month? Check out these fun, family-friendly events in Austin this March. We have compiled a list of activities for you to easily jump into March Madness.

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How To Get Started in Real Estate Investing

Monday, February 13th, 2012 at 11:50am. 1082 Views, 0 Comments.

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.

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How to file for your Homestead Exemption in Austin

Sunday, January 8th, 2012 at 5:58pm. 2944 Views, 0 Comments.

Homestead exemptions remove part of your home's value from taxation, which depending on the value of your home, could potentially save you thousands each year. If you want to receive a homestead exemption for the taxes on your home, your home must first qualify as a residence homestead on January 1 of the year in which you are applying.

There are two requirements:

A state law that took effect on September 1, 2011 has changed proof of residency requirements for homeowners applying for the property tax homestead exemption.

It's vital that home buyers update their address on their driver's…

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