Southwest Austin Real Estate Blog

Best Cities For Jobs: Austin Ranks #4

Is finding a new job one of your 2020 resolutions? To help you with finding the right job and location for you, a recent study was published ranking the 180 top cities in the U.S. by comparing 31 indicators of job strength. Job opportunity, employment growth, monthly average starting salary, and the unemployment rate were amount the indicators used to rank each city. Austin, Texas ranked No. 4 on the list. 

1. Scottsdale, AZ

2. South Burlington, VA

3. San Francisco, CA

4. Austin, tx

5. Fremont, CA

6. Chandler, AZ

7. Boston, MA

8. Tempe, AZ

9. Portland, ME

10. Boise, ID

Full List >>

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MARCH COLORING CONTEST!

Print out, color, and mail to us for a chance to win! Winner will be announced at the end of the month!

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Community Spotlight: Goldenwood

About Goldenwood

Tucked away in the hill country, Goldenwood is a hidden gem between Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs. If you’re looking for a room to spread out, the large acreage lots in Goldenwood are the perfect setting. Homeowners can spot plenty of wildlife on their property, and many residents keep horses, goats, and chickens. Although Goldenwood is part of the Dripping Springs school district, it is just thirty minutes from downtown Austin. Goldenwood is located at Goldenwood Way off of Crystal Hill Drive, which is accessible from FM 1826.  The zip code for Goldenwood is 78737.

 

Useful Goldenwood Links

Goldenwood School Links

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Break the Rules with these Eclectic Home Decor Ideas

Homeowners typically gravitate towards a common theme, color, and or style when it comes to the overall look and feel of their home. That is until now! Join the fun, spunky and rule-breaking home design trend sweeping homes across Austin, Texas! These eclectic home design trends are sure to bring your boring home decor to life. Check out REALTOR.com's recent home improvement article.

Origins of eclectic style

The eclectic look is hardly new. Even though it's in the spotlight these days, eclecticism actually came about in the early 1900s, with the Arts and Crafts movement. "It became hip for progressives and thinkers to fit art and furnishings into their homes to achieve a more personal feeling, rather than one particular style," Solomon explains.

Sounds familiar, right? Today's homeowners are once again turning to eclectic style to show off a distinctive touch to their decor.

Just beware: Eclectic decor might allow you to break some rules, but it isn't a totally lawless design scheme. If this style speaks to you, read on for how to make it work in your home—without veering into tacky territory.

  • Embrace BOLD colors
  • Use a variety of furniture styles
  • Accessorize with FLAIR
  • Showcase a RIOT of textures and patterns
  • Toe with the line between eclectic and "EW"
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Homeowners Beware: Four Signs of a Water Leak

When it comes to protecting your home from leaks, it is important to be proactive. Here are a few signs courtesy of Austin Plumbery that can help you catch a water leak in the early stages.  These telltale signs may just save you thousands of dollars. 

Sign #1: Water Bill Spikes

If you notice your water bill increases drastically or a change in pattern this could reflect a possible undetected leak. Compare your bill from year to date, to confirm any irregularities. 

Sign #2: Foundation Shifts and Cracks

Sudden and frequent cracks in the foundation can indicate a leaking pipe behind the scenes. Seepage can cause damage and present itself as cracks in your foundation and other structural components such as walls.

Sign #3: Ticking Water Meter

Another way to check for a home leak, turn off the water of your home, then check the status of the meter. If the water meter is ticking and starts to move quickly, this indicates that you have a rather large leak. If it slowly increases, your leak may be of a smaller impact.

Sign #4: Mold, Mildew, and Wet Spots

If you notice any wet spots on or around sinks, toilets, showers/tubs this may be a sign of leakage. You may also find accumulation in your yard. Beyond the visuals, if you have a persistent damp or musty odor, contact your local plumber. 

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8th Annual Apple Pie Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who came out and made our 8th Annual Apple Pie Giveaway such a HIT! We love this event as it gives us the opportunity to make new friendships in the community and reconnect with some familiar faces. We look forward to this each year and hope to see you all again next year! 

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Don't Miss These Stunning West Austin Homes for Sale

We've got TWO stunning Southwest Austin properties for sale with amazing prices, great locations, and popular communities. Learn more about each of these Westlake area properties below! 

6802 Silvermine Drive | $299,997 | 1,316 Sq.Ft. | 3 Beds | 2 Baths 

This stunning property is located in the popular West Austin community, Valley View Acres, feeds to award-winning schools and is conveniently located near shopping, restaurants, and entertainment, while only 10 miles from downtown Austin! Recent updates include gleaming wood floors, stainless steel appliances, remodeled bathrooms, fresh paint and so much more. Estate sized lot provides a private backyard paradise featuring an expansive deck and majestic oak tress that provide lots of shade!

 


   

  

6718 Silvermine Dr. #901 | $169,997 | 1,072 Sq.Ft. | 2 Beds | 2 Baths

Amazing condo in a great location. Airy open floor plan, tile and wood floors, many updates! Located near Y at Oak Hill offers easy access to downtown, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, and other Greater Austin Areas. From the private patio to the easy flowing living/dining spaces along with the community pool, ample areas for friends and family to gather. You are going to love your new home!

Schedule an appointment...

Join us Saturday, June 16th For a West Austin Home Open House

Join us this Saturday, June 16th, 2018 from 11 AM - 1 PM for a stunning Southwest Austin Open House! This property is conveniently located near shopping, restaurants and entertainment, award-winning schools, and is only 10 miles from downtown Austin! Recent updates include gleaming wood floors, stainless steel appliances, remodeled bathrooms, fresh paint and so much more. Estate sized lot provides a private backyard paradise featuring an expansive deck and majestic oak trees that provide lots of shade. 

6802 Silvermine Dr - Open House from Cain Realty Group on Vimeo.

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Announcing our new AmazonSmile Cain Club Activity!

Through Cain Cares, our mission is simple. We strive to help when help is needed most. A severe time of need or a sudden emergency can happen in a blink of an eye. We intend on being that helping hand when there are no other options. Now there is an even simpler way for you to join our mission, at no cost to you! Introducing, Cain Cares -- AmazonSmile!

What is AmazonSmile?

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice at no cost to you. 

Simply connect your account and start shopping away! Be sure to bookmark the new link, you will need to use Amazon.smile for your purchase to count. We appreciate any and all support to continue serving our clients, past clients, friends, and neighbors should an emergency arise. 

The donations made from the AmazonSmile foundation in your name will assist our mission of being to help those that need it the absolute most. You can feel confident that Cain Cares will issue blessings to those that could use a ray of light the most. 


Click here to receive 15 Cain Keys upon connecting your AmazonSmile account! 

April 2018 Market Update With Ricky

April's stats are in and Ricky is here to give you the scoop on what the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan is up to. Check out Market Updates with Ricky: April 2018 edition, here!


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Charming Four Bedroom Southwest Austin Home For Sale

3601 Capistrano Trail, Austin, TX 78739

$419,997 | 2,052 Sq.Ft. | 4 Bedroom | 2 Bathroom


Privately situated on a tree-lined estate sized lot with a backyard oasis, this charming one-story home is a true gem. This estate with an open-floor plan proudly features Travertine stone floors, wood floors, high beamed ceilings, remodeled kitchen & bathrooms and much more. Private backyard features a 34-foot swimming pool, diving board and a huge backyard perfect for entertaining. Also within walking distance to Capistrano Park, hike/bike trails and Shady Hollow feeds into award-winning schools!


Learn more about this amazing Southwest Austin home, here!  This home is sure to go quick, don't miss the opportunity to view this property!

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Charming 4 Bedroom Southwest Austin Home Price Reduced

Charming Southwest Austin home priced below value and LOW 1.2% tax rate! Gorgeous 1.5 story home featuring an open floor plan that offers the master bedroom on the main floor, office/study down. Game room/bedroom and powder room upstairs. Gorgeous open kitchen with granite counter tops, breakfast bar and plenty of cabinet storage. Full sprinklers and fenced in yard. This home has many fabulous features. One of the best lots in the community with a green space and park on one side instead of a neighbor. Walking trails and community pool!

809 Cardenas Lane | PRICE REDUCED: $339,997 | 2,515 Sq.Ft. | 4 Beds | 4 Bath


Learn more about this charming Southwest Austin property by clicking here.

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Stunning Southwest Austin Home For Sale

10509 Marshitahs Way | $229,997 | 1,466 Sq.Ft. | 4 Beds | 2 Baths


This pristine home features an open-style floorplan and is located in a quiet neighborhood with access to walking trails and only minutes to downtown Austin. In addition, this home features energy upgrades including recently installed HVAC system, hot water heater and recessed lights with LEDs! Other upgrades include tile floors, wood-like flooring, stainless steel appliances and new paint. The backyard paradise is private and expansive, and includes lots of shaded areas and an inviting covered porch!


Click here to learn more about this stunning Austin Property For Sale.

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Community Spotlight: Overlook Estates

About Overlook Estates

Overlook Estates is a community currently being developed along Lenape Trail. Homes for sale in Overlook Estates are perfect for homeowners looking to buy a piece of their very own land in Hill Country. Overlook Estates homes sit on at least half an acre of land, or more, making the community perfect for sprawling home design spaces and families looking to invest in beautiful greenery.

Overlook Estates real estate commonly feature spacious floor plans, generously landscaped outdoor areas, and magnificent views of Hill Country as featured in large, strategic windows. Overlook Estates not only features amazing views and designer homes. It is also conveniently close to nearby shopping, dining, and entertainment attractions. Located near Hwy 71 off Thomas Springs Road along Lenape Trail and Lenape Drive and 290 West, it is close to many commercial establishments.The ZIP code for Overlook Estates is 78736.

 

Useful Overlook Estates Links

Overlook Estates School Links

Mother's Day Tips to Ensure Mom Has The Best Day Ever

Mother's Day is approaching quickly and we want you to be covered, ensuring an amazing day for both you and mom. Follow DO512's Tips on how to have the best Mother's Day ever!

Energy-Saving Projects For Your Southwest Austin Home

With the turn of a new season comes new ways to protect your homes energy use and efficiency. Of course, you could seal air leaks, add a ton of insulation and swap out your energy draining light bulbs for LED bulbs, but we have projects that will not only take that a step further, they are fun too!

DIY Laundry Drying Racks 

Laundry dryers account for 6% of the electricity used in the United States each year, according to a group that studies dryer efficiencies. That is roughly the same amount of energy used by the entire state of Massachusetts. Debbie, from ME and my DIY, made an awesome DIY drying system that you can view here. Use Debbie's model and come up with something that works with your space so that you can cut down on that monthly cost. You never know, this may even cut down on the number of shirts you shrink along the way!

DIY Frosted Windows

Depending on the type of film you use and the amount of the covered area, frosted windows can play a key factor in keeping a room cool in the summer and warm in the winter, cut UV exposure so fabrics won't fade, and even strengthen windows for added security.  Window film starts at around $1.50 per square foot. Click here to see how Tricia, from the Blog Making it Feel Like Home, used the frosted window technique to save on energy costs!

DIY Rain Barrel

Rebekah Greiman of Potholes and Pantyhose.com discovered that an inch of rainfall on a 1,000-sq.-ft. roof produces 600 gallons of water, and now she waters her yard and garden...

House Hunting Tips for Buying in Southwest Austin

Buying a home is one of the largest financial investments one can undergo, that puts even more pressure to do it correctly in order to yield a great outcome.  In a seller's market, time makes all the difference in the success of your home buying process. It is crucial to make the most of the time you spend touring homes. Here are some tips to make your home search as productive as possible courtesy of Realtor.com.

1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Do not start touring houses before you are pre-approved for a mortgage. Not only will this give you a clear, concise, and to the point price range you should be looking in, but it will solidify your status as a serious buyer. Let our rockstar agents get you in contact with our preferred lender, Silvia Ward, today to start the home buying process. Silvia will make it quick and stress-free, ensuring you are well equipped with the necessary information. 

2. Clarify Which Amenities Matter the Most

Don't start touring homes and unless you have a defined list of what amenities you absolutely need in order to call a new place home. Once you have a clear-cut list of what you are looking for, this will become your guide on which houses you'll look at, based on the boxes they check. After you have the physical attributes of the home, it is a good idea to look at other variables such as school district, proximity to work, walkability, and dining/entertainment options. Narrowing down what is most important to you and your family will make the home touring process much easier.  

3. Find a Savvy Real Estate Agent...

Get Batty for This Austin Family Attraction!

Austin is home to the largest Mexican free-tail bat colony in North America, and Austinites love to celebrate those winged creatures. The colony lives underneath the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin. 

While the "peak season" is in late July early August, it is still considered "Bat Season" in Austin right now! "Bat Season" takes place every year from March to November as the bats emerge around sunset to feed on a variety of flying insects. You can call the "bat hotline" at (512)327-9721 to see when bats have been emerging downtown.  

Not sure where to spend your batty experience? We've got you covered! Here are a few of the most popular bat viewing locations downtown.

- Sit on the lawn / Stand on the bridge: The easiest thing to do is to pack a picnic and head down to the Statesman’s Bat Observation Center in the northwest corner of the parking lot at least an hour before dusk.

- Take a boat tour:  Lone Star Riverboat offers public sightseeing cruises which are about an hour in length and which cost $10 per adult and $5-$7 for kids. Departure times vary slightly, depending on what time of year it is, and you do need to arrive a bit in advance. The boats are also BYOB so feel free to bring some drinks along for the cruise. 

- Enjoy the view from afar: The north side of Lady Bird Lake has several hotels with restaurants, which have some of the best bat watching views. One casual dining option is Alta’s Cafe...

Home Improvement Projects Under $500

Home improvement doesn't have to be a huge drawn out chose, and it definitely doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. You can easily liven up the spaces in your home with a number of small projects here and there that can really make a difference. Here are some basic projects that cost less than $500, and make you feel like you spent a lot more updating your Southwest Austin home!

THE POWER OF PAINT

Painting is one of the cheapest and easiest home improvement projects that really make a big difference! A fresh coat of paint can make any space look brand new, give the space a more modern feel, and definitely add value. A gallon of paint costs roughly $25 and is an inexpensive way to improve your home's desirability all on your own.  

FIND INSPIRATION

There is no shame in borrowing ideas! You can find all sorts of amazing ideas in books, magazines, interior decorating TV shows, and Pinterest. To stay within your budget, pick projects that can be completed yourself. This will not only save you a few bucks, but it will be that much sweeter knowing you tackled it yourself!

GET AN ENERGY AUDIT

Take advantage of your utility company's free energy audits to determine which improvements could potentially save you some extra money. Most local utility companies offer a free home inspection that will show you where exactly your money is going down the drain. You never know, the money you save could go towards another amazing home improvement!

PLANT A TREE

Landscaping your home is key when it comes to adding great curb appeal. Planting a tree not only is great for the environment, it also provides shade to keep harmful rays from bleaching out your paint of heating up the inside of the home. When...