Central Texas Real Estate Blog - February, 2019

Made in the Shade-Texas Summer Yard Upgrades

Posted by Monty Crawford on February 28th, 2019

Outdoor barbeques are a big part of Texas culture. Enjoying good food, a cold beverage and the company of friends and neighbors becomes a way of life in the summertime. Beating the Texas heat can be a real challenge when hosting a backyard dinner, but here are a few tips to keep your family, guests and even your dog a little more comfortable. Whether you have a home in Lakeway or a condo in Marble Falls, these tips can make any outdoor area a pleasant oasis this summer.

Shady Business

Creating as much shade as possible is the first line of defense against the Texas heat. Even if you have a covered patio, additional shady places help cool the area and provide more inviting gathering spaces. There are many options for remote shade. One…

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Cypress Valley Canopy Tours --Flying in the Texas Hill Country

Posted by Monty Crawford on February 26th, 2019

In 1998, David and Amy Beilharz left their regular jobs and their upscale Austin neighborhood and moved with their four children to an undeveloped but beautiful piece of land in the Texas Hill Country. The family wanted to get back to nature and learn to work with it while developing the land without altering it. They wanted to share the land without disturbing its existing habitat and inhabitants. Inspired by a canopy tour in Costa Rica, they decided to bring this exhilarating and full body experience for touring nature to the Cypress Valley.

From Inspiration to Realization

In 2004 David and Amy began expanding their business and their environmental awareness efforts and have successfully created a fun experience that inspires people to spend…

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Vintage Estate Homes—Building Luxury Homes in the Austin Area

Posted by Monty Crawford on February 20th, 2019

Vintage Estate Homes is a very popular home builder in the Austin area real estate market. Since 1983 this company has specialized in creating custom dream homes in neighborhoods or on private lots. They have an array of designs and floor plans and there are new homes for sale in Lakeway, Dripping Springs, Spicewood and several other Austin area neighborhoods. Their foundation begins with quality craftsmanship and then they build in contemporary lifestyle and technology features with attention to  detail, making each home they create luxurious and comfortable.

Vintage Estate Homes values its relationship with its customers, not only do they focus on each opportunity to create a unique living space for their clients, they recognize they are building…

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Smart Home Convenience and Caution

Posted by Monty Crawford on February 18th, 2019

Smart Home technology is becoming an increasingly common thing in the day-to-day lifestyle of Texas homeowners. There are quite a few Smart Homes in the Austin  and Lakeway area real estate market. Smart thermostats are very popular in the Texas Hill Country as they take away the need to adjust the temperature and can be programmed to do so while you are away in addition to giving the homeowner the ability to reset it from their phone. There are many other smart technology features from window shades to home security systems as well as pet monitoring and feeding products.

Artificial intelligence can keep our home running smoothly, even when we are away. With the click of a button or a voice command, lights can be turned on and off, groceries and…

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For Sale by Owner Pitfalls

Posted by Monty Crawford on February 16th, 2019

Many people consider selling their home on their own in the Austin and Lakeway real estate market. In this industry this is called a for sale by owner or FSBO. Though it is certainly not impossible to sell your home yourself, in the interest of time, money and saving sanity there are a few things to consider before attempting a do-it-yourself real estate transaction.

The typical reason most people want to sell their home themselves is to save on the realtor commission. One of the issues here is that buyers looking at FSBO's also believe they will save the realtor commission. Both parties cannot save on the commission, the seller intends to pocket it and the buyer intends to get a lower price since there is no commission. The most important…

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Hiking Safety in the Texas Hill Country

Posted by Monty Crawford on February 13th, 2019

Because the Texas Hill Country has a temperate climate, beautiful scenery, rolling terrain and many different bodies of water, hiking is a favored outdoor activity of many residents of the Austin area. Whether you live in a home in Dripping Springs, or a condo in Marble Falls you have access to many hiking trails in a state park or preserve near your home. Before you head out for a day hike or a longer adventure, you need to be sure you have some basic essentials covered and that you were prepared for potential unexpected circumstances.

• Possibly the most important thing any hiker needs is good sturdy footwear. Short hikes with a lighter pack make trail shoes an appropriate choice. if you are carrying a heavier load or trekking on more technical…

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Round Rock Relocation Guide

Posted by Monty Crawford on February 8th, 2019

If you are looking for a new home in a thriving community that is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, you will want to take a look at Round Rock homes for sale. Conveniently located just 20 miles north of downtown Austin, this community with a rich sense of tradition and hometown feel is set among beautiful Texas scenery and located near conveniences that offer a good quality of life. Round Rock has great public schools, is ranked as one of the safest cities, it has an award-winning park system and offers property tax and utility rates that are lower than most other communities in the area. The economy of Round Rock is healthy, it offers a variety of housing choices with plenty of good community services.

Round Rock History

Round…

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Pulte Homes—Building New and Custom Homes in the Austin Area

Posted by Monty Crawford on February 5th, 2019

Many home buyers in the Austin real estate market look for homes built by top national builders.  Pulte Homes is one of the most sought-after builders in the Texas Hill Country. This company has built a wide range of homes in Georgetown, Leander and Round Rock real estate markets and many other neighborhoods in and around Austin.

Pulte has been building homes with the homeowner in mind for over 65 years. They are known for their beautiful designs with open floor plans made with quality construction and their simplified buying experience. This company offers many ways to easily personalize your home to make daily living more enjoyable. Pulte Homes are designed to grow and change with your family using their trademarked life tested design features.…

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Keep Your Dog Safe in Austin Area Dog Parks

Posted by Monty Crawford on February 3rd, 2019

 

Many cities and neighborhoods in the Austin area have dog parks available for off-leash exercise and interaction with other people and dogs. This can be an enjoyable way to spend time with your dog, provided you observe some basic safety practices and be aware of individual dog park rules. Some of the cities in our area of the Austin real estate market that have dog parks are Bee Cave, Spicewood, Lakeway and Georgetown. Not to mention many of the unique and beautiful dog parks in the City of Austin.

Though each dog park may have unique rules, below is a list of best practices when visiting an off-leash dog park.

•Be sure your dog is healthy and up-to-date on his vaccinations and parasite control. Making sure your dog is protected from parasites…

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