Localism: Austin, TX

Available Commercial Property Subleases in Austin (Office & Industrial)

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:26:51 -0600

Below is a non-exhaustive list of office subleases in the Austin area. For additional information on these space, please call Patrick today at 832.659.5076.

I'd also like to mention that the amount of subleases available in the Austin commercial market have exploded over the past few months. There are truly some great deals out there for tenants looking to lease space.

South Austin: where you can be weird and have chickens too.

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:33:16 -0600

A gaggle of teenagers strutted into a convenience store in South Austin yesterday sporting various t-shirts...the tag line on the back of one boy left me silently applauding..."Old Austin hasn't died. It just moved South." Kudo's to the unknown author-s/he is definitely a keen supporter of the philosophy that makes Austin so appealing: Keep Austin Weird.

When relocating from Vermont to Austin in 2000, the idea of living in a city that prided itself on being weird wasn't on my list of criteria for a good match. However, having lived here for the past eight years I've come to understand, totally support and am completely hooked on the notion of Austin's "weirdness" and can't imagine living anywhere else.

Weirdness in Austin means freedom to wear flipflops on Christmas Eve and not feel underdressed or disrespectful-you belong and are more important then your footgear. Seriously.

Weirdness in Austin allows you to celebrate Spam AND Eeyore's Birthday with pure endorphin-releasing abandon.

Weirdness in Austin means looking forward to sitting with friends & neighbors on the banks of Lady Bird Lake watching for millions of bats to leave their bridge home for evening snacking (right over your head).

While this delightful weirdness occurs throughout Austin, it is especially celebrated South of the Lady Bird Lake, thus South Austin.

In real estate terms, South Austin includes many neighborhoods including Barton Hills, Bouldin Creek, Cherry Creek, Dawson, Galindo, Horseshoe Bend, South Lamar, SOCO, South Creek, Travis Green & Zilker.

The further south you go, the more lenient the Home Owner's Assocations seem to be. One of my favorite Austin columnists has lived in South Austin for 30 years and frequently amuses with accounts of his creative South Austin neighbors... one neighbor reportedly has a large peace sign on his front lawn-very large-we're talking trampoline turned on its side with a painted peace sign large.

If freedom of expression is very important to you, you may want to explore some of Austin's South Austin neighborhoods. Go online, search on "South Austin" which offers links to many neighborhood associations; read their newsletters and check out the neighborhood school(s). Check in with your favorite Austin realtor who will be a great source of information about South Austin neighborhoods.

South Austin may be your new home. You may even find yourself with your own flock of chickens.

... From our favorite south Austin contributor, Patti P ...

The Rewards of Giving - Honored By The Austin, Texas Board Of Realtors

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:48:23 -0600

ABoR Press Release

Best of the Best Honored with Industry Awards

The Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) is pleased to announce the winners
of the 2008 industry awards. Members will be recognized in the following categories: REALTOR®of the Year; Affiliate of the Year; Rookie of the Year; Community Service; and Cultural Awareness.

Community Service: Russell Lewis, AvenueOne Properties

Russell Lewis has been an ABoR member for more than 15 years. In that time, he has donated his service to numerous volunteer organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, the Boy Scouts of America, the Blood Center of Central Texas, the Eanes School District and Mobile Loaves and Fishes.

I have to admit that this was a very gratifying surprise when I learned from the press release above that I had been honored and I was humbled by the experience. I am no saint; just ask the person I adore more than anyone in the world, my wife of 22 years or my children or my partners and associates at work. I have my "days" and often I am not the pinnacle of patience or reason and I tend to be rather intense when involved in negotiating (though I have improved immensely over the years.) People ask me, where I get the time and honestly, it does not take much One thing I have done with some regularity over the years is pitch in when asked or when I see a need. I know in advance when am going to participate in many of my endeavors and it's no more than a couple of hours at each project and maybe a couple of times a month. Since this is the Christmas season and a time of giving, I thought I would take the opportunity to show you some of the groups I enjoy helping and some of the people involved.

Habitat for Humanity - I have been actively involved with Habitat since my first project in 1996 and wrote a blog about this wonderful organization here:

The Luxury of Actually Owning a Home - Giving back in Austin Texas and Beyond!

Troop 5-Boy Scouts of America - I have had the great pleasure of helping with my son's Scout Troop, as one of a number of Assistant Scout Masters since he was 11 years old until he achieved the rank of Eagle last year. This is a picture of a small group of us (the kids were 12) along with his second Scoutmaster and family friend, Tom Martinec, at the South Rim of Big Bend National Park. We were so proud that they had backpacked all of their gear on their first strenuous trek (especially at that young age). The young man in the green vest is my son! This troop has offered a lot of fun and learning and has been a great ride through the years taking him to the jungles of Costa Rica, the mountains and rivers of Canada, The Caribbean and to camps all over the USA. I even had the chance to go along on several myself!

Eanes School District Volunteer Since 1994, I have served as a parent volunteer, parent reader, fund raiser, committee member and health education educator with many of the Eanes elementary schools, West Ridge Middle School, and Westlake high School. The picture is part of a costume that I still wear a couple of weeks every year and I will probably write a blog post about it when I can figure out a way to not appear too crazy for doing so...Stay tuned!

Mobile Loaves & Fishes A charity group dedicated to feeding the homeless and bringing dignity to those in such poor circumstances. The group was started here in Austin Texas ten years ago by Alan Graham. Please read more about them on the blog I posted awhile back: No One Goes Hungry-Giving back - An Austin Texas Solution The picture at right is from a newspaper article a couple of years ago. A friends daughter went along to see what it's like to help out!

Central Texas Regional Blood & Tissue Center In 1994, I decided I wanted to try and get over an un-natural fear of needles that i had carried with me from childhood. It had gotten so bad that when my wife would bring home flu shots, I was beginning to frighten the children and wanted to be a better example. I can say that it took a long time for me to stop being squeamish about it all and now I am a regular "Platelet" donor. I just passed the 25 gallon mark in donations last year and I am pretty much over my fear of needles... Learn more about this excellent organization here:

http://www.bloodandtissue.org/

I was hesitant to write about this award because I did not want to "too my own horn" but was reminded that this award would give me a means to bring these groups to the attention of others and maybe help generate more volunteers and donations.I hope it does because every time I show up to help in some way I get an huge sense of gratitude. Not only from helping out but knowing that whatever problems I may have or any resentments that I might want to harbor, it's all good. No really, trust me on this, we are all better off when we see the world from the vantage point of those in lesser circumstances. I am reminded every day how fortunate I am to be alive and doing well in spite of any self indulgent "wants disguised as needs". It's the season for giving and it's a gift you give to yourself!

Historic Downtown Austin property for sale

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:09:47 -0600

107 W 6th St Austin, TX 78701

To the chagrin of everyone who lives, works, and drives through Downtown Austin, the former office of the Texas Comptroller has owned, occupied, vacated, and allowed to rot, this remarkable piece of real estate. I can’t imagine how many thousands of people have attempted to peer through the windows that were covered from the inside with thick construction paper. The building always had a cool, mid-century modern, style. Located at the corner of 6th and Colorado, and not burdened with a Capitol View Corridor, this building is sure to get the attention of some big developers. The listing gives it an address of 107 w 6th, 78701. Traviscad has no address for it other than “W 6th”

H E B at corner of 6th and Colorado

Buttrey's retail

I’ve heard developers say that the mid-century architecture would be the perfect specimen for an adaptive-reuse hotel. I think they’re right. Traviscad has the building appraised at $7.3MM.

From the listing (pdf):

“The Starr Building is being offered on an unpriced basis. Offers will be reviewed beginning December 1, 2008. At closting, Buyer will pay a statutory sales fee equal to 1.5% of the Purchase Price, as required by Texas Natural Resource code, Section 32.110. - CBD redevelopment opportunity: CBD zoning allows for hotel, retail, office, residential, or mixed use development. Lies outside of the Capitol View Corridor providing greater development flexibility with unrestricted height - Four level parking garage has generated over $99,000 in revenue YTD - Vacant building with numerous use options including remodeling to accomodate office tenancy or demolishing to construct a new multi-story building - Incredible views of the city and Texas Hill Country - Solid wood paneling and bookend matched marble interiors - One of a kind mural painted by renowned artist Seymour Fogel in 1954 - Unique modern design”

by Jude Galligan

Austin real estate market statistics November 2008

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:48:13 -0600

Austin home sales are down 23% for the year while median prices are up 1.1%, an amazing statistic considering the depressed national economy. It is impossible to predict what will happen in 2009 but we can say with confidence that Austin real estate has held strong in 2008. For detailed information about Austin real estate market statistics November 2008 click this link.