Austin Real Estate Update & Newsletter | August 2016
 

 

Greetings!

 

I hope this newsletter finds you well.

 

This edition includes my latest Featured Listing, market updates about both BartonPlace and Spring Condominium, as well as Austin news and events - enjoy!

 

Featured BartonPlace Listing

Just Listed: Residence 5601
Rare Penthouse + 50 SF Storage - 2 Beds, 2 Baths | $655,000
Rare opportunity to own a stunning BartonPlace Penthouse with soaring 16' barrel-vaulted ceilings. Unique 2E floor plan offers private end-cap location, just off the elevator-only 1 of 2.  Architectural highlights include entire walls of windows in each room, all outfitted with tailored electric shades. Relax and take in the vibrant sunsets over Zilker Park from the breezy terrace off the main living area.  High-end modern finishes throughout, including open chef's kitchen, gorgeous wood flooring (no carpet), custom fans & lighting, closet systems and more.  Private terrace accessed from master retreat offers additional outdoor living, a large storage closet and a peak of the downtown Austin skyline.  Valuable 50SF storage unit at garage, with two premium parking spaces.  Live the best of both worlds - downtown just across the river, Zilker Park and Barton Springs blocks away and incredible local Austin eateries right out your back door.  Welcome Home.  MLS #7261025





Rare 2E Floor Plan
 
 
Please contact me for more information or to schedule your personal tour!

 
REALTOR, CLHMS, GRI, CNE
C: 512.247.8788
Audra@AustinRealEstate.com
***Over 85 BartonPlace Condos SOLD***
BartonPlace Market Update
  
Live the best of both worlds at BartonPlace - see below for current availability:

Two Bedrooms:


For more information, or to schedule a personal tour, please contact:

 
REALTOR, CLHMS, GRI, CNE
(512) 247-8788
Audra@AustinRealEstate.com

My Recent BartonPlace Sold & Leased Residences:

  #4302 - 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath - Sold: July 2016        
          
Spring Market Update

 

Live in the middle of it all, above it all at Spring - see below for current availability: 

Two Bedrooms:

Three Bedrooms:

42nd Floor Penthouse:
 

For more information, or to schedule a personal tour, please contact:
REALTOR, CLHMS, GRI, CNE
(512) 247-8788
Audra@AustinRealEstate.com  
ABOR Market Update - Austin-Round Rock home sales on pace to surpass 2015 record levels amidst affordability crisis
 From: www.abor.com


AUSTIN, Texas - July 15, 2016 - Single-family home sales and prices experienced strong gains throughout the Central Texas region in the first half of 2016, according to the June & Mid-Year 2016 Central Texas Housing Market Report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS®.
"Despite the ongoing housing shortage and affordability challenges impacting our region, population growth and housing demand continue to drive home sales upward," said Aaron Farmer, 2016 President of the Austin Board of REALTORS­®. "The Austin-Round Rock housing market is on track to outpace 2015 market levels, which was a record-breaking year for home sales."

Single-family home sales in the five-county Austin-Round Rock MSA rose 6.1 percent year-over-year to 14,482 home sales in the first half of 2016, while median price rose seven percent year-over-year to $282,000. Home listings also experienced gains in the first half of the year, with active listings increasing 6.6 percent to 5,290 listings, new listings rising 5.7 percent to 20,060 listings, and pending sales rising 7.2 percent to 15,909 sales.

Rising home sales and home prices means a greater impact on the region's economy as well. Sales dollar volume in the Austin-Round Rock area was $5,073,874,678, an 11.5 percent increase from the first six months of 2015.

Single-family housing market activity continued to be strong in June 2016, with home sales jumping to 3,219 sales, an 8.5 percent increase compared to June 2015. Median price rose 8.2 percent to $295,500 during the same time frame. Monthly housing inventory remained unchanged at 2.5 months, which is less than half of the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University's benchmark of 6.5 months as a balanced housing market.

City of Austin
Despite ongoing housing affordability challenges, single-family home sales in the City of Austin increased 3.4 percent to 4,465 home sales in the first half of 2016. Of the 21,036 single-family homes sold in the 18-county Central Texas region in the first half of 2016, approximately only one in five (21 percent) were sold within the Austin city limits. Median price increased 5.6 percent to $339,652 in the first half of the year, while active listings jumped 20.1 percent to 1,298 listings during the same time frame.

In June 2016, Austin home sales increased 2.6 percent to 975 home sales, while median price increased only 2.9 percent to $350,000. Monthly housing inventory increased 0.3 months to 2.1 months, while homes spent a little more than one month (32 days) on the market on average, an increase of two days from June 2015.

"The Central Texas housing market is performing very well, but extreme housing shortages across the region continue to be a challenge," said Jim Gaines, Chief Economist at the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. "Homes under $300,000 have less than two months of inventory in the Austin-Round Rock MSA, which means that housing at these price ranges is essentially nonexistent. The growing "donut effect" of homes sales activity as homebuyers move outside Austin city limits in search of more affordable housing is on pace to continue in the near future."

12th Annual Bat Fest - August 20
 

What will you see at Bat Fest this year? 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerging from under the bridge at dusk, 3 stages with live music, more than 75 arts & crafts vendors, delicious food and drinks, fun children's activities, a bat costume contest and other bat activities.
Location: Congress Ave Bridge
Address: 100 South Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704
Hours: 4pm to Midnight
Cost: Get early bird discount $19 tickets available now (limited quantities available). Admission $25 cash at the gate. Kids 8 and under free with an adult.

Advance Ticket link
Want to be in the front row? Get a VIP ticket. It includes access to VIP only designated areas featuring front row standing area at the main stage in the Austin American Statesman parking lot, also a front row area at the North Bridge stage and the triphound.net stage, private restrooms, a tented backstage area with seating and tables, a voucher to be used at the official event merchandise booth for any event t-shirt available, reserved VIP parking in the nearby TXDOT lot, a private cash bar with the only mixed drinks available at the festival including 2 complimentary drink tickets* for any adult beverage served at the bar (adult beverages can be purchased after drink tickets are used), 1 food voucher for the backstage catering area, water and soda. *Must be 21 or older to consume beer, wine, or liquor in Texas.

About the Bats:
Because bats are wild animals, it is hard to predict exactly when the emergence will begin but the flight usually begins between 7:00 - 8:45 p.m. For current emergence times call 512-327-9721 EX16. The emergence can last up to ½ hour as 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats head out for their nightly flight.

Bat Costume Contest: Prize is $100 for Best Adult Costume and $100 for best children's costume. Participants will be lined up on Stage, and the crowd will be asked to yell for the costume they like the best. Originality is encouraged.

Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival - August 21



Sunday, August 21st, 2016, 11 - 5 PM 
Fiesta Gardens: 2101 Jesse E Segovia St., Austin, Texas 78702 
Benefitting the Central Texas Food Bank
Free admission with $5 donation or 3 non-perishable food items

- Food from Amy's Ice Creams, Curra's Grill, Frank, Kebabalicious, Kesos Taco House, Mighty Cone, Off The Bone BBQ, and Sun Garden Shaved Ice
- Pluckers Wing King Competition
- $1000 cash prize for whoever can eat the most wings in 8 minutes!
- Contestants can prequalify by eating 10 wings in 3 minutes or less during Pluckers - - Wednesday Night Trivia at any Austin area locations in August OR walk-up entries will be taken on the day of the event.

Local Food + Drink News

June's All Day - Now Open on South Congress


On Tuesday, the latest endeavor from McGuire Moorman Hospitality quietly opened.

June's All Day occupies the South Congress space that formerly housed Wahoo's Fish Taco, which is now reminiscent of a French bistro, with checkerboard tiled floors, brass tables with banquettes, and a brightly lit bar. The playful restaurant is named after the hospitality group's beverage director June Rodil, whose bubbly personality is apparent throughout.
The menu, designed by Larry McGuire and Tom Moorman, pays homage to the pair's favorite restaurants from around the world. McGuire explains that they took beloved dishes from a tapas bar in Paris and a French bistro in Los Angeles and gave them a local twist.

Food is served all day, starting with breakfast at 8 am, featuring items like house-made granola, an omelet with Boursin and salted radishes, and a breakfast chalupa. June's also has scratch-made baked goods like bialys and cookies.

There is a small selection of bar snacks, such as the Spanish-influenced croquettes served with romesco sauce, thin slices of mojama (salt-cured tuna), and crispy fried garlic slices. We loved the fried boquerones and baby eggplant served over a bed of Italian salsa verde. There are a few "little plates" that range from a superb tomato and cantaloupe salad with burrata, horseradish, golden roe, basil, and red wine vinaigrette to a plate of jambon Paris served with cornichons, mustard brown butter, and house-made bread.

The star of the evening was the bone marrow bolognaise with chopped kale and Parmesan cheese served over fresh tajarin - at once delicate yet rich and completely satisfying. Entrees are on the pricier side (the 7-ounce catch of the day was $34 when we visited), so we opted for the decadent chocolate mousse parfait paired with a glass of 10-year Marsala.

As expected, Rodil's beverage list is outstanding, with a wonderful selection of boutique wines from around the world that will delight wine geeks.

"But it's not too geeky, right?" asks Rodil who is a master sommelier but who also wanted to keep the drink menu approachable. "I even have a Chardonnay in there," she affirms.
June's has a mirrored wall where Rodil highlights special bottles, limited releases, and a thematic list that will change monthly. The current selections celebrate the Loire river in France. Cocktails have straightforward names, but are imaginative. The agave cocktail is made with Tequila Ocho plata, orange and carrot juices, and Aleppo salt and pepper rim. The whiskey cocktail blends High West double rye, Cynar 70, and orgeat.  Knowing Rodil's penchant for oddball wines, we had to taste the drink she lists as "weird stuff," or Domaine Glinavos Paleokeriso, a semi-sparkling and semi-dry wine with a refreshingly fruity palate.

Service is friendly and efficient, the atmosphere is relaxed - especially on the cute, dog-friendly patio - and great music selections play from the vintage jukebox. We foresee a great future for little June's.

I look forward to staying in close contact with you.  Please remember to visit my website  to see all of my current listings, past sales history and client testimonials.
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Sincerely,
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