May this 4th of July bring you much happiness!  I wanted to share this quote with you, from Erma Bombeck, a talented columnist you may even recall.  I think she captured one of the great truths about this great country of ours:

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” (Erma Bombeck)

May you have so much joy this Independence Day.

Abundant Blessings to you and your loved ones, and please remember and honor those who have fought or currently bear arms in order that we may enjoy the peace and liberties to which we have become accustomed.

It’s hard to believe Memorial Day is already behind us.  I always think of Memorial Day as the true arrival of summer, a busy season when many of the families I work with are anxious to be settled before the new school year arrives.

I hope you’re well and enjoyed a little rest and relaxation on the long Memorial Day Weekend.  The smell of BBQs in the air and the sounds of kids playing is always a fortunate reminder of how much we have to be thankful for in our community.

My family and I attended the graduation of our nephew from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD this Memorial Day weekend, and then spent a few gloriously relaxing days at our beach house in nearby Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

This year I was also heartened to see people remember those families throughout history who have paid the ultimate price for the freedom we’re enjoying this summer.  Sadly, we do not have to look very far into the past to remember those who have died.  We have people in our community who have recently lost fathers, daughters, sons, and mothers.

Even though Memorial Day has passed, I encourage you to continue to show your respect and appreciation for those families whose loved ones will not be returning to them.  Invite them to enjoy fellowship with you throughout the year.   Honor them and honor their soldiers by holding up a mirror to show the generous, grateful community we live in.

It’s also not too late to teach our children that Memorial Day means more than a long weekend.  Why not take an evening soon to explore some websites which talk about the history of Memorial Day?  (The History Channel is a good place to start: http://www.history.com/topics/memorial-day-history).

May your summer be a reward and a reminder to appreciate the big picture.  All my best to you and yours.  Keep in touch.

With kindest regards,

Todd Smith

Things you should know before buying an Austin TX home

Planning to buy in 2011?  Preparation is the key to getting the best deal when shopping for a new home in Austin, TX.  Following are some tips to help get you started:

1.  Define Needs Versus Wants: Make a list of “needs” versus “wants” for your new home.  For example, if you have a large and growing family then four bedrooms might be a necessity, while a pool might be optional. If you have pets, a fenced yard could be a need, unless you wish to live in a more rural area then a fence could be a “want.”

2.  Select a Location: Come sit down with a member of our Team and we can give you a local map so you can ride around a bit and get a sense of the kind of neighborhood where you would like to own a home.  Knowing where your place of employment is located (particularly if you are relocating to the Austin area) is helpful, so you can estimate commute time. Pay attention to schools, neighborhood amenities, and your neighbors, so that you pick a location that will feel like “home.”

3.  Set a Budget: Most real estate purchases rely on financing, so it is critical for you to get “pre-qualified” with a mortgage lender. Spend a little time upfront and have a personal conversation with a lender and find out what you can afford. (If you need a name of a reputable professional, give us a call … we only deal with the most competent ones in the business.)

4.  Read, Set and Search: We know that today’s real estate searches begin on the internet.  So look around.  Call us if you need directions, or more information on a particular neighborhood or school.  We’re stocked with information … and even have access to information on all the best golf courses, restaurants, and entertainment venues if you’re interested!  Let us be your trusted advisor … after all this is one of the most important decisions you’ll make!

5.  Go Looking: As interesting and informative as the internet is, there’s really no substitute for getting out and visiting homes.  You’ll be surprised that some of the homes you thought were “just perfect” fail to live up to the hype, and others will look so much better.  House hunting is fun, and with one of us along with you we can help you narrow your focus on finding the perfect one for you.

After all that, and learning more about what kind of home you’re REALLY looking for, we’d like to show you a few that you might have missed.  when we’re thru, you’ll have a very clear idea of which one you’re most interested in purchasing, and then we’ll help you write up an offer and navigate the paperwork and negotiation process.

(to be continued….)

Contact The Fine Austin Living Team today for up-to-date information about Austin Texas real estate as well as free access to the Austin Texas MLS and all properties currently for sale in the Austin area.

2011 is looking good for Austin Texas

Check out the latest market trends and statistics for Austin, the State of Texas, and other markets around the USA!

http://fal.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/

Austin Texas is attracting brains, as in intelligent people doing intelligent work.  A recent article from Forbes Magazine, “The U.S.’s Biggest Brain Magnets” by Joel Kotkin, places Austin Texas, and Round Rock as well, in the number three position of American cities that are attracting the brainiest people.  This is yet another badge of honor for the Texas capital that was also ranked by Forbes as the number one city for jobs.  Austin has the jobs that intelligent people are looking for as it expands its role as a new Silicon Valley in America.

Forbes notes that Austin is attracting brains for a few reasons:

• Austin is a top city for jobs
• Austin has both a large private and a large public sector in regards to its job market
• Austin ranks high on the affordability scale
• Austin has a great deal of culture and entertainment
• Austin has a great quality of life, offering a healthy lifestyle to its residents

Contact us today to learn more about relocating to Austin.  Not only do we have access to all Austin real estate that is currently listed for sale but we also know the area.  Whether you are looking to rent or buy we can help paint a picture of Austin’s various neighborhoods and help you get to know our unique area.

Click here to read “The U.S.’s Biggest Brain Magnets”.

Contact Todd Smith today for up to date information about Austin Texas real estate as well as free access to the Austin Texas MLS and all properties currently for sale in the Austin area.

When was the 1st Thanksgiving?

Despite the popular belief that Thanksgiving originated with the colony at Plymouth Plantation in 1621, researchers have actually pinpointed the actual first Thanksgiving to have been held a whopping 56 years earlier.

According to scholars, the first known Thanksgiving took place during September 1565, in Saint Augustine, Florida when Spanish settlers held a Mass of Thanksgiving after arriving safely in the new world. It wasn’t until 1619 when English settlers in the Virginia Colony held a similar day of thanks…and then two full years after that, the colonists at Plymouth Plantation celebrated the famed Thanksgiving of 1621.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Around 1789, President George Washington proclaimed “a day of thanks” to be observed. It was not an official national holiday, but it did become popular with many Americans, who would select their own state or city observance day, usually in the fall. But not everyone was in favor…there were people going through hardships who were actually against having a day dedicated for giving thanks. In fact, Thomas Jefferson himself scoffed at the idea of a thanksgiving day.

But most Americans liked the idea, and around the time of the Civil War, this day of thanks had become a very popular – yet unofficial – event. Magazine editor and writer Sarah Josepha Hale took up the cause, and wrote many editorials and letters to politicians about making an official “day of thanks.” (You might know Sarah yourself, from her epic poem, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”) Her strong efforts paid off, and around the end of 1863, President Lincoln officially proclaimed a “day of thanksgiving” to be observed on the last Thursday of November.

But then in 1939, during the Great Depression, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt switched Lincoln’s chosen date of the last Thursday of November to the second-to-last Thursday of November. Why? Purely in order to extend the post-Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas shopping season! The move was met with confusion and criticism – so in 1942, Congress signed a law making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of November, a law which is still in effect today.

No matter how you celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, remember the words of John F. Kennedy: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

May this holiday season be the most wonderful time of year for you and your family, friends, and colleagues!

Special thanks to Josh Brown @ Sente Mortgage for this article, used by permission.

Keep your Austin home SAFE this summer!

With summer approaching, many of you may be considering family vacations. You know who else is looking forward to their summer vacation? Neighborhood thieves!

Here are a couple of useful articles on how burglars determine if a home is a good topic. From Reader’s Digest, these two articles are great conversation starters:

13 Things a Burglar Won’t Tell You
http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/13-things-a-burglar-wont-tell-you/article156709.html

8 More Things a Burglar Won’t Tell You
http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/article-8-more-things-a-burglar-wont-tell-you/article156681.html

Also, you might be interested to share this ingenious little device which simulates the look of someone watching television at night. The “FakeTV” creates the exact same sort of random illumination that a 27-inch television does, at a fraction of the electricity usage:

http://www.faketv.com/

For $29.95, its a great way to deter a casual thief! (Editor’s note: We were not paid or compensated in any way to mention the FakeTV device; we simply thought it might be interesting to our community members.)

Mortgage lender Fannie Mae has released its annual National Housing Survey, which contains some interesting insight regarding Americans’ views of home ownership. If you want to check out what others look for in homes, and get an idea of what’s important to most home owners and renters, you can check out Fannie Mae’s survey fact sheet here.

Despite the negativity surrounding real estate, a recent survey found that 65 percent – nearly two-thirds – of Americans still see the value in owning a home. The survey was conducted by mortgage lender Fannie Mae and consisted of both homeowners and renters. Both groups indicated the majority sentiment was that owning a home was what they preferred, although they seem to be more careful about the commitment of home ownership, now that property values have fallen in many markets.

“Consumers are still committed to owning a home, but are showing increased cautiousness, regardless of whether they rent, own their homes outright or have a mortgage,” said Doug Duncan, Vice President and Chief Economist of Fannie Mae, in a news release.

The survey indicates that respondents view homeownership as a longer-term option, rather than the “flipping” mindset that seemed to prevail when the market was booming. Things such as personal safety and school districts are important to most home-buyers, according to the Fannie Mae survey.

Despite some of the uncertainty in some markets – and the negative reports in the media – 7 out of 10 respondents believe a home is one of the safest investments you can make.  Also, 64 percent of those surveyed believe now is a good time to buy a house, and 73 percent predict that home prices will rise or stay the same over the next year.

According to the Austin Business Journal, Austin Texas was  listed among the country’s healthiest cities on two rankings released last week and Monday.

The Texas capital city fell one spot to No. 10 fittest city on the American College of Sports Medicine‘s American Fitness Index. The ranking, which analyzes statistics from the U.S.’s 50 most populous cities, said Washington D.C. was again the most healthy, taking 73.5 points out of a possible 100. Boston, Mass. took the No. 2 spot, followed by St. Paul, Minn.; Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Denver, Colo.; Sacramento, Calif.; San Francisco, Calif.; and Hartford, Conn.

The report factors in preventive health behaviors, chronic disease levels, access to health care and community resources and policies that support physical activity. The D.C. area was cited for having a relatively low smoking rate, higher-than-average population eating recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables and lower-than-average rates of obesity, asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The report said education levels were a large factor in top health-rated cities. Areas with high ratios of high school or higher education graduates were more likely to be physically active and have access to care through health insurance.

Texas’ other large metros were all ranked among the worst 10 largest metros for health. Dallas fell five spots to No. 40, taking 39.5 points out of 100. Houston was No. 42 with 37.6 points and San Antonio was No. 43 with 36.9 points.

Austin was also ranked the 10th fittest last week by Shape Magazine. The publication attributed the ranking to the city’s large number of parks, 220, and its young, highly active community. Low chronic disease rates were also considered along with famous health advocates, such as champion cyclist and Austin resident Lance Armstrong and Whole Foods Markets Inc. headquartered in Austin.

According to the Austin Business Journal, Austin was ranked among the top 20 Memorial Day vacation spots, per the results of a survey from Web booking engine Priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN).

The Texas capital took the No. 18 spot, ranked according to a survey of more than 30,000 hotel booking requests for May 29-31. Specifically downtown Austin was cited as the 18th most booked destination.

 ”You can still see the economy reflected in Americans’ travel plans for Memorial Day,” said priceline.com’s in-house travel expert Brian Ek.

 ”Higher international airfares have made overseas cities a bit less popular with American travelers this Memorial Day. There are a number of smaller U.S. cities on the list this year, possibly indicating an uptick in driving trips for the long weekend.”

 Chicago’s Millennium Park area took the top spot followed by the North Michigan Avenue region of the same city. New York City Times Square District was ranked No. 3, while San Francisco’s Union Square West was No. 4. San Antonio was the only other Texas city on the list, ranking No. 21.