Could the experts be wrong?

Over the past year or so we’ve seen a steady stream of news stories predicting a downturn in the economy in general and the real estate market in particular. Citing everything from rising fuel prices to the cost of wars overseas, economists have been foretelling gloom and doom with a consistency that could make the sunniest optimist retreat to their basement with a flashlight and some canned goods. Interestingly, the family down the street might not completely agree. In a recent L.A. Times survey of nearly 1,400 homeowners, researchers found that just about 1/3 of respondents expected their home values to increase and more than half were confident they’d at least hold steady.

Are they just optimists or are John & Jane Q. Public on to something? We can only speak about our own confidence in the strength of the Austin real estate market. Driving around the best Austin neighborhoods, from Round Rock to Kyle, we see ongoing commercial and residential development, we continually meet people arriving in Austin via corporate relocations and know even more locals who are well-employed and moving up-market.

If you would like to form your own impressions about Austin real estate, we’d love to show you around and buy you a cup of coffee in one of the countless places where new homes, offices and shopping are being built. Some might say “if it’s in the paper it must be true,” but we think you should see things with your own two eyes and come to your own conclusions. Give Great Austin Properties a call at 512-300-0928 and let us show you just how well things are going in Austin real estate.

Search Austin homes for sale at AustinHomeListings.com

Hill Country Galleria is coming!

West Austin real estate has long been a great investment. The terrain is beautiful, the neighborhoods are incredibly family-friendly and it can be easily reached from downtown. If there was one complaint, it was about a lack of places to shop, dine & socialize. Of course, there are legendary restaurants like Rosie’s and Spring Hill, but, overall, the pickings have been a little slim. That is all about to change.
Slated to open this fall, the Hill Country Galleria comes online with pretty much everything a person needs to get through the week. Located at the intersection of Highway 71 and Bee Caves Road, the 152 acre development will feature more than 650,000 square feet of retail space, playing host to familiar names like Dillards (the anchor tenant), Ann Taylor Loft, Barnes & Noble, and Eddie Bauer. These shops, an assortment of restaurants and a Cinemark movie theater will make this whole area of town a more attractive place to live than ever.
Whether you’re looking for the private golf course and resort styled amenities of Spanish Oaks, the gated serenity of The Uplands or the more affordable Lake Pointe, this area definitely deserves a look.

To learn more, call us at 512.300.0928 or visit Austin Home Listings.com to tour all Austin homes for sale.

Austin housing market still strong

Despite reports of a nationwide downturn in residential real estate, the Austin housing market was recently identified as one of a select number of U.S. cities that are still on the upswing. In a recent issue of the Wall Street Journal, Dean Treftz interpreted the results of a recent government report, praising Austin home options as “stable, low-cost and ‘homey.’” Our fair city’s steady appreciation in pricing was attributed to a rebounding tech industry, the stabilizing influence of the state government and the ongoing influx of fresh talent via the university system. Although concerns persist of a continued decline in home values nationwide, Austin looks prepared to stay on track as one of America’s best places to live.

We couldn’t agree more. As experts with strong experience in the Austin residential real estate market, we repeatedly see people arriving from across the country, first impressed with the area’s vibrant cultural scene, then amazed at just how much house one can get in Austin. The diversity of vibrant neighborhoods close to great attractions (downtown, the lakes or the Hill Country) gives people a great array of choices and a quality of life that’s hard to beat anywhere else. If you’re ready to get your own home in Austin, check out all homes for sale in Austin at our Austin Home Search tool or the realtors at Great Austin Properties at 512.600.1800.