I'm Lani. I live in Austin, Texas (jealous?). I am the New Media Director of Single Pointe Realty (and AgentGenius.com). I keep this blog as my personal take on the market, the business of Real Estate, and the agents that make up the profession from all over the nation. Because I am not a licensed agent- I write commentary from the unique perspective of part consumer, part insider. Oh, and I have a ridiculous affinity for cheese.
We're a unique real estate company that doesn't operate as a traditional brokerage. We bring new technology, modern buying & selling strategies to our clients- it's been my job to create a home buying & selling experience that is fun, fresh, & exciting for today's Austin real estate consumer.
We’ve been watching downtown Austin develop for quite some time with mixed feelings as we’ve gone along. Last fall, I wrote about the massive tower called 360 Condominiums over on the corporate blog. No matter how you feel about the skyline changing, you have to admit that the view from 360 is amazing, check it out (complete with rock jamz):
Video courtesy of Austin’s own, onefivedoor
I wrote today about a lemonade stand in our neighborhood and about the nostalgia I felt when I saw it. Remember when you were a kid and it was okay to sit on the side of the road and peddle drinks your mom made? Remember when we played ball in the street until a car came and we all scattered while yelling “car! car! car!” There’s a certain homey feel that we recall when icons like a lemonade stand pop up around our home.
Can you imagine if you were looking at this subdivision for the first time ever and you drove in and were greeted by a lemonade stand? My thought would be “awwww, I LOVE it here!” Lame but true.
So what happens when the builder model the kids are in front of opens? Will the kids be allowed to squat on that spot? Most likely, the builder will ask them to remove their table from their property. But what if the only other builder in the subdivision actually bought a table for the neighborhood kids? What if they ASKED the kids to set up in front of THEIR model? Not in the driveway but on the corner?
What if this behavior was nurtured? My bet is that the homey feeling created would increase sales. In this rough sales environment, builders and home sellers need to think outside the box. And creating the feel of home is just what some people need when they’re plopping down their checkbook for their biggest investment ever.
What else besides a lemonade stand would make YOU think of home?
Today, the Austin City Council approved a proposal for primary and secondary providers of “hot mix asphalt concrete” for the city’s roads. I scanned over today’s agenda and what stood out to me were the ginormous dollar amounts attached to the approval- the City approved $20,422,334 for asphalt… ASPHALT! It seems so exorbitant and while I’m sure Austin (not Texas, we’re just talking about Austin) will use all of this asphalt, it feels like the city just went to dad and said, “hey dad, I know that Diesel jeans are like waaay expensive and I *could* wear Old Navy, but I really need them to fit in, pleeeeeease?” knowing full well he’d say yes if I did the pouty eyes. Hey Austin, can I have $20mill [insert pouty lips here]? I could use it too, you know!
The other agenda note that stuck out to me happens to also be concrete related. Remember when a construction truck at the Monarch site blocked the road, stopped traffic during the morning rush hour and Mayor Will Wynn hopped out of his car, used some of my favorite cuss words and told them to get their butts out of the street for at least an hour? I think he’s got a GREAT solution cooked up in a recommendation for city council he’s co-sponsored… in the future, concrete may be poured by permit from 7pm to 6am in the Central Business District and I would assume the main goal is traffic congestion since so many new high rises are sprouting in that area.
With so many moving parts in our city, it’s always good to keep an eye on what’s up with the City’s agenda. What do YOU think about the millions being spent on asphalt and the possibility of permitted overnight concrete pouring?
Yeah, I’m sick of the “go green” crap too, but guess what- it worked on me. Fifteen years ago, my Whole Foods eatin’ Grandma bought me a canvas bag for groceries. Later, she asked why a college student wouldn’t carry a canvas bag for groceries, rather use wasteful plastic. The answer is that I was lazy- too lazy to remember to carry it and too lazy to even find it. I carry it now because I drive a car I can keep them in and because I can carry all my groceries in 4 bags instead of 20.
When I was a child, my father groomed much of the acreage we lived on. He left the live oaks and chopped down the scraggly cedars that grow like weeds and stifle ground foliage, we braided smaller saplings into arches, we climbed the big trees and we loved the nature surrounding us from an early age. My stepmother insisted in the 90s that we crush cans and recycle them, and would ask us to save our paper so she could take it to work to recycle it into note sheets. I didn’t start recycling until a year ago, and I’ve lived in new homes for almost 5 years where the entire landscape was reduced to dirt piles, only to add new saplings.
Although I always have loved nature, I haven’t nurtured it until it became convenient for me. I’ll admit this.
I don’t know what the regulations are in your city, but here in Austin most new land developments whether commercial or residential are required to have an exorbitant amount of “green space” which annoys developers to no end. It’s expensive for them to not be able to build on 100% of the land they’ve put money into. Water treatment systems are required on all new developments and building standards almost always have to comply with the Energy Star ratings.
So how then is Austin cheating the system? By saying they require 20-30% of all approved developments to be “green space,” but not requiring the “green space” to be the original trees and green space that previously existed. Instead, developers are allowed to excavate and turn the dirt on the entire plot of land- be it 1 or 1,000 acres. They rape the ecosystem, plant a few little stick trees, leave a scraggly spot as a “pocket park” and call it eco-friendly. Aww, good job, let’s give city council a big ol’ pat on the back for this fake-appease-the-hippies-law, why dont we?
This is the biggest sham I’ve ever heard of and when we speak out against it, people are amazed that the “green space” required doesn’t have to be the existing land, rather ends up being clumps of monkey grass, a few lantana and tiny aspen saplings from another state which may or may not end up living in Texas soil.
Austin, we’re tired of just talking about it. We don’t want to go all hippie on you, but we’re pretty close to doing so- picket signs and all. I may have voted for Bush (twice) but I love my freakin’ trees. I know California doesn’t understand why developments that carve into our precious 2222 mountain won’t ever sell (because you’ve demolished a natural landmark we adore), but it’s not California who needs to understand- it’s our elected officials.
CHANGE THE CODE, AUSTIN… NOW! The 20-30% should be EXISTING green space, not puny plants post-excavation!
For some time, I’ve heard rumors of Austin City Council passing some insanely ridiculous mandates that require home sellers to retrofit their homes for energy efficiency to obtain a certificate of compliance that could cost homeowners any profit margin they could ever expect in the sale of their home!!! (for full story, click here)
Apparently these proposals are soon becoming a reality in Austin and tomorrow, Single Pointe will be attending a REALTOR-sponsored luncheon that will have Q&A time for the City Council members. My first question would be “are you out of your ever loving mind?” Single Pointe will be printing out all comments to this story (click here to leave your comment) and taking them to the meeting.
I could write pages and pages on this about how I smell something fishy and I sense that someone’s pockets are about to get really full while Austin home sellers feel the excrutiating pain of this INSANE proposal. Instead, I’ll request that anyone reading this, go comment and tell the City Council what you think, even if you’re out of state (what would you do if this were YOUR city? have you seen this happen before? wth?)!
I’ve closed comments here so they are all in one place (here).
I just came across a video of dudes in what looks to be Zilker Park throwing sharp arrow-like objects at an unseen target. I’m hoping the target’s not a a pack of silent swans begging for food, the crowded playscape, or Mayor Wynn. Can someone tell me what these dangerous objects are being thrown at before I boycott going to Zilker Park near downtown Austin!?!
Gorgeous image of Austin’s growing skyline by Fellowship of the Rich.
Austin is in the midst of a massive explosion of population and housing growth and the downtown skyline is shadowed by endless, towering cranes and each new condo development is taller than the last. It seems like trillions of units are being approved to be built in the downtown area and many speculators are salivating over the impending doom of the high rise condo units, anticipating that there are so many being built that they will all sit there, collecting dust and they’ll swoop in and get incredibly bargain basement prices.
Wrong. Consider these facts:
Texas economist Ray Perryman noted, “there is an ample population to absorb these units.” Oh really? Yes. Perryman posited that if less than 1% of Austin’s population decided to live in these units, they’d fill up in a snap!
There are many buildings that are completely lease units, other buildings are made up of individual units for sale, and there are proposed projects for affordable living, making downtown Austin an incredibly lucrative place to be.
Why are people moving downtown? Some move because of gas prices, others for traffic or the environmental impact of driving, others enjoy attached amenities (fitness centers, pools, etc. in the same building) while others move for the social scene of being immersed in the downtown environment. Others simply moved to the suburbs and it didn’t end up being a fit so they’re moving closer to the heart of the city.
So, for those saying that downtown Austin will never fill up, all I can say is that you’re wrong.
Alan walked on the moon and was a part of the Apollo 12 crew- Longhorns in space!
Texas Governor- big hair, bigger personality. We miss you!
Hey, thanks man for making the UT tower famous for bad reasons.
Former Communications Director for current President Bush. Longhorns in high places!
UT Football star, Oilers guy and BBQ pusher. Call me for two interesting personal stories about Earl- they’re juicy like BBQ!
Hello, Charlie!
CEO of Southwest Airlines- Mile High Longhorns Club!
Me & Bobby McGee is my favorite. Well, I admit- it’s the only one I can name…
Florida Governor, W’s bro. This pic is hilarious!
We were the same graduation year, same major. Hook ‘Em English majors!
Oh how we loved you as Aidan in Sex in the City and Chris in Northern Exposure.
Current Big Brother cast member- still in the house! He owns more UT crap than Matthew McConaughey!
Texas Senator, tough cookie. They say “don’t mess with Texas,” I say “don’t mess with KBH!”
His long-shot run for Governor birthed hilarious bumper stickers with is slogans “Kinky for Governor- why the hell not?” and “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy” as well as “Kinky for Gov- how hard can it be?” Oh, and he spoke at my UT commencement speech and made sure to make the conservative side of my family squirm way up in the rafters when he talked about his UT experience which included a bus and a lot of weed.
Former First lady who changed the face of Texas- Longhorns for Bluebonnets!
That’s totally me. I’m kind of a big deal.
W’s wife- Longhorns in the White House!
I’m considering a campaign to replace Mack with Major… who’s in?
Longhorns in the Olympics!
Well, it was hard- but I found a pic of him with a shirt on. Longhorns on bongos!
Chances are if you’re reading this from Austin, this guy’s your boss. Thank him for your ability to buy that brand new home in Steiner Ranch why don’tcha?
I’m sure he has a real first name, but he’s “Red” here- he co-founded Clearchannel Communications and is so rich, his name is on the UT business school. Oh, and my grandpa wouldn’t buy his Fords from anyone but Red.
Longhorns at the Oscars!
Famous author, old as dirt UT English professor who taught my aunt in the 80s then me in the 00s and who would *murder* me if he saw this blog and the amount of times I say “like” and use ampersands. Sorry, Professor.
I didn’t like Scott until today when I found out he’s a longhorn. Longhorns in the Oval Office!
Famous Cowboys coach- bet you thought he was only famous for seafood, huh?
Longhorns on the Airwaves!
Who is your favorite UT Alum? Who’d I miss?
It’s easy to forget that Austin didn’t always look so shiny- remember the days of streetcars? Well, sure you don’t, but photos do! What do you see in these pics that are not around anymore (or that you recognize as still existing)? Bonus points for the sharpest eyes:
Visit AustinPostCard.com for the entire collection!
Guys, despite our best efforts to persuade the Texas Department of Transportation not to implement a suckey license plate design, we lost and now, our cars will be un-sexy-fied with this ugly whopper.
So, for all of you who failed to vote for a decentish design, I want to say that I know where you live and I’m considering sporking your yard (even you, Dad).
I've interviewed the elite in real estate- bubble gum style....
A better question is do you think people who say smooth as a baby’s butt have ever changed a diaper? I mean seriously, why do we spend so much time dreaming of being younger or going back in time, or relating to childhood when we really should embrace the “now”. Looking backwards is so “life in reverse.”[…]
READ MORE...Without giving too much away, it involved a party, a Tall Scotch & Water with a Twist (or ten), midnight munchies, a drive-thru window, assorted food products named “Jack” (Bonus, Breakfast), two Super Tacos, a large order of fries and a couple of regrettable hangovers. Steve is such a romantic![…]
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