About Travis County, TX

Sweet Treats @ Russell's Bakery and Deli (Austin Texas)

Craving a sweet treat? Wanting to have a great cup of coffee while visiting with your friends? Need a special cake for a special occasion? Looking for a place to have a small group meeting?

Locally owned Russell's Bakery and Deli is the place for you! Breakfast, lunch or dinner....you can't beat the atmosphere, price or taste that you will find "hidden" at the corner of Hancock Drive and Balcones.

My favorite is Russell's chicken salad. Or better yet try the 3 salad plate with chicken salad, tuna salad and pimento cheese... o my, o my, o my!!

Pastries are baked fresh daily from scratch! Time tested recipes are used for the cakes.....no box mixes. Try a piece or order a whole cake for the office birthday party.

Russell's is located in a re-purposed "filling station". It's ultimate in recycling and makes for a relaxing environment.

I love that Russell's has local artists display their original art. I've purchased a beautiful watercolor several years ago and have it hanging with pride in my dining room.

Open 7 days a week! Call (512)419-7877 to order your sweet treat for Valentine's Day....surprise your loved one!

Russell's Bakery is conveniently located at the corner of Hancock Drive and Balcones. Exit Mopac at FM 2222, west one block to Balcones, and south four blocks to Hancock. We'll be on the SE corner. Hope to see you soon. 3339 Hancock Drive (78731).

Call Gwynn Teal Carpenter, Broker of Home and Hearth Realty @ (512) 467-6191 when you need to purchase a home close to Russell's Bakery so you can just walk to have that sweet treat and coffee!

One of my favorite mortgage lenders, Paula Hudgins with Mission Mortgage just shared this press release with me. I thought it was good news worth sharing with you.Cedar Park's newest luxury single family home community just broke ground.

"A new luxury residential development is breaking ground on The Reserve at Brushy Creek. Its a 30 acre community that will eventually build 130 single family homes near the intersection of Brushy Creek and Parmer Lane. The developer is Milestone Community Builders, one of Mission Mortgage’s preferred builders. We have been working with Milestone for some time and have found their homes to be well-planned and constructed. We have watched them successful launch a number of projects and we are very proud to continue to be one of their lending partners.

The new development is estimated to cost upwards of $25 million to construct and Milestone has announced that they will be selling homes from their Pinnacle Home Collection – their luxury line of homes. Specific models and pricing have not been announced. The plans call for a centralized amenity center for the use of all residents. The amenity center is designed with indoor, outdoor, and covered outdoor spaces along with a family-friendly swimming pool."

Betina Foreman- Realtor, C.N.E.

(512)771-6318

Austin Home Girls Realty

1601 West 6th Street

Austin, Texas 78703

Austin office space for lease report Feb 2012

Austin's office space for lease market moved into 2012 with momentum on the upside, with vacancy rates moving downward. The office space sublease market has been moving downward as well which is an indicator of a stronger economy. Since construction has slowed the surplus of office space for lease iinventory has been diminishing.

Main areas of active office space for lease activity are in the downtown Austin area and the Southwest area both which may take on some new development. Leasing rates for office space are running at $29.00 approximately for Class A space and $20.00 for Class B office space for lease.

Average office space for lease rates rose by $0.42 cents , Class A office space for lease has increased by $1.40 per square foot. Class B office space for lease has remained flat to falling slightly . The interim forecast for office space for lease is the leasing rates should be on the increase. The northwest area of Austin for office space has contributed to the lowered vacancy rates. If you are looking to lease an office space, the highest lease rates are going to be in the Downtown Austin area.

Alot of tenants are looking for small office space deals or office spaces for lease that have shorter terms. We can provide tenants with shorter terms with a full turnkey office lease solution or if they want to go with a direct office lease the minimum is 2 years for offices below 2000 SF.

There are concessions still available and recently an office space for lease was located and negotiated on for a net effective rate that was below the current market in northwest Austin. Full service office space leases provide a quote that includes the NNN operating expenses which for some tenants is much easier since it is not broken out into base rate plus expenses.

It's Friday and many will be thinking about going out to dinner to relax or celebrate the ending of another great week in Austin, Texas! We have so many great restaurants in Austin...one to fit every mood.

Alamo Title came up with the local editors Top Austin's Best Restaurants. I have to admit the list is excellent (one of our favorites is Eddie V's Edgewater Grille) but, there are many more to choose from so check them out at: Austin's Dining Guide

As always, local Austin information brought to you as a courtesy from Dorie Dillard, Coldwell Banker United Realtors. I would love the opportunity to earn yuor business and exceed your expectations.

P.S. Did you know that Austin is one of the top picks for the 2012 Rising Star Chefs Award by StarChefs.com editors?

Keep those pruning shears away!

Austin Texas is proud of the many trees that are located in our Capital City! There's even a program where areas of town are identified that "need" trees to help with the energy efficiency we so desire in our homes.

But that's not what I wish to talk about today....it's "keep those pruning shears away from the oak trees" time in Austin. Pruning oak trees between February and June is discouraged. The Texas Forest Service recommends that you avoid pruning during this time period to control the spread of oak wilt.

Live oaks and red oaks are mainly affected by oak wilt....which is an incurable disease caused by a fungus.

So if you are new to town and see these signs popping up that says "Don't prune your Oak Trees", then heed the warning.

You can find more information at www.ci.austin.tx.us/oakwilt or visit the Oak Wilt Information Partnership (www.texasoakwilt.org).

If you are searching for a home with trees then call Gwynn Teal Carpenter of Home and Hearth Realty, Inc. @ (512)467-6191 to make that search easier!