There is a new wellness and health-care center in south Austin! Active Life Wellness & Healthcare Center opened this spring at 809 S. Lamar. They provide help with low back pain, carpal tunnel, sports injuries, auto accident injuries, and tendon & ligament problems. They offer massage therapy, weight loss clinic, physical therapy, and chiropractic services. They specialize in Graston Technique which is a form of soft tissue mobilization that detects and breaks up scar tissue that would impede normal function of muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments. If you have back pain, they can treat it with "Floating Decompression" which is a comfortable, effective and natural way to treat disc problems and back pain.
The doctors are: Dr. Cynthia Schade, Dr. Nick Foure, and Cynthia Lara. They also sell supplements from: Standard Process, Xymbgen, Genesis, and Xeenix. They accept most insurance and they take VISA, AMex, Discover. For more information about the clinic please visit their website: www.GetAnActiveLife.com or call them at (512)474-LIFE (5433).
The practice also hosts a revolving art gallery in the waiting area. The art that is on display is also for sale at reasonable prices. This clinic is easy to find due to the amazing sign at the street. It is a huge tile mosaic created by a local artist.
Great interesting architecture is often hard to come by, so I wanted to showcase one of my favorite architects: Bruce Alonzo Goff. Anybody can build a basic home with four walls and a roof, but this man built dreams that you could live in. Bruce Goff was creative in a way that no modern architect I have seen can match.
Bruce Goff was born in Alton Kansas in 1904. He was considered a child prodigy and had his first apprentice job at twelve years old. He later became a partner with that firm Rush Endicott & Rush. His first famous work was and Art Deco building to house the Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa Oklahoma.
Goff's design portfolio had over 500 projects and he actually built about 146 of his designs. As of 2009 only 80 of his creations remain. His work was considered to be "organic" and was always very specific to the individual client and project site. Goff loved using recycled materials and unconventional objects. It was not uncommon to find parts of airplanes, rocks, coal, ropes, zebrawood, cake pans or chunks of recycled glass in his designs.
Despite not having architecture credentials he taught at the University of Oklahoma for a period. Unfortunately he was caught up in a scandal involving one of his students in the mid 1050's and lost his tenure and position with the school.
One of his last designs The Pavilion for Japanese Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art was begun in 1978 but was not completed until after his death in 1988. It is infused with natural light through translucent panels in many places.
Sadly Goff died in 1982. One of his students, Grant Gustavson designed his headstone and even incorporated a piece of glass from one of Goff's works; the Price House.
Here is a link to photos of several of Goff's designs. Take a look at several, as he designed homes with a variety of styles. http://www.narrowlarry.com/nlgoffindex.html
Here is a link to photos of the Duncan House http://www.brucegoff-castle-bandb.com/castleinfo.htm This home is currently functioning as a Bed & Breakfast, so you can experience Goff first hand.
Here is a link to photos of the Durst Home. http://www.narrowlarry.com/nlgoff-durst.html Since I grew up in Houston I had seen this unusual home and always marvelled at its unique exterior. To this day I still wonder what the inside must look like!
Here is a link to the Bavinger house. This is my favorite Goff house and this home is open to the public. Amazingly this link has interior photos! http://www.narrowlarry.com/nlgoff-bavinger.html
Here is an incomplete list of Goff's works in chronological order.
I will warn you upfront I am not including photos as I was not able to reach anyone to get permission. You know me, I would rather be safe than sorry. All information was culled from Encyclopedia.com and Wikipedia.com.
If you are looking for an unusual home in the Austin area, call me. I will leave no stone unturned to find the right home for you! If you are interested in selling your unique home, I can help you find the right buyer to take care of your castle!
Betina Foreman Realtor
Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. MOPAC, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78746
512.771.6318 www.BetinaForeman.com
My contacts at Gracy Title of South Austin just shared some great news. Granted this is something we have thought was in the works, but the powers that be had not announced anything until now. The program may be extended as it is today or it may have some modifications, that is yet to be decided. So if your unsure about waiting, the time to buy a home is now. In order to qualify for the tax credit you must: make no more than $75K a year, be a first time home buyer (if you have not owned a home in three years you will qualify as first time buyer in this program), and be ready to buy now. You must be able to close on the home sale before December 1st 2009.
Senate likely to extend homebuyers' tax credit
October 28, 2009 8:36 pm
Washington (CNN) -- Senate leaders have reached a tentative deal to extend the first-time homebuyers' tax credit that was originally passed earlier this year as part of the stimulus bill, Republican and Democratic sources told CNN on Wednesday.
The agreement would extend and expand the credit to include current homeowners who want to move, according to the sources.
The original credit in the stimulus bill is set to expire at the end of November and offers a tax credit of $8,000 to first-time homebuyers.
Senate sources told CNN they have tentatively agreed to extend that $8,000 credit for first-time buyers until the end of April. In addition, they are adding a $6,500 credit for some current homeowners who buy a new residence by then.
To qualify, current homeowners must have lived in their primary residence for five continuous years.
Senators have not agreed on how the tentative deal would come up for a vote, but sources from both parties said they are considering adding the housing credit to a bill that would extend unemployment benefits.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated she also is interested in extending the homeowner credit, but House leaders have yet to endorse any one bill.
Living in Austin means residents have a multitude of choices when it comes to great Mexican food. Some of my regular favorites are Chuy's, Maudie's, Jovita's, Manuel's, El Arroyo and Serrano's. There is a new player on the field and they mean business. La Condesa recently opened up at 400 West 4th Street, just across the street from the new W Condos & Hotel and Lambert's. They are really upping the bar for downtown Mexican food.
The space is open and inviting with several smaller intimate spaces for drinking and dining. When you enter La Condessa the bar is to your right up a few stairs. There is also an elevator for those that need it. It has an intimate patio area that has a wall that slides away to open the bar to the street for fresh air and natural light. The space has a very modern feeling with a nod to old Mexico. The mural on the west wall is comprised of a multitude of old vintage Mexican billboards that have been cut into smaller pieces and fanned out to radiate like the sun. (see photo below) La Condesa has won several awards for their modern designed space. The Austin Institute of Architecture awarded them the best restaurant in Austin.
As you enter the main dining room on your left, you will notice the unusual lighting. There are a number of thin black cords suspended from the ceiling like an octopus with a slender light-bulbs with numerous tiny filaments in each bulb. These lights radiate a soft light that creates a relaxing atmosphere. If you continue out to the patio it is a sleek modern space that is open to the street and allows for wonderful people watching experiences.
The food is divine, simple and yet complex. I know that is a contradiction, but how else can I put it in words. The Pibil pork tacos were perfectly cooked and served on two double corn tortillas with a sweet and spicy pickled Habenaro salsa and pickled red onions on the side. Every taco dish comes with a side of black beans and rice with a smattering of fresh sweet corn, red bell pepper and fresh cilantro. The presentation was beautiful and the service was prompt and kknowledgeable. Our server was Hannah and she never flinched, even when we bombarded her with a thousand questions about the food and drink specials. She suggested their signature cocktail as a starter. This is a Watermelon Martini served up, with two Mellon balls on a skewer instead of olives. This drink also just won an award as Best New Drink in Austin. We will be back often and I hope that if you read this you will take a chance and try La Condesa yourself. I promise you will be glad that you did!
If you are in the market for an Austin home & are not currently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you with the process of buying a home. I specialize in Relocation & I have a team of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.
Betina Foreman, Realtor
Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com www.BetinaForeman.com
Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.
Lake Pointe is a lovely community in Austin Texas that is just minutes away from the Lake Travis area. These homes typically were built between 1996-2009, with an average of 3298 square feet. Most of the lots are just under a quarter acre, but occasionally you will find larger lots of a 1/3 or 3/4 of an acre. Some have hill country or distant lake views. A few back up to a quiet and serene greenbelt. Below you will find the Comparative Market Analysis for Lake Pointe's September 2009 home sales. The homes used in the C.M.A. are at least 4 bedrooms and 3 baths on at least a .20 lot or larger.
24 Homes Actively Listed For Sale:
Average Year Built 2002 3298SF Average Listing Price Per Square Foot $164.01
Low Listing Price Per Square Foot $99.68 High Listing Price Per Square Foot $241.00
Average 139 Days on Market
2 Homes Pending/Under Contract:
Average Year Built 2004 3385SF Average Price Per SF $151.44 Average 55 Days on Market
4 Homes Sold in September 2009:
Average Year Built 1999 2828SF Average Price Per SF $1o6.41 Average 49 Days on Market
Right now my favorite Lake Pointe home that is for sale is located at 3201 Santee. It backs up to the greenbelt and has an amazing yard. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, two living and two dining rooms and a 3 car garage. It is priced to move at $315K! If you would like to see this Lake Pointe home or any other please give me a call. I would be happy to assist you with a purchase or sale in Lake Pointe. Of course if you are presently working with a Realtor please contact them directly. Thank you for your time.
Betina Foreman, Realtor and Member of: ABOR, TAR, NAR, ActiveRain, Trulia, Zillow
Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 South MOPAC, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746
512-771-6318 BetinaForemanREALTOR@yahoo.com
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Experienced in construction/sales of custom & waterfront homes on Lake Travis & Lake Austin as well as architecturally unique homes. Betina is your best bet in Travis county. www.BetinaForeman.com
As a fifth generation Native Texan, Betina will show you real Texas hospitality! With Betina as your Realtor, you'll benefit from her intimate knowledge of the region based on her over 20 years as an Austin resident. Betina's experience in both the commercial and high end custom residential construction and remodeling industries are also assets in your favor. There are not many Realtors who can read construction blueprints and understand architectural elements, but Betina can!
Different by design Testimonials "Betina listened to what I wanted and found the perfect home for me. She explained the process and made it easy for me as a first time home buyer. I will definitely use her when I move up to a larger home. The total experience was easy and she recommended a great lender that was also easy to work with." - Laura C. "In a world of "Walmart Realtors",Betina provides a Nordstrom's level of service." Bill S. "Betina was our agent when we placed our home in Austin on the market in 2008. Not only is Betina our Realtor, she is our friend. She was always very responsive to any questions or concerns that we had and phone calls or e-mails were always returned promptly in a friendly, helpful and professional manner. Betina was aggressive in deciding our listing price, keeping in mind not to overprice our home. Consequently, we sold our home very close to listing price in a very short period of time. She was there to assist with inspections and provided us with sound counsel on issues that came up during the process. All in all, we would recommend Betina to anyone selling their home. She went beyond what one might expect in an Realtor in a professional manner." Nancy & Mike B. "Betina asked lots of questions to help us narrow down exactly what we wanted and needed in our ideal home. Then she showed us several homes that were specifically selected to fit our needs in Zilker and Barton Hills. We love our new homeand will absolutely use Betina again should we eventually decide to sell. Betina is a great Buyers Agent and she will do whatever is necessary to help you find the right house." - David F. "I relocated after visiting Austintwice over the last ten years. I found Betina in an open house and she took the time to answer all my questions about the neighborhood. Over the next four months I met with several Austin real estate agents. None of them did what they said they would do, except Betina did. She sent me homes to look at every week and kept in touch with me for the four months it took to make the move. Having Betina as my Buyers Agent made my relocation to south Austin a smooth and simple process. While we drove around looking at homes, she told me some Austin history and trivia, so I feel more like a native instead of a newcomer." Susan W.
Betina Foreman is a member of the #1 real estate office in Austin. Betina Foreman and Keller Williams Real Estate take a different approach to real estate, one that is built on personal touches, win-win deals and positive results. Betina utilizes the latest technologies, market research and business strategies to exceed your expectations. More importantly, she listens! And that means she find solutions that are tailored just to you. Betina Foreman won the Keller Williams Bronze Medal in 2008 for sales.
How we can help
Thanks for starting your real estate searchwith Betina. Our website: www.BetinaForeman.com is loaded with information that you'll find helpful whether you are looking to buy or to sell a home or waterfront property in the Austin area. Click on the Local Links to see what is happening in and around Austin. If you need a home inspector, mortgage lender, home stager, or interior decorator you will find several listed here. Please note that we do not receive any form of payment from the vendors on this list. The companies and individuals listed are there because they are honest professionals that do an exceptional job. They all consistently go the extra mile for a client.
Betina has several years of experience running a busy construction office. After several years spent working for a large commercial builder named DPR Construction, Inc. (which is based in Redwood City California) she moved into very high end custom/ luxury homes when she joined Vintage Fine Homes in Lakeway. The average "Vintage" home was typically waterfront and well over 6000SF and was priced between $4 million and $16 million dollars. While at Vintage she did everything in the office from; personally assisting clients and principals, to updating the specification books, maintaining the accounts payable and receivable, working on contracts, maintaining blueprint archives, scheduling contractors and ordering permits from the city.
If you are an experienced Realtor or new agent or an individual considering getting into the real estate industry please read this. I want to give you the insight into why Keller Williams agents are so successful. We live and work with some core values that show why we are the number one real estate office in Austin Texas. Our mission is based on this acronym, WI4C2TS. This stands for:
Since joining Keller Williams as a Realtor, Betina has been an effective team member. For the last two and a half years Betina has been on the Keller Williams Culture Committee and personally welcomes the new Realtors/team members to the Keller Williams Southwest Market Center. She also is available to assist Realtors with information about Launch and the extensive continuing education that is available at the SWMC and about Keller Williams culture in general. Betina has worked on several Keller Williams Southwest Market Center fund-raising events to benefit JAMS and KW Cares; two entities that raise money for the community and Keller Williams agents that have medical needs and other pressing needs. For several years Betina has volunteered in the Austin community with several other agencies: Central Texas Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Blue Dog Rescue, Austin Parks Foundation and Brown Santa.
WIN/WIN or no deal (each deal must be fair and equitable for both sides)
INTEGRITY- Do the right thing
COMMITMENT- In all things
COMMUNICATION- Seek first to understand
CREATIVITY- Ideas before results
CUSTOMERS- Always come first
TEAMWORK- Together everyone achieves more
TRUST- Starts with honesty
SUCCESS- Results through people
If you are considering starting your real estate career or if you are looking for a new Broker, please call me. It does not matter where you are located. I have connections to every Keller Williams real estate office in the country. As a member of the Keller Williams Culture Committee I can help you find your way around. You may ask, Why do I do this? The answer is simple. Just take a look at our WI4C2TS to find the answer. More experienced agents helped me when I started and I simply want to pay it forward. Call me if you want more information on joining the Keller Williams family. You will be glad you did!
Austin Realtor selling homes and land in the following neighborhoods: Central Austin, Lake Travis, Lake Pointe, Lakeway, Circle C, Shady Hollow, Southland Oaks, Sendera, Barton Hills, Zilker, Bouldin, Travis Heights, SoCo, 10N&10S, Northwest Hills, Great Hills, Hyde Park, Tarrytown, Brykerwoods, Tarrytown, Rollingwood, West Lake Hills, Oak Hill, Cedar Park, Leander, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Driftwood, Dripping Springs, and Mountain City. Of course we can assist you with a sale or purchase in any neighborhood, these are simply areas where we conduct more business.
If you wish to search for a home in the Austin area please follow this link to my site: www.BetinaForeman.com. Thank you for dropping by today!
We love working with clients looking for a special or architecturally unique homes. We have working knowledge of green building and energy star appliances and energy efficient designated homes. There are several green builders in the Austin area that we work with on a regular basis.
Your best bet in Texas real estate is to call Betina!
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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