Betina Foreman-Serving Lake Travis area and the greater Austin area!

There is always something fun happening in south Austin!! The Annual Austin Artisan's Showcase is October 15th, 2009. It is presented by the Onion Creek Ladies Associationand the public is welcome! This is a great chance to shop for unique and hand made items. All proceeds will benefit several local charities. There will be: Holiday decor and home decor, jewelery, purses, luggage, shoes, eye-wear, baby items, and much more! The fee to get in is a mere $5 and it goes to charity. There will be live music by Heartstrings to enhance your shopping experience. There will be hourly drawings for prizes and Demaret Grill will have a limited menu if you need some sustenance to keep shopping! So shop with a purpose and shop to support a good cause!

Location: 2510 Onion Creek Parkway Austin Texas 78747

Time: 11:00-7:00

If your in the market for a new home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home. I specialize in Relocation and I have a network of experts to make the process simple 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 Betina@KW.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.

As a native Texan I have worn shorts on Christmas more often than not. However in Austin we do get some cold weather. Typically we get more freezing sleet and ice than real snow. So I am providing some tips to help you prepare for the upcoming in-climate weather.

• Caulk around your windows and doors to seal up any gaps. This will prevent the warmed air from escaping and keep the cold air out of your home.
• Insulate you hot water heater. There are thermal blankets available at Lowe's and Home Depot and they are very inexpensive.
• Clean out the gutters on your home. Removing leaf debris will allow the heavy rains to be directed away from your home and prevent flooding. When it does rain in Texas it is usually a significant rain event that can cause flooding if your not prepared.
• Add additional insulation to your attic, this will help to hold in the warmed air. The ideal R-value is 30 or higher. The older your home is the more likely your existing insulation has compressed and lost R-value. You may choose batt insulation or the new recycled "blown-in" insulation, both work wonderfully to reduce your homes energy consumption both during winter and summer months. Add a few batts of insulation and watch your electric bill drop!
• If you have a fireplace, you should have it cleaned by a chimney sweep to ensure there is no creosote buildup and ensure the flue functions properly.
• Get your HVAC system checked out by a professional to ensure that it will work when the cold weather hits. Better to be prepared than left in the cold when its too late.
• Now is a great time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and make sure your fire extinguisher is up to date.
• Insulate your water pipes and make sure you have faucet covers for all outside faucets and showers.
• Trim away any dead branches or tress in your landscape. If a storm comes the weak branches will snap and could damage your roof or power lines.

The key to successful winterizing is simple. All of these things can be done in one or two weekends, or you can hire a service to take care of these things around your home.

If you would like more information on south Austin homes or Lake Travis homes, please contact me. I have lived and worked in Austin for over twenty years. I have spent nearly 30 years sailing and swimming in Lake Travis. My background is construction, both high end residential and commercial. I can assist you with a home or land purchase anywhere in Travis county. My other areas of expertise are Lake Travis/Lakeway, Lake Pointe, Shady Hollow, Granada Hills, Barton Hills/Zilker, Northwest Hills and Dripping Springs. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business!

Betina Foreman REALTOR - Your best bet in Austin real estate!

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. MOPAC, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78746

512-771-6318 BetinaForemanREALTOR@Yahoo.com Betina@BetinaForeman.com

Member of: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain.com, Trulia and Zillow.

It is raining in Austin today. Thank heavens! This rain will help us greatly as we have been in an Extreme Level Drought for a few years now. Lake Travis is less than 50% full right now. So let it rain! As an avid organic gardener I was at a loss for what to do when it rains. So I found several seminars this weekend on how to plant specific times and how to prepare your garden. Take a look and see if one of these local events interests you. Maybe I will see you there!

Second Annual TX Hill Country Lavender Festival10:00-5:00pm October 3rd 2009 Location Johnson City- No entrance Fees! There will be music, workshops, hand crafted items and plants ready for your fall planting needs. Call the Johnson City Chamber for directions 830-868-7684.

How to Grow Seedlings and Cuttings October 4th at 2:00pm. It's About Tyme Garden Center, 11726 Manchaca Road (Just southeast of Shady Hollow 1/2 mile). This is a free event, for more info go to www.ItsAboutThyme.com. Chris Winslow the owner of Its About Thyme shares his secrets of plant propagation.

Heart of Texas Orchid Society Auction October 6th 2009. Preview the orchids at 6:30 and Auction starts at 7:00pm. Location Zilker Botanical Gardens, 2220 Barton Springs Road. This is a Free event, for more information go to www.hotos.org.

For the Love of Trees October 10th at 1:00pm. Location the Old Quarry Branch Public Library, 7051 Village Center Drive. This is a Free event! For more information please call 512-854-9600.

If you would like more information on south Austin homes or Lake Travis homes, please contact me. I have lived and worked in Austin for twenty years. I have spent nearly 30 years sailing and swimming in Lake Travis. My background is construction, both high end residential and commercial. I can assist you with a home or land purchase anywhere in Travis county. My other areas of expertise are Lake Travis/Lakeway, Lake Pointe, Shady Hollow, Granada Hills, Barton Hills/Zilker, Northwest Hills and Dripping Springs. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business!

Betina Foreman REALTOR - Your best bet in Austin real estate!

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. MOPAC, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78746

512-771-6318 BetinaForemanREALTOR@Yahoo.com Betina@BetinaForeman.com

Member of: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain.com, Trulia and Zillow.

Shady Hollow is one of Austin Texas's most sought after neighborhoods for a number of reasons. We have excellent schools: Bowie, Barranoff and Bailey. The lots are spacious and the homes are comfortable and inviting. The neighborhood is friendly or private, your choice. There is an eclectic blend of homeowners: retired, self-employed, families, and partnered couples. We have several neighborhood clubs: Gardening Club, Book Club, and Kiwanis Club. The Community Center is a big attraction for those who host large party's. Residents can rent the Community Center for $15 when they need space for 50 or more people. We host a fun Fourth Of July Parade every year that draws a big crowd and there are prizes for the most creative decorated cars/floats!

One thing to remember when buying a home in Shady Hollow. Make sure that it is really IN Shady Hollow. If you want the real thing, you need to look for homes in: Shady Hollow, Estates of Shady Hollow, The Enclave Shady Hollow and Shady Hollow West.

There are a number of newer developers that have tried to cash in on the popularity of this wonderful neighborhood. So when you see homes in: Southland Oaks AT Shady Hollow, Barker Ranch AT Shady Hollow or The Village AT Shady Hollow or The Gabardine AT Shady Hollow, please note these areas are not a part of the actual Shady Hollow community. If you purchase homes in these communities you will not be IN Shady Hollow. These newer communities are nice to be sure, but typically the lots are smaller and these home owners do not have access to our pool or community center. For example The Gabardine is a free-standing condo community. They will have their own park and pool once the development is finished. These are lovely condos that are great for a person that does not want to maintain a yard but still wants to have access to a large park-like area with BBQ grills and plenty of space to enjoy the out doors.

This comparable market analysis is exclusively for homes within Shady Hollow. This C.M.A. is for all homes sold between July-September 2009.

• There are presently 23 homes for sale, 6 homes are Pending/Under Contract. There were 19 homes sold during this period with prices ranging from: Low $89.86 PSF, Average $112.37 PSF, High $152.82 PSF.
• I list the prices Per Square Foot as that is the most accurate way to determine a homes value. The homes with a lower price price per square foot may need to be repaired or updated. The highest priced homes are usually on much larger lots with many upgrades.
• The average number of days on the market is 60, the high is 341, and the low was 4 days. That home was a real beauty on a gorgeous enormous lot and priced to move quickly!
• These homes have between 1544SF and 3984SF. they were built between 1977 and 2002 by various builders.

If you would like more information on south Austin homes, please contact me. I have lived and worked in Shady Hollow for several years. My background is construction, both high end residential and commercial. I can assist you with a home or land purchase anywhere in Travis county. My other areas of expertise are Lake Travis/Lakeway, Lake Pointe, Granada Hills, Barton Hills/Zilker, Northwest Hills and Dripping Springs. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business!

Betina Foreman REALTOR - Your best bet in Austin real estate!

Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. MOPAC, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78746

512-771-6318 BetinaForemanREALTOR@Yahoo.com Betina@BetinaForeman.com

Member of: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain.com, Trulia and Zillow.

Lakeway has a new unique residential development exclusively for the over 55 community and its called Tuscan Village. Tuscan Village is comprised of villas, and townhomes in a quiet community with every imaginable amenity close to Lake Travis. There is a 10,000 square foot club-house with indoor and out door dining and a concierge service to rival even the Four Seasons Hotel. There is a business center, fitness center, and art studio.

The Town-homes in Tuscan Village will be 1295-1790 square feet and pricing starts at $240K. The Villa's are 1662-3220 square feet and prices start at $340K. The final price will be determined by the level of luxury finishes you choose for your new home. These Tuscan inspired homes will have native Texas landscapes creating a peaceful hassle free lifestyle.

All of the homes will have 12 foot ceilings and open floor-plans. There are fifteen floor-plans to choose from, many of them are one story plans. Each home will have stainless steel Kitchen Aid appliances and granite counter-tops! The bathrooms will have natural granite counters, walk-in closets, frame-less shower doors on over-sized showers as well as garden tubs.

The community has 42 lushly landscaped acres with many walking trails providing a relaxed and refined atmosphere. Residents won't need to leave for anything as there will be retail shops, doctors offices, and a library for the residents.

If you want to access Lake Travis you need only join the Rough Hollow Yacht Club and Marina. There is no need to pay a higher price for a lakefront home to enjoy Lake Travis. The marina has: 260 wet-slips, tram to the ship's store and marina. The 4400 square foot open air pavillion has an aamphitheater, negative edge pool and fitness center complete with a cardio room. Another great benefit to buying a home in Tuscan Village is your Rough Hollow Yacht Club membership starts the day you sign the purchase agreement. This allows you to start living the resort lifestyle while your new home is being built!

If you love the outdoors and leisurely athletic pursuits, you should know that purchasing a home in the Tuscan Village places you just moments from Lakeways famous World of Tennis and its many indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Of course if you prefer golf, Tuscan Village is also close to the numerous golf courses in Lakeway: Flintrock Falls, The Hill's, Falconhead, The Live Oak and Yaupon golf courses.

There is still time to take advantage of the "Founder's Program". This will allow the next 30 home buyers to take advantage of very compelling incentives such as: preferred pricing, premium home sites, one year of free Home Owners Association dues!

If you want more information please give me a call and I can take you to see this amazing development. If you currently live out of town and want more information I am happy to mail you a color brochure detailing the community. Just send me an email or give me a call and I will make your second home or retirement getaway a reality!

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 or Betina@BetinaForeman.com