Karen Staha, CRS,GRI,ABR REALTOR

Once again, Austin made hot Real Estate market headlines. Business Week published an article on September 6 citing where homes are selling the fastest. Austin ranks 2^nd place on the list behind Sunnyvale, CA. The rankings were based on sold information narrowed down to zip codes and average days on the market with the highest rankings having the fewest days on the market. According to the survey done on August 22, the 78749 Austin zip code showed an average of 68 days on the market. Sunnyvale, CA. averaged 69 days.

This just goes to show that even in a slower national economy, Austin is on top of the market. With the quality of life, job opportunities and growing population, I believe that Austin will continue the trend of a strong Real Estate market and homes prices will gradually climb.

Austin, Texas: Population: 1,506,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 17%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.5%
Cost-of-Living Index: 92.8 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $69,600
Average Sale Price of Home: $189,500
Median Price of Home:$244,500
Income Growth Since 2000: 12.2%

Business Week News Article on Austin

If your relocating to Austin or a surrounding community or already here and would like Real Estate or local information , I welcome your call or email.

Karen Staha, CRS,GRI,ABR, REALTOR - Gaston & Sheehan Realty
(512 217-2435 email: kmstaha@aol.com web: www.karenstaha.com

New flood plain maps for Austin will take effect on September 26, 2008. With the new maps, there are several hundred properties, including homes, businesses and undeveloped land, that will move in or out of the floodplain. Those moved out are mainly due to city improvements.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency began updating Austin and Travis County's floodplain maps in 2003 as part of a national Map Modernization Project. At the time, some of the maps had not been updated for nearly 30 years.

A flood plain is defined as an area that has officially been determined to be at risk for flooding in the event of severe weather. Those areas are usually near lakes, rivers, creeks and streams. There are two flood plains: the 100-year flood plain and the 500-year flood plain.

A 100-year flood is said to have a 1 percent chance of happening every year. A 500-year flood event would have a 0.2 percent chance of happening in any given year. This doesn't mean your home will flood only once in 5, 10 or 100 years. In the Austin-Travis County area we have experienced back-to-back 100-year flood events. And even though a flood plain property might not have flooded during one heavy rainfall, it can still be flooded in the future because the next flood could be worse

For the most part, changes to the floodplains are spread throughout the city, because floodplains run in pockets throughout Austin, cutting through neighborhood and other local boundaries. They run alongside creeks, even those that are normally dry, as well as the Colorado River. While not everyone lives in a flood plain, everyone lives in a flood zone and any property in the United States is susceptible to flooding. It's just a matter of level of risk. Flood insurance is mandated for those whose homes are built on a flood plain because these areas carry a high level risk for flooding.

It's important for homes and businesses in a flood plain to have flood insurance -- something separate from your home owner's insurance. If you purchase a home in a flood plain, your lender will require you to purchase flood insurance to the structure. Make sure the insurance covers both the structure and the contents. During the kind of flooding that happens in Austin, there is usually more damage to the furniture and contents than there is to the structure. Here's something else to keep in mind: it will take 30 days for your policy to kick in.

Because Austin participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, federal flood insurance is available to residents through FEMA. This means that Austin residents get a 15% reduction in insurance fees, making decent coverage affordable.

If you don't know if your home is in or out of a flood plain, contact your insurance agent. They can also quote your rates.

New flood plain maps including those moved in and out of the flood plain can be viewed at

City of Austin Flood Plain Maps

Karen Staha, CRS,GRI,ABR, REALTOR - Gaston & Sheehan Realty

(512 217-2435 email: kmstaha@aol.com web: www.karenstaha.com

This is not the typical upbeat blog post and surely not the topic of Real Estate but I felt compelled to blog this. Today my family and I paid honor to a special friend who died three years ago to suicide. We attended the ‘Out of the Darkness Walk', an annual event that takes place at the Austin state capital and many other areas of the country to increase awareness and raise research funds for The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This is a day when hundreds of suicide survivors from every background of life and of every age come together to pay tribute in the almost unspeakable grief of loosing a loved one. People who are left behind to agonize over why and what more they could have done to prevent their loved ones death.

If you feel a bit uncomfortable by this topic, that's understandable because most people fell this way. Suicide is probably the least talked about topic of all. It's a difficult subject to respond to in discussion, or with people who have lost a loved one. My intent here is to help spread awareness in memory of our friend who truly did love life but, in that one brief moment, fell victim to suicide.

The reality is that most of us have been touched in some way by suicide. We may have attempted it, contemplated it, or know someone who went through with it. The denial is that we don't want to believe for a moment that it has the potential to impact our own lives or our own loved ones.

There are many reasons for suicide - emotionally fragile, depressed, anger, revenge, serious illness, financial, drugs, alcohol, loss of loved one, low self-esteem - and many more. The bottom line is that the person somehow reaches the point of losing all hope and seeing no other way out of their sense of despair.

While there are many apparent signs of people contemplating or on the verge of suicide, we tend to unknowingly ignore them or make less of them than what they are. Some signs of suicide are subtle and we just don't see or look for the lethal symptoms. Being aware and heeding to even the smallest inkling of problems might make the difference between life and death to someone we know.

September is Suicide Prevention/Awareness Month.

I would like to encourage you take a few moments and visit the websites I've included below on suicide awareness and prevention. These are only two of the countless other website resources available.

Here are a few statistics you might not be aware of.

EVERY 16 MINUTES SOMEONE IN THE U.S. DIES OF SUICIDE!

Every 43 Seconds someone attempts suicide!

Over 32,000 people in the United States kill themselves every year.

Studies indicate that the best way to prevent suicide is through the early recognition and treatment of depression and other psychiatric illnesses.

Most mental illness starts between 11 and 14 years of age and do not get treated for ten years.

The suicide rate for white males aged 15-24 has tripled since 1950.

The rate for teenage girls has increased by 15% in recent years

Here are some myths and facts about suicide:

MYTH

Asking a person if he/she is thinking about suicide will put the idea into his/her head.

Once a person decides to commit suicide there is no way of stopping him/her.

Suicide happens without warning.

People who commit suicide are mentally ill.

FACT

Discussing the problem openly shows the suicidal person that someone cares and wants to help.

Most people who are suicidal do not want to die. They are making a "cry for help".

75% of the people who attempt or commit suicide have shown some warning sign(s).

People who are suicidal are not necessarily mentally ill.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Got a dirty dog? The stylists at All God's Creatures are ready to give your pet a magical makeover. From bath and cut to trim and brush, they do it all. Located in the heart of downtown Pflugerville, All Gods Creatures is a small and friendly full-service pet grooming studio.

Owner, Lisa Delgado, opened her dog doors shop 14 years ago and has been pampering pets ever since. And just as the Pflugerville population has grown more than double the size during that time, so has her pet clientele. Last October, Lisa relocated to her business to a larger space and has three other stylists with 38 combined years of pet grooming experience. "We have a long list of furry friends that have been coming to us for years, but we always welcome new friends" stylist Robbie tells me. "We have to earn the pets trust so that the grooming won't be a traumatic experience for them. We take the time to get to know each individual pet and develop a one on one relationship with them.

As it's name suggests, all God's Creatures loves breeds and all shapes and sizes. "Most of our clients are dogs but we groom cats too. Although rare, we've even groomed rabbits, and guinea pigs." says Robbie "There's a right cutting method and style for every breed and we do offer style solutions for every type of pet. What many people don't realize is there are many types and sizes of trim and cutting blades - each one designed for a particular fur and haircut type."

All God's Creatures gives back to the Pflugerville community as a sponsor of "Pet of the Week", a program that features homeless and sheltered pets in the local newspaper for adoption. Sadly, many of these pets have been severely neglected and lack the care and grooming that is so essential to a pets good health. Every effort is made to give these pets a second chance.

We invite you to visit All God‘s Creatures, meet the friendly staff and treat your pet to a professional grooming. At the end of the treatment your pet will not only look great but he will feel great too.

All God's Creatures is located at 106 E. Pecan St. in Pflugerville, TX. For more information and business hours call (512) 293-7772.

If your relocating to Texas or already here and would like more information about selling or buying a home in Austin, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Hutto or Cedar Park & Leander , I welcome your call or email.

Karen Staha, CRS,GRI,ABR, REALTOR - Gaston & Sheehan Realty

(512 217-2435 email: kmstaha@aol.com web: www.karenstaha.com

Copyright © By Karen Staha, All Rights Reserved ... "All God's Creatures Pet Grooming in Pflugerville"

I can honestly that I never get too excited about shopping for tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash and zucchini in our local supermarkets. But take me to a Farmer's Market and I'm like a little kid in a candy store. I love Farmer's Markets and I'm happy to see that Pflugerville now has one of our own thanks to some pretty fine local sponsors.

I went to our Farmers Market last Tuesday and the truth is that you just can't trade the experience of chatting with people who grow their own food, bake their own breads, can their own jams, and create their own crafts.

It was fun to see stands of fresh food, homemades and handmades, people waving and saying hello to those they know, and vendors talking to complete strangers - each has a unique story.

Take for example, Larry & Pam Hill, purveyors of Hill's Kitchen. They make hand-made pasta of various sorts and flavors - all made from fresh vegetables and herbs.

Then there's the Round Rock Honey stand. Owners are Conrad & Elizabeth Bouffard with over 1300 bee hives and growing. Unlike most honey, their honey is never heated or finely filtered, which means it's the purest honey you can buy.

In all I counted 27 booths of vendors and every one is deserving of mention for their fine produce and homemade products. You really should check it out for yourself. This is a great & fun way to support farmer's.

When? Every Tuesday from 3 - 7 p.m (get there early for best selection). May - October 2008

Where? Downtown Pflugerville, west of the First United Methodist Church, at the old gin property

For more information, a list of vendors and directions, visit the website at Pflugerville Farmers Market

By the way -- Did you know that there are more than 4,000 varieties of tomatoes? As you shop, remember that fragrance is a better indicator of a good tomato than color or shape. At home, never refrigerate fresh tomatoes. If they need a bit of ripening, keep tomatoes at room temperature for a day or two until they turn bright red and slightly soft.

I live in Pflugerville and support local shopping.

If your relocating to Texas or already here and would like more information about buying or selling a hom in Pflugerville or the surrounding areas, I welcome your call or email.

Karen Staha, CRS,GRI,ABR, REALTOR - Gaston & Sheehan Realty (512) 217-2435 email: kmstaha@aol.com web: www.karenstaha.com

Copyright© By Karen Staha, All Rights Reserved...."Pflugerville Farmers Market is Fun"