Ki Gray - Austin Real Estate

The air isn't exactly crisp in Austin these days, but fall has found its way to central Texas all the same. Whether it's the University of Texas football fever or the Halloween decorations on every corner, autumn has a hold on Austin and fun festivities abound:

Oktoberfest Austin holds its first annual festival on October 24 in Waterloo Park. Bring two canned goods benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank and enjoy local bands, kids' entertainment and an arts and crafts market.

This is the 49th year for the annual "Salute to Sausage" celebrating German heritage with food and music. Wurstfest runs from October 30 to November 8 in Landa Park in New Braunfels. There are all kinds of fair-like attractions at this festival, including rides and live music.

Pumpkin Patches, or at least the kind that pick the pumpkins and bring them to the public for sale, abound in Austin. Some of them even offer far more than pumpkins. The Elgin Christmas Tree Farm offers a pumpkin patch and hay bale maze. Sweet Berry Farms in Marble Falls has a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and hayfield mazes for all ages, along with homemade ice cream and other treats.

Halloween can be celebrated all month long in Austin. Boo at the Zoo is a unique opportunity to see the zoo by flashlight on weekends in October. Wear a costume, bring a picnic and take a haunted train ride.

Spend an evening at the Austin Nature and Science Center for a Halloween Howl. See the spooky side of nature with all kinds of hands-on family fun. Check out the other Parks and Recreation events like a free haunted house and Halloween carnival.

There is the famous, or perhaps infamous, Halloween on Sixth Street with all sorts of rowdy revelers having scary fun. Shop for a costume at the famed Lucy in Disguise on South Congress before heading downtown to enjoy drink specials and live music.

The Mexican American Cultural Center celebrates Dia del los Muertes with food, music and family fun November 1. Come see the array of traditional altars honoring the dead and even create your own.

Most of the outdoor pool venues have closed for the season, but the cooler weather makes it a great time to take advantage of all the other outdoor fun Austin has to offer. Hike or bike the Barton Creek greenbelt. Walk the 100s of steps up to Mt. Bonnel and check out the view. Watch some college soccer or take in a high school football game. Stroll down South Congress Avenue or the Second Street district and see the one-of-kind shops and eateries. The fun fall festivities in the Austin area are practically endless.





Ki graduated from the University of Texas in Austin. He maintains a website with detailed information about Austin Texas real estate. The site allows future home buyers to search for homes in the Austin MLS. His blog has monthly statistics on Austin real estate.

The South First Street area has become a vibrant community lately, especially for pedestrians and bicyclists, since it is so densely packed with new establishments and businesses. The area is very unique and quirky; many of the businesses cater to the music industry and other artistic types.

There are a number of interesting clubs and restaurants as well, most of which offer live music on a regular basis. Two such venues are Jovita's and Freddie's Place, both delightful locations with shady trees with well known as well as new musical acts which usually perform early in the evening, to the satisfaction of families with children and the slightly older crowd that prefers to be back home at a reasonable hour.

Jovita's has had a number of very well known local acts play the spot recently, including the Marshall Ford Swing Band and the Cornell Hurd Band. The crowd is usually dancing to the catchy tunes, and it's worth the visit just to watch the boot-scooting and vintage clothing worn by many of the dancers, most of which are early to middle aged.

Freddie's has an outdoor stage under the trees, and patrons can have a full meal, while accompanied by their dogs (which are allowed on the patio area), or just sit up front with a frosty drink and listen to the musical acts, many of which are newcomers but very enjoyable and professional. Both of these fine eateries are on the east side of 1st just north of Live Oak and Mary Street. Bouldin Creek meanders through the neighborhood too, presenting a lovely and peaceful sight.

Traveling south, one gets to La Reyna and La Mexicana, a well-known tex-mex joint and Mexican food bakery, respectively, and both have great food and other products as well, including jewelry at La Mexicana as well as convenience store fare. Across the street, very interesting vintage clothing can be found at Flashback, which is currently having a clearance sale and all of the items are very reasonably priced. Amelia's and New Bohemia are also vintage and retro shops, a few blocks south on the east side of 1st. Adjacent to Amelia's, End of an Ear can be found, with various types of music on CD, record, tape, etc., and occasionally live music as well.

Just north of End of an Ear and its small strip center, Sugar Mama's offers cupcakes and other bakery items and sweets for the hungry strollers, and their confections are out of this world.Another vintage clothing and curios shop called Secret Oktober is a few doors down from Sugar Mama's too. There are also numerous coffee shops, including Bouldin, Once Over, and Somnio's, and all three have a laid back atmosphere and outdoor tables under the trees.

Farther north on 1st, but within walking distance, is an Austin legend, El Mercado, which offers a varied Mexican Food menu and has been in different locations over the years, with this site being in operation for almost ten years itself. Another great Mexican food spot, Polvo's, is a few blocks down, just south of the intersection of 1st and Mary on the west side of street, and their food is outstanding as are their drinks, especially the margaritas.

One of the most interesting locations is the South First Trailer Park Eatery, which is a large lot on which various food vendors operate out of airstream trailers and stands, with the emphasis on hand held food such as wraps, burritos, and deserts, also popcorn. This site also offers free movies on a regular basis, most of which are family oriented, and can be watched under the stars with one's own refreshments, which are allowed due to the BYOB policy. This week, the Back to the Future series has been shown, to the sure approval of the neighborhood kids and kids at heart.

There are many old yet restored homes in the area, and they are reasonably priced, many being fixer-uppers. Those near the creek are especially appealing, and many are already in perfect shape, ready to move in. But the real estate prices in the area reflect the appeal of the area and far outpace the average prices in the Austin real estate market. For new residents who prefer not to cook, the Soup Peddler offers delivery of different homemade, gourmet soups on a daily basis, and deliver on bicycle to neighborhood patrons, and has received rave reviews from diners.



Ki works in Central Austin. He maintains a website focused on Austin real estate. The site allows future owners to search for Austin homes for sale. He also writes entries on his blog covering Austin tx real estate.

The Austin Convention Center is a huge, sprawling convention complex in the heart of downtown Austin, and the facility can host just about any gathering, from sports events to conventions, garden shows, car shows, sales of every imaginable kind, and political gatherings, among others. The Center is located between Cesar Chavez to the South, 4th Street to the north, and Red River on one side and Trinity on the other. It covers numerous city blocks, and is practically a city inside a city.

The Convention Center contains more than 800,000 square feet, numerous ballrooms, including the largest ballroom in Texas, and very high tech, state of the art communication and media networks, facilities and devices. There are over 54 separate meeting rooms and a ballroom that will accommodate 3000 diners at once, so the largest conventions can be easily hosted at the center, with all the modern accompanying technological paraphernalia.

Trade Shows and Expos are two of the most popular events held at the center, but many sporting events such as the Austin Ice Bats and local basketball skirmishes take place there as well, along with practice and training sessions. The Roller Derby team, the Lonestar Rollergirls, is a huge crowd favorite, and two of the most popular yearly events are the Carnival Rio de Brasileiro Celebration at Mardi Gras and various rodeo-related activities at roughly the same time of year. Many of these events have related events at the Palmer Event Center as well, which is just across the river.

The Gubernatorial Inauguration a few years ago was one of the most heavily attended and publicized events held at ACC, and many local as well as national celebrities and politicians appeared at the event, which was catered by the Aramark company as well as other local temp and catering agencies, who supplied over 50 TABC certified bartenders and wait staff galore. Many a local food service industry professional have gotten their start at the Convention Center, although all personnel is carefully screened and qualified before being admitted and allowed to cater the event or serve the patrons.

The facility is constructed primarily of limestone and granite, and has a historical feel yet quite a bit of natural light due to the plethora of windows. There are numerous levels and mobile bars and food stands throughout the complex, all of which can be tailored to the client's preferences. Another popular yearly event is the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, an Austin tradition during which just about anything Christmas or gift-related can be found, especially arts, crafts, home furnishings and decorations, jewelry, and the like.

Many of the halls have retractable seating, so the size of the crowd can be accommodated no matter how large or intimate, and the over six blocks that encompass the Convention Center property makes walking from one end to the other quite a hike, but the many elevators, golf carts, and other types of assistance can be of benefit to the infirm or just plain tired guests.

Many of the conventions are education related, such as school districts, teachers, and college gatherings, and many are high-tech related, such as the World Conference on Internet Technology convention, which featured Bill Clinton as a guest a few years ago, to the delight of the patrons and visitors. There is also a yearly boat expo, which is another very popular event.

Some of the events on tap for October of this year include the Austin Board of Realtors Convention, a high school student career expo Skillpoint Alliance, and the World of Warcraft World Championships by Upper Deck Entertainment. There is also a Forum for Black Public Administrators, and shortly thereafter, holiday events will begin, many of which are balls, dinners, and dances.

The Convention Center is in the heart of historic downtown and also very accessible to I.H. 35 , which is a block east of the facility, and there are also residential areas close by and numerous hotels including the Hilton Garden Inn, the Downtown Hilton, the Marriott, the Hampton Inn, and many others.

The center is also very close to Lady Bird Lake and its numerous hike and bike trails, so convention attendees can get some recreation and fresh air while in the area. This facility is one of the most impressive in Austin, and has hosted many nationally known gatherings, and it is a sure stop on a trip to downtown Austin, so visit the Convention Center, and get a good look at Austin's largest high-tech meeting facilities!


In Austin, Ki works with future home owners. He helps buyers interested in the Austin Texas real estate market. His site allows them to perform a map search of Austin MLS listings. He also writes a regular blog with information and updates on Austin real estate.

There are many greenbelts in and around the creeks in Austin, and the Barton Creek Greenbelt is one of the most well-known. The greenbelt begins at the south shore of Lady Bird Lake and continues all the way to Loop 360, with starts and stops along the way. Most of the greenbelt is adjacent to the creek itself and Barton Springs while it meanders through the Zilker Park area, and one of the best places to swim under the trees and among the rocks and trails is called Campbell's Hole.

Campbell's hole is actually just an area where the creek widens and rocks form a pool, and it can be accessed on either the east side of the creek or the west side, though most people arrive by the east entrance through the trails. Many swimmers and waders bring their dogs, and picnics on the banks and rocks are quite frequent too. Some of the trails are quite steep, so caution must be used when hiking to and from the area, and good hiking or tennis shoes are suggested.

This year has been very dry, so the water is slightly stagnant, and at such times, it is best not to swallow the water or swim with any open cuts, since all too frequently the visiting dogs use the stream for their personal business, but the swimming hole is very family-friendly and many Barton Hills neighbors take their children and pets down to the hole for a free afternoon of hiking, swimming, floating, and just wandering around.

Campbell's Hole has been popular with local swimmer since the seventies, or even earlier, and at one point, the primary entrance was from a trail in Zilker Park itself, just south of the springs, and the hole was primarily used by those hoping to avoid the entrance fees at the springs, but in the past, the hole was also considered the most popular place for skinny dippers, or those who prefer swimming in cut-offs and tee shirts. The crowd is very laid back, and in earlier years, most of the guests would be considered "hippies", in teeny bikinis if any clothing at all.

Many nice homes are perched on the cliffs above the swimming hole, and the entire area offers a majestic view for residents as well as hikers and other visitors. One entrance is across the street from Barton Hills Elementary School, with a trail entrance marked by a city-provided sign with an audio device that gives rules, instructions, and other information, including warnings about snakes and other critters in the park and surrounding areas.

In some places, the trails peter out and hikers have to wander through the brush to find the next section, but eventually one can hike from Campbell's Hole all the way to the bridge over Loop 360, quite a hike over rocky and irregular terrain, but very good exercise for the hearty.

Many beautiful and interesting kinds of wildlife can be seen from the hole, including owls, hawks, and other birds, along with unusual lizards and geckos, and some are tame enough to actually hold still for a quick picture, given their regular contact with people. Another interesting nearby hiking trail is the St. Mark's Episcopal Church's meditation walk, which is a series of trails behind the church, which is located at Barton Hills Drive and Barton Skyway, which dead-ends at the church, thus allowing pedestrians to access the hiking trails which connect to the Barton Creek Greenbelt and eventually Campbell's Hole itself.

Campbell's Hole has been an Austin landmark for years, and many fine homes, duplexes, and apartments are in the nearby area. The swimming hole's proximity to Mopac, which runs just west of the greenbelt, make it easily accessible, and this entire area is perfect for nature lovers, college students, young families and professionals, as well as the older, more established crowd who still enjoy the gorgeous scenery and recreational activities. When is southwest Austin on a hot day, take a brisk hike with your kids or dogs to Campbell's Hole for a natural day of fun and water in the Austin tradition!



Ki has lived in Austin for 10 years. His hobby was Austin real estate, now it is his business. His website allows potential buyers to search by map for Austin homes. His site also provides a free mortgage rate widget.

During the Texas Revolution, around the year 1812, Santiago Del Valle made his way to central Texas and settled with his family on a large piece of land granted to him by the Mexican government in the area now known as Del Valle. Del Valle is 7 miles southeast of Austin and the community is currently unincorporated.

The community is near the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, and is situated near the intersection of U.S. Highway 183 and Highway 71, on which Del Valle is actually located. Del Valle is also very near the communities of Lockhart to the south and Bastrop to the east, and the terrain is gently rolling farmland with plenty of shade trees as well as rivers and creeks.

Del Valle has its own school district, the Del Valle Independent School District, a small post office, and a few other businesses, including restaurants and hotels and motels, which are numerous due to the town's proximity to the new airport as well as nearby state parks and other tourist attractions.

Del Valle also boasts many sports related activities and events, and there is a local golf course as well as a baseball complex, among other facilities. With its rural atmosphere, many local residents enjoy the outdoors, for sporting events or even eating outside and picnicking in the many local parks and greenbelts.

Del Valle is considered a growing community, and there are many inexpensive homes available, most with plenty of acreage to raise a family, livestock or pets, or even grow your own fruits and vegetables, since the town is on the southeastern side of Travis County which has good soil and lots of water.

Currently, there are many available homes in the Del Valle real estate market in the $100,000 range in the community, and most have all the modern amenities, as well as access to U.S. 183 and 71, which makes travel to Austin, San Antonio, and even south Texas very convenient and speedy. The market also provides an alternative to the high prices in the Austin real estate market. There are also many mobile homes parks and empty lots with green grass as far as you can see on which one can build a home and eventually settle into the sunset years.

Some of the local eateries around Del Valle include a Thai restaurant called Little Thailand, a barbecue spot called Elroy Sausage Company, and an old-timey saloon called Water Hole Saloon. All offer above average food and refreshing beverages, according to visitors to the Del Valle area.

A local church that hosts many events is the Methodist Church, called Haynie Chapel United Methodist Church, and the church promotes the spiritual life as well as actively promoting social events and get-togethers for residents and their guests, with regular prayer meetings, worship services, and study groups.

Del Valle is the location of the Travis County Correctional Complex, which is a large, local employer of correctional officers, social workers, medical staff, and many other professionals, as well as the home of a youth program, a military-style boot camp, and many other facilities intended to teach and encourage healthy living and life skills for the young, old, and in between.

Del Valle is a promising location for those who want to see the stars at night without the distraction of city lights, and hear the birds chirp and the roosters crow. The lifestyle is laid-back and the cost of living is inexpensive, so consider the Del Valle area when visiting the southeastern part of Travis County, and you'll be glad you did!


Ki lives in the Austin area. He created a website for future homeowners owners to search for Austin homes. He has worked in the Austin Texas real estate market for almost 10 years. His site also has a blog with updated statistics on Austin real estate.