Stephanie Zellous * (512) 971-4875

Kyle, TX has really grown over the past year. With the opening on the Seton Hospital came a new Lowes, Walgreens, and an AT&T Store with more to come. Across I35 is a new Kohls and a Target, plus other shops, making the intersection of FM 1626 and I35 THE place to do your shopping in Kyle, H.E.B. Plus has been there for several years already but the addtions of the other stores really heated things up.

Some changes to how the lanes are set up has made getting around a lot easier, the access road in between 1626 and 967 is now a one way with two northbound lanes, so that pile up at Bebee is not as bad, plus there are two left turn lanes southbound on the I35 access at FM 1626, so you don't have to plan on waiting for two traffic light cycles before you can make your turn.

I have noticed that there are not as many foreclosures and short sales on the market in Kyle at the moment, this most likely is because of the recent increase in buyers due to the tax credit, prices are still low so it's still time buy in the Kyle area, Plum Creek prices have increased so hurry up before you can't qualify. I suspect that another influx of foreclosures is on the way so potential home sellers in that area should not try to list their properties for more money at this time, plus with all of those recent sales of foreclosures, your properties won't appraise for more than the recent average anyway.

After all of this growth it still relatively easy to park in the downtown area, especially if you want a piece of Key Lime Pie from The Texas Pie Company.

Here is a list of home builders that are still building in Kyle:

Meritage Homes (Plum Creek)

DR Horton (Brookside, Four Seasons Farm, Kensington Trails)

KB Home (Plum Creek, Waterleaf)

Mainstreet Homes (Post Oak)

Harvest Homes (Woodlands Park)

I spent way too much time driving today, and as some of you know, it rained cats and dogs this afternoon and MoPac was was not fun! I noticed today and on other rainy days that way too many Austin drivers don't seem to understand that you can't drive on a rainy day in the same way that you do on a dry day. I learned to drive while I was living in Seattle, WA so I have a lot more respect for wet weather and roads. It doesn't rain here in Austin as much, but it is important that drivers remember these basic rules. I'm surprised that more local drivers don't already follow these rules.

1. Turn your headlights on! This is especially important if your car is gray, silver, or white, your car is about the same color as rain, so drivers won't see you during a heavy downpour, so you could get hit, turn on your lights and you have a better chance at, at least, being seen by other drivers.
2. Don't tailgate! Tailgating is dangerous enough on a sunny day, but when you add wet roads trouble will happen; if the car in front of you brakes suddenly you may, instead of stopping when you hit brakes, skid on the wet road and crash into the car in front.
3. Don't do anything to make cars slam on the brakes, like cutting in front of drivers when there is barley room for you, in other words don't cut anyone off! See #2, but you will be the one getting hit.
4. Slow down! Why? That wet roads thing again. You may expect to stop when you brake, but your tires may have other plans. Travelling at a slower speed may increase chances to stop safely.

This has been a Random Rant.

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Offered at $189,000

6804 Shadywood Dr, Austin, TX 78745

This South Austin Home is perfect for first time buyers.

Take advantage of the $8000 tax credit in one of two ways:

1. Take the credit when you file your taxes for 2009.

2. Take the credit today as a discount off the price of the home!

The choice is yours!

See you there!

P.S. I will be serving ice water and snacks!

Contact me

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10425 Garbacz Dr, Austin, TX 78748

Offered at $157,500

Four bedrooms, two baths, eight years old for under $158,000. Need I say more? OK. Huge back yard with trees and a deck, no homes behind, Bailey Middle School, Akins High School, Kocurek Elementary School.

Don't forget about the $8,000 tax credit for first time buyers!!

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I live in South Austin more towards the west side so I take MoPac/Loop 1, which is a freeway, home frequently, plus my Keller Williams Office is on the MoPac Access Rd so I see a lot of it.

Every now and then as I am driving north and just passing the 71/290/Southwest Pkwy exit I will see either a group of people running across or a single person walking across MoPac in that area. My question is what could be on the other side of the freeway that is so important that you would risk your life and/or getting a nice ticket? Why not just walk the extra few minutes to the intersection and use a nice semi-safe crosswalk?

Was there a rumor that a pot of gold left over from the last rainbow is over there? Do they think that there are new sports cars waiting on the other side for the most brave souls? Actually Walmart is in the area, did they hear that there are some serious "Rollbacks" on the price of TVs? What would it take to get you to take that chance?

I don't get it, and other drivers definitely don't get it. Be safe out there!