France and Mark Clausen

If you're looking to live in Belterra but don't want to get lost in the crowd then look no further than 445 Aspen Drive. This quality built Streetman home is one of only three Fredericksburg floor plans built in Belterra. This home is made even more special by sitting on a nearly ½ acre useable lot located on the view side highest point in Belterra. This allows the home what are arguably the best views in Belterra.

445 Aspen Drive graciously offers 3651 sq/ft of living space consisting of 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths 1 half bath 4 living and 2 dining areas. The home is highly upgraded featuring a gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances, a master bath with a vaulted beamed ceiling, garden tub, dual vanities and a double shower. There's even a private entrance to the laundry room through the master closet. Another unique feature of the home is the butler's pantry/ wine grotto off of the formal dining. The home is full of decorator touches throughout but what you will walk away with is the memory of the incredible view.

Belterra is located in Hays county approximately 15 miles Southwest of Austin. Belterra, while having an Austin address is located in the exemplary rated Dripping Springs school district. The exemplary rated Rooster Springs elementary school is actually within the confines of the development. Belterra offers miles of walking trails, a swimming pool, sports fields and a fitness center. Belterra lives up to its slogan of "life wide open". For more information on 445 Aspen or Belterra visit http://www.tridentrealtygroup.com/ or http://www.belterratexas.com/ .

Dripping Springs Tx. is getting it's own Brewery. Jester King Brewery has the plans for their facility, they've purchased their equipment and plan to start construction at their 1305 Fitzhugh Road site. Jester King brewery crafts their own unique ales and plans to have a tasting area and live entertainment. Dripping Springs continues to cultivate it's own unique style of business and Jester King brewery will be a welcome destination for friends and neighbors to gather. For more information visit http://jesterkingbrewery.com/blog/

The deadline for paying your property taxes for Hays county residents is fast approaching. Typically your property taxes are due on January 31st but due to the deadline falling on Sunday this year, taxes are due February 1st. If you feel that you are being over assessed please contact me and I would be happy to provide you with comparable home sales for the tax period being assessed. It is a little known fact that only 7% of property owners contest their property taxes but of that 7%, 70% prevail in getting their assessed value lowered. It is a relatively easy process and I would advise anyone who feels they are being over assessed to look into it. Quite often it can be accomplished with a simple phone call. If you don't want to address it personally there are several reputable companies that, for a percentage of your savings, will contest your property taxes for you.

Feb. 1 property tax payment deadline approaches

Submitted by The Mercury Staff on Friday, 15 January 2010No Comment

SUBMITTED REPORT

The deadline for paying property taxes is fast approaching. Generally, property owners have until January 31 to pay their property taxes without penalty or interest, but because this year the deadline falls on a Sunday, it is extended until February 1.

"All the statements have been mailed, so please contact our office if you have not yet received a statement," said Luanne Caraway, Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector. "State law says that you are still responsible for the taxes, even if you do not receive the bill." Tax bills are actually considered due upon receipt, she noted.

Caraway said property owners can confirm their payment status online at www.tax.co.hays.tx.us or by contacting the Hays County Tax Office at (512)393-5545.

Payments can be mailed to the main office at 102 N. LBJ, Courthouse Annex, San Marcos, Texas, 78666 or delivered to any of the four tax office locations. The tax office will honor the official postmark as proof of mailing.

Payments can be made with cash, check, money order, credit card, debit card or electronic check. Credit card and electronic check payments can be made online or by phone. A 2.5 percent convenience fee will be applied to credit card payments made online. The fee for an electronic check payment is $2.

This year penalties for late payment begin February 2 at 7 percent. That increases by 2 percent each month until July, when attorney fees are added. Those fees are 15 percent of the tax bill; after July another 1 percent is added each month until payment is made.

Residents 65 or older and disabled residents may qualify to make quarterly payments; no penalties or interest are assessed if payments are made on time. For more information on this program, contact the tax office.

If you are unable to pay your current taxes in full, the tax office will accept a partial payment before February 1 without penalty and a payment plan can be set up for the remaining balance. However, penalty and interest will accrue on that remaining balance. The tax office does accept partial payments on current taxes and no penalty or interest is added to the amount that is paid by February 1.

Tax office locations: Main Tax Office, 102 N. LBJ, San Marcos (8:00-4:30 M-F); Buda Substation, 500 Jack C. Hays Trail, Buda (8:00-4:30 M-F); Dripping Springs Substation, 195 Roger Hanks Pkwy., Dripping

The Hays County Tx. Dripping Springs area stats are out. We had a drop of 1.4% in listing price but conversely realized a .05% increase in sales price. In my opinion the biggest change is the days on market (DOM) up 13.2% to 110. The moral of the story, price your home aggressively and be patient. You'll end up netting more in the end.

Congratulation to our Dripping Springs DSYSA Tiger's freshmen gold team on winning the MidTex championship. It's been a long season for these players and coaches, they are all to be commended. These yougsters bode well for the future of our Drippings Springs highschool Tiger's football program. well done players and coaches, you've done us proud.

Centex Champs: Dripping Springs Freshman Gold Tigers

The Dripping Springs Gold Tigers, champions of the Mid-Tex Youth Football League: (front row, left to right) Aidan Cline, Colin DeWitt, Tyler Herron, Lucas Weeden, Jake Cox, Kevin Perrydore, Logan Ledwik and Zachary Walsh; (second row) Curtis Cox, Keith Bottles, Cameron O'Banan, Cade Millenbine, Tanner Prewit, Trent Greenman, Mason Cook, Chase Warden; (not pictured) Kameron Dugan; (third row) coaches Keith Bottles, Travis Weeden, Monty Prewit, Scott Cox and Rex Herron

The Dripping Springs Freshman Gold Tigers recently won the Mid-Tex Youth Football League Championship at Canyon Lake High School.

The team, coached by Scott Cox, Travis Weeden, Monty Prewit, Keith Bottles and Rex Herron, beat Spring Branch Navy in the title game, 26-6.

The Tigers finished the year with a 10-0 record, outscoring their opponents 217-61, with four shutouts.

- Elizabeth Defee