About Austin's Downtown

I wanted to do a series of the best of Austin, Texas to help you become familiar with some places you really need to check out when in Austin. Some of these places, I am finding, even some locals have yet to try. If you are really a fan of Austin you probably know about or have experienced some of these great places.

Let's start with HOME SLICE PIZZA!

The pizza pie here is the best I have EVER eaten. More than great food Home Slice on South Congress in Downtown Austin is a hub of social interaction. You will see a guy in a suit and tie, a kid in shorts and torn t-shirt (that's your waiter...just kidding) families, college students all walks of life make their way to Home Slice.

Whatever kind of pizza pie you enjoy you can have it here. Hand tossed, fresh ingrediants and lots of love. I have been here a dozen or more times and each experience has been great. We bring visiting friends and family and everyone loves it.

Alan & Michele Kirkpatrick

Realtor Austin Texas HomesLLC.

alanmaz1@earthlink.net

WEB http://alanmaz.actris.mlxchange.com/

Never too busy for your Referrals

It's not a paradox: affordable homes for sale near Downtown Austin are still in existence, even more so than a couple of years back. I'm going to define affordable as under $150,000 for our purposes. That caps the payment off around $1300 and is easily qualifiable for folks with decent credit (over 620 FICO) and little or no debt, making around $40,000/yr.

What neighborhoods are close to Downtown Austin and still affordable? Let's talk about a few:

Lots of areas of 78745, the area south of Ben White and north of Slaughter. Mostly 70s built homes, many in great condition and with converted garages for extra space. Prices drop as you move farther South.

East Riverside: Riverside Meadows is a straight shot and the homes are less than six years old. New home, close-in... under $150K. Look for foreclosure opportunities with special financing incentives.

The area around the old Mueller airport. There are some new home options for folks who qualify with income caps, etc. but there are also some 1950s and 60s homes that are in good condition with mature trees and big backyards that are very much within the price range that we have defined here.

Southeast Austin: We're getting a little far off the target here but down near Wm Cannon East, there are lots of brand new homes with foundation warranties still in effect for the under $130k market.

FM 969: There are 1980s built homes out this way that are under 70K -- spend more like $110k and get a great looking forclosed unit that's less than five years old.

Affordable homes near downtown Austin are plentiful at this time. Check out a few solid options below--- all are affordable homes within a few miles of downtown Austin! Call me at 512-736-3353 today to talk about your options when buying or selling your next home!

The Live Well Team at Prudential Texas Realty was just awarded 2010 Presidents Club Honors - Top 4% of All REALTORS within Prudential Worldwide

Perry Henderson is a Top Austin Broker Associate and REALTOR® on the Live Well Team at Prudential Texas Realty in Austin, TX. People say he is Austin's Premiere Sellers Agent. When you select your REALTOR® to sell your home, the right REALTOR®, like Perry Henderson, I'm here to help and never too busy for you or your referrals. Feel free to email a question, request a new video showing or call now 512.791.7472

Next Steps if you need help buying or Selling a home Austin, TX
1. Choose the Live Well Team at Prudential Texas Realty
2. Start Your Search for a home in Austin Texas Real Estate For Sale and For Lease. click here

See some of the homes sold, listed or leased by Perry Henderson in 2010…

The Austin Gorilla Run takes place this Saturday, January 22, 2011 on our very own Austin streets. What is the Austin Gorilla Run? It's a fun event where participants dress up in mountain gorilla outfits and make a 5K run around Austin to benefit the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. The goal of the MGCF is to help protect the endangered African Mountain Gorillas in part through veterinary education training. The MGCF took over the work of Dian Fossey, who was murdered in 1985 while championing the cause of these magnificent creatures.

In addition to runners in gorilla suits, walkers, skateboarders and bicyclists will be joining in. Each participant must raise at least $250 to be able to join in. On Saturday, registration will open at 7am. A costume contest will be held at the main stage at 8:30am. The race will begin at 9am at the Austin City Hall Plaza (300 W Cesar Chavez St), which is also where it will end. A brunch buffet will be held at the Fado Irish Pub (214 W 4th St) from 10am to noon, with live music from Achachay. Awards will be handed out at 11am at Fado, with Achachay continuing to entertain until 2pm. Free parking for this event will be available at the Austin City Hall.

Austin Gorilla Run's Race Day Map

If you wish to participate, there may still be time to register. Simply go to the Austin Gorilla Run website to register. This is such a fun way to support a very good cause. If you are unable to particpate, please come down to cheery the runners on. Hope to see you there!

Shay Hargus, your Austin real estate specialist

When driving down the street in Austin, a person can expect to see just about anything. Austin, after all, is one of the more ironic cities in the country. The Capitol City, is home to high tech powerhouses, a world class university, and a city that is proud to be progressive. It is also right in the middle of Texas. a state, which is almost a country unto itself. Although myths about tumbleweeds, cowboys and sprawling ranches are a thing of a day bygone, we get a surprise every now and then.

As I was driving home this past Friday night, I decided to cut through The University of Texas Campus area. In the middle of the rain, there were two cowboys on horseback, going along the main drag, Guadalupe Street, headed towards downtown. Samuel Olivo and a relative, earned their fifteen minutes of fame the previous week. Olivo was arrested, for driving while intoxicated on 6th Street. The world famous street has seen many a drunk driving charge over the years, but those instances have usually been four wheels, not four legs. Mr. Olivo had been arrested and caught on video, riding on his horse after a few too many cocktails. Unfortunately, Olivo's horse and mule were impounded, and his story was captured on the local news, in a story that was one of the most popular of the week.

Seven days can make quite a difference though. Mr. Olivo's impound expenses were paid by three donors, and his animals were returned. He vowed to never drink again, while *driving* his animals, and the news cameras (and a few surprised commuters like myself) got to ride along Mr. Olivo's his journey to downtown Austin on horseback.