Trick or treat?
Happy Halloween
from the Aria Realty family

Recently, the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing (of which we are members) collaborated with the New York based Luxury Institute on the Wealth Survey: Real Estate and Lifestyles, a study which looked at the current beliefs, attitudes, and plans of high-net-worth Americans as related to real estate.  Here are some of those insights.

Here are the top reasons given by affluent Americans who ARE planning a real estate purchase this year.

Here’s how affluent BUYERS responded to the question, “How would you rate the importance of the following resources in your search for your most recently purchased home? ”

Are you ready to buy real estate like the wealthy?

Around our house, we’re looking forward to this fall for many reasons.  Maybe it’s just us daydreaming of cooler weather and once again enjoying the great outdoors (or maybe it’s the excitement of our first — and last — fall season as a family of three), but we are planning a full Halloween and Harvest Season.

If you’re looking for a few ideas, here are ours.  We’d love to hear about your favorite fall activities in Austin as well, so please comment and tell us how you plan to spend your family time this season.  Check out our Austin Events Calendar for these and other activities.

• Harvest Fall Fun at Sweet Berry Farms.  Tons of activities including hay rides, maze, flower picking, a petting zoo, and even pumpkin ice cream.
  September 24 – November 12
  Monday – Saturday (closed Wednesdays) from 8:30am to 5:30pm & Sunday 1-5pm
• Boo at the Zoo.  Come in costume and see the zoo and the nocturnal animals at night.  We’re especially looking forward to the Haunted Train Ride.
  October 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29
  $12.50 per person, under 2 Free
• Evergreen Farms Pumpkin Hunt.  In addition to the pumpkin hunt, they offer wagon rides and other activities like pumpkin decorating.
  Open weekends in October. Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.   Sundays  1 – 5 p.m.
• Goblins in the Garden.  Scavenger hunt, pumpkin patch, food & drink, and plenty of fun at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
  Sunday, October 30, 4-7pm
• Austin Symphony’s “Boo”-tiful Halloween Concert.  Dress in custom and enjoy the sights and sounds of this year’s Halloween concert.
  October 23rd, 2pm

What do your Halloween & Fall Activities in Austin include?

Austin continues to outshine both Texas and the Nation with it's lower unemployment rates, despite the volatile job market.  With it's strong growth and local economy, Austin's strength frequently earns our city honors on nation top cities lists.

The latest Unemployment Rate Statistics are always
available on our Austin Real Estate Statistics page.

Hover over the graph for exact figures and dates:

KVUE offers some advice for those buying or selling a home in the Austin area during our Central Texas wildfire disaster.

This map of the Steiner Ranch Fire is unofficial and based on reports from new sources as well as facebook pages.

View Steiner Ranch Fire in a larger map

HBA Builders,

If potentially interested, your immediate response is needed.

The HBA Board has directed that we begin to solicit builders immediately for a 2012 Parade of Homes™. We now look to place the Parade at The Overlook Estates.

The Overlook Estates features:

• .5 to 1.7 Acre Lots
• Great Views over Balcones Canyon Lands and Nature Conservancy Land
• Mature Trees
• Low Property Taxes (1.96)
• 15 Minutes from Downtown Austin and Local Shopping
• Bowie High School, Small Middle School, Baldwin Elementary
• Close to Private Schools, such as Regents, St. Michael’s, St. Gabriel’s, St. Andrew’s, Austin Waldorf School
• City of Austin Water, PEC Electric, Septic

Please contact Debbie Schoenfelt (512-848-3127) or Harry Savio if you would like more information.

Harry Savio
Executive Vice President
Home Builders Association of Greater Austin
Austin, TX 78754
(512) 454-5588

(Austin)-Beginning Tuesday, September 6, Austin Water will enact Stage 2 Mandatory Watering Restrictions due to the exceptional drought in Central Texas.

Stage 2 Watering Restrictions are in line with the City’s Drought Contingency Plan which states, in part, that the City Manager may order additional water restrictions when the combined lake storage levels of Lakes Travis and Buchanan reaches 900,000 acre-feet. It is anticipated that the trigger will be reached next week.

The City of Austin believes it is necessary to implement additional restrictions to help ensure adequate water supply during the drought. To ensure that both residential and commercial customers follow restrictions, Austin Water staff will begin stepped-up enforcement.

Violations of mandatory watering restrictions will result in an official warning followed by a citation if the violation is not corrected. Citations will be issued in Municipal Court with fines set during Stage 2 at $475.

Stage 2 Includes:

• Watering allowed 1 day per week for all Austin Water customers
• Hand-watering allowed anytime
• No automatic-irrigation after 10 a.m. on designated watering day
• Vehicle washing on designated day before 10 a.m.
• No charity carwashes
• No automatic fill valves for pools or ponds
• No outdoor fountains except to provide aeration for aquatic life
• No water to be served at restaurants unless requested
• No washing of sidewalks, driveways, parking areas or other paved areas

To report water waste, residents should call 3-1-1. For more information on Stage 2 Restrictions and water conservation programs, visit WaterWiseAustin.org.

Storage levels of Lake Travis and Buchanan are anticipated to reach 900,000 acre-feet the week of August 22nd. This is a critical trigger in the Lower Colorado River (LCRA) Water Management Plan.

What you can do to get ready for Stage 2

Reset your automatic sprinkler systems to follow the new schedule. Test run your system to check for leaks, misdirected heads and overspray.

Water waste is prohibited year-round in Austin. Leaking faucets, pipes and the operation of irrigation systems with misdirected or broken sprinkler heads are just some of the ways water is wasted in our community. The Water Use Management Ordinance, Chapter 6-4, Water Conservation, Title 6, Austin City Code will provide you with more specific details concerning water waste and water use restrictions. Watering restrictions help conserve our treated drinking water and preserve our water supply in the Highland Lakes. Please note that violations of this ordinance are considered a Class C Misdemeanor, with each instance punishable by a fine of up to $500.

To report violations, please use our online reporting form or call 311.

We’ve made the Relocate America’s Top 100 Places to Live list again claiming their number 1 spot!

Check out some of the other lists Austin has made on our “Austin Tops the Nation” page.