The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center – Cool Things To Do In Austin
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The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center began in the small building that first housed the central library, and then moved to a new location on Angelina Street in 1933. In the early years it was known as the ‘Colored Branch’, but, in 1947 it received it’s current name, George Washington Carver Branch, in honor of the loved and respected inventor and scientist. The library and cultural center we have now was voted into being in 1998 with a bond election.
The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center is dedicated to the collection, preservation, research and exhibition of African-American historical and cultural material. The museum offers gallery and online exhibits, programs, classes, theatre productions and a genealogy center.
The museum is housed in a 36,000 square-foot facility that includes four galleries, a conference room, classroom, darkroom, dance studio, 134-seat theatre, and archival space. The galleries feature a core exhibit on Juneteenth, a permanent exhibit on Austin African-American families, an Artists’ Gallery, and a children’s exhibit on AfricanAmerican scientists and inventors.
The museum is owned and operated by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, History Arts Nature Division.
Hours of Operation
Monday through Wednesday 10am – 6pm
Thursday 10am – 9pm
Friday 10am – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 4pm
Sunday Closed
Address
1165 Angelina Street
Austin, TX 78702
512-974-4926
Remember, when you are ready to move home or office, we are ready to help! Get your free online quote today.
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Published in categories: Austin Attractions, Cool Things To Do In Austin
Great Moving Ideas, Read Before You Start Packing
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Here’s a list of great moving ideas, be sure to read before you start packing… Then, make a plan and gather your materials and go for it…
Always use professional packing materials, this will save you time and help keep your things safe.
Tape all boxes well, both top and bottom. Only use tape made for sealing boxes, never masking tape or duct tape.
Be sure to label every box with contents and which room they go in, that way the movers can easily identify where to put them in your new place.
Tightly close the lids/caps to any containers with liquids.
Be sure to label the fragile boxes as fragile and create a special stack for them.
It’s ok to leave light weight clothes in dresser drawers, but be sure to remove everything else, including jewelry and perfumes.
Desks need to be completely empty for moving, because of their size it may be necessary to turn them on their side to fit through doorways.
Pack items you will need for a few days before and after your move. Including personal toiletries, towels, toilet paper, sheets, blankets, pillows, and a few items for food, like throw away plates, and forks and napkins. These boxes should be stacked separately and marked Do Not Move.
Always pack books records and canned goods or anything heavy in small boxes.
Be sure to fill all cartons to the top but don’t overfill, this can take some shuffling but boxes that are packed properly won’t get crushed and will stack better.
Create a protective barrier in the boxes with your fragile items, you could line the bottom and top of the box with bubble wrap, towels or crushed newspaper.
Pack your lampshades in packing paper (not newspaper, it will stain) and nest them together. Unless they are silk, then they will each need their own box.
Wrap paintings and mirrors in bubble wrap and place in picture boxes, use crushed paper on the top and bottom as a cushion. Fill in any gaps with packing materials to avoid shifting.
Leave two drawer file cabinets full, leave the bottom two drawers full with 4 drawer file cabinets and completely remove all contents of lateral file cabinets.
Collect aerosols, flammables and explosives together and set them aside, in a clearly marked box, to carry in your car. Movers are not allowed to carry these items.
Be sure to pack items snugly into their boxes, using newspaper or towels and sheets to fill in any gaps.
Take all paint to the recycle center or give it away. If you pack paint and it spills you will be responsible for any damage to your goods or the moving truck.
Would you like more packing tips?
Happy Moving…
And, remember, when you are ready to move home or office we would love to help! Get your free online quote today.
Published in categories: Packing Tips
Southern Living Showcase House in Austin 2012
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Be still my heart! For the first time ever two Austin home builders, Mike Grimm and Gary Henley, are working together to build the first Southern Living Showcase House in Austin . The 4,400 square foot home in Lago Vista at Waterford on Lake Travis will be completed around the holidays, 2012.
The home will be open to the public for several weeks in February 2013. After that the home will be on the market for $1.5 million. According to Mike Grimm, co-builder, the house will be worth between $1.8 and $2 million, because of upgrades by local vendors.
Expect to be wowed! If you have never walked through a Southern Living Showcase House then you are in for a real treat, besides being really, really spacious, these homes are filled with all kinds of beautiful artistic work. You will find an unending supply of ideas, including the use of paint, colors, fabric, finishes and one of a kind details. It is exciting that vendors and artisans from the Austin area will get to showcase their work.
The Austin showcase home features wood beams, limestone rock and panoramic windows that create a strong sense of the outdoors.
There is hope that the home draws about 15,000 people during the February 8-24, 2013 open house. The proceeds from the home tour will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Operation Finally Home. See you in there….
Don’t forget, when you are ready to move home or office we would love to help! Get your free online quote today!
Published in categories: Austin Attractions, Austin Real Estate News, In the News
Making The Best Purchase Offer – Contingencies
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The oh-so important part of making the best purchase offer – contingencies. If you are new to purchasing a home this is great information to have under your belt and if you are a pro, well, you might even get some new ideas from this article by Tasha Schroeder about Contingencies.
The idea is simple, instead of just saying ok to what others want you to do or taking the opposite approach and walking away you create a contingency around the situation. Contingencies give some space for things to be done and checked out without unfairly tipping the scale in favor of one party over another. You’ll really understand after you read these great ideas for contingencies, and soon you’ll be coming up with your own ideas to get things done during your purchasing process, or selling process for that matter.
When you’re buying a house, there are a lot of unknowns—and once you’ve bought a home, you’re committed, usually for years. Contingencies clauses in your home purchase contract might help take away some of the uncertainty of buying a home by detailing conditions that must be met before closing will take place.
How mortgage contingencies protect buyers
One very common contingency is a mortgage contingency. A mortgage contingency gives buyers added security during the home-buying process; it states that a buyer will try to get a particular kind of mortgage (traditional, Veterans Affairs or Federal Housing Administration) at or below a certain interest rate for a set amount of the purchase price (generally 80 percent) by a specific date before closing.
If the buyer is unable to secure a loan at the stated terms, he can back out of the contract, and the earnest money deposit returns to him.How mortgage contingencies protect sellers
However, mortgage contingencies provide protection for sellers as well. If a buyer who can’t secure a loan neglects to tell the seller by a predetermined date, the buyer is still obligated to purchase the home, even without financing. And if the buyer can’t or won’t secure a loan, many contingencies permit the seller to find a mortgage for the buyer.Sellers can word mortgage contingencies to protect themselves in other ways: The deadline for the contingency can be set at least a few weeks before closing to prevent the buyer from backing out at the last minute, for example. The earnest money could also be negotiated at a percentage that is high enough to pose a significant loss to the buyer if he or she doesn’t properly follow through with securing financing.
Other contingencies
Appraisal contingencies go hand-in-hand with the mortgage contingency. There are two ways appraisal contingencies work. One version states that if a buyer can’t get an appraisal that is at least as high as the seller’s asking price, the buyer may back out of the deal. The other states that if the buyer can’t get an appropriate appraisal, the buyer can ask the seller for a lower purchase price. Then, if the seller refuses, the seller may back out.Inspection contingencies give the buyer a certain period of time (usually three to 14 days) to perform whatever inspections are needed to confirm his or her interest in the home. If these inspections reveal any problems, the buyer can back out of the deal.
There are many other possible contingencies, such as insurance contingencies or mold inspection contingencies. The common types of contingencies vary from state to state.
Pay attention to the fine print
The wording of a contingency is key—they’re not just filler in your contract! If you’re not paying attention, you could lose money, miss deadlines and, worst of all, you could be liable for buying a property even if you can’t procure a loan.Source – Realtor.com
Read More First Time Home Buyer Wisdom
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Published in categories: Buying Or Selling A Home, First Time Home Buyer Wisdom
Costs Associated with a Home Loan
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Thank you John Adams for this great look at the costs associated with a home loan. No matter what kind of loan you choose, or qualify for, there will be expenses. Some loans more than others. These costs include obvious things like the down payment, but there are other costs you may not have thought of like credit report fees, appraisal fees, loan origination fee (this is an up front fee the lender charges to make the loan) and others.
The lender will give you an estimate of what these fees might be when you apply for the loan and the title company will send you a settlement statement just before closing with the exact numbers for your approval. Read on for details about closing costs and who might pay for these…
I want to review some of the costs you can expect to pay associated with any new home loan. With any luck, the builder or seller will agree to pay at least some of these expenses for you. But regardless of who pays them, these costs are part of the price of buying your next home, so let’s take a look. They are closing costs, loan discount points and prepaid items.
Closing costs are the actual expenses that the lender incurs in the origination of a new home loan. Some of the costs are related to your loan application, such as the expense of newly updated credit reports on all applicants. Other fees are related to the house itself, such as the appraisal of the property. Others are payment to the lender for processing your application, such as the loan origination fee. All these costs are lumped into a broad category called “closing costs.”
Unless the seller offers to pay them for you, this area of expenses is charged to the buyer, and often runs between 2 and 3 percent of the amount being borrowed. Because different states have different fees and taxes that are a part of these costs, it’s impossible to generalize nationwide. So it’s important that you talk with a reputable lender ahead of time about what costs you can expect to pay in your part of the country.
Loan discount points are, in essence, a form of prepaid interest. One discount point is exactly equal to one percent of the amount being borrowed. It is paid in cash at closing to the lender as a form of interest. Discount points have the effect of lowering the stated interest rate you will pay on the loan you obtain. For example, a lender might offer you a 30 year fixed rate loan at 8% with zero points or the same loan at 7.5% with 2 discount points.
Because the points are considered interest, the yield to the lender is approximately the same. So why, you are asking, would I want to pay points? You probably won’t, but sometimes new home builders or employers will offer to pay up to a certain number of points as an incentive, and I want to make sure you get everything that’s coming to you.
Last, there is the issue of prepaid items. Most home lenders want you to set up what is called an “escrow” account. This is nothing more than a savings account that the lender holds. Every month you will, in addition to your regular loan payment, deposit a sum for property taxes and for homeowner’s insurance into this account. And when the next bill comes due for taxes or insurance, your lender will make the payment for you.
The reason that all this matters today is that, on the day of your purchase, you will be required to set up an escrow account with about 9 months worth of taxes and about 2 months worth of insurance payments. In addition, you will have to pay for the first year’s insurance policy in full. These costs are called prepaid items, and you must pay for them yourself.
Because regulations and customs vary from state to state, the amount you need at settlement may be more or less than the amounts I have discussed here. Talk to a reputable lender to get an accurate estimate of how much you will need to buy your next home.
Source: Realtor.com
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Published in categories: First Time Home Buyer Wisdom
Congress Avenue Bats – Cool Things To Do In Austin
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Congress Avenue Bats – Just before dark and at the precise right time, the 1.5 million bats seemingly come to life and fly out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. These nocturnal animals seem to know exactly when to move out and it is quite a site. Tourists and locals have been watching these bats since 1980 when the bridge was redone and the bats moved in. When you are in our area be sure to visit this beautiful and one of a kind event.
Every summer night, hundreds of people gather to see the world’s largest urban bat colony emerge from under the Congress Avenue Bridge.These 1.5 million bats are fun to watch, but they’re also making our world a better place to live.
When engineers reconstructed downtown Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge in 1980 they had no idea that new crevices beneath the bridge would make an ideal bat roost. Although bats had lived there for years, it was headline news when they suddenly began moving in by the thousands. Reacting in fear and ignorance, many people petitioned to have the bat colony eradicated.
About that time, BCI stepped in and told Austinites the surprising truth: that bats are gentle and incredibly sophisticated animals; that bat-watchers have nothing to fear if they don’t try to handle bats; and that on the nightly flights out from under the bridge, the Austin bats eat from 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of insects, including agricultural pests.
As the city came to appreciate its bats, the population under the Congress Avenue Bridge grew to be the largest urban bat colony in North America. With up to 1.5 million bats spiraling into the summer skies, Austin now has one of the most unusual and fascinating tourist attractions anywhere.
The Austin American-Statesman created the Statesman Bat Observation Center adjacent to the Congress Bridge, giving visitors a dedicated area to view the nightly emergence. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people visit the bridge to witness the bat flight, generating ten million dollars in tourism revenue annually.
Location
The Congress Avenue Bridge is in Downtown Austin, just 10 blocks south of the State Capitol building. The bridge spans Town Lake at the cross streets of Cesar Chavez to the north and Barton Springs Road on the south. The Austin American-Statesman’s Bat Observation Center is on the southeast side.Parking
Free public parking is available after 6PM.Bat Flight Time
The bats arrive at the bridge in mid-March and return to Mexico in early November. While in residence, they astonish visitors with their spectacular emergence display at dusk.The time of year, weather conditions, and colony size all affect bat emergence times. Late July through mid-August is the best time to see impressive flights, as new born pups first begin to forage with their mothers.
The bats generally emerge before dark, but may fly late if conditions are not favorable.
For updates and approximate emergence times, please call Bat Conservation International’s home office number 512-327-9721 for the latest flight times.
Learn More About Bat Conservation
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Buying Or Selling A Home – The Closing
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If you haven’t bought a home before the closing process can be a little intimidating, especially when you don’t really understand what is going on. I found this explanation from Realtor.com that has some really good information that will demystify the entire process. Really, here in Texas, the title company does everything and if they need you to do something they won’t hesitate to call and let you know. The closing is just the very end of the buying/selling process where all the loan documents and new ownership agreements are signed. Read on to understand more…
Go to any local courthouse and you can find property records detailing real estate ownership in your community — sometimes records that date back hundreds of years.
These records are important because they provide today’s owners with proof that they have good, marketable and insurable title to the property they are selling. Equally important, such records enable buyers to provide proof of ownership when they sell.
The closing process, which in different parts of the country is also known as “settlement” or “escrow,” is increasingly computerized and automated. In many cases, buyers and sellers don’t need to attend a specific event; signed paperwork can be sent to the closing agent via overnight delivery.In practice, closings bring together a variety of parties who are part of the “transaction” process. For example, while the history of property ownership has been checked, it’s possible that the records contain errors, unrecorded claims or flaws in the review itself, thus title insurance is necessary. At closing, transfer taxes must be paid and other claims must also be settled (including closing costs, legal fees and adjustments). In most transactions, the closing agent also completes the paperwork needed to record the loan.
What to expect
Settlement is a brief process where all of the necessary paperwork needed to complete the transaction is signed. Closing is typically held in an office setting, sometimes with both buyer and seller at the same table, sometimes with each party completing their papers separately.Whatever the case, the result is that title to the property is transferred from seller to buyer. The buyer receives the keys and the seller receives payment for the home. From the amount credited to the seller, the closing agent subtracts money to pay off the existing mortgage and other transaction costs. Deeds, loan papers, and other documents are prepared, signed and filed with local property record offices.
What you need to do
One of the best parts of settlement is that buyers and sellers need to do very little. Before closing, buyers typically have a final opportunity to walk through the property to assure that its condition has not materially changed since the sale agreement was signed. At closing itself, all papers have been prepared by closing agents, title companies, lenders and lawyers. This paperwork reflects the sale agreement and allows all parties to the transaction to verify their interests. For instance, buyers get the title to the property, lenders have their loans recorded in the public records and state governments collect their transfer taxes.
Thanks Realtor.com for the great information! Also, be sure to visit our Buying or Selling A Home Section for more great information.
And remember, when you are ready to move home or office we would love to help. Get your free online quote today!
Published in categories: Buying Or Selling A Home, First Time Home Buyer Wisdom
Austin Real Estate Update – June 2012
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Austin Real Estate Update – June 2012: Austin Market Heats Up
by Roselind & Matthew Hejl
Austin was named #2 in “Top 10 Cities People Are Moving To” by Fiscal Times. Buyers are flooding the market. Confidence is high. Mortgage rates are low. 2012 is proving to be a great year for Austin real estate. Austin’s inventory level at mid-year is just 4.1 months – an overall seller’s market.
Inventory levels in Austin, area by area:
See how neighborhoods compare: Inventory levels by local areas
There are many neighborhoods where inventory has dropped below 3 months. For example, Area 7 (Barton Hills) would deplete all inventory in 1.35 months if no new listings came on the market. Central south Austin is down to 1.62 months, and southwest Austin is at 1.89 months of supply. Basically, all mid priced homes in central and close-in suburban areas are in tight supply. We are seeing multiple offers for homes that are priced and presented well.
Upper priced homes generally take longer to sell. In the “over $800K” range, supply varies from 9 months to several years of inventory, depending on the area.
Foreclosures:
These have not been a large part of our market, and appear to have peaked in 2010.
2012 (mid year) – 3.06%
2011 – 4.25%
2010 – 5.00%
2009 – 3.75%
Some comparisons with the month of June, 2011:
Single-family homes sold: 23% more than June 2011.
Median price for single-family homes: 8% more than June 2011.
Average number of days on the market: 17 days less than June 2011.
New homes on market: 8% percent more than June 2011.
Active listings on market: 20% less than June 2011.
Pending sales: 15% more than June 2011.
Mortgage Rates:
The federal government continues to hold down rates in order to stimulate the economy. If you are a homebuyer or investor, loan rates have simply never been better. There was a time when 10% was considered a very low rate (after a period of up to 19%).
Compare payments on a $300,000 (30 year) loan:
10% interest – $2,633 monthly
5% interest – $1,610 monthly
3.8% interest – 1,397 monthly
Another way of putting it is to say that, today $2,633 will cover the payment on a $565,000 loan, versus the $300,000 loan you could get at 10%. The low cost of money makes this a great time to get into a home.
“A little tail wind is a lot better than a headwind,” says economist Chip Case, of Case-Shiller. In Austin we have a lot of tail wind!
Roselind Hejl’s Austin Texas Real Estate Guide
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Published in categories: Austin Real Estate News
Haunted Limo Tours – Cool Things To Do In Austin
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Haunted Limo Tours – This looks like a lot of fun! Ride though Austin in a limo that used to be a hearse, and visit 15 different reportedly haunted landmarks. You can enjoy a family ride and bring family refreshments or you can do an adult ride and bring spirits. You also get two for one entrees at the Clay Pit Restaurant with your tour. Read on if you dare….
Haunted ATX offers the ONLY mobile haunted tour in Austin. You and up to 5 additional guests will climb into a Classic 1979 Cadillac Hearse that has been converted into a luxurious limousine and visit 15 different landmarks that are reportedly haunted or have experienced paranormal activity, including The Driskill Hotel, Paramount Theater, The Texas State Capitol, and The Austin State Hospital. Our Haunted Austin Limo Tours are fun, inspiring, and spooky!
Details
The price is $35 and can seat up to 6.
Minimum party size is 2 people.
The trip will take approximately 2 hours starting at 8pm and 11pm.
Our limo hearse features a state of the art sound system and you CAN BRING SPIRITS and/or family refreshments.
We offer 2 for 1 entrees to the Clay Pit Restaurant with your tour.
Your tour will begin and end at 701 W. 51st (near 51st and North Lamar).
If you cancel within 48 hours of your tour reservation time we will refund 50% of the charged amount. Cancellations or No Shows without 48 hours notice will result in the full amount being charged.
Find more Cool Things To Do In Austin
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Published in categories: Cool Things To Do In Austin
Round Rock Real Estate Update – June 2012
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Round Rock Real Estate Update – June 2012. Submitted by Lora Tucker Kaasch of Good Life Team Real Estate Brokerage.
Welcome to Round Rock’s Good Life, a monthly snapshot of our residential real estate market. This report uses Round Rock home sales data from the Austin Board of Realtos based on transactions that closed in June, 2012, and compares it to closings that took place during the same period last year. Closings typically occur four to six weeks after a contract is executed, and, for that reason, the sales activity here trails the actual market conditions slightly.
Several figures indicate that we’re well on our way to a healthy, more balanced, real estate market. Specifically, the number of closed sales in June, 2012, was up 6.7% to 254 for the month, compared to the same period last year. To boot, the average days a home spent on the market dropped drastically from 71 to only 49 days (that’s a decrease of 31% in one year’s time!). Coupled with the fact that there were 15.1% more homes on the market from June, 2011, these figures demonstrate that there is a sufficient buyer pool to absorb the additional homes for sale, spurn an increase in number of homes sold, while still nudging the median home sales price needle (up to $214,250, almost $14,000 higher than the same period in 2011).
Despite the year-over-year increase in median sales price, sellers received offers averaging 96% of the home’s original list price, year-to-date, a 2.6% increase from 2011.
I may be biased, but the greater Round Rock area offers the best of the best in central Texas living. A thriving, close-knit community, layered with seasoned, old-world charm, and infused with modern taste and convenience – living doesn’t get much better.
If you have questions about Round Rock’s Good Life, or about real estate in general, I’m here for you.
You have my word on that.
Lora Tucker Kaasch
Good Life Team Real Estate Brokerage
512.539.7547 | lora@goodlifeteam.com
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Published in categories: Round Rock Real Estate News
