Austin, TX

Austin, TX, is, a very cool place to live by all accounts. Not to mention, it is one of our top ten cities to watch in 2019. There's live music everywhere and the city has a vibrant arts scene. However, if you're considering moving to Austin these days, it's probably because you're taking advantage of one of the job opportunities that have been popping up all over the metro area.

It would be hard to mention new jobs in Austin without talking about Apple. The tech mega-giant just added 5000 new jobs to the area, and that has a definite effect on housing in the city. Here's what $500,000 could get you in the Texas capital's newly competitive market. 

The two places you would probably want to look to get the most for your money in a centrally located

Very desirable, popular "D" plan on the NE side of the building. Well appointed & meticulously maintained residence with spacious living/dining/open kitchen. Wood flooring, granite kitchen w/Italian cabinetry, built in Miele coffee system, Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf gas range/oven, built in wine refrigerator. Private master with views to north, elegant, upgraded master bath with soaking tub, glass enclosed walk in shower. Guest bedroom + built in desk area in hallway, large utility room.

200 Congress Avenue #13d is listed courtesy of Ellen Noble with Highrises.com Austin

Call or Text (512) 658-9999 for more information and availability

Today is the first day of the Downtown Street Market which will be every Friday from 11:30am - 2:00pm.  Sponsored by the Downtown Austin Alliance, this event is focused on promoting downtown businesses.  Congress Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets is lined with food vendors, booths representing downtown shops and, of course,  live music!

The Market will run from September 30th through November 28th, and is free and open to everyone, so be sure to check it out! For more information visit the Downtown Austin Alliance's website.

2015 was another busy year at 360 Condominiums in Austin with 51 of the 430 units changing hands.  That's only one more than the 50 that sold in 2014.  The highest price unit to sell was a 30th floor three-bedroom for $1,440,000 or $700.05 per square foot.  The least expensive unit was a small one bedroom that sold for $335,000, or $440.79 per square foot.  On average it took 55 days to sell a condo at 360 in 2015.  That's up a bit from the 39 day average in 2014.  However the average price per square foot went up a little in 2015 to $535.22, up from $521.25 in 2014. Below you can find some historic 5-year data about condo sales or you can view 360 condos for sale.  Want to know what your 360 condo is worth?

Average Days on Market for 360 Condos

The days of Texas being a place to go for affordable housing are quickly coming to an end.  The Texas economy consistently ranks as one of the strongest in the country, and every time a magazine publishes a top 10 list of fastest-growing cities Austin, Dallas, Houston... they're all there.  As a result, the luxury condo market in Texas has been red hot, and developers seem to be trying hard to outdo each other to raise the bar on the quality and amenities of the new high-rises.

Have a look at the ten most expensive condos currently for sale, as of February 11, 2015

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#1:  $8.5M - Dallas - Ritz-Carlton Residences
At the top of the list is this 4 bedroom, 5.5 bath full-floor penthouse at the Ritz Carlton in Dallas.
It doesn't get much better than

Fabulous, meticulously upgraded 1 bedroom, 2 bath condo in the heart of downtown. Walk to the Capitol complex, only 6 blocks The University of Texas campus, walk south a few blocks to Downtown. Stunning white oak flooring, upgraded baths, custom cabinets in kitchen with quartz c-tops, high end stainless appliance including gas range. Spacious master with walls of windows, elegant living/dining area. May be leased furnished for $2550 per month. Large sofa in living area converts into bed, 2nd bath nearby. Gated, garage parking. Secure building.

1212 Guadalupe Street #708 is offered unfurnished at $2200 per month

Listing Courtesy of Ellen Noble at Highrises.com Austin

Please call Ellen at (512) 726-0370 for more information and availability 

The Austonian!  Simply the ultimate in downtown Austin living.  This spacious 1/1.5 home offers wood flooring throughout, elegant marble master bath + half bath in entry, utility closet & huge master closet, remote controlled shades, surround sound and more. Walls of windows provide a panoramic view of Austin city life. Enjoy views of Lady Bird Lake from the east facing terrace. Incredible Austonian amenities include a fabulous fitness center on the 56th floor and valet parking. The Second Street District is just outside your door with an array of shops and dining options.

200 Congress #13B is offered for $870,000

Listing Courtesy of Ellen Noble at Highrises.com Austin

Please Contact Ellen at 512-658-9999 for more information and availability

Written by Brian Enright

Millions of Americans love watching fireworks on the 4th and New Years Eve.  In fact we like them so much that we pile in the car, sit in the heat for hours to get a good spot and then suffer the traffic to get back home.  What if you could just step out onto your terrace for the best view?  Then when it's over and everyone else has to schlep back to their car you just step inside for another glass of wine.  If that sounds like a good way to enjoy the show then take a look at the list below.  We asked each Highrises.com partner agent and high-rise specialist which buildings have the best fireworks views.   Consider a condo in these buildings if you like to entertain on holidays.  OR find a friend who lives in one of them...

Austin will soon have the two tallest purely residential towers west of the Mississippi River.  The Independent, a newly proposed 58-story tower, will eclipse the current tallest, The Austonian, by just a couple of feet when complete. 

The 685 foot tower is being built at West 3rd St and West Ave right along the shores of Lady Bird Lake.  The surrounding neighborhood is full of options for residents making this a very walkable building.  The residences are expected to start in the $350,000’s and go up to over $3 Million.  

Amenities will include the usual suspects: a state of the art fitness center, a dog park and grooming area, 24 hour concierge, club room, playground and activity area for kids, yoga, steam rooms, massage rooms, business center,

Are you thinking about putting your condo on one of the many vacation rental sites like AirBNB but not certain if your HOA allows it?  Here are some steps to help you navigate the process of renting out your condo for a short term vacation rental and avoiding personal liability.

CITY RESTRICTIONS

The first step is to look at the laws that your city has regarding short term rentals.  Many cities have restrictions on short term rentals (typically less than 30 days) that if not followed can lead you to penalties and fines.  You can easily check to see what your regulations are by doing a Google search with your city name and the key words “short-term rental regulation”.  There have been hotel and zoning laws enacted by your city far before the AirBNB