The number one concern most families have when searching to buy an Austin area home is, “Where will my children go to school?” I don’t always know how much stock to put into school ratings, but I wanted you to see the latest ratings that were just released this week by the not for profit group Children at Risk. Round Rock ISD had the most top rated schools, with Westwood High School  beating Westlake High School for the number one spot. I am sure homeowners in Westlake will disagree! Sadly, Reagan High School, located in Austin’s Upper Eastside, received the second lowest rating in the state.

According to a Statesman article, “The Austin area study was first done in the fall based largely on 2007-08 data. This year’s study used the most recent figures available and considered student scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, attendance and participation on college entrance exams and advanced courses. Schools serving a higher percentage of students from low-income families were weighted to acknowledge the challenges associated with educating that group. But much like the rankings Children at Risk released in the fall, schools with lower numbers of low-income students had higher ranking.” (Laura Heinauer)

Find out how your local schools rated here! Are you searching for an Austin home to buy and want to learn more about Austin area schools? We have an in depth Austin Area Schools section that covers everything from home schools to special needs. Check it out!

I didn’t know how tomatoes grew into well into my adult life. I lived deep in the mountains of Bolivia for a stint and will never forget the awe and amazement of seeds actually growing into my own food! Joe, coming from the good midwestern family that he did, ate 5 different veggies from their family garden every night! While we have attempted our own gardens almost every year, it hasn’t quite produced like we wanted. So I like to hit up farmer’s markets year round for the homegrown taste! Here are some of my favorites located in neighborhoods all over Austin.

Hope Farmer’s Market: This may be the newest to town. Sundays from 11-3 on 5th and Waller.

Boggy Creek Farm: My favorite way to start a Wednesday is with a fresh cup of coffee at Boggy Creek and my shoulder bag filled with fresh eggs and seasonal produce. The kids love to visit the chickens and see where the food is grown. Truly country in the city. Wednesday and Saturday from 9-1 in East Austin.

Austin Farmer’s Market at the Triangle: This is our spring ritual- meet friends at the triangle on Wednesday for live music, yummy samples, and fun. Grab the organic roasted chicken for dinner on your way out. And don’t forget to let your kids run around in the water area!

Austin Farmer’s Market downtown: Saturdays 9-1

Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market: Saturdays 9-1. Perfect for the south Austin home dweller and there is so much more than just veggies for sale! It is a fun place to take the kids on a slow Saturday morning.

Manor Farmer’s Market: Just 15 minutes east of Austin and many farmers represented.

If you are toying with the idea of planting a spring garden this year, but don’t want to go at it alone,  find a community garden in your own Austin neighborhood. Or start a co-op in your backyard with neighbors- especially if you live in Lost Creek or Rollingwood where the lots lend themselves to large garden plots. If you are selling your Austin home in the Spring, a welcoming garden sends a message to buyers that you care about your home. Happy gardening!

I love so many things about Austin, but something that I have really loved seeing over the past several years is the opening of so many new and creative food venues. And they keep coming! Here are are some that have already opened or are soon to come!

24 Diner: Wow! This changed happened fast! I don’t like seeing old Austin fixtures leave (it resides where the Waterloo Icehouse on Lamar was), but I can’t help but be excited about a healthy diner experience. Farm to table in the heart of Austin.

Simply Wine and Cheese: Burnet road keeps getting better.

Antonelli’s Cheese: Hyde Park home owners have yet another food destination to boast about! Austin’s own cheese shop devoted solely to, you guessed it, cheese! This former office space will be put to much better use as a foodie hotspot right next to Dolce Vita.

Baugette e Chocolate : West Austin home owners will soon have a taste of France in their backyards. Passionate about all things French, the owners commit to,  ”provide you artisan work with european machines and Authentic french knowledge and recipes.” Will they really help me to feel like I am sitting at a cafe on the streets of Paris? I hope so!

Mr. Bone’s Barbeque: The buzz is sounding really good- a barbeque spot that also serves up seafood and locally grown sides. The central East Austin location is convenient-  I just wish it weren’t in a strip mall. But as an east Austin home owner, I am not complaining!

Visit more of our favorite Austin restaurants here.  Does your neighborhood have a new spot headed its way? Let me know, so I can spread the word to homebuyers who are still getting acquainted with their new digs! Looking to buy an Austin home? We know Austin, we know homes, and we look forward to knowing you!

One of the huge stresses of listing your home for sale is constantly keeping it clean- especially making the kitchen look like no one lives there. When moving into a home, the kitchen takes the longest to unpack and organize. And even if you aren’t moving in or out of a house, everyone needs a break from cooking without having to actually go out! Here are some delicious, fresh Austin options that involve only the click of your mouse or a short drive:

• The Soup Peddler: I subscribe to their weekly emails just to be inspired by their creative menus! Order at the beginning of the week for delivery to most zip codes
• The Vanilla Orchid: I haven’t tried Molly’s homecooked meals yet, but friends are becoming weekly addicts to her creative, fresh meals that feed up to 6 people!
• El Regio: It does not get any cheaper than this. Which means they can’t afford a website, but order from the window at 6615 Berkman. An entire chicken (pollo enterno), onions, rice, beans, fresh limes, and corn tortillas for $12!
• East Side Cafe:  You may know them as dine-in only but their Pitchforks and Tablespoons has ready made East Side staples like artichoke enchiladas and their pecan crusted tilapia.
• Farmer’s Market at the Triangle: It is Wednesday so stop there TODAY! Pick up ready made ethiopian, organic rotisserie chicken, and local restraunts have ready made food as well.

I am looking forward to not cooking tonight! What about you? Add suggestions to my list and we can keep our kitchen clean without ever lifting a sponge!

One of our favorite ways to spend an evening is over a good bottle of wine, paired with simple but deliciously prepared food, in an atmosphere that decidedly says, “linger here.” Olivia, on South Lamar (near Oltorf), was worth the I35 drive at 6:00pm which really says it all.

Cozy up in a booth layered in olive green textiles while feasting on, you guessed it, olives! Order the prix fixe menu for only $38 if you visit on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. I started with oysters Rio Grande which I felt terrible guilty about ordering (still getting baby weight off). I was pleasantly surprised at how light they were! Baked in a touch of cilantro butter and sprinkled with tiny bits of chorizo, the starter whet my appetite without filling it. Next came the organic, farm picked greens from boggy creek lightly dressed in a tomato vinaigrette with crostini. Simple and delicious. I atypically ordered a vegetarian risotto. The fresh squash and green beans retained their crunchiness while the risotto melted in my mouth. We thought there was some sort of mistake when the bill arrived. Our wine was $5 a glass and was hand selected by our waiter. No mistake- just happy hour prices all night on Mondays! This is our new date night destination and well worth the south of the river drive!

To the average person, this sounds racy. To the parents of small children, hotel sex conjures up thoughts of lingering mornings, no crying, and sweet SILENCE. Austin has a fabulous new spot that we plan on visiting soon. Hotel Saint Cecilia is another gift to Austin from Liz Lambert, owner of the Austin fixture Hotel San Jose.

Here is what a Trip Advisor Report says, “Reasons to love it: Hastens bed, large photo of Keith Richards circa 1969 in white jumpsuit, turntable and Liz’s record collection, HUGE bathrub, outdoor bamboo grove shower, delicious crepes for breakfast. The hotel creates a rockstar experience, wrapped in an original and highly curated design aesthetic, catered by an over-the-top friendly staff.”

You have probably driven right past it and never knew it was there—nestled right off of South Congress on Academy. Formerly a wedding venue, it feels like it was always destined to become a boutique hotel. Sadly and happily, you must have a room reserved to enjoy the grounds and food. It opened in December and, for those moving to Austin, provides the perfect spot to explore the town during their house hunting trips! I am glad Austin finally has an alternative to the Four Seasons for a true up market experience. We look forward to a glass of wine by the 50 ft pool and, well, you know.
http://budurl.com/hotelcecilia (the website visit is also a treat for the senses)

One of my dearest college friends and I recently implemented a new yearly tradition: girls vacation. But with kids and work and not wanting to spend a lot, we weren’t sure what to do. Then it dawned on me how many people come to Austin for vacation. We decided to have a staycation- a vacay in my own town (she flew in from California)! I now see why so many people come here for a get away. The hotel San Jose made for a perfect launching pad (secret: they have a $95 room above the lobby.) We had drinks at Enoteca, ate at South Congress Café and Cissi’s market (best sandwiches in town and nobody knows it yet, we shared a blt with handcured bacon), and had ice cream at Amy’s. We sat by the pool at Hotel San Jose while various friends stopped by to say hello. We spent one day at the Crossing’s spa (http://budurl.com/crossings). No need to even get a treatment. We paid a daily rate that included lunch and laid by the pool, jogged on their running trail, and soothed our muscles in the hot tub. They are offering specials until June and it was worth every penny ($25!)

My next staycation? A visit to Lake Austin Spa! With spots like this, is there ever really a need to take an airplane anywhere?

First time homebuyers have been calling lately to ask more about “Obama’s” tax credit. We are seeing anecdotal evidence that this incentive is getting buyers off the sidelines. I asked our preferred mortgage lender, Rich Krafve of Austin Mortgage Group, to break it down for us:

The 2009 Enhanced Tax Credit Provides a Fantastic Opportunity for First Time Home Buyers to Purchase the Home of Their Dreams

In their efforts to stimulate the economy and bring back the housing market, Congress has passed legislation that provides a tax credit up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers purchasing a primary residence.

HOWEVER……………………

The clock is ticking for buyers who want to take advantage of this opportunity as only homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 thru November 30, 2009 are eligible.

This tax credit is different than the tax credit of 2008 in that the new tax credit does not have to be repaid.

Highlights of the 2009 Homebuyer Tax Credit:

· The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. A first time home buyer is a buyer who has not owned a primary residence for the three year period leading up to the purchase.

· The tax credit is determined by taking 10 percent of the purchase price and it is capped at a maximum of $8,000.

· The tax credit does not have to be repaid if the homebuyer stays in the residence for at least three years.

· Eligible buyers include single tax payers with incomes up to $75,000 and married folks with incomes not to exceed $150,000

· The tax credit is eligible for homes purchased from January 1, 2009 thru November 31, 2009.

· Eligible properties that will qualify as a primary residence include single family residences, condos, townhomes, manufactured homes and even houseboats.

No pie for you if you already own your home. But everyone will benefit from more movement in the market.

Spring is my favorite time to hit outdoor happy hours. One of the things I love about being a realtor in Austin is that it is my job to know Austin better than anyone! Happy hours are seriously one of my favorite things. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE IN YOUR HOOD? LET ME KNOW! Why has no one told me about the Paggi House happy hour before? This is the PERFECT place for Spring drinks– the outdoor seating is cozy, the trees provide the perfect amount of shade and sun, and the view is awesome. But happy hours are all about the deals! This happy hour has at least 10-15 drinks that are HALF OFF (from cucumber martinis to pinot noirs) and many appetizers are HALF OFF! Let’s go!