If you are looking for a way to put a little extra money back in your pocket, it is important to be aware of all of the tax breaks and government-issued financial breaks you are entitled to receive. One break that many Texas residents are still unaware of is the homestead exemption, which can lower [...]
When taking out a home mortgage loan, your lender will almost certainly require you to purchase a homeowner insurance policy. After all, the lender is making a major investment by providing you with the funds you need to purchase the home. As such, the institution needs to make certain this investment is protected. Of course, [...]
The state of Texas has a long and interesting history that dates back to 1519, at which time the first European explorers came to the area. For next several hundred years, various parts of the state were claimed by different countries, including France, Mexico, Spain, the Confederate States of America, the Republic of Texas and [...]
Are you trying to determine what neighborhood is right for you? The reality is that every neighborhood has a distinct look and “feel” to it, which means it is essential to take the time to find the one that suits your personal lifestyle and taste. While selecting the perfect neighborhood certainly is no small task, [...]
Those who live in the city of Austin are well-aware that the city has much to offer to its residents as well as to its visitors. For many, this dedication to Austin is based simply on the way they “feel” about the city, but the reality is that there are numerous concrete reasons to enjoy [...]
Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the area now known as Texas already had a very rich history. Known as the Pre-Columubian era, the time period prior to the European settlement was one that was dominated by three major indigenous cultures. According to archeological research, each of these cultures had reached their developmental peak [...]
While many people are excited to learn that Formula One racing will be coming to Austin, others aren’t quite so sure how they feel about it. Clearly, bringing Formula One to Austin will help put the city on the map while also generating a significant amount of income over the next several years. At the [...]
Are you looking for some innovative ways to make the most out of your storage space while also making it as convenient as possible to obtain the items you are looking for? If so, you might want to consider implementing some of these innovative strategies. Lights That Turn On Automatically One way to make it [...]
As the fourth building in Austin to serve as the seat of Texas government, the Texas State Capitol is home to the chambers of the Texas Legislature as well as the offices of the governor of Texas. Originally designed by Elijah E. Myers in 1881, the building took seven years to complete and was recognized [...]
Residential Strategies Inc. reports that home starts reached 2,109 during the second quarter in Austin, which represents a 32.3% increase when compared to the first quarter of 2010. These figures also represent an 11% increase when compared to the 1,903 home starts recorded during the second quarter of 2009. Overall, Residential Strategies Inc. reports that [...]
The Texas Workforce Commission reports that the job market in the Austin area showed growth during the month of May, making it the second month in a row that jobs have been added to the area. According to the Workforce Commission report, 4,000 jobs were added by Central Texas employers between May 2009 and May [...]
The Austin Capital Metro received quite a bit of attention as its board of directors worked on selecting who would serve as the agency’s leader for the foreseeable future. While it is certainly a subject of interest, perhaps the topic that should really be discussed is how this person will turn the transit authority around. [...]
Residents of Austin are excited to learn that the Formula One will be coming to the capital city, but few realize just how much effort has been put into bringing the event to the city. In fact, according to documents, the Comptroller Susan Combs met with auto racing promoter Tavo Hellmund more than 20 times [...]
Are you preparing to give your home a new look with the help of a fresh layer of paint? Whether applying it to the inside or the outside of your home, a fresh layer of paint can go a long way toward giving your home a facelift. At the same time, traditional forms of paint [...]
There is no doubt about it – purchasing a new home is a very exciting time in anyone’s life. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who will do just about anything possible to ruin this special event as they try to take financial advantage of unsuspecting buyers. Therefore, in order to prevent yourself from [...]
Today, Austin is known for its vibrant music scene and thriving technology sector, but the capital city as we know it today is vastly different from the way it was when the area was first established. In fact, before European settlers arrived, the area was once inhabited by a number of different nomadic Native American [...]
When it comes to selling your home, you want to do everything possible to make your home attractive to potential buyers. At the same time, you don’t want to invest so much money into sprucing up your home that you end up losing money on the deal. Luckily, there are several fairly inexpensive steps that [...]
Are you planning to make some renovations to your home? If so, it is always a good idea to think ahead to the resale value of your home. After all, whenever possible, you want to make certain the renovations you are making are ones that will help increase the value of your home so the [...]
According to a recent study completed by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, the Texas housing market has managed to fare far better than other states throughout the country during our recent economic troubles. Furthermore, the report indicates that the Texas economy is likely to continue to do better than the rest of [...]
According to Freddie Mac, mortgage rates in the United States have stayed either at or near record lows over the past week. Furthermore, the interest rate on 30-year fixed rate home mortgage loans is one half percentage point lower than where it was a year ago. Therefore, despite the volatile bond market that we are [...]
