Real Estate Blog

While that towering Chinese Tallow Tree or shady grove of Ligustrum beside that new Travis Country home may appear gorgeous at first glance, the hundreds of thousands of invasive seeds that will drop and rapidly grow into new trees over the next decade won’t make future landscaping maintenance, or Austin greenbelts, very pretty.

Just as the invulnerable clownfish threatens to take over U.S. coral reefs, these and dozens of other invasive plants species pose a big threat to natural ecosystems on land. Why?

The USDA defines invasive plants as species with five very pernicious qualities:

PROLIFIC: Produce large numbers of new seedlings each season

PERVASIVE: Spread easily by wind, water, or animals

FAST-GROWING: Grow rapidly, outpacing other

Hat Creek Burger Co., founded for Austinites by native Austinite Drew Gressett, was born out of a pure passion for fresh cheeseburgers and great fellowship.

You may have been introduced to Hat Creek burgers by the Hat Creek Burgermobile (food truck) at SXSW, the UT Stadium’s Red McCombs Food Court, the Cystic Fibrosis 5K, or the Bon Jovi concert. Maybe you celebrated a big day at the Burnet location with close family, watched your kids play on its fantastic playscape, or met a good friend for burgers and sweet potato fries.

But - chances are, you’ve either heard of Austin’s Hat Creek Burger Co. or already have eaten there. No one-hit wonder, it now has three beautiful locations, each built upon two great founding principles – fellowship and fresh

Your Austin home search just got a little more competitive and a little more expensive! Following last month’s indications that Austin real estate prices have risen 10% in the last year, April 2013 statistics are revealing more of this trend.

“There has been no slowing down with the quickened home sales pace we are seeing this year,” said Regent Property Group Broker Brian Talley. “If anything, it is becoming even more competitive among buyers. Lower inventory, low interest rates, and increased demand keep cranking up the volume on sales.”

Lower Inventory, Higher Prices

Comparing this year and last, April 2013’s average sold price of $412,124 is about $74k higher than in April 2012. The median sold price of $299,000 is $49k higher. Looking year

Regent Property Group is privileged to help many clients who are interested in buying and selling upscale homes. Austin certainly has its share of upper echelon homes: from the shores of Lake Austin to prized central Austin estates to fine homes in Westlake, the luxury home market is thriving. One question we often are asked when helping clients with these homes is, “What is the difference between a luxury home and a mansion?”   

While there is not a finite distinction, the answer generally revolves around a home’s size and amenities. Once a home reaches a certain square footage threshold and also has additional, classically-associated mansion rooms or sumptuous features, it transitions to a mansion.

Here are some guidelines for determining whether

From Tarrytown to Avery Ranch, Austin homeowners want the best grass for their lawn and lifestyle. The right type of grass, however, can depend on three factors: foot traffic, shade, and water.

FOOT TRAFFIC

Certain varieties of grass do much better under stressful physical conditions like sports-use, children’s play, and pets. These include Bermuda, Seashore Paspalum, and Zoysia. Be aware that Bermuda can be aggressive and invade nearby gardens, so it will require more maintenance than other varieties. Zoysia (being quite dense) can be difficult to mow, so keep mowing blades sharp. Lawns with minimal traffic are fine for these varieties as well, or ideal for more delicate grasses, such as Carpet, Centipede, and St. Augustine.

SHADE

Only a few

For homes from Seven Oaks to Senna Hills, the front lawn is fair ground for that make-or-break first impression. Want to keep it healthy and green? Fertilize! When, what kind, and how often? Just follow these 5 essential tips for fertilizing grass the right way in eco-friendly Austin, Texas …

1. TEST

Fertilizers come in endless variations for specific types of soil. Did you know a home in Barton Creek West may have an entirely different soil-type than a home in South Austin? Before applying any kind of lawn fertilizer, it’s essential to conduct a soil test. With the results, homeowners can choose a custom fertilization regimen catered to amend their unique soil type. Buy a kit at a local gardening center. Or even better, follow the directions of

7521 Bonniebrook Drive - MLS #1186600

Discover another exceptional home listed by Regent Property Group!

With four bedrooms, two and a half baths, and a three-car garage, this 3,593 square foot home built in 2006 offers remarkable features, such as hand-scraped hickory floors in the office, formal dining room, and living rooms; a game room with a built-in speaker system and walk-out attic access; sophisticated wiring packages; and decorative features, such as art niches, wrought iron balusters, French doors, crown moulding, shutters, blinds, and more throughout the home.

A two-story stone gas fireplace with a raised flagstone hearth serves as an appealing focal point of the high-ceiling living and entry area. The home’s welcoming kitchen area

315 Montalcino Blvd.- MLS # 6643318

This new construction home in North Lakeway Village in Lakeway, west of Austin, was just closed by Regent Property Group! With four bedrooms and three full and two half baths, this almost 3,500 square foot, cul-de-sac home offers a stunning layout perfect for entertaining, with an open kitchen and an oversized covered patio backing to a greenbelt view of the hill country. A bonus room and powder room upstairs increase this home’s appeal.

Features

• All sides masonry
• Granite countertops and island in kitchen
• Media/home theatre room
• Office
• Fireplace
• Lake Travis Schools

Did you know it’s important for buyers interested in new home construction to have an agent of their own?

• It is the

Spring (March-May) is the perfect time of year to aerate the lawn of your Northwest Austin home. Annual aeration helps grass recover and bounce back from a year’s worth of foot traffic by improving water drainage, giving grassroots room to grow, restoring access to proper nutrients, and increasing the activity of the soil microorganisms. Proper aeration is essential for reversing the harmful effects of soil compaction and reducing thatch (the build-up of decaying plant material).

From Steiner Ranch to River Place, Austin home-owners are preparing their lawns for summer fun. To aerate your Austin-area lawn this spring, follow these five simple steps:

WATER: To make aerating easier and more effective, moisten the soil the day before.

CHOOSE: Head

It’s springtime in beautiful Austin, Texas, which means lawncare season has officially begun. However, droughts and winter freezes leave their mark on even the healthiest Central Texas lawns. Facing a yard with thinning grass or bare patches? Consider reseeding. Common Austin-area grasses like St. Augustine and Bermuda grow best when the soil temperature approaches 70 degrees F, and require two months after winter to become established. That means right now (April through June) is an ideal time to reseed. Follow these ten steps to reseed an existing lawn this spring:

1. PREPARE SOIL: Whether a home is in West Austin or East Austin will affect soil composition. Consider taking a soil test. If needed, amend soil as recommended using compost or