The Austin Market:
The number of active listings is down 1.81% from last year during the same week.
 New listings are up 19.20%.
 Pendings are up this week by 34.86%.
 Sold residential units are up 60.49% compared to the same week last year.
 
The Week in Review
Units for Sale:
Feb. 28 – Mar. 6, 2010
(compared to the same week in 2009)
New listings are up this week 19.20%
Pendings are up this week 34.86%
Solds are up 60.49%
 
As for Average Prices:
Feb. 28 – Mar. 6, 2010
Sold average sales prices increased 4.52% to $236,502.  In 2009 it was $226,272 for the same week.

The Month In Review
Preliminary February 2010 Data: 
Units for Sale: (compared to February 2009)
New listings are up 8.22%.
Pendings are up 18.37%.
Solds increased by 19.64%
 
As for Average Prices:
The “New Listings” average list price is down 10.17% to $295,379.  In February 2009 the average list price was $328,804. 
Sold average sales prices decreased 3.78% to $236,145.  For February 2009 it was $245,430. 

Did You Know…?
That we had 10,875 active listings during the same week in 2009?  Today there is 10,678 active listings!  That is 1.81% decrease from last year.

Lake Travis real estate agent Sam Chapman’s comments:
These numbers are similar to those of the past several weeks and indicate a great trend.  Sales are up and that is a very good thing.  My thinking is that people who pulled homes off the market toward the end of last year will be listing them again soon and the number of active listings may go up. 

I think what we are seeing a lot of activity because of several things.  First, the tax credit is looming and that is pushing some buyers.  Second, the threat of rising interest rates has people moving forward.  Third, people are just glad that 2009 is over and even though many do not thing 2010 will a lot better, they are moving forward anyway.  Fourth, people are moving to Austin.  Some are moving for jobs, some for the lifestyle and some because they can work from anywhere.  Finally, some buyers are back in the hunt for a home near or on Lake Travis because it is finally back to a normal level after two years of drought.

See also:

Falconhead West
Rough Hollow

There are three models currently available and they start in the mid $160’s; in all, the community offers 15 floor plans for home buyers to choose from starting from the $130s. The single-story homes have three bedrooms and two baths. They feature a combined kitchen and dining room space as well as a room that can be used as a study or converted to a fourth bedroom. Upgrades include an extended porch that creates a gracious entry space and a tub/shower option in the Master bedroom.

The two-story model has three or four bedrooms, depending on your selection and offers many of the same options as the single story. In addition, there is the choice of loft space and an upstairs utility room. The family room is opened to the second floor and the formal dining room can be converted to a study or a fifth bedroom. Each floor plan has been specifically designed to maximize space and give the appearance of greater depth. Exterior designs incorporate many materials and styles to provide a distinguished curb appeal.

Quick Stats:

15 Available Floor Plans
3-4 Bedrooms
2-2.5 Bathrooms
$130s – $180s
Near Shopping, Dining, Recreation and Entertainment
Near major Private and Government Employers
HOA fees $150/year
Property Tax 2.18 per $100 valuation

Sales Agent: Mary Jo Turney
512-685-6690
8529 Chick Pea Lane
Austin, TX 78748
Mon: Noon – 6 pm
Tues – Sun: 10 am – 6 pm

For more information about this Austin, Texas new home community, visit Parkridge Gardens online.

The above information was gathered from www.mainstreethomes.com and is considered accurate and reliable, however, please contact a community sales associate for the most up-to-date information about new homes for sale in Parkridge Gardens.

If you’re interested in this Austin community, you may also want to check out our section of Austin home builders.

See Also:

City of Austin Texas
New Home Communities in Austin, TX

Texas Home Builder, Gehan Homes

Gehan Homes has been a part of building the American dream for over 35 years. With new home communities all across Texas, this home builder is a well-respected name in the industry. It is a privately owned business that understands your investment in a home is a very important matter. Each new homeowner is given the personal attention that is needed to make each house a unique home that reflects the homeowner’s individual style. In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Gehan Homes is pleased to offer sixteen distinctive communities.

With base prices starting in the low 100’s to the low 210’s, there is a Gehan home to fit every budget. Floor plans range from just over 1,000 square feet to well over 3,000 square feet to accommodate families of all sizes. Gehan Homes is a full service builder that offers help in securing a mortgage to purchase your new home. A Gehan home will also come with a warranty to give you peace of that you will be well cared for after you move into your new home. Several of these new home neighborhoods offer amenities such as community pools and walking trails. Visit one of the tastefully decorated model homes to learn more about a Gehan Homes community.

See more:
Dallas New Home Builders
Ft. Worth New Home Builders
Manta – Gehan Homes

Ryland Homes in Dallas, Texas

Ryland Homes is a leading national homebuilder that has been in business for over 40 years and is still going strong. In the Dallas area, Ryland Homes has sixteen unique new home communities. From townhomes to single family homes, this builder’s communities offer value to families of all sizes. All Ryland Homes neighborhoods are tastefully landscaped to take advantage of the natural beauty of the area. These communities are ideally located near the top schools, the best shopping, and recreation facilities to suit all interests.

When you choose to build your new home with Ryland Homes, you will be able select from a wide array of floor plans to accommodate your active lifestyle. New home communities also offer amenities for the entire family. Some examples are club houses, playgrounds, open spaces and sports fields. Ryland Homes knows that new homeowners may be overwhelmed with the many decisions that need to be made about your design, including appliances, flooring, paint colors, hardware, and lighting, just to name a few. This builder has an innovative design center to help streamline the process and show you life size examples of the products, instead of small sample chips that can be difficult to envision as your kitchen countertop.

See more:
Dallas New Home Builders
Ryland Homes on Twitter
Ryland Homes on Facebook

The builder likes for their homes to be the output of quality and craftsmanship to enhance people’s lifestyles in various stages. The homes are constructed with several nice features such as three sides of brick on the first floor, six foot picket fence with a gate, irrigation system and Bermuda sod in front and side yard, and numerous trees and shrubs. The homes also have Whirlpool appliances, granite or silestone countertops, oak cabinets and many more features that are not always included in a new home purchase.

For more communties in the area take a look at Ridge at Paloma Lake also by Standard Pacific Homes.

helicopter ride over Lake Travis

The Reserve on Lake Travis is the most recent development with waterfront home sites on the lake.  The Reserve is around 45-60 minutes west of downtown Austin depending on time of day and weather conditions.  Home sites range from the $300,000s to $3 million for an 11 acre waterfront parcel.  The one acre waterfront sites are going for the mid $700,000s and up.  The amenities will be very nice.  I went to the grand opening last year and The Reserve looks like it will be a very nice community. The only thing there at the time was the covered pavilion by Lake Travis.

Update as of now:  the roads are 70% complete. They will be paving the last two cul-de-sacs in the next 45 days. The swim center is well underway. They Lazy river is getting poured today and they’re on tract to finish everything by the end of the year.  The Equestrian Center arena is complete and they have broken ground on the barn. The barn should be finished in the first quarter 2010.  The developer, Hal Jones, has moved into his home and lives there full time. Red McCombs’ house is about 75% complete. We have 4 custom homes starting construction in the next 3-4 months. Two of those four will start in the next 60 days. There have been 18 homesites sold so far.  There are several deals in the works and the developer is anticipating those going to contract very soon.

By the way, the photo is from a helicopter tour I took while at the grand opening.

Questions about The Reserve or other Lake Travis real estate?  Call me at 512-29392422.

Austin, Texas

Carriage Hills is a planned community located in the greater Austin, Texas area with a variety of home designs and floor plans to choose from. These homes offer affordable suburban living with prices ranging from $113,000 to $157,000. The community features playgrounds along with beautiful scenery and views. The community is conveniently located close to Hwy 290 and I-35, giving residents easy access to shopping and recreation, Manor Downs, and Walter E. Long Lake. The Carriage Hills community is located in the Manor Independent School District.

Carriage Hills offers home plans with 3-5 bedrooms, two ten-star home models with all of the amenities, and each plan offers a 2 car garage. Square footage in these homes ranges between 1,374 square feet and just under 2,800 square feet, depending on the floor plan and model that is chosen. The community is actually located in Manor, Texas, but offers convenient and easy access to Austin and all the city amenities that residents could need. This is one of many planned home communities in the Austin area, but is one of the more affordable choices for suburban living with urban convenience.

See more:
Austin Home Builders
Manor, Texas Information
Greater Manor Chamber of Commerce

Creekside Park at the Woodlands is situated in the Woodlands School District, offering many elementary schools and the Woodlands High School. This luxury home community features six different home models to choose from, ranging in size from 3200 square feet on up to just over 4000 square feet. The price range for this elite community is between $460,000 and $526,000 depending on the floor plan and model that is selected. Each home offers 4 bedrooms, 3-4.5 baths, and a master suite with all of the amenities. A small town in and of itself, the Woodlands offers great community activities, recreational facilities, parks, playgrounds, and plenty of entertainment and shopping for all residents to enjoy.

View Larger Map

Champions Park - San Antonio New Home Community

Homes in Champions Park, located in San Antonio, TX, range from $105,490 to $164,490 and feature all the amenities of luxurious country living with convenient access to highways and short drives to the city. The community is located in the Medina Independent School District, and is about 20 minutes from the Downtown Riverwalk area. The community features a soccer field, park, and playground area within the neighborhood, as well as easy access to other recreation and entertainment outside of the community.

Homes in Champions Park offer one and two-story floor plans, with between 2 and 4 bedrooms each, as well as a 2 car garage. There is one model that features 2,850 square feet, five bedrooms, and is classified as a ten-star home. This home is priced at the top of the price range, while the rest fall below it. The homes are located in West San Antonio, giving homeowners the peace and tranquility of a rural setting with convenient access to all of the amenities and entertainment of city life. Champions Park is the perfect setting for families seeking affordable planned community living with all the amenities of the city nearby.

See more:
Medina IDA Videos
Meritage Homes’ Communities in San Antonio
Meritage Homes’ Design Studio

Photo Credit: ImpactNews.com

Georgetown, Texas is home to Woodland Park, which is the 2004 Max award winner for Custom Home Community Development. There are many wooded one acre lots in the rolling hills of Texas, providing plenty of room for luxury homes and beautiful surroundings to coexist.

The community is part of the Georgetown Independent School District, which is one of the better education districts in the state of Texas. Residents will enjoy the quaint small-town feel of Georgetown, with convenience to city amenities not far away. Within a few miles of I-35, this community offers homes that are secluded, serene, and surrounded by beauty with all the convenience that people need.

Woodland Park is also located within reach of Lake Georgetown, two top-rate golf courses, and many venues for recreation, entertainment, dining, shopping, and more. The community features homes that range in size from 2,500 to 3,500 square feet, and offer a variety of amenities, features and upgrades to choose from. The quaint, quiet nature of this area will charm anyone, and the homes themselves will provide the best in planned community living.

Community Overview

• Location: Georgetown, Texas
• Home-type: Custom
• Price Range: $300s – $600s*
• Awards: 2004 Max Award Winner
• Lot Size: One-acre +

*Price range is an estimate; the price of these custom homes can vary greatly depending on lot size/location and the home’s size and features.

See Also:

Georgetown Independent School District

Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas

City of Georgetown