There are two significant trends happening right now that you should know about: mortgage interest rates are increasing and Austin real estate inventory is decreasing. This means that, if you have been on the fence about buying, now is the time. Likewise, if you want to sell your home and have been “waiting for the […]
Crane Flies in Austin – Not Mosquito Hawks
Those insects that look like giant, Texas-sized mosquitos?… There are many species of these in TX. However, those giant, “mosquito eating” flies, don’t eat mosquitos at all and are actually called Crane flies. They are often mistakenly called “mosquito hawks,” which actually refers to a dragonfly (Odonata). Additionally, it mosquito hawk alsos refer to the […]
City of Austin Building Codes, Ordinances and Technical Information
**Dont’ ask how long it took to find this, but the content of this page is buried in the COA website…. and is now added here for a little extra visibility** There are several sources of codes and technical specifications that the City of Austin follows. We follow the Austin City Code of Ordinances Land […]
Austin Recycling Program – Free Tumbled Glass and Organic Mulch
Need unlimited, free tumbled glass or organic mulch? A friend of mine told me about this program and it took me a while to find the details. This well-hidden, gem of a program put on by the COA is called the Austin Resource Recovery Center. It’s a place where folks like us can take our trucks and […]
Eggs in Avocado – Breakfast Recipe
Breakfast Recipe: Eggs in an Avocado Pit avocados and spoon out a little extra to fit more egg in – eat extra out of spoon Add egg, salt, pepper, cheese, paprika Heat small convection oven to 400F – one I used – Cook for 10 minutes or until (slightly solid)
Canoeing Barton Creek
Barton creek not only offers a challenging canoe trip, for Austinites, it’s right in our backyard. There are three sections of the creek that are easily run. Map of Put-ins & Take-outs for Barton Creek Check your water levels before you go Download GPS Waypoints for Barton Creek Routes: 71 to Lost Creek – This […]
Homemade Wine – The Quick and Easy
Homemade Wine Making Process This is tried, tested and efficient way to make six or so gallons of awesome wine. My favorites with this recipe are green apple, pomegranate, blueberry and iced tea. Grape is good, too. Have fun with this! You will need: 7 gallon fermentation bucket with lid, airlock mechanism (picture at bottom […]
Short Sales May Become Shorter
When people ask me what a short sale is the first thing I tell them is that it is not “short.” In fact, according to many experts, the average short sale takes around 90 days. Current legislation may shorten that time to a maximum of 75 days. The bill is called the Prompt Notification of […]
Gyro and Sauce Recipe for Beginners
Gyros (double this recipe to feed 6) Obtain pita bread 1/2 onion, cut into chunks 1 pound ground lamb 1 pound ground beef 1 tablespoon minced garlic (1st time did 1.5 ground, .5 breakfast sausage) 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried marjoram 1 teaspoon ground dried rosemary 1 teaspoon […]
2015 Homestead Exemptions – Apply by April 30th
As a homeowner, you may apply for a homestead exemption on your principal residence. Homestead exemptions remove part of your home’s value from taxation, so they lower your taxes. For example, if your home is appraised at $350,000, and you qualify for a $50,000 exemption, you will pay taxes on the home as if it […]