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        <title>JBGoodwin REALTORS® - Austin &amp; San Antonio Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/2016-12/</link>
        <description>Stay up to date on the latest Austin, San Antonio, and Central Texas real estate trends with JBGoodwin's real estate blog.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/austin-real-estate-sold-stats-november-2016.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/austin-real-estate-sold-stats-november-2016.html</link>
        <author>macastro@jbgoodwin.com (Mary Ann Castro)</author>
        <title>Austin Real Estate Sold Stats - November 2016</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[  ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2016 11:33:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/the-five-most-popular-austin-communities-for-new-residents.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/the-five-most-popular-austin-communities-for-new-residents.html</link>
        <author>macastro@jbgoodwin.com (Mary Ann Castro)</author>
        <title>The Five Most Popular Austin Communities for New Residents</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



Whether it's the job growth, particularly in the tech sector, or the relatively affordable real estate market, Austin has seen a big increase in new residents recently. In fact, Austin's 19,117 new residents between 2014 and 2015 is the eighth largest increase in population of all U.S. cities with a population of more than 50,000, according to the Austin Business Journal.


The new residents are coming from a variety of places, although in recent years it seems more and more are migrating from California. Recent U.S. Census data shows these residents are, for the most part, settling in areas five different areas ranging from Austin's city center to 30 miles outside the city.


1. Downtown Austin


The city center of Austin always seems to be booming with an abundance of newcomers. Specifically, the area near the University of Texas has a tremendously high rate of new residents (more than half didn't live in Austin last year). While this is most likely due to the large number of students moving into the area, it also could be attributed to the number of jobs opening up. A recent study by the Kauffman Foundation found that Austin is the top city in the entire country for startup business activity.


2. San Marcos


Census numbers show San Marcos as one of the fastest growing communities in the entire country since 2012. Located about 30 miles south of downtown Austin, the community is home to Texas State University, which has set enrollment records in each of the past 19 years. This may explain part of the reason more people are moving to San Marcos, but it's certainly not the only lure for out-of-towners.


San Marcos is also situated alongside the Blanco River and the San Marcos River, with great parks and hiking trails nearby. The rivers also attract tourists for activities such as tubing, canoeing, fishing, and swimming. It seems some of these visitors have now decided to park their canoes and hang their fishing roads in the area permanently.


Are you a newcomer to Austin? Check out our Austin Relocation Guide to learn more about moving to our great city


3. Round Rock


Just under 20 miles north of Austin, Round Rock is home to a number of major employers, most notably the international headquarters of computer giant Dell. A number of major retailers including, but not limited to, IKEA and a 430,000-square-foot premium outlet mall have also helped turn Round Rock into a much more appealing suburb. In fact, Census numbers show that a large number of Round Rock's new residents live right near the outlet mall.


4. Cedar Park


Cedar Park is Round Rock's closest neighbor to the west and has seen similar growth to Round Rock in terms of new residents moving into the area in the last year. Also a major suburb of Austin, Cedar Park is home to a pair of high-level minor league professional sports teams. The Austin Spurs are the NBA Developmental League affiliate of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, while the Texas Stars are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Dallas Stars. Both teams play home games at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, an 8,700-seat indoor sports and entertainment arena in Cedar Park that opened in 2009.


The housing market in Cedar Park consists mainly of single-family homes, with some townhomes also available. The majority of these homes have been built in the last decade, which adds vibrancy to the community.


5. The Domain


Many refer to The Domain as Austin's second downtown, as it offers the best of city living in a combination of commercial and residential properties. This neighborhood is home to The Domain shopping centre and mixed-use development, which includes several major department stores and over 70 specialty stores to compliment the residential housing in the area. In the heart of the development are 390 loft-style apartments.


With so much to offer, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Census block group surrounding The Domain has seen 952 households moved into since 2010, which is more than 80 percent of its total households.


If you're dying to learn more about any of the great Austin neighborhoods mentioned above, contact JB Goodwin REALTORS® today to get in touch with one of our trusted Austin real estate experts
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:57:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/where-to-find-great-austin-gifts-this-holiday.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/where-to-find-great-austin-gifts-this-holiday.html</link>
        <author>macastro@jbgoodwin.com (Mary Ann Castro)</author>
        <title>Where to Find Great Austin Gifts This Holiday</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Let's face it, sometimes holiday shopping can be a beast. Crowded malls and tight budgets will often drive a person to madness. Even if you've been smart enough to head out early in the shopping season—and if you're reading this, then chances are you haven't—there's always the difficulty of picking just the right present for those very important people on your list. The trick to a more effective holiday shopping experience is preparedness: it turns out that you'll have a much better time Christmas shopping in Austin by carefully considering the type of people on your list before you head out.


With that in mind, here are just a few of the people you might find on your shopping list this year, along with some helpful suggestions about how you can make them happy. Since big box stores and major online retailers are a no-brainer, we've kept this guide thoughtfully focused on local Austin shops and products.


Foodies


If you've got a gourmet in the family, consider adding a little spice to their life with a visit to Tears of Joy Sauces in Downtown Austin, where you can pick up a few gut-busting concoctions from their variety of hot and barbecue sauces. Or, for lovers of local foods, why not consider a gift box from Batch? Batch is an online Austin gift shop that specializes in bringing artisanal goods right to your doorstep. Consider showing some state pride with their amazing &quot;Don't Mess With Texas&quot; box, for instance, a wooden crate which includes goodies like a Newton Supply Co. Texas Mug, Progress Coffee, Mikey V's Beef Jerky, and Bloody Revolution Bloody Mary Mix


Bookworms


They say that a good book can change your life, or just fill that empty space on your coffee table. Incidentally, books also make great gifts. Most Austinites know that BookPeople, the largest independent bookstore in Texas, is a great place to find an old favorite or discover something new. You may also want to check out Malvern Books, just north of the U of T campus, which has a well-curated collection dedicated to lesser-known and emerging voices in independent publishing. Finally, the rare book collector in your family will love a beautiful first edition from South Congress Books on the SoCo shopping strip. Whatever literary tastes you're trying to satisfy, though, consider buying local products from one of these cool shops in Austin.


Art Lovers


During the holiday season, the best shopping in Austin definitely isn't at the mall. It happens at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar at the Palmer Event Center. This annual tradition makes holiday shopping fun by pairing upscale arts and crafts—the work of over 160 carefully curated artists—with terrific live performances from featured musicians, including local legends and emerging artists. Along with music and a selection of drinks, you'll find handcrafted leather goods, paintings and sculptures, home furnishings, clothing, jewelry, and more under one roof. The Bazaar runs until Christmas Eve, too, so it's a great place to load up on last minute stocking stuffers for the pickier people on your Christmas list.


Cowpokes


Do you have an aspiring cowboy or cowgirl on your hands? Heritage Boot Co. in Travis Heights sells positively gorgeous vintage Western boots at a variety of price points. Born-and-bred Texans will love them, but they make great souvenirs for out-of-towners too. Along with a pair of dust kickers, you might consider picking up tickets to Rodeo Austin, which runs March 11-25 in 2017, and features Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) events as well as amazing music performances, a stock show, and a family-friendly carnival full of opportunities for fun and education. Of course, tickets don't actually go on sale until January 13th, but you can always tuck an IOU into one of those boots.


New Homeowners


After acquiring their very own piece of Austin real estate, new homeowners are often faced with the not inconsiderable task of furnishing it. If this describes someone you know, they might appreciate a carefully selected piece of furniture a whole lot more than a fruitcake. For smaller spaces like condominiums, the locally owned Five Elements in South Austin is a great place to pick up contemporary and retro furnishings that fit any taste. And Four Hands Home Outlet near North Cross Mall offers a great selection of discounted pieces, especially if you're looking for a bit of a steal or something that your giftee won't see for sale anywhere else in Austin.


Our expert advice can help make finding Austin homes for sale as painless as a little Christmas shopping. Contact JB Goodwin REALTORS® today.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2016 11:59:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/austin-leasing-and-rental-stats-december-2016.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/austin-leasing-and-rental-stats-december-2016.html</link>
        <author>macastro@jbgoodwin.com (Mary Ann Castro)</author>
        <title>Austin Leasing and Rental Stats - December 2016</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[  ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 10:14:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/where-to-buy-austin-real-estate-if-youre-in-the-tech-industry.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/where-to-buy-austin-real-estate-if-youre-in-the-tech-industry.html</link>
        <author>macastro@jbgoodwin.com (Mary Ann Castro)</author>
        <title>Where To Buy Austin Real Estate If You're In The Tech Industry</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Time and time again, Austin has been recognized for the rapid expansion of its tech industry and its booming population. Affectionately called the Silicon Hills, many even speculate that this Texas city is due to be the next Silicon Valley. In fact, a recent article in Forbes named Austin one of the five the most likely cities to take the coveted spot.


The need for a new Tech Mecca stems from the fact that the Silicon Valley real estate market has reached a saturation point. Built along the bustling San Francisco Bay where property is scarce, the average home in Los Altos, CA is valued at $2.3 million. By contrast, the median sale price on the Austin real estate market is a much more modest $216,000 because land is plentiful and new development is frequent.


Because of the affordable real estate rates, more and more tech companies are opting to headquarter themselves in this urban center. Thanks to the University of Texas, tech companies are even finding an educated work-force to tap into. It helps that this city boasts the extra perk of being a rare income tax-free city in the United States.


If you're looking for a job in the tech sector, there's a couple of popular areas you'll want to consider, and lucky for you, there's plenty of housing options to choose from nearby.


Downtown Austin


The heart and soul of this great city resides in the downtown core. In a halo around the historic State Capitol Building, you'll find all sorts of local software design companies such as ThoughtWorks Incorporated, a company with a global reach; Black Locus, a subsect of The Home Depot; InforcePRO, a software company specialized in serving life insurance; and Umbel Corporation which focuses on using data to better understand audiences.


The downtown Austin real estate market is rich in recently developed luxury condos, beautiful high-rises, and trendy apartment buildings. From cozy one-bedrooms to sprawling three- or four-bedrooms, this area has suites for those at any stage in life.


Learn more about downtown Austin real condos for sale. Or contact JBGoodwin REALTORS® to learn more about amenities in this area.


Northwest Austin Tech Corridor


In northwest Austin in the 10 square mile region bounded by Highways 35, 183, and 1, and West Palmer Lane, you'll find some of the most famous tech companies located within the city. Off of Highway 1, Google's high-rise glass building extends up into the sky, and off of West Palmer, you'll find the Dell Computer Corporation.


In this area, you'll also find firms like Atomic Picnic that specialize in audiovisual design; SunPower Corporation, which has been redefining solar panels for three decades; and Silicon Hills Design, which manufactures circuit boards.


With plenty of workplaces to choose from, it's fortunate that there are just as many top-notch Austin neighborhoods to choose from as well.


Convenient Neighborhoods in Northwest Austin


The Domain


A 303-acre property owned and managed by Simon Property Group, The Domain is a high-end residential and retail complex. Inside, these luxury apartments feature private balconies, granite counter tops, and spacious floorplans. With a state-of-the-art pool, four zen gardens, and a fully equipped fitness center, this facility gives its residents recreation options close to home, including the shopping complex. This major shopping locale features over 140 stores from Michael Kors to Tesla with everything in between.


Allandale


Easy access to Highway 1 makes Allandale a favorite of commuters. This family-friendly neighborhood has a house for sale in every price range. From mid-century modern estates to quaint and affordable bungalows, no matter what your budget or the size of your family, you'll find a great space to call your own. Allandale is also home to the famous Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.


Copperfield


An established suburban neighborhood on the edge of town, Copperfield is the site of many family homes. With plenty of community greenspaces to choose from, this subdivision strikes a perfect balance between urban and rural. This delightful community is also a short distance from the neighboring city of Pflugerville which is well-known for its independent school system.


North Loop


North Loop has a distinctly urban downtown vibe without the high-end price tag to match. Here you'll find a mixture of old and new homes that make up eclectic, but charming blocks. You'll find vintage stores, stellar restaurants, and quaint coffee houses throughout this district. House designs range from the traditional multi-level homes to the most unique custom designs.


So, if you're in the tech industry and you're considering making the move to this central Texas city, don't worry about the state of the housing market. With plenty of fine properties on the market, you won't have any trouble finding a home close to work that fits your budget, your tastes, and your needs.


Contact JBGoodwin REALTORS® for more information on homebuying in Austin. We've been providing top-notch service for over forty years, and we aren't about to stop any time soon.
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    <pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:11:00 -0600</pubDate>
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