Founded in 1839, Austin is rich in
history. The capital city of Texas has a lot to offer when it comes to taking a look back into the past. One of the best ways to do this is by checking out some of the historic houses around the city.
Texas Governor's Mansion The Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, is the official residence of the Governor of Texas. This mansion, erected in 1854, has served as the residence of every governor since that year. The mansion was severely damaged after a Molotov cocktail sparked an arson fire on June 8, 2008. In 1856, Abner Cook finished this Greek Revival structure in the middle of a block, surrounded by trees and gardens. A 6,000-square-foot home once stood here. During the year 1914, it had significant renovations, increasing its size to 8,920 square feet. There were eleven rooms in the original mansion, but there were no bathrooms. After the renovations, there are now 25 rooms and 7 bathrooms in the house. The Board of Mansion Supervisors was founded in 1931 by the 42nd Texas Legislature on the advice of former Texas First Lady Mildred Paxton Moody to oversee all mansion maintenance and improvements, both inside and outside.
The Fischer House The Fischer House was built in 1882 and is a historic home in the heart of downtown Austin. As a notable Austin mason at the time of construction, Joseph Fischer's high Victorian era Italianate architecture and embellishments represent the family's expertise in their trade. 1008 West Avenue is the address of the property. On December 16, 1982, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Robinson-Macken House In west downtown Austin, at 702 Rio Grande, you'll find the Robinson-Macken House, an incredible historic landmark. Designed in Second Empire style architecture with Italianate details, this 2.5 story farm home was built in 1876 for Elizabeth and John Robinson Sr. The mansion, built by the local prominent Bremond family, is located in the original 1839 Austin town plan created by Edwin Waller. Style-wise, it resembles the Bremond home, which has been conserved as part of the Bremond Block Historic District. Eugene Robinson, a Robinson descendant, bought the property from the other heirs in 1902. In 1928, Joe and Bridget Macken purchased the house, and it stayed in their family until 1983. Austin had two community leaders: John Robinson, who served as chief of the volunteer fire department, and Joe Macken, who served as an alderman. In addition to projecting bay windows with classical details, exquisite milled wood accents, and dormer windows, the l-plan Robinson-Macken house also has a mansard roof.
John Bremond House Austin's Bremond Block Historic District consists of eleven historic homes built between the 1850s and 1910, including The John Bremond House. Only a few upper-class Victorian districts from the mid-to-late nineteenth century are left in Texas, this block being one of them, earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Brothers Eugene and John Bremond, well-known in Austin's social, commercial, and banking circles in the late nineteenth century, commissioned the construction or expansion of six residences for their families. All four of these buildings are in the same square block on the west side of Guadalupe Street. At least three of the residences in the neighborhood, including those on San Antonio's west and south sides, were built or altered by the North Family.
Henry Hirshfeld House and Cottage In Austin's historic district, the Henry Hirshfeld House and Cottage were formerly home to the influential Hirshfeld family. Henry and his wife Jennie lived in the 1873 cottage until 1885 when they moved into the larger house. The residences have been well-preserved and are now home to the Texas A&M University System's Office of Governmental Relations. The structures were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Architecturally, the Henry Hirshfeld House combines elements of Victorian and Eastlake styles. It was designed and built by John Andrewartha. A double gallery, a bay, stretched glass, elegant woodwork, and delicate limestone details adorn the exterior of the building. Shortly after the main house was finished, the two-story stick-style carriage house went up on the property. In 1873, Hirshfeld commissioned the construction of a one-story stone cottage for his family. The porch has jigsaw woodwork, and the roof has a widow's walk. A rental cottage was kept as soon as the family relocated to their new home in 1888 on the neighboring east lot.
O. Henry Museum When William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, lived here, this property was a historic tiny Victorian cottage in Downtown Austin. The cottage was constructed in 1886 and featured a simplified interpretation of the Eastlake Style. Porter and his family lived there from 1893 to 1895 before moving to Houston, when Porter began working full-time as a journalist for the Houston Post. Even though O. Henry was most known for novels that were written in North Carolina, he also wrote 42 stories that were published in the Lone Star State. Before 1930, the house had been used as a rental property and soon demolished to make way for a warehouse. Several women's organizations banded together in January 1934 to propose to the Austin City Council: If the city accepted and relocated the house as a donation from Austin Rotary, the women's organizations would restore it and open it as a "shrine." The proposal was rejected, but a few years later, the Austin Rotary Club donated the house to the city. It was transferred from its original location on East 4th Street to Brush Square, 409 East 5th Street, where it was repaired and inaugurated as a museum in 1934, thanks to the efforts of the City of Austin. Some of Porter's personal things, books, papers, and photographs document his time in Austin and are currently displayed among many other historical artifacts. In 1994–95, the roof was replaced, and four brick chimneys that had been lost in 1934 were replaced on the building. On June 18, 1973, the Porter House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The O. Henry Museum presently hosts the annual O. Henry Pun-Off, a spoken pun competition, the first weekend of May every year. The museum was named after American author O. Henry.
Susanna Dickinson Museum Historical monument and last remaining dwelling of Susanna Dickinson, dubbed "Messenger of the Alamo" and built in the "rubble-rock" architectural style popularized by German immigrants to Texas' Hill Country. After surviving the Alamo's bloody battle, she delivered to Sam Houston the news of its collapse, which helped Houston beat Santa Anna in the Battle of San Jacinto and secure Texas' independence. Susanna's husband, Joseph Hannig, built the house in 1869. In honor of Susanna Dickinson Hannig's heroics, the place she and her husband built in Austin in the early 1900s was deeded to the city in 2003 and has since been restored and opened as a museum on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 2010. Rare Dickinson family heirlooms and Hannig furniture can be found inside the museum. Before 1875, the couple had lived in this residence for six years before relocating to Hyde Park. Brush Square Museums, including the O. Henry Museum and the Austin Fire Museum, houses the museum. There is a magnificent museum on the Alamo grounds where you may be shown around and hear from the brave Alamo soldiers who survived the battle.
Brizendine House The Brizendine House, built in 1870 in the heart of downtown Austin, is a historic landmark. An extension to the Travis County Courthouse and the Blackwell/Thurman Criminal Justice Center now surround the structure on 11th Street in Austin. In 1974, the home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This basic vernacular rough ashlar house illustrates the way of life of an Austin working-class family in the late nineteenth century. The building's exterior proportions are clearly influenced by Victorian architecture. An Austin carpenter, machinist, and miller named John R. Brizendine (1829–1914) used limestone to construct the structure around 1870. Brizendine was a native of Kentucky who settled in Austin and worked on the building until his death. Family members stayed in the house until 1972 after Mrs. Elizabeth Gordon bought it in 1928.
Littlefield House There's a lot of history behind this house on the UT Austin campus. It was erected in 1893 for Civil War veteran and philanthropist George Littlefield. It cost $50,000 at the time to create it in the fashionable Victorian style. When the Littlefields lived in the house, they donated a lot of money to the university, which they used to build the Littlefield Fountain, the Main Building, and the Littlefield Dormitory, among other things. The Littlefield Building in downtown was created by them as well, and they completed it in 1912. Alice Littlefield left the deed to the house to the university when she died in 1935. The university uses the ground floor for university functions, and the Office of University Events utilizes the second floor. In 1970, it was included on the National Register of Historic Places as a result of its historical significance. Dive Deeper In this post, we only touched the surface of the history behind the roots of Austin. Many of these places offer tours and walkthroughs where you can dive deeper into the history!
Virtual tours have already given buyers a glimpse of the house, so if you want people to check out the inside, the perimeter of the home must look as good or better than the pictures. Fix cracks in the driveway and walkway. Paint or stain railings, shutters, and doors. 
In a shareholder meeting, Elon Musk announced Tesla's headquarters would be moving from California to Austin, Texas. Musk's concerns with operating out of California were the expensive housing costs for employees and limited land for expansion. These reasons, along with a distaste for business restrictions imposed on the company by California, have fueled (or should we say charged) the move. It is important to note that Elon stated Tesla isn't entirely leaving California. They will still run operations out of the golden state. However, Texas will see a majority of production and expansion from the electric car company. What will this Mean for the Austin Real Estate Market? With Austin already experiencing an enormous housing market boom, it's interesting to question what kind of further impact this move will have. Many other large companies are building in or moving to Austin, such as Oracle, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Canva, and SpaceX. These and others will be accelerating the economy further and continue to increase the cost of living in our city. Even at all-time highs, it is a great time to begin investing in the Austin Real Estate market. With all the expansion and growth the city is seeing, it only makes sense for the market to follow. If you're curious about your options when it comes to buying in Austin, feel free to reach out by filling out the form below!
Austin has seen a crazy uptrend in residents over the past decade. A lot of people are wondering, what exactly is drawing all of these people to this city? The more you learn about Austin, the more it makes sense. While of course, this city won't be the right fit for everyone, Austin has a lot to offer. It's Less Expensive than other Major Cities Many of the people relocating to Austin are coming from cities such as Los Angeles and New York. Coming from cities like these, the prices are a lot more reasonable in comparison. People are finding more for their money while still living in a large growing city. The Weather is Gorgeous With an average of 228 sunny days a year, Austin is a great place to live if you enjoy warm weather and outdoor activities. In fact, it's listed as one of the sunniest cities in America! During the Summer season, the heat is no joke, but the Spring, Fall, and Winter seasons are absolutely heavenly thanks to the mild temperatures and golden sunshine. There's an Abundance of Outdoor Activities The beautiful weather we have here in Austin helps make outdoor activities a lot more enjoyable and available. We have a very active scene of runners, hikers, bikers that take advantage of the many trails and parks that are nestled in the city. And when the heat becomes too much, there are many ways to cool off such as visiting our local spring-fed pools, paddleboarding on lady Bird Lake, or heading out to Lake Travis. Employment Opportunities are Plentiful Austin is finding a lot of companies relocating to the city, some notable names include Oracle, Google, and Tesla. What makes Austin desirable for companies is lower housing costs and tax rates compared to other big cities, and Texas has more relaxed regulations for companies. The Locals are Genuinely Friendly One thing that often surprises a lot of people when visiting here is how friendly everyone is. With a population of just over 1 million, Austin is not a small city. However, Austinites have a way of really making you feel welcomed and important. The Food is Incredible Austin has consistently found itself placed high on lists rating the best food cities in America. The two holy grails of Austin are Tex-Mex and Barbeque with endless options scattered around the city. Another thing we're well known for is a lively food truck scene. Some of the best meals in the city can be found here so be sure to give them a try. Lively Music Scene The music scene we have here attracts a lot of visitors. You can experience live music in theatres, bars, restaurants, and even out on the street. We are also home to festivals such as SXSW and Austin City Limits. No State Income Tax One of the biggest financial perks to moving to Austin is taking advantage of Texas' no state income tax. This is huge for people moving from states with extremely high state income tax rates such as California.
Technology has changed the real estate industry tremendously over the years. With the majority of people doing their search from the comfort of home, you may ask yourself if holding an open house is worth it. While having an aggressive online strategy and stunning photos are important, there are still some huge advantages to this old-school method. Let’s start by answering some common questions. Will an Open House Sell my Home? It’s unlikely for an open house alone to sell a home. People don’t just walk into a house with a briefcase full of cash and close on the spot. However, coupled with the rest of a solid marketing plan, they can be extremely valuable. Two important things will be generated, attention and interest. Are Open Houses Worth it? Knowing an open house won’t sell your home on its own, you may ask yourself if it’s worth doing. If you only hold an open house and don't back it up with any other marketing methods, it will be easy to get lost in the current real estate market. From what our team has found, open houses are still very much worth the time when paired with the rest of our aggressive online strategy. Below are some reasons why open houses are worth it. There are many buyers who many not want to book a private showing with an agent and prefer the relaxed nature of an open house. Open houses provide us with an opportunity to receive instant feedback about the home which helps with making any necessary changes. Open houses are a great time to share with friends and family who can then mention the listing to people they know are looking for a home. Neighbors may drop in and also mention it to someone after seeing signage outside. You can set the scene and ensure your home is show ready, unlike when people drop in on short notice with traditional showings. Things to Take Care of Before Showings Before you let prospective buyers walk through your home, it's best to make sure everything is in presentable condition. Starting with The Exterior Give the lawn a fresh cut Trim your trees and shrubs Wash all windows inside and out Sweep the sidewalks and driveway Moving to The Kitchen Declutter and clean all kitchen countertops Take down any notes, photos, and magnets from the refrigerator Make your cabinets, sinks, appliances, and floors sparkle with a good wipe down Patch/paint walls and ceilings Moving to The Bathrooms Eliminate any unnecessary items from your countertops Organize closets and cabinets Give the sinks, toilets, floors, bathtubs, and showers a deep clean Heading to the Living Areas Clean up piles of magazines and newspapers from tables Clean floors, light fixtures, and furniture Patch/paint walls and ceilings Double Check Before Showings Before buyers come into your doors, make sure to do a double-check and complete last-minute touches to keep your home looking great! Pick up after your pets Clear off your driveway and sidewalks Open your curtains to let the sunshine in When the weather allows, open your windows to let in some fresh air Tidy up anything you missed
An increase in mortgage rates and rising housing costs are important things to look at when determining when to buy a home. Some recent forecasts of mortgage rates in 2022 show an increase from the lows we are currently at. These were estimated by researchers within Freddie Mac as well as the Mortgage Bankers Association. 2022 Mortgage Rate Forcast In July of 2021, the economic research team from Freddie Mac predicted mortgage rates in the U.S. would gradually rise through the end of this year and into 2022. At the time of this prediction, rates were hovering around 2.8%. Their forecast is estimating a slow rise for 30-year fixed home loans to around 3.8% by the end of 2022. This rise may seem insigificant to some, but if you run the numbers it makes a big difference in what you'll end up paying in interest. While this is just the prediction of one group, a very notable one, we've seen similar predictions from many economists and research groups. The Mortgage Bankers Association, mentioned earlier, has recently predicted that 30-year fixed home loans could even rise above 4% next year. Overall, we're seeing a trend of predictions showing an increase in rates. What is Driving up the Rates? Often when talking about rising rates, the Federal Reserve and their policies will be attributed to influencing mortgage rates. While their influence can be a factor, they do not control them directly. Things to keep an eye on are rising inflation and economic growth. Looking at historical data, rates tend to trend upward along with inflation and over the past months we've seen a rise in inflation. On top of this we are currently experiencing economic growth within the U.S. as a whole. This can also apply upward pressure on interest rates. Concerns of Rising Home Prices We've seen a tremendous rise in home value over the past year. This is a concern for some wondering if the trend will continue, level out, or even crash. While nobody can say for sure, it's more than likely we won't see a significant crash in prices, but there is an expectation from them to level off. However, waiting for this correction could mean more lost money through interest in the rising mortgage rates. For example let's take the average sold price in Austin, TX as of August 2021 at $656,784. At a 20% downpayment you're looking at a loan amount of $525,427. 