Your Guide to the Best Christmas Lights in Central Texas

December 1, 2014 By

One of my family’s favorite Christmas traditions is driving around looking at Christmas lights. I’ve compiled a list of some of the more extravagant displays around Central Texas from Fort Hood all the way down to San Marcos.

Be sure to check the links below before heading out, in case any of the schedules change.

North

Fort Hood

Nature in Lights, a Holiday Tradition

Enjoy the drive through over five and a half miles of holiday-inspired scenes. Like magic, BLORA is once again transformed into a winter wonderland for all to enjoy: kids and kids at heart

  • When: Until January 4, from 5:30-11 p.m.
  • Where: Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area
  • Cost: $7 per car

 

 

Georgetown

Christmas Stroll

Bring the family and walk through the many wonders of Whoo-Village, enjoy live entertainment, a special kids activity area, treats in the food court and browse more than 250 arts and crafts booths. Children will love the various FREE activities and rides and visiting with Santa. There’s even a parade on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. If you can’t visit during the stroll, stop by any evening to see the Downtown Square lit up for the season.

  • When: Friday, December 5, from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Where: Georgetown Square
  • Cost: Free

Spindler’s Family Light Show

Tune your car radio to 88.5 FM to listen to the music.

  • When: 6pm to 10:30pm
  • Where: 2441 Candle Ridge Trail
  • Cost: Free, but please bring an unwrapped gift for Brown Santa.

Harlien Family Christmas

Tune in to 94.1 while viewing 40,000 lights synchronized to 48 channels of animation. Multiple lit trees, arches, Christmas features, and Santa!!! This year will be the 20th year the Harlien Family has decorated their home to bring joy to neighborhood kids and families. Inspired by a wish granted to their dear friend’s son, this year the Harlien Family has chosen to raise $5,000 to adopt a family wish.

  • When: 6-10 p.m. on weekdays and 6-11 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
  • Where: 400 Liscio Cove. (For safety reasons, all guests are asked to enter Liscio Loop from Lancaster Drive & exit Liscio Loop at Champions.)
  • Cost: Free, but a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation is encouraged.

Shady Oak Christmas Display

The show lasts about an hour if you watch the whole thing, but each song averages around 6 minutes.

  • When: Visit the Facebook page for updates.
  • Where: 107 Shady Oak Drive
  • Cost: Free

 

 

Leander

Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade

Pictures with Santa, Holiday Hayrides, Yule Fire, Choral Performances, Christmas Parade, and Tree Lighting.

  • When: Saturday, December 6 at 5 p.m.
  • Where: City Hall, 200 West Willis St.
  • Cost: Free

 

 

Cedar Park

Anna Court Light Display

This Cedar Park cul-de-sac is decked out with thousands and thousands of festive lights. Tune your radio to 89.1 to listen to the music.

  • When: Nightly until December 31st from 5:30-11:30pm
  • Where: 1321-1333 Anna Court
  • Cost: Free, but please bring a toy to donate to Blue Santa.

Holiday Tree Lighting and Santa’s Workshop

Over 60,000 lights will illuminate the largest Live Oak Tree in Cedar Park. Santa’s Workshop will kick off immediately following the tree lighting ceremony. Enjoy live music, free carriage rides, games and prizes, inflatables, photos with Santa, and arts & crafts projects. Bring the whole family for what promises to be a festive evening.

  • When: December 5, from 6:30-9 p.m.
  • Where: Heritage Oak Park, 875 Quest Parkway.
  • Cost: Free

Chinati Court

  • When: See the Facebook page for updates.
  • Where: Just off Sun Chase Blvd in the Ranch at Cypress Creek. Park on Sun Chase and walk, if you can. (Map)
  • Cost: Free but the neighborhood is a collection point for Brown Santa.

 

 

Round Rock

Rock’N Lights Holiday Light Tour

Come and experience the Rock’N Lights Holiday Light Tour at Old Settler’s Park, from the comfort of your car. With 2 million lights, the 1.5-mile path is the must-see event of the season.

  • When: December 1 to 30, starting at 6 p.m. (closing times vary)
  • Where: 4111 E. Old Settlers Blvd
  • Cost: $15 per family vehicle

Christmas Family Night

Watch as Main Street is illuminated and Santa arrives in his sleigh

  • When: Friday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Where: Historic Downtown, Main Street.
  • Cost: Free

 

 

Pflugerville

Christmas Parade and Pfestival of Lights

The city’s Parks & Recreation Department joins forces with the Knights of Columbus this year and adds activities to the annual Christmas Parade. Blending the two events makes a larger, more fun holiday celebration for the community. The city will bring a stage with live performances from local elementary schools and dancers on the stage at 200 W. Main Street. There will be FREE arts and crafts activities for children, a bonfire, the traditional tree lighting, and photos with Santa Claus at the end of the parade.

  • When: Saturday, December 13, starting at 5:30 p.m. Activities until 8 p.m.
  • Where: The parade travels down Railroad Avenue to Main Street. (Parade route map.)
  • Cost: Donations for the Blue Santa program welcome.

 

 

North Austin

Holiday Light Shows at The Domain

Watch the holidays come to life with hourly lights show in Domain II. More than 82,000 lights and 2,200 strobes will dance to holiday music for the first 15 minutes of each hour.

  • When: Until December 31, hourly between 5 and 9 p.m.
  • Where: Domain II (mall map).
  • Cost: Free

Frozen Medley Christmas Light Show

Viewers can hear the songs from the house’s speakers or from their car radio by tuning in to 106.9 FM.

  • When: Nightly until New Year’s, from 5:30-9:45 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and from 5:30-10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
  • Where: 16412 Rockgate Dr., Austin (near Avery Ranch in Round Rock).
  • Cost: Free

Lanicek Family in Wells Branch

10,000+ lights programmed to 20 minutes of music.

  • When: Until January 3, from 6 – 10 p.m., weather permitting.
  • Where: 2207 Klattenhoff Drive
  • Cost: Free, but the house is a collection point for non-perishable food items for Saint Louis Catholic Church food pantry.

 

 

Central Austin

Mozart’s Coffee Roasters

15-minute light show at the top of each hour. Come drink some hot chocolate while you and your family enjoy the fun decorations and show, including the song “What Does the Fox Say” for the kids.

  • When: Every night from 6 p.m. to midnight
  • Where: 3825 Lake Austin Blvd.
  • Cost: Free

Zilker Holiday Tree

The Zilker Tree stands 155 feet tall and is composed of 39 streamers, each holding 81 multicolored, 25-watt bulbs, totaling 3,309 lights. At the top of the tree, a double star measures 10 feet from point to point. The double star displays 150 frosted bulbs. This unique spiral pattern of lights was created by City of Austin electricians. At its circumference, the tree measures 380 feet. The diameter is 120 feet. The base of the tree is made up of 19 utility poles, each 14 feet tall, arranged in a circle around the Moonlight Tower. Go take a spin under the tree and buy some kettle corn from one of the onsite vendors. REMINDER: December 7-21 the area roads will be closed as thousands visit the Trail of Lights. If you are planning to visit the Holiday Tree itself, make sure to plan around those nights!

  • When: Until December 31, from 6 p.m. to midnight.
  • Where: Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd.
  • Cost: Free

Lighting of the Capitol Tree

The fun starts at 6 p.m. when crowds gather on the south steps of the Capitol to sing the songs of the season with John Aielli, host of the long-running show “Eklektikos” on KUTX 98.9. As the clock strikes 7 p.m., the crowd begins the countdown to the lighting of the Capitol tree, featuring a programmed light show at the top and bottom of every hour, set to holiday songs of local Austin musicians. From 7 to 9 p.m. Congress Ave. will be abuzz with holiday cheer during the Downtown Stroll. Shops, restaurants, galleries and museums will be open late and will feature special activities and offers.

  • When: Saturday, December 6 at 6 p.m.
  • Where: Texas State Capitol, Congress Avenue & 11th Street.
  • Cost: Free

Trail of Lights

To get a sneak peek of the Trail, join the two-mile Fun Run on Saturday, December 6, 7-10 p.m., rain or shine ($20 for adults; $10 for kids).

  • When: December 7-21, from 7-10 p.m.
  • Where: Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd.
  • Cost: Admission to the Trail of Lights is FREE on Opening Night (December 7) and on Monday to Thursday nights. Admission is also FREE for kids under 12 every night. Admission for adults (age 12+) is $3 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (excluding Opening Night). With the purchase of a ZiP Pass for $15, trail-goers can enter the Trail early, starting at 6:15 p.m. on most nights. Shuttle tickets cost $5/person on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights ($4 on weeknights) and provide admission into the Trail of Lights (no additional gate admission ticket is required). Lap children ride free. Zilker Parking Passes are $15. All passes can be purchased online in advance.

Luminations at Wildflower Center

Enjoy Luminations, a Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center holiday tradition. Make plans to visit the lighted gardens, filled with thousands of luminarias and twinkle lights. In addition to the beautiful holiday lighting, there will be hot chocolate and food for sale, plus children’s activities and musical acts throughout both evenings. Kids can get a hug from Frosty the Snowman and make crafts in the Visitors Gallery.

  • When: Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14, from 6-9 p.m.
  • Where: 4801 La Crosse Avenue
  • Cost: Admission is FREE with two canned food items for the Capital Area Food Bank.

 

 

South

Buda

Trail of Lights

Get in the holiday mood by strolling through the park and enjoying the lights! FREE shuttle parking is available at Cabela’s. No parking is permitted in the park. Walk in visitors are welcome and may bring leashed pets. The trail is approximately 1/2 mile long. No pets are allowed on shuttle buses. Hot beverages and concessions will be available for purchase.

  • When: December 12 -13 and 18 – 21, from 6 – 10 p.m
  • Where: Historic Stagecoach Park, 880 Main Street, Buda.
  • Cost: Free

 

 

San Marcos

Sights & Sounds of Christmas

Come out for free Santa photos, holiday performances, ice skating, enjoy festival foods, holiday gift shops, laser light show, free petting zoo, pony rides, carnival, town of Bethlehem, 5K Run, Kids 1K Run. Want to volunteer and get free entry? You can do that too!

  • When: December 3 to 6, from 5 – 11 p.m.
  • Where: San Marcos Plaza Park.
  • Cost: –13 and up is $5; kids 12 and under are FREE.

East

Bastrop

River of Lights

The River of Lights features 120 lighted displays and music. The trail continues all the way down the Lower Colorado River to Ferry Park, about a half mile.

  • When: December 6-31, from 6-9 p.m.
  • Where: Fisherman’s Park, 1200 Willow St.
  • Cost: Free

 

 

West

Dripping Springs

Christmas on Mercer Street

The public is invited to attend the day-long festival on Mercer Street, hosted by the City of Dripping Springs and the Dripping Springs Lions Club. The charming downtown setting of Mercer Street will be transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with lights, holiday decorations, festive music, fire pits for warmth and plenty of holiday cheer. Photos with Santa, train rides, pony rides and a variety of arts, crafts and specialty food and drink booths will be in full swing. The highlight of the evening will be the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree at the Triangle, located at Hwy. 290 and RR 12. At sunset, attendees are invited to gather for the illumination of the tree, showing off its twinkling lights, and joining in festive songs. This year features a special High Steppers performance, in addition to multiple choirs from local Dripping Springs churches and schools. Hot chocolate and coffee will be available for all to enjoy.

  • When: Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Where: Mercer Street, Downtown Dripping Springs
  • Cost: Free

 

 

Wimberley

The EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens Trail of Lights

Stroll a walking path with more than 100 lighted exhibits created by local businesses, churches, organizations and families. Roast a marshmallow at the yule log and listen to live entertainment on most nights. See the schedule of when Santa will be in his house.

  • When: Until December 31, from 6–9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and from 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
  • Where: EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens, 1101 FM 2325
  • Cost: Free

 

 

Gruene

Town Lighting

Watch as Cowboy Kringle rides into town on horseback and lights Gruene for the holidays. Celebrating with live musical performances with festival food and wine available for purchase. Afterwards, get some holiday shopping done at Gruene’s 30+ stores and cozy up to a fireplace for dinner at the Gristmill.

  • When: Saturday, December 6, from 5-6:30 p.m.
  • Where: Downtown Gruene
  • Cost: Free

 

 

Johnson City

Lights Spectacular, Hill Country Style

This holiday season, bring your family to enjoy the magic and beauty of over two million LED lights spread over a mile-long drive through light display. To book a hayride through the lights for your family or group this Christmas season, or if you have any questions, call 512-955-1706.

  • When: Until January 1, from 6-11 p.m
  • Where: 1 mile outside of Johnson City, on Hwy 281.
  • Cost: Free but donations are accepted to help keep the display burning bright!

Toungate Klub Kringle

Come out to see a brand new show, with more lights and new songs!

  • When: Starting December 6 at 8:30 p.m.
  • Where: 2305 Arroyo Grande
  • Cost: Free
Filed Under: Family Life, Georgetown Lifestyle, How I help buyers, Inside Scoop, Reviews and Recommendations Tagged With: , , ,

Austin a Top City to Retire

October 19, 2012 By

We all know that Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, attracting thousands of young visitors every year.  It’s also home to one of the largest universities in the country and boasts a very low unemployment rate.  But did you also know it’s a great place to retire?

CNN just put out an article ranking Austin the #5 city to retire due to its low state income tax (0%), amazing outdoor trails and parks, and top tier health care.

Full article here: http://money.cnn.com/gallery/retirement/2012/10/16/best-places-retire.moneymag/5.html

Filed Under: Family Life, How I help buyers, Market Updates, Real Estate News, Reviews and Recommendations Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Country Living in the City – 101 Rio Bravo

April 28, 2011 By
Custom-built by Jack Hunnicutt on 2.5+ acres in the City of Georgetown.

Custom-built by Jack Hunnicutt on 2.5+ acres in the City of Georgetown.

Whether you were born in the city and a cowboy at heart, or born in the country and a city slicker at heart, 101 Rio Bravo is the best of both worlds. This Jack Hunicutt custom-built home sits perfectly on a parcel of land just under 3 acres and under 5 minutes to Wolf Ranch in the City of Georgetown! The convenience of this unique and rare property allows you to visit shops, restaurants, and retailers in the day, then come home in the early evening and enjoy the trees and the breeze on your back patio.

 

Longleaf pine wood floors from 100-year old reclaimed wood throughout.

Longleaf pine wood floors from 100-year old reclaimed wood throughout.

The flagstone walkway leads you to your home and the first thing you notice is the longleaf pine wood floors. Not only is it modern and refinished, it has a bit of history as well. The source for these longleaf pine wood floors comes from 100-year old reclaimed wood beams. You’ll be able to admire and admonish this historic wood in the entry, executive office, great room, dining room, and kitchen.

 

Bobby Flay would be proud of this kitchen.

Bobby Flay would be proud of this kitchen.

As you walk past the stone fireplace and hand-hewn wood mantle floating above it, you enter a kitchen that could double as a studio on Food Network: built-in sub-zero refrigerator and freezer, double convection ovens, gas cook top, prep sink and disposal on the island with double sink, disposal and trash compactor behind, walk-in pantry, and enough custom cabinets and pull-out drawers to make Giada jealous! This type of kitchen wouldn’t be complete without granite counter tops and a breakfast bar the length of a saloon in an old western – yeehaw! By the way, if there’s a shootout in this western, be sure to head for the walk-in pantry where the walls and ceiling are reinforced with concrete and wooden door reinforced with steel! This pantry could keep you safe through a tornado, seriously.

2,500 sf Stand-alone Workshop

2,500 sf Stand-alone Workshop

If the ~3,700 sf home isn’t enough for your belongings, head to the rear of the property where a 2,500 sf workshop awaits. This metal building has a double garage door and a 14-ft tall door to accommodate your RV or boat. You can fit 6 cars, power lawn equipment, an RV, a boat, or even a Jiffy Lube franchise! Need more space? This workshop has close to 700 sf of heated and cooled office space, a separate storage closet, and floored attic storage! This workshop gives other so-called man caves claustrophobia.

For floor plans, square footage, and other information on this home (like 24-hour fitness room, second floor suite, koi pond, 3 backyard patios, wired 7.1 surround sound, and plantation shutter window treatment) check out the pictures, video, and attachments below:

101 Rio Bravo – Options and Upgrades
101 Rio Bravo – Sellers Disclosure
elevations
first-floor
second-floor
holmlund-lower-floor-plan-3682sqft
Inspection Report 4/7/1
Recent Repairs
101 Rio Bravo – Septic Disclosure

Filed Under: Georgetown Builders, Property Listings, Reviews and Recommendations, Wood Ranch Tagged With: , , ,

Plus Four Dining in Georgetown, Texas

January 31, 2011 By

bread salad

Plus Four Dining

I’m not sure if the number 4 means how many courses you get with the main meal, or how many tables will be filled on a Tuesday night, but it was eerily empty when my wife and I visited for the first time.  The waitress that served us did an average job and didn’t seem to talk about the menu too much, not what you would typically expect from a “fancy” restaurant.  At our experience at Hudson’s on the Bend (I’m still procrastinating on that review), the waiter would tell us the menu and describe almost any dish in painstaking detail if you needed him to.  We were a little reluctant to try this place because it’s been the third restaurant in that same location in probably the past 4-5 years.  If we liked it, would it still be around a year from now?

The Review

The first two dishes we got were a bread starter with 3 types of compound butter and a nice mixed salad.  The bread and butter was good, although I was really hoping for more butter.  As you can see from the pictures above, we really had to spread the butter thin to make it last and I almost licked the plate just so I wouldn’t have to stick a piece of unbuttered bread in my mouth, but reminded myself that I was in public.

I ordered the Pork Tenderloin with Cider Sauce, Bacon-Wrapped Apple, Acorn Squash Risotto and Brussels Sprouts.  Autumn got the NY Strip with Mashed Potato, Spinach and Messy Grilled Corn.

pork-and-cabbage steak

As you can tell by all of the pictures, the restaurant was very dark!  The pork dish (on the left) was good:   The Brussels sprouts had a nice smokey flavor and the Risotto was cooked nicely.  The steak was ordered medium-rare and was cooked perfectly.  Autumn liked my sides better, and we both preferred the steak over the pork.  If it weren’t for the large portions of these main courses, I think we both would have left very hungry.  The dessert was nothing too impressive and ofcourse the portions were pretty small too, but by then we were pretty full.

Conclusion:  This is a nice restaurant in Georgetown, Texas that is convenient to the square and not as pricey as Silver and Stone (Total bill was under $60).  It’s a novel idea to throw in a few courses with your main meal “for free” and prolong the enjoyment of a good meal.  If you’re in a rush to go somewhere, avoid dinner here and skip to the Monument Cafe instead.  If you want a nice meaningful conversation with somebody and nibble like a rabbit before you get stuffed with the main dish, then this is your place.  We would be open to visiting it again, maybe when the menu changes to try something new.  Check our the Plus Four Dining website and let me know what you think!

Filed Under: Restaurants, Reviews and Recommendations Tagged With: , ,

Bell Embroidery in Georgetown Texas – Why I DON’T recommend them

December 31, 2010 By

This Bell’s Broken – Embroidery in Georgetown Texas Review

broken-bell1 Don’t get me wrong, I love supporting “Mom and Pop” shops and going local when it comes to eating out and shopping.  However, a recent wave of backfiring has really challenged that idea for me.

Example 1:

This year I bought a gift card to a local restaurant, Carmines, as a client appreciation gift.  About 1 month later they closed up shop!  The writing is usually on the wall, several months in advance, that your business will fail.  I think selling a gift card when you’re about to close your restaurant is a pretty lame thing to do.

Example 2:

Another example is Keva Juice.  I loved that company and I know they tried their hardest to stay open.  However, now we own a re-chargeable debit card from Keva Juice that has money on it, but can’t be used because they went out of business too!  Anybody want to trade it for a Starbucks gift card?

The Review:

Well, a few months ago, I decided to give another local company a chance for an embroidered shirt project for Mars Hill Realty.  Instead of going with Land’s End or another large reputable embroidery company. I chose an embroidery company in Georgetown, Texas called Bell Embroidery that also does Tuxedo Rentals in Georgetown Texas , Sewing and Alterations in Georgetown Texas.

egg

When I went in to digitize my logo, I had to “eyeball” and hand-select my logo colors from one of their charts.  I found it pretty old-fashioned that they didn’t have some type of conversion chart and be able to just take my current color #’s and use them.  After a few re-iterations, I decided to test out my logo on two shirts and the planet Mars on the logo looked more like an orange egg than a planet.

Well, I had 8 more shirts to go and I really wanted to give these guys a shot.  So, I went in to the store, paid for my two shirts and had them re-adjust and shorten the logo to reduce the “oval-effect” by about 1-2 cm.  After what seemed to be an unusually long wait period (several weeks), I got the stitch-out “proof” back and the logo looked great.  I happily handed over the rest of my 8 shirts and after another several weeks I went in to pick them up and the logos looked EXACTLY the same as the original logo did!

I asked Jeremy, the owner, if he noticed anything different and he was not willing to go along with me on this exercise.  So I just asked if he could check with the seamstress if they had used the original logo stitch-out or the new stitch-out that we had adjusted 1-2 cm shorter.

After 2-3 phone call attempts and leaving messages, I finally got Jeremy to call me back a week or two later with his answer.  He confirmed that they used the newest stitch-out for my 8 shirts.  The next day, I went in to his store with my original two shirts and a measure tape.  I confirmed that the old logo stitch-out and the logos on all of my 10 shirts had the exact same measurements.  However, the new logo stitch-out proof was shorter by 1-2 cm.  I couldn’t reconcile how the new logos on the final 8 shirts didn’t match the new logo stitch-out, but instead matched the old logo stitch-out exactly!

At this point, Jeremy was being very uncooperative and refused to even ackowledge or personally try to measure the logos himmself.  He just wanted us out of his store.

After leaving the store, I tried to call him and asked for a refund before I gave him a bad review….but when I told him who it was on the phone, he hung up on me.  I guess I’m not everybody’s favorite Homeboy.

As we were leaving the store, Jeremy told me and my brother to “Be Careful.”  Edwin turned and looked at me with a very puzzled look.  “Be careful for what?” Edwin asked.  Well, I think I know the answer.  Before you choose to get your next embroidery project done at Bell Embroidery, make sure you heed the wise words of Jeremy, the owner of Bell Embroidery:  Be Careful.

be-careful-safety-sign-s-4152

Second Chances:

Well, maybe not for Bell Embroidery, but for local businesses, sure.  As many times as I have gotten burnt from small companies that take my money in exchange for shoddy service, I will keep trying them out.  Why? Because I’m a small business too. And every once in a while I find those small Mom and Pops that have a heart and love for their product and service that can never be found in a big company store or restaurant…and that makes the search all worth it.

-Your Favorite HOMEboy

Filed Under: Reviews and Recommendations Tagged With:

Coopers Old Time Pit BBQ in Llano, TX

May 26, 2010 By

We made a family trip out to Coopers Old Time Pit BBQ in Llano, TX a few weeks ago and our friends Brett and Lisa came with us.  We decided to go easy and not over-order like we normally do.  We picked a variety of their meats for comparison purposes and overall the meal was pretty good, sausage was better then Snow’s BBQ, but nothing was really “out of the ballpark” for me.  No disappointments, but no “wow” factor either…just good ‘ole dependable BBQ.  Afterwards, we hung out at the Llano River Bridge for some rock-throwing and picture-taking.

Coopers is just about 1 hour and a few minutes away from Georgetown and is an easy drive down Hwy 29.  Check it out and feel free to share your comments on how you feel this place compares with others!  The readers of this blog would love to hear your opinion!  Check out the pictures below:

Looking for information on Georgetown Texas Homes For Sale? Visit my website or call me anytime!! Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

Filed Under: Family Life, Georgetown Day Trips, Restaurants, Reviews and Recommendations Tagged With:

4 Blocks from Historic Georgetown Texas: 404 East 8th Street

December 19, 2009 By


View Larger Map
4Br/2Ba/2Living/Bonus Building in Backyard (Scroll map to the right to see location of home)

Live Music, Market Days, Christmas Strolls, the list goes on and on….it’s what makes Historic Downtown Georgetown the heart of this city and why people from all over the world fall in love with the city of Georgetown, Texas.

However, the real “magic” of downtown Georgetown isn’t just the “special events,” it’s the unique lifestyle it offers for those who live, work and play here. Now, here’s your chance to be less than 4 blocks from “the square” and own a piece of history on 404 East 8th Street.

The Numbers:

This home is being GIVEN AWAY at $200,000 by the current owners! It’s approximately 2000 SF and that doesn’t include the bonus room that the current owners built in the backyard. If you do a little preliminary analysis, you’ll notice that $100/SF in this part of town, with this type of proximity to the square, is amazing. When the real estate market was appreciating in recent years, the part of town that experienced one of the highest percent gains was downtown Georgetown. It’s not unusual to see these older homes sell upwards of $130/sf to $150/sf.

The Delimma:

So why isn’t this sold? Currently the owners have some college students living in the home and paying rent. If you’ve been a college student before (or have college-aged kids) you know that housekeeping isn’t something they normally choose to major in. When I was at the University of Rochester my priorities were: Fulfilling my ROTC obligations, serving my college fellowship, squeaking by in school and hanging out with my future wife Autumn. Not necessarily in that order. I worried more about how I would get my next chicken wing fix, then I would about cleaning up the place. Fortunately, God blessed me with Josue Padilla, quite possibly the cleanest Puerto Rican man on earth!

The bottom line, staged homes help sell homes quicker. Messy college-boy homes take a bit longer. The other difficulty is finding a buyer who is willing to move in after the current lease is up sometime in May of 2010.

However, if you’re an investor, this is a dream. These types of homes are rarely vacant because college boys just rotate through them pretty automatically. Hold on to the home and sell it when the market peaks.

If you want to take advantage of the tax credits and interest rates, now is the perfect opportunity to snatch this up even if you are an owner-occupant.

12/21 Update: If you’re an investor looking to capitalize on the college rental market here’s a tip. Don’t just get a home with proximity to Southwestern University. Get one that is also close to the square. That way you can attract the college crowd and also have maximum potential for appreciation on your home due to the rare location. As of this date, this is the ONLY home on the market that is in the prime location I just described. There are maybe 4-5 other rental homes close to the University, but they are all about 1/2 – 1 mile from the square and are mostly located across a major street (University Avenue).

Check out the pictures below:

Filed Under: Downtown Georgetown, Georgetown Lifestyle, Google Maps, Property Listings, Reviews and Recommendations Tagged With: , , ,

Testimonial for carpet cleaner in Georgetown, Texas

December 8, 2009 By

A bunch of Nerds…that about sums up my experience.  However, if you are studying for an astrophysics final at Harvard, that’s exactly who you want in your study group.

If you want to hire the “astrophysics nerd” for carpet cleaning, look no further.  Check out the video below and put Wayne Filer and his crew in your smartphone under “Carpet Cleaning Nerds”

~your Favorite HOMEboy Nerd, Edward

Filed Under: Reviews and Recommendations Tagged With: , , , ,

Wink Restaurant in Austin, Texas

October 26, 2009 By

100_8158Last week I took my wife to Austin for a date…complete with babysitting and everything:)  We were going to go to one of our favorite restaurants in Austin, Texas:  Wink

The last time we were here, we saw the sampler menu and thought, “Gee, this looks yummy!  And it’s only $65 for all this food!”  For some retarded reason, we thought it would feed the both of us.  Over an hour later, to our surprise, we got the bill and it was $65 per person!  So needless to say that meal was memorable in many ways.

There were two items that left an impression on us so we decided to order them again:  The Scallops and the Foie Gras.  Disclaimer:  These pictures were taken with my dinky point and shoot in a very dimly lit restaurant.  So they are bad pictures.


Seared Dayboat Scallops with mixed bell peppers, Italian roma beans and shellfish veloute:

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These scallops are unlike anything you’ve ever tasted.  They’re velvety smooth in the inside and have so much more flavor then those dinky scallops you normally see in restaurants.  The difficult thing to do is to cook these right.  You undercook them and they’re too fishy, you overcook them and they’re too tough.  These were done perfectly.  You can order this as an appetizer or a meal.  Since Autumn and I were splitting everything, we got the meal size for $29.  Too much of this can be a little overwhelming, so make sure you share and don’t be greedy.  Or just ask the waiter for more bread.

Seared Foie Gras on brioche with pickled rhubarb, black pepper strawberries, and almonds:

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Now this was an appetizer…but for $22, it sure wasn’t priced like one.  If you’ve never had foie gras, you’ve got to taste it at this restaurant.  It’s full of flavor and just melts in your mouth.  Why do they give you so little of it?  It must be bad for you that’s why.  I’m not even sure I know what it is.  Something about fat and liver is what Autumn told me.  Hey, it’s French, what can I say?  Just eat it and quit worrying.

Word of advice: Get reservations.  I thought I could just mozy on in the restaurant, but good thing I called.  The guy on the phone told me I had a choice of 6:30 PM or 9:30 PM.  Gee, thanks for the choices.  We went for 6:30 PM and decided to catch a Realtor event afterwards.  We didn’t eat too much here because there was supposed to be food at the following event (turned out that there wasn’t much there either).  When you get to Wink, they also usually give you a little pre-meal tasting of something they made to whet your appetite.  This time Autumn and I got to try some Ginger tea with a Ginger snap cookie.  Impressive, I know.  What’s impressive about these restaurants is how they can serve you so little and give you the silliest things and yet they taste so good and seem to cost so much.  In the end, is it worth it?  Well remember, we came back for a second time…and considering that we only had a choice of two reservation times that night… other people come back as well.
At the Realtor event, the food was pretty lame, but check out the fire dancer!

Filed Under: Family Life, Restaurants, Reviews and Recommendations Tagged With:

Not just hype – Green building pays off

September 5, 2009 By

Green Building – Should you believe the hype?
hype-mfp-energy-drink-iiThere’s been a lot of hype surrounding green building practices lately.  Save energy, save the earth and feel good about yourself for making a difference for the next generation.  What’s not to love?  Especially if you can save money at the same time!  Well, last year I decided to test the waters with my own green building experience.  I decided to move into a home built by Green Builders in Georgetown Village and got my Ecobroker certification to learn more about the industry and help others through the process of “going green.”

After 12 months of living in a green home, I decided to compare my utility bills with the previous year of living in a “non-green” home and see if there was a noticeable difference.  Keep in mind that this blog post will only focus on the financial benefits, but green building also benefits the environment and the health of your family.  Before I get into the results, there are a few details I need to share with you first:

1.  My previous home was on 115 Village Park Drive (115 VP) and I only moved 5 houses down to 125 Village Park Drive (125 VP) – Location is pretty much the same (Georgetown Village), and so all the climate and home positioning factors are relatively equal.

2.  I compared the time frame of August 2007 – July 2008 for 115 VP with August 2008 – July 2009 for 125 VP – The 2008 summer was pretty dang hot….but anybody can tell you that the 2009 summer was even worse, not to mention a pretty bad drought that we’ve been having too!

3.  For utility consumption purposes, my family size stayed the same:  Just Me, my wife and 3 rascals under the age of 5.

4.  Lastly (here’s the big one); the home on 115 VP drive is a 2000 SF, SINGLE STORY and my new home on 125 VP drive is a 2800 SF, TWO STORY – a home that is 40% larger!

Comparing the Gas Bill

Gas

Both of my homes used used gas for the stove, furnace and water heater.  125 VP had a slight advantage in efficiency because the home was built in 2008 and 115 VP was built in 2002.  My home on 115 VP used a traditional water heater that would maintain the temperature at a fairly consistent temperature.  The home on 125 VP uses a tankless water heater so it heats water on demand.  I also have a 50 gallon traditional water heater that is dedicated to my 400 SF home office above my garage, but I hardly ever use hot water up there.  So despite the fact that I have 2 water heaters, 1.5 more bathrooms and 800 extra SF more in my newer home, I still ended up spending only $359 over a 12 month period compared to $521 for 115 VP.  A savings of $162/year.

Winner:  125 VP

Comparing the Electric Bill

So how did my larger 125 VP home use 20% less electricity then 115 VP?  Well, for one, all of the bulbs in that home are compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).  According to the Energy Star website, CFL’s use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.  This is an easy upgrade for any homeowner to do.  Word of warning though, you’ll notice that the cost of these bulbs are MUCH higher.  Sure, they’ll boast that the CFL lasts 7 years or longer and that might be a good justification, but as of the 12 month mark, I had 4 of my CFLs go out on me already.  I also purchased a more efficient refrigerator, and a front loading washer/dryer set for my new home.  The HVAC unit in my Green Builder home also went up in efficiency to a minimum of 14 seer.  These appliances can make a significant difference in reducing energy consumption.

Another HUGE advantage that 125 VP has is that the insulation is spray foam.  You can go up in the attic at 125 VP during a 100+ degree summer day and you won’t feel like you’re in an oven.  In fact, you might feel comfortable enough to play a game of checkers up there.  The foam does an amazing job keeping cool air in and hot air out during the summer so that my HVAC doesn’t have to work as hard.  The home’s exterior is a white Austin stone, which is better at reflecting heat then the red brick on my 115 VP home.  In order to minimize direct sunlight shining directly into the home, Green Builders constructs their windows higher up and extends the roofline over the home further out.  The result: I spent $1304 for 125 VP and $1418 for 115 VP, a savings of $114/year.

Winner:  125 VP

Comparing the Water Bill

125 VP has low-flow toilets and showerheads, a 53 gallon rain collection barrel, drought-tolerant landscaping and more efficient appliances.  115 VP has a smaller yard.  Even though my grass is looking pretty ugly over at the 125 VP home, at least I can feel satisfied that I spent less on my water bill then I did at my 115 VP home!  In fact, it was a measly $16/year less ($378 versus $394), but still a win for green building!

Winner:  125 VP

Conclusion:

Living in 125 VP saved me money and usage on all three utilities:  Gas, Electric and Water.  A total savings of almost $300/year or $25/month!  However, keep in mind the home is 40% larger and still managed a savings.  At a utility cost of $0.73/SF/year, that would mean that if I didn’t upgrade and just moved into a 2000 SF green home, my utility costs would only be $1458/year.  115 VP, a 2000 SF home, cost me $2333/year!  That’s a difference of $875/year or $73/month.

This $73/month could justify a homeowner paying $10,000 more for a green home and keep his cost of ownership (house payment and utilities) pretty much the same.  Another way to look at it is this:  If you are going to invest $10,000 to achieve a savings of $875/year, you might want to make sure you live in the home long enough to reap the financial benefits.

If you’re considering a purchase of a green home or doing energy efficient upgrades, tap into my Georgetown Texas real estate expertise and give me a call or share your experiences in the comments below.  I’d love to hear from you!

Looking for information on Georgetown Texas Homes For Sale? Visit my website or call me anytime!! Want the latest updates on Georgetown Texas Real Estate, news and latest developments? Sign up for the blog by clicking the link below:

Filed Under: Georgetown Village, Green Building, Inside Scoop, Reviews and Recommendations Tagged With: , , ,
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