Texas Realty Blog

City Spotlight: McAllen-Mission Area Tops Growth Charts

By DeeinAustin™

McAllen, Texas has been the talk of the nation for a few years now.

The McAllen-Mission-Edinburg area in South Texas (past San Antonio) consistently tops national charts for highest expected job growth, appreciation and housing growth.

GROWTH COMPARISON CHART
This chart was created in Google Docs to show you how McAllen, Mission, and Edinburg compare to each other as well as two major cities in Central/South Texas.

TOP THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU VISIT MCALLEN, MISSION, OR EDINBURG TEXAS

Community Spotlight: Historic Gruene and New Braunfels

By DeeinAustin™

I took a trip to New Braunfels this past weekend. I'd been hearing about rapid growth in the area, so wanted to see for myself. New Braunfels and the Gruene (pronounced, "green") Historic District are our Destination Spotlight for this week.

New Braunfels,Texas is a sleepy town about 30 miles South of Austin on the way to San Antonio. The areas is a getaway destination for busy professionals in Central Texas as well as out of state visitors.

College students from San Marcos and Austin also visit during the summer for fun on the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers.

View the short photo tour below of new construction in the area. Click the photos to view a larger version.

"GRUENE GARDEN" LUXURY GARDEN VILLA COMMUNITY

'Tis a Vacation for Texas Realty Blog

SEASONS GREETINGS from DeeinAustin™ (Dee Copeland) and her guest bloggers.

We wish you and your family a happy holiday season! We will be back on THURSDAY December 27th.

In the meantime, enjoy some of our favorite posts from the trips and traveling section.

FAVORITE TRIPS AND TRAVEL POSTS

Spotlight Family Getaways: Destination Holiday or Just a Little R&R

By Carey Eskridge

Many weekenders from Houston and Dallas think of the hill country as the area anchored by Kerrville and Fredericksburg, I'm here to tell you those are the foothills and just the beginning.

Your family may be looking for a "home away from home" or maybe you need winter getaway for some R&R. Whatever your fancy, head further west into the heart of the hill country to the area bounded by Vanderpool, Leakey, and Utopia. You'll have a hard time remembering you're in Texas when you see what has been called "the Swiss Alps of Texas."

Featuring Lost Maples State Natural Area, Garner State Park, and the Frio and Sabinal Rivers, this area has long been an attraction for outdoor enthusiasts and families. Lost Maples is home to a forest of Sycamore trees that literally explode with New England-esque color in the fall, usually in November.

Keep in mind that conditions are generally more wintry in this part of the state, building a fire and opening presents in the middle of such spectacular scenery is a gift itself.

WHERE TO STAY

Wimberley and Texas Hill Country Popular Relocation Destinations

I was reading a great New York Times article about Wimberley, Texas. Wimberley is no longer being overlooked as a beautiful and relaxing relocation destination. Even Texans from Austin, Houston and San Antonio are flocking to the Texas Hill Country.

WHY IS WIMBERLEY POPULAR?

First, Wimberley is part of the scenic Texas Hill Country in Hays County, just south of Austin.  Second, the neighbors. People are friendly in Texas, especially most small towns.

Another popular reason to relocate to the Texas Hill Country? LAND! Where else can you buy 25-50 acres of land with rolling hilltops and mature trees for a reasonable price? If you're tired of the city and want to surround yourself with nature, this is the place. In fact, it's not uncommon to to buy land or acreage that includes stock ponds, a well, or wet creek.

THE REST OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

Other cities in Hays County, such as Buda and Dripping Springs have boomed in recent years and should continue. If you're looking closer to the City of San Marcos, land may be a little more expensive since it's near Texas State University, which is where I graduated. From my understanding, the San Marcos rental market is still going strong. 

SEARCH for Hays County homes and land now.

Read all about the still hot Hays County.
Read the story: A Hill Country Town Raises Its Profile - New York Times.

 

Get Your Get-Away at HomeAway.com

One of my friends mentioned a great get-away website called HomeAway.com. The site was started by a millionaire retiree from Dell years ago when their stock was booming. Essentially, he's a "Dell-ionaire".

The entrepreneur started the vacation site to allow home owners to post their seasonal rentals. I really like the site and have been using it to find great deals in all areas of the U.S, but the site also has listings in Mexico, Europe and other countries.

I think it's a great idea to rent one of the getaways at the site because you save on hotel taxes and will have a more unique place to stay. Most homes have full kitchens and all of the amenities you'd want in a home-away-from-home. The rates are usually much better than if you chose to stay at a resort for the same period of time.

Check it out: Vacation Rentals, Vacation Home Rentals, Condo Rentals at HomeAway. Another great site is BedandBreakfast.com.

Treat Yourself to Texas-sized Amusement

I just realized today that we all need to relax. Wars, gas prices, tragedies at schools and real estate busts; it's all too much for a country to handle. Not to make light of these serious situations, but each day can be more intense unless we make a conscious effort to enjoy our lives.

Besides eating bar-b-que or fried stuff and having the best real estate market in the country, Texas has many fun attractions to entertain your entire family (or business partners). A good site to visit is AllAcrossTexas.com, which lists theme parks, attractions, zoos, wineries, water parks, etc.

Here's just a few links to help you relax in Texas:

• SixFlags theme parks in Arlington or San Antonio.
• Visit a Texas state park.
• Keep cool at a water park.
• Go on an adventure vacation in Texas.

The earlier you plan, the better. The Texas heatwave will be pretty intense in July and August.

Link: Texas Amusement Parks, Water Parks and Zoos....Texas Travel.

Read more about the Texas economy.

Weekend Event Update: Cinco de Mayo in Texas

Texas has deep roots and a connection (besides our border) with Mexico. We were once called Tejas until the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio. I grew up in San Antonio, so am familiar with celebrating Mexican Independence Day on May 5th of each year.

Here's a list of just a few Cinco de Mayo celebrations across Texas this weekend.

• AUSTIN Cinco de Mayo at Central Market. Former City Council Member Raul Alvarez hosts today's celebration. Sat., May 5, 4-10pm. Central Market North, 4001 N. Lamar, 206-1000. Free.
• AUSTIN. Annual Cinco de Mayo Music Festival at Fiesta Gardens. May 3rd-6th.
• EL PASO. May 5 -- This “Taste of the Border” festival featuring mariachis, margaritas, tequila and a mole extravaganza kicks off at 3:00 and goes into the wee hours of the night.
• HOUSTON has several events this weekend, including Cinco de Drinko and a parade.
• SAN ANTONIO. May 4-6--San Antonio draws about 30,000 to its festivities with food booths at its historic Market Square, street dancing, handicrafts, concerts and other commemorations.

See the Cinco de May celebrations in your state and remember...margaritas taste better outside.

Monterrey Mexico Great Spot for Visiting Texans

I had a discussion with some friends yesterday about the appeal of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. I plan to travel more next year and perhaps live abroad. Spain is at the top of my list, but I've also looked at Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand since I have friends who live in those countries.

The main concern U.S. citizens have when traveling or living abroad is safety. I can't think of many countries where I'd feel completely "safe", but political unrest and economic instability are important issues. There are several reasons why I've narrowed my search to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico.

• Proximity. Monterrey is a 90-minute direct flight from Houston, Texas. It's not too far from my birth city of San Antonio, so I can visit my parents in San Antonio more often.
• Natural Beauty. Monterrey is an "advanced" city with modern amenities, but it's not as much of a tourist town as the coastal areas. I want my wireless internet, but I also plan to enjoy the mountains, gardens, historic museums and architecture.
• Safety. No place is ever "safe", but Monterrey is often billed as one of the safest cities (#1 or #2) in Mexico. Their most disturbing issue seems to be the pollution.

As always, before deciding to live abroad, you should visit for at least 2-4 weeks. I've been using Expedia to price my stay. A two-week stay for a decent hotel (3.5 stars) and a round trip flight was about $1100. Of course, you can spend a much more or much less depending on your budget and what you plan to do.

Read more: Monterrey - All About Monterrey - Complete City Guide.

Learn more about relocating to Mexico.

REALTOR® Magazine Provides Insights on Doing Business in Mexico

Many second-home buyers and investors are flocking to Mexico and other areas of Central America to buy properties. With many baby boomers moving from colder clients, American are investing in droves.

I'd like to invest in Mexico or outside of the U.S. soon, so wanted to cover the recent article about doing business in Mexico. Investors and agents need to heed culture differences and pay attention to local customs.

From the article, here are six cultural tips for U.S. practitioners looking to establish relationships with Mexican real estate professionals or clients:

    * Don't show up early. If you’re invited to a home for a social occasion, it’s customary to arrive 30 to 60 minutes after the scheduled time.
    * Keep conversation light. Polite conversation starters include Mexican scenery and landmarks, the immediate surroundings, and sports. Avoid topics such as religion, politics, the Mexican-American War, and immigration.
    * Avoid romantic misunderstandings. A female inviting a male client or associate to a business meal should also invite his wife to avoid any misunderstanding as to the purpose the meeting.
    * Pay servers directly. When paying at a store or restaurant in Mexico, place the money or credit card directly in the hand of the clerk or server; it’s considered rude to leave it on the table or counter.
    * Don't hide your hands. While dining, keep both hands visible, resting your wrists on the edge of the table.
    * Know the meaning of colors. If making a gift of flowers, be careful which ones you choose. Yellow flowers signify death, while red flowers signify the casting of spells.

Read the full story at RealtorMag Online.