Austin-based GoodLife Team Agent Elliott Sanchez has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Elite Latinos in real estate by Austin’s chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP).

The award, which was presented at the Hilton Austin on April 26, 2013, honored Elliott, along with twenty-four other Latino agents in Austin who represent the NAHREP mission to be a purpose -driven organization propelled by a passionate combination of entrepreneurial spirit, cultural heritage and the advocacy of its members. Their mission is to increase the rate of sustainable Hispanic homeownership by empowering the real estate professionals that serve the community.

“It is a great honor to be recognized as one of the top Latino Realtors in Austin among so many tremendous agents. Quite frankly, the nomination came as a huge surprise. I am committed to this industry and continually look to provide my clients with with a 5 -star experience.” ~Elliott Sanchez

To reach out to Elliott, visit our Meet the Team page.

For more information about NAHREP visit http://www.nahrepaustin.wildapricot.org/

The entrepreneurial spirit of our multicultural members is a core strength that NAHREP seeks to enrich its members through new education programs, business models, partnerships and alliances where diversity is a highly valued commodity.

GoodLife Team

The GoodLife Team is an Austin, Texas real estate brokerage focused on delivering industry-leading customer care through innovative technologies and an award-winning team of Realtors®. Named the Most Innovative Brokerage of 2010 by Inman News and as a business case study in 2011 by Apple, the GoodLife Team provides customers with a 5-star customer experience by utilizing the latest tools and technologies in the industry. The firm’s principal, Krisstina Wise, has gained national recognition speaking on the future of real estate, changes in consumer expectations, and how brokerages must adapt to meet customer needs in the 21st Century.

To learn more about The GoodLife Team, visit www.GoodLifeTeam.com.

Every March thousands of people from all over the world flood Austin for SXSW, fall in love with the city and its cool vibe and occupants, and end up wanting to move here. It’s not hard to see why if you have ever visited.

Austin has risen in the ranks over the last decade as a great place to live; the business climate is strong and the cost of living is lower than many other major cities. The city usually gets listed on many top ten lists for its healthy lifestyle, friendly business environment and strong growth.

Another draw? Austin is a lower cost hot spot for both technology startups as well as some of the larger tech enterprise companies. In a recent article in The New York Times, it was estimated that one-third of the companies that are moving to Texas originated in California, where the high cost of doing business often sends companies looking for alternate options.

We recently asked a few folks in the Austin technology scene why they thought Austin was a great place to move if you are in the technology space, and here is what they told us:

1.Community

There’s a lot that happens here. There is the co-working and incubator scene, where people can physically gather, come together and work together, and learn, grow and build their businesses. We’ve got tons of different co-working spaces all across Austin to help people do that. In addition, there is great access to government, universities, investors, large companies and a vibrant start-up community. Austin also has a large demographic of engineers, designers, marketing professionals, scientists, advisors and investors.

“You have the ability to get connected to the network in this city in no time. There are so many events that you’ll start seeing familiar faces in no time. People love walking and coffee meetings.” ~ Ruben Cantu – CEO – Core Media Enterprises

2. Events

Events in Austin are abundant. Pick any day of the week, and you can find a number of technology events happening around the city.

If you want to start connecting in the Austin tech community then here is a list of groups around Austin with event listings:

Capital Factory
Tech Ranch
Digital Savant
Door64
Austin Tech Happy Hour
Refresh Austin
Startup Austin
AIGA
IxDA Austin
Austin UXPA
STC Austin
Austin Design and Visual Arts Network
School of Information
College of Fine Arts
Austin Content Meetup
Agile Austin UX SIG
ATXDribbble Meetup
Austin Mobile App Design and Art Group
Design Pro Lunch Austin
Lean User Experience Austin
iSchool’s Information Institute
CreativeMornings/Austin
The Visual Arts Center
ATX Equation
Austin Entrepreneur Scene

Here is a quick snapshot of tech events going on in Austin: Austin Post Tech Events

“Austin is so special because it offers both an intense startup community and a culture that encourages balance. We’ve got a ton of active investors, successful mentors, coworking spaces, nightly meetups–but, on the other hand, we have new restaurants and food trucks popping up weekly, fantastic live music, and tons of community events and festivals.” ~Jacqueline Hughes-Producer – Austin Startup Week.

3. Cost of Living

If you have lived in other tech cities around the country, you know that the cost of living can be on the high end. One of the reasons Austin has been so attractive to companies is the lower cost of living and the access to and ease of attracting talent.

“I moved a technology company from California to Austin to eliminate our employee’s state income taxes. What I found is a vibrant technology community that has continued to flourish over the past 16 years (and the queso is awesome!)” ~Richard Bagdonas – Founder and CTO – SubtleData, Inc.

4. Lifestyle

How do you describe the Austin lifestyle? It’s hard to say, since it is a little bit of everything. It is live music, art, the outdoor lifestyle, entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation weirdness, individualism entwined with community, all with that touch of southern hospitality.

Ask folks who live here and they will tell you, “Austin is a state of mind … it’s not where you live … it’s how you live …”

Michael Barnes, Social Editor for the Austin American Statesman, has said, “Austin is an open city; it is a city where you can come and be who you are, share ideas and have that rapport.”

“… we’re a successful tech startup in a city that nurtures tech startups. If you go here (as our co-founders did in 2009 from Southern California), you can grow here.” ~John Egan – Editor – Sparefoot

5. Opportunity

Austin is filled with opportunity, no matter if you choose to work for a large company or a startup. We have a rich community of resources that you can access to drive your passion or live your lifestyle.

To the outsider, Austin may look like a big city, but for those of us that live here, we know it is still a small town called Austin with a hippie | communal mindset that helps others achieve success in whatever they choose to do.

Austin has the whole package, and year after year it continues to uphold its reputation as a great place to live, not only for those in the tech scene, but also for those in the fitness scene, the live music scene, the foodie scene, the movie scene . . . the list goes on and on. And though most Texans would like to keep Austin a secret, it’s pretty obvious we can no longer keep all this awesomeness under our hat.

Other Reading:
Check out this great read from Brett Hurt, former CEO of Bazaarvoice, on The state of tech entrepreneurship in Austin.
Contributors to this post: Bijoy Goswami, Jacqueline Hughes, Ruben Cantu, Richard Bagondas, John Egan

1.Go Swimming!

Well, this is Texas, so you know it gets hot in Austin during the summer. Luckily, it’s easy to stay cool in the many swimming holes Austin has around the city. Some of our favorites are Barton Springs and Deep Eddy, but don’t stop there, visit the POOLS & SPLASH PADS page on the City of Austin’s website to get the full list of pools and make it a summer tour.

2. Catch a Movie in the Park

Movies in the Park is a series of free films brought to you by the Austin Parks Foundation (APF), and presented by the Alamo Drafthouse. Each year, APF and the Drafthouse bring you totally free movies right in downtown Austin at Republic Square Park. This year’s series includes Hunger Games, A League of Their Own, Ghostbusters and more.
Check listings at: Movies in the Park 2013 Series

3. Take a tour of Amy’s Ice Cream

One of our favorite places to get ice cream is Amy’s, not only because of their awesome flavors, but because you can take a behind-the-scenes tour and learn how they make ice cream. Find out what magical ingredients they use and how they come up with the flavors. You will also get to see the equipment and processes, but, alas, no Oompa Loompas. Click here for tour info: Amy’s Ice Cream Tours

4.Watch the Bats at Batfest

What is BatFest? It is 2 stages of live music, 75 arts and crafts vendors, delicious food and drinks, children’s activities, a bat costume contest, with about 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats (the guests of honor) emerging from under the bridge at dusk. Don’t miss this amazing event! The bats’ evening flight usually begins between 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. The emergence can last up to ½ hour, as more than a million bats head out to feed on insects. Don’t forget your camera!

5.Blues on the Green

As the live music capital of the world, Austin offers some great FREE ways to enjoy local music, one of which is Blues on the Green. This annual summer concert series at Zilker Park starts in May and ends August. This year the series starts the last Wednesday in May and happens every other Wednesday until August. So grab a cooler, a blanket, and some mosquito repellent, and head on out to Zilker Park this summer for this free music eries!
Click here for the 2013 Blues on the Green Lineup.

6. SUP?

SUP is short for Stand Up Paddle Boarding and If you want to get a workout (and possibly a swim!), head on over to Lady Bird Lake and rent a paddle board. SUP ATX offers classes, private lessons, and group events. If you are on the fence on trying this, just ask the guys over at www.SUPATX.com – they can give you a free quick lesson.

7. Music and Race Cars

You might of guessed it, there is more music for you this summer, but this time it is at the Circuit of the Americas or COTA, as locals call it. COTA is a new world-class motorsports and entertainment venue located about 15 miles from downtown Austin. They have some great concerts lined up this summer, which include artists like Dave Mathews, Maroon 5, Train, and Mumford and Sons. Also, keep an eye on their calendar of events for upcoming auto and motorcycle races.
Learn more at Circuit of the Americas

8. The Capitol

You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy the coolness of the Texas Capitol. Just stroll on over to the Capitol Complex in downtown Austin, and take a stroll on the grounds or take a spin under the dome. Spend some time exploring some of the underground passages and the amazing artwork that covers the marbled hallways. If you want to do a self-guided tour of the Texas Capitol and grounds, click here for a guide. Capitol Guide Brochure

9. Bob Bullock State History Museum

If you liked the Texas State Capitol, then you are going to love the Bob Bullock Museum. Guests can explore the “Story of Texas” through three floors of exhibits that showcase artifacts from around the state. (Note: New artifacts are added to the Bullock Museum virtually every day. As a non-collecting museum, new artifacts are loaned and interchanged with other museums regularly.) And, If you are a fan of film, you should check out the the Texas Spirit Theater and Austin’s premier IMAX Theatre.
Learn More Here:Bob Bullock State History Museum/

10. Hamilton Pool – Road Trip!

A great way to beat the Texas heat is to visit the Hamilton Pool Preserve. It is located about 30 miles west of Austin and is well worth the trip. You can start the day off with a hike around the creek, and then cool off in the natural swimming pool. The preserve’s pool is formed by a collapsed grotto–as layers of rock collapsed, an overhang developed, creating a breathtaking 50-foot waterfall that flows directly into the pool.

Most neighborhood associations struggle to cobble together some sort of newsletter on some kind of regular basis. That’s not the case for the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association. After one look at the 20-page Pecan Press, it’s clear that Austin’s Hyde Park neighborhood occupies a distinct corner of the world. For one thing, Hyde Park may well have the only neighborhood association newsletter with its own Poetry Editor.

“The tradition of a Poetry Editor began with the late, Albert Huffstickler,” says Carrie Laughlin, who has lived in Hyde Park with her husband since 1995. “Hyde Park is the kind of community where an elderly gentleman who hangs out at a local coffee shop and writes poetry has his work featured in every edition of the neighborhood newsletter. The tradition of a Poetry Editor continued after Huffstickler’s death in 2002,” Laughlin adds.

And there’s a lot more that the Pecan Press says about Hyde Park.

The well-organized cadre of volunteers who take care of door-to-door distribution and the dozens and dozens of local businesses that support the publication with their advertising dollars reveal a cohesive community of a mutually convivial vibe among residents and local businesses.

“The fact that the houses are close together encourages more interaction with neighbors,” Laughlin points out. The presence of so many restaurants, shops and local attractions all within walking distance also contributes to a sense of pride and a high degree of ownership in all that the community has to offer. Indeed, within the boundaries of Hyde Park, there is little disagreement that the French fries at Hyde Park Bar & Grill, the pastries at Quack’s Bakery, or the mosaic murals at Shipe Park are the best of the best.

Noting that the neighborhood has trended toward younger and more affluent families in the nearly 20 years since she and her husband have lived there, Laughlin points out that older homes that are all distinct from each other is a key aspect of Hyde Park’s charm. Another key is the proximity to the University of Texas. Before Hyde Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, older homes were being torn down to build student apartments. While the impact on the architectural aesthetic was not always welcome, students are a welcome addition to the neighborhood’s diversity.

Hyde Park traces its origins back to 1891, and is considered to be Austin’s first suburb. Originally marketed to Austin’s elite, the Queen Anne architecture gradually made way for smaller frame bungalows and Craftsmen style homes in the 1920s and 1930s, as Hyde Park was later marketed as the ideal place for the “working man or woman” to invest earnings and build a residence.

Click here for recent sales in Hyde Park

Hyde Park is defined by West 38th Street to the South, West 51st Street to the North, Duval Street to the East, and Guadalupe Street to the West.

 

Travis Heights: “Part of the Creative Collective of Austin”

When a neighborhood sponsors an annual Art Trail – in which more than 40 of the visual artists who live there open the doors of their studios to the entire city for two days – that says a lot about the character of the community.

“Creative people live here – artists, writers, musicians – and many of us work from home,” says Margaret Adie, a resident of Travis Heights since 1985, and one of the founders of the Travis Heights Art Trail, now in its 12th year. Travis Heights is “a very cohesive community and part of the creative collective of Austin,” Adie adds.

Among Adie’s favorite features of Travis Heights is the fact that “every house is different. It’s a very historic part of town that has drawn people from very different backgrounds.” Victorian mansions, farmhouse style homes, wooden bungalows, brick cottages, and some recent, modern construction are all considered equally critical to the fiber of the community.

Determined to not allow Travis Heights’ historical heritage to get swept up into Austin’s rapid growth, many residents have joined forces for the neighborhood’s centennial to have Travis Heights designated as a historic district. Posters promoting this initiative, depicting a chicken in the foreground and a Victorian home in the background are peppered throughout the neighborhood.

Aside from the architecture and the artsy vibe of the people who live there, proximity to the untold shopping and eating options on South Congress is another major attraction to Travis Heights. And there’s more. The 40-acre Blunn Creek Nature Preserve is tucked within Travis Heights, and running alongside the creek is the “Big Stacy” spring-fed pool and the “Little Stacy” park and swimming pool, built as a WPA Project during the great depression.

Travis Heights is bordered by Lady Bird Lake to the North, Interstate 35 to the East, Oltorf Street to the South and Congress Ave., to the west. After the construction of Interstate 35, portions of the original Travis Heights were cut off, and many Travis Heights street names continue East of I-35. Click here for recent sales in Travis Heights