Predicting what will come in the next year, is just that – a prediction. The future is never set in stone. And, this is no more true than with with the nation’s real estate market. While we can predict and foresee what we think will happen, the real estate market can change on the drop of a dime. And, a new President makes it even harder to determine what will occur in the real estate market in the coming year. While the future is uncertain, here are eight 2017 real estate market predictions:
2017 Real Estate Market Predictions
Big Buyers – Millennials and Baby Boomers
- Millennials – With the oldest Millennials in their mid-30s, we will start to see a trend of Millennials getting married, having children, and purchasing their first home.
- Baby Boomers – As Baby Boomers reach their late 60s, many will look to move for their retirement years. Unlike past years when Boomers would move to warmer climate locations like Arizona and Florida, experts predict that more Boomers will choose to move closer to their family.
Slight Increase in Home Values – In 2016, national home values rose by about 4.8 percent. Experts predict that home values will continue to grow in 2017, but slightly less than in 2016. The increase in home values in 2017 is predicted to be around 3.6 percent.
Move to Suburbs for Affordability – After the market crash of 2008, many were able to move back to the city and take advantage of lower housing prices than before. However, with the market stabilizing, experts predict a trend of individuals moving out of the city to the suburbs for housing options in their price range.
New Home Build Price Increase– With a shortage of labor in the construction industry, experts predict the value of new home builds will increase in 2017. This lack of labor is forcing builders to pay higher wages to employees to be competitive.
Millennials Settle Down in Midwest – Instead of moving to states along the coast, experts predict that more Millennials will choose to stay and make the Midwest their permanent home. Predicted go-to spots include Madison, Wisconsin; Columbus, Ohio; Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. While experts do predict more Millennials to settle down in the Midwest, they do not foresee an increase in Millennials moving to those cities.
West Coast Prices Continue Upward Trend – The West Coast states already have some of the most expensive prices in the country, and it looks like that upward trend will continue in 2017. Why are the West Coast states so popular? Where there is job growth, there is an increase in population! Since the 2008 recession, the Western States have been outperforming the Eastern States with more significant job growth.
Improved Rental Affordability – According to Zillow, rental rates are predicted to increase by only 1.5 percent in 2017. This decrease in the increase of rental prices is the result of an increased supply of apartment buildings and rental units around the country.
Increase in Mortgage Rates – Since the 2008 recession, the country has seen some of the lowest mortgage rates in history…and even more than that, the low levels stuck around for several years. However, this looks to change in 2017. As the market normalizes, mortgage rates will start to increase. So, if you’re considering purchasing a home in the next year, act now when mortgage rates are lower!
Remember, these are just predictions for the upcoming year. The future is uncertain – we will just have to wait and see what the future holds for the 2017 real estate market!
Do you have any questions about the real estate market in Georgetown? Give us a call. We would love to answer any questions you may have.
Resources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/media/9-real-estate-trends-to-expect-in-2017/9/
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! To shopping for presents for your loved ones to holiday light tours to family dinners, the holidays are the perfect seasons for some good ole family fun! Do you have any festive holiday plans this year? If you don’t or you’re looking for some to fill in the gaps, here are some of our favorite Georgetown holiday events, along with several others around the Central Texas area:
Georgetown
- Georgetown Community Center – 445 E. Morrow St.
- December 17
- 7:30 to 11 a.m.
Georgetown’s Breakfast with Santa features pancakes, sausage, juice, and coffee! Entry fee to the event is $6 (children 12 and under are free with an adult ticket purchase) – entry fee includes a picture with Santa!
Round Rock
Rock’N Lights Holiday Light Tour – Christmas Towne
- Old Settlers Park
- November 28 – December 26
- Hours: Nov. 28 – Dec. 15: Sunday – Thursday (6 to 9 p.m.); Friday and Saturday (6 to 10 p.m.) Dec. 16 – 24: 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 25 – 26: 6 to 9 p.m.
Rock’N Lights is a drive-through light show that features thousands of sparkling lights. The light show starts at Old Setters Park (4111 E. Old Settlers Blvd.) and ends at Christmas Towne (Hwy. 79)
With Austin just a short jaunt from Georgetown, here is one of our favorite events downtown:
Austin
- Zilker Park
- December 10 – 23
Zilker Park’s Trail of Lights is Austin’s largest holiday light tour! Purchase your $3 tickets online to skip the line!
The Nutcracker at the Ballet Austin
- The Long Center – Downtown Austin
- December 3 – 23
Austin’s rendition of The Nutcracker is the longest-running production of The Nutcracker in Texas! Celebrating 54 years, this is a must-see event for the entire family!
- Palmer Events Center
- December 14 – 24
Music and local Austin arts & crafts make the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar the place to be during the holiday season. The Bazaar is two events in one: an art fair and music festival! Shop local arts and crafts while listening to some music!
For more holiday events in and around the Austin area, click here!
Have you found your Christmas tree yet? Take a look at some of the best Christmas tree lots around the Georgetown area:
- The Home Depot o Location: 1303 Rivery Blvd.
- Papa Noel Trees Lakeline o Location: 11200 Lakeline Blvd.
We hope everyone has a holiday season filled with good tidings, joy, happiness and the merriest of celebrations! We wish you and your family a fantastic holiday season and a happy and healthy new year!
We Couldn’t Have Done it Without YOU!
Thank you to all of our friends, family, and clients for your continued support throughout the years! YOU are why we love what we do! We could not have won the Silver Award for Best Real Estate Agency/Group without you!
Stay tuned for next year’s Best of Georgetown vote!
The holiday season is upon us! Do you know what that means? Thanksgiving is nearly here! It’s time for the season of giving thanks for the people in your life, eating copious amounts of turkey and Thanksgiving pecan pie, taking afternoon naps, and, for some, participating in this year’s Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot! Lucky for us, the Georgetown and Austin areas have some fun, festive Thanksgiving activities for us to enjoy. Take a look at some of the events happening around the Georgetown and Round Rock areas this holiday:
Georgetown and Round Rock Events:
Turkey Trot: Thursday, November 24
- An untimed 5-mile run/walk and one-mile walk
- Location: Downtown Georgetown Square
- Time: Both start at 8 a.m.
Lighting of the Square: Friday, November 25
- Location: Downtown Georgetown Square
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
The Christmas Stroll: December 2 and 3
- Location: Downtown Georgetown Square
- December 2: 5 to 9 p.m.
- December 3: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Round Rock Rotary Reindeer Run 5k and Family Fun Run: Sunday, November 27, 2016
- Location: Old Settlers Park
- Hours: 4 to 8 p.m.
Rock’N Lights Holiday Light Tour and Christmas Towne: November, 28 to December 26
- Location: Old Settlers Park
- Hours:
- Nov. 28 – Dec. 15: Sunday – Thursday 6 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 6 to 10 p.m.
- Dec. 16-24: 6 to 10 p.m.
- Dec. 25-26: 6 to 9 p.m.
- A drive-through light show that features thousands of sparkling lights!
With downtown Austin a short jaunt from Georgetown, here are several popular events to enjoy this Thanksgiving:
Austin Events:
Gingerbread Village at Four Seasons: November 21 to December 25
- Location: Four Seasons Hotel Austin Lobby
- Throughout the day, visit from Santa on Nov. 28-29 from 5 to 6 p.m.
26th Annual Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot: Thursday, November 24, 2016
- What better way to get in the spirit of the holiday (and keep the weight off from all the holiday food) than starting your Thanksgiving Day off with a 5-mile or one-mile run with the proceeds benefitting the Caritas of Austin! The 26th Annual Turkey Trot will start at The Long Center. Visit their website for more information.
Operation Turkey: Thursday, November 24, 2016
- Are you in the giving spirit? Well, what better way to give back to the Austin community than to volunteer to help prepare and distribute holiday meals to those in need on Thanksgiving Day? Go to the Operation Turkey website for more information on this fantastic giveback program.
Thanksgiving at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines: Thursday, November 24, 2016
- Are you thinking of going out for Thanksgiving dinner this year? Well, the Hyatt Regency at Lost Pines has a Thanksgiving Buffet that is perfect for you – their Thanksgiving buffet features all the holiday delicacies you could want, and more!
Chuy’s Giving to Children Christmas Parade: November 26, 2016
- Location: Downtown Austin
- Starts at 11 a.m. with participants marching down Congress Avenue
Would your Thanksgiving holiday be complete without a little pecan pie? We don’t think so! Check out these outstanding pecan pie locations throughout the Austin area! Are your taste buds tingling yet? Ours are! Which location is on your list for this holiday season?
We wish you and your family a fantastic and joyful Thanksgiving Day!
Do you have any questions about our wonderful Georgetown community? We love it here and would love to answer any questions you may have!
Resources:
http://rwethereyetmom.com/thanksgiving-events-austin-texas.html
http://rwethereyetmom.com/holiday-events-austin.html
https://visit.georgetown.org/category/festivals/
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! With the holiday’s rapidly approaching, we’re sure a lot of you are looking for some fun, festive activities in and around the Georgetown area. The holidays would not be complete without some old-fashioned family fun! Whether you’re new to the area or looking for a new holiday activity, here is one of our favorites just a short jaunt away from Georgetown:
Cedar Rock Railroad
Location:
- SW Williamson County Park
- 3005 County Road 175 Leander, TX 78641
The Cedar Rock Railroad, located in the SW Williamson County Park in Leander, features a 1.4-mile train ride through the beautiful Texas Hill Country. The main train departs every 30 minutes, quarter after the hour and quarter before the hour. Train tickets are $2.50 (credit cards accepted) for everyone one-year and older (with children under one free). In addition, the park features other rides and activities for the youngsters:
- The Little Locomotive Chase
- For kids age 3 and older (with a weight limit up to 100 lbs.)
- Runs while the Cedar Rock Railroad train is at the station.
- Tickets: $2 per person/per chase
- Imagine RR Playscape
- A little play area for the younger kiddos where they can imagine they are the driver of the train.
- Old Town Pflooterville
- An area where the kiddos can pretend they are chasing bad guys.
- The Shady Oak Junction Depot
- Location where you can purchase tickets, souvenirs, or food and drink items. The park also features some picnic tables to either enjoy a snack or sit and watch your kiddos play.
Hours (year-round):
- Closed on Mondays
- Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Cedar Rock Railroad is a fantastic location to take the entire family for an afternoon of fun! Do you know of any family-fun activities near the Georgetown area? Let us know. We would love to make it our next feature.
Do you have any questions about the Georgetown Community? Contact us anytime. We love our community and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Resources:
http://www.cedarrockrailroad.com/index.html
We love our community of Georgetown! Now, we know most people love their community, but do they have to proof to back it up? Well, we do!
Take a look at all the reasons why we love Georgetown:
Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas – That’s right! Georgetown was voted as having the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas…now, we know we may be a little biased, but we agree! And, if you’ve seen it, chances are you will too! Rows of shops line the Williamson County Courthouse. From restaurants to shops to wineries and bars, you will find everything you need on our town square. Not only is the town square a great place to stroll on weeknights and weekends, but it is also home to many of the Georgetown community events throughout the year. Upcoming events include First Friday on the Square on November 3rd, Boo Bash on October 30th, Turkey Trot on November 24th, Lighting of the Square on November 25th and more! Take a look at the upcoming special events.
Parking – If you can’t stand circling the block to find a parking spot, Georgetown is the place for you. Our town square is lined with angled parking spaces that offer up to three hours of free parking. Tell us, where can you find free parking in downtown Austin? Nowhere!
Friendly Small Town Community Feel – Even though the Georgetown community is a little more than half an hour north of the hustle and bustle of downtown Austin, it still retains its small town friendly community atmosphere that we love. It is very seldom that people don’t say hello as you pass on the town square. And, since it is legal to carry alcohol around the town square, you will often see people strolling around the town square with a glass of wine from Grape Creek Winery or a beer from Roots.
History – It’s no wonder the town square was voted the most beautiful in Texas! The beautiful limestone buildings that line Georgetown’s town square date back to the 1800s and early 1900s. Also if you’re looking for some history, visit the 1910 Farmers State Bank Building at 716 S. Austin Street. This free Williamson Museum exhibits local artifacts that date back as far as the Civil War – and as a bonus, during several weekends in October, the museum offers ghost tours. Take a look here for more information on the ghost tours!
Dining – Georgetown is full of fantastic dining options. Here are a couple of our favorites near the town square:
- Monument Café – 500 S. Austin Ave. – Offers delicious burgers, catfish and amazing homemade pies!
- Hollow – 708 S. Austin Ave. – Upscale style restaurant with fantastic pork belly recipes!
- Sweet Serendipity – countless dessert options! If you love truffles, this is the place for you!
Upcoming Events:
- Boo Bash on October 30th – Town Square merchants open their stores for trick-or-treating to all in costume! Stores are open from 3 to 6 p.m. for trick-or-treating.
- Turkey Trot on November 24th – Annual Thanksgiving Day run that starts and finishes on the town square. Features a 5-mile run/walk and a 1-mile walk – starting at 8 a.m.
- Lighting of the Square on November 25th – The Georgetown Town Square illuminates with the annual lighting ceremony. Lighting held at 5:30 p.m.
- For more events, click here!
We love our community!
We are located right on the wonderful Georgetown town square, and we love visitors! Come see us anytime if you have questions about the Georgetown community or real estate market.
What does fall mean to you? Cooler weather, falling leaves, football, Thanksgiving, Halloween, oh, and pumpkins! Fall wouldn’t be complete without a few Georgetown pumpkin patch visits throughout the month of October. We love going out to select a yearly pumpkin to turn into our Halloween Jack-O-Lantern or our Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. Now, we know some of you may already have a favorite pumpkin patch to visit every year; but, if you’re new to the Georgetown community, or you’re just looking for a new pumpkin patch to explore, here are a couple of our favorite pumpkin patches around the Georgetown and North Austin areas.
Happy pumpkin hunting!
Georgetown
Location: 410 E University Avenue, Georgetown, TX 78626
Hours: Pumpkin patch is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Trunk or Treat: October 31st from 4 to 6 p.m. on the MCMC Lawn.
Round Rock
St. Richard’s Episcopal Church
Location: 1420 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, TX 78664
Hours: October 1st to 31st, Sunday to Friday from 12 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cedar Park
Cedar Park First United Methodist Church
Location: 600 West Park Street, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to dark and Sundays 12 p.m. to dark
Fall Fun Fest: October 29th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fall Fun Fest is a family event with face-painting, bouncy house, games, and food and drinks for purchase.
Liberty Hill – Bertram
Location: 4625 TX-29, Bertram, TX 78605
Hours: Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fun of Fall: Admission to the farm is free but you have to pay for the fall activities. Food and beverages are available for purchase. A big grill, serving hamburgers, sausage wraps, grilled cheese, etc., is open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
North Austin
Location: 12881 Pond Springs Road, Austin, TX 78729
Pumpkin Patch is open daily during business hours
Red Barn’s Annual Pumpkinfest: October 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Did you find the perfect pumpkin to carve into this year’s Halloween Jack-O-Lantern? For your reference, here is a link with several pumpkin carving patterns and stencils. Happy carving!
After spending the time carving your pumpkin it can be extremely disappointing for it to rot before Halloween. So, after carving, do the following to ensure your pumpkin doesn’t rot before Halloween:
- Spray all the carved areas of the pumpkin with a bleach solution (1 tablespoon of bleach per quart of water)
- Allow the bleach to penetrate the pumpkin and let dry for approximately 20 minutes
- Once dry, rub all the carved areas with petroleum jelly
- Applying the bleach and petroleum jelly will help keep your pumpkin from rotting before Halloween
- And, as an extra precautionary measure, always keep your pumpkin out of direct sunlight
Do you have any questions about the Georgetown community? We love our community and would be happy to answer any questions you may have!
We hope you have a fantastic time at the pumpkin patches and this year’s Halloween Jack-O-Lantern turns out amazing!
Don’t you love fall? We absolutely love the fall season – with the leaves changing colors, the cooling temperatures in the Austin area, and of course, football. What’s not to love? The fall season in Georgetown is filled with many fun festivals and activities, from Oktoberfest celebrations to downtown ghost tours to the annual Boo Bash on the town square– Georgetown offers a little something for each and every resident! Below is a calendar of some of the best fall festivals and events in Georgetown and Austin:
Georgetown Events:
Oktoberfest – Who doesn’t love an Oktoberfest Celebration? We will be hosting our Oktoberfest Open House during October 7th’s First Friday On The Square! Stop by our office at 801 S. Main Street for some beer, wine and appetizers. We can’t wait to see everyone there!
Cattleman’s Ball – The 5th annual Cattleman’s Ball will be held at the Sheraton Georgetown on October 15th from 7 to 10 p.m.! The event features a dinner with beer, wine and iced tea, auctions, poker tables, and of course, dancing! So, grab your partner and dance the night away!
Downtown Georgetown’s Ghost Tours – Georgetown’s ghost tours are hosted on Oct. 21-22 and 28-29 by the Williamson Museum. The tours start at 7 p.m. and begin every half hour. For those with little ones, keep in mind that tours held at 9 p.m. will be scarier than earlier tours. Tickets can be purchased at the Williamson Museum.
Halloween Carnival, Hayride and Movie in the Park – Hosted at San Gabriel Park, this event is fun for the entire family! On October 27th, enjoy a night of hayrides, starting at 5:30 p.m., carnival games from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and a free showing of Hotel Transylvania at 6:45 p.m. in the San Gabriel Park.
Boo Bash – Hosted by the Downtown Georgetown Association, Boo Bash is a community trick or treat event for the kiddos. From 3 to 6 p.m. on October 30th shops will offer candy to all in costume!
We hope everyone has a fun and festive October!
Do you have any questions about Georgetown? We love our community and would be happy to answer any questions you may have!
Resources:
https://visit.georgetown.org/category/festivals/
http://www.austintexas.org/visit/events/october-november/
http://do512family.com/2016/08/cant-miss-fall-events-in-austin/
http://sheratongeorgetowntexas.com/
With summer over and fall weather approaching, we may have some cooler weather in the near future! This could be the perfect opportunity to grab the kids and enjoy a weekend in the great outdoors. Fresh air and some gorgeous hill country views are just the thing for an active weekend of fun. Hiking and nature trails are located all throughout the Austin area, and we are lucky enough to enjoy some of the best close to our home of Georgetown!
Here are a couple of our favorite hiking and nature trails in and around the Georgetown area – grab your hiking shoes, a bottle of water and some sunblock and let’s get started! Below is a print out for your reference!
Bastrop State Park
100 Park Road 1A, Bastrop | 512-321-2101
Located just north of Georgetown, Bastrop State Park has seven miles of trails with a pool open from May to September. Guests can stay overnight at campsites, RV parks, or historic cabins. Also, for those who like to fish, Lake Mira offers some prime fishing!
Colorado Bend State Park
P.O. Box 118, Bend | 325-628-3240
Colorado Bend State Park, located in the canyon lands of the Colorado River, offers its guests a plethora of swimming opportunities, because of the slow moving water. The state park has 32 miles of multi-use trails and has activities ranging from camping to mountain biking to swimming and fishing.
Berry Springs Park and Preserve
1801 CR 152, Georgetown | 512-943-1920
Located in Georgetown, Berry Springs Park and Preserve has 2.5 miles of hiking and biking trails and offers several camping sites and lakes for fishing.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
16710 RR 965, Fredericksburg | 830-685-3636
The Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, located in Fredericksburg, is a large pinkish granite rock – perfect for hiking, picnicking and rock climbing! Within the park is a park store that offers food, drinks and firewood – guests are asked to provide their own water to help preserve water.
McKinney Falls State Park
5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin | 512-243-1643
Located in the Austin area, McKinney Falls State Park has nine miles of trails that wind through the beautiful Texas hill country. There are different trails whether you are a hiker, biker or are walking with a stroller. The state park offers campsites with water, electric hookups and newly remodeled cabins. The park also offers spectaculars views of a waterfall.
Inks Lake State Park
3630 Park Road 4 West, Burnet | 512-793-2223
If you’re looking for a shady hike through the forest then Inks Lake State Park’s 7.5 miles of trails are the place for you! For families and those looking for a less rocky hike, we recommend the 3.3-mile Pecan Flats trail. The state park also offers a plethora of water activities: boating, water skiing, fishing, swimming, etc.
San Gabriel Park Trail
445 E. Morrow St., Georgetown | 512-930-3595
Located in Georgetown, the San Gabriel Park Trail is perfect for those looking to get out for a few hours and enjoy the fresh air. The trail around the San Gabriel Park is 1.6 miles and the trails that run along the San Gabriel River total approximately nine miles.
Of course, this is not a comprehensive list of all the hiking trails in Austin – just a couple of our favorites around Georgetown!
Do you have any questions about Georgetown? Give us a call! We love our community and would be happy to answer any questions you may have!
Resource:
It’s just about that time of year again – it’s time to say goodbye to summer and hello to a new school year. Georgetown ISD’s teachers are hard at work getting ready for August 23rd, the first day of school for the 2016-2017 academic year. Are you and your children ready for the new school year?
For those new to the area, Georgetown ISD has 10 elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools for more than 11,000 students! According to Niche.com, Georgetown ISD has been ranked the No. 44 school district in Texas.For those unsure of which school their children should attend, click here! This link has all the information you will need to determine which school your home is zoned for!
With the first day of school right around the corner, here are some helpful items to get you and your family ready:
New School Hours For the 2016-2017 Academic Year
IMPORTANT: For the 2016-2017 academic year, a new bell schedule will be implemented in order to comply with the new state law that was passed in January 2016. The new Texas law states that instructional time will now be based on minutes instead of days. This means that instead of 180 days all students now must receive 75,600 minutes of instructional time for the duration of the school year. In order to implement these new guidelines, the school day will be extended to 7.5 hours for each school within the school district. This will increase the instructional time for each level by the following: 20 minutes for elementary schools, 5 minutes for middle schools and 30 minutes for high schools.
Below is how the school hours have changed to implements these new requirements. Students and parents should be aware of this to avoid any confusion for drop-off and pick-up times.
We hope this helps get your family ready for the start of a new school year! If you have any questions, we’re here to help anytime!