AustinTXEstates

Bella Tesoro is an 11.37 acre gated estate in the gated Lone Mountain Ranch community. The 4,270 sq. ft. stone Tuscan style home has beautiful details and luxury features. See the whole listing here.

Right now, you can take an extended walk through of this tranquil, exquisite home. Bella Tesoro is currently offered for $895,000. Contact us today if you are interested in more information.  

Home Highlights:

• 11.37 Acre Gated Estate in Gated Lone Mountain Ranch Community
• Landscaped and Lighted Drive with Porte Cochere and Fountain
• 4,270 SF Stone Home Surrounded By Landscaped and Manicured Lawn
• 3 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths,1 Half Baths and 3 Living Areas
• Italian Tile Throughout First Floor Living Areas
• Grand Entry with 8′ x 10′ Cantera Doors
• Impressive Great Room with Vaulted, Beamed Ceilings, 2 Story Windows and Fireplace
• Gourmet Kitchen with Sub Zero, Walk-In Pantry, Granite Counters, Center Island and High-End Stainless Appliances
• Formal Dining in Two Story Rotunda
• 900 SF Game Room with Wet Bar, Full Bath and Plumbed for Heated Floors
• Master Suite with Sitting Area, Fireplace, Walk-In Closet, Safe Room/Storm Room
• Elegant Master Bath with Jetted Tub, Separate Shower, Double Vanity with Television Built into Mirror
• Two Separate Bedrooms with Jack and Jill Bath
• Formal Office with Built-Ins and Patio Entrance
• 3 Car Garage with Air Conditioned Workshop
• Covered Patio with Dining Area and Fireplace
• Fenced Pool with Waterfall and Spa Surrounded By Exotic Cacti
• Large Utility Room
• Security System and Commercial Grade Phone System
• Well, Septic, Propane Utilities
• Fantastic Hill Country Views on Private Acreage
• Minutes from Lake Travis Boat Launches and Public Parks, 15 Minutes to Downtown Austin via New 183A.

1611 Westlake

Background

R-22, or HCFC-22, is a refrigerant used in many air conditioning units. The manufacturing of R-22 results in a byproduct called HFC-23 which is a significant contributor to global warming. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are the greenhouse gases connected to ozone depletion and the current ozone hole over Antarctica, the rise in skin cancer and the rise in cataracts.

The ozone layer is responsible for protecting the earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. With ozone depletion, more radiation hits the earth, and together with the greenhouse effect causes much of the earth’s global warming. Fortunately, the ozone layer can recover, and scientists believe that recovery can happen by 2075 with a global phase out of ozone-depleting gases.

In accordance with the Montreal Protocol and Clean Air Act, the U.S. will eliminate production of R-22 by the year 2020. To accomplish this, several years ago the government wrote and implemented a phase out schedule. Beginning January 1, 2010, the U.S. banned production and importation of R-22 for all new systems. No new systems using R-22 can be manufactured or imported.

What this Means for Homeowners

All new air conditioning equipment will use R-410A or another non-ozone depleting refrigerant. R-410A has many trade names (including Puron, Suva, Forane 410-A and Gentron AZ-20) but is the most common of these new refrigerants.

Current R-22 systems as of January 2010 will still be able to be used, serviced, and have repair parts made. R-22 will still be made and available for use in those systems. As of January 1, 2015, all sale or trade of R-22 for new systems will be banned. By January 1, 2020, all remaining production and importation of R-22 will be banned. Only recycled or reclaimed (recovered) R-22 will be allowed for current systems. Currently there is a record high demand for R-22 along with a record high cost of the materials needed to produce R-22 (Chlorine, Flourspar and Natural Gas). Prices are expected to continue to rise as R-22 supplies decrease.

Resources

The EPA has information available online with information and advice on servicing a current system or purchasing a new one. See their information sheet here, or see their Homeowner FAQ page here.

Pictured: Green features in 1611 Westlake.

Please email thedavemurrayteam@gmail.com to RSVP.

For more information on the home, see the listing or virtual tour.

Lake Buchanan View

This distinctive lakefront estate home on Lake Buchanan has huge waterfront views and 800 feet of shoreline, making it one of the most spectacular waterfront properties on the lake.

Sitting on 7.15 manicured acres, the 8,900 square foot main home includes cathedral ceilings, hand scraped wood floors and state-of-the-art features. Along with Lutron lighting, a whole home sound and security system, the home has an elevator running from the sub floor to second floor.

Front of Estate

Inside the gourmet kitchen are granite counters, a beautiful breakfast bar, a center island, high end appliances, and a pantry with a secret passage to the upstairs bedroom. A separate breakfast area has big windows with those stunning lake views.

The family room features a gas fireplace, built in surround and lake views from the wall of windows. The main floor balcony has a full outdoor kitchen, dining area and wood burning fireplace. The formal dining room has wood floors and entrance to covered balcony.

Deck View

A library features a gas fireplace and built-ins, and the study attached to the library has built-ins and a secret passage to the master suite. The master suite features a gas fireplace, built-ins, and doors to a private balcony with a stone wood burning fireplace. The well-appointed master bath has a walk-in shower, his-and-hers vanities and a garden tub with fantastic lake views. The master suite also features a walk-through closet, separate utility room and separate hobby room or living area.

A second bedroom suite features a living area, built-in study, sitting area and bath with garden tub and separate shower. A third bedroom also includes an en-suite bath.

The media room is wired for projector and surround system. The big game room includes wet bar, and a covered patio outside the game room with fireplace. Other features of the house include a climate controlled stone wine room, mirrored exercise room with damage resistant rubber floors, and separate entry guest apartment with kitchen and full bath.

Back of Home

Three levels of balconies, each with fireplace, offer big views of the lake and pool, with a two story waterslide. Stone decking and pergola surround the pool, waterslide and spa. There are also big lake views from the separate artist’s studio with full bath and screened in porch.

The property also includes an air-conditioned workshop with nine foot bay doors, half bath and big work area. A separate stone home includes a living room with fireplace, big kitchen, utility rooms, and two bedrooms each with en-suite bath. The manicured grounds feature wooded riding trails, mature pines and oaks, and several gardens, with an easy walk to the Lake Buchanan shoreline with main body and cove frontage.

You can take a tour right now of this amazing property.

Great Room

 This home in the gated Estates Above Lost Creek sits on over one acre. It’s fantastic floor plan features tall, coffered ceilings, and crown molding throughout.

The inviting great room at entry features hardwood floors and accents, a fireplace, built-ins and a wet bar. The great room flows into the elevated dining area with hardwoods and coffered ceilings. A wood paneled family room also features built-ins, gleaming hardwoods and fireplace.

Kitchen

The large, inviting kitchen is a stunner featuring granite counters, a large center island, recent appliances and a breakfast area in bay windows.

The master suite is beautiful with coffered ceilings, big bay windows, sitting area, and his and hers walk in closets. The updated master bath includes a jetted tub, a separate glass enclosed shower, and double vanity.

Master Bedroom

Two other big bedrooms also include walk in closets, with a second full bath next to the bedrooms. The home also includes a utility room with sink, and oversize two car garage with workspace.

Yard

Covered and uncovered stone patios surround the pool with child-proof netting. The backyard features plenty of room for a playscape, treehouse, and room to roam. Estates Above Lost Creek is close to Barton Springs Country Club and three world class golf courses.

Read more or see more of this beautiful home.

Lake Travis

The next westernmost lake from Lake Austin is Lake Travis. Created when the Mansfield Dam was finished in 1941, Lake Travis has the most notoriety in the greater Austin area as a recreational destination spot. Lake Travis is a spot for beautiful restaurants and campsites, popular for marinas and watercraft, and waterfront homes are consistently in demand.

Lake Travis is fed by both the Colorado River (as with all the highland lakes) and the Pedernales River, which flows into the southwestern portion of the lake. It is known as one of the clearest lakes in Texas, with its beautiful aquamarine tint to the water. Lake Travis serves as not only the primary flood control reservoir of the chain, but also a major source of drinking water for Austinites.

View from Rancho Estacia

The bluffs of Lake Travis provide unparallelled views, and often privacy, in any Hill Country properties. Rivercliff and Rancho Estacia are both stunning waterfront estates on the Pedernales arm, each offering opportunities to own horses and land on this beautiful lake. Another property we just recently profiled, The Falls, is 315 stunning acres on a private cove of Lake Travis.

Part One: Lake Austin

Miller Creek

Just listed: beautiful 4,950 Sq. Ft. custom home on 68 acres in Texas Hill Country. Sits on 800 ft on both sides of Miller Creek.

Home Features:

• Stone entry with custom wrought iron door & wood beam ceiling
• Full Commercial Thermador kitchen – 6 burner oven with griddle, 3 ovens, built-in microwave, ice maker, dishwasher, trash compactor, built-in refrigerator and freezer – All appliances have wood fronts to match cabinets. Kitchen also features Custom Beveled granite countertops, extra large island with breakfast bar, attached breakfast room, large walk-in pantry.
• Breakfast Room with buffet, shelves, built in TV, wall of mirrors and large stone fireplace. Formal Dining Room with Wall of windows overlooking creek, Solid wood beam and stained wood ceiling, Stone walls with arched passages. Wet Bar with Stainless steel sink, Wine fridge, built in cabinets and stone walls.
• Great Room with Huge masonry fireplace, Large stained wooden trusses with custom ironwork – 100% wood ceiling, Full glass wall overlooking pool and creek
• Master Bedroom with stone fireplace, wall of windows overlooking pool & creek, Built-in computer desk, bookcases, TV, His and Hers entrance into Bath/Dressing areas. Master bath with his & hers walk-in closets, Walk-in natural stone shower, rock walls with arches, Large Jacuzzi tub, Stone entrance to Exercise area, Vaulted ceiling with wood beams, Separate water closet.
• Exercise Room with Large windows overlooking creek, Wood wainscot, Mirrored wall, Music/TV. Utility Room with Sink, Built-in cabinets, Freezer area. Game/Media Room with 100% stain wood stairway, Wrought iron handrails, Walk-in closet, Built-in Desks, Built-in Entertainment Center, View of creek.
• Detached 4 Car Garage with Attached Breezeway to House

Miller Creek

Exterior Features:

• Stone entry gate with communal gate operations, Intercom to house, 8 foot custom iron gates.
• Stone lined custom heated pool with pebble tech plaster, 6 person Hot Tub overlooking creek. Lighted stone walkway to creek. Flagstone deck around pool.
• Large flagstone terrace the entire length of house with Built-in TV and stainless steel gas BBQ Pit on terrace overlooking creek.
• Large (20 ft x 18 ft) BBQ Cabana with Full kitchen, TV & custom Commercial wood Burning BBQ pit
• Bath with outdoor shower, Large fire pit with built-in rock seats, Wrought iron fencing around fully landscaped yard.
• Approx. 3 acres of house, pasture is irrigated. Fenced horse pasture and antique windmill. 2×2, “no climb” fenced horse pasture. All fencing is new or excellent condition.
• 3 stall stable with 2nd floor office/gameroom. Tack and feed Barn, Hay barn, fenced paddock. Round pen/roping arena with square feed lot. Wood and storage shed.
• Well house with game cleaning area. 4 wells with 25 gal per minute capacity and rainwater collection system with 10000 gal collection tank.
• 3 RV hook-ups for guests
• 1 acre stock pond. Miller Creek is stocked with bass, catfish and perch. Other spring locations on property with the availability to add multiple other water features.
• Cedar has been cleared on all but 10 acres. Ag Exempt – cattle. Wildlife abounds: Whitetail deer, turkey, Axis, Seika.
• Fenced and gated garden with limestone planters

If you are interested in this property, or one similar, contact us today.

Take a virtual tour:

On the chain of six lakes that officially make up the Highland Lakes, Lake Austin is the closest to downtown, sitting just northwest of the heart of the city. Created in 1939 by the LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) with the construction of the Tom Miller Dam, Lake Austin falls between the Mansfield Dam and the Tom Miller Dam. It provides flood control of the river, hydroelectric power, and recreation.

A great site for water sports, you can take one of the boat tours available, or bring your own. High cliffs provide shelter from the wind and make boating favorable, while also providing great sites for beautiful homes. It is also a spot for recreational fishing, stocked with largemouth bass, catfish and sunfish.

Mount Bonnell, the highest point in Austin, is a natural limestone feature, and has been a popular picnicking spot since the mid 1800s. From the brief hike to the top you can see over Lake Austin, the 360 Bridge (or Pennybacker Bridge), and to the downtown skyline.

Pictured: Private cove of Lake Austin from 1611 Westlake Drive

The Fed reiterated last week that in March of 2010, they will be ending their Mortgage Security Buyback program, a big part of what has kept interest rates low throughout 2009. It won’t be a sudden drop-off, rather a slow decrease in these purchases until March, when there will be no more.

With the Fed no longer spending the tens of billions of dollars monthly on mortgage securities, we will only have the private sector to fill in the gap. When that happens, we can naturally expect mortgage rates to rise. “The difference in monthly mortgage payments of 5% or 6% can be measured in tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a loan,” one writer explains.

The Atlantic Monthly writes that the credit markets need securitization, and warns that it will only become more difficult to borrow money (and those loans will come at higher interest rates) as the Fed program ends. “If you think banks aren’t lending enough now, then you’d find a world with no securitization much worse. Yet, that might be what you get if the Fed ends its program.”

Why would the Fed remove such a successful program? The analogy of a bike with training wheels is often given – if you want an economy to strengthen, recover and stand on its own, at some point you need to take the wheels off. If the Fed keeps rates too low for too long, inflation will rise higher and you will expect to see rates rise anyway. Home loan rates will increase as demand is met, naturally, with or without the Fed.

We can expect the end of the first quarter of 2010 to be a telling time for the economy’s recovery, but the heavy favor of the buyer and borrower is going to change. These will be some of the last months we’ll see that are such great markets for buying a home or land. If you are considering buying, you should begin your search now.