Posts Tagged ‘Estate’
Video Tour: Stunning Land and Waterscaped Estate
Peaceful Hill Country Escape
Exclusive estate on 7+ acres of beautifully groomed & manicured, flat, park-like land with walking trails & benches throughout. A peaceful, gated hide-away only 10 minutes from the Hill Country Galleria and 25 minutes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. This amazing retreat consists of 4 well built structures including a beautiful main home of 6,000+ square feet (5 spacious bedrooms, plus an office, gym, magnificent theatre and game room, gourmet kitchen and bonus room). The second structure has been nicknamed “The Treehouse”…a separate 3 car garage with a studio apartment upstairs, approximately 600 square feet, including a kitchenette, bathroom & 2nd story balcony nestled in the trees. A short walk away, is the 3rd home nestled in a beautiful forest of mature trees…a separate 2 bedroom, loft, one bath guesthouse that overlooks a beautiful pond with continuously running waterfalls and creeks. The fourth is a 6 car garage/workshop that can also hold a large RV… ample room to hold all of the toys of grown ups & children alike. This one of a kind estate is truly breathtaking with a certain feel of tranquility & privacy that few homes can match. Spacious, yet warm, cozy, nestled and homey.
More pictures and features here.
Video Tour of Property:
Lake Travis Levels Rising: Update
Lake Travis, Montandon Ranch
Lake Travis has risen even more since our update yesterday; it is now at 645 feet and still rising. You can see up-to-the-minute conditions here.
With Lake Travis up and the creeks flowing again, now is the perfect time to buy. Ranch sales are still down and sellers are extremely motivated to move their property. With the recent rains and forecasts for more rain throughout the coming months, once spring time rolls around and the market really gets going sellers might not be as motivated to sell. There are still great rates and good terms for land deals. Capital Farm Credit is offering 30 year term and 5 year fixed rates at 6.25% with 20% down. Give us a call and we can get you in touch with a loan officer there.
Featured Properties on Lake Travis
Rancho Estacia A luxurious waterfront gentlemen’s ranch on Lake Travis. A 6,694 Sq Ft home, guest cabana, stables and 700 ft of Lake Travis Waterfront make this Mediterranean oasis with Texas ranch comforts.
Rivercliff Frank Lloyd Wright architecture & contemporary interiors create this stunning masterpiece on bluff overlooking Pedernales Arm of Lake Travis. Can be combined with a 32 acre equestrian center and guest home to create your dream ranch.
The Montandon Ranch Looking for deep, Lake Travis waterfront? 171 Acres with 1,800 ft. of Lake Travis waterfront. Paved roads, electricity, 3 wells. One of the Largest Lake Travis Pieces on the Market.
100-459 Acres on Lake Travis Gently sloping terrain to the Lake, high bluffs overlooking the Lake, draws, pecan bottoms, spring fed creeks and pond.
0 Bee Creek Road 46.66 Acre Prime Commercial Corner Near New Lakeway Development – The Highlands. 1,000 ft. of frontage on Bee Creek Cove of Lake Travis. Panoramic Lake and Hill Country Views.
Still sitting on the sidelines? You’re about to get burned.
Still thinking that house prices are going to decline further? Are you still anticipating the “deal of a lifetime” just around the corner? You’re about to be out of luck. It’s natural to look at the national economic news and think that we are going to see a further erosion in home prices but it looks like things are pointing up for Austin’s economy. We have seen a decline in high-end home prices but the average home price in Austin has remained relatively stable. But by far the biggest reason: Interest rates are anticipated to go up and that is going to price a lot of people out of the market. Compared to the week prior to August 24, 2009, the national 30-year mortgage rate is up 4 basis points from 5.14%. Compared to three months ago, the 30-year rate is up 20 basis points from its average rate of 4.98%. Why are interest rates going up? The massive government spending has the potential to lead to long term inflation, causing interest rates to rise. Ted Jones, Senior VP and Chief Economist at Stewart Title explains it best:
“…let’s assume a loan amount today of $100,000 with a 30-year fixed-rate residential loan at 5 percent. Nationwide at the time of this writing, the average 30-year rate was 4.85 percent per Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae forecasts an average rate in all of 2009 of 5.13 percent. So the 5 percent is a reasonable assumption.
The following table shows the monthly payment for each loan amount and interest rate. A buyer today at 5 percent interest borrowing $100,000 has a monthly principle and interest payment of $536.82. If prices decline 5 percent (and the loan amount does also) and interest rates rise just ½ of 1 percent, then the monthly payment remains the same ($539.40).
So if rates go up just 1 percent to 6 percent per year, then prices must drop at least 10 percent for that same buyer to qualify for the same monthly payment. A 1.5 percent increase in rates to 6.5 percent requires a 15 percent price decline, and a 2 percent increase necessitates a 20 percent price decline to qualify. Note: This 1 percent interest rate change to a 10 percent price change is only true when interest rates are 5 percent as they are today.”
Interest Rates vs. Price Changes
Admittedly, at the same loan-to-value ratio, as prices decline so does the down payment. Since, however, many buyers select the price range of homes they consider buying based on their monthly payment potential, rising rates may force future buyers into less expensive homes and hence properties they find less desirable.
So, if you are waiting to move up or to make that second home investment – don’t wait much longer! Postponing that purchase is going to price you out of the market and you are going to have to settle for something less or just wait for the next recession. Don’t get burned. Thanks to Ted Jones for letting us reprint part of his blog which can be found here.
Barton Creek Estate – Reduced!
Pool at Hickory Creek Cove
Updated 7,424 SF estate on a very private 1+ acre lot in the gated Estates Above Lost Creek section of Barton Creek in southwest Austin. This estate size home features 8 bedrooms (4 bedrooms down)/8.5 baths and 5 living areas with an elevator servicing the two floors. Highlights include an exceptional gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, center island and big breakfast area leading to a formal dining with butler’s pantry and opening to a great room with 20’ ceilings. The main floor owner’s suite features big bay windows looking to pool and large, luxurious bath. Includes separate entry guest apartment, detached cabana with office and second story apartment, a second floor suite with living and kitchenette and an oversized 4 car garage. The recently landscaped yard frames the big, mature trees and highlights the pool and spa surrounded by stone decking and 1,000 SF of covered patios with outdoor kitchen. This property was recently reduced to $1,249,000. Extremely private neighborhood with at least one well-known resident! Find out more about this home here. Take a peek at the virtual tour:
II: Tuscan Architecture in Hill Country Estate
The Tuscan style lends many of its features to the Mediterranean style, and its popularity in the Texas Hill Country has led to the coined term “Texas Tuscan.” It inspires the use of stone, the same Roman arched windows and doors, and even more warm colored roofs and homes are distinctive to this style.
Bella Tesoro is a beautiful Tuscan estate. It features Italian tile throughout the first floor living areas, the vaulted ceilings with dark wood beams classic for the style, and a beautiful covered patio with outdoor dining and fireplace.
I: Mediterranean Architecture in Hill Country Estate
The Mediterranean style of architecture has experienced a huge revival in the US, particularly the Southwest and Texas Hill Country. This style of architecture invokes the sunny, open, colorful old world charm of the region it comes from. With many Spanish elements often blended with French Country and Tuscan styles, it fits into the Hill Country landscape perfectly.
Archways leading into tiled courtyards or covered patios are defining staples of the Mediterranean architectural style, and are wonderful to enjoy in warm climates. These homes are instantly recognizable – most people think of the image of the classic terra cotta colored roof. From the front, elaborate entryways usually feature a fountain. Their courtyards and covered patios are historically surrounded by wrought iron fencing leading to ornate grilled doors, and grand columns. From the front, a Mediterranean home is characterized by grand, arched windows on the first floor paired with more demure 2nd story windows. And no Mediterranean home is complete without a stone fireplace and classic metal fixtures.
Our listing at Rancho Estacia has been described as “The Best of Both Worlds,” for blending Texas Ranch comforts with this classic yet modern Mediterranean style. Exquisite details are in every room. A dip in the pool among the greens outside really makes this estate an oasis.
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