Develop Austin Texas

As reported in the Austin Business Journal, Texas was named the Number One State for Business by Directorship, a publication for corporate/boardroom leaders.

Reasons cited:

• A solid economy
• Affordable cost of living (including the health of the Real Estate Market)
• Pro-business Tax Climate
• Ability to attract Fortune 500 (and other) companies (including, recently, Comerica, and a new assembly plant for Catepillar)
• Ranks 1st in Fortune 500 companies currently located in the state
• Ranks 10th best litigation environment.

Governor Rick Perry’s take on Tuesday’s news?

“Our commitment to low taxes, predictable regulations and a fair tort system are setting an example for the nation and creating a magnetic force for the businesses and jobs that are vital to maintaining Texas’ competitive advantage in the global market.”

The U.S. Recession Report prepared by the Brookings Institution placed Texas cities as 4 of the top 5 cities on their list ranking the biggest 100 metro areas in the nation. Austin  was placed 3rd (behind San Antonio and Oklahoma City). These cities, and this state will prove to have the shortest recovery time ahead.

County level data from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics has shown Austin as the top performing metro area (of 50 metro areas examined nationwide), the online magazine Slate reports. The LAUS program is run cooperatively at state and federal levels, and estimates an area’s size of labor force, employment rates and unemployment rates. Slate examined employment numbers from January 2007 to February 2009.

Texas’s recession should remain mild and all the metro areas should see growth earlier than the rest of the country, IS Global Insight has reported to the Texas Comptroller’s Office. They predict statewide growth in the first quarter of 2010, one full quarter ahead of the rest of the U.S.

Austin was featured on The Today Show, it landed number three on their list of housing markets most likely to rebound quickly. The segment is available here.

WomenCo. (www.womenco.com) has listed Austin, TX as Number One Best City for your Career. With Low Unemployment, Low Commute Times and High Job Growth, Austin sits right above neighbor San Antonio. More here.

Relocation.Com named Austin Number One City for a Fresh Start. It factored that Austin is #1 in Job Growth and #3 in Popularity, and put it right above Dallas/Fort Worth. More here.

Bizjournals created a list of Top Tech Centers, that is, metro areas with the most high tech companies, technology jobs, and workers with advanced degrees. They placed Austin as #7, and the highest Texas city.

According to Forbes, using Census Bureau information, Austin is the 2nd top city where Americans are relocating, behind only Raleigh.

It makes great sense that Austin continues to be recognized as such a wonderful place to live. The Dave Murray Team is the #1 Team in the #1 Coldwell Banker Office in Texas. Call or email with any of your Real Estate questions!

While Austin is featured in the top spot of Forbes’ list, 2008 brought in accolades for other parts of the Austin Area, as well.

Fortune Small Business Magazine named Georgetown their number two, second best place to “Live and Launch,” that is, to live and start/move your business. North of Austin, Georgetown offers a quieter suburban environment than the heart of the city, but still an optimal place to live and work. Fortune’s reasons for this choice?

- Georgetown welcomed 270 new businesses in 2007 and 2008

- The state of Texas has no individual or corporate income taxes

- Georgetown’s property taxes are among the lowest in the region, and Georgetown has low water and electricity rates

- The area has other business development efforts that offer camaraderie for entrepeneurs, and a convention center slated to open this summer.

Money Magazine selected another north Austin suburb, Round Rock, as their #7 Best Place to Live for 2008. North of Austin but south of Georgetown, Money Magazine reports that Round Rock features:

- Affordable Housing

- Great Schools

- Dell Headquarters (offering jobs and a strong IT presence for Round Rock and Austin)

- Three medical centers

- A Texas State University campus

- Shopping (featuring IKEA and the Round Rock Premium Outlets mall)

- A minor league baseball team.

The Dave Murray Team can help you find your ideal Georgetown, Round Rock, or other Austin area development property. The Gabriel’s Horn Ranch, for instance, is a waterfront home and acreage with much development potential. Contact the team at www.DMTX.com any time you’re looking for great properties or have any questions!

Forbes has just announced what many Austinites already knew: Austin, Texas is the best city to live in for affordability and opportunities. Austin landed number one on their Top 10 list of Best Bargain cities.

The list was based on five points:

- Average salary of workers (Bachelor’s Degree or higher)

- Annual unemployment statistics

- Cost of living

- Housing Opportunity Index (amount of homes sold that are affordable to family with the local median income).

Austin did well in all categories, particularly the unemployment rate, which at 5.5%, is about half the national average.

Why Austin? Austin has three main contributing features: being the state capital, a university town, and a technology industry based city. Further, Texas as a state offers many incentives for entrepreneurs and business owners; Texas is now home to many California businesses that became too expensive to operate in that state. Four other Texas metropolises are on the top ten (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth). Although, even Forbes acknowledges that it’s the charm of the city and the people in it that makes Austin such a desirable place to work and live.

View from 555 Condo

Views of Lake Travis from the Montandon Ranch

It’s rare to find big acreage close to the main body of Lake Travis and even more rare to find something that’s easily buildable. The Montandon Ranch on the North Shore of Lake Travis in the Singleton Bend area features 171 acres of dramatic views, manicured acreage and big, deep waterfront across from Barton Creek Lakeside with its 18 hole Arnold Palmer designed course. This ranch is fully fenced and gated with 3 wells, stock tank and pond. Underground utilities and well are at the perfect building spot perched on a hilltop with panoramic Hill Country views and as well as Lake Travis views up and down river. Waterfront includes some cove frontage as well as main body waterfront. Keep the agricultural exemption by running cattle on portions of the land. Bring your horses to explore the 171 acres of rolling hills, mature oaks and Hill Country vistas. There’s also the possibility of subdividing this property into a 100 acre tract and a 71 acre tract. Either way, the Montandon Ranch is the place to build your ultimate Lake Travis Ranch.

The USDA has announced a three week sign up period for farmers to receive a part of its $50 million Organic Initiative, through EQIP, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The sign up period is May 11 – May 29.

This is for:
- growers switching to organic production
- growers expanding their organic operations
- certified organic farmers who want to expand stewardship work

Six practices will be eligible for support:
- conservation crop rotation
- cover crops
- integrated pest management
- nutrient management
- rotational grazing
- forage harvest management

Farmers can receive a maximum of $20,000 a year per farm in organic transition funding and up to $80,000 per farm in six years.

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Organic Egg Farm

Away from the busyness of downtown Austin is Lake Travis. While still being a short drive to the things you love about Austin, Lake Travis has a whole set of recreational activities, dining, and getaways of its own.

Lake Travis was created with the building of Mansfield Dam from 1937-1941, named after the Texas Congressman of 32 years. The dam was built and is maintained with money it makes from its sales of water and electricity. Currently, Lake Travis is Central Texas’ favorite spot for water recreation including boating, fishing, and even scuba diving, as well as hosting state parks, golf courses and many residential communities.

A great resource for exploring Lake Travis is available at www.laketravis.com. Here you can find any accommodations you need and get links to any dining or recreation. Try the Oasis Restaurant, “the Sunset Capital of Texas,” with its covered outdoor dining and stunning lake views. Spicewood Vineyards has wine tasting and tours. You can find the latest weather and information about weekly community or charity events.

If you love Lake Travis, you can see available lots for your business, ranch or home here. The Dave Murray Team is a full service real estate team serving all your needs from first time buyers to relocation. We are experts in Central Texas Waterfront, Development, Luxury and Ranch properties. These properties and more can be seen on our website, www.DMTX.com.  

 Update: This property has sold. Thank you for your interest in our blog.

Texas Hill Country can be a beautiful and inspiring place, especially outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown Austin. The landscape can be so peaceful and calm – “Life in the Slow Lane,” Texas Ranch Life calls it.

 That’s why Paleface Point Retreat would be the perfect Wellness Center or Corporate Retreat. The 97 Acre property is located in Spicewood Springs near Lake Travis. Two homes (with sleeping for many), a 6 unit lodge and beautiful conference center sit among a well maintained 2.5 mile walking/horse riding trail, deep ravine with limestone cliffs and wet weather creek, and mature oaks, elms and sycamores for beautiful fall color. Other features include a basketball court, fire pit with sitting, barn, and well house.

The full listing is available here, or you can call Dave at (512) 751-6060 or write dave@dmtx.com today.

If you consider horse riding a sport and have explored the different styles of riding, chances are you’ve encountered your share of good and bad horse arenas. Our new listing for the Polo Club Stables on Highway 290 in Austin is a premier equestrian showplace that features two outdoor riding arenas and one indoor, lighted arena, along with four barns and 100 stalls among the 21.76 acres with picturesque oaks. But what is the benefit of having these arenas?
One Horse Riding blogger writes that “horse arenas provide a place to practice,” and explains why they’re ideal.

-Arenas provide a place for beginners to refine their skills before dealing with the distractions of the outdoors or traffic, for both rider and horse.

-They allow a rider to make some mistakes in a safe, enclosed environment

-In trail riding, you will need to jump a horse over natural obstructions – an arena allows you to practice this beforehand

-Arenas are ideal for learning certain equestrian events, such as dressage, that you may not have tried.

Further, operating horse arenas and stables can be an exciting choice for a business. The horse industry remains a booming business, especially in Texas.

This property would be a great investment for an entrepreneur, along with being a great place for children or anyone to learn and practice how to ride safely.