Residents include young families, empty-nesters and retirees. The children of Lakeway families attend school in the acclaimed Lake Travis Independent School District. The population of Lakeway was 1,020 in 1984, and that of the greater Lakeway area was 3,120. In 1990 the population of Lakeway was 4,044. That figure almost doubled to 8,002 by 2000 and it said to be approximately 15,000 today. There’s a wide range of living options in Lakeway, from small garden homes to mansions on the airpark or shores of Lake Travis.

Lakeway is the home of historic bed & breakfasts, inns and modern motels. The town of Lakeway was formed in 1963 with the construction of a 48-room hotel, the Lakeway Inn and Marina on the site of a 2,700-acre ranch, now Lakeway Resort and Spa, a 168-room full service resort.

Summer is an excellent time to live in Lakeway with affordable (or free) community events such as Movies In the Park and KGSR’s Live at the Lake. For either event, bring a blanket or lawn chairs for seating. On select Saturday nights, sit under the stars at Lakeway City Park throughout the summer to view films on the portable movie screen. Features begin at dusk. Set against the backdrop of Lake Travis and surrounded by cascading pools, waterfalls, and decks, Lakeway Resort & Spa offers a relaxed and unique setting for this KGSR Thursday concert series (call ahead for details). Event attendees wade in one of the beautiful Lakeway pools and enjoy a variety of food, beer, wine, and drinks while taking in the music of this truly unique event setting.

Lakeway is also home to many top notch restaurants, offering a variety of fare from Italian to Mexican to Sushi. Check out Pao’s Mandarin House for Chinese and Ciola’s for Italian-American cuisine. You won’t be disappointed.

No matter one’s professional or personal interests, the always-sunny central Texas  city of Lakeway provides something for everyone.

From high tech industry to thriving professional and community arts scenes, city-wide support of green spaces, renowned universities, diverse neighborhoods and a general appreciation for creativity and innovation, Austin residents and visitors don’t need a list to prove Austin’s a great place to call home. The entrepenuerial spirit of collaboration supports start-ups resulting in major companies like Dell and Whole Foods which started in Austin and are headquartered here.

Before Austin was Austin, nomadic tribes of Tonkawas, Comanches, and Lipan Apaches stopped to hunt by the creeks, such as the now popular swimming hole, Barton Springs. During the late 1700s, the Spanish established temporary missions here. Anglo settler arrived in the 1830s creating the village named Waterloo – a name still honored by independent record shop Waterloo Records, the Austin chain of Waterloo Ice House restaurants and Waterloo Park located downtown. Waterloo became Austin, named for Stephen F. Austin, the “father of Texas,” and became the capital of the new Republic of Texas in 1939.

There’s a perfect Austin neighborhood for every lifestyle – in fact, its often hard to decide where to live with so many options. Downtown Austin is thriving with shops, restaurants and live music venues. The East Side of Austin is rich in history and known for its cultural diversity. The famous 78704 zip code is Austin at its funkiest just south of Lady Bird Lake. And nearby towns like Dripping Springs, Westlake and Lakeaway offer both rural and suburban settings only a short drive from town.

Connecting many wonderful aspects of Austin is the Trail of Lady Bird Lake. The hike-and-bike trail wanders by the water, beside high rises and, through neighborhoods. The city also surprises visitors and newcomers with many parks and public swimming pools. The trail leads to the Congress Avenue bridge where the world’s largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats reside from April until October. Crowds gather by the river and on the bridge at dusk to watch the bats zoom out for their dinner of insects flying above the city.

The University of Texas at Austin is a major academic research facility and adds much to the city’s culture with it’s Texas Performing Arts Center. Of course, you many know UT for the great Longhorns sports teams whose rallying cry of “Hook ‘em Horns” is heard city-wide. Other universities include the historically black Huston-Tillotson College, St. Edward’s University, Concordia University at Austin and Austin Community College.

And the soundtrack for all of life in Austin is live music. Known as the Live Music Capital of the World, the questions “Where are we going for dinner? ” or “Where are we going out tonight?” usually includes “Who’s playing?” With world-famous events like SXSW and Austin City Limits festival and public television show, Austinites toes are always tapping. While there are plenty of classic Austin venues like Antone’s and Stubbs to catch a show, the unexpected places like the grocery store Central Market and the convenience store Whip-In have stages, too.

Even long time residents are still finding new things about Austin. There’s more to explore than can be covered here, so come visit to experience the great food, visual arts, theater and eclectic locally-owned businesses creating a unique landscape to call home.

With a population of approximately 1,500 in the city limits, and 20,000 in the extraterritorial jurisdiction, homes here are sought after for their close proximity to Austin and San Antonio, the affordable cost of living and an exceptional school system. The easy relaxed energy of the countryside leads the locals to call it “Drippin’ Springs.”

It’s a great time to relocate to Dripping Springs as the community of small business owners and artists is starting to grow. A Home Depot recently opened at the corner of Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12, and a new HEB will open in the summer of 2010. Average residential home prices range is $200k-$600k, with options for more acreage, and even ranches listing up to $14 million.

The countryside offers plenty of outings. Locally grown produce is featured at the weekly farmers market on Saturday mornings. In nearby Driftwood The Salt Lick has been cooking mouth-watering barbeque since 1967. As you drive within a few miles you’ll smell what The Travel Channel calls “The Tastiest Barbeque in America.” The Nutty Brown Café and Amphitheater hosts local talent and big names such as Dwight Yokam and Clint Black. They offer American cuisine and a wide selection of live music, including a jazz brunch on Sundays.

The Texas Hill Country is the second fastest growing wine destination in the nation. Mandola Estate Winery specializes in Italian wines and offers “grape to glass” tours on the weekends, along with special events such as outdoor movies in the vineyard. Four times a year, all the wineries in central Texas host a self-guided tour. Details are available at www.texaswinetrail.com

Nearby communities such as Driftwood and Wimberly are known for their charming bed and breakfast inns and unique shopping. Creek Haven Inn and Mt. Gainor Inn offer comfort and luxury for serene get-aways. Like most stops in the Hill Country, Taste Buds Gourmet Food Shop adds a great view to the experience for free. With giant oaks framing Cypress Creek, this shop offers sample tastes of its delectable wares such as salsa, pickles, jams and coffee. From antiques to fashion to art, the wares inside the many shops are as interesting as their names: The Flying Pig, Aunt Jenny’s Attic, The Indigo Cactus, Graeber Antiques, Made in the Shade, and Under One Roof.

One of many nearby swimming holes is Hamilton Pool. This 232-acre nature preserve features a 45-foot waterfall that makes a great natural pool for cooling off, with plenty of room for a picnic nearby.

Dripping Springs offers many great reasons to call the Texas Hill Country home.

The food choices seem never-ending, from gourmet to quick and cheap, and all unique. The mother-daughter team at East Side Show Room, located on East 6^th Street, describe it as “inspired by the cafées and delicatessens from eastern Europe to Texas in the pre World War II era, the turn of the century music halls of Berlin and Vienna, and the 1920’s avant-garde theatres of New York.”  They offer gourmet cuisine and vintage cocktails along with live music and art

T.C.’s Lounge on Webberville Road is a down home blues club where you can buy a cold beer, enjoy free food cooked by “Baby Girl” – one of the owners. You can BYOW (wine) and BYOL (liquor). The live music includes a renowned Monday night blues scene, and Sundays at 3pm Austin’s style of church happens with jazz trumpeter Jeff Lofton Sunday-Go-To-Meeting Jazz.

Eastside Cafe, at 2113 Manor Road, oozes charm in a historic house with a garden and gift shop. With a focus on fresh and organic food, many items feature food grown in the cafe’s garden.

If you’re having a late night, try Justine’s Brasserie, bringing a touch of France to East Fifth Street in a 1937 Bungalow renovated into a cozy bistro that stays open until 1:30 a.m.

East 11^th Street is hosts some music history spots that are still adding to the Austin music scene today. The Texas Music Museum’s exhibits and shows fill in the details of Texas music history. Kenny Dorham’s Backyard, named for the renowned jazz trumpeter who grew up nearby, hosts Fourth Fridays with fun activities for the kids, live music and free beer for the grown-ups, and other events. The historic Victory Grill originally opened to serve African-American soldiers returning from the war. A stop on the original Chitlin’ Circuit, over the years the stage featured talent such as Ike and Tina Turner, James Brown, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Chuck Berry and Janis Joplin.

The music name-dropping doesn’t stop there. The Jazz at St. James Festival, now in it’s 16^th year at St. James Episcopal Church on Webberville Road, has featured top tier talent such as Curtis Fuller and David “Fathead” Newman.

But music isn’t the only art action in East Austin. The free annual East Austin Studio Tour (E.A.S.T.) shows off the many art galleries lining the historic streets over two weekends in November. 

Clayworks, a pottery studio on East 6th Street, whose work adorns such landmarks as the Texas State Capitol, The Driskill Hotel and the University of Texas, often offers classes to the public, too.

Art and business mix nicely on the East Side is Door Numer 3. A nationally recognized ad agency, one principal, M.P. Mueller is a resident blogger for The New York Times. Her blog, “Branded” is part of their “You’re the Boss: The Art of Running a Small Business” series.

The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center and Carver Branch Library are housed in a 36,000 square-foot facility including  four galleries, a conference room, classroom, darkroom, dance studio, 134-seat theatre, and archival space. The galleries feature a core exhibit on Juneteenth, a permanent exhibit on Austin African-American families, an Artists Gallery, and a children’s exhibit on African-American scientists and inventors. The museum is owned and operated by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Cultural Affairs Division.

Other places of interest in East Austin include Huston-Tillotson University and Texas State Cemetery.

Austin, TX – Donna B. Miller with Blairfield Realty has been awarded the Accredited Buyer’s Representation (ABR^®) designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council. (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (NAR).

Donna B. Miller joins more than 30,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the ABR^® designation. All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in buyer representation and an elective course focusing on a buyer representation specialty, both in addition to submitting documentation verifying professional experience.

REBAC, founded in 1988, is the world’s largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing the real estate buyer. There are more than 40,000 active members of the organization world-wide.  THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is the world’s largest professional association, representing over 1,000,000 members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry.

You may contact the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council by telephone, (800) 648-6224, by e-mail, [rebac@realtors.org], or by visiting the REBAC website, [www.REBAC.net].

Within this zip code tree-lined streets and green space create homey retreats from it all, without being far from it all. Full of character, some have even become literary references such as Travis Heights, mentioned in Sarah Bird’s novel Flamenco Academy. Other neighborhoods include Boludin Creek, Barton Hills, and Zilker.

It’s always great to live near the essentials - grocery store, car repair, and schools, but 78704 offers that and so much more. North of Lady Bird Lake Congress Avenue is known as the main street of Texas as it leads to the capitol building. But south of the river, it’s South Congress or “SoCo,” and lives up to its hip nickname. A stroll on Congress Avenue with Austin’s skyline in the background offers shopping options from unique stores like the St. Vincent de Paul thrift shop and Uncommon Objects, Farm-to-Market fresh food, the costume shop Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, to Tesoros Trading Company offering items from over twenty countries. First Thursday is a monthly mini-festival and party with shops open late and outdoor art vendors selling their wares.

Restaurant options seem limitless in 78704. Nothing feels more South Austin than magaritas and Mexican food on a patio such as Polvo’s, Guerro’s and Curra’s. On Barton Springs Road a little restaurant row includes Aussie’s, Zax Pints & Plates, Uncle Billy’s, Romeo’s, Shady Grove , Sandy’s, and the original Chuy’s. On South Congress options range from the very groovy Snack Bar to Magnolia Cafe which stays open 24 hours a day, and Jo’s Coffee known for live music and fashion shows in the parking lot. On South First Street there are more locally owned choices such as Freddie’s with a great playscape for kids, Torchy’s Tacos with it’s gorgeous mosaic wall, Somino’s Cafe, known for organic offerings and Jovita’s known for great live music.

And the fun continues beyond shopping and eating with more live music options such as the Continental Club, and the local’s favorite intimate Continental Gallery upstairs, the Saxon Pub, and renowned festivals at Auditorium Shores such as the SXSW finale, Austin City Limits Festival and the Urban Music Festival.

There’s plenty of fun for the kids with choices like Peter Pan Mini-Golf, Barton Springs pool, and Big Stacey pool in the neighborhood. The Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail provides a great view for inspiring fitness or some quality family time for along Lady Bird Lake.

The zip code is also home to St. Edward’s University, Texas School for the Deaf and the iconic Austin Motel.

Donna B. Miller With Blairfield Realty just earned her e-PRO certification. What’s an E-PRO? 

Here’s a short guide for the Internet consumer.

When you’re on the Internet, you don’t have time to waste on endless searches for useful real estate information. You want to get things done quickly and without hassle. So chances are you’d like a real estate agent who

• Answers e-mail promptly and professionally.
• Respects your on-line privacy.
• Offers home listings and other Internet tools to help you find or market a home.

Enter the e-PRO.An e-PRO is a REALTOR® who has successfully completed the e-PRO training program for real estate professionals. Endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS®, the e-PRO course teaches professionals the nuts and bolts of working with real estate on-line: Web sites, e-mail, on-line tools, and most of all, what today’s consumer really wants.What does all this mean to you? There are several benefits of working with a certified Internet professional.

More privacy

Are you reluctant to give out contact information through the Web for fear of being pestered or spammed? e-PROs understand. They’ve learned the Web isn’t just a place to do business; you need information from someone you can trust.That’s why e-PROs respect your privacy. They respond quickly to your questions, but don’t send you unwanted communication. And they protect your personal information.

Less hassle

Tired of struggling to find information? e-PROs are more likely to have access to the latest Internet utilities, making your life easier. These tools may include:

• On-line home tours
• Instant access to comprehensive neighborhood data
• Extensive property listings
• Immediate e-mail notification of just-listed homes meeting your criteria
• Referral networks and on-line forums, where e-PROs can quickly find information——even potential buyers——from other e-PROs
• Newsletters on current real estate conditions in your area
• Electronic faxes sent to you by e-mail
• Advanced software, PDAs, and laptops to find you answers on the spot

The result: you get more information, more easily. With electronic files, you have less paperwork to deal with. And since your agent uses e-mail, you can even eliminate phone tag. The e-PRO streamlines your entire transaction, from showing to closing.

Less expense

An e-PRO’s access to advanced technology can save you considerable expense. You have more tools to find or market your home, so you’re likely to get a better price. With on-line home tours, you reduce in-person showings——and the costs involved. And by using e-mail, you save money on long-distance calls and fax charges.Relocating? An e-PRO is ideal for you. With the tools to do your research electronically, you can make a decision on a home the first day you’re in town——or without traveling at all. You and your family save on travel costs. And after you’ve decided to buy, monitoring the sale by e-mail saves you even more.Should you use an e-PRO? Yes——especially if you’re an Internet user. In this fast-paced age, technology has become a necessity. An e-PRO is someone who has recognized and responded to the needs of the new consumer. If you choose an e-PRO, it’s a safe bet you’ll get the kind of service you want——and need.Copyright© InternetCrusade® and NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
All rights reserved.

1. Your payment history. Whether you paid credit card obligations on time.

2. How much you owe. Owing a great deal of money on numerous accounts can indicate that you are overextended.

3. The length of your credit history. In general, the longer the better.

4. How much new credit you have. New credit, either installment payments or new credit cards, are considered more risky, even if you pay promptly.

5. The types of credit you use. Generally, it’s desirable to have more than one type of credit—installment loans, credit cards, and a mortgage, for example.

For more on evaluating and understanding your credit score, go to http://www.myfico.com.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. www.REALTOR.org/realtormag

Simple changes can make big differences in utility bills for many homeowners. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates appliances and electronics are responsible for roughly 20% of energy bills. Something as simple as shutting down a computer will make a noticeable difference. The U.S. D.E. recommends turning it off if you aren’t going to be using it for more than two hours.

And there are plenty of other easy changes that can make a difference. Below are six simple steps from “The Green Book,” which bills itself as “The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time.”

Take a shorter shower. Every two minutes you save on your shower can conserve more than 10 gallons of water. And that can add up: If everyone in the country saved just one gallon from their daily shower, over the course of a year it would equal twice the amount of freshwater withdrawn from the Great Lakes every day. The Great Lakes are the world’s largest source of freshwater.

Set your thermostat a degree higher for air-conditioning and a degree lower for heating. This can save you $100 per year on your utility bill.

Recycle. If everyone in America simply separated the paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum products from the trash and tossed them into a recycling bin, we could decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills by 75%. A couple of years ago, it took an area the size of Pennsylvania to dump all our waste each year.

Buy Energy Star appliances and electronics. Households that use Energy Star products automatically become more energy-efficient and can save $600 a year in energy costs. In 2005,Energy Star helped Americans reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to those from 23 million cars and save enough on their energy bills to buy every product sold on eBay for three straight months.

Install low-flow plumbing. An average three-member household can reduce its water consumption by 54,000 gallons annually and can lower its water bills by about $60 per year.

Get ceiling fans and use them instead of air-conditioning. It costs just a penny an hour to run a ceiling fan versus 16 cents an hour to run for a room air conditioner and 43 cents an hour for central air.

For more energy-saving tips contact Donna B. Miller with Blairfield Realty at 512-968-9080 or visit us at www.BlairfieldRealty.com