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Rare One Story 3 Bedroom Condo!! $129,000

September 2, 2011 By Patti Simon Leave a Comment

Beautifully and meticulously updated in a well cared for condo complex! Never lived in since remodel.***$26K in updating done!!Gorgeous granite kitchen counter tops,beautiful glass tile backsplash,fabulous wood cabinets,and recessed lighting.Black and stainless appliances.Bathrooms fresh and clean with beautiful tile tub surround,hard tile flooring and updated fixtures.HVAC replaced.Carpet in bedrooms never lived on.Neutral hard tile in family room and kitchen.Inground pool.Walk to park.Truly a one of a kind and an absolute MUST SEE!!

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Filed Under: Austin Homes for Sale, Condos for Sale in Austin Tx Tagged With:

I love your hat!

June 26, 2011 By Patti Simon Leave a Comment

My husband, Ralph, had to be in Dallas on business last week, so I tagged along. It’s always an adventure, as we are always looking for new places to discover. I suggested Italian for dinner, so we drove to the upper Greenville area, to a great place called Prego’s Pasta House. As it turns out, Prego’s seems to have quite a following.  They’ve been around for years and the locals flock to this place. I can understand why. The food was some of the best I’ve had in some time.

A cute couple came in and they were obviously long time customers, as everyone greeted them cheerfully, welcoming them back. She was wearing a wonderful hat. I mentioned to Ralph that I really liked her hat a lot.

As we were getting ready to leave, we walked by this couples table and Ralph, who never meets a stranger said, “my wife really loves your hat!”. She laughed and said, “oh really, it’s a Helen Kaminski hat. I got it at Neiman’s. You can get this hat at Saks Fifth Ave. too”. We continued to talk a bit and then she insisted that I try the hat on. Feeling a tad awkward, but she insisted… I tried it on and of course it fit perfectly. I handed it back to her and had some nice chit chat.

We left and as the valet was bringing our car around, Ralph ran back inside for something and the nice couple we had been talking to called Ralph over to their table again. The lady insisted upon Ralph taking her hat and giving it to me. Ralph brought it to me in the car. I was shocked!  No way was I taking that hat from the sweet lady!  That was just over the top!

I ran back inside to see the sweet lady and return her hat to her. She would not have it! She said when she realized we didn’t live in Dallas, she wanted me to have it. 

As we were talking, another lady, Sabrina, from Miami Beach, FL., approached us. She said, “I’ve been watching you all and listening to your conversation. Do you all know one another?” We said, “no, we just met.” Sabrina looked at me and said, “I can’t believe she just gave you her hat! I love this. I love paying it forward. That is what my company is all about.”  As it turns out, Sabrina is a former Super Model and has been seen on the cover of magazines like Sports Illustrated! She also is a singer/songwriter and actress. The list goes on and on of her accomplishments. Sabrina gave me a card with her t-shirt business promo on it. I had no idea who she was until I went to her website much later. She was a very nice, un-assuming type of person, with a super sweet heart.  Sabrina and her business partner Christopher, own a t-shirt company. See their tees at http://www.sabrinabarnett.com/ and learn more about what a great lady Sabrina is! Their t-shirt company prints bejeweled uplifting messages on their stylish tee’s that impower women. Christopher came over and said he was mailing Mimi, (the hat lady) a t-shirt for being such a wonderful “pay it forward” kind of gal.

I still cannot believe a perfect stranger gave me her expensive hat!

My Pay it Forward Hat!

It was refreshing to see that there really are nice people in the world like Mimi and her husband Philip, along with Sabrina and Christopher. The media can make one feel like we live in a horrible, negative world. However, we really do live in a wonderful world and there are tons of nice people all around us.

This incident made me think of Princess Diana and her famous quote…”Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” ~Princess Diana

I am ready to “pay it forward”! I wonder who my next recipient will be? I challenge everyone to “pay it forward” with a random act of kindness!

THANK YOU MIMI !  I hope to see you again soon!

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Filed Under: Austin Homes for Sale Tagged With:

12723 Acadian Trail is now off the market

May 19, 2011 By Patti Simon 1 Comment

And is it a must see home? It SURE IS! This home sits on a beautifully landscaped corner lot in a great location of Austin. Located in the Milwood subdivision off of the McNeil/Parmer Lane area, this home sits within the school district of RRISD where kids attend Westwood HS, Canyon Vista MS and Jollyville Elem. Talk about easy access to everywhere! This is it!

The owner bought this home in 2000 and has done a ton of work to it. The first thing the owner did was take a window out of a bedroom and replace it with gorgeous Pella sliding doors. If you are not familiar with these doors, well just let me say, they are NOT the typical, run of the mill, sliding glass doors. These Pella doors are top of the line, wooden and energy efficient. Once the doors were installed, it was time for an outside deck to be constructed. The owner holds a special place in her heart for this home and the deck. First of all, the deck was constructed by her now, deceased Father, who labored over this deck for days and poured his heart into its fine construction. Second of all, there have been some wonderful, memoriable moments lounging on the deck with friends and family since the construction of the deck in 2001.

In addition to the deck and sliding doors, the owner has replaced the roof shingles, replaced the AC unit and Furnace. She worked with the City of Austin to upgrade the home to become extra energy efficient. Weather proofing was done, solar screens added, as well as additional attic insulation was installed. Her utility bills reflect the new efficiency…lower bills!

Hardwood floors were installed and they absolutely gleam when you walk into this beautiful home with an open and flowing floor plan. Toilets were replaced in the bathrooms, where hardwood tile was put down, along with replacement faucets. Lighting fixtures were upgraded throughout the home, along with designer interior paint colors for a fresh look. In the kitchen, the sink,disposal and counter tops have been replaced and the plan is to include new matching appliances soon.

It was a long, hard decision, for this homeowner to make the decision to sell, after all the love she has given this fabulous home and with all the memories of family and friends in this home. However, she is building a new home and is ready to move on to her new beginning, with her sweet dog, in a new place, in a new community.

Call me for a showing of this beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bath home listed at $162,000.

Patti Simon, Realtor®, ABR, GRI 512-913-4124 or email me at Patti@MyHomeinAustinTexas.com

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Filed Under: Austin Homes for Sale Tagged With: ,

First Time Buyers

February 13, 2011 By Patti Simon 2 Comments

Young Adults Buying Homes

Jade and Marc Batangan in their first home

People over 35 are not the only ones that want to live The American Dream of home ownership. Young adults everywhere, see the importance of home ownership too. They are just as committed to having The American Dream of home ownership, as the generations before them. Young adults see home ownership as a wonderful environment within which to raise their families and create memories. They also believe that owning a home contributes to their financial goals. Saving toward a down payment and incidentals needed to purchase their first home is at the top of the things young adults are striving towards.

I love working with first time home buyers. It’s a lot of fun to be part of their excitement and guide them down the path to home ownership. The first thing I want to see a couple do is get with a mortgage loan professional and get pre-qualified for their home. After mortgage pre-approval, it’s important that the couple sit down together and make a wish list of the things they feel are important to them in a home. I like to think of the list in two categories….a “must have” and a “would like to have” wish list. Once they get an idea of what’s important to them, we can get busy selecting homes they think might be a good fit to check out.

So many young couples are on top of things in today’s world and they know, for the most part, what they are looking for and really have their act together. That was the case with my sweet young professional clients that allowed me to assist them in finding their first home in 2009.

Jade and Marc on their wedding day

Jade and Marc were ready to go when they contacted me about a beautiful home I had listed in Avery Ranch. They did not have a Realtor®, representing them at that time. I started working with them and learned what saavy home buyers they were! They knew what they could spend on a home, had the money saved and had narrowed down the areas that they would and would not live in. They also had an idea of what they needed in the way of their wish list. After looking at homes on several occasions, we narrowed down what the most important items were for them. I found a home that hit the market in the area they wanted to live in, the price they wanted to pay and fit the criteria they were wanting. It fit the parameters, I put together the offer and in a short time we were at the closing table. Things could not have been more perfect.

Watching the Grammies tonight and seeing Miranda Lambert sing “The House that Built Me” reminded me of an article I read recently that allowed Miranda to express what the song is about. In the article, Miranda talked about growing up in a house that she loved and wanting to go back to it again. “Homes are the touchstone of our lives”, she says. That’s so true! The song came about when her co-writer came across an article about how houses shape us into the people we are and that they play a role in our personal development. The house I grew up in has special memories and everytime I go back to the town where I grew up, I always drive by the old home place and wonder what the people are like that live there now. My thoughts go back to “the good ol’ days” where memories were made and my parents helped shape my values.

For tips for home buyers at all stages of life: Click Here

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Home Ownership

February 12, 2011 By Patti Simon Leave a Comment

Home Ownership is still the American Dream!

Many things come to mind when the words “The American Dream” are uttered. For me, I immediately think of owning a home as the ultimate American Dream. After all, our family and our home is the center of our lives in America. We work hard at having a comfortable, beautiful home that’s full of love and life to share with our family and friends. Home is where we enjoy creating something that is all ours. We own it. It’s a place that reflects our personality, where we create our family traditions that will long be remembered and passed down through generations. It’s a place where we form our family values and is an expression of who we are.

Does it matter if we own a home or not? Over the past few months, our country has gone through some turmoil as it continues to work through a sad financial upheaval of sorts. The question of home ownership has been debated where some critics have said that too much emphasis has been put on the virtues of home ownership. Really? Who are these people? Have they forgotten that for hundreds of years the people in the United States have believed that property or home ownership is a core value of this county? We must remember who we are as a nation, what our core values are and where our families begin.

Home ownership still remains the dream of an American and will always make a difference in family relationships, values and our connectedness to the communities in which we live. In a recent poll, when asked if homeownership is a better financial decision than renting, 96 percent of homeowners said it was and 71 percent of renters agreed. Even in times where this country has been in a financial crisis, the vast majority of Americans still see home ownership as a smart decision…financial stability. Home ownership is a great way to increase your net worth…a slow wealth builder. With every payment, equity builds.

Be proud of your accomplishment if you are a home owner and if you are not, continue to work toward owning a home. Live THE AMERICAN DREAM!

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Vandergrift High School in Leander ISD

August 4, 2010 By Patti Simon Leave a Comment

The Newest High School in Leander ISD

In the year 2000, only 7600 people lived in Leander Tx. with approximately 2000 students enrolled in Leander ISD.  As of 2009  28,000 students were enrolled in Leander ISD.That makes Leander ISD the largest school district in Williamson County. Just the student population alone, is 10 times what the general population was just 10 years ago. Leander ISD has nearly 40 schools now in the district. The newest school is Vandergrift High School and their mascot is the Vipers. Located in the area of 2222 and 620, this will be the fourth High School for Leander ISD, and has approximately 376,400 square feet of space.

Vandegrift High School first opened in the 2009-2010 school year, in the building that is now Four Points Middle School, and only allowed freshmen and sophomore students. As of August 23rd, this year, the Juniors will begin attending the school. Next year, during the 2011-2012 school year, Vandergrift High School will accomodate all four grades: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. Leander ISD planned a slow increase in student population at Vandergrift High School, as to get the district accustomed to everyone going to the new school. Once all students are attending Vandergrift High School, there should be approximately 1800 students that will be attending the school.

It was voted unanimously by the Leander ISD Board of Trustees to name the school, Vandergrift High School, in honor of Lt. Matthew Ryan Vandergrift, a Class of 1999 Honors Graduate and athlete. Vandergrift was also an Honors Graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in International Business, prior to enlisting into the United States Marine Corps in August 2005.  Vandergrift was killed in Iraq in April 2008.

Patti Simon, REALTOR®, ABR, GRI
512-913-4124
www.MyHomeinAustinTexas.com

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Mt Bonnell Austin Tx

August 2, 2010 By Patti Simon Leave a Comment

Mt Bonnell Sits High Above Austin

Last Thursday was my wedding anniversary and I thought what a perfect time to talk about Mt Bonnell.

I have a special place in my heart for Mt Bonnell for many reasons. One is the beauty of the area and the other is that my husband asked me to marry him at the top of Mt Bonnell in 1989! When my husband and I were dating in the late 80′s, one of the many fun things we loved to do was find a private little spot on top of a hill to relax, sip wine and chat. What a great escape from the “real” world! We saw some pretty spectacular sunsets too! Since these special moments were so meaningful to us, it’s no wonder that when my husband decided to surprise me by popping the question and putting an engagement ring on my finger, that he would pick one of the most dramatic hills in all of Austin, as the perfect venue!

Not only are the panoramic views fabulous, on Mt Bonnell, but the homes in the area are over the top, as well. Some of the finest, one of a kind, architecture in all Austin sit at the top of Mt Bonnell and down below on Lake Austin. You rarely see architecture such as an 83 foot long cantilevered lap pool with transparent end, but you will, on Mt Bonnell. Inspiring and innovative, to say the least.

Mt Bonnell sits 775 feet high above our beloved city and is considered to be one of the highest points in all of Austin. It’s named after the founder, George Bonnell, who moved to Austin in 1839 and was Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the Texas Republic.

If you haven’t made it to Mt Bonnell, take some time to check it out. Once there, you will understand why the people that live on Mt Bonnell, chose to make it their home.

From Mopac, take 2222 west, to Mt. Bonnell and turn left. Park and climb the stairs to the top of the hill; an easy hike. Downtown Austin can be seen to the southeast and you can see the Hill Country to the west.

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Filed Under: Austin Homes for Sale, Uncategorized

FUNNY!

July 27, 2010 By Patti Simon 1 Comment

ALWAYS, ALWAYS proof read your work! My sister in law sent this to me today from her local newspaper, The Waco Tribune Herald. This is my WORST nightmare! I have a fear of not proof reading an ad and this happens!! I mean, you have to just laugh at yourself when something like this happens to you! I’ll just bet that Gilda’s face turned as red as her jacket when she saw her newly published FULL COLOR ad in Sunday’s paper! If you have a funny story you would like to share, leave  a comment.

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Perry’s Steak House

June 17, 2010 By Patti Simon

If you haven’t been to Perry’s Steakhouse, you should!! It’s a wonderful place to dine. Perry’s Steakhouse is located in downtown Austin at 7th and Colorado. Within walking distance of the Paramount Theater, both make for a great evening out!

Don’t worry about parking. Perry’s Steakhouse has valet service right at the front door. [Read more...]

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Caffè Medici

April 20, 2010 By Patti Simon

Caffè Medici at 1100 W. Lynn, smack dab in the middle of quaint little historic Clarksville, is a super fab place to get a great cup of java! What a prime Austin location, between 6th Street and Enfield.

What a great day today, to sit outside in the sunshine with a light breeze and drink one of the best Espresso Americano’s I’ve had in a long time. Caffè Medici has a wonderful  espresso with a rich, nutty flavor and was very smooth. This place was hopping with all walks of life, from students to business professionals, when I met up with an old friend today for coffee.

Caffè Medici has a nice selection of coffee drinks for the faint of heart to the die hard coffee connoisseur. Traditional espresso and lattes are on the menu, as well as a nice French Press coffee. This local favorite, takes their passion for coffee seriously with their holistic approach. If coffee doesnít suit your palette, then teas and other beverages are available. If you’re hungry, there is a case full of good things to eat.

Caffè Medici sits among some great Austin favorites such as Jeffrey’s Restaurant, the Galaxy Cafe, and Fresh Plus Grocery Store for starters. The West Lynn location is the original Austin spot for Caffè Medici, however they recently opened another location at  2222B Guadalupe on the UT Campus, an area, better known to most of us as, The Drag.

Caffè Medici is open Monday-Friday 6am-10pm and Saturday-Sunday 6:30am-10pm.

When you’re heading to your downtown office, stop in Caffè Medici and get a few cups to take to your co-workers. Won’t you be the hit at the office? You can always stop in after your morning jog or evening at the theater.

Caffè Medici is on my list of favorites. I am taking my favorite husband by for a cup this weekend and I bet it becomes one of his favorite places for a great cup too!
…..life is short! Live it Venti!

Patti Simon, REALTOR®, ABR, GRI
512-913-4124
www.MyHomeinAustinTexas.com

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