It’s that time of year again. Starting at midnight tonight through Sunday, August 19th, Texan shoppers will get a tax break from state & local taxes. Most clothing and footwear under $100 is included as are backpacks for the first time. Below is a complete list of what is exempt so get out there and start shopping!

 Tax Free Items:

• Baby clothes


• Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students
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Categories : All About Austin

For all of you dog lovers out there, here is a list of pet friendly areas and dog parks around Austin:

Auditorium Shores – 920 W. Riverside Dr.

Bull Creek District Park – 6701 Lakewood Dr.

Emma Long Metropolitan Park – 1600 City Park Rd.

Far West – b/w Great Northern & Shoal Creek Blvd.

Northeast District Park – 5909 Crystalbrook Dr.

Norwood Estate – IH35 at Riverside Dr.

Redbud Isle – 3401 Red Bud... Full Story

With in the past year, property values in Travis County have jumped 13% due in part to new construction activity and a higher level of interest from buyers for the Austin market. To read more from this article log on to Austin Business Journal’s website:Â
Austin Business Journal

It’s unanimous! The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board has approved $6.5 million worth of contracts for the new commuter rail set to up and running sometime next year. The 32 mile railway will run from Leander down to downtown Austin. Riders are expected to take advantage of the new railway system as early as fall 2008.

Here is a great real estate tip pertaining to bargain homes….

Most buyers want a home that is in tip-top condition and ready for them to occupy, but many homes sell for bargain prices because they need work. Buyers love “fixer-uppers” for the obvious reasons: the affordable price and the satisfaction of remodeling the house to accommodate your tastes and needs.

Whether you are buying the property for yourself or as an investment, choose a... Full Story

I just read an article in the Austin Business Journal stating that 22 zip codes in Texas are among those with the highest number of foreclosures in the nation. 78664 in Round Rock and 78660 in nearby Pflugerville are among them. In a three month period, 78664 reported 248 foreclosures filed and 78660 reported 166 foreclosures. Not to fret though. Overall foreclosures in the Austin area are down 4% from this time last year. If... Full Story

By filing in federal bankruptcy court, an individual or individuals can restructure or relieve themselves of debts and liabilities. Bankruptcies are of various types, but the most common for an individual seem to be a “Chapter 7 No Asset” bankruptcy which relieves the borrower of most types of debts. A borrower cannot usually qualify for an “A” paper loan for a period of two years after the bankruptcy has been discharged and requires the re-establishment... Full Story

A written justification of the price paid for a property, primarily based on an analysis of comparable sales of similar homes nearby

Despite what you may be hearing in the news the Austin real estate market is bucking the trend of declining home sales that are being seen in most of the nation’s cities and towns. The month of April brought in a 6% increase in single-family home sales and the median home price continues to remain very affordable compared to the rest of the nation. With summer being the most popular time to buy and sell... Full Story