Is anyone else excited for October? The air gets cool enough to use that backyard fire pit again, Haunted Houses start to pop up, pumpkin-flavored things are everywhere (one pumpkin beer, please), and candy that I have to try to stay away from floods the store aisles.

As always, there’s no shortage of exciting things happening in Austin next month. So mark your calendar for some of the dates below and get ready for the fall season.

1. Austin City Limits Music Festival. One of the largest celebrations of music in the U.S. is right here in Austin, Texas. Enjoy the six day festival featuring over 140 musical acts on 8 stages in one of the city’s most beloved parks. No matter what kind of music you love, there’s something for everyone here! Artists include Jay-Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chance the Rapper, The Head and the Heart, Solange, The Killers, Vance Joy, and more.
2. Oktoberfest. It wouldn’t be October without Oktoberfest, would it? This annual festival at the German Free School is a family-friendly celebration with plenty to excite kids of all ages. Enjoy live music, food, kid’s activities, and a biergarten on October 14th all day long starting at 11 AM. Grab your tickets here.
3. Banger’s Oktoberfest. For a more adult-friendly Oktoberfest, head to Banger’s Sausage Fest and Beer Garden on Rainey Street. For 4 days and nights, you can party like you’re in Munich with food, dancing, and of course plenty of drinks. The dates are still to be announced but I promise, you won’t want to miss it.

Austin is an amazing city. That’s why I’m never surprised by how many people want to move here!

If you’re thinking about moving to or within the Austin area or know someone who is, hit reply and let’s talk about how I can help you find your dream home.

Cheers,

Crystal

Now that fall is fast-approaching, it’s officially time to think about a very exciting topic… fall home maintenance.

I know, I know. It’s not exactly your ideal way to spend a weekend. But I promise you, you’ll be glad you did when it’s one of those chilly winter evenings and you don’t have to deal with falling tree limbs.

Here are my top 4 items to take care of this fall to get your home ready for the colder weather to come. 

1. Care for your trees and shrubs. Pruning unhealthy limbs from your trees will help avoid falling limbs in winter storms. There are plenty of online resources like this article to help you differentiate between a dangerous limb and a safe, healthy one. You may also want to consider hiring a certified arborist to get a pair of expert eyes on your trees. 

2. Clean your gutters. Everyone’s favorite task, right? Just because our leaves don’t turn spectacular colors in Austin doesn’t mean they don’t fall off and clog our gutters. Cleaning your gutters is a great precaution against roof and siding damage during fall rainstorms, so don’t skimp on this one!

3. Schedule your heating system maintenance. Taking care of your maintenance now will ensure that your system is in great shape for the season. Remember that chilly night when your water heater or heat pump broke? We all have a story like that. Avoid a crisis situation this year by making sure your system is ready to go ahead of time. 

4. Go green. Conduct an energy audit to assess your home’s energy efficiency. Even if your home is newer, there are sure to be opportunities to save energy. The easiest thing to do first is to check your windows and doors for cracks and seal them to prevent drafts. You’ll be warmer, have a lower heating bill, and you’ll save energy. To learn more about conducting a home audit yourself, click here.

These tasks won’t take you long, but they’ll make a big difference for your home. 

As always, if you or anyone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate, hit reply and let me know! I would love to sit down and discuss how I can help you find your dream home in the Austin area.

Happy fall,

Crystal

Fall in Austin is incredible…and it’s fast approaching! Wondering how to spend your September between PTA meetings and soccer practice as you get back in the groove of your regular routine? 

Don’t worry, there are plenty of good times to be had in the city next month. 

This guide is for you. Enjoy!

1. Free day of yoga. Yoga lovers: grab your mat and a friend, and block out Labor Day Monday on your calendar. Austin’s Free Day of Yoga is here and it’s packed with free classes, kicking off with a 7 a.m. class at the downtown Whole Foods. After that, enjoy a variety of classes from power yoga to yin to arm balances until 8 pm. Participating studios include Studio Mantra, Austin Yoga Tree, CorePower Yoga, and a whole lot more.

2. Austin Music Video Festival. If you love music (and who doesn’t?) this is the place to be September 12th-16th. It’s 5 days of music videos, world premieres, pool parties, food trucks, and more in the heart of downtown Austin. Grab a five day pass or a single day pass here.

3. Austin Museum Day. Looking for a more low-key experience? No problem. Check out the free exhibitions and activities at dozens of Austin-area museums and cultural sites on September 17th. This includes the Briscoe Center for American History, City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, Blanton Museum of Art, Thinkery, and more. Bring your kids or go with friends— either way, you’re sure to have a great day.

4. AustOberfest. You may not be in Germany, but you can still celebrate Oktoberfest like you are at one of the top 10 up and coming Oktoberfests in the country. Enjoy German-style sausage, live music, and plenty of bier on September 30th at the Austin Saengerrunde.

Austin never disappoints, does it? That’s why it’s not surprising that so many people want to live in the area. If you want to move to a new neighborhood, or know someone who wants to move to Austin, hit reply and let me know! That’s what I’m here for, after all.

Cheers,

Crystal

Stores are flooded with printed binders and discounted loose-leaf paper. Colorful lunch boxes rule the aisles. Fall clothes start to appear everywhere. You know what that means…

It’s back to school time! The summer has flown by, hasn’t it?

August doesn’t just mean shopping for new jeans and calculators. It can also mean shopping for a new home in a better school district. A recent realtor.com survey showed that school-district boundaries impact the buying decision for more than 60 percent of realtor.com home buyers.

Without further ado, here are my tips to help you prepare for the new school year, and a few bonus back-to-school home search tips.

1. Re-establish school routines a week before school starts. This is a big one. Summer is typically a huge disrupt from normal school routines— later bedtimes, more TV or video game time, and sleeping in. Easing kids back into their school routine before school starts will give them a chance to adjust before the big day.
2. Shop for school supplies together. Allowing your kids to pick out their own backpacks, folders, lunch boxes, and other supplies helps them get excited and gives them a little bit of responsibility in the process.
3. Talk with your children about their feelings. Going back to school, especially if a child is switching schools, can be a huge transition. Creating a safe space for your child to share their fears and insecurities about the first day can make a world of difference for both them and you!

Back-To-School Home Search Tips 

1. Know your family needs. What exactly does your family need in your new home? Is your family growing? Do you need a large backyard? Is a pool or big basement a necessity? Make a list of your most important priorities.
2. Do your research. Sites such as GreatSchools, Realtor, and SchoolDigger allow you to see in-depth information about schools including test scores and reviews covering teacher quality. SchoolDigger also provides a comparison tool so you can compare the schools you’re considering side by side.
3. Ask your realtor the right questions. Your realtor (like me!) will know where you need to be located to get the items on your priorities list in the school district you want. Make sure you specifically ask about everything that matters to you most, so you can get your dream home near your dream school.

If you’re thinking of moving to a better school district in the area (or know someone who is!), let’s connect. There’s no shortage of great schools in Austin, and I’d love to help you get your kids the education they deserve!

You still have awhile until the kids go back to school (although at this point, maybe you’re wishing school would just start already. Anyone? Just me?). Luckily, there are plenty of exciting things happening in Austin this August to end the summer with a bang.

Check out the list below. Whether you love movies, food, music, or outdoor activities— there’s something for you in the city next month.

1. Austin Ice Cream Festival. Nothing says summer more than a big, cold ice cream cone. This is the ice cream festival’s 11th annual event, and it’s never a disappointment. They’ll be scooping up local, regional, and national flavors all day at Fiesta Gardens along Lady Bird Lake. And that’s not all: there will also be live music, a rock climbing wall, a dunk tank, games, and more.
2. Blues on the Green. Love live music? You already know that you live in one of the best cities in the U.S. for it! On August 2nd pack your blanket, dog, and picnic basket and head over to Zilker Park for this large free concert. This year is Zilker Park’s 100th anniversary, so enjoy the homegrown music and know that you’re part of history today.
3. Capital City Black Film Festival. Film lovers, this is your event. The Capital City Black Film Festival is back for its fifth annual event August 17th-20th. This festival brings together talented African Americans in the media and film industry for a weekend jam-packed with seminars, parties, screenings, and more. You’ll get to check out documentaries, short films, features, and music videos from a diverse array of independent filmmakers. They don’t call Austin “one of the best places to live and work as a moviemaker” for nothing!
4. Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival. It may seem counterintuitive to eat spicy food during the summer…but hot sauce die-hards don’t care. If you’re one of them, join the Austin Chronicle for one of the largest hot sauce festivals in the world on August 20th at Fiesta Gardens. Bonus: this event raises money for the Central Texas Food Bank!

Austin is a pretty amazing place to live, isn’t it? If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the area, or know someone in need of a real estate agent, hit reply and let me know! I’d love to help you (or them!) out.

Happy summer!