The Gibbs Team

512-431-2403

Mary Lynne Gibbs

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Looking After Christmas

ID-100201446Christmas is just a few days away! It’s been a wonderful season this year and certainly full of giving, sharing, joy and love…just the way I like it! So, how can we keep the spirit alive all year long? Well, it starts with looking after Christmas.

For some reason, we seem to think we have to cram all of this goodness into about six weeks and then move on after the tree comes down and the ornaments go back into the box. Sure, Christmas might be over at midnight on December 25th, but the season of helping others and spreading joy can last a lifetime.

Thankfully, we live in a fabulous area full of many philanthropic opportunities…all we have to do is find what fits our schedule and how much time we would like to give…because giving actually makes us richer.

Here are some organizations that could use our help and support throughout the next year!

Lakeway Regional Hospital can always use teens 14+ and adult volunteers to provide support for various departments throughout the hospital. Lakeway Regional Hospital Volunteer Opportunities

Mobile Loaves and Fishes has over 17,000 volunteers help feed and clothe the homeless in the Austin area all year long. Areas of opportunity include make ready teams, delivering meals, garden preparation, harvesting, canning, maintenance, and more. Mobile Loaves and Fishes Volunteering

Hands on Central Texas is the United Way of Austin’s volunteer program that helps residents help others in their community. Throughout the year there are several Days of Caring and special events that need volunteers. http://www.handsoncentraltexas.org/

Any Baby Can is a child and family resource center that provides education, therapy and support to families who are found in need by a variety of local organizations. Volunteers of all levels of experience are needed in several positions. www.anybabycan.org

Susan G. Komen Austin provides support, outreach and national research in the fight against breast cancer. Volunteers are needed to help with Race for the Cure, special events, public policy, public relations, community outreach and more. www.komenaustin.org

Special Olympics Texas provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Volunteers do not need any special skills, but can help with competitions, fundraisers, coaching, and office assistance or as a Fan in the Stands. www.sotx.org

SafePlace is a local program that works to end domestic violence. Volunteers are needed to work directly with families and individuals and provide assistance in clerical or administrative roles. Opportunities include accompanying survivors to court; answer hotline calls, plan children’s birthday parties, deliver toys to SafePlace for clients for the Holiday Giving Program and many more. www.safeplace.org/volunteer

Ladies of Charity Lake Travis Thrift Shop sells donated clothing, housewares, linens, toys, jewelry, furniture, antiques and much more. Volunteers are needed to work in the store and donations are welcome. Profits support a variety of charities in the Lake Travis area. www.laketravisthrift.com

Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is the largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas and serves more than 48,000 people each week. Volunteers are always needed to help prepare food donations for distribution, assist with the mobile food pantry, help out at the St. John’s Community Food Center and more. Visit www.austinfoodbank.org/volunteer for a complete list of volunteer opportunities.

Austin Pets Alive! is a nonprofit animal rescue group committed to promoting and providing the resources, education and programs needed to eliminate the killing of homeless companion animals in Austin. The center is run almost entirely by volunteers. www.austinpetsalive.org

The Arc of the Capital Area provides individualized services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Volunteer opportunities include helping clients at the Arc of Arts Studio and assisting at monthly socialization activities such as movie night and volunteering at special events, among others. www.arcofthecapitalarea.org

These are only a few of the many occasions one can find to lend a helping hand. I truly hope you will make it a priority in 2015 to donate your time, money and resources to make the world a better place.

Merry Christmas!

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

*Image courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net.

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There Is Still Time to Help!

As we are headed into the last week before Christmas, there is still time to help others in our community have a happy, healthy and joyous holiday this year.

We are so fortunate and it just makes sense to share with others!

Many charities have already hit their deadlines for gifts and deliveries, but there are definitely some that are still open to both!

Here are a few we have found that could still use our help! We hope you will take this opportunity to donate and brighten the day of those less fortunate.

Angel Tree – The Keller Williams Lake Travis Market Center has an Angel Tree that is helping a single mother with four children. The ages and sizes of the children are age 12 (size 14-16), age 11 (size 12), age 4 (size 8-10) and a three-month-old baby. The mother is 40-years-old and a size 4. All donations can be dropped off in the lobby of the market center by end of business on December 17th.

Stocking Stuffer Drive for The Settlement Home for Children – Helps about 55-57 girls and boys, ages 13-18, in the foster program. All donations are due at the Keller Williams Lake Travis Market Center the morning of December 22 for assembling. Cash donations are due Friday the 19th. The wish list includes makeup, nail polish, books for teenage girls, gift cards to Target, Wal-Mart, Visa, Mastercard, large stuffed animals, touch screen MP3 players, slippers, board games, art and crafts, markers and crayons, gel pens, paints, beads and jewelry making kits, journals, scrapbooking kits, blow dryers and flat irons, bicycles – for boys and girls, child size to adult size, electric scooters, toy cars, trucks and super heroes figures, and Leap Pads.

Operation Blue Santa Delivery Day – December 20th 7am-1pm at the Blue Santa Warehouse, 4101 S. Industrial Dr., Suite 260, Austin, Texas 78744 – This event, headed by the Austin Police Department, is open to anyone willing to volunteer and needs assistance with getting the many deliveries that go out to the families in need this Holiday Season. Once all deliveries are made, there will be live entertainment and great food provided to all volunteers at the Warehouse.

Austin Children Services provides residential and non-residential services to children, youth, and families who have experienced abuse or neglect. From now until December 31st, gifts to ACS will be DOUBLED thanks to a generous challenge grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. ACS Donation

2014 Bee Cave Community Holiday Food Drive – The Rotary Club of Bee Cave – Spicewood and the Bee Cave Police Department have joined forces to collect food that will benefit local charities including: Partners in Hope, Lake Travis Crisis Ministries and Spicewood Helping Hands. Bring non-perishable food items to Bee Cave Police Department, BBVA Compass Bank, Faraday’s Kitchen Store, Broadway Bank, Bee Cave Library and A+ Federal Credit Union until December 31st to participate in this food drive.

Lake Travis Thrift/Ladies of Charity is located at 1508 RR 620 South and supports charities and the needy, primarily in the Lake Travis area. They sell clothing, housewares, linens, toys, jewelry, furniture, antiques and those one-of-kind “finds” on Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-4pm and until 7pm on Wednesdays. Christmas items are currently 50% off, so take this opportunity to find some deals and help others all at the same time! To donate please go to http://www.laketravisthrift.com/

Hill Country Community Ministries operates a food pantry, clothes closet, and provides other assistance for approximately 400-500 families a month. To donate please go to http://www.hccm.org/index.html

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas season!

If you or anyone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate in the Austin area, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business.

 

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2015 Housing Predictions

930A5923_4_5_fused (1)As the year draws to an end, 2015 housing predictions are already being calculated. Seems like we just started 2014 and here we are closing it up!!

Nonetheless, Realtor.com’s Top 5 Predictions are not all that shocking, but they are definitely good to know if you will be looking to buy or sell real estate in the upcoming year.

The entire article can be found at 2015 Housing Predictions if you would like to peruse what economic experts have to say in detail about the following list. But, for the shorter version…look no further.

The 2015 housing industry expected trends include:

1.     Mortgage Rates Will Head Back Up

2.     Millennials (ages 25-34) Will Set up House

3.     Builders Will Break New Ground

4.     Credit Will Continue to Be a Major Factor

5.     We’ll Close Out the Foreclosure Crisis

Basically, mortgage rates can’t stay low forever, but good credit will be the determining factor of whether banks will loan someone money because of continued stringent mortgage qualifications.

This just means that if you are thinking about buying a home in the near future, you must tighten up your spending, pay bills on time and straighten up any credit issues you currently have.

Moreover, with more millennials buying homes, builders will have to add inventory to keep up with the housing demands. The home building industry will be interesting to watch in 2015, as their greatest issues include shortages in labor and materials.

The best news is that the U.S. economy continues to strengthen and that helps people find jobs to pay their mortgages and in effect puts a halt to the foreclosure crisis we have seen in the past several years.

Obviously, every market is different and if you would like to know more about the Austin area real estate market, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

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Holiday Theft Safety Tips

ID-10074458As we enter into the holiday season that largely consists of shopping, cooking, traveling and giving; we need to remember that not everyone is in a charitable mood…in fact, the period immediately after Thanksgiving that extends to Christmas typically sparks a rise in burglaries and theft, according the Austin Police Department.

Roger Wade with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office went so far as saying in a post online, “Tis the season to buy gifts for friends and family and for thieves to break into your home and cars to steal them from you. Please be cautious this gift giving season and don’t give gifts to thieves.”

While identity theft is among the major concerns around this time of year with the popularity of online shopping, most of the time these identity crimes are committed by someone we know. YIKES!

However, during the holiday season OPPORTUNITY is the main objective for most burglaries and thefts.

Additionally, I think it’s interesting that regarding vehicle thefts – keys were used to steal the vehicles (keys left in vehicle, lost keys, etc.) in 53% of car thefts in Austin during the month of October 2014, according to the Austin Police Department. (To see more information about Auto Theft/Burglary of Vehicle Crime Statistics, please go to Austin Crime Stats.)

With the holiday season being a perfect occasion for thieves to raid our personal effects, we need to take extra precautions in an effort to safeguard ourselves from theft.

Please see below for a list of safety measures we can take to keep our homes and vehicles theft-free!

  • Lock your car doors.
  • Don’t leave packages in plain sight.
  • Be wary of strangers lurking in parking lots at stores.
  • Lock your house and don’t put your Christmas tree in an area that can be readily seen from the street.
  • Break down all boxes from your gifts and place them in a dark colored trash bag or a closed trash container to avoid burglars knowing there are new items in your residence.
  • Close window shades and blinds when no one is home to prevent burglars from window shopping in your home.
  • Close and lock all windows and doors prior to leaving your residence.
  • Secure all valuables from immediate view such as laptops, cellphones, wallets, etc.; if a burglar looks in and sees a laptop close to the door or window, it becomes an easy target.
  • Close and lock your garage, as well as any storage sheds, on your property.
  • Record all serial numbers of valuables so that police can have the opportunity to try to recover your property if it is stolen; if you keep your list in an electronic device, ensure you have a printed copy available in the event your device is stolen.
  • Call in suspicious persons and vehicles to 911 immediately, so that officers can identify the intentions of the person and/or vehicle in your neighborhood.

Keep the season a happy one by protecting your homes and vehicles from theft!!

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate in the Austin area, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

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Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips

ID-100119091Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

I would like to let all of my family, friends, business associates and clients know how much I appreciate you and how blessed I feel by the joy you bring to me! I am truly fortunate and grateful for all that you do!

I am so excited that I am staying home this Thanksgiving and entertaining over 20 guests in my home. I look forward to a wonderful time spent enjoying my family and friends.

Since so many of us will be cooking and serving food throughout the day for larger crowds than usual, I thought it might be helpful to gather information on what will help keep everyone happy and healthy this Thanksgiving.

According to the USDA, the below Top 10 food safety guidelines should be followed whenever handling and cooking food.

TOP TEN FOOD SAFETY GUIDELINES:

  1. Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling any food.
  2. Wash food-contact surfaces (cutting boards, dishes, utensils, countertops) with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
  3. Consider using one cutting board only for foods that will be cooked (such as raw meat, poultry, and seafood) and another one for those that will not (such as raw fruits and vegetables).
  4. Do not put cooked meat or other food that is ready to eat on an unwashed plate that has held any raw eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, or their juices.
  5. To check a turkey for safety, insert a food thermometer into the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. The turkey is safe when the temperature reaches 165°F. If the turkey is stuffed, the temperature of the stuffing should be 165°F.
  6. Bring sauces, soups, and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating.
  7. Refrigerate leftovers —and any type of food that should be refrigerated, including pie—within two hours.
  8. Thaw frozen food safely in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave—never at room temperature.
  9. Cook food thawed in cold water or in the microwave immediately.
  10. Leftovers should be used within three to four days, unless frozen.

May you and your family enjoy your Thanksgiving!

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business!

**Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net