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The Gibbs Team

512-431-2403

Lakeway

January 9, 2015 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Goals and Objectives

930A5923_4_5_fused (1)The first week of 2015 has flown by and that means if we haven’t already mapped out our goals and objectives for this New Year, we’d better get to it.

However, as I’ve been thinking of my own aspirations for 2015, it occurred to me that many people have dreams and goals, but have no idea of how to achieve them.

I’d like to help!

As a Realtor® I can help in four obvious ways: buying, selling, investing and leasing.

Some not-so-obvious ways that I can help include: service provider referrals, area information, up-to-date local news and happenings in my weekly blog, local and national information provided daily on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+, real estate market information, home market analysis, relocation information, and much, much more!

I grew up in the Oak Hill area and have called Lakeway home for more than 30 years, so I have a vast knowledge of the neighborhoods, culture and continued change our unique city of Austin is going through.

Additionally, I diligently stay current on our economy, market and industry – all of which are ever-changing and none have a crystal ball to tell us what to expect.

It’s no surprise that Austin is a bit different than most places in the country. The biggest difference I see is that Austin was not hit as hard economically as most areas back in 2008 and it is likely because after the fall of the Dotcoms in 2001 – Austin worked hard to bring in diverse industries. Therefore, our city has continued to bring new people, jobs and growth over the past several years.

Having said all this, economic indicators do show that mortgage rates may potentially go UP in 2015, which means it will be more expensive to buy a home. AND housing prices MAY be the highest they will be in our area for the short term.

Both of these indicators bode well for selling and buying real estate, of which I can definitely help with!

Please call me at 512.431.2403 or email me at austinluxurybroker@gmail.com if you have any questions. I would love to discuss your goals and help you in any way that I can. There is absolutely no obligation if you call me! I’m here to help!

Let me assist you with your 2015 real estate goals and objectives! It would be an honor to earn your business!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 2015 Real Estate, Austin Area Real Estate, Austin Economy, Austin Real Estate, Lakeway, Oak Hill, Real estate market

August 13, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Wes Peoples

Bisset Photo.frontMy listing at 111 Bisset Court in the Bluffs at Rough Hollow, built by Wes Peoples Homes, is one of my favorites because of its intricate design and architecture.

So, you can imagine my delight when I saw that Wes Peoples, the founder and president of Wes Peoples Homes, had been profiled by the Austin Business Journal this past week.

The article covered his over 35-year career, his favorite things like music and books, along with his extensive community involvement. Overall, it was a fabulous read and a great way to get to know one of the best custom builders in the Austin area.

Founded in 2011, Wes Peoples Homes builds luxurious homes in carefully selected sites in the Austin area from lakeside estates around Lake Travis to condominiums in downtown Austin.   The homes he builds are technologically savvy, exquisitely designed, environmentally conscious and energy efficient.

Currently Wes Peoples Homes is building in the Bluffs at Rough Hollow off of Highway 71, Boulevard at Lakeway, Edgewick in downtown Austin, Teravista between Round Rock and Georgetown and Shady Hollow in South Austin. Additionally, Wes Peoples Homes is planning to build in River Place, Crystal Falls, Rancho Sienna and 404 West Alpine in downtown.

I encourage you to read the Austin Business Journal article to find out more about Wes Peoples and who the man is behind the builder. You can find it at Austin Business Journal/Wes Peoples Article.

111 Bisset Court is also a great way to see the quality workmanship, elaborate details and high-function design of Wes Peoples Homes. 111 Bisset Court is a 3437 square foot, one-story, four bedroom and three bathroom home situated on the 1800-acre community of Bluffs at Rough Hollow with oversized lots, stone exteriors, tile roofs and glass & wrought iron front doors.

Other home amenities include:

  • Bosch microwave & dishwasher
  • Wolf gas cooktop/oven
  • Rinnai tankless water heaters
  • Blown-in cellulose wall and attic insulation (100% post-consumer material)
  • Energy efficient Low E3 vinyl windows with bronze exterior frames to match façade and clay interior frames to accent interior finishes
  • Upgraded granite & Silestone countertops throughout
  • Upgraded all-wood custom cabinetry
  • Hand-trowel drywall finish on all interior walls (excluding garages) and orange peel finish on all interior ceilings (excluding garages)
  • 3Ž4” (nominal) 3-coat stucco system with sand-finish texture
  • 50 year tile roof systems (barrel & flat tile)

If you or someone you know is interested in 111 Bisset Court or in buying or selling real estate in the Austin area, please do not hesitate to contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or at austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 111 Bisset, 404 West Alpine, Austin Builders, Austin Business Journal, Bluffs at Rough Hollow, Boulevard at Lakeway, Crystal Falls, Downtown Austin, Edgewick, Lake Travis, Lakeway, Rancho Sienna, River Place, Wes Peoples, Wes Peoples Homes

July 10, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Lake Travis Fire Rescue

ML new 7Mary Lynne Gibbs is pleased to announce that she has been appointed the Co-Chair for the Lake Travis Fire Rescue Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC), which has been established by the Travis County Emergency Services District No. 6 (TCESD No. 6) Board of Commissioners. The role of the CAC is to advise the Board of Commissioners on policy and administrative decisions that guide the operations of Lake Travis Fire Rescue (LTFR). The CAC serves as a link between the TCESD No. 6 Board and the public at large.

LTFR has five fire stations serving an area encompassing over 104 square miles west of Austin, including Bee Cave, Lakeway, Steiner Ranch, River Place (until it is annexed in 2017), Hamilton Pool Road, Hwy. 71 West up until Bee Creek Road, The Hills and Lake Travis.

LTFR’s mission is to minimize loss of life and property through emergency response, prevention and community involvement. This essential public service has grown in the Lake Travis area since the early 1960’s after Mansfield Dam was built, which created the Highland Lakes chain, including Lake Travis.

The vision of LTFR is to be recognized by those they serve as exceptional and innovative. They succeed in this endeavor by putting into practice their commitment to Professionalism, Leadership, Integrity, Respect, Compassion and Safety.

According to Fire Chief Robert Abbott, LTFR attempts to seek continued improvement in their services. They never stop looking for ways to improve. Additionally, LTFR continues to pursue innovative ways to serve the community’s public safety needs.

LTFR is funded through ad valorem taxes, sales tax, building inspections, plan reviews and permitting. Moreover, LTFR Community Foundation, which is in its second year, has been created to provide community awareness, funding and resources for Lake Travis Fire Rescue, necessary to maintain the highest level of service possible, safeguarding life, property and the environment. The Foundation will have its first big fundraiser in October 2014.

Mary Lynne is thrilled to be an integral part of such a top-notch program. She is excited to serve her community in this capacity and is honored to have been chosen for this appointment.

Of course, if you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate in the Austin area, please contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2304 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business.

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Austin, Austin Area Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty, Lake Travis, Lake Travis Fire Rescue, Lake Travis Real Estate, Lakeway, Mary Lynne Gibbs, The Gibbs Team

June 11, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Movies in Lakeway

Summer is here and with the start of the new season means that Friday nights are MOVIE NIGHT!!! Well, at least here in Lakeway, Texas!

We are fortunate to have two institutions that have organized movies on alternating Fridays so that residents and visitors have a Friday night movie until the weekend of August 8 at little or no cost.

The City of Lakeway presents Movies in the Park for free starting at dusk on Friday nights (dates are below) at Lakeway City Park, 502 Hurst Creek Road. Popcorn and other treats are available for purchase.

Please note that dogs are not allowed, nor are blinking/glowing items during the film. However, movie goers are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the movies comfortably.

  • Friday, June 20, 2014 – The Lorax – Universal Pictures – Rated PG
  • Friday, July 11, 2014 – Super Buddies – Walt Disney Pictures – Rated G
  • Friday, July 25, 2014 – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs – Columbia TriStar – Rated G
  • Friday, August 8, 2014 – The Nut Job – Rated PG

Another opportunity for Friday night movies is Dive-In Movies that is presented by the Lakeway Swim Center, 3103 Lakeway Blvd., near the World of Tennis. The movie fee is $3.00 per person and movies start at 8:30. Swimming is allowed while the movie is being shown.

  • Friday, June 13, 2014 – Despicable Me 2 – Universal Pictures – Rated PG
  • Friday, June 27, 2014 – Frozen – Walt Disney Pictures – Rated PG
  • Friday, July 18, 2014 – Teen Beach Movie – Walt Disney Pictures – Rated G
  • Friday, August 1, 2014 – The Lego Movie – Warner Bros. – Rated PG

We hope you enjoy the local Friday evening entertainment throughout the summer!

If you or someone you know is interested in real estate, please do not hesitate to contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Austin Area Real Estate, Austin Real Estate, Dive in movies, Free movies, Lakeway, Lakeway City Park, Lakeway Real Estate, Lakeway Swim Center, Mary Lynne Gibbs, Movies in the park, The Gibbs Team, World of Tennis

May 28, 2014 By Mary Lynne Gibbs

Water Conservation

Even with the wet Memorial Day weekend we have had (some reports say Lake Travis is up a foot), Central Texas continues to experience dangerous drought conditions for the seventh year in a row.

According to the LCRA; Lakes Travis and Buchanan, which provide drinking water to more than a million people, and water to industries, businesses and the environment throughout the lower Colorado River basin, are currently only at 36 percent of capacity.

Clearly, water conservation is at a critical stage.

Therefore, the city of Lakeway has issued a moratorium on new swimming pool permits effective immediately.

A KVUE.com article quoted Devin Monk, Lakeway’s communication coordinator as saying that the city will review incoming permits on a case by case basis, but that the city is asking everyone to hold off on putting in a pool and consider the impact pools have on the water supply.

The article continued on to say that even though Lakeway doesn’t require permits for above ground pools, permission is necessary to fill them.

Pool permits will not be issued until the water supply returns to normal. Violators of this order could incur fines of up to $2,000 per day per infraction.

In addition to the pool permit moratorium, the West Travis County Public Utility Agency Board of Directors, meeting in Bee Cave on May 15, unanimously passed a 20 percent drought surcharge for both wholesale and retail customers across all rate classes effective July 2014.

In the BeeCaveBee, WTCPUA rate consultant Nelisa Heddin was quoted, “Residents have control over the net impact to them [of the surcharge] because they have control over their consumption.”

The report also stated that the surcharge affects only the volumetric rate—the portion of a residential bill that is based on consumption—and not the minimum rate.

Additionally, the Central Texas Water Coalition which was developed by the LCRA in May of 2010 to advocate and preserve the Highland Lakes role as an irreplaceable water source has expressed that the Lower Colorado River basin lacks the historical average of inflows and does not have adequate reserves to support the area during this continued drought.

Education and conservation are key to protecting our water resources.

According to the CTWC, water levels also have grave economic and fiscal impact. When Lake Travis water levels are below 660 feet, visitations decline and businesses diminish. Local government is affected as well with decreasing revenues from sales tax, hotel tax and alcohol sales.

With all of these added worries and restrictions, we thought it would be useful to provide the water conservation checklist found on the www.austintexas.gov that will help us preserve the water we do have and keep waste to a bare minimum.

INDOORS

  • Check your toilet for leaks. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If it appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak that needs repair.
  • Replace older toilets with WaterSense® labeled high-efficiency models that use only 1.28 gallons per flush or consider installing a dual flush model that can use even less.
  • Take shorter showers—try for less than 5 minutes. If you take a bath, fill the tub half full.
  • Install water-saving aerators on your bathroom faucets and water-saving showerheads that use 2.5 gallons per minute or less.
  • Turn off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, lathering in the shower, and shampooing or conditioning your hair.
  • Fix leaky or dripping faucets promptly. Plumbing leaks account for approximately 14 percent of water consumed in the home.
  • Run your dishwasher and clothes washer with only full loads. Scrape food from plates instead of rinsing them before washing.
  • Chill drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet to cool water.
  • Replace your clothes washer with a qualifying water-saving model.

OUTDOORS

  • Choose drought-tolerant plants when landscaping, and group plants with similar water needs together (hydrozoning). Add compost or mulch around trees and plants.
  • Thoroughly check your irrigation system each spring when you first turn it on and repair any leaks as soon as possible. Schedule a free irrigation system evaluation if needed.
  • Clean your driveway or sidewalk with a broom, not a hose.
  • Water your lawn only on your assigned day and adjust sprinklers so that only your lawn is being watered.
  • Install a rain barrel or rainwater harvesting system to capture rainwater from your roof for use on your landscape.

If you or someone you know is interested in real estate, please do not hesitate to contact Mary Lynne Gibbs at 512.431.2403 or austinluxurybroker@gmail.com. It would be an honor to earn your business.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Bee Caves, City of Bee Caves, City of Lakeway, Lake Buchanan, Lake Travis, Lakeway, LCRA, Mary Lynne Gibbs, The Gibbs Team, Water Restrictions

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