Date Archives: May 2021

We hope you've been saving your appetite. National Brisket Day is coming right up on May 28th, and Texas is a mighty fine place to be when a holiday like that rolls around. 

Our real estate agents love a lot of things about the Austin area and the food is definitely high on the list. For some of the best BBQ that Texas has to offer, check out these local spots! 

1. Salt Lick BBQ - 3350 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665
   Serving world-famous Texas-style barbecue brisket, sausage, and sides, Salt Lick BBQ has been a staple of the Austin area barbecue scene for years. They also serve a mean chocolate pecan pie for dessert. Salt Lick BBQ is one of many great restaurants in Round Rock, less than 30 minutes from the heart of downtown Austin and a stone's throw from these Round Rock homes for sale.
   
   
2. Liberty Barbecue - 103 E Main St, Round Rock, TX 78664
   Offering mouth-watering barbecue in a cozy, brick-lined space, Liberty Barbecue is known for serving all the Texas barbecue staples, along with a few unique twists like smoked turkey flatbreads and grilled cheese and brisket sandwiches. The meats are smoked to perfection, and the side dishes are so good they almost steal the show (cucumber salad is a favorite). They also have a full bar with 14 beers on tap at all times. 
   
   
3. Jack Allen's Kitchen - 1345 E Whitestone Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613
   Serving up a diverse menu sourced from right here in Texas, Jack Allen's Kitchen offers a lot more than barbecue. But man, they do make some killer barbecue. The slow-braised beef barbacoa enchiladas are out of this world, and the mac and cheese is some of the best you're ever likely to taste. Jack Allan's Kitchen has become so popular that they've grown to include several locations in and around Austin. This summer they'll be opening a Cedar Park location, only a short drive from Austin and mere minutes from many Cedar Park homes for sale. 
   
   
4. Hello Sweetie BBQ - 2200 S Austin Ave Ste 101, Georgetown, TX 78626
   Hello Sweetie BBQ serves classic Texas barbecue combo plates, with your choice of pit-smoked brisket, pulled pork, sausage, chicken, and ribs (not to mention 10 different sides). And as if the food wasn't enough, their fun, funky atmosphere will make you want to come back again and again. Hello Sweetie BBQ is located in the charming city of Georgetown, TX, which is known for its historic downtown square, with numerous stores and Georgetown homes for sale dating back to the 1800s. 
   
   
5. Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q - 2400 I-35, Round Rock, TX 78681
   One of Austin's most iconic barbecue joints, Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q serves simple, slow-smoked-to-perfection brisket in a no-frills setting. The place is set up cafeteria-style with indoor and outdoor picnic tables, and the food is consistently perfect. If brisket isn't what you're after, go for the St. Louis style ribs of half chicken instead. Rudy's has grown to include numerous locations all over Texas. 

Contact us today to learn more about life in Central Texas. From its vibrant music scene to its incredible food, it's a place like no other. 

Achieving just the right look in your home can be a delicate balance. Whether you're entertaining, staging your home to be listed among Round Rock homes for sale, or just want a beautiful home to relax in and enjoy in your free time, the right decor will help to pull it all together. Or will it? Here are five common interior design mistakes you don't want to make.

1. Not Providing a Focal Point
   A focal point is what draws the room together. For instance, in the family room, the TV is more than likely the focal point. That one is easy! In a living room or sitting room, perhaps the fireplace is the focal point, and in the bedroom, the bed. All of the furniture and decor in a room should be arranged to emphasize, support, and draw the eye to the focal point.
   
   
2. Making Everything too Matchy-Matchy
   When browsing furniture and decor, resist the urge to buy out the entire collection and make everything in the room match. What looks good on the showroom floor won't necessarily look good in a room that is lived in, or that is meant to look that way. It's the way you pull together coordinating but different pieces that will give your home a warm, unique, and totally personal feel.
   
   
3. Forgetting to Take Scale into Account
   Have you ever seen a small room dwarfed by huge furniture? Most likely, that room felt cramped and uncomfortable. The opposite can be true, too: Large rooms with small furniture can feel unfinished and awkward like they're still waiting for something. Your furniture should fill the space adequately while still leaving generous walkways through each room. This is especially important when staging a home to sell!
   
   
4. Adding the Wrong Rug
   Rugs should usually be chosen after the furniture since the choice and layout of the furniture can impact the size and appearance of the rugs you choose. In many ways, a rug is your finishing touch. For instance, you can tie a sitting area together and make it seem cozier with a medium-sized rug that ends underneath the couch and chairs or use a smaller rug as an accent by positioning just the coffee table on top of it. A large rug that fills the entire room, on the other hand, will create a sense of luxury.
   
   
5. Plan Your Lighting
   Planning the lighting in a room is just as important as planning the furniture, paint, and decor. Settling for overhead lighting can be disastrous as the unflattering glare will wash everything out. Having a main light source is important, but you'll also want to layer other levels of lighting throughout the room. Soft lamps are great for mood lighting, and you'll want more focused light, known as task lighting, too. Think of reading lights by the bedside or your favorite chair or under-cupboard lighting to shine on prep space in the kitchen. If you are selling your home, our real estate agents know that well-lit homes show best!

Sometimes noticing and fixing mistakes like these can make all the difference, whether helping your home to show better or just enabling you to enjoy it more. To talk with an agent about other staging tips, contact us today.

Year after year, the Austin area continues to maintain its position as one of the top housing markets in the United States. The population of the greater Austin Round Rock area was around 2.2 million in 2020 and has grown a whopping 32% since 2009. As more and more young people move into the area, the median age is also on the decline. Austin's median age is currently 31.8 years, which is less than many major US cities. So why are so many young people moving to Austin? Below are a few of the many reasons:

1. Booming Job Market
   One of the leading drivers behind the population increase is Austin's booming job market. Austin's employment growth is also consistently increasing between 2.5% and 3% annually. Technology, manufacturing, and digital media are among the top industries in the area. A growing number of major brands also have built regional offices in Austin, including Facebook, Apple, Google, Oracle, and eBay. As a result, there are ample job opportunities within close proximity to these Leander homes for sale.
   
   
2. The Climate
   Our real estate agents love Austin's weather. With an average of 300 sunny days per year and warm temperatures during most months, the climate in Austin is fantastic. For those who dislike cold weather - Austin winters are usually short and mild. Summers are long and hot, which means there is no shortage of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities. While Austin does get precipitation, total rainfall is about 4 inches less than the national annual average.
   
   
3. Cost of Living
   Austin's housing market pricing isn't necessarily low compared to other areas of the country; however, it is lower than areas of California or New York. What makes Austin's cost of living affordable is its housing prices in relation to its high median income. Add on affordable public transportation, gas prices, and grocery prices, and you'll find that the overall cost of living in Austin is lower than many other areas of the country.
   
   
4. Diversity
   Austin's diversity brings a wide array of art, food, and culture into this city and surrounding suburbs. Diverse communities can have a major positive impact on education, job markets, home values, and quality of life.
   
   
5. Education
   Austin's numerous, high-quality public schools, trade schools, and universities produce a rich talent pool, which is just one of the reasons why so many companies are establishing a footprint in the city. With the University of Texas campus right near downtown and 17 other colleges and universities just a short distance from these Round Rock homes for sale, people are moving to Austin to receive a top-notch education before starting their careers.

With a strong job market and a growing economy, there has never been a better time to move to the Austin area. If you're looking for a new home in the area, contact us today.

Mother's Day is the perfect time to choose some sweet treats for mom, and bakeries near Austin offer plenty of deliciously fresh selections to choose from. Whether you'd like a whole cake or would rather mix and match some of mom's favorite sweet treats, you'll be able to find what she'll love at a local bakery.

Our real estate agents recommend visiting one of the following bakeries near Austin for your Mother's Day treats:

• Paige's Bakehouse – 110 E. Anderson Suite 400, Round Rock, TX 78664  
  Located near Round Rock homes for sale, Paige's Bakehouse makes unique treats, cakes, and pies from scratch using the highest quality ingredients. Buy mom a variety of the bakery's ready-made sweets, including petit fours, cake pops, or cake parfaits that are available in different flavors, depending on the day you stop by. If you're planning ahead, order a beautiful custom-made cake. Hours are 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
  
  
• Whipped Bakery and Cake – 15609 Ronald Reagan Blvd. B220, Leander, TX 78641
  Whipped Bakery and Cake, located just around the corner from Leander homes for sale, creates cakes that are lighter than what you'll usually find. They also don't have the overabundance of sugar that you'll often taste in cakes. The bakery's artisans use real butter and milk fats along with fine ingredients like fruits, nuts, chocolate, and natural flavorings like Bourbon vanilla, along with modest amounts of sugars. Order a delicious cake for mom or choose a selection of fatcarons, decadent double-stuffed macarons in flavors including raspberry cheesecake, crème Brulee, and tiramisu. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
  
  
• Sugar Shaker Bakery – 251 N. Bell Blvd., Suite 114B, Cedar Park, TX 78613 
  Sugar Shaker Bakery serves a variety of celebration sweets that go far beyond traditional cakes, although you'll still find them on the menu as well. The bakery, located just around the corner from Cedar Park homes for sale, is known for high-quality, fresh treats including cookies, brownies, and bars, and loads of specialty desserts like cannoli and fruit tartlets. If you'd like a cake, cupcakes, or cake balls, you'll have your choice of signature flavors such as almond and raspberry. Whatever you choose, mom is sure to love it! Hours are 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, and 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
  
  
• Bosslady's Bakery – 1201 Leah Lane, Round Rock, TX 78664
  Chocolate cake, cheesecake, and rum cake are a few customer favorites at Bosslady's Bakery. If you'd prefer something smaller or want to vary your selections for mom, the bakery also creates macarons, cupcakes, cookies in various flavors, s'mores in a jar, and more sweet treats that are sure to be a hit. Hours are by appointment, and you can also have your order delivered locally if you'd like to save some time.
  
  
• Weikel's Bakery Foodie's Corner – 11340 TX-183A Toll Rd., Leander, TX 78641
  Weikel's Bakery is perhaps best known for its award-winning kolaches, made with fillings such as prune, cottage cheese, poppy seed, and the most popular, cream cheese. Their Foodie's Corner location carries the bakery's most popular products, and they're made on site from scratch. Treat mom to some Czech favorites like pockets made with poppy seeds or cottage cheese or choose from a variety of fruit danishes. You'll also be able to select muffins, strudels, cupcakes, bars, and much more.

Contact us for your real estate needs. We can help you buy or sell your home near Austin and look forward to serving you!