The Office wins Parade of Lights!

Woo hoo! "The Office" (my Formula 40 PC) took top honors at Carlos 'N Charlie's Parade of Lights 2007. The Griswald in me is SO proud!

The Crosswind Realty crew had The Office decked out with thousands of Christmas lights, including lighted palm trees and pink flamingos, for this year's Christmas regatta benefiting Brown Santa.



"The Office" took First Place in the Cruiser Division!

But maybe even better, in a true sweep of the awards show, we won the prize for Nuttiest Crew. (Not that I had any doubts, but I didn't even realize this was even a prize category.) Our pink lei-and-flamingo clad crew spontaneously erupted into a conga line (more than once) through the bar at Carlos 'N Charlies, drawing high-fives from the rest of the party-goers.

Click here for the pictures!
and Click here for the VIDEO!

Boat Parade & Fireworks!

Now that you’ve already been stuffed with turkey, it’s time to…

Kick off the Holiday Season

Lake Travis Style!!

Come to Carlos’N Charlie’s for the Parade of Lights
Holiday Boat Parade and Fireworks Extravaganza!!

Time to dust off those decorations and ‘Deck out’ your boat!!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Parade starts at Starnes Island at 6 PM
For Registration Form, CLICK HERE
For More Details, CLICK HERE

Austin is 3rd in the Nation!

Austin is third in the nation with 3 Texas cities in the top 10! To determine these areas, Forbes.com consulted Demographia, a St. Louis-based research company that compiles U.S. Census growth data from 2000 to 2006. Each metro was measured based on population increases as a percentage of overall population. See below for more information...

America’s Fastest Growing Cities

For some city dwellers, more people means more headaches. But economically, an increase in population is generally a good thing. It also helps to create a healthy housing market by introducing new buyers into the mix. Austin ranked third in the list of cities that have grown at accelerated rates – Las Vegas came in first, then Phoenix, then Austin.
Growing cities are more able to attract, retain and develop businesses by offering a robust workforce. And more people means more tax revenue.

In the housing market, the implications are obvious. Nationwide, the inventory glut has contributed to plummeting prices in cities around the country. But in areas experiencing growth, housing markets are relatively healthy. These include Austin; Charlotte, N.C.; Houston; and Dallas.

Economic stability in any market depends on growth, something cities are acutely aware of when it comes to augmenting their population.

Forbes.com – Matt Woolsey - October 31, 2007

Oasis Project

The Oasis, a popular Austin restaurant, has long been known as one of the best places to enjoy spectacular Lake Travis sunsets! Soon the scenery immediately surrounding The Oasis will be changing…

Oasis Project Set to Begin Near Lake Travis

Site work is under way for the next set of million-dollar mansions, and construction should start early next year on a Mediterranean village-like retail center at the Comanche Canyon Ranch development above the eastern shore of Lake Travis.

Restaurateur-turned-developer Beau Theriot received approval in 2006 for a planned-unit development that could fill out 120 acres of the hilltops surrounding The Oasis, his popular, decades-old restaurant. The multiple phases of the more than $250 million Comanche Canyon Ranch include single-family homes, 40,000 square feet of office space, 24 condominiums, a 25,000-square-foot retail complex and a four-story parking garage.

Theriot calls his vision for the commercial development Oasis, Texas -- a destination for relaxation and having fun on the order of locales like Luckenbach.

"I wanted to create a place where people can bring their friends and family to show them what Texas really has to offer," he says.

Austin Business Journal – by A. J. Mistretta, October 19, 2007

Housing Market Update

A news release from the National Association of Realtors has some good news about Austin real estate, amid all the national gloom and doom. The release follows:

Austin Housing Market

Conditions in the mortgage market are improving for consumers, which should help to release some pent-up demand in early 2008, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors.

Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, notes that widening credit availability will help turn around home sales. "Conforming loans are abundantly available at historically favorable mortgage rates. Pricing has steadily improved on jumbo mortgages since the August credit crunch, and FHA loans are replacing subprime mortgages," he said.

Yun said it's important to place the current housing market in perspective, and that 2007 will be the fifth highest year on record for existing-home sales. "Although sales are off from an unsustainable peak in 2005, there is a historically high level of home sales taking place this year - a lot of people are, in fact, buying homes," he said. "One out of 16 American households is buying a home this year. The speculative excesses have been removed from the market and home sales are returning to fundamentally healthy levels, while prices remain near record highs, reflecting favorable mortgage rates and positive job gains."

He emphasized all real estate is local with naturally large variations within a given area. "Markets like Austin, Salt Lake City and Raleigh have been outperforming recently and will continue to do well next year," Yun said. "Other areas like Denver and Wichita will likely move up in the price growth rankings due to very positive local economic developments."

Existing-home sales are expected to total 5.78 million in 2007 and then rise to 6.12 million next year, in contrast with 6.48 million in 2006. New-home sales are forecast at 804,000 this year and 752,000 in 2008, down from 1.05 million in 2006; a recovery for new homes will be delayed until next spring.

"A cutback in housing construction is a positive sign for the market because it will help lower inventory and firm up home prices," Yun said. Housing starts, including multifamily units, are likely to total 1.37 million in 2007 and 1.24 million next year, down from 1.80 million in 2006.

Realtors’ President Pat V. Combs, from Grand Rapids, Mich., and vice president of Coldwell Banker-AJS-Schmidt, said, "Housing is still a good long-term investment, and we'll be seeing a broad, modest improvement in home prices in 2008. With widely varying conditions, the best advice for consumers is to consult a Realtor in their area to learn about local market conditions because supply and demand can change from one neighborhood to the next."

Existing-home prices will probably slip 1.3 percent to a median of $219,000 in 2007 before rising 1.3 percent next year to $221,800. The median new-home price should drop 2.1 percent to $241,400 this year, and then increase 1.0 percent in 2008 to $243,900.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is expected to average 6.4 percent for the next two quarters and then edge up to the 6.6 percent range in the second half 2008. Additional cuts expected in the Fed funds rate will help to keep mortgage interest rates historically favorable.

Growth in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at 2.0 percent this year, below the 2.9 percent growth rate in 2006; GDP is likely to grow 2.7 percent next year. The unemployment rate is forecast to average 4.6 percent this year, unchanged from 2006. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is expected to be 2.8 percent in 2007, compared with 3.2 percent last year. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income will probably increase 3.6 percent in 2007, up from 3.1 percent last year.

Austin American Statesman - October 10, 2007

2007 In-the-Water Boat Show

Check out the In-the-Water Boat Show October 11-14th!

2007 Lake Travis In-the-Water Boat & Brokerage Show to Deliver More Than Great Deals!

Central Texas consumers are invited to step aboard hundreds of 2008 model sport and motor yachts, sailing yachts and performance boats at the 2007 Lake Travis In-the-Water Boat & Brokerage Show. The region’s only “in the water” boat show will be held October 11 through 14 at Emerald Point Marina and Carlos’N Charlie’s located at 5973 Hiline Road Austin, Texas 78734.

Marking the end of the summer boating season and the beginning of the boat buying season for Central Texas boaters and dealers, the 2007 Lake Travis In-the-Water Boat & Brokerage Show will run Thursday through Saturday from noon to 7:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Admission is free.

Attendees will enjoy a preview of hundreds of sport and motor yachts, sailing yachts and performance boats ranging from 22 to 60 feet in length showcased by Central Texas’ most prestigious boat dealers. Those dealers are:

• Austin Boats & Motors
  
• Boat Town
  
• Eriksen Marine
  
• Lake LBJ Marineland
  
• Sail & Ski
  
• South Austin Marine
  
• Texas Sailing
  
• The Ski Dock
  

Unique to the 2007 Lake Travis In-the-Water Boat & Brokerage Show is a large selection of brokerage boats. For the first time ever, attendees to this show can select from previously-owned yachts and boats of all sizes.

With more square miles of inland water than any other state, Texas ranked sixth in the country for the most registered boats; according to Texas Parks and Wildlife approximately 595,000 boats were registered in Texas in 2005.

For up-to-the-minute details and links, Click Here. How about a Boat Show Coupon?

dBNews Austin - September 24, 2007

Austin Made The List!

In the current issue of Boating Life Magazine there is an article on the 10 Best Places to Live and Boat… Austin made the list of course!!

Here’s how Mike Tyler introduced his article, and what he had to say about our great city of Austin:

Somewhere the grass is always greener and the water always bluer. The question: Don't such thoughts have more to do with fantasy than reality? Maybe not. We investigated boating communities throughout the country, looking for the variety of boating opportunities, boat-friendly regulations, water access, availability of waterfront homes, health of the local economy and overall lifestyle for boaters. Austin was included in the list of 10 locations where boaters might find that imagination meets reality. Here’s what they had to say about our great city:

AUSTIN, TEXAS
Starting in Austin and stretching 85 miles northwest of the city, the Highland Lakes region of Texas is a string of six lakes known for boating and fishing, and as a popular retirement area. But it's also a magnet for younger people because of the healthy economy (which is not dependent on just one industry) and the outdoor lifestyle. By far the most popular of the waterways are the two lakes closest to the city of Austin: Lake Austin and Lake Travis. Each has its distinct advantages.

"The environments are very different," says Marla Schwartz, assistant manager of Lake Austin Marina. "Lake Austin is a lot more focused on skiing and wakeboarding. Lake Travis has more big boats."

To put the general atmosphere in perspective, there are more than a dozen marinas on Lake Travis. And in an effort to keep up with the growing demand, lakefront communities - Lakeway, Briarcliff, Lago Vista and many others - have sprouted up on the water.

Scorecard (scale of 1-5)
Waterfront Availability: 5
Ease for Boaters: 4
Strong Boat-Related Business: 4
Number of Good Boating Days: 4

To read the complete article & see the other 9 cities on the list, CLICK HERE.

Waterstone is Underway!

I was reading the Austin Business Journal Wednesday, and came across an article I wanted to share with you. It’s an update on the Waterstone condos to be built within the Waterford on Lake Travis community…

Ground Breaks on Lakefront Condos

Construction has begun on Waterstone, a $27 million previously announced condo project on Lake Travis.

The 71-unit development is within the master-planned Waterford on Lake Travis community off Lohman's Ford Road in Lago Vista. Dallas-based Winston Capital Corp. is leading development of the project with equity partner Realty Capital Partners.

Designed by the architectural firm of PageSoutherlandPage LLP, Waterstone will feature two- and three-bedroom condominium homes ranging in size from 1,400 to 1,800 square feet. The units are priced from $400,000 to $600,000.

"We are fortunate to be situated on one of the prime locations on Lake Travis," says Richard Barge, president of Winston Capital. He says the project will allow homeowners to experience lakeside living at a fraction of the cost of single-family homes in the area.

Austin Business Journal, 09-26-07

Get To Know Mick Hooper...

The Hooper Family
Mick with wife Tracy Angelocci and daughter Chance.

The Lake Travis View recently interviewed Yours Truly for their ‘Lake Travis People’ section, with Charles McClure… Read on for a little insight into Mick Hooper, your Lake Travis Specialist!

Hooper Strives to Give Clients a ‘Day in the Life’ Experience!

Name: Mick Hooper

Family: My wife, Dr. Tracy Angelocci and our daughter, Chance - a 2-1/2 yr old who we adopted from China about 3 months ago. My mom lives in Cedar Park and I have 3 siblings scattered across the country.

Occupation: Real estate broker, owner of Crosswind Realty (specializing in Lake Travis real estate)

Previous jobs: I’ve been a construction superintendent (building apartment complexes), owned my own home remodeling company, and was a flight attendant and new-hire instructor for American Airlines

Education: Life experience! Business courses at the community college level, 900+ hours in real estate courses to achieve broker status

If you could give advice to those who are just starting their careers, what would you say? Follow something you’re passionate about, work for yourself, and go into your venture adequately funded. Get a business coach!

What are the best/worst parts of your job? The best part is spending the day with clients on the boat. I have a 40 ft Formula PC named “The Office” that I use to sell waterfront real estate. I give my clients a ‘day in the life’ experience – not just looking at property, but visiting lakefront restaurants, trolling through Devil’s Cove to people-watch, and firing up the blender for a pitcher of margaritas. The worst part of real estate is the mountains of paperwork – but, really, I have it good because I have licensed employees who manage that for me, and my wife is an expert at putting systems and processes in place to automate the business and free up my time to sell.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “Just do SOMETHING, even if it’s wrong” – in other words, show initiative and don’t be fearful of failure

Who – fictional or real – most closely resembles your work ethic, values, etc.? Herb Kelleher, founder of Southwest Airlines; Or at least his public persona – offer great service, have fun doing it, and create raving fans in both your clients and employees. (Should I mention that when I met him in person, though, he had a blonde under each arm, a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other?)

Whom would you choose to play you in a movie? Seriously? Well, fame is one of my goals, so I’d like to play myself! Please send scripts to....

Favorite television shows? I’ll veg to anything that’s on after the baby falls asleep! A lot of comedy in syndication.

Favorite books? Anything by Clive Cussler

Favorite movies? I have a 2 year old – I don’t get to see movies! But I would watch anything playing at Alamo Drafthouse – after a bucket of beer, does it matter what it is?

Favorite bands? Whoever is playing at Carlos ‘N Charlie’s when I’m down on the dock. The CD most played on the boat is Jimmy Buffet.

Favorite place to relax? Lake Travis, of course! Second favorite is the wine country in northern California. Third favorite is the beaches of the Mayan Riviera. I could go on....

If you didn’t have the job you have now, what would you be doing instead? Schlepping sombreros on the beaches of Cabo... I haven’t been able to find the down side to that job. Walk a little, talk to some people, take a siesta, make a sale, and go for a swim...

Lake Travis View – August 30, 2007

Performance Better Than Most...

If you’re looking for a great place to settle down, or even just for investment purposes, Lake Travis and the Austin area Real Estate Market is a great choice for many reasons. This recent article from the Austin Business Journal gives you yet another reason – the strong Austin economy!

Austin Economy Performs Better Than Most

Austin leaders discussed job creation and business growth Friday morning at The Austin Chamber of Commerce's Education Roundtable: 2007 Regional Labor Market Forecast.

Brian Kelsey, assistant director of the Capital Area Council of Governments, presented an economic update and outlook on behalf of CAPCOG.

Regional job growth in the Austin-Round Rock area was above 2.5 percent during the past seven years, outpacing both state and national job growth rates during that same time period, says Kelsey.

The Austin area saw 1,275 new manufacturing jobs created last year. The computer programming sector added 64 new firms and 1,261 new jobs last year. Similarly, the computer systems design sector added 48 new firms and 440 new jobs in 2006. And wired telecommunications firms added 45 new businesses and 939 new employees, according to the CAPCOG presentation.

In Austin, wages are keeping pace with other comparable metropolitan markets and the area continues to attract new residents, according to Kelsey.

The chamber also presented an update of its five-year strategy plan {2004-2008} to create new jobs, attract corporate relocations, and diversify the city's economic base.

By 2008, the chamber hopes to generate 72,000 new jobs and reach its goal of attracting 100 new businesses to the area. So far in the past year there have been 33,100 jobs created in 2006 and 36 corporate relocations have been announced.

Austin Business Journal - September 7, 2007

Lago Vista is Getting Put on the Map!

A Houston developer has snapped up about 900 acres around Lake Travis with the intention of putting Lago Vista on the map for the next wave of Central Texas residential development!

Houston Developer Targets Site Near Lago Vista

Hines Interests LP, an international real estate firm, now owns 875 acres in Lago Vista between FM 1431 and Lake Travis. The plan is to eventually turn the pristine property into an upscale residential development, says Lago Vista City Manager Bill Angelo.

Hines closed on the land, purchased from a group of families in the Rogers Ranch Group, within the past four months for an undisclosed price.

Angelo says right now the land is outside the Lago Vista city limits, and Hines and city officials are talking about a development agreement that could include annexation. While a firm land-use plan is about six months away, Angelo says, the project is slated to have about 2,000 upscale homes.

"It's a beautiful piece of land," says Mark Sprague, a partner with Residential Strategies who's working with Hines on the project. "It's perfectly terraced for a builder."

Sprague says the move by Hines, as well as the completion of U.S. 183A, will open up Lago Vista to interest from developers looking to capitalize on lakefront property and proximity to Central Texas employment hubs.

The city has already seen a sharp increase in proposed residential and mixed-use projects in the last several years, says Klee Lee, administrator with the Lago Vista Economic Development Foundation. If the proposed developments currently before the city come to fruition, Lago Vista could see an additional 4,000 homes in the works in coming years, Lee says.

"I think we have a rise in development just like Leander and Cedar Park," she says. "As Austin expands ... there's nowhere else to go."

Sprague says the price tag on lakefront acreage has gone up dramatically in the last two to three years. While an acre on Lake Travis might have cost around $50,000 three years ago, Sprague says the same land, especially on the south side of the lake, can now run for $100,000 to $500,000.

Austin Business Journal – August 17, 2007 by Kate Harrington, ABJ Staff

Wanna Know What's Up?

Austin Home Prices Up 5.6 Percent; National Trend Down

The cost of Austin-area homes has increased 5.6 percent in the last 12 months as prices on the national stage dropped 1.5 percent, a report released Wednesday shows.

The median price for a home in the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan market stood at $186,600 at the end of the second quarter, up from $176,700 in the second quarter of 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors' quarterly housing report.

Austin is among the 97 U.S. metropolitan markets out of the 149 examined that saw increases in median existing-single family home prices in the last year. Nine of those markets had double-digit gains. However, prices fell in 50 markets-- another telltale sign that last year's rosy U.S. homebuilding landscape is no more. Prices in two of the 149 markets remained unchanged.

"Although home prices are relatively flat, more metro areas are showing price gains with general improvement since bottoming out in the fourth quarter of 2006," says Lawrence Yun, a senior economist with NAR. "Recent mortgage disruptions will hold back sales temporarily, but the fundamental momentum clearly suggests stabilizing price trends in many local markets."

The national median existing single-family home price was $223,800 in the second quarter, down from the second quarter of 2006 when the median price was $227,100. The median is a typical market price where half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less, but NAR points out that there has been a downward skew in the national comparison since sales have declined in many high-cost areas while rising in some lower cost markets.

"Since all real estate is local, this report on metro area home prices is more meaningful than our monthly data on national prices because metro areas are less subject to price distortion that can result from geographic changes in the composition of sales," says Yun.

Austin Business Journal, Thursday August 16, 2007

Real Estate Strong in Texas!

Thinking about purchasing real estate in Lake Travis, Austin, or the surrounding area? Buy with confidence! Lake Travis real estate is hot, the lake is full, and the views are just incredible!

Texas Surpasses National Home Appreciation Rate

According to recent figures from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, home prices in Texas increased 6.9 percent during first quarter 2007, well above the 4.3 percent national average.

“Despite the national slowdown, Texas is still strong,” said Dr. James Gaines, research economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. “There’s no reason prices shouldn't continue to rise despite the increase in foreclosures and the slowdown in transactions, construction and new home starts.”

By comparison, home appreciation slowed to 1.2 percent in California and 3 percent in New York. Nevada price increases virtually disappeared at just .6 percent. Even rapidly growing Florida and Arizona reported value increases of 4.3 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively.

Within Texas, there is a wide variation in appreciation rates in the 25 metropolitan areas. Combined with low interest rates, strong job growth and limited supply on new housing in many markets, Gaines says some of the appreciation rates are astounding.

“Among the state’s large metro areas, Austin and San Antonio are seeing the strongest rate increases at more than 10 percent,” he said. “With low levels of inventory and building permits off by over 20 percent in each community, it’s easy to see why these two markets are humming.”

News Release June 2007, Brian Pope, Associate Editor, The Real Estate Center

Fireworks!

Happy Independence Day!


Don’t Miss The Fireworks…
Not one, but three shows to tell you about!
Start out at Carlos’N Charlie’s on
Tuesday, July 3rd!
~Fireworks start at 9:15pm~
Rock the Lake Show!
Music by several bands, including Vallejo!
(See Carlos’N Charlie’s website for ticket pricing/info)


Then, catch the action at Johnny Fins on
Wednesday, July 4th!
~Fireworks start just after dusk~
Afterward enjoy music by London Calling!
( See Johnny Fins website for details)
OR
Check out the show in Lago Vista on
Wednesday, July 4th!
~Fireworks start at dark~
Bring your blanket & see the show at Bar-K Park
A variety of food will be available for purchase.
Events planned all day ~ from 6:30am until midnight!
(See Lago Vista website for event schedule & details)

Lakefront Restaurant to Try...

My wife Tracy & I recently checked out the new Café Blue lakefront restaurant... (Formerly Café Bleu)

It was closed and has now re-opened under new management through Carlos ‘N Charlie’s ~ great news for everyone!

Have You Been to the New Café Blue?

If you’ve never been there, to get there by land, you’ll find it at 8714 Lime Creek Road in Volente. To get there by boat, it’s located at the Sandy Creek Marina, up the Sandy Creek arm of Lake Travis, which is at Mile Marker 7, (near Starnes Island). Eventually they will have a map on their web site, but as of now the web site is still under construction. Contact them at (512) 996-8188 if you have any questions or need directions.

Café Blue has outdoor dining only, so they are only open during the spring and summer. They will be open from April through as late in the season as weather permits. Their current hours are:

• Monday, OPEN 11 AM – 10 PM
  
• Tuesday, CLOSED
  
• Wednesday, CLOSED
  
• Thursday, OPEN 11 AM – 10 PM
  
• Friday, 11 AM – 11 PM
  
• Saturday, 10 AM – 11 PM
  
• Sunday, 10 AM – 10 PM
  

On Saturday and Sunday they serve brunch from 10 AM – 2 PM, with menu items like the Starnes Island Omelet – a delicious cheese omelet topped with shrimp and crawfish Cajun cream sauce – and Blue Corn Migas!

It’s all outdoor dining right on the water, on a large covered deck with misters and fans that keep you cool and comfortable. Tiki torches are lit at sundown. The food is decidedly upscale by lake standards. It’s the place to go on the north side if you’re older than the “20-something” crowd.

Here’s what we recommend off the menu: They have great homemade potato chips with roasted garlic dip, tacos Del Lago (blackened redfish and homemade coleslaw in corn tortillas), pepper crusted New York strip (topped with candied pecans, blue cheese and scallions) and the blue corn tortilla crusted redfish. Oh, and the Long Island Iced Tea packs a nice punch!

We’ll definitely be back! You should check it out sometime. Remember to bring your Secret Handshake Club Card with you!!! ~ This is one place you just might see me, and if you do, just show me your card and I’ll buy you a drink– if you’re not already a member of my Secret Handshake Club, or you want more information about joining, CLICK HERE. See ya on the lake!

Do You Know What Lago Vista is Getting?

How about a $300 Million for a resort – style lakefront community? Check out the details released in the Austin Business Journal today…

Lago Vista gets $300M Project – Resort community to feature lakefront homes.

Returning to lay claim to another tract along the north shore of Lake Travis, a Dallas developer is drawing up plans for a $300 million resort-style community that will add fuel to a rapidly developing lakefront market.

Winston Capital Corp. bought 245 acres known as Turnback Ranch in Lago Vista last year. The tract with roughly 11,000 linear feet along the lake is southwest of the intersection of Lohman Ford Road and FM 1431. Winston is mapping out more than 700 living units, ranging from single-family homes to possible condominiums, in an amenity-rich community. The company plans to break ground later this year.

Austin Business Journal – April 27, 2007 A. J. Mistretta, ABJ Staff

Five Wonderful Words!

Oh how I love the sound of those five wonderful words…Lake levels returning to normal – or better yet…The drought is finally over! Yes, Lake Travis is 82% full right now, at 662.36 feet above mean sea level. Check out this report from KVUE News just last night…

Lake Levels Returning to Normal

The drought is over and for several weeks now, the water levels have been back to near normal at most lakes. Only Lake Buchanan remains well below average. While some businesses have already cashed in, others are still waiting.

Even the soothing waters of Lake Travis may not calm what some hope will be a rush of sun seekers this weekend.

The owner of Johnny Fin’s Restaurant, Bryan Kelly, says with lake levels now back near normal, business at his restaurant the past week has been anything but.

”We’ve had nice weather and a full lake and we didn’t last year. We’ve been doing summer-type numbers,” he said.

Just four weeks ago, the concern was more than visible. Water levels stood 15-16 feet below where they are today. Some were wondering about how another dry summer could leave the lake experience a little empty.

Few were as relieved as John Watson, a captain at Daybreak Boat Rentals.

”As long as the lake stays where it is, all the islands that were dangerous are now far enough under water where people aren’t going to hit their propellers,” he said.

Watson says his season is just beginning and he expects a full weekend.

By Kevin Peters, KVUE News - 10:36 PM CDT Friday, April 20, 2007

Lake Travis is Rising

Great news!!
Thanks to recent rains, Lake Travis is filling up again.
Every drop counts, and more rain is on the way!

Lake Travis Recharged by Recent Rains

Lake Travis is now at its highest level since June of last year because of the heavy rains.

LCRA hydrologists are forecasting the lake to rise to an elevation of about 662 to 664 feet above sea level by this weekend.

That’s about 8-and-a-half to 10-and-a-half feet above where the lake’s level was when the rain started on Sunday.

"We passed that water on through Lake LBJ and into Lake Buchanan on down into Lake Travis. The reason for the floogates is so much rain fell so quickly that all that water rushed into the lake really quick. We wanted to keep the level of Lake LBJ from rising very fast,” LCRA meteorologist Bob Rose said.

Lake Travis is still 13 feet below its average elevation for March.

But LCRA says by the end of this round of storms, about 120,000 acre-feet of water will have been captured in lakes Buchanan and Travis combined.

That’s the equivalent of the amount of water used by the City of Austin alone in about a year.

News 8 Austin Staff: 03-27-07

Care to Take a Walk?

If ‘walking is your kind of thing’ then ‘Austin is your kind of place’… Austin just scored second best city in the country for fitness and walking! Remember that folks also enjoy walking the scenic trails in our wonderful parks along Lake Travis and the surrounding areas too!

Austin Named One of Best Cities to Take a Walk

Austinites are getting some more national attention for getting off the couch. Prevention magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association have named Austin the second best city in the country for fitness and walking.

This is the second year in a row that Austin has topped the list of the top 12 American cities best suited for walking. According to Prevention, the elements that make a city "fitness walker friendly" include safe streets, beautiful places to walk, mild weather and good air quality.

Some of the specific criteria the publication used to rank cities on the list include the percentage of the population that walks for exercise, the use of mass transit, the number of parks per square mile, the points of interest per square mile, the average winter and summer temperatures and the percentage of athletic shoe buyers.

The survey studied 125 of the most populated American cities, and Austin came in at number 2, just behind Madison, Wis.

"While it's nice to receive accolades, in my opinion, we're nowhere near as pedestrian-friendly as we need to be," says Austin Mayor Will Wynn. "Fortunately, the continued revitalization and repopulation of downtown, as well as other developments like the Triangle and the old Mueller Airport, are big steps in the right direction."

The results of the walking list will appear in the April issue of Prevention.

Austin Business Journal - 10:32 AM CDT Tuesday, March 20, 2007

What? Shades Closes for Good?!

Shades, a popular floating restaurant on the North Shore of Lake Travis for 15 years, has closed its doors for good. Check out all the details in this article from the North Lake Travis LOG…

New PV Restaurant to Take Place of Shades

The Point Venture Property Owners’ Association voted February 18th to approve signing a new lease for a restaurant replacing Shades. By a 5-4 vote, Shades was required to leave its longtime floating location by March 1, with Point Venture Restaurant Group Inc. taking its place. The new restaurant will be open year round, and the ships store at the marina will become a convenience store.

There are also several new benefits to the PVPOA and its members. For one, the rent increases substantially. Under the old lease, Shades paid the PVPOA $14,513 a year. With the new lease, the new restaurant will be paying the POA 5% of its net profits, paid as a base rent of $46,000 per year. The new tenant will give a 10% discount to PVPO members and their guests on food, drinks and items purchased at the store. POA members will be allowed to purchase gas for boats at 50 cents over the tenants cost at the gas dock. Other plans include replacing and partially enclosing the seating area.

In an e-mail to nearly 100 people, Shades owner Larry Muske presented reasons why he could not sign the lease presented to him by the PVPOA. “I was presented with a lease that I felt was not economically feasible,” Muske wrote. He listed some of the items as: a complete line of groceries; absolute personal liability; bound to the lease for 15 years and unable to sell without being liable; live entertainment and late night bar hours; and being open 12 months a year. “The Board that brought me on 15 years ago instructed me to close at 10 p.m.; to keep the noise down; and to have a family friendly atmosphere, ”Muske wrote. “Your new Board wants live entertainment, noise, late bar hours, eggs, bread, milk and personal liability. I cannot do this. I am saddened beyond words to lose something that I’ve poured my heart and soul into for the past 15 years.” Muske wrote. “While I will miss my loyal customers and friends here, I am truly looking forward to moving on to a new and different adventure in my life.”

The new partners in the restaurant are Mike and Jan Walsh, and Todd Hynes. Mike Walsh was a former partner in The Pier on Lake Austin a managed it for 19 years. Hynes was also a partner in another Lake Travis waterfront restaurant.

PVPOA President Jim Hawkins explained that the POA board began planning for the expiration of the Shades lease months ago. A survey of members was conducted, and the PVPOA Board appointed a committee to determine what other benefits might be available to members of the community from the restaurant amenity. The committee put together a request for proposal that was advertised and distributed to the public. Two groups submitted proposals to the committee. According to Hawkins, both were very qualified, but the committee decided on the final group to submit its proposal for running the restaurant at Point Venture.

All of the “deal points” that were written into the new lease were ideas that the new lessee proposed and none of them were suggested or requested by the committee, Hawkins said. The lease agreement was given to Muske and he was given 30 days to agree to the terms. The board explained to Muske that under the right of first refusal it could negotiate the terms of the lease with him, but only if the changes he proposed represented a comparable or better benefit than the one that he wished to remove.

According to the board, Muske presented a list of 17 items he wanted negotiated out of or changed in the lease, but proposed no alternative benefits that the board considered to be in any way comparable or better than what he wished to remove. After negotiation and discussion, the board was not able to reach an agreement with Muske and he chose not to sign the lease that was agreed to by the third party. “The board truly regrets that Larry chose not to renew his lease with the POA…the board based our decision on what we felt was in the best interest of our membership,” Hawkins said.

As far as live entertainment, the board only gives its OK on a one or two person group, but no full bands. Hawkins said the sound from music will be lessened after the area is enclosed. Also, after a new wave break for Point Venture’s marina is completed, the live music, along with the restaurant, will move away from the shore. The PVPOA owns the kitchen building and the dock. The new owners are negotiating on buying the bar and the seating area from Muske. If the new restaurant gets the building, the new owners will remodel. If not, a new restaurant will be built. Hawkins said the new owners hope to have the restaurant open by April 1, but may take until May.

North Lake Travis LOG – February 22, 2007 By Staff Writer Kimberly Bates

Do You Love to Dive?

If you love to dive, check out this new business that just started up last November, 2006. It’s called Buba Dives, and they offer a safe alternative to shore diving, providing divers the ability to dive numerous locations not accessible from shore. The owner, who is semi-retired, says he created the company for the sheer love of diving; everyone at Buba Dives loves the atmosphere and especially the people in the diving community! That’s a great combination for success – if you love what you do, you do it with passion and have fun with it - I know I do!

Buba Dives Specializes in Lake Travis Scuba Diving Trips

At Buba Dives, all business decisions are based on their philosophy of “Safety first and fun second!” You still have lots of fun – the smart way. Buba Dives says they feel the diving they provide is the safest way to dive on the lake. With a large dive vessel as a platform for your dives you have an experienced Captain / Diver watching from above the entire dive. They operate off of a 30 foot custom pontoon boat located at Keller Marina, taking up to 6 paying customers at a time. We will take our customers to any location on Lake Travis they want to dive as long as their previous dive experience allows for safe diving in that location. We also have a vast knowledge of the lake and can make recommendations based on skill level. We cater to all levels of divers from just open water to certified to technical divers – we go out of our way to cater to the needs of our customers.

Buba Dives does not provide any gear so you will need to bring your own or rent your gear from a local dive shop including your tanks. Buba Dives works with all local dive shops. Contact Buba Dives either by phone at (512) 809-3925 or by email at bubadives@yahoo.com and schedule your dive for the day and time that you want. Hurry! Their trips fill up quick and they operate on a first come, first served basis, so contact them as soon as possible. Have fun!

Ready for a Poker Run?

Poker Runs! Poker Runs!

It's that time again, so fill 'er up, ante up, and come join the fun!

Here is the latest info I have as far as what's happening and where...

Lake Travis Powerboat Association

2007 Poker Run Schedule

April 27th: Kick-Off Party!!

April 28th: Pre-Season Run

May 19th

June 23rd

July 21st

August 18th

Sept. 15th: Last Run & Year End Party!!

If you come join the fun on a poker run, be sure to

bring your Secret Handshake Club Card!!

**Before you come out to play...

check out these LTPA Rules & Guidelines**

If Drought Continues...What's The Plan?

We all love Lake Travis! Some of us already have homes on Lake Travis, some of us have real estate or homes for sale on Lake Travis, and some are building homes or buying new homes on Lake Travis. Every day, folks who don’t live on the lake or own property on Lake Travis come out, soak up the sun, enjoy all the fun and excitement of Lake Travis and taste the lake lifestyle for themselves. The drought affects all of us, and many others. The LCRA is taking the drought conditions very seriously, and they have a plan in place…

LCRA Outlines Water Management Plan If Drought Continues...

Citing record-low flows into the region's water supply reservoirs and the first-ever Lower Colorado River Authority curtailment of water sent to rice farmers, LCRA General Manager Joe Beal said the two-year drought still gripping Central Texas could trigger stricter conservation measures.

"LCRA is taking the drought conditions very seriously," Beal said. "We are following our state-approved water management plan to ensure that we can continue to provide water to our customers, we have asked our customers to conserve water, and for the first time ever, we have limited the amount of water we will send downstream for farmers."

Beal stood among representatives from various lake and river interest groups who came from as far up the river basin as Lake Buchanan to as far downstream as the coastal rice-growing region in Matagorda County. The representatives briefly discussed how the drought has affected them and could continue to affect them personally.

Last year was a record low for the amount of water flowing into these lakes - the lowest since 1942 when the two water supply reservoirs, lakes Buchanan and Travis, began operating in tandem.

So while the Austin area received heavy rain early in 2007, many Central Texans may not realize that the rain did not fall in the areas it was needed to recharge the region's water supply. Lakes Buchanan and Travis - the only two water supply reservoirs in the Highland Lakes chain - are 54 percent full. A repeat of last year's weather will drop the lake levels even more, and even if the Central Texas area receives its average amount of rainfall, the lake levels could still be lower by the end of this summer.

"If the drought persists or gets worse, then we will ask our customers to impose water-use restrictions, and we may even have to cut off our agricultural customers," Beal said. Those measures and others are part of LCRA's state-approved water management plan. "Consistent with our mission as a steward of the Colorado River, LCRA is prepared to implement these measures to make it through this drought," he said.

Business Wire – February 9, 2007

Something Fun for Golfers...

There are many golf courses in Austin, Lake Travis and the surrounding area, and LOTS of golf enthusiasts (my wife and myself included)… A friend sent me this video, and I’d like to share it will all of you. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Video - Free Golf Instructions/Tips from a Pro – Improve Your Golf Swing Today!

Employment/Population Growth in Austin!

Looking for a job? Consider Austin or Lake Travis! According to a recent report, Austin is expected to record the country’s 2nd highest employment growth rate in 2007! Check out this recent article from the Austin Business Journal…

Job Growth Will Bolster Rental Market

With Austin area employers set to grow their payrolls by 25,000 positions this year, a new report indicates increasing demand will put the squeeze on an already tight local rental market. Vacancy in the Austin apartment market fell to 7.1 percent in 2006 and is expected to decline even further in the coming year as new construction continues to fall short of increasing demand. That's according to Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Co.'s 2007 National Apartment Report.

Asking rents in the market are forecasted to rise 3.2 percent to $817 a month as effective rents jump 5.3 percent to $756 a month. On the supply front, developers are likely to bring roughly 2,800 new units to market in 2007, about the same as 2006. And investors will continue to look for value-add properties near Austin's core as the city continues its efforts to get more people living in and around downtown.

"The local economy and limited new construction will combine to push vacancy rates below 7 percent this year, down from the double-digit rates of three to four years ago," says Brad Bailey, regional manager of Marcus & Millichap's Austin office.

According to the report's findings, Austin is expected to record the second-highest employment growth rate in the country in 2007 along with the second-highest rate of population growth. The report's National Apartment Index, which ranks 42 major apartment markets on a series of indicators, puts Austin at No. 16, up seven places from last year.

Austin Business Journal – January 16, 2007

Multi Million Dollar Fishing Tournament in Lake Travis

Lake Travis will be an ‘extra’ high-dollar fishing spot in mid-February! Check out this recent article from Yacht Vacations and Charters…We’ve had even more rain since this article came out January 18th!

$9.5 Million Wal-Mart FLW Tour to Visit Lake Travis
"Lake Travis is a deep, rocky and clear highland lake," said Kellogg's pro Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, who has amassed more than $1.2 million in career winnings. "There's lots of rock on the shoreline and very little wood cover. Right now visibility is around four to five feet. I've seen it a lot clearer than it is right now. But it's the lake's level that is going to determine how the tournament plays out."

"Lake Travis is a deep, rocky and clear highland lake," said Kellogg's pro Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, who has amassed more than $1.2 million in career winnings. "There's lots of rock on the shoreline and very little wood cover. Right now visibility is around four to five feet. I've seen it a lot clearer than it is right now. But it's the lake's level that is going to determine how the tournament plays out. We're getting a little more rain now, and the ground's wet, and there's a chance that with the right amount of rain, it could fill up pretty quickly," Wendlandt said. "If the water level really changes, it could add a whole new aspect to the tournament. If it comes up just a foot or two, it won't make a difference."

Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 15-16, from Highland Lakes Marina located at 16120 Wharf Cove in Volente, Texas. Thursday and Friday's weigh-ins will also be held at Highland Lakes Marina beginning at 3 p.m. Capitol Chevrolet located at 6200 I-35 South in Austin will host Chevy Pro Night featuring Jimmy Houston, Larry Nixon, Luke Clausen, Kim Stricker, Dion Hibdon and David Fritts from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. These anglers, who together account for eight FLW Tour victories and more than $3 million in winnings, will visit with fans, sign autographs and pose for photos. Fans attending Chevy Pro Night at Capitol Chevrolet can also register to win fishing rods, fishing tackle, die cast Ranger boats and a trip for two to the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup championship and outdoor show in Hot Springs, Ark., where they could ultimately win a $47,000 Ranger Z20 powered by Yamaha.

Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17-18, from Travis County Mansfield Dam Park located at 14370 Mansfield Dam Road in Austin. Saturday and Sunday's weigh-ins will be held at the Austin Convention Center located at 500 East Cesar Chavez St. in Austin beginning at 4 p.m. Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW Outdoors will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the Austin Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The Family Fun Zone is a chance for fishing fans to meet their favorite anglers and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other manufacturers while children are treated to fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. The first 300 children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone Saturday will also receive a free FLW Outdoors hat from KASE 101 FM. On Sunday, 98.1 KVET FM will give the first 300 children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone a free rod and reel combo.

In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of 400 anglers competes in the two-day opening round for one of 10 slots in Saturday's competition based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights are cleared for day three, and co-angler competition concludes following Saturday's weigh-in. The top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from days three and four.

The total purse for the Lake Travis tournament is $1 million, including $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division. This makes the event the most lucrative tour-level bass tournament hosted in Texas in 2007. Coverage of the tournament will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on March 18 and 25 as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program. "FLW Outdoors" airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern Time. "FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast internationally to approximately 350 million households in Europe, Africa and Asia, making it the most widely distributed weekly fishing program in the world. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 service members stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.

With a $9.5 million cash purse, including three $1 million qualifiers and three $1.5 million opens during the regular season, this is the most lucrative FLW Tour season to date. Each event leads up to the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol, which will be held Aug. 2-5 on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Ark. The prestigious championship and outdoor show hosted by the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau will feature 81 pros, 81 co-anglers and bass fishing's largest cash award -- a potential $1 million first-place prize for the winning pro.

Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 238 events in 2007.

Wal-Mart and many of America's largest and most-respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world's leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Wal-Mart.com. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 18 - PRNewswire-FirstCall

A Rare Sight

Here's an image from the big "Ice Storm of '07" (that being 2 days of ice and a few hours of snow flurries that shut the city down for a few days).

It sure was beautiful on the lake, though! Hope you can see the big fat snowflakes in this photo, taken on Jan 16, 2007. This location of this photo is in Lago Vista, taken from The Island, looking across Lake Travis.

Austin's A Good Bet!

If you’re thinking about moving to Austin or Lake Travis, you’re making a wise investment; check out this recent article from the Austin Business Journal…

Real estate to stay strong in '07

A new report from a national real estate services firm is telling investors what many of them already know--Austin's a good bet in 2007.
The capital city's retail sector placed third in Integra Realty Resources' annual IRR-Viewpoint, which ranks U.S. markets with the greatest commercial real estate potential in the coming year. The report looks at the four main commercial property sectors: office, retail, industrial and multifamily. Austin's office and multifamily markets ranked fifth in their respective classes.

The booming city of Las Vegas ranked No. 1 in the office, retail and multifamily categories with Miami taking the lead in the industrial sector. Among other Texas cities, Fort Worth ranked No. 2 in the office category while Houston placed fourth in industrial.

Integra determined the rankings through a national survey and research that looked for markets with positive growth patterns, strong current conditions and enough absorption to accommodate current vacancy and planned projects.

Austin Business Journal – December 29, 2006

Check Out The Austin Boat Show!

Remember that the Austin Boat Show starts this week!!
Here are the details…

2007 Austin Boat Show: January 11-14
Austin Convention Center


• SHOW FEATURES:
• Wakeboard Zone: New live Wakeboard Grind Competition this year!
• Crownline Interactive Semi-Trailer
• Honda Fishing Aquarium for the kids
• Free seminars on topics including wakeboarding, skiing and fishing
• 200 Exhibitors and 20 Local Area Boat Dealers

Boat Show Hours:
Thursday, January 11- 12:00pm-9:00pm
Friday, January 12- 12:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday, January 13- 10:00am-9:00pm
Sunday, January 14- 10:00am-6:00pm

Admission:
Adults: $8
Children 12 & Under: $4
Seniors 65 and Over: $4
Children 6 & Under: FREE

Bring the whole family and experience the boating lifestyle!
Download a Show Coupon here!!