Austin Texas Real Estate Blog

Please bear with me as the point of this post will take some time to develop, but I think you will appreciate it.

I recently watched a movie on cable with my wife called "The Lake House" with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.  I didn't honestly expect to like it very much, although I love Sandra Bullock in most of her movies (she is an Austinite, so I guess I have to say that, but it's true in her case).  I loved Keanu Reeves in the "Bill and Ted" movies, "Parenthood", and "The Matrix", but frankly his stuff has been a bit more inconsistent in my opinion other than those aforementioned. 

While we were watching this movie, my wife made the comment that Keanu Reeves' character must not live until the end, simply because the title of the movie was simply too sad.  I kind of agreed with her, but I won't divulge the ending, just in case you have the urge to rent it from Netflix or Blockbuster, or wherever you get movies. 

Overall, I would give the movie a B+ or possibly an A-.  Keanu is remarkably good in his role, and Sandra puts in a very solid performance.  Their chemistry is great, even though they don't share a lot of time on the screen together.  Why is that?  Because the film's premise doesn't allow for it. 

The basic premise is this: Sandra Bullock is a single doctor living at a lake house in 2006, and Keanu is an architect working on the house in 2004.  They discover their ability to communicate across time by using the lake house's mail box, and they fall for each other and start to arrange a meeting in 2006.  Quirky and entertaining.

While we were watching it, my wife made the suggestion that they should have called it "Letters Across Time" if it were a simple romantic movie, since it seems so much less poignant.  I was thinking about the friendships that I have developed here at Active Rain, and it struck me that what we are doing here is remarkably similar.

When I write and post this blog, I will likely go to bed soon thereafter.  When I wake up, there will probably be a few comments awaiting me.  These comments are like the letters written between those characters in the film.  Time passes.  Someone may make a comment that sits unanswered for hours, then I am able to respond when I have time to do so.  In this way, these comments are "travelling through time" to some degree. 

Although I have spoken with some of my AR friends, there are many that I feel a kinship with that I have never once spoken to.  Unlike IMs or live chat, our comments to each other may be made days apart, but that doesn't lessen their impact. 

I enjoy receiving these letters across time (or notes, really).  It is amazing to see the effect of our words.  What a cool phenomenon.

Thanks for taking time to read this one.  I appreciate it.

Copyright 2007   Austin Real Estate     Jason Crouch   All rights reserved

I was thinking about Halloween today, since we have some neighbors who seem to be seriously over-the-top with their decor for this "holiday".  My wife informed me that they had placed rubber heads on pikes on either side of their sidewalk.  Sure enough, there are some relatively lifelike severed heads there, not too far from my driveway and my small, impressionable children.  I was tempted to call the HOA, but I haven't decided yet.  There are only five homes on our street, and I don't want to seem like a party pooper, but dang! 

At any rate, I was ruminating about my memories from Halloween, both as a kid and as a parent now. 

When I was a child, my main memory involves wearing a hot mask made of _____ (I don't know what) with a thin rubber band to hold it in place.  Taking off these masks always managed to take out some hair from the back of my head as well.  One year when I was about six or seven, I had a lion mask and what kind of looked like lion pajamas.  I remember putting my tongue though the undersized hole which was ostensibly supposed to serve as ventilation.  I scraped my tongue back and forth on that tiny hole, feeling my taste buds erode.  Truth be known, I wish I had an oxygen mask or a mini-fan to keep my face from sweating so much.  The cool late October Dallas air never felt so good as when I was able to remove this stifling facewear.

When I was about 11 or 12, toward the tail-end of my trick-or-treating days, I remember getting a large grocery sack and my friends and I stayed out until some ridiculously late hour collecting candy.  After returning home, my eyes were always "bigger than my stomach" and I would eventually go to bed feeling bloated and uneasy about what I had just consumed. 

However, that bad feeling didn't last long, as I would arise the next morning and greet the day with some Snickers, candy corn, Joe Bazooka bubble gum, Now 'n' Later's, and whatever else I could cram down my gullet before my mom stopped me and made me eat a proper breakfast.  That gigantic load of sweets usually wouldn't survive November 1st or 2nd at the latest.  Yes, I was a candy junkie and I don't care who knows it. 

Another year, in high school, I dressed all in white and made everyone guess what I was.  I honestly had no idea either, but it was fun hearing the guesses all day.  Once in college, I went to a costume party as a 1940's gangster, although I probably looked more like Walt Disney as a younger man.  I remember the unique and excited reaction from my friends (and girlfriend) who had never seen me with my hair slicked back and with a mustache (drawn on - I couldn't have grown one then if I tried, and I did try).  My girlfriend treated me like an exotic, rich, attractive stranger.  Hmmm... maybe I should look into that mustache thing again. Actually, my wife HATES it when I try to grow one, so that likely won't happen.

As a parent, Halloween night feels different, with the exception of the year that my son and I went together as Sully and Mikey from "Monsters Inc.". That suit also could have used its own cooling system, as it was simply impenetrable by the wind.  I probably sweated off about five pounds, but IT WAS REALLY FUN.  Also, it must have been memorable, because people mentioned it several times to me months later ("Hey, aren't you that guy who was the blue monster for Halloween?"  I guess it made a strong impression on people, and my son was incredibly cute as Mikey.  He said, "I have one EYE!" more times than I could count that night.).

I will never forget the first time that we took my son trick-or-treating - he was not quite two.  We would go to each home, knock or ring the bell, wait patiently, then whenever the neighbor answered, my son would immediately try to go inside.  After about the third house, he seemed pretty perturbed with us, probably because he was wondering "Which of these people are we going to hang out with anyway?" 

Once we were able to teach him about the candy part, he warmed to the idea, so we coached him on saying "Trick or treat" several times.  Inevitably, he would stand quietly, accepting the treats, then the SECOND that the door closed, he would say, "Twit a tweet" to us.  Oh well....

A couple of years later, he was a true master and my daughter went for her first outing.  He was trying to teach her how to do it properly, and she was really looking up to him as the teacher.  After three or four attempts at different homes, she got the hang of it, and began to just say, "Gimme...candee".  Isn't that pretty much what we all want to say?  Are we really going to perform a trick if we don't get a treat?  I would like to nominate my daughter's innocent catchphrase as the new official Halloween slogan - "Gimme candy!"

In a couple of days, we will take our toddler daughter (barely 19 months now), and I will be interested to see what new memories are created Wednesday evening. 

Happy early Halloween, everybody!

Copyright 2007   Austin Real Estate     Jason Crouch   All rights reserved

Last night, I took my family to EZ's Restaurant on North Lamar about a block north of 38th Street, just across the street from the H-E-B Central Market shopping area.  This is a fun restaurant for the whole family, and the kids actually liked it so much, they asked if we could return again today.  Not today, but probably soon. 

The menu at EZ's consists of distinctly "American" cuisine -  burgers,sandwiches, salads, pizzas, kid's meals, and a couple of plate dinners.  It evokes thoughts of an old-fashioned diner with a soda fountain.  Bright pastel colors and black and white checkered tiles set the mood as fun and family friendly.  It has also been named "Best Restaurant in Austin" a couple of times in the Austin Chronicle's annual "Best of Austin" reader poll.

The crowd was actually quite a mixture demographically.  Since it's not too far from the University of Texas campus, there were a number of students, young families with kids, a table of police officers, and even a guy who is clearly among those trying to resurrect the "white guy afro".  Frankly, he had some of the largest, curliest hair that I have seen.  Sorry to digress there.

The atmosphere is open, a little noisy, with pop music playing and lots of conversation.  If weather permits, you can also enjoy their covered patio outside.  Weather did not permit in our case.  Overall, the place has a comfortable, easy vibe about it. 

As for the food itself, I had the pepperoni pizza, which honestly wasn't that attractive to behold, but it was REALLY tasty, and far superior to most chain pizza restaurants.  My son enjoyed his burger, and my daughter enjoyed her chicken tenders as well.  My wife had the Cobb salad, which she said was fresh and tasty.  In fairness, she also noted that it was relatively difficult to mess up a Cobb salad.  Nonetheless, everyone was happy with the food. 

One of the neat "draws" with EZ's is the dessert menu.  They offer a nice selection of shakes, malts, floats, sundaes, etc.  My son opted for a vanilla shake, and my daughter had the IBC Root Beer float.  I liked the fact that they gave me an entire bottle of IBC along with the ice cream in a separate cup, so that we could control the root beer-to-vanilla-ice-cream ratio that is so critical to enjoying a good float. 

When prompted to describe their taste treats for the purpose of this blog, my kids were very specific.  My daughter said it was "delicious" and my son said the shake was "delectable".  Both desserts must have been pretty good to rate that highly on the yummy chart!

I would highly recommend EZ's for food, atmosphere, and family fun.  By the way, my daughter just asked me AGAIN when we will be returning.  Maybe this will become a new favorite hangout for us.

Copyright 2007   Austin Real Estate     Jason Crouch   All rights reserved

Okay, so maybe it's not that bad.  However, life with three energetic kids (one of whom is a very verbal 19-month old girl) is sometimes quite challenging.

I have been spending more time around the house lately, since we have some family issues that I have addressed elsewhere on my blog.  Maybe that last line is just a ploy to get you to go digging around my blog so that you will fall in love with my writing.  Who knows? 

At any rate, my time with my kids is usually a joy, but there are times that dealing with a tired, hungry toddler while trying to work (and blog) is kind of like being an air traffic controller trying to conduct duties in the middle of a Van Halen concert.  In other words, you get spread a little thin and it's hard to concentrate on any one thing. 

The other day, while my wife was out, I saw my toddler daughter Abby execute a PERFECT military-style belly crawl across our large kitchen table in quest of a simple pencil.  If I ever see determination like that on the face of an agent, I will hire that person in a heartbeat.  Abby's tongue was out and her brow down, with exceptional concentration.  Unfortunately, my eight-year old son Brandon was just a little faster, and he snatched the pencil away from her (at my instruction, truth be known).  I gave her some paper and another pencil and let her "draw" a little, while I sat with her in order to keep the pencil out of her eye or any other undesirable place.  Any child with that level of focus deserves a reward, in my mind.

Another recent funny incident:  I was blogging on my notebook computer upstairs, and I went downstairs for a minute or two to get something.  Before I came back up, I asked Brandon, "Can you see Abby?"  I just wanted to make sure she wasn't doing something she shoudn't be doing.  He replied calmly, "Yes, I can see her.  She is sitting in your chair playing with the computer and drinking soda."  LOVELY.  I forgot that I left my Diet Dr. Pepper sitting there, and when I came bounding back up the stairs, she was coated in a thin sheen of soda from her mouth to her diaper, and it was on the couch and floor as well.  Thankfully, it wasn't on the computer.  I have learned to count my blessings.  Also, I have learned to pick my battles, but that is the subject of an entirely different post.

I don't know how it works in other homes, but in our house tiredness in a child translates quickly to naughty (or at least frowned-upon) behavior.  For example, when Abby is tired, she is more likely to go play in the cats' water or (heaven forbid) EAT CAT FOOD.  Yes, you heard me right.  She will furtively grab a few pieces of dry cat food, shove them in her mouth, and run - fast!  She seems to be outgrowing this one, but not quickly enough for my taste.  I promise we feed our kids.  They don't need to eat from the pet dishes.  You will probably think that I am a terrible parent, but I actually made my wife take a few pictures of Abby while she was pretending to drink from the cats' water dish, because I was laughing too hard to do it myself.  We have three cats, and I think she feels like they are kindred spirits.  They are closest to her size, after all.

On a different note, one incredibly fun thing to do as a parent is to learn each child's unique "Toddler-ese".  Here are a few current examples from Abby:

"Ree-bot!" or "Ree-bok!"  - This one is typically uttered with a book in hand or perhaps one thrown directly at my crotch.  It means "Read Book".

"Bussy tees" - This is a brand-new phrase, meaning "brushy teeth".  She likes to have one of the extra kids' toothbrushes to chew on for awhile, at which point she demands, "Put up!" meaning it is time to put the toothbrush away.  As soon as I put it away, she frowns, then yells, "Bussy tees" again.  The cycle continues as long as my patience will allow.

"Moat" or  "Malt" = "Milk"

"Tees-tee" - This phrase is heard anytime anyone drinks any liquid of any kind near my child ("thirsty").  She is not usually content to accept her own cup.  She wants what YOU have, even if it is steaming hot coffee or a shot of vodka (kidding - that last part was for a cheap laugh).  The point is she wants your cup of whatever.  It actually reminds me a little bit of the drunk guy in the bar in old movies, "Give me what he's having!"

"Mit bo"  = "meatball"

"Feces" = Goldfish crackers ("fishies").  I actually shared that one in another recent post, but it is simply too funny to not include it here again. 

When my son was a toddler, he said one of the funniest phrases I have ever heard from my kids.  My wife and I still repeat it to this day with each other, just because it is darn funny.  I will do my best here to reproduce this phonetically so that you will understand. 

He asked us both, "How many fwarebobfundpants doo have?" 

We asked him to repeat it again. 

"How many fwarebobfundpants doo have?"  Wow, much better.  Um, yeah.  What the heck did you say, child?

It turned out he was saying "Squarebob Spongepants" instead of "Spongebob Squarepants".  He wasn't really allowed to watch that show, and he was asking about it in the best way he could remember.  I still don't know why he was asking how many of them we had.  The answer, of course, was zero.

That actually reminds me of another funny story from when he was about three.  His friend, Chandler, had been at our house one day, and after Chandler left, Brandon held up a toy and said, "Chandler gave me this broken airplane."  Hmmm.  Well, there were only three critical inconsistencies here:

1. Chandler didn't give it to him.  He accidentally left it.
2. It wasn't broken.
3. It wasn't an airplane.  It was a helicopter.  I guess it looked like a messed-up airplane to Brandon.

My wife and I have used this funny line repeatedly as a shorthand between us when someone says something utterly wrong in our presence.  If I'm being honest, my wife and I have more "in jokes" than most people have regular conversation.  Humor is critical to marital (and life) happiness, in my mind.  I pity those without a sense of humor, truly.

I guess I made you look with the title above.  Many thanks to Paul Slaybaugh for testing my ability to use this line from Bill Murray in "Ghostbusters" as a blog title.  Thanks for reading it!

P.S.  I will be interested to see how many people read the "P.S.".  I have always heard that it is essential to any good sales letter, so why not here?

P.P.S. I thought of one more.  My kids were recently discussing a video game, and my son said, "One of the options is Grand Prix."  My ears perked up, not because I am a car fan, but because he said it phonetically (it will come to you).  I was quick to correct that one.  I don't want him saying that one in church, or anywhere for that matter!

Copyright 2007   Austin TX Real Estate   Jason Crouch    All rights reserved

As part of my continuing series of articles demonstrating how affordable and exciting the Austin real estate market really is, I focus my gaze today on properties in the $700,000 range (or a little less).  Come walk with me, won't you?

This Beautiful House on 3.75 acres provides more than ample privacy! One-of-a-kind home just 10 minutes from downtown Austin!  5 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms.

Features a salt water pool & spa, master down with extra large bathroom & closet, granite countertops, pecan cabinets, 3-car garage.  3875 s.f. - built in 2002.  Live the dream!  Offered at just $699,900.

This gorgeous Lake Pointe home features 5407 square feet of elegance.  Located just seconds from the newly opened Hill Country Galleria shopping center (which is actually in the middle of its grand opening as I write this), this home has 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a .32 acre lot, awesome views, incredible pool, and it backs to the greenbelt trail system in the hills of west Austin.  Just $670,000!

Located in west Round Rock in prestigious Behrens Ranch, this terrific home features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4668 s.f., 3-car garage, with a heated saltwater blackbottom pool with spa and waterfall.  Gourmet kitchen with Subzero refrigerator, double open, dual disposals, granite counters, more!  Huge professionally landscaped lot (.67 acre).  Only $679,999!

Here are the previous articles that I have written about various price ranges here in Austin:

Austin Real Estate - What can I buy for $200,000 in the Austin area?

Austin Real Estate - What Can I Buy in the Austin area for $300,000 or less?

Austin Texas Real Estate - What Can I Buy in the Austin area for $400,000 or less?

Austin Real Estate - What Can I Buy in the Austin area for $500,000 or less?

What Can I Buy in the Austin Area for $600,000?

If you are looking to make a move to Austin or if you are interested in purchasing an investment property (or more than one), please call or email me and I will be happy to help.  I can be reached at 512-796-7653 (cell) or at jason@austintexashomes.com.  I look forward to helping you with any and all Austin real estate needs. 

Copyright 2007   Austin TX Real Estate   Jason Crouch    All rights reserved

 As a real estate broker in Austin, I have found that there are a few questions that typically surface when I am speaking with someone who is looking to relocate to this area.  I thought it might be a good idea to address some of these head-on, in an effort to educate.  Also, I wanted to touch on some of the reasons that I call Austin home.

Property Tax: Yes, real estate property taxes are high here in Austin, but we have no state income tax in Texas.  Property taxes are used to fund our school districts, city and county governments, water districts (sometimes), and more.  The tax rates range from about 2.5% to just over 3%.  Austin proper is currently taxed at 2.5254%. 

Our clients who have moved from areas with a state income tax in place have said that  their overall tax burden typically stays about the same or slightly decreases.  Clearly, this would not be the case on an investment property, but there are still plenty of good properties that are cash flow positive with a normal down payment.

Additionally, the Texas legislature recently passed a bill to reduce property taxes by 50 cents per $100 valuation.  This will be fully enacted next year (17 cents this year, 33 cents next year). 

Heat: Is it hot in Austin?  Well, sometimes it is.  Texas summers are hot, no question about it.  However, this year we only crossed the 100 degree mark a couple of times.  I looked it up, and here is the temperature trend in Austin, Texas over the past 30 years:

As you can see, we have several very good weather months here in Austin, and only four months when the average high temperature is 90 or above. 

Tornadoes: I am asked about tornadoes far more frequently than you would imagine.  In 1997, there was a devastating F-5 tornado that hit Jarrell, Texas, which is about 45 miles north of Austin.  Since then, this area has experienced a good number of small tornadoes, but zero deaths.  I have lived in Texas my entire life and I have NEVER seen a tornado, nor do I know anyone who has been directly affected by one, not even with property damage.

NOW comes the more important question: Why in the heck WOULD you want to move to Austin, Texas?  Well, there are so many reasons that it is hard to give an all-encompassing answer here, but I would like to give you some good reasons as a starting point -

MUSIC: How about the fact that Austin is the "Live Music Capital of the World"?  This became Austin's official slogan in 1991 after extensive research showed that Austin boasts more live music venues per capita than Nashville, New York City, and other music hot spots.  Since then, Austin has continued to develop and foster this image through its initiatives. 

Austin is a music industry mecca. South by Southwest (abbreviated SXSW) is a large music and film festival that has put Austin on the entertainment map. Austin has a large and varied selection of artists performing all over town, and notably on 6th Street downtown, every night. Austin City Limits, which appears on public television, is filmed here, and has showcased many well-known talents through the years.   We even have a statue of local legend Stevie Ray Vaughn (click to hear him jamming) gracing the shores of Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin (see photo on the right).

NATURAL BEAUTY: Austin also has an extensive park system, hill country topography to the west, a beautiful chain of lakes, a river running through downtown, and thousands of acres of protected preserve land.  To see more like this, please check out my recent blog post with photos here: Texas Looks Like That? A Native Texan's Perspective

AFFORDABILITY: Austin remains one of the most affordable markets in the country, with a median sales price in the $180,000 range and an average sales price in the low $200's.  In fact, if you are curious about what your money will buy, please check out some of the recent articles I have written on this very topic:

Austin Real Estate - What can I buy for $200,000 in the Austin area?

Austin Real Estate - What Can I Buy in the Austin area for $300,000 or less?

Austin Texas Real Estate - What Can I Buy in the Austin area for $400,000 or less?

Austin Real Estate - What Can I Buy in the Austin area for $500,000 or less?

What Can I Buy in the Austin Area for $600,000?

HIGH-TECH COMPANIES: A directory of "Silicon Hills" (Austin's own "Silicon Valley") lists over 100 technical companies in the Austin area. This makes Austin a fairly tech-savvy town. Many Austin organizations and businesses were some of the first to be noticed on the Internet because of the large number of "techie" folks here in Austin.  Dell Computers is the area's largest employer, with over 17,000 employees.

UNIVERSITIES: Austin is home to the University of Texas, St. Edward's University, Concordia Lutheran University, Austin Community College, Huston-Tillotson College, and there are two other large universities in nearby towns, Southwestern University and Texas State University. That means Austin is also home to a lot of young people and students. Many, after graduation, decide to live in Austin or start families here, which means Austin has many young families as well. 

CULTURAL HOLDOVERS FROM THE 60's: Austin has a history of, for lack of a better word, "hippie" culture. Whole Foods, a now well-known health food store, was started by two entrepreneurs from Austin.  The company's largest store (80,000 square feet) is smack-dab in the middle of downtown Austin. Of all the counties in Texas, Austin's county of Travis one of the few "blue" counties, politically (though Austin is home to a wide variety of views). In Austin, it's easy to find resources for holistic health, alternative spirituality, and natural childbirth. Hippie Hollow, a popular sunbathing and swimming spot on Lake Travis, is a "clothing-optional" park. Environmental groups in Austin help to protect Austin's natural resources, such as the Greenbelt and Barton Springs.

CAPITAL CITY: Being the capital of the state of Texas, Austin is home to many leaders, such as the Governor and Legislature, and houses the state Capitol Building.  This is an awesome place to take the family on a pretty day.  You can feed the squirrels, pigeons, and enjoy the parklike grounds of the Capitol itself.  The interior of the Capitol is open to the public, and makes for a fun outing for all ages. 

CELEBRITIES (maybe you can be one, too): In my recent article, Do you wanna be in pictures? Maybe Austin, Texas is the place for you! , I detail the fact that Austin is one of the most desirable and most used locations for movies in the country.  Also, there is a very large studio called Villa Muse under development (estimated $3 billion investment) which promises to change the face of Austin. 

Like any larger city, Austin is a very diverse community with people from every walk of life. The above are just a few of the things that give Austin its flavor.  What are you waiting for?  Come join us in beautiful Austin, Texas! 

If you are interested in moving to Austin to pursue your dreams, please feel free to call or email me anytime.  I would love the opportunity to help you find the right home or investment property.  I can be reached at 512-796-7653 (cell) or jason@austintexashomes.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Copyright 2007   Austin Real Estate   Jason Crouch    All rights reserved

It was May 29, 1991, and I was a junior in college.  Two of my friends wanted to go out and party in Austin (we lived in Georgetown, about 30 minutes north).  I was the one with a car, and I really didn't want to go out.  They convinced me, and I told them that if we were going out, we were going to stay out LATE (such is the logic of a 20-year old dude).  It was a Wednesday, which meant that there was really only one good choice - The Sanitarium, which played early 80's music every Wednesday night. 

Around 11:30 or so, I was on the rather crowded dance floor (well, really it was more like a stage) and my future wife came up to me and said, "You dance really well."  The rest is history.  Three children and over sixteen years later, we have had a terrific time and life together since that fateful night.  I always like to joke that my wife picked me up in a club.  My wife is tall (5'11") and she tells the story this way to our friends (and I quote): "I was bored because my friend Amy had gone away somewhere to talk to a musician she met.  I saw a tall, cute guy dancing (Editor's note: who would that be?), so I decided to talk to him." 

Before you bother to make any humorous comments about the fact that she was bored and had nothing better to do and that's why she approached me, believe me, I have heard them all before. 

The points of this tale are:

A.  I am a good enough dancer that I managed to score a tall, beautiful woman as my wife by using my mad dancing skills.

B.  I will never forget that night as long as I live.

That being said, I wanted to commemorate that night with a selection of tunes that we danced to, and also give some other memories along the way.  I hope you enjoy this one.

Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners - This was one of the more memorable songs from that night.  We even danced like the lead singer does for a few seconds in the last half minute or so of this video (arms behind our backs flapping elbows to the sides like wings).

Yes, I am a shameless fool on the dance floor when there is a song that I like playing.  By the way, what was the deal with this band anyway?  The video depicts them as some type of roving band of ugly English hillbillies.  Some of the choreography honestly reminds me of the Jets vs. the Sharks in "West Side Story".  How did this song manage to make it in the era when video was everything?  It is just doggone good - I still like hearing it.

Erotic City - Prince - Sorry - I couldn't find a good video for this one.  We were standing outside the club trying to cool down (it was a large club with like one window unit for cooling the whole place) when this song came on.  This lovely girl I had just met said, "We have to dance to this!" and we went back inside for more. 

Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins  I don't have any major memories of this one, other than I feel sure we danced to it that evening.  This song has become one of my all-time favorites, since it is linked to both my wife and the very first time I spent the night at my best friend's house in junior high.  As I recall, that was back when "Friday Night Videos" was on, and he and I watched this video on his living room floor.  A song gains a certain hook in your brain if it has multiple good memories attached to it.

99 Red Balloons - Nena   I had a similar experience with this song.  It reminds me of my wife, and it also reminds me of being 12 years old, and listening to this tune repeatedly on the patio of our house in Dallas on a RECORD PLAYER (how old am I anyway?), trying to learn the lyrics in German and in English. 

We also heard Yaz ("Situation").  Whenever I hear the opening lyrics to this particular song, it instantly transports me back to my youth, and I hope it always does.  Here is a sampling of additional tunes, so that you can feel like you were there with us:

She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby  I hesitate to admit that this video actually used to scare me a little bit when I was young.  Who am I kidding?  It still scares me watching it today.

Don't You Want Me Baby - Human League  This song actually has the quintessential 80's video - mascara-wearing androgyny on display, techno pop tune, very literal story-telling.

I Ran - Flock of Seagulls  Ugliest lead singer ever?  Perhaps.  However, I still jam (is that still a word used in common parlance?) when this song comes on

Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics  My wife and I actually both hate this song, but for different reasons.  She hates it with the pure hatred of someone who loves the band, but only dislikes their one huge hit song.  Much like Rolling Stones fans not enjoying "Satisfaction" (too commercial) or Deadheads not liking "Touch of Gray" or Doors fans not liking "Love Her Madly".  Actually, I got that last one about the Doors from a skit on "Kids in the Hall".  If you are not following my logic, don't sweat it - this post is really for my wife anyway.

Thanks for coming along on my journey.  This was fun, at least for me. 

I decided to write a new post about music, since my others got a good response:

Radio Ga Ga - The Jukebox of my Mind and Life (The Early Years)

MORE song stuff - Am I hard of hearing? My Lazy Ear Syndrome

Copyright 2007   Austin Real Estate   Jason Crouch    All rights reserved

This post was inspired by Chris Elizabeth Griffith, who wrote her own "six pack" of favorite posts and encouraged us all to do the same.  I decided to do mine as an award showcase for my previous posts.  These are my favorites of the bunch.  Since I chose more than six blogs, I am calling this a Party Ball of Posts, although I don't know if they actually make party balls anymore.  In fact, I never purchased a party ball, but they looked like fun.  They were supposed to be like mini-kegs, I think.  But I digress, so without further ado...

First up, the award for MOST PERVASIVE AND VIRAL POST I HAVE WRITTEN goes to:

Some Suggestions for New Active Rain Abbreviations - Do you LOL often?

The above post has spawned a new secret language on Active Rain.  Also, I put it first on my list here because my wife told me that this one really represents my personality the best (i.e. wildly funny and charming....right?).

Next, I would like to present the award for MOST COMMENTED BLOG OF MINE.  With 147 comments, this is the clear winner (also the winner for MOST POINTS RECEIVED, with 582):

A Watched Pot Never Boils - My Perspective on the National Market

This next award goes to the POST THAT I HAD THE MOST FUN WRITING WHICH ACTUALLY ALSO MANAGED TO GET FEATURED:

"Getting Better" Scenes from Movies - I wish we could use them with clients

Is this self-explanatory?  Maybe not.  I guess you should read it to make sure. 

One that I will never forget is MY FIRST FEATURED POST EVER:

View from the broker's desk - what makes a good agent?

Believe it or not, an agent in Wisconsin called me today who said that this post rang true for them.  You never know how far the ripple spreads when you throw out the pebbles that are our blogs. 

Another one that I will likely never forget is THE POST THAT GOT OVER 100 COMMENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY BLOGGING CAREER:

Worst photo contest

I have been blessed to have had five of my posts reach the century mark, and my "LOL" post above still sits at a lonely 99 comments.  Any takers?

I think this next post was THE FUNNIEST POST I HAVE WRITTEN WITH POP CULTURE REFERENCES:

MORE song stuff - Am I hard of hearing? My Lazy Ear Syndrome

This is about lyrics that I have misunderstood, some for over 20 years. I even solved a lyrical mystery by looking up the words to "KOKOMO" by the Beach Boys.  It may help you, too! 

The final choices are two posts that give an intimate look into who I really am.  These are THE POSTS THAT LET YOU INTO MY LIFE:

What makes a man a real man? Lessons from my Grandpa

My Friend David

Honestly, I am happy I shared these two.  I got some of the kindest comments on them that I have yet to receive. 

Thanks for joining me on today's show.  Come back next year.  I appreciate you coming out.  This was sort of like creating a cheesy clip show from one of my favorite sitcoms. 

Like many of you, when I am composing a new blog post here, I wonder if it will resound with the readers.  With some of my writing, I am really hoping to strike a chord, and welcome a tidal wave of perceptive, interesting, and funny comments. 

Well, here at Active Rain, as in real estate, you must be prepared for surprises sometimes.  Just as I am constantly amazed by which listings sell and which ones do not, I am also taken aback occasionally when I feel that I have written something exquisite, yet it receives a lackluster, lukewarm response. 

This makes my 131^st post, and I feel like I have hit a nice groove these days with my blog, mixing humor with business, coaching with personal stories, Localism with AR group information, and more. 

I wanted to share with you which of my own "listings" have sold quickly and for top price here at Active Rain.  In case you are not able to follow this analogy, I wanted to do a retrospective post on which of my blog posts have brought the most points and interest as of today.  Perhaps we can learn something from this - who knows?  If not, it will at least be interesting to me, and hopefully to you as well.

Let me clarify briefly - I am only going to focus on those posts that were at least somewhat successful.  There is no reason to trot the bad ones back out for another look.  With that in mind, away we go.

Please keep in mind that some of the posts below are pretty lame compared to my current work, but I hope that it will show the newbies that there is some hope for you if you are just starting to learn how to blog.  I started actively posting here on August 5^th, even though my profile was set up months before that.  When I started, I had no idea what to do.

Maybe you will spot an interesting title below and check it out, like my own personal Active Rain library.  Or, if prefer going to the bookstore instead of the library, feel free to send me a check or a fist-sized wad of cash as a gesture of your appreciation.  Either way, you should probably bookmark this, as it is a virtual treasure trove of valuable and entertaining reading (keep in mind that I am stating this not as the author, but as a disinterested researcher).

First, these are my moderately successful "starter" posts (scored 300-350 points):

Oldest business card photo? - this was my first attempt at humor on AR - 300 points

Funny quotes from my son - more humor - 300 points

Worst photo contest - first post of mine with over 100 comments - 300 points.  This one actually made me some new friends along the way.

Business from Active Rain? - 304

Using Your Powers of Observation to Sell Homes (Listings) - 305

Odd marketing idea (restaurant) - 305

How it Feels to Lose a $213,000 Commission - 312

Integrity - 317 points - short and sweet - one of my first

Giving of your time, talents, and treasures - 317

Laughter is the Best Medicine - My Funny Children - 328

Texas Looks Like That? A Native Texan's Perspective - 332

Cake in One Hand, Eating it in the Other Hand - You Must Choose! - 334

Are you handling your clients like a phone company handles customers? - 350

Where is Art Linkletter when you need him? - 350

Good Dad, Bad Dad - What I learned from my upbringing - 350

This next group of posts are like move-up homes (351-399):

New Active Rain Group - "Family Ties" - Come Check it Out! - 371 points

Awkward? Maybe. Funny? Indeed. - 374

Radio Ga Ga - The Jukebox of my Mind and Life (The Early Years) - 375

How to Present and Use Buyer's Representation Agreements - 384

Your Chance to Make a $135,000 Referral Fee!  - 386

Please Get to the Point Already! The clock is ticking.... - 386

Active Rain - Where everybody knows your name (or do they?) - 387

Three funniest things my kids have said this week  - 397

39 Days in the Rain and I am Writing an Offer Already! - 397

Active Rain is Like a Big Co-Ed Dorm - 398

How Much Influence Should Outsiders Have on a Real Estate Transaction? - 398

These fall into the higher-end "blog property" tier (400-500 points):

A Couple of Useful Technology Tools that I Like - 400 points

What Can I Buy in the Austin Area for $600,000? - 400

Bad Day Brings Valuable Perspective - 400

You've Got them in the Car - Now What?  - 400

Bad new neighbors - advice? - 401

How to Avoid Getting Sued - My Humble Opinion - 414

MORE song stuff - Am I hard of hearing? My Lazy Ear Syndrome - 422

A Day of Clarity for my Family  - 423

Lessons from Terrible Clients - Part 2 - 434

The ER Nurse and the Convenience Store Employee - Where do you see yourself? - 446

Some Suggestions for New Active Rain Abbreviations - Do you LOL often? - 448

What Active Rain Can Do For All of Us  - 465

What makes a man a real man? Lessons from my Grandpa - 472

These are my personal "luxury" posts, with over 500 points:

The Secret Ingredient is Empathy - Lessons from the Grocery Store - 517 points

My Friend David - 521

Because of Active Rain I Have Found 47,148 Kindred Spirits  - 535

Freshening your perspective (a visit to the nursing home) - 547

Are you helping your clients through the maze, or are you a stumbling block? - 572

"Getting Better" Scenes from Movies - I wish we could use them with clients - 572

View from the broker's desk - what makes a good agent? - 575

A Watched Pot Never Boils - My Perspective on the National Market - 582

"High Property Taxes, Heat, and Tornadoes, TOO? Why would I want to move to Austin, Texas?"  - 600 points for this Localism featured post

So, what can I glean from this information?  Well, it looks like the very best posts that I have written manage to tie something from my life and family into my career.  Five of my nine 500+  posts were inspired by my family in some way, and one of them is about my AR "family". 

THE TIME HAS COME FOR A SHAMELESS PLUG.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Check out my group "Family Ties" to see some awesome writing on display, and please bring any suitable stories of your own.  You won't regret it.  We are a happy bunch!

Thanks very much for reading (or skimming through) this post.  I sincerely hope you enjoyed it. 

One year ago this month, I began assisting through my church with an outreach program to disadvantaged kids in east Austin called Project Intercept.  As a major football fan myself, I can relate to the concept of an interception, believe me.  Project Intercept seeks to break the cycle of poverty by providing kids with positive adult role models and an environment of acceptance and support.  The kids that I work with live in the Coronado Hills goverment housing project.  I wrote a little about my experiences in a previous blog here:

Giving of your time, talents, and treasures

Once a month, I help out by picking up a group of school-age kids (age 6-12) and transporting them to an afternoon of games, songs, and Bible study.  Today we had our gathering, so I headed out at around 10AM to get started.  I must admit that when the day rolls around each month, I typically feel a little anxious, like maybe things won't go well, or the kids won't show up.  Instead, I am ALWAYS pleasantly surprised when I arrive.  These kids RUN to my van to start their day.  I have the "cool car" according to what they have told me, probably because I have a TV and they can watch movies or videos. 

Today, it was a relatively small group (four kids), but we have had as many as nine during an outing.  I was highly encouraged by one of the kids, Joe, who has been attending regularly.  He has always been the oldest to attend (he is 14 or 15), but we certainly weren't ever going to turn him away.  My friend Russ, who got me involved in the first place, discussed with me the possiblity that Joe could be one of the group leaders/assistants, which are all from about 16-20 years old.  I hadn't given it much thought, since Joe seemed disinterested in participating in the songs and games UNTIL TODAY.  I guess he must be thinking the same thing as Russ, because he was actually very involved, and he even helped the little kids to join in, and volunteered to help out on stage during one of the songs.  I felt like a proud parent!

After the games, songs, group discussions, prayer, etc.  we all get rewarded with some Mr. Gatti's Pizza.  The organizers seem to have this down to an art form with regard to how much to order.  We had none left today, and everyone was full. 

Overall, these kids depend on me to step out of my comfort zone a little bit each month.  I don't want to let them down.  It also helps me to put my life and "needs" in perspective.  How many of my needs are really just "wants"?  These children live in extreme poverty, and several of their parents have a history of drug abuse.  It just makes my worries seem so petty in comparison.

Project Intercept is overseen by Mission:Possible, which is a Christian organization focused on serving urban communities and helping and empowering individuals through various spiritual, social, and economic programs.  They are fully supported by donations from the public. 

Copyright 2007   Austin Real Estate   Jason Crouch    All rights reserved