Austin Texas Real Estate Blog

Occasionally, we have potential home buyers who are considering moving to Austin, and they ask about the primary employers here in this area.  Each year, the Austin Relocation Guide releases a list of the top Austin employers, both public and private.  Here is the latest list:

1. The State of Texas - 65,688 employees - http://www.governor.state.tx.us/

Top agencies include the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Water Development Board, and the Texas Department of Health.

2. Dell Computer, Inc. - Approx. 17,000 employees - http://www.dell.com/

Dell was started by Michael Dell in his dorm room at the University of Texas, and it has grown into one of the Austin area's largest employers, headquartered in Round Rock.  In fact, it now employs more people than the university itself.

3. University of Texas - 13,577 employees - http://www.utexas.edu/

With one of the largest student populations in the country (over 50,000 undergrads), UT needs a large staff of professors and support staff to keep things running smoothly.

4. Austin Independent School District - 10,714 employees - http://www.austin.isd.tenet.edu/

AISD is one of the largest urban districts in the state of Texas. 

5. U.S. Government - 10,624 employees

A very large number of these US Government employees in Austin work for the Postal Service.

6. City of Austin - 10,000 employees - http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/

7, Seton Healthcare Network - 7,538 employees - http://www.seton.net/  

The Seton Healthcare Network, a not-for-profit organization, is the largest provider of healthcare services in Central Texas, with nearly 8,000 employees. 

8. IBM Corporation (Austin Research Laboratory) - 6,200 employees - www.research.ibm.com/arl

This division of IBM was first created to explore the usage and expansion of microprocessor research through the growing technology market of Austin, Texas.

9. St. David's Healthcare - 5,712 employees - http://www.stdavids.com/  

St. David's operates four hospitals in Austin, including St. David's Medical Center, North Austin Medical Center, South Austin Hospital, and Round Rock Medical Center, along with several other medical and psychiatric facilities.

10. Freescale Semiconductor - 5,600 employees - http://www.freescale.com/  

With 5,500 Austin employees, Motorola spun off its semiconductor unit to create Freescale a few years ago. 

11. U.S. Internal Revenue Service - 4,728 employees - http://www.irs.gov/  

The IRS operates a processing center here in Austin - very handy when it comes time to mail those April tax returns.

12. Round Rock Independent School District - 4,400 employees - http://www.roundrockisd.org/

During the past five years, the number of students in the Round Rock district has increased by roughly 21 percent.

13. Travis County - 4,000 employees - http://www.co.travis.tx.us/

14. Austin Community College - 3,285 employees - http://www.austin.cc.tx.us/  

Having grown to seven campuses. ACC provides contracted training to many local high tech companies, as well as associate's degree programs in specialized fields like manufacturing and technology.

15. Solectron Texas  - 2,900 employees - http://www.solectron.com/    

According to the company's description, Solectron provides electronics manufacturing and integrated supply chain services for industries that rely on high-tech electronics.

16. Leander Independent School District - 2,800 employees - http://www.leanderisd.org/

The Leander ISD includes the cities of Leander and Cedar Park, along with parts of Jonestown and northwest Austin.

17. Brackenridge Hospital/Dell Children's Hospital - 2,537 employees - http://www.seton.net/

Brackenridge Hospital is the only Level II Trauma Facility serving the Central Texas area, an acute care hospital and outpatient facility that is also accredited as a teaching hospital. Dell Children's Hospital is a department of Brackenridge Hospital, and is the only hospital in Central Texas dedicated solely to the care of children and adolescents.

18. Applied Materials - 2,500 employees - http://www.appliedmaterials.com/  

Applied Materials manufactures systems for processing silicon wafers and other semiconductor products.  Austin's division focuses on R&D and manufacturing.

19. AT&T Communications (formerly SBC Labs, Inc.) - 2,400 employees - http://www.att.com/

20. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) - 2,300 employees - http://www.amd.com/

21. Seton Medical Center - 2,112 employees - www.seton.net

22. National Instruments - 2,058 employees - www.ni.com

Fortune magazine has named National Instruments one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" for the last five years.  My wife worked at NI for over seven years, and we can attest to the fact that they are a great company.

23. Texas State University - San Marcos - 1,995 employees - www.txstate.edu

Texas State University is halfway between Austin and San Antonio on the San Marcos River and boasts a beautiful campus. Formerly Southwest Texas State University, the school was founded in 1899 and offers undergraduate, master's and PhD programs.

24. Girling Health Care - 1,956 employees - www.girling.com

Girling Health Care is a family business that coordinates with hospitals, doctors and patients to provide professional home health, personal care, hospice care, and homemaker services to those who have been affected by health issues.

25. Pflugerville Independent School District - 1,800 employees - www.pflugervilleisd.net

Located just north of Austin, this fast-growing district currently operates 16 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and three high schools.

If you are considering a move to the Austin, Texas area, please feel free to visit our Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com or give me a call anytime at 512-796-7653 (cell).  I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Yesterday, while my mom was still in town, we decided to go do a bit of shopping with the whole family.  We were headed to Lakeline Mall, and we originally considered going to that area to eat.  On the way there, I decided that would be ill-advised, considering it was the day after Christmas and it was exactly "lunchtime" (i.e. around noon).  Instead, we opted to go to Zorba, which is a Greek restaurant located near Dell in Round Rock, just in front of the Wal-Mart. 

Although the food was superb, the communication skills of the employees who were placed in charge of taking our order were VERY poor.  It was laborious trying to explain what we wanted to eat, and it took several tries to finally get everything squared away at the counter.  Additionally, the menu was not helpful, as I picked something rather quickly, only to find out that we MUST order from the lunch menu, which the menu did not specify.  All things considered, it worked out well, as they actually gave me more food for about two dollars less.

Our kids enjoyed their cuisine as well, which is really the primary determining factor for our family as to whether or not we will return.  My son had a plain chicken gyro (pita wrap) and he liked it a lot, proclaiming it "spicy and tasty".  Our daughters (one age six and one toddler) both enjoyed the meatballs with rice, although the Zorba crew was unable to provide the meatballs without the somewhat spicy sauce (we rubbed it off with a napkin). 

My wife and I both had the chicken plate with tzatziki sauce, with sides of hummus, rice pilaf, and tabouli.  My mom had a salad with chicken that looked and tasted great.  The meals come with one piece of pita bread, and they only charge 50 cents for each additional piece.  We were frankly too stuffed to have dessert, and we brought home some of the leftovers. 

Overall, I would recommend Zorba, as long as you have some patience when it comes to getting your order correct.  Since you order at the counter and the food is pretty much ready to go, the service is fast.  Drinks are self-service.  The total for our meal (three adults, three kids) was only $41 and change, so it is pretty affordable. 

I was ready at last.  Time to fire up the DeLorean.  The flux capacitor is working properly and fully charged.  I have to get it up to 88 miles per hour in the mall parking lot before I slam into the department store.  Let’s set the dial here…

DECEMBER 20, 1987

I was a senior in high school that year.  Wow!  This will be an interesting experience.  I don't look forward to seeing how young I looked back then compared to now.

Here we go…let’s get this baby moving.  We are at 78….80….84…86….87…..88!

(BOOM!)

Whoa!  I forgot that the mall and the parking lot didn’t exist in 1987.  I am in a cow field near Dallas.  I need to get a message to my mom somehow without frightening her with the appearance of 37-year old Jason.

I guess I could try to call myself.  Wait…my cell phone won’t work.  Darn.  School is out for the Christmas holidays, so I can probably find the 17-year old Jason working at the Minyard’s grocery store, or at home. 

I'll try the store first. 

Is that me helping that lady get groceries into her car?  I’m so skinny!  Inconceivable! 

Wow – there’s Dawn.  I haven’t thought about her in years.  And Vicki.  OK.  Don’t get distracted, Jason.  You have a mission here.  Get his attention somehow.

MODERN ME (MM): Hey, Jason!
17-YEAR OLD ME (17YOM): Hi.  Do I know you?  You look familiar.
MM: Well, yes and no.  I am you in twenty years.
17YOM: Really?  That’s great.  I have to get back to work now. 

Great! I scared myself.  Think…think….

MM: Jason, what if I could tell you something that no one else would know about you offhand?
17YOM: Like what?
MM: Like your SAT scores, which girls you like here, your favorite songs, what you want to do with your life, which girl you made out with in the backyard at the last senior party, among other things.
17YOM: You do look like me a little bit, I guess.  Can you buy me and my friends some beer? 

After a few minutes of talking (and declining to purchase the beer), I managed to convince my younger self that this older dude was indeed himself 20 years hence, with no small measure of embarrassment (“You don’t look so great.  I guess I need to exercise more when I hit my 30’s.  I am a real estate broker in the future?  Seriously?  What happened to studying medicine?  I want to be a pediatrician.”).

MM: Look, I have some advice for you.  You need to convince mom to start investing in real estate.
17YOM: You came back 20 years to offer me a business opportunity?  Isn’t that a little cheesy?  

MM: Well, maybe, but I am going to use this conversation in a blog post to illustrate the value of real estate investing and how this is the most consistent investment historically.
17YOM: A log post?  Like wood?  Or something for a tent?  Are you making a cabin?
MM: No, a blog is a web log.  Like on the internet.  Wait… you don’t have the internet yet, do you?
17YOM: I don’t think I’ve heard of that. Does it have something to do with fishing?  I don't really like to fish.  You should know that already.

MM:  I don’t have enough time to fully explain the internet, but basically you will be able to use your computer for a lot more than word processing in the future.  Think of a blog as a diary of articles that you can share with people across the country and around the world.  I use my blog to reach other real estate agents and people who buy and sell homes so they can learn about me and my business. 

17YOM: Thanks for the lengthy explanation, chief.  (I was a pretty sarcastic kid, apparently) 
MM:  Anyway, give mom these statistics and all this information.  She will understand.  It’s all laid out there for you and her.  Even though the real estate market looks bad right now, since the stock market crash from a couple of months ago, if you guys start investing soon using the tips in this folder, you will be able to amass a real estate empire over time.  Trust me on this.  Would I steer you wrong?   (2nd Author’s note: Why would I steer my clients wrong either?)
17YOM:  I doubt it.  By the way, do you like what you do?
MM: I actually love it – most of the time.  By the way, it might not be a bad idea to take some additional computer programming classes. 

After a couple of hours of hanging out with 1987 Jason, and giving him some advice about women, college, and business, along with some stock tips, I knew it was time to get back so that I could write this post. 

Over the long haul, real estate has proven to be the most consistently profitable investment around.  Austin, Texas investment property is still priced very reasonably, with single family homes starting around $120,000 and duplexes priced from about $180,000.  If you are considering buying Austin real estate, please feel free to give me a call. 

Who knows? I might even be willing to let you take the DeLorean for a spin.

I can be reached at 512-796-7653 (cell) or by email at jason@austintexashomes.com.  I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Texas Jumping Beans has become the birthday party destination of choice for our kids (we had my son's party there yesterday afternoon).  We have had four parties there so far, and it's still tons of fun for all of us. 

There are about eight to ten very large inflatable "jumpers" (hence the name).  They change them out pretty regularly.  Yesterday, during our visit, there was a jumper shaped like a pirate ship, and another like a long train with an obstacle course inside.  They also have a large inflatable slide, which is where the kids tend to congregate most often.  With the new addition of about 30-40 rubber balls that are about the size of dodgeballs but very lightweight, it made it even more fun this time around.

I like the fact that weekday afternoon parties are priced very reasonably (currently $150), and this basically reserves the facility for your party only.  We seek this option since it makes it easier to keep track of the kids.  Adults can join in the fun, too!  The cost includes the use of a party room and about four hours of time with up to 25 kids. 

If you decide to visit or book a party, make sure to let your guests know that socks are required.  If you happen to forget, though, they will sell you a pair for only $3.00. 

Bruce, the owner/manager, is always friendly and happy to help.   In our case, everyone usually leaves tired and happy.  I cannot recommend this place enough.  Bruce even has a deal with a local pizza place and he helps to estimate how much you will need after everyone arrives.  He then places the order, and you pay for everything before you leave.  It makes planning so much easier, since all we had to bring was drinks, gifts, and a cake with plates, etc.

Texas Jumping Beans is not just for parties.  They offer a daily rate of $7.00 per kid, and monthly passes which cost $39.95 for the first child, $20.00 for a second child, and FREE after that.  In other words, if you have three kids (which we do), you can pay about $60.00/month and go an unlimited number of times.

Located in the Round Rock area, it is a little tough to find on the first trip, since it is slightly off the beaten path.  I would recommend calling ahead for directions at 512-252-1980 or visiting their website at http://www.texasjumpingbeans.com/.  They are located at 16708 Picadilly Court, near the intersection of Picadilly and Royston Lane. 

Copyright 2007  Jason Crouch  All rights reserved   Austin Real Estate

Your cell phone rings.  You check the caller ID.  Oh, great.  It's that agent you are working with trying to get that luxury home under contract.  Uh oh.  Although you want to get the deal done, you already don't like talking to him, since he is almost invariably rude and abrasive. 

YOU: Hello, this is _______.

OTHER AGENT: Hi, this is Rudy McRude.  I was calling to let you know that I had to use smelling salts on my client when I went to present your offer.

YOU: Really?  I thought it was pretty reasonable. 

OTHER AGENT: Well, I had to spend three hours with them just to get them to respond to this one.

YOU: Okay....(long pause)....Do you want to fax it to me?

OTHER AGENT: Fine.  I'll have my assistant send it to you.  By the way, I am the rare exception to the rule.  Although I have an assistant, I will insist on speaking to you directly to make your life more challenging for the next several weeks.

Okay, maybe those last two sentences wouldn't really happen, but let's face it - some people are just really hard to get along with.  We have all dealt with difficult personalities, whether it is a client, someone else's client, or (yes) another agent. 

In dealing with people who rub us the wrong way, it is often difficult to keep emotions out of the process.  During negotiations that involve particularly difficult personalities, it is sometimes necessary to remind our buyers or sellers that the transaction will not take that long to complete.  

Injecting humor is usually a great way to defuse a potentially sticky situation.  I have used the following phrase or something similar on many occasions to re-focus an upset buyer when they are offended by something that the seller has said or done:

"I know that you're irritated and I can understand why, but keep in mind that you only have to deal with these people for a few weeks, then you will have the home you want.  They won't be living with you, I promise." 

Generally, they will laugh (or at least chuckle), and say, "You're right.  Let's get it done."

Sometimes, I am also irritated, but I try not to let that affect things.  Notice I said "try".  I am human - I, too, am sometimes unable to remain calm (but this is very rare).  I can actually only recall one occasion when I had to be confrontational with an agent during my real estate career.  Is it me, or him?  It's him, right?

Although this could be common sense for many of you reading this, I have another technique that I use when I am dealing with someone who is particularly difficult.  If they become abrasive with me, the first step is to cuss and then slam the phone down.  Hopefully, none of you thought I was serious.  The primary advice that I give is to get even calmer than your normally would be.  Speak in a gentle tone, and allow them to talk as much as possible without interrupting.  Often, this causes them to realize that you are not the enemy, and they will begin to calm down, too.

You have probably heard the saying that "God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak."  This is never more true than when we are dealing with a difficult person.

Copyright 2007   Jason Crouch   Austin Real Estate

On ABC's "Today Show" on Friday, nationally renowned real estate expert Barbara Corcoran gave her opinion on the top five up-and-coming markets in the country.  She named Austin as the top up-and-coming market nationally, and she stated that it is currently a terrific time to buy Austin Real Estate, specifically in the SoCo (South Congress) area, just south of downtown. 

The Austin Business Journal also featured a recent article about Austin's appreciation over the past year, which was almost 10%.  This places Austin at seventh in the country for 2006-07.  Clearly, it is a great time to buy property in this area! 

Ms. Corcoran stated that the SoCo area exemplified Austin's slogan, "Keep Austin Weird".  The slogan was put in place in order to support local businesses, rather than large chain stores.  It actually inspired similar movements in many other cities nationwide, including Portland and Tampa.

Corcoran said the combination of quirky and trendy shops make it a great place for nightlife. She admitted that SoCo might not be the ideal spot for families, but she said it is a good place to make money.

"Old ladies on park benches are a good sign? I've seen it over and over again. You have a ghetto area, where no one sits on a park bench. Suddenly, old ladies are there, so if it's safe enough for them, then it's safe enough for you to put your money into," said Corcoran.

The low prices in Austin combined with a strong local economy make it a natural mecca for real estate investors and new residents.