I don’t know if you’ve noticed— it’s certainly hard to miss— but the landscape around Austin is changing. As is the skyline. As is the… well, the feel of the city. The flavor.
Some Austinites are not excited about the changes going on. The corporations moving in, the family-owned and operated businesses go down while the thirty-six story condos go up. People who have lived here all their lives (or even just more than ten years) say that this is a different city than the one they remember. Back when they might not even have called Austin a “city.”
There was a time when Motorola was just a type of phone people had, not a place where they worked. When video games were a thing people played, not designed. Where Dell was a thing from a song about a farmer, not a computer company. In short, there was a time when Austin was a big, friendly village where everyone seemed to know everyone.
Now, it’s hard to see the sky without noticing the foreboding skeleton of an incoming condominium projects or a crane in your periphery. Developers are buying up land and displacing local businesses in order to get the best spot downtown for a high rise that will dwarf all the others, that will sell for more money, that will be nicer and closer to all the downtown Austin attractions.
But what are those attractions?
There will always be a Congress Bridge, and so there will always be bats. But will people want to walk from the Sheraton to see them, then get a drink at the Coyote Ugly Saloon franchise? Will they want to eat at the Baby Acapulco’s? What will make the town special when Las Manitas is gone, when all the little businesses that got us to this point are gone, and the only choices for restaurants are in the lobbies of the newest hotels?
What will make Austin Austin? It’s a good question.
It’s easy to see that the city has lost some its appeal. Its uniqueness, its originality. Big business has a way of doing that. But is it so bad? Is it really true that there will be nothing left?
Those small, local places brought people here, it’s true. And they certainly gave Austin its flavor. But millions more people are here now. The city has grown by leaps and bounds. People still need places to live. And the more people there are, the more money is being spent. There is much to be thankful for when we think about this new “bigger” Austin. The Austin real estate market values go up. Many businesses prosper. The city has more money to improve infrastructure and city services like parks. Its hard to allow it to change some of what we love, and some of the changes I’m not happy with. But overall I think it will be okay.
The key is that the people are still here. The same people that made Austin the coolest city in the… well, in my opinion in the entire country —are still here. They’re still waving at you from their yard, still smiling at you on the street. The buildings aren’t the personality in the city —the people in them are. So let’s make sure those people don’t go anywhere, and we’re all gonna be just fine. Yes, we may have to part with a couple businesses and landmarks dear to our hearts, but as long as Austinites keep true to what we love about this city, we will retain the part of our identity that is the most important.
Austin’s Identity Crisis for Downtown Austin Real Estate
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Don’t Miss Out on Rural Real Estate and Country Homes in Michigan!
Whether your plans include hunting, lake recreation, or even just the slower pace of life in the country, Michigan can provide for your recreational real estate needs. With land values particularly lower than in other areas of the country, you may find that your dream vacation home, hunting ranch, or quiet escape from city life is in fact not a far-off dream pushed even farther by economic concerns, but a completely attainable goal in the very near future.
Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline of any political subdivision in the world, being surrounded by four Great Lakes. This is a great benefit economically speaking for those who wish to own lakeside land, as there is such a great amount in supply. The normally astronomical costs of lakeside living are pushed down by overwhelming supply of land on one of these massive lakes.
The Great Lakes are home to a variety of prize fish, the most common of which are salmon, trout, walleye and perch. In addition to exciting trophy fishing, Michigan is third in the nation in registration of recreational watercraft, behind only Florida and California. If, due to budget or simply a desire to live inland, one does not live directly near the water, do not feel left out of the ability to enjoy the beautiful Great Lakes – no matter where you are in Michigan, you will never be more than approximately an hour and a half (87.2 miles) from the nearest Great Lakes coastline! Most towns along the coast also have an extensive supply of knowledgeable guides and charter boats to safely get the most out of your time while enjoying the natural beauty of the lakes.
The extensive recreational opportunities offered by the lakes are just one of the many incentives to consider while in the market for rural real estate in Michigan. The state of Michigan licenses more hunters than any other state in the United States with over one million licenses issued each year. In addition to whitetail deer and a variety of game birds, Michigan is a well known hunting ground for Black Bear and Elk.
The temperatures are generally mild and perfect for summer activities, and the Michigan winters are known for the beautiful (and often plentiful) snow covering the landscape. In the winter, recreational opportunities include snowmobiles, skiing, and, if you’re feeling overly adventurous, winter river rafting.
IBM’s revolutionary advancement in broadband internet has led to increased connectivity in rural areas through the use of existing installed electrical grids. This new technology allows for the adoption of the slower-paced rural lifestyle without giving up quick and affordable internet access, which is increasingly becoming important as telecommuters look to move from densely populated, dirty cities into the solitude of the countryside.
If you make the decision to purchase recreational property or even a country home, you may wonder exactly how to proceed. The majority of those interested in purchasing rural property have precious little time to invest in finding the right property, and may put off shopping too late to take advantage of current market trends that allow for much cheaper land values than would generally be expected in such a fantastic setting. To aid in your search, do what over 88% of real estate shoppers in the United States do: begin your search online. Most brokers and agents know of this overwhelming statistic and focus their marketing on the internet, so you should find more listings in easy to-use systems online. To get connected to a site that can help you in your search, go to your favorite search engine (such as Google) and type in a phrase such as “land in Michigan for sale” or, if you have a type of property in mind or a location, get more specific and type a phrase like “Country Homes for sale in Beaver Island Michigan.”
Once you have found a good website with many listings of different types, you can save this site and refer back when you do have spare time to look, as well as be in contact with the website to receive notifications of price drops or new properties that may match your specific interests. Be patient, and before you realize, you will have options to give serious consideration and make an offer on when you are ready.
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Lake Minnetonka Real Estate – Idyllic Getaways
Lake Minnetonka real estate includes some of the most idyllic settings available in the country. Lake Minnetonka is the west metro’s watery gem and home to some of the areas nicest cities, recreation opportunities, shopping, restaurants and so much more. The lake itself is over 14,000 acres and is just 13 miles west of downtown Minneapolis. Numerous medium and small size towns dot the shoreline with the two largest being Wayzata and Excelsior. These idyllic lakeside communities have a small town feel with cozy shops and quaint eateries all within walking distance of their town center and most within eyesight of the lake. With the help of Minnesota realtors you can find great opportunities in Lake Minnetonka real estate.
The city of Wayzata is closest to Minneapolis and the heart of the city overlooks the lake. Wayzata is surrounded by a wide array of businesses and activities. First, there is a wonderful assortment of restaurants that feature everything from fine seafood to hamburgers. The local favorites include Sunset’s, North Coast, Gianni’s and Blue Pointe. A number of these can be reached by boat in summer and snowmobile in winter. For recreation, the lake itself takes center stage. Power boats, sailing boats and large charter yachts are just some of the vessels you will see on Wayzata Bay. The lake is also home to world class fishing including bass, pike and musky not to mention the endless opportunities for waterskiing or just laying on a beach.
Just minutes from Wayzata are some of our areas best private golf courses including Spring Hill, Woodhill and Wayzata country clubs. In addition there are numerous public layouts nearby. Baker Park features 18 holes of championship golf, a 9 hole executive course and one of the best practice ranges around. Winter brings snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross country skiing and much more.
A drive around the lake will bring you to the city of Excelsior on the south shore of Lake Minnetonka. This is a fabulous lakeshore community and home to many of the charter boat operations like Paradise Charter, Excelsior Bay Charter and Bayview Charter. Again, numerous eateries can be found with the most popular being Maynard’s. A large deck overlooking the lake is one of the premier hot spots for summer people watching. There are plenty of free boat slips for those coming by water from nearby Big Island and the equally popular Lord Fletcher’s bar and restaurant also lakeside in nearby Spring Park. Other popular Excelsior dining spots include Biella, Jake O’Connor’s, Ming Wok and many more.
Like Wayzata, almost everything in Excelsior is within walking distance and the lake is never far from sight. Just outside of the city center is the famous and rustic Old Log Theater (celebrating its 70th season this year). This legendary theater seats 650 for shows and has a restaurant that seats 350 for pre-show dining.
If you are looking for a good life you should consider Lake Minnetonka real estate. Excelsior, Wayzata and Lake Minnetonka are the perfect getaways for residents and visitors alike seeking a quiet lakeside setting but with plenty of things to see and do.
