If you’re looking for a solid place to put your investment dollars, look no further than this great Four-plex in the 78704 Austin zip!  This property is located just north of Travis Heights off Woodward near St. Edward’s University and brings in a steady $2,400+ per month.  Priced at $245,000, it’s sure to cash flow!

Features include:

*   1 bedroom, 1 bath units in all four apartments

*    Each apartment has a fireplace

*    Nice two-story floorplan with kitchen and living down and bedroom and bath in an open-sided loft

*    Courtyard for each unit so tenants can have small pets

*    Open yard in the back for larger gatherings for tenants

*    Full exterior paint in November 2011

*   Located just east of South Congress and close to downtown

Please contact Rebecca Kohout, Broker Associate, at 512-415-9876 if you’re interested in this property.  This is a great opportunity to start building your long-term investment portfolio!

Exterior Front

Address: 1606 Wilshire Boulevard

Subdivision: Wilshire Wood

Stories: 1

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 3

Square footage: 2,206 (per tax records)

Year built: 1947

Garage spaces: 2 carport

Pool:  Custom salt-cell pool with spa

Beautiful traditional Wilshire Wood home for sale at 1606 Wilshire Boulevard for $439,000.  Four bedrooms, three full baths, two dining areas, open living room and flex space make this home a wonderful choice for you and your family.  Built in 1947, this home offers open space, an updated kitchen, fabulous master bath and an incredible custom salt-cell swimming pool.  Enjoy gorgous hardwood and tile floors and a large treed lot… just a few of the features of this well-maintained, central Austin home.  Located across the street from Patterson Park in the 78722 zip code and situated between the new Mueller Subdivision.

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5512 Bennett Avenue

Don’t wait another minute to see this bright, clean home in the Central Austin area!  Three bedrooms, spacious living area, two dining areas, updated baths with vintage styling, corner lot covered shaded with mature pecan trees….all this and more are waiting for you at 5512 Bennett Avenue.  Located just north of 53^rd Street, between Airport Boulevard and IH35, this lovely home is waiting for a new owner and it could be YOU!

Living Room

 If you’ve been looking for a home in Central Austin, you already know that it’s difficult to find a nice home for under $250K.  Yes, it’s all about location and that’s why Central Austin homes can cost a bit more.  With this great starter home, you’ll find the location and low maintenance that homeowners love and all for a great price!

 Features:
1,580 square feet of living space
Three bedrooms
Two baths
Carport
Laundry room
Outside storage
Built in 1951
Recent paint and updates

For information, call Rebecca Kohout, Broker Associate, ABR, GRI, Sky Realty, 512-415-9876.  MLS# 6475552

Bright Leaf Trail Head in West Austin

When it’s spring in Austin, thoughts turn to hiking, swimming and enjoying the incredible beauty of the Texas Hill Country. So with temperature highs around 80 degrees, who can stay indoors? Such thoughts were running through my mind last Saturday when I was approached by a group of friends who wanted to hike Bright Leaf Preserve. It’s a pristine 213 acre wilderness site only minutes from downtown Austin, and located near Mesa Drive and RR2222. Named the Best Walk in the Park by readers of the Austin Chronicle 2008, this is a nature lover’s delight!

Neighbors in the surrounding areas of Northwest Hills and Highland Hills are especially fortunate to be within a mile or two of this gift that was left to the Austin community by philanthropist Georgia Lucas in 1994. Over a span of 20 years, Ms. Lucas purchased 34 tracts of land that would eventually become known as Bright Leaf. Her desire was that improvements be kept to a minimum so that the public could enjoy the preserve in a pristine condition. To keep with this directive, all hikes are guided hikes and are led by volunteers twice a month.

Lake Austin View from Mt. Lucas

Today, hikers can enjoy a lengthy checklist of birds and plants that flourish in this urban jewel. White shin oak, agarita, pepper-vine, Lindheimer silk-tassel, Ashe juniper, twisted leaf yucca and Texas prickly pear are abundant. For birding enthusiasts there are warblers, waxwings, starlings, vireos, thrushes, chickadees, quail, doves, vultures, hawks and woodpeckers, to name a few, and of course, there are coyotes, jackrabbits and snakes…all part of the natural ecosystem.

Mt. Lucas in West Austin

There are a number of trails that you can hike depending on your time and fortitude. Children as young as 3 can take a short 30 minute walk on the easier parts of the trail, or the adventurous scout groups that want a workout can be escorted up the more strenuous sections of the preserve. For myself, I was proud to say that I made the 4 mile hike in just over 2.5 hours and enjoyed every minute. My favorite part was the incredible view of Lake Austin as we reached the top of the Mt. Lucas. A view of the Pennybacker Bridge and the hills of Austin make this a hike that is memorable and great for the whole family.

1606 Wilshire Boulevard

If you’re looking for a classic, spacious home in Central Austin, you’ve GOT TO SEE this beautifully remodeled home in Wilshire Wood.  Located in the 78722 zip code that is sandwiched between IH35 and the new Mueller development, Wilshire Wood was trumpeted as the “Tarrytown of the East Side” when it was designed in the early 1950s.  Winding streets, spacious lots and tree-shaded streets are what come to mind when you think of this delightful neighborhood.

Features for 1606 Wilshire Boulevard include 2,200+ square feet of living space in a convenient one-story floor plan.  Restored hardwood floors and ceramic tile are in every room of the home.  Enjoy sitting around with friends and family at either of the two full dining areas or gather around the island in the kitchen which has room for six!  With four bedrooms and three full baths, there’s plenty of room for family and guest.

Pool and spa at 1606 Wilshire

If lounging around the back yard or splashing around in the pool is your idea of keeping cool in the Texas summers, then you’ll love the salt-cell chlorinated custom pool in the back yard!  Surrounded by lush landscaping, the pool is practically maintenance free and you can either float to your hearts content or wind down after a long day in the heated spa!

Priced at $439,900 this is a fabulous home!  Come see for yourself or call Rebecca Kohout, Broker Associate, Sky Realty at 415-9876 for a private showing.  MLS #2874345.

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If you’d like a private showing, please contact me at 415-9876. Let a Cherrywood resident show you what we have to offer!

1. 1606 Wilshire Boulevard: Spacious Wilshire Wood beauty with incredible custom pool and spa. Remodeled kitchen with island and super master bath! Gotta see this one! 4 beds, 3 baths, 2 living, 2 dining; 2,200 Sq Ft; Rebecca Kohout, broker associate, Sky Realty, 415-9876. Priced at $469,900. Open 2 to 5.

2. 1216 Norwood Road: Retro bungalow in Delwood II. Super cute with Saltillo tile, stainless appliances and lots of light. 4 beds, 2 baths, 2 living, 2 dining; 1,704 Sq Ft.;Terry Miller, agent, Stanberry & Associates. 431-4663. Priced at $299,975. Open 2 to 4.

3. 3009 Breeze Terrace: Oversized, treed lot, gorgeous wood floors under carpet. Ample storage and many built-ins 3 beds, 2 baths, 2 living, 2 dining; 1,648 Sq Ft;. Jody Lockshin, agent, Habitat Hunters. 587-5824. Priced at $350,000. Open 1 to 5.

4. 3212 Breeze Terrace; Charming brick cottage with wood floors, large kitchen and spacious patio in a lush garden setting. 2 beds, 1 bath, 2 living, 2 dining; 1,204 Sq Ft.;Lyon Gegenheimer, broker, Lyon Real Estate, 499-0499. Priced at $300,000. Open 2 to 5.

5. 1713 East 38 ½ Street; Great location for those who want to be close to downtown and UT. Owner says MUST SELL! 2 beds, 1 bath, 1 living, 1 dining. Brian Childress, agent, Sky Realty, 922-6425. Priced at $199,000. Open 1 to 5.

6. 3703 Grayson; Fantastic investment opportunity! Vintage block construction, wood floors, and almost ¼ acre! 2 beds, 1 bath, 2 living, 1 dining. 1,030 Sq Ft., Cynthia Lyon, agent, Experience Austin Realty, 633-2183. Priced at $182,000. Hosted by Melco Miranda, Open 1 to 4.

7. 3212 Larry Lane; Completely remodeled home with sexy kitchen. Silestone counters, island, ceramic tile and hardwood flooring, large treed lot and move-in ready. 2 beds, 2 baths, 2 living, 1,344 Sq Ft; Rebecca Kohout, broker associate, Sky Realty, 415-9876. Priced at $245,000. Hosted by Brenda Starr, Open 1 to 4.

8. 3313 Werner Avenue; High ceiling, open spaces, oak wood floors, atrium doors and private backyard. Fixer upper ready for major renewal. 2 beds, 1 bath, 1 living, 1 dining. 890 Sq Ft.; Sara Madera, agent, Turnquist Partners, Realtors, 750-5536. Priced at $220,000. Open 2 to 4.

9. 4200 Bradwood Road; Charming 1940s remodeled home. Kitchen features granite counter, stainless appliances and tile floors. Spacious family room opens up to sun room with stone floors and lots of windows! 3 beds, 2 baths, 3 living, 2 dining, 2,245 Sq Ft; Kathleen Bucher, broker associate, Keller Williams Realty, 784-7169. Priced at $324,900. Hosted by Allison Curlee, Open 2 to 5.

Sparky Park in North University

If you haven’t lived in Austin for several decades, you may not remember the area that was once Sparky Park. Home of a former Austin electric substation that was notorious for sending sparks flying during our spring thunderstorms, Sparky Park is now a tranquil half acre of grass and trees with a field for letting your dog run lease free and chase balls.

The park is located on Grooms Street between 35^th and 38^th streets in North University neighborhood. When Austin Energy removed the huge towers and transformers that had existed for decades, the area was left with a small brick building and a great place for a pocket park. Neighbors took it upon themselves to turn this once frightful terrain into one of Austin’s most quirky assets and best of all, a local sculptor Berthold Haas, gave the neighborhood the gift of a fantastical wall of wonder!

Scallop Tree in Sparky Park North University

The Austin Chronicle has now bestowed upon Sparky Park their Critic’s Pick Award and named it the “Best New Pocket of Green: Sparky Park”. One visit and you’ll know why this tiny slice of joy is so beloved by the local residents. Made of limestones pierced with holes, large chunks of cobalt glass, petrified wood, scallop sea shells, and other donated artifacts from its days as an electrical substation, the art wall is whimsical, wonderful, and weird!

The park was officially opened with a dedication ceremony in March 2009, and has garnered attention from neighborhoods thoughout Austin. Without the full support of neighbors, this charming salute to the human spirit to transform a previous eye-sore in Central Austin would not have come to fruition. A small army of volunteers worked for years to complete plans for “Sparky” and have suceeded in every way to create something so unique. Many thanks to Bethold and his vision. It’s a true gift to future generations!

Sparky Park in North University