http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/07/11/ny-times-writes-about-austin-hill-country/ Austin Real Estate Blog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:40:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/07/11/ny-times-writes-about-austin-hill-country/#comment-787 Scott Wed, 01 Aug 2007 07:12:19 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/07/11/ny-times-writes-about-austin-hill-country/#comment-787 I'm blown away by the amount of demand we are seeing for homes in the hill country. People from both coasts are asking for 1-5 acre tracts as far out as Spicewood and Marble Falls. One hill country neighborhood just sent us a letter saying that all lots will increase by $50,000 in 2 weeks. It's amazing. I think that the proverbial critical mass has been reached and there's no turning back. I’m blown away by the amount of demand we are seeing for homes in the hill country. People from both coasts are asking for 1-5 acre tracts as far out as Spicewood and Marble Falls. One hill country neighborhood just sent us a letter saying that all lots will increase by $50,000 in 2 weeks. It’s amazing. I think that the proverbial critical mass has been reached and there’s no turning back.

]]> http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/07/11/ny-times-writes-about-austin-hill-country/#comment-788 dave Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:24:24 +0000 http://ben.crosslandteam.com/blog/2007/07/11/ny-times-writes-about-austin-hill-country/#comment-788 Wow...first of all, I'm blown away by the prediction that the Austin metro will double in 15 years...thats very rare for any major metro area, ever. You have just a handful of large metros that have done that, namely Vegas and Phoenix. Ironically, those areas have dealt with the same natural resourse issues as well. The common theme seems to be that developers essentially run the show, with local government in its back pocket. I think that Austin, given its liberal and eco leanings, may be a tougher sell per growth. Steve's commentary in this post may give an inkling to where the area may be headed. The Bee Cave bottleneck, and traffic flow in general, could auger a showdown between vested business interests and long-term locals. Water logistics, along with greenbelt issues further south, could create a major showdown between the greenies and the real estate interests. One thing I know for sure. If the real estate interests had carte blanche, the hill country would be developed half-way to the continental divide, and would slough off every loose droplet of water available. As that will hardly be the case, given Austin's contentious politically environment, it should be fun to watch the battles commence in the next 15 years. As Caesar once said, "Let the games begin!" Wow…first of all, I’m blown away by the prediction that the Austin metro will double in 15 years…thats very rare for
any major metro area, ever. You have just a handful of large metros that have done that, namely Vegas and Phoenix.
Ironically, those areas have dealt with the same natural resourse issues as well. The common theme seems to be that developers essentially run the show, with local government in its back pocket. I think that Austin, given its liberal
and eco leanings, may be a tougher sell per growth. Steve’s commentary in this post may give an inkling to where
the area may be headed. The Bee Cave bottleneck, and traffic flow in general, could auger a showdown between
vested business interests and long-term locals. Water logistics, along with greenbelt issues further south, could
create a major showdown between the greenies and the real estate interests. One thing I know for sure. If the real
estate interests had carte blanche, the hill country would be developed half-way to the continental divide, and would
slough off every loose droplet of water available. As that will hardly be the case, given Austin’s contentious politically
environment, it should be fun to watch the battles commence in the next 15 years. As Caesar once said, “Let the
games begin!”

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