31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi
Millie's Mini Pecan Tart Recipe
To contact us Click HERE
Ok--so this is not Real Estate, but here is a fun recipe that you can enjoy in your new home during the holidays. I have published this recipe every year and it is very popular in the search engines.
It only takes a few hours to make these little bits and they are better than anything that you can buy at the nicest bakery in Austin. For those of you who may not cook--you should know that I am no chef. Ask my wife.
I grew up in a family of seven children. My dad was a builder (among other things), so naturally he only cooked when there was hickory and an open fire involved--and he did grill a mean burger on the 4th of July. However, with four older sisters and a strong southern mom, I learned something about cooking, especially during the holidays. I cook occasionally now, but my wife is the natural chef in our home. She has the instincts of a master builder in the kitchen, but when it comes to the holidays--I am the chef on deck.
As an adult my oldest sister, Millie taught me how to make her Mini Pecan Tarts. I wanted to learn how to make something that was fun for the holidays--which is where this holiday traditions began. So, if you are looking for something really great to take to a holiday dinner, to a friend's party or just a little surprise for family and friends--try this holiday mini pecan tart.
Here is the recipe for approximately 4-5 dozen mini tarts.
The Pastry. If you are going to make the tarts you have to make the pastry from scratch. You can not substitute a store bought or store made pastry and expect anything close to the same results.
The Filling:
First, you make the filling. You will make the pastry shell in a minute, but we will start with the pecan filling. Get everything out and make room on the counter to work. You will need a fairly large counter top area to work.
About 30 mins before you get started, put your butter and margin out on the counter top. This will allow it to become soft.
Begin mixing the ingredients for the filling. Beat with a fork until everything is well mixed, including the butter. I like to cut the butter in when it is soft, but Milly's original recipe calls for melted butter. The softer the better because you want the butter to be very small chunks or completely blended into the mixture. It is important that each mini has the same amount of butter. Of course, the real secret ingredient is the vanilla extract. If you want to know what makes the pecan mini taste so wonderful, smell the vanilla before you add it to the mixing bowl.
Mix in 1 cup of pecans. You will need more pecans to put on top--so make sure you don't put all of your pecans in the mix. Buy pre-cut pecans. Cutting pecans is just a lot of work with very little reward.
Guys--cooking is a little bit like building a house. It is all about following a design plan and knowing what you are doing before you start. If you get into trouble you can call someone who knows more than you do. I know more about building a house than cooking, so if you are thinking about building or buying a home--Let's talk. If you are looking for a caterer--I am absolutely not your go-to guy.
Now it is time to begin the pastry.
Making the pastry--the shell. To do this you need mini muffin pans. Not the big 3" size muffin pan. You want the 1" size muffin pans. You really want to have to have at least 2 muffin pans, but 4 would be better, because you are going to be rotating these pans into and out of the oven every 25-29 minutes. More pans = less washing while you are cooking.
First, put the soft margarine and soft cream cheese into a mixing bowl. Using a butter knife begin cutting these together into small pieces in the bowl.
It isn't pretty yet, but neither is a house at this stage in the process. We are building something here.
Add the flour. Cut it in with the knife. Guys, this is exactly what it sounds like. Just start cutting until everything is mixed up, cut it so that no flour, margarine or cream cheese is recognizable as a distinct ingredient. It should all be very small pieces of mixed ingredients. If it feels too wet to form, you can add 1-2 Tablespoons of flour at a time until the dough is just a little wet to the touch and easy to form into balls.
Next thing is to spray the pan really well with non-stick spray. Each little cup in the pan should be completely covered with the non-stick spray. This is important. Then roll out little balls of dough and drop one into each cup. Not too much. Not too little.
Next, begin working the dough into the form of the cup with your fingers. It is very important that the walls of the cup and the bottom be the same thickness all the way around. Not too thin, especially on the bottom. Not too thick, or it will make the tart too crusty. The fillings don't have to be pretty. They just have to be consistent. (When we are buying houses to remodel we call this "having good bones" or having a proper structure to start a remodeling project).
After you have made 1 complete pan of pie crusts, begin filling pies with the pecan filling mixture from the first bowl. This is a little messy, but using a spoon or pouring the mixture into the cups should be fairly easy.
When you get the first 12 filled, add finely chopped pecans to the top of each cup to finish it off. Then place this first tray in the pre-heated oven at 325 degrees and bake for 25-29 minutes. The crust should begin turning medium brown. Not too dark, or they will get hard. Not too light, else they will not look appetizing.
As soon as you start the first tray in the oven begin working on the second tray. Continue this process until you have finished all of the ingredients in one or both bowls. If you start over-lapping the process and finish the second tray before the first one is finished cooking, set a second timer for the second tray and put it in the oven. Be sure you start your timers immediately. If you are a planner, this is a good exercise in planning and timing.
Pull the trays out of the oven when they start to brown (these may be a bit too light in the photo above. Probably could have cooked another 2 mins). Let them sit and cool for a few minutes until you can touch the tarts. Try gently spinning the tart in the tin using the tips of your fingers. If the cup was well greased it should spin when it has cooled down about 3-5 minutes. If not, try using a thin knife to slip in around the edges next to the pan to see if you can break where it has stuck to the pan.
Gently lift the tarts from the pan with a butter knife and place on a serving dish.
You can serve these tarts hot, warm or room temperature. You can store in an air-tight container for several days if they are not all eaten on the first day. This recipe should make 4 to 5 dozen tarts. This may sound like a lot, but they go fast--especially if you have friends. (No one wants to eat my dry turkey at Thanksgiving, but everyone asks if I am going to make pecan tarts this year before they accept our invitation to the holidays).
I hope this recipe brings you as many good times as it has me. And as always, when you start thinking about your new home or selling an existing home--Let's Talk.
Ok--so this is not Real Estate, but here is a fun recipe that you can enjoy in your new home during the holidays. I have published this recipe every year and it is very popular in the search engines. It only takes a few hours to make these little bits and they are better than anything that you can buy at the nicest bakery in Austin. For those of you who may not cook--you should know that I am no chef. Ask my wife.
I grew up in a family of seven children. My dad was a builder (among other things), so naturally he only cooked when there was hickory and an open fire involved--and he did grill a mean burger on the 4th of July. However, with four older sisters and a strong southern mom, I learned something about cooking, especially during the holidays. I cook occasionally now, but my wife is the natural chef in our home. She has the instincts of a master builder in the kitchen, but when it comes to the holidays--I am the chef on deck.
As an adult my oldest sister, Millie taught me how to make her Mini Pecan Tarts. I wanted to learn how to make something that was fun for the holidays--which is where this holiday traditions began. So, if you are looking for something really great to take to a holiday dinner, to a friend's party or just a little surprise for family and friends--try this holiday mini pecan tart.
Here is the recipe for approximately 4-5 dozen mini tarts.
The Pastry. If you are going to make the tarts you have to make the pastry from scratch. You can not substitute a store bought or store made pastry and expect anything close to the same results.
- 8 oz's of cream cheese (do not use low fat--it won't work; I know from experience)
- 1 cup of soft margarine
- 1 cup of all purpose flour
- Non-stick oil pan spray
The Filling:
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup melted or soft butter
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans (pretty small pieces) to go in the filling
- Another 1/4 - 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans for the top
First, you make the filling. You will make the pastry shell in a minute, but we will start with the pecan filling. Get everything out and make room on the counter to work. You will need a fairly large counter top area to work.
About 30 mins before you get started, put your butter and margin out on the counter top. This will allow it to become soft.
Begin mixing the ingredients for the filling. Beat with a fork until everything is well mixed, including the butter. I like to cut the butter in when it is soft, but Milly's original recipe calls for melted butter. The softer the better because you want the butter to be very small chunks or completely blended into the mixture. It is important that each mini has the same amount of butter. Of course, the real secret ingredient is the vanilla extract. If you want to know what makes the pecan mini taste so wonderful, smell the vanilla before you add it to the mixing bowl.
Mix in 1 cup of pecans. You will need more pecans to put on top--so make sure you don't put all of your pecans in the mix. Buy pre-cut pecans. Cutting pecans is just a lot of work with very little reward.
Guys--cooking is a little bit like building a house. It is all about following a design plan and knowing what you are doing before you start. If you get into trouble you can call someone who knows more than you do. I know more about building a house than cooking, so if you are thinking about building or buying a home--Let's talk. If you are looking for a caterer--I am absolutely not your go-to guy.
Now it is time to begin the pastry.
Making the pastry--the shell. To do this you need mini muffin pans. Not the big 3" size muffin pan. You want the 1" size muffin pans. You really want to have to have at least 2 muffin pans, but 4 would be better, because you are going to be rotating these pans into and out of the oven every 25-29 minutes. More pans = less washing while you are cooking.
First, put the soft margarine and soft cream cheese into a mixing bowl. Using a butter knife begin cutting these together into small pieces in the bowl.
It isn't pretty yet, but neither is a house at this stage in the process. We are building something here.
Add the flour. Cut it in with the knife. Guys, this is exactly what it sounds like. Just start cutting until everything is mixed up, cut it so that no flour, margarine or cream cheese is recognizable as a distinct ingredient. It should all be very small pieces of mixed ingredients. If it feels too wet to form, you can add 1-2 Tablespoons of flour at a time until the dough is just a little wet to the touch and easy to form into balls.
Next thing is to spray the pan really well with non-stick spray. Each little cup in the pan should be completely covered with the non-stick spray. This is important. Then roll out little balls of dough and drop one into each cup. Not too much. Not too little.
Next, begin working the dough into the form of the cup with your fingers. It is very important that the walls of the cup and the bottom be the same thickness all the way around. Not too thin, especially on the bottom. Not too thick, or it will make the tart too crusty. The fillings don't have to be pretty. They just have to be consistent. (When we are buying houses to remodel we call this "having good bones" or having a proper structure to start a remodeling project).
After you have made 1 complete pan of pie crusts, begin filling pies with the pecan filling mixture from the first bowl. This is a little messy, but using a spoon or pouring the mixture into the cups should be fairly easy.
When you get the first 12 filled, add finely chopped pecans to the top of each cup to finish it off. Then place this first tray in the pre-heated oven at 325 degrees and bake for 25-29 minutes. The crust should begin turning medium brown. Not too dark, or they will get hard. Not too light, else they will not look appetizing.
As soon as you start the first tray in the oven begin working on the second tray. Continue this process until you have finished all of the ingredients in one or both bowls. If you start over-lapping the process and finish the second tray before the first one is finished cooking, set a second timer for the second tray and put it in the oven. Be sure you start your timers immediately. If you are a planner, this is a good exercise in planning and timing.
Pull the trays out of the oven when they start to brown (these may be a bit too light in the photo above. Probably could have cooked another 2 mins). Let them sit and cool for a few minutes until you can touch the tarts. Try gently spinning the tart in the tin using the tips of your fingers. If the cup was well greased it should spin when it has cooled down about 3-5 minutes. If not, try using a thin knife to slip in around the edges next to the pan to see if you can break where it has stuck to the pan.
Gently lift the tarts from the pan with a butter knife and place on a serving dish.
You can serve these tarts hot, warm or room temperature. You can store in an air-tight container for several days if they are not all eaten on the first day. This recipe should make 4 to 5 dozen tarts. This may sound like a lot, but they go fast--especially if you have friends. (No one wants to eat my dry turkey at Thanksgiving, but everyone asks if I am going to make pecan tarts this year before they accept our invitation to the holidays).
I hope this recipe brings you as many good times as it has me. And as always, when you start thinking about your new home or selling an existing home--Let's Talk.
Austin's Best Kept Secrets?
To contact us Click HERE
Here is an inquiry for you, The Readers. What are Austin's best kept secrets? Maybe some of them are not secrets at all--but are your favorite part of living in Austin. Are you ready to give up your secrets?
Here is a little secret that is no secret at all. In Texas, we like to rename things like roads and rivers. Ask someone how to get to Hwy 1 or where the Colorado River runs through Austin and it may take them a few minutes to figure it out. Ask them how to get to MoPac or to Lake Austin and you will get instant recognition. I have lived in Texas for more than 20 years and have witnessed this behavior in other Texas cities--not just Austin. I always figured it was how the "locals" tell how long someone has lived here. Like how someone pronounces "Manor" is a dead-giveaway to whether or not they have given in to the local culture or they are still hanging on to the past.
Austin is filled with little secrets. Tales of Jack the Ripper and the Moon Light Towers? Do you know "what people say" about these bits of history? It is fascinating and I have written about it here on my blog. Pennybacker bridge? How did that name come about? Do you know?
What bits of Austin secrets do you know? Want to post here and tell us?
Here is an inquiry for you, The Readers. What are Austin's best kept secrets? Maybe some of them are not secrets at all--but are your favorite part of living in Austin. Are you ready to give up your secrets?Here is a little secret that is no secret at all. In Texas, we like to rename things like roads and rivers. Ask someone how to get to Hwy 1 or where the Colorado River runs through Austin and it may take them a few minutes to figure it out. Ask them how to get to MoPac or to Lake Austin and you will get instant recognition. I have lived in Texas for more than 20 years and have witnessed this behavior in other Texas cities--not just Austin. I always figured it was how the "locals" tell how long someone has lived here. Like how someone pronounces "Manor" is a dead-giveaway to whether or not they have given in to the local culture or they are still hanging on to the past.
Austin is filled with little secrets. Tales of Jack the Ripper and the Moon Light Towers? Do you know "what people say" about these bits of history? It is fascinating and I have written about it here on my blog. Pennybacker bridge? How did that name come about? Do you know?
What bits of Austin secrets do you know? Want to post here and tell us?
Tim's Top 10 Rules of Real Estate in 2012
To contact us Click HERE
Rule 1. Experience is truly measured by the number of closed transactions during the past year--not measured by one's "Years in the business".
A Realtor's experience is only as good as the deals they have done during the past 6-12 months. Just because a Realtor has "been in the business for the past 25 years", does not mean that they have sold more than a few houses a year or that they know and understand this current market.
Rule 2.You won't get a better deal by going directly to the listing agent. If you are buying a home and hope that you can negotiate 3% off of the top by going directly to the listing agent--you should understand why this does not work in Texas. The commission for both Realtors has already been written into the listing agreement between the seller and listing agent and if you go into a transaction unprotected without a Buyer's Agent--the listing agent will actually be "paid twice"--their commission will potentially increase as much as double** when there is no other Realtor involved--regardless of how much is negotiated off of the price of the house. Unfortunately, when you do this, you get ZERO representation and almost no information that you should be getting if you had a Realtor represent you. An experienced buyer is never as experienced as a Realtor who buys and sells houses all day, every day, 25-30 times a year. A good Buyer's Agent can tell you about things about a particular property--things that the listing agent can't tell, because the listing agent is representing the seller--exclusively. The Texas Real Estate Commission is very clear in explaining the roles of the Buyer's Agent and the Seller's Agent. A Realtor either represents the Buyer or the Seller--never both at the same time for the same property. Red Flags that a Buyer's Agent may see in a home, property or locations are often not what shows up on a Seller's Disclosure about the property. Because the Seller's Agent represents the seller, there are some things that he may believe to be true, but just can't tell you, like unverified potential problems with the foundation, roof or other features of the home. And there may be things about the area that the listing agent can't tell you, but you should know. If there is no certified or professional documentation for the potential concern, it is not something that the seller is likely going to disclose and the listing agent can't tell you what he does not know to be true about undisclosed potential issues like an old roof or AC system. This would not be in his client's best interest. And you are not his client.**
Rule 3. Every Market is different.Every state, city, community and street are different in the business of Real Estate. Generalizations don't work and what is happening in one city or area has nothing to do with what is happening in another. This is true of appreciation, growth, foreclosures, short sales and virtually every aspect of the real estate process.
Rule 4.Living in a community does not make one the real estate expert.
The "business" of Real Estate is far more than knowing where the community pool is located and which neighbors are the ones that people talk about. Everyone can figure out the community map and local "gossip". Having an expert perspective on a community requires real-time experience and an understanding of the local real estate business.
Rule 5.Building or buying new requires just as much experience.
New homes are a unique corner of the Real Estate Market and your Realtor should be well versed in all the normal aspects of Real Estate (community, comps, growth, schools, etc), and the Realtor should understand Time to Market appreciation of new communities, Construction, and when a new home builder is most likely to negotiate on a particular house and to what degree. It's a whole different ball game and the strategies are different out of necessity.
Rule 6. Every deal is unique.
Having as much information as possible on the history of a home, the seller and what is going on around a specific property is critical to strategic negotiations. Since Texas is a "Non-Disclosure State", published public information is limited to the guesstimates that the county uses to determine tax value in a zip code, not actual sold sales data from the MLS. The county does not have access to MLS sold data and brokers are prohibited from publishing this data publicly.
Rule 7. Buyers determine Market Value for a home--not the Listing Agent. A Realtor that loves your home and is excited about your property will not affect either market value or the appraised value of the home. Buyers and their agents are smart. Pricing a home above market value only prolongs the inevitable re-pricing game.
Rule 8.The Listing Agent does not sell your home.
A robust listing of a home is a function of Marketing and Online Advertising--not Salesmanship. Listing Agents almost never bring "the buyer" to your home and the Listing Agent and their brokerage will almost never be the one that sells your home--no matter how good they feel they are at "selling". The internet has changed this dimension of the business forever.
Rule 9.An experienced Realtor should always know more.More about the history of the house, community and area. More about what has sold during the past 6-12 months. More about what is selling in other areas of town and why. More about financial alternatives, reputable inspectors, the contract documents, title and all aspects of the end-to-end Real Estate contracting process. Your Realtor should be a business person who represents your best interests in a Real Estate transaction. Ask him lots of questions. Lean on him. Find out what he knows that you should know before you buy your next house.
Rule 10.See Rule Number 9.
Disclaimers:
*I am not a real estate attorney and nothing written here should be construed as legal advise or legal counsel. If you have legal questions about any real estate transaction or property, you should seek the advise of a Texas real estate attorney.
**When speaking of commissions and fees, the actual commission rates that a listing agent has contractually negotiated with a seller to sell his/her property is negotiable at the time of the agreement to list the property for sale. There are no set amounts that sellers and listing agent must adhere to when a property is listed for sale.
Rule 1. Experience is truly measured by the number of closed transactions during the past year--not measured by one's "Years in the business".
A Realtor's experience is only as good as the deals they have done during the past 6-12 months. Just because a Realtor has "been in the business for the past 25 years", does not mean that they have sold more than a few houses a year or that they know and understand this current market.
Rule 2.You won't get a better deal by going directly to the listing agent. If you are buying a home and hope that you can negotiate 3% off of the top by going directly to the listing agent--you should understand why this does not work in Texas. The commission for both Realtors has already been written into the listing agreement between the seller and listing agent and if you go into a transaction unprotected without a Buyer's Agent--the listing agent will actually be "paid twice"--their commission will potentially increase as much as double** when there is no other Realtor involved--regardless of how much is negotiated off of the price of the house. Unfortunately, when you do this, you get ZERO representation and almost no information that you should be getting if you had a Realtor represent you. An experienced buyer is never as experienced as a Realtor who buys and sells houses all day, every day, 25-30 times a year. A good Buyer's Agent can tell you about things about a particular property--things that the listing agent can't tell, because the listing agent is representing the seller--exclusively. The Texas Real Estate Commission is very clear in explaining the roles of the Buyer's Agent and the Seller's Agent. A Realtor either represents the Buyer or the Seller--never both at the same time for the same property. Red Flags that a Buyer's Agent may see in a home, property or locations are often not what shows up on a Seller's Disclosure about the property. Because the Seller's Agent represents the seller, there are some things that he may believe to be true, but just can't tell you, like unverified potential problems with the foundation, roof or other features of the home. And there may be things about the area that the listing agent can't tell you, but you should know. If there is no certified or professional documentation for the potential concern, it is not something that the seller is likely going to disclose and the listing agent can't tell you what he does not know to be true about undisclosed potential issues like an old roof or AC system. This would not be in his client's best interest. And you are not his client.**
Rule 3. Every Market is different.Every state, city, community and street are different in the business of Real Estate. Generalizations don't work and what is happening in one city or area has nothing to do with what is happening in another. This is true of appreciation, growth, foreclosures, short sales and virtually every aspect of the real estate process.
Rule 4.Living in a community does not make one the real estate expert.
The "business" of Real Estate is far more than knowing where the community pool is located and which neighbors are the ones that people talk about. Everyone can figure out the community map and local "gossip". Having an expert perspective on a community requires real-time experience and an understanding of the local real estate business.
Rule 5.Building or buying new requires just as much experience.
New homes are a unique corner of the Real Estate Market and your Realtor should be well versed in all the normal aspects of Real Estate (community, comps, growth, schools, etc), and the Realtor should understand Time to Market appreciation of new communities, Construction, and when a new home builder is most likely to negotiate on a particular house and to what degree. It's a whole different ball game and the strategies are different out of necessity.
Rule 6. Every deal is unique.
Having as much information as possible on the history of a home, the seller and what is going on around a specific property is critical to strategic negotiations. Since Texas is a "Non-Disclosure State", published public information is limited to the guesstimates that the county uses to determine tax value in a zip code, not actual sold sales data from the MLS. The county does not have access to MLS sold data and brokers are prohibited from publishing this data publicly.
Rule 7. Buyers determine Market Value for a home--not the Listing Agent. A Realtor that loves your home and is excited about your property will not affect either market value or the appraised value of the home. Buyers and their agents are smart. Pricing a home above market value only prolongs the inevitable re-pricing game.
Rule 8.The Listing Agent does not sell your home.
A robust listing of a home is a function of Marketing and Online Advertising--not Salesmanship. Listing Agents almost never bring "the buyer" to your home and the Listing Agent and their brokerage will almost never be the one that sells your home--no matter how good they feel they are at "selling". The internet has changed this dimension of the business forever.
Rule 9.An experienced Realtor should always know more.More about the history of the house, community and area. More about what has sold during the past 6-12 months. More about what is selling in other areas of town and why. More about financial alternatives, reputable inspectors, the contract documents, title and all aspects of the end-to-end Real Estate contracting process. Your Realtor should be a business person who represents your best interests in a Real Estate transaction. Ask him lots of questions. Lean on him. Find out what he knows that you should know before you buy your next house.
Rule 10.See Rule Number 9.
Disclaimers:
*I am not a real estate attorney and nothing written here should be construed as legal advise or legal counsel. If you have legal questions about any real estate transaction or property, you should seek the advise of a Texas real estate attorney.
**When speaking of commissions and fees, the actual commission rates that a listing agent has contractually negotiated with a seller to sell his/her property is negotiable at the time of the agreement to list the property for sale. There are no set amounts that sellers and listing agent must adhere to when a property is listed for sale.
2013 Real Estate Market Forecast for Austin Texas
To contact us Click HERE
My forecast for 2013 is very simple. More of the same.
If you have been reading my blog all year in 2012, you know that Austin is one of the hottest markets in the nation right now. That is not just my assessment; this is a wide spread contention from virtually every person who can read. Pick a category and Austin is hot. Employment. New jobs. National intrigue. New migration of businesses. Education. Weather. Entertainment value. Cost of Living. Health. Food. You name it--the analysts have probably put Austin in the top 10--if not the #1 rank in the nation.
As far as Real Estate and Real Estate Investment is concerned--it is not rocket science when housing inventory is low and demand is high and we are coming out of a year of 20% growth in sales volume that the coming year will be as strong or possibly stronger than 2012. It seems to me to be common sense to believe that we are in for more of the same.
Austin's job market is projected to grow--a lot. Austin's popularity and recognition on the national stage is growing daily. High Tech, Social Media and Medical are all growing here. UT has strong retention from students in the area. It is not a stretch to say that Austin is probably destined for more of the same in growth, growth and more growth for both 2013 and beyond.
Of course, I do not have a crystal ball, but when the wind is at your back, you don't have to be Dennis Conner to know how to bring home the Americas Cup. Austin seems to have all the favorable trade winds at our back and a strong indication that we are in for more of the same in the coming year!
Happy 2013 from your Austin area Realtor--Tim Thornton.
If you have been reading my blog all year in 2012, you know that Austin is one of the hottest markets in the nation right now. That is not just my assessment; this is a wide spread contention from virtually every person who can read. Pick a category and Austin is hot. Employment. New jobs. National intrigue. New migration of businesses. Education. Weather. Entertainment value. Cost of Living. Health. Food. You name it--the analysts have probably put Austin in the top 10--if not the #1 rank in the nation.
As far as Real Estate and Real Estate Investment is concerned--it is not rocket science when housing inventory is low and demand is high and we are coming out of a year of 20% growth in sales volume that the coming year will be as strong or possibly stronger than 2012. It seems to me to be common sense to believe that we are in for more of the same. Austin's job market is projected to grow--a lot. Austin's popularity and recognition on the national stage is growing daily. High Tech, Social Media and Medical are all growing here. UT has strong retention from students in the area. It is not a stretch to say that Austin is probably destined for more of the same in growth, growth and more growth for both 2013 and beyond.
Of course, I do not have a crystal ball, but when the wind is at your back, you don't have to be Dennis Conner to know how to bring home the Americas Cup. Austin seems to have all the favorable trade winds at our back and a strong indication that we are in for more of the same in the coming year!
Happy 2013 from your Austin area Realtor--Tim Thornton.
27 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
Austin's Best Kept Secrets?
To contact us Click HERE
Here is an inquiry for you, The Readers. What are Austin's best kept secrets? Maybe some of them are not secrets at all--but are your favorite part of living in Austin. Are you ready to give up your secrets?
Here is a little secret that is no secret at all. In Texas, we like to rename things like roads and rivers. Ask someone how to get to Hwy 1 or where the Colorado River runs through Austin and it may take them a few minutes to figure it out. Ask them how to get to MoPac or to Lake Austin and you will get instant recognition. I have lived in Texas for more than 20 years and have witnessed this behavior in other Texas cities--not just Austin. I always figured it was how the "locals" tell how long someone has lived here. Like how someone pronounces "Manor" is a dead-giveaway to whether or not they have given in to the local culture or they are still hanging on to the past.
Austin is filled with little secrets. Tales of Jack the Ripper and the Moon Light Towers? Do you know "what people say" about these bits of history? It is fascinating and I have written about it here on my blog. Pennybacker bridge? How did that name come about? Do you know?
What bits of Austin secrets do you know? Want to post here and tell us?
Here is an inquiry for you, The Readers. What are Austin's best kept secrets? Maybe some of them are not secrets at all--but are your favorite part of living in Austin. Are you ready to give up your secrets?Here is a little secret that is no secret at all. In Texas, we like to rename things like roads and rivers. Ask someone how to get to Hwy 1 or where the Colorado River runs through Austin and it may take them a few minutes to figure it out. Ask them how to get to MoPac or to Lake Austin and you will get instant recognition. I have lived in Texas for more than 20 years and have witnessed this behavior in other Texas cities--not just Austin. I always figured it was how the "locals" tell how long someone has lived here. Like how someone pronounces "Manor" is a dead-giveaway to whether or not they have given in to the local culture or they are still hanging on to the past.
Austin is filled with little secrets. Tales of Jack the Ripper and the Moon Light Towers? Do you know "what people say" about these bits of history? It is fascinating and I have written about it here on my blog. Pennybacker bridge? How did that name come about? Do you know?
What bits of Austin secrets do you know? Want to post here and tell us?
Tim's Top 10 Rules of Real Estate in 2012
To contact us Click HERE
Rule 1. Experience is truly measured by the number of closed transactions during the past year--not measured by one's "Years in the business".
A Realtor's experience is only as good as the deals they have done during the past 6-12 months. Just because a Realtor has "been in the business for the past 25 years", does not mean that they have sold more than a few houses a year or that they know and understand this current market.
Rule 2.You won't get a better deal by going directly to the listing agent. If you are buying a home and hope that you can negotiate 3% off of the top by going directly to the listing agent--you should understand why this does not work in Texas. The commission for both Realtors has already been written into the listing agreement between the seller and listing agent and if you go into a transaction unprotected without a Buyer's Agent--the listing agent will actually be "paid twice"--their commission will potentially increase as much as double** when there is no other Realtor involved--regardless of how much is negotiated off of the price of the house. Unfortunately, when you do this, you get ZERO representation and almost no information that you should be getting if you had a Realtor represent you. An experienced buyer is never as experienced as a Realtor who buys and sells houses all day, every day, 25-30 times a year. A good Buyer's Agent can tell you about things about a particular property--things that the listing agent can't tell, because the listing agent is representing the seller--exclusively. The Texas Real Estate Commission is very clear in explaining the roles of the Buyer's Agent and the Seller's Agent. A Realtor either represents the Buyer or the Seller--never both at the same time for the same property. Red Flags that a Buyer's Agent may see in a home, property or locations are often not what shows up on a Seller's Disclosure about the property. Because the Seller's Agent represents the seller, there are some things that he may believe to be true, but just can't tell you, like unverified potential problems with the foundation, roof or other features of the home. And there may be things about the area that the listing agent can't tell you, but you should know. If there is no certified or professional documentation for the potential concern, it is not something that the seller is likely going to disclose and the listing agent can't tell you what he does not know to be true about undisclosed potential issues like an old roof or AC system. This would not be in his client's best interest. And you are not his client.**
Rule 3. Every Market is different.Every state, city, community and street are different in the business of Real Estate. Generalizations don't work and what is happening in one city or area has nothing to do with what is happening in another. This is true of appreciation, growth, foreclosures, short sales and virtually every aspect of the real estate process.
Rule 4.Living in a community does not make one the real estate expert.
The "business" of Real Estate is far more than knowing where the community pool is located and which neighbors are the ones that people talk about. Everyone can figure out the community map and local "gossip". Having an expert perspective on a community requires real-time experience and an understanding of the local real estate business.
Rule 5.Building or buying new requires just as much experience.
New homes are a unique corner of the Real Estate Market and your Realtor should be well versed in all the normal aspects of Real Estate (community, comps, growth, schools, etc), and the Realtor should understand Time to Market appreciation of new communities, Construction, and when a new home builder is most likely to negotiate on a particular house and to what degree. It's a whole different ball game and the strategies are different out of necessity.
Rule 6. Every deal is unique.
Having as much information as possible on the history of a home, the seller and what is going on around a specific property is critical to strategic negotiations. Since Texas is a "Non-Disclosure State", published public information is limited to the guesstimates that the county uses to determine tax value in a zip code, not actual sold sales data from the MLS. The county does not have access to MLS sold data and brokers are prohibited from publishing this data publicly.
Rule 7. Buyers determine Market Value for a home--not the Listing Agent. A Realtor that loves your home and is excited about your property will not affect either market value or the appraised value of the home. Buyers and their agents are smart. Pricing a home above market value only prolongs the inevitable re-pricing game.
Rule 8.The Listing Agent does not sell your home.
A robust listing of a home is a function of Marketing and Online Advertising--not Salesmanship. Listing Agents almost never bring "the buyer" to your home and the Listing Agent and their brokerage will almost never be the one that sells your home--no matter how good they feel they are at "selling". The internet has changed this dimension of the business forever.
Rule 9.An experienced Realtor should always know more.More about the history of the house, community and area. More about what has sold during the past 6-12 months. More about what is selling in other areas of town and why. More about financial alternatives, reputable inspectors, the contract documents, title and all aspects of the end-to-end Real Estate contracting process. Your Realtor should be a business person who represents your best interests in a Real Estate transaction. Ask him lots of questions. Lean on him. Find out what he knows that you should know before you buy your next house.
Rule 10.See Rule Number 9.
Disclaimers:
*I am not a real estate attorney and nothing written here should be construed as legal advise or legal counsel. If you have legal questions about any real estate transaction or property, you should seek the advise of a Texas real estate attorney.
**When speaking of commissions and fees, the actual commission rates that a listing agent has contractually negotiated with a seller to sell his/her property is negotiable at the time of the agreement to list the property for sale. There are no set amounts that sellers and listing agent must adhere to when a property is listed for sale.
Rule 1. Experience is truly measured by the number of closed transactions during the past year--not measured by one's "Years in the business".
A Realtor's experience is only as good as the deals they have done during the past 6-12 months. Just because a Realtor has "been in the business for the past 25 years", does not mean that they have sold more than a few houses a year or that they know and understand this current market.
Rule 2.You won't get a better deal by going directly to the listing agent. If you are buying a home and hope that you can negotiate 3% off of the top by going directly to the listing agent--you should understand why this does not work in Texas. The commission for both Realtors has already been written into the listing agreement between the seller and listing agent and if you go into a transaction unprotected without a Buyer's Agent--the listing agent will actually be "paid twice"--their commission will potentially increase as much as double** when there is no other Realtor involved--regardless of how much is negotiated off of the price of the house. Unfortunately, when you do this, you get ZERO representation and almost no information that you should be getting if you had a Realtor represent you. An experienced buyer is never as experienced as a Realtor who buys and sells houses all day, every day, 25-30 times a year. A good Buyer's Agent can tell you about things about a particular property--things that the listing agent can't tell, because the listing agent is representing the seller--exclusively. The Texas Real Estate Commission is very clear in explaining the roles of the Buyer's Agent and the Seller's Agent. A Realtor either represents the Buyer or the Seller--never both at the same time for the same property. Red Flags that a Buyer's Agent may see in a home, property or locations are often not what shows up on a Seller's Disclosure about the property. Because the Seller's Agent represents the seller, there are some things that he may believe to be true, but just can't tell you, like unverified potential problems with the foundation, roof or other features of the home. And there may be things about the area that the listing agent can't tell you, but you should know. If there is no certified or professional documentation for the potential concern, it is not something that the seller is likely going to disclose and the listing agent can't tell you what he does not know to be true about undisclosed potential issues like an old roof or AC system. This would not be in his client's best interest. And you are not his client.**
Rule 3. Every Market is different.Every state, city, community and street are different in the business of Real Estate. Generalizations don't work and what is happening in one city or area has nothing to do with what is happening in another. This is true of appreciation, growth, foreclosures, short sales and virtually every aspect of the real estate process.
Rule 4.Living in a community does not make one the real estate expert.
The "business" of Real Estate is far more than knowing where the community pool is located and which neighbors are the ones that people talk about. Everyone can figure out the community map and local "gossip". Having an expert perspective on a community requires real-time experience and an understanding of the local real estate business.
Rule 5.Building or buying new requires just as much experience.
New homes are a unique corner of the Real Estate Market and your Realtor should be well versed in all the normal aspects of Real Estate (community, comps, growth, schools, etc), and the Realtor should understand Time to Market appreciation of new communities, Construction, and when a new home builder is most likely to negotiate on a particular house and to what degree. It's a whole different ball game and the strategies are different out of necessity.
Rule 6. Every deal is unique.
Having as much information as possible on the history of a home, the seller and what is going on around a specific property is critical to strategic negotiations. Since Texas is a "Non-Disclosure State", published public information is limited to the guesstimates that the county uses to determine tax value in a zip code, not actual sold sales data from the MLS. The county does not have access to MLS sold data and brokers are prohibited from publishing this data publicly.
Rule 7. Buyers determine Market Value for a home--not the Listing Agent. A Realtor that loves your home and is excited about your property will not affect either market value or the appraised value of the home. Buyers and their agents are smart. Pricing a home above market value only prolongs the inevitable re-pricing game.
Rule 8.The Listing Agent does not sell your home.
A robust listing of a home is a function of Marketing and Online Advertising--not Salesmanship. Listing Agents almost never bring "the buyer" to your home and the Listing Agent and their brokerage will almost never be the one that sells your home--no matter how good they feel they are at "selling". The internet has changed this dimension of the business forever.
Rule 9.An experienced Realtor should always know more.More about the history of the house, community and area. More about what has sold during the past 6-12 months. More about what is selling in other areas of town and why. More about financial alternatives, reputable inspectors, the contract documents, title and all aspects of the end-to-end Real Estate contracting process. Your Realtor should be a business person who represents your best interests in a Real Estate transaction. Ask him lots of questions. Lean on him. Find out what he knows that you should know before you buy your next house.
Rule 10.See Rule Number 9.
Disclaimers:
*I am not a real estate attorney and nothing written here should be construed as legal advise or legal counsel. If you have legal questions about any real estate transaction or property, you should seek the advise of a Texas real estate attorney.
**When speaking of commissions and fees, the actual commission rates that a listing agent has contractually negotiated with a seller to sell his/her property is negotiable at the time of the agreement to list the property for sale. There are no set amounts that sellers and listing agent must adhere to when a property is listed for sale.
What do First Time Home Buyers Know that Eludes Many Second Time Home Buyers
To contact us Click HERE
Most first time home buyers know that they need some help to buy their first home, but many "second time home buyers" who may not have had a great experience with their first Realtor (who may have been a "first-timer" himself) will often figure that they can do a better job on their own--without a Realtor. Well, in Texas, you were probably better off than you realize, even with your first time Realtor than you will be now on your own. That's not to excuse or mitigate any bad experiences you may have had or the feeling that you expected more, but doing a Real Estate transaction in Texas "Un-protected" can be a big risk. Why do I say that? Two reasons.
In Texas, if you decide to negotiate a deal off of the yard sign with the listing agent for that home, the listing agent only has to tell you what they know to be a fact about the house. They can not raise red flags, give you opinions about possible issues, or speculate about things that may be wrong with the house, the location or price of the house. Said in another way--they do not represent you and your best interests for this house--not today; not ever. They have an obligation to the seller. Even if they help you fill out an offer on the contract document, they still don't represent you for this house. They can not represent both the buyer and the seller for the same property at the same time.
The second reason why you are shooting yourself in the foot when you go out on your own without a Realtor to represent you in Texas: One word: Non-disclosure State. Okay--two words. Texas is a Non-disclosure state, so no matter how hard you try, you can not get sold MLS data for houses in Texas--not even from the tax records. The numbers that you are seeing in the county tax record are not sold sales data. This information is a spread sheet appraisal of the houses in the area. But only in a very small percentage of cases where the seller volunteered information to the county is true sold data available and you don't know which records are those records and which ones are guess-work from the county spread sheet appraisers.
So, you may negotiate a great deal on a house with the listing agent and still pay too much. You may feel like they are your friend and that you are smarter about Real Estate than the listing agent, but I am here to tell you that this is their business--I don't imagine you would feel the same way if this were your business. And in markets like Austin today, you may negotiate your deal and think that you are going to make a great deal, only to lose the deal to someone else who was also interested in the house, all because you did not understand what the market conditions are right now for the community and the area. Someone with a more experienced Realtor than you beat you out of the house. Maybe you are okay with that, but I can tell you that after you have lost 2 or 3 deals for houses that you really liked, you may change your mind.
One last dimension to this story. I hear the second-timers say "I have done this before. I know what I am doing and I will save the Realtor's commission by negotiating my own deal. No you won't. You just think you saved the Realtor's commission, but the total commission was already set in the listing agreement to cover both Realtors. You just made sure the listing agent got all of the commission for the deal and you still did not address the other issues above.
Great houses in Greater Austin are selling in about 1-14 days right now. The good ones are selling faster than you can write an offer in some cases. Many cases. Some are sitting on the market for a very long time--and not selling. And there is a reason for that, too. A good reason. So, do you wait a couple of weeks to see if a house is good enough to sell during the fist week or two? Do you jump in quickly and hope that you can guess the value correctly and hope that you don't pay too much or negotiate too hard and lose it? Or do you hire an experienced Realtor to help you sort through the complexity of a home purchase, contract, strategic negotiation, mortgage loan, title, inspect and all the details that follow from making this important decision?
Here are some great articles to read about the Austin market right now.
Tim's Top 10 Rules of Austin Real Estate for 2012
How to Find the Right home
Mid Nov Market Report
Five Principles of Buying Real Estate in Austin
Can you get a better deal by going directly to the seller?
Most first time home buyers know that they need some help to buy their first home, but many "second time home buyers" who may not have had a great experience with their first Realtor (who may have been a "first-timer" himself) will often figure that they can do a better job on their own--without a Realtor. Well, in Texas, you were probably better off than you realize, even with your first time Realtor than you will be now on your own. That's not to excuse or mitigate any bad experiences you may have had or the feeling that you expected more, but doing a Real Estate transaction in Texas "Un-protected" can be a big risk. Why do I say that? Two reasons.In Texas, if you decide to negotiate a deal off of the yard sign with the listing agent for that home, the listing agent only has to tell you what they know to be a fact about the house. They can not raise red flags, give you opinions about possible issues, or speculate about things that may be wrong with the house, the location or price of the house. Said in another way--they do not represent you and your best interests for this house--not today; not ever. They have an obligation to the seller. Even if they help you fill out an offer on the contract document, they still don't represent you for this house. They can not represent both the buyer and the seller for the same property at the same time.
The second reason why you are shooting yourself in the foot when you go out on your own without a Realtor to represent you in Texas: One word: Non-disclosure State. Okay--two words. Texas is a Non-disclosure state, so no matter how hard you try, you can not get sold MLS data for houses in Texas--not even from the tax records. The numbers that you are seeing in the county tax record are not sold sales data. This information is a spread sheet appraisal of the houses in the area. But only in a very small percentage of cases where the seller volunteered information to the county is true sold data available and you don't know which records are those records and which ones are guess-work from the county spread sheet appraisers.
So, you may negotiate a great deal on a house with the listing agent and still pay too much. You may feel like they are your friend and that you are smarter about Real Estate than the listing agent, but I am here to tell you that this is their business--I don't imagine you would feel the same way if this were your business. And in markets like Austin today, you may negotiate your deal and think that you are going to make a great deal, only to lose the deal to someone else who was also interested in the house, all because you did not understand what the market conditions are right now for the community and the area. Someone with a more experienced Realtor than you beat you out of the house. Maybe you are okay with that, but I can tell you that after you have lost 2 or 3 deals for houses that you really liked, you may change your mind.
One last dimension to this story. I hear the second-timers say "I have done this before. I know what I am doing and I will save the Realtor's commission by negotiating my own deal. No you won't. You just think you saved the Realtor's commission, but the total commission was already set in the listing agreement to cover both Realtors. You just made sure the listing agent got all of the commission for the deal and you still did not address the other issues above.
Great houses in Greater Austin are selling in about 1-14 days right now. The good ones are selling faster than you can write an offer in some cases. Many cases. Some are sitting on the market for a very long time--and not selling. And there is a reason for that, too. A good reason. So, do you wait a couple of weeks to see if a house is good enough to sell during the fist week or two? Do you jump in quickly and hope that you can guess the value correctly and hope that you don't pay too much or negotiate too hard and lose it? Or do you hire an experienced Realtor to help you sort through the complexity of a home purchase, contract, strategic negotiation, mortgage loan, title, inspect and all the details that follow from making this important decision?
Here are some great articles to read about the Austin market right now.
Tim's Top 10 Rules of Austin Real Estate for 2012
How to Find the Right home
Mid Nov Market Report
Five Principles of Buying Real Estate in Austin
Can you get a better deal by going directly to the seller?
Apple Employees Moving to Austin--Where Should You Consider Living?**
To contact us Click HERE
If you are moving to the Austin area and wondering where you should consider moving, which communities near the NW Austin Apple campus offer the most to you--keep reading. Of course, your needs are most important when considering a new home and new community, so let's explore what you may be considering and talk about where I would recommend that you start looking first. And if you want to call me and talk about where you fit into the bigger picture of Austin Real Estate--give me a call. I am always working.
Let's start with where the campus is located. This information does not just apply to Apple, as there are a number of prominent employers in the NW Austin area. The Apple expansion is planned for the Riata Trace campus off of 183 North, just south the 620 and I-45 tollway intersection. The 183 corridor is a main corridor running north-west and south-east from the Airport to Cedar Park and beyond. And the I-45 toll/620 is another main corridor road running East and West across the northern area of Austin city.
Now let's look at Austin area schools. Since many of you will be most concerned with getting your children into the best schools in the area, let's talk about recommendations for some of Austin's best schools and the commute time to campus for these schools. Starting in the immediate vicinity of the campus, we have one of the nation's most recognized High Schools and related feeder Elementary and Middle Schools. Westwood High. Westwood is considered on many lists to be among the Top 100* High Schools in the USA today. With over 24,000 pubic high schools in the nation--this is really incredible. (Westwood is located in Austin and is a part of the Round Rock Independent School District; although all of these communities have Austin addresses, none of these schools are located in the Austin ISD. In fact, these schools are in three different Austin area school districts).
There are a number of wonderful communities to chose from in the Westwood High area. Prices range from around $200,000 for a humble dwelling, to around $600-700,000 for something in the Austin luxury price band. Homes tend to be older, mostly built in the 1970's and 1980's in this part of the city.
Next, we move a little further south to the Eanes School District. Westlake High in Eanes is also a Top 100* pubic high school located in the Austin area. Double incredible. Because of this school status and because it is located just minutes from downtown Austin on the West side of the city, prices are enhanced by this proximity to downtown. Considerably. The median priced home in Eanes ISD is going to run you about $650,000, but houses that sold this year, YTD, have sold for up to $5.65M. The average home price in Eanes? Just short of $900,000. But if you want quick and easy access to downtown and don't want to sacrifice in the public schools--Eanes is definitely the place to consider (if budget allows).
The next place that I would want to take you is west, across the 620 corridor. There are a number of great schools in Greater Austin and great communities and one of my favorite areas is River North. This area is composed of a few upscale communities where prices are favorable and the schools, though not in the top 100 nationally, are some of the best in the state and probably some of the best in the nation. Let's start with Steiner Ranch.
Steiner Ranch is one of Austin's most recognized master planned communities. Started over 20 years ago on a working cattle ranch owned by the prominent Steiner family, this master planned community of over 4000 homes may have more to offer its residents than any single community in the Greater Austin area. Four exemplary rated schools inside the community, multiple swimming pools, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball fields, running trails, hike and bike, natural protected green belts, lake access, world class golf and amenities scattered from end to end of this renowned master planned community.
Steiner is not the only golf community with outstanding schools in the 620 corridor, just 20-25 mins from NW Austin's Apple campus. Another outstanding community where many home owners have found comfort and beauty for more than 20 years is River Place. These two communities offer homes starting in the upper $200's and very quickly getting into the $400-600,000 range. Both communities also have subdivisions of homes in the $MM range and River Place has a hand full of homes that have Lake Austin frontage, boat docks and estate sized properties.
There are several additional communities, golf and non-golf centric neighborhoods along this corridor, all located in the Leander and Round Rock Independent School districts. Each of these communities have something unique and different to offer home owners. Amenities. Golf. Shopping. Proximity to downtown, the lakes and NW Austin. So, depending upon the trade-offs that you are interested in making in price, location and home features--there is probably something exciting for you not too far away from where you want to be.
If you have questions or would like to talk about your particular needs...give me a call. Let's talk.
*Note: There are various lists that rate schools across the USA; Westlake High and Westwood High consistently tend to show up on these lists in the top 100 and top 200 public high schools--though not all lists look at the same criteria or rank in the same way. Rankings change from year to year.
**Disclaimer: This article is not intended to direct you to "the right community", but rather to provide you with some robust options based on popular purchase criteria for families moving into the area who are looking for homes in good school districts that are an acceptable commute distance to/from the NW Austin area.
If you are moving to the Austin area and wondering where you should consider moving, which communities near the NW Austin Apple campus offer the most to you--keep reading. Of course, your needs are most important when considering a new home and new community, so let's explore what you may be considering and talk about where I would recommend that you start looking first. And if you want to call me and talk about where you fit into the bigger picture of Austin Real Estate--give me a call. I am always working. Let's start with where the campus is located. This information does not just apply to Apple, as there are a number of prominent employers in the NW Austin area. The Apple expansion is planned for the Riata Trace campus off of 183 North, just south the 620 and I-45 tollway intersection. The 183 corridor is a main corridor running north-west and south-east from the Airport to Cedar Park and beyond. And the I-45 toll/620 is another main corridor road running East and West across the northern area of Austin city.
Now let's look at Austin area schools. Since many of you will be most concerned with getting your children into the best schools in the area, let's talk about recommendations for some of Austin's best schools and the commute time to campus for these schools. Starting in the immediate vicinity of the campus, we have one of the nation's most recognized High Schools and related feeder Elementary and Middle Schools. Westwood High. Westwood is considered on many lists to be among the Top 100* High Schools in the USA today. With over 24,000 pubic high schools in the nation--this is really incredible. (Westwood is located in Austin and is a part of the Round Rock Independent School District; although all of these communities have Austin addresses, none of these schools are located in the Austin ISD. In fact, these schools are in three different Austin area school districts).
There are a number of wonderful communities to chose from in the Westwood High area. Prices range from around $200,000 for a humble dwelling, to around $600-700,000 for something in the Austin luxury price band. Homes tend to be older, mostly built in the 1970's and 1980's in this part of the city.
Next, we move a little further south to the Eanes School District. Westlake High in Eanes is also a Top 100* pubic high school located in the Austin area. Double incredible. Because of this school status and because it is located just minutes from downtown Austin on the West side of the city, prices are enhanced by this proximity to downtown. Considerably. The median priced home in Eanes ISD is going to run you about $650,000, but houses that sold this year, YTD, have sold for up to $5.65M. The average home price in Eanes? Just short of $900,000. But if you want quick and easy access to downtown and don't want to sacrifice in the public schools--Eanes is definitely the place to consider (if budget allows).
The next place that I would want to take you is west, across the 620 corridor. There are a number of great schools in Greater Austin and great communities and one of my favorite areas is River North. This area is composed of a few upscale communities where prices are favorable and the schools, though not in the top 100 nationally, are some of the best in the state and probably some of the best in the nation. Let's start with Steiner Ranch.
Steiner Ranch is one of Austin's most recognized master planned communities. Started over 20 years ago on a working cattle ranch owned by the prominent Steiner family, this master planned community of over 4000 homes may have more to offer its residents than any single community in the Greater Austin area. Four exemplary rated schools inside the community, multiple swimming pools, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball fields, running trails, hike and bike, natural protected green belts, lake access, world class golf and amenities scattered from end to end of this renowned master planned community.
Steiner is not the only golf community with outstanding schools in the 620 corridor, just 20-25 mins from NW Austin's Apple campus. Another outstanding community where many home owners have found comfort and beauty for more than 20 years is River Place. These two communities offer homes starting in the upper $200's and very quickly getting into the $400-600,000 range. Both communities also have subdivisions of homes in the $MM range and River Place has a hand full of homes that have Lake Austin frontage, boat docks and estate sized properties.
There are several additional communities, golf and non-golf centric neighborhoods along this corridor, all located in the Leander and Round Rock Independent School districts. Each of these communities have something unique and different to offer home owners. Amenities. Golf. Shopping. Proximity to downtown, the lakes and NW Austin. So, depending upon the trade-offs that you are interested in making in price, location and home features--there is probably something exciting for you not too far away from where you want to be.
If you have questions or would like to talk about your particular needs...give me a call. Let's talk.
*Note: There are various lists that rate schools across the USA; Westlake High and Westwood High consistently tend to show up on these lists in the top 100 and top 200 public high schools--though not all lists look at the same criteria or rank in the same way. Rankings change from year to year.
**Disclaimer: This article is not intended to direct you to "the right community", but rather to provide you with some robust options based on popular purchase criteria for families moving into the area who are looking for homes in good school districts that are an acceptable commute distance to/from the NW Austin area.
Mid Dec Austin Real Estate Market Update & Consumption Report -- How Fast are Houses Selling?
To contact us Click HERE
This is my second market report after the "closing of high season" in Austin. But you would really know it from the Q4 numbers that are being posted. This time of year is traditionally considered to be "low season" when buyers stop buying, but that is not what we are seeing in Austin. With all the recent news of Apple, Emerson, Citi, Facebook, Legal Zoom and many others coming to or expanding operations in Greater Austin--our market is just not slowing down.
Here are the numbers:
Median Sold Home Stats for Single Family Homes:
Q: So how fast are houses selling in Greater Austin area?A: As of today, with more than 2,692 SFR homes with pending contracts, here are the rates at which homes are selling during the first 34 days on the market:
Whether you are Buying or Selling your home--give me a call and we can discuss what is happening in your community or the area where you are looking. I am Tim Thornton, your Austin Area Realtor.
This is my second market report after the "closing of high season" in Austin. But you would really know it from the Q4 numbers that are being posted. This time of year is traditionally considered to be "low season" when buyers stop buying, but that is not what we are seeing in Austin. With all the recent news of Apple, Emerson, Citi, Facebook, Legal Zoom and many others coming to or expanding operations in Greater Austin--our market is just not slowing down. Here are the numbers:
- 6,179 homes for sale: Single Family, Condos, Townhouses--Inventory is very low now--incredibly low
- 3,021 homes under contract: this number is much higher than we would expect for this time of year in a "normal market year"
- 24,069 homes have closed so far this year; this is a banner year compared to any of the recent years in Austin area Real Estate!
- 20,256 sold YTD in 2011
- 19,040 sold YTD in 2010
- 19,935 sold YTD in 2009
- 21,491 sold YTD in 2008
- 2007 was the last year that had sales volume higher than 2012 YTD, just after the peak of the building boom
- We are having a banner year in Austin Real Estate
Median Sold Home Stats for Single Family Homes:
- Median price across Greater Austin: $207k
- 90% of homes sold in Greater Austin are Single Family homes
- More than 1/2 of the homes were sold in Travis County
- Almost 1/3 of the homes were sold in Williamson County
- Median price as a percentage of asking price: 98%
- Median days on market is very low: 34 days
- Most expensive home sold YTD: $7.75M
- Median SOLD in Travis County: $245,000
- Median SOLD in Williamson County: $182,500
Q: So how fast are houses selling in Greater Austin area?A: As of today, with more than 2,692 SFR homes with pending contracts, here are the rates at which homes are selling during the first 34 days on the market:
- The first day on market: ~3% of these home
- First 3 days on market: ~8% of these homes
- First 7 days on market: ~16% of these homes
- First 14 days on market: ~28% of these homes
- First 40 days on market: half of the available homes are sold
Whether you are Buying or Selling your home--give me a call and we can discuss what is happening in your community or the area where you are looking. I am Tim Thornton, your Austin Area Realtor.
20 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
Why Ratios Matter- From a Parent's Point of View
To contact us Click HERE
Chris Derrick is a father, an author,
I remember people telling me that kids don't come with instructions. Still, I read book after book to find something, some answer as to how I was going to handle being a father. I learned how to tend my daughter's needs when she was hungry, gassy, sleepy, or just needed a diaper change--pretty straight-forward stuff I thought, no problem, I've got this! I even became quite adept at packing her diaper bag! As time passed by, we settled into a routine, and knew how to handle the day to day part of raising a child. We came to love her more and more each day as our lives began to take shape around hers. Well, those days became years very quickly and now it was time to trust her care to someone else.We looked around feverishly to find the right preschool program for her; the due diligence must be done! I could pull into the parking lot of some of these places and just know that it wasn't right. I scrutinized every last detail of the school from the first second I walked in, to the second I walked out. How clean was it? How long has this teacher been doing this? Is that what you call a playground?!? What will my child be learning? What do they serve for lunch? Can we get a hair sample from everyone employed at this school? We exhausted our fair share of teachers before we finally figured out what we really wanted to know. Will our child be safe? Were these teachers equipped physically, emotionally, and with all the support that they needed to ensure my child's safety?
Overwhelmingly, it came down to this--how many kids will one teacher be responsible for? Look, I've hosted a few children's birthday parties, and I've seen my home in the aftermath after just a couple of hours of just trying to keep the damage to a minimum! That was with the help of my wife, and the few brave parents that didn't bolt out of the door as soon as kid party drop off etiquette allowed it! I couldn't fathom how any one person could handle that, and I wanted to know exactly how they intended to do it.That's when I learned about the teacher to child ratio. That became just about the first thing I wanted to know. As important as it is that my child begin to build a strong foundation in mathematics, literacy, and science, knowing that her teacher had some back up was every bit as critical. Having as many eyes on my child as possible put me at ease. I knew full well how she got into everything, I mean, let's face it, my kid was unruly at my house---I'm a man, we have a high threshold when it comes to letting our kids run amok before we actually do something about it! So, how many teachers would be there to look after my one child wrecking crew now that she has joined forces with a whole battalion of kids with the same appetite for destruction?!?That's exactly why the ratio was a major point of concern, and ultimately, the school that we chose had one that was quite favorable. After three children, I am now a decorated veteran-parent and I've seen things that would have made a first time parent want to ball up in a corner and cry---and maybe someday we'll get back to those--but for now, let's just hold the fort and make sure our teachers have plenty of reinforcements!
Chris Derrick is a father, an author,
and a blogger. You can find his
musings on life, parenting and living
in the South at:
http://myunregrettablelife.blogspot.com/
Adam and Maxine's Famous Latkes
To contact us Click HERE
.jpg)
1 pound medium Vidalia, yellow, or brown onions (about 2)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup fine plain dried breadcrumbs
3 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons (or more) schmaltz (chicken fat; optional)
2-4 tablespoons (or more) vegetable oil
Applesauce
Sour cream
Preheat oven to 325°F. Peel potatoes. Using the large holes of a box grater or the grater disk on a food processor, grate potatoes and onions. Transfer to a large kitchen towel. Gather ends of towel; twist over sink and squeeze firmly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Open towel; toss mixture to loosen. Gather towel; wring out once more.
Whisk eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, baking powder, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend. Add potato mixture. Using your fingers, mix until well coated. (Latke mixture should be wet and thick, not soupy.)
Line a large rimmed baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Set a wire rack inside another large rimmed baking sheet; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons schmaltz, if using, and 2 tablespoons oil (or 4 tablespoons oil if not using schmaltz; fat should measure about 1/8") in a 12" nonstick skillet over mediumhigh heat. Drop a small amount of latke mixture into pan. If the fat sizzles around the edges, it's ready. (Do not let fat smoke.)
Working in batches and adding more schmaltz and oil to skillet as needed to maintain 1/8" fat, drop large spoonfuls of mixture into pan, pressing gently with the back of a spoon or spatula to flatten slightly. (If mixture becomes watery between batches, mix to incorporate; do not drain.)
Cook latkes, occasionally rotating pan for even browning, until golden brown and cooked through, 2 1/2-3 minutes per side. (If small pieces of potato floating in the oil start to burn, carefully strain out.)
Transfer latkes to paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain, then transfer to prepared wire rack. Place sheet with latkes in oven to keep warm and crisp while cooking remaining latkes.
Serve warm latkes with applesauce and sour cream.
Celebrate Hanukkah with some delicious traditional dishes! Latkes can be served with sour cream or applesauce and are a great way to usher in the holidays!
Adam and Maxine's Famous Latkes
3 pounds large russet potatoes (4-6)1 pound medium Vidalia, yellow, or brown onions (about 2)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup fine plain dried breadcrumbs
3 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons (or more) schmaltz (chicken fat; optional)
2-4 tablespoons (or more) vegetable oil
Applesauce
Sour cream
Preheat oven to 325°F. Peel potatoes. Using the large holes of a box grater or the grater disk on a food processor, grate potatoes and onions. Transfer to a large kitchen towel. Gather ends of towel; twist over sink and squeeze firmly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Open towel; toss mixture to loosen. Gather towel; wring out once more.
Whisk eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, baking powder, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend. Add potato mixture. Using your fingers, mix until well coated. (Latke mixture should be wet and thick, not soupy.)
Line a large rimmed baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Set a wire rack inside another large rimmed baking sheet; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons schmaltz, if using, and 2 tablespoons oil (or 4 tablespoons oil if not using schmaltz; fat should measure about 1/8") in a 12" nonstick skillet over mediumhigh heat. Drop a small amount of latke mixture into pan. If the fat sizzles around the edges, it's ready. (Do not let fat smoke.)
Working in batches and adding more schmaltz and oil to skillet as needed to maintain 1/8" fat, drop large spoonfuls of mixture into pan, pressing gently with the back of a spoon or spatula to flatten slightly. (If mixture becomes watery between batches, mix to incorporate; do not drain.)
Cook latkes, occasionally rotating pan for even browning, until golden brown and cooked through, 2 1/2-3 minutes per side. (If small pieces of potato floating in the oil start to burn, carefully strain out.)
Transfer latkes to paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain, then transfer to prepared wire rack. Place sheet with latkes in oven to keep warm and crisp while cooking remaining latkes.
Serve warm latkes with applesauce and sour cream.
Thanks to Adam Rapoport for this amazing recipe!
♛ Leander's Most Popular Homes for Sale ♛
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Leander Homes for Sale
Welcome to the Leander homes and real estate portal: your single stop for finding a home in Leander. Here you can search every available home for sale in Leander.As of today there are many homes and properties for sale that are available to search. The number of homes changes daily, so be sure to keep coming back right here, to the best site for Leander homes for sale.Bam! Pflugerville's Most Popular Homes are Selling Fast!!
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Pflugerville TX Homes for Sale
Welcome to the Pflugerville TX homes and real estate portal: your single stop for finding a home in Pflugerville TX. Here you can search every available home for sale in Pflugerville TX.As of today there are many homes and properties for sale that are available to search. The number of homes changes daily, so be sure to keep coming back right here, to the best site for Pflugerville TX homes for sale.► Round Rock Homes Are Movin'! ►
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Welcome to the Round Rock East homes and real estate portal: your single stop for finding a home in Round Rock East. Here you can search every available home for sale in Round Rock East.As of today there are many homes and properties for sale that are available to search. The number of homes changes daily, so be sure to keep coming back right here, to the best site for Round Rock East homes for sale.16 Aralık 2012 Pazar
Why Ratios Matter- From a Parent's Point of View
To contact us Click HERE
Chris Derrick is a father, an author,
I remember people telling me that kids don't come with instructions. Still, I read book after book to find something, some answer as to how I was going to handle being a father. I learned how to tend my daughter's needs when she was hungry, gassy, sleepy, or just needed a diaper change--pretty straight-forward stuff I thought, no problem, I've got this! I even became quite adept at packing her diaper bag! As time passed by, we settled into a routine, and knew how to handle the day to day part of raising a child. We came to love her more and more each day as our lives began to take shape around hers. Well, those days became years very quickly and now it was time to trust her care to someone else.We looked around feverishly to find the right preschool program for her; the due diligence must be done! I could pull into the parking lot of some of these places and just know that it wasn't right. I scrutinized every last detail of the school from the first second I walked in, to the second I walked out. How clean was it? How long has this teacher been doing this? Is that what you call a playground?!? What will my child be learning? What do they serve for lunch? Can we get a hair sample from everyone employed at this school? We exhausted our fair share of teachers before we finally figured out what we really wanted to know. Will our child be safe? Were these teachers equipped physically, emotionally, and with all the support that they needed to ensure my child's safety?
Overwhelmingly, it came down to this--how many kids will one teacher be responsible for? Look, I've hosted a few children's birthday parties, and I've seen my home in the aftermath after just a couple of hours of just trying to keep the damage to a minimum! That was with the help of my wife, and the few brave parents that didn't bolt out of the door as soon as kid party drop off etiquette allowed it! I couldn't fathom how any one person could handle that, and I wanted to know exactly how they intended to do it.That's when I learned about the teacher to child ratio. That became just about the first thing I wanted to know. As important as it is that my child begin to build a strong foundation in mathematics, literacy, and science, knowing that her teacher had some back up was every bit as critical. Having as many eyes on my child as possible put me at ease. I knew full well how she got into everything, I mean, let's face it, my kid was unruly at my house---I'm a man, we have a high threshold when it comes to letting our kids run amok before we actually do something about it! So, how many teachers would be there to look after my one child wrecking crew now that she has joined forces with a whole battalion of kids with the same appetite for destruction?!?
Chris Derrick is a father, an author,
and a blogger. You can find his
musings on life, parenting and living
in the South at:
http://myunregrettablelife.blogspot.com/
Adam and Maxine's Famous Latkes
To contact us Click HERE
1 pound medium Vidalia, yellow, or brown onions (about 2)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup fine plain dried breadcrumbs
3 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons (or more) schmaltz (chicken fat; optional)
2-4 tablespoons (or more) vegetable oil
Applesauce
Sour cream
Preheat oven to 325°F. Peel potatoes. Using the large holes of a box grater or the grater disk on a food processor, grate potatoes and onions. Transfer to a large kitchen towel. Gather ends of towel; twist over sink and squeeze firmly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Open towel; toss mixture to loosen. Gather towel; wring out once more.
Whisk eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, baking powder, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend. Add potato mixture. Using your fingers, mix until well coated. (Latke mixture should be wet and thick, not soupy.)
Line a large rimmed baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Set a wire rack inside another large rimmed baking sheet; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons schmaltz, if using, and 2 tablespoons oil (or 4 tablespoons oil if not using schmaltz; fat should measure about 1/8") in a 12" nonstick skillet over mediumhigh heat. Drop a small amount of latke mixture into pan. If the fat sizzles around the edges, it's ready. (Do not let fat smoke.)
Working in batches and adding more schmaltz and oil to skillet as needed to maintain 1/8" fat, drop large spoonfuls of mixture into pan, pressing gently with the back of a spoon or spatula to flatten slightly. (If mixture becomes watery between batches, mix to incorporate; do not drain.)
Cook latkes, occasionally rotating pan for even browning, until golden brown and cooked through, 2 1/2-3 minutes per side. (If small pieces of potato floating in the oil start to burn, carefully strain out.)
Transfer latkes to paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain, then transfer to prepared wire rack. Place sheet with latkes in oven to keep warm and crisp while cooking remaining latkes.
Serve warm latkes with applesauce and sour cream.
Celebrate Hanukkah with some delicious traditional dishes! Latkes can be served with sour cream or applesauce and are a great way to usher in the holidays!
Adam and Maxine's Famous Latkes
3 pounds large russet potatoes (4-6)1 pound medium Vidalia, yellow, or brown onions (about 2)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup fine plain dried breadcrumbs
3 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons (or more) schmaltz (chicken fat; optional)
2-4 tablespoons (or more) vegetable oil
Applesauce
Sour cream
Preheat oven to 325°F. Peel potatoes. Using the large holes of a box grater or the grater disk on a food processor, grate potatoes and onions. Transfer to a large kitchen towel. Gather ends of towel; twist over sink and squeeze firmly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Open towel; toss mixture to loosen. Gather towel; wring out once more.
Whisk eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, baking powder, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend. Add potato mixture. Using your fingers, mix until well coated. (Latke mixture should be wet and thick, not soupy.)
Line a large rimmed baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Set a wire rack inside another large rimmed baking sheet; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons schmaltz, if using, and 2 tablespoons oil (or 4 tablespoons oil if not using schmaltz; fat should measure about 1/8") in a 12" nonstick skillet over mediumhigh heat. Drop a small amount of latke mixture into pan. If the fat sizzles around the edges, it's ready. (Do not let fat smoke.)
Working in batches and adding more schmaltz and oil to skillet as needed to maintain 1/8" fat, drop large spoonfuls of mixture into pan, pressing gently with the back of a spoon or spatula to flatten slightly. (If mixture becomes watery between batches, mix to incorporate; do not drain.)
Cook latkes, occasionally rotating pan for even browning, until golden brown and cooked through, 2 1/2-3 minutes per side. (If small pieces of potato floating in the oil start to burn, carefully strain out.)
Transfer latkes to paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain, then transfer to prepared wire rack. Place sheet with latkes in oven to keep warm and crisp while cooking remaining latkes.
Serve warm latkes with applesauce and sour cream.
Thanks to Adam Rapoport for this amazing recipe!
♛ Leander's Most Popular Homes for Sale ♛
To contact us Click HERE
Leander Homes for Sale
Welcome to the Leander homes and real estate portal: your single stop for finding a home in Leander. Here you can search every available home for sale in Leander.As of today there are many homes and properties for sale that are available to search. The number of homes changes daily, so be sure to keep coming back right here, to the best site for Leander homes for sale.
Bam! Pflugerville's Most Popular Homes are Selling Fast!!
To contact us Click HERE
Pflugerville TX Homes for Sale
Welcome to the Pflugerville TX homes and real estate portal: your single stop for finding a home in Pflugerville TX. Here you can search every available home for sale in Pflugerville TX.As of today there are many homes and properties for sale that are available to search. The number of homes changes daily, so be sure to keep coming back right here, to the best site for Pflugerville TX homes for sale.
► Round Rock Homes Are Movin'! ►
To contact us Click HERE
Round Rock East Homes for Sale
Welcome to the Round Rock East homes and real estate portal: your single stop for finding a home in Round Rock East. Here you can search every available home for sale in Round Rock East.As of today there are many homes and properties for sale that are available to search. The number of homes changes daily, so be sure to keep coming back right here, to the best site for Round Rock East homes for sale.
12 Aralık 2012 Çarşamba
Millie's Mini Pecan Tart Recipe
To contact us Click HERE
Ok--so this is not Real Estate, but here is a fun recipe that you can enjoy in your new home during the holidays. I have published this recipe every year and it is very popular in the search engines.
It only takes a few hours to make these little bits and they are better than anything that you can buy at the nicest bakery in Austin. For those of you who may not cook--you should know that I am no chef. Ask my wife.
I grew up in a family of seven children. My dad was a builder (among other things), so naturally he only cooked when there was hickory and an open fire involved--and he did grill a mean burger on the 4th of July. However, with four older sisters and a strong southern mom, I learned something about cooking, especially during the holidays. I cook occasionally now, but my wife is the natural chef in our home. She has the instincts of a master builder in the kitchen, but when it comes to the holidays--I am the chef on deck.
As an adult my oldest sister, Millie taught me how to make her Mini Pecan Tarts. I wanted to learn how to make something that was fun for the holidays--which is where this holiday traditions began. So, if you are looking for something really great to take to a holiday dinner, to a friend's party or just a little surprise for family and friends--try this holiday mini pecan tart.
Here is the recipe for approximately 4-5 dozen mini tarts.
The Pastry. If you are going to make the tarts you have to make the pastry from scratch. You can not substitute a store bought or store made pastry and expect anything close to the same results.
The Filling:
First, you make the filling. You will make the pastry shell in a minute, but we will start with the pecan filling. Get everything out and make room on the counter to work. You will need a fairly large counter top area to work.
About 30 mins before you get started, put your butter and margin out on the counter top. This will allow it to become soft.
Begin mixing the ingredients for the filling. Beat with a fork until everything is well mixed, including the butter. I like to cut the butter in when it is soft, but Milly's original recipe calls for melted butter. The softer the better because you want the butter to be very small chunks or completely blended into the mixture. It is important that each mini has the same amount of butter. Of course, the real secret ingredient is the vanilla extract. If you want to know what makes the pecan mini taste so wonderful, smell the vanilla before you add it to the mixing bowl.
Mix in 1 cup of pecans. You will need more pecans to put on top--so make sure you don't put all of your pecans in the mix. Buy pre-cut pecans. Cutting pecans is just a lot of work with very little reward.
Guys--cooking is a little bit like building a house. It is all about following a design plan and knowing what you are doing before you start. If you get into trouble you can call someone who knows more than you do. I know more about building a house than cooking, so if you are thinking about building or buying a home--Let's talk. If you are looking for a caterer--I am absolutely not your go-to guy.
Now it is time to begin the pastry.
Making the pastry--the shell. To do this you need mini muffin pans. Not the big 3" size muffin pan. You want the 1" size muffin pans. You really want to have to have at least 2 muffin pans, but 4 would be better, because you are going to be rotating these pans into and out of the oven every 25-29 minutes. More pans = less washing while you are cooking.
First, put the soft margarine and soft cream cheese into a mixing bowl. Using a butter knife begin cutting these together into small pieces in the bowl.
It isn't pretty yet, but neither is a house at this stage in the process. We are building something here.
Add the flour. Cut it in with the knife. Guys, this is exactly what it sounds like. Just start cutting until everything is mixed up, cut it so that no flour, margarine or cream cheese is recognizable as a distinct ingredient. It should all be very small pieces of mixed ingredients. If it feels too wet to form, you can add 1-2 Tablespoons of flour at a time until the dough is just a little wet to the touch and easy to form into balls.
Next thing is to spray the pan really well with non-stick spray. Each little cup in the pan should be completely covered with the non-stick spray. This is important. Then roll out little balls of dough and drop one into each cup. Not too much. Not too little.
Next, begin working the dough into the form of the cup with your fingers. It is very important that the walls of the cup and the bottom be the same thickness all the way around. Not too thin, especially on the bottom. Not too thick, or it will make the tart too crusty. The fillings don't have to be pretty. They just have to be consistent. (When we are buying houses to remodel we call this "having good bones" or having a proper structure to start a remodeling project).
After you have made 1 complete pan of pie crusts, begin filling pies with the pecan filling mixture from the first bowl. This is a little messy, but using a spoon or pouring the mixture into the cups should be fairly easy.
When you get the first 12 filled, add finely chopped pecans to the top of each cup to finish it off. Then place this first tray in the pre-heated oven at 325 degrees and bake for 25-29 minutes. The crust should begin turning medium brown. Not too dark, or they will get hard. Not too light, else they will not look appetizing.
As soon as you start the first tray in the oven begin working on the second tray. Continue this process until you have finished all of the ingredients in one or both bowls. If you start over-lapping the process and finish the second tray before the first one is finished cooking, set a second timer for the second tray and put it in the oven. Be sure you start your timers immediately. If you are a planner, this is a good exercise in planning and timing.
Pull the trays out of the oven when they start to brown (these may be a bit too light in the photo above. Probably could have cooked another 2 mins). Let them sit and cool for a few minutes until you can touch the tarts. Try gently spinning the tart in the tin using the tips of your fingers. If the cup was well greased it should spin when it has cooled down about 3-5 minutes. If not, try using a thin knife to slip in around the edges next to the pan to see if you can break where it has stuck to the pan.
Gently lift the tarts from the pan with a butter knife and place on a serving dish.
You can serve these tarts hot, warm or room temperature. You can store in an air-tight container for several days if they are not all eaten on the first day. This recipe should make 4 to 5 dozen tarts. This may sound like a lot, but they go fast--especially if you have friends. (No one wants to eat my dry turkey at Thanksgiving, but everyone asks if I am going to make pecan tarts this year before they accept our invitation to the holidays).
I hope this recipe brings you as many good times as it has me. And as always, when you start thinking about your new home or selling an existing home--Let's Talk.
Ok--so this is not Real Estate, but here is a fun recipe that you can enjoy in your new home during the holidays. I have published this recipe every year and it is very popular in the search engines. It only takes a few hours to make these little bits and they are better than anything that you can buy at the nicest bakery in Austin. For those of you who may not cook--you should know that I am no chef. Ask my wife.
I grew up in a family of seven children. My dad was a builder (among other things), so naturally he only cooked when there was hickory and an open fire involved--and he did grill a mean burger on the 4th of July. However, with four older sisters and a strong southern mom, I learned something about cooking, especially during the holidays. I cook occasionally now, but my wife is the natural chef in our home. She has the instincts of a master builder in the kitchen, but when it comes to the holidays--I am the chef on deck.
As an adult my oldest sister, Millie taught me how to make her Mini Pecan Tarts. I wanted to learn how to make something that was fun for the holidays--which is where this holiday traditions began. So, if you are looking for something really great to take to a holiday dinner, to a friend's party or just a little surprise for family and friends--try this holiday mini pecan tart.
Here is the recipe for approximately 4-5 dozen mini tarts.
The Pastry. If you are going to make the tarts you have to make the pastry from scratch. You can not substitute a store bought or store made pastry and expect anything close to the same results.
- 8 oz's of cream cheese (do not use low fat--it won't work; I know from experience)
- 1 cup of soft margarine
- 1 cup of all purpose flour
- Non-stick oil pan spray
The Filling:
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup melted or soft butter
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans (pretty small pieces) to go in the filling
- Another 1/4 - 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans for the top
First, you make the filling. You will make the pastry shell in a minute, but we will start with the pecan filling. Get everything out and make room on the counter to work. You will need a fairly large counter top area to work.
About 30 mins before you get started, put your butter and margin out on the counter top. This will allow it to become soft.
Begin mixing the ingredients for the filling. Beat with a fork until everything is well mixed, including the butter. I like to cut the butter in when it is soft, but Milly's original recipe calls for melted butter. The softer the better because you want the butter to be very small chunks or completely blended into the mixture. It is important that each mini has the same amount of butter. Of course, the real secret ingredient is the vanilla extract. If you want to know what makes the pecan mini taste so wonderful, smell the vanilla before you add it to the mixing bowl.
Mix in 1 cup of pecans. You will need more pecans to put on top--so make sure you don't put all of your pecans in the mix. Buy pre-cut pecans. Cutting pecans is just a lot of work with very little reward.
Guys--cooking is a little bit like building a house. It is all about following a design plan and knowing what you are doing before you start. If you get into trouble you can call someone who knows more than you do. I know more about building a house than cooking, so if you are thinking about building or buying a home--Let's talk. If you are looking for a caterer--I am absolutely not your go-to guy.
Now it is time to begin the pastry.
Making the pastry--the shell. To do this you need mini muffin pans. Not the big 3" size muffin pan. You want the 1" size muffin pans. You really want to have to have at least 2 muffin pans, but 4 would be better, because you are going to be rotating these pans into and out of the oven every 25-29 minutes. More pans = less washing while you are cooking.
First, put the soft margarine and soft cream cheese into a mixing bowl. Using a butter knife begin cutting these together into small pieces in the bowl.
It isn't pretty yet, but neither is a house at this stage in the process. We are building something here.
Add the flour. Cut it in with the knife. Guys, this is exactly what it sounds like. Just start cutting until everything is mixed up, cut it so that no flour, margarine or cream cheese is recognizable as a distinct ingredient. It should all be very small pieces of mixed ingredients. If it feels too wet to form, you can add 1-2 Tablespoons of flour at a time until the dough is just a little wet to the touch and easy to form into balls.
Next thing is to spray the pan really well with non-stick spray. Each little cup in the pan should be completely covered with the non-stick spray. This is important. Then roll out little balls of dough and drop one into each cup. Not too much. Not too little.
Next, begin working the dough into the form of the cup with your fingers. It is very important that the walls of the cup and the bottom be the same thickness all the way around. Not too thin, especially on the bottom. Not too thick, or it will make the tart too crusty. The fillings don't have to be pretty. They just have to be consistent. (When we are buying houses to remodel we call this "having good bones" or having a proper structure to start a remodeling project).
After you have made 1 complete pan of pie crusts, begin filling pies with the pecan filling mixture from the first bowl. This is a little messy, but using a spoon or pouring the mixture into the cups should be fairly easy.
When you get the first 12 filled, add finely chopped pecans to the top of each cup to finish it off. Then place this first tray in the pre-heated oven at 325 degrees and bake for 25-29 minutes. The crust should begin turning medium brown. Not too dark, or they will get hard. Not too light, else they will not look appetizing.
As soon as you start the first tray in the oven begin working on the second tray. Continue this process until you have finished all of the ingredients in one or both bowls. If you start over-lapping the process and finish the second tray before the first one is finished cooking, set a second timer for the second tray and put it in the oven. Be sure you start your timers immediately. If you are a planner, this is a good exercise in planning and timing.
Pull the trays out of the oven when they start to brown (these may be a bit too light in the photo above. Probably could have cooked another 2 mins). Let them sit and cool for a few minutes until you can touch the tarts. Try gently spinning the tart in the tin using the tips of your fingers. If the cup was well greased it should spin when it has cooled down about 3-5 minutes. If not, try using a thin knife to slip in around the edges next to the pan to see if you can break where it has stuck to the pan.
Gently lift the tarts from the pan with a butter knife and place on a serving dish.
You can serve these tarts hot, warm or room temperature. You can store in an air-tight container for several days if they are not all eaten on the first day. This recipe should make 4 to 5 dozen tarts. This may sound like a lot, but they go fast--especially if you have friends. (No one wants to eat my dry turkey at Thanksgiving, but everyone asks if I am going to make pecan tarts this year before they accept our invitation to the holidays).
I hope this recipe brings you as many good times as it has me. And as always, when you start thinking about your new home or selling an existing home--Let's Talk.
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