Archive for October, 2011
Topography, Trees and more effect the custom home building process.
When you are looking for a lot for custom homes in Austin, there are many things to consider. What do you see when you look at an unimproved lot? You may see some nice trees and a great Hill Country view. For me it’s more complicated than that! Many things go through my head when I first walk a lot…
What are the building setbacks?
What are the deed restrictions?
What utilities are available to this property?
Will we need a well and/or septic system?
If there is a sewer system, how deep are the taps buried?
Will we need a grinder pump?
There are many technical questions to be answered, but aside from that, here’s my thought process when I first step foot on a lot to assess it for my client:
What is the sun orientation? I always identify true west and then northwest so I can understand where the afternoon sun will be located and at what angle it will hit the lot in the hottest part of our summer.
Ladybird Lake by Downtown Austin
There are several reasons why our clients build their custom homes in Austin. Just to name a few, the beautiful Lake Travis, Lake Austin and Hill Country views, the great food scene, Austin’s appreciation of the arts, and Austin’s small town feel while being a big city. It’s these same factors that led Forbes to name Austin, Texas as one of the nation’s top 10 weekend vacation destinations.
Austin always has something for you to do. If you’re a foodie, we have plenty for you to try downtown, on South Congress, South Lamar, and hidden around the city. You can ask any Austinite and they will be happy to tell you their favorite place to eat. If you enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, Austin has numerous trails to run or bike on, around Ladybird Lake and the many green belts. Swim in Barton Springs as it’s open year-round with spring fed water that stays at a cool 68 degrees. Try kayaking or paddle boarding out of Zilker Park on Ladybird Lake. While you are thinking about going to Zilker Park, pack some sandwiches and have a picnic and catch some rays on the nicely manicured lawn. Stand on the South Congress Bridge at dusk to witness the largest urban bat colony in the world. Do you love music? Austin has more live music venues per capita than any other city in America. Austin is also home to two of the largest music festivals in the nation with Austin City Limits and South By Southwest.
2010 Starting Line
The Holiday season is fast approaching and as the premier custom home builder in Austin, we would like to suggest a new tradition for you to adopt in your household. Every Thanksgiving for the past 20 years, ThunderCloud Subs has sponsored its Turkey Trot, giving you the chance to run off all delicious Thanksgiving food you will consume later in the day.
The Turkey Trot will take place on Thursday, November 24 and feature three different races. The first at 8:45am is the Kid’s K, the next at 9:30am is the 5-mile Run, and the last starting at 9:45am is the 1-mile walk. The three different races accommodate all members of your family of various endurance levels. Proceeds from the Turkey Trot will benefit Caritas of Austin. Last year $250,000 was donated and 18,500 people ran in the races. Over the past 20 years, more than $1,250,000 has been raised.
The Second Annual Community Showcase
A small group of home builders in Austin including Sterling Custom Homes will open their build sites to the public during the second annual Community Showcase at The Reserve at Lake Travis this weekend. The event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 23 from Noon to 5pm. This event will provide a fantastic opportunity to see two beautiful Sterling Custom Homes near completion.
The two homes we are featuring in the showcase are both located on waterfront properties. The first is at 2109 Ruffian Heights Cove and has 4,649 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths and 2 half baths. The second home at 1700 Poco Bueno Court is 5,381 square feet and has 4 bedrooms, 4 baths and 3 half baths. When you think of these two homes’ specs you might think that they are very similar. In fact, they are not. They are two completely different homes and both have very unique, Sterling features.
The best way to understand the unique features that we implement in our custom homes would be to come out and see them. When you come to The Reserve on Sunday and register for the event, you will be entered to win a 50” TV, a delightful companion to any custom media room or game room. We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday and discussing your luxury custom homes!
Best Seat in the House!
Only one or two weeks out of the year are all four professional sports leagues playing and broadcasting to custom homes in Austin simultaneously. To the sports fanatic, this is the most exciting time of the year. Although there might be a lockout in the NBA right now, there is still plenty going on in the sports world, especially with the shake up in the Big 12 and other NCAA conferences, making this college football season even more intense. With the opportunity to watch all these sports from the comfort of your own home, you have to make the most out of your media and game room.
If you are a sports enthusiast you have more than likely heard the phrase, “Go big or go home.” Well when you are planning your custom media room with Sterling Custom Homes, we help you “Go big and stay home.” From HD projectors, to multi-screen walls, to wet bars, to in-wall hidden wiring for surround sound, we’ve got you covered and then some. We love sports too and we are always thinking about how we can help you optimize your media and game room for the ultimate fan experience for you and your guests.