10 Best Places To Live In Texas

Apart from its vast size, Texas has a reputation for barbecue, wide-open spaces and thriving cities. The largest state in the U.S. not only dwarfs others in land mass but also ranks number two in the nation when it comes to population and population growth. Here are the ten best places to live in Texas. 

1. Highland Park

Despite being landlocked by the city of Dallas, Highland Park is proud of its small-town atmosphere. Some of the homes for sale in the area were built as far back as the 1940’s, though many have been torn down to build larger, more expensive homes. Highland Park home prices and real estate is the highest per square foot in the Metroplex and land alone can cost over $1million. With a perfect rating school district, small-town…

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Top Ten Texas Universities - Best Colleges in TX

Many colleges and universities in Texas are located in the cities of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, El Paso, Corpus Christi and Austin. Two of the state’s publicly funded universities – the University of Texas, Austin and Texas A&M University, College Station are among the largest universities in the country, with each enrolling roughly 40,000 undergraduate students.

In matters, real estate, one of the benefits of investing in properties near any university campus, is that property owners can keep their investments insulated from the dips in the market as student housing is always a necessity.

Here are some of the top ten universities in Texas you should consider.

1. Rice University

Located in the heart of Houston’s Museum District,…

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Austin Newest Luxury Subdivisions

Austin is a thriving city with a cosmopolitan luxury real estate market. It comprises of properties in Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties. The rapid growth in population along with modern infrastructure has created demand for luxury homes both inside and outside the city of Austin. Buyers can find a wide variety of homes in different architectural styles, locations and price points.

Here are some of Austin’s newest luxury subdivisions. 

1. Belvedere

Belvedere is one of Austin’s newer luxury neighborhoods and is ideal for families who want to be a short distance from the town, inside a gated community with loads of amenities. This subdivision was named the Best Overall Community at the 2010 Max Awards and 2010 Star Awards. The most common …

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New Home Communities in Houston

Houston New Home Communities

Houston’s growing job market, countless corporate headquarters and diverse culture of ethnicities is a magnet for people relocating or seeking new challenges. The “City with No Limits” has seen new homes with modern features and resort-like amenities spring up, giving buyers several options to choose. Thanks to the city’s mild winters you’ll enjoy plenty of warm weather to get outside and explore.

Here are some of the best new home communities in Houston. 

1. The Groves

The Groves is a pristine mater planned community that offers residents respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. Residents have access to a resort-like swimming pool, fishing at the Fish Camp and picnic areas in the neighborhood parks.…

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Are You Moving to Seattle? Here's What You Need to Know.

You're about to move to Seattle because you've just heard about all the niceties that go along with living there. Whether it's going to be just across the state or if you're from across the country, all that excitement might be clouding your thinking processes. Moving day is drawing near, and you might still have no idea where to start.

What's the weather like?

Is it expensive to live in Seattle?

What are great places to eat and where should I visit first?

Can I get by with just my bike or do I have to own a car to go from place-to-place?

These are the questions (and more) that might be going through your mind right about now. But before panic seeps down into your very core, you need to close your eyes, breathe deeply, and calm down first.…

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Texas Homestead Exemption

A house is probably one of the biggest investment the average Texan will ever make. To make such an investment a reality, the state of Texas offers its citizens a simple way to save money on their property taxes through a homestead exemption. Eligible Texas homeowners can reduce the taxes owed on their property by a certain percentage, by filing a homestead exemption. If you wish to know how to go about it, the guide below will help you learn more about Texas Homestead Exemptions.

What is a Homestead Exemption?

A homestead exemption removes a part of the value of your house from taxation and lowers the amount of your property taxes. To qualify you must fulfill the following:

· Be the owner

· Must be your primary residence in January when…

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Just Moved to Austin? Here are the Best Things to Do

Austin is a crazy city — crazy cool, that is.

Austin, Texas is a counterculture city with the slogan “Keep Austin Weird".  If you’re lucky enough to move here you’ll quickly learn how zany our creative culture can be.  It is best known for its dozens of annual festivals, the largest of which include SXSW and Austin City Limits.  The infamous 1.5 million bats who emerge from Congress Bridge at dusk keep us a bit batty, too.  Austin has things to dofor everybody who enjoys leaving their home: several spring-fed swimming pools, a zealous barbecue selection, a robust art culture, and a bustling music scene.

The Live Music Capital of the World

Speaking of music, Austin dubs itself the “live music capital of the world,” and it lives up to that…

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Top 10 Houston Views from Condo Buildings

In a new city, where you live determines your world. What you see from your window sets the rhythm of your day. In Houston, you can choose to be Galleria funky or Galveston relaxed. There are plenty of things to do in Houston, but choosing where to live in a new city sometimes seems like a crapshoot.

It can be difficult to determine the vibe of a neighborhood you’ve never been to. That’s why we’ve done it for you. We’ve set out to feature two attractions from each of the four major neighborhoods in Houston: Uptown, Galveston Beach, Montrose, and West Houston, in order to help you determine which you’d like to see from the window of your future condo.

Gerrald D. Hines Waterwall Park, Uptown

Imagine pulling aside the curtains of your Galleria…

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To Rent or Buy Commercial Real Estate?

For an entrepreneur running a business, a time may come when you will have to make the decision whether to buy or lease commercial property or space.

It’s easy to plan for a car, vacation or education. But deciding which property type best suits your needs can present many challenges.

Here are some pros and cons for both buying and leasing a commercial property or space to help you make that choice.

1. The Pros of Buying

Extra Income: Ownership allows you to rent out unused space. The rental revenue can be reinvested in the business or help pay the mortgage.

Tax Advantages: The associated costs of owning and operating commercial property allows you to claim tax deductions. This includes interest on mortgage and property taxes.

Control:…

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Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Bats, Man

People love bats, but it seems only in baseball or Gotham City. The real deal kinda freaks people out.

But it shouldn’t. Bats are actually one of the great critters on this planet. Without them, the environment and its many ecosystems would suffer greatly, and you and I would be awash in bugs. Bats provide pollination and seeding and are so vital to some ecosystems that the absence of bats in some parts of the world would cause entire plant species to die out. And bat guano is such a powerful fertilizer that many crops in many areas of the world would dry up if bats were not around.

Less freaked out? Good. Now you can check out the best place to bat-watch in Austin. The Congress Avenue Bridge, right downtown, is home to the largest urban bat…

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