Austin Real Estate

1816 South Lamar Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78704
512-326-4395

I love it that Sazón Mexican Resturant in Austin, Texas uses a Monarch butterfly for it’s logo. It reminds me of the fascinating history of the Monarch butterfly’s migration from Canada and North America to the state of Michoacan in Central Mexico.  When I see a Monarch butterfly I always think of not only Michoacan, but Mexico in general and the diversity of the country and it’s cuisine. Like the bejeweled Monarch, the regional Mexican dishes served at Sazón are a real treasure.

As far as looks go, Sazón is the Plain Jane of a fine dining setting. Even the colored tissues picadas hanging from the ceiling aren’t enough to gussie up the drab interior. But wait – it’s what comes out of the kitchen that counts, right?  Of course it is! And here’s where you can enjoy interior Mexican food that’s fit for a king, but for a pauper’s purse. Forget about architectural style and feast your eyes on what’s brought to the table.

The Sazón menu is a cornucopia of choices. There’s appetizers such as Empanadas de Huitlachoche, Empanadas de Jaiba (crab), Sopecitos (handmade masa corncakes) filled with beans, chicken or chorizo and even Cochinita Pibil (Yucatan-style shredded pork) – all ample enough for sharing or even as an entree for one.

For soups you might try Yucatan-style Caldo Xochitl, Jalisco-style cool Gaspacho Tapatio, and Mexico City-style Crema de Elote (creamy corn chowder).

Salads range from Ensalada Caesar (yes, Caesar salad is Mexican, not Italian) to Ensalada de Nopalitos (tender strips of the prickly pear cactus w/ diced tomatoes, onion, cilantro, oregano, queso fresco and fresh jalapeños). The Ensalada Mexicana of fresh spinach, toasted almonds, sesame seeds, feta cheese, chilie ancho, tortilla strips is a light meal in itself.

Hearty chicken entries are served either in Mole Oaxaqueño sauce (dark, rich, complex)  or Pipian Verde (roasted pumpkin seed sauce).  Two of my favorite dishes are the Carnitas Michoacanas (glazed pork) and the Alambres de Res (grilled, skewered beef tenderloins). All served with choice of black beans or Charro-style beans, rice and tortillas. The Poblano Chile En Nogada filled with fruits, nuts, shredded pork, then topped with a walnut cream sauce is as good as I’ve had in any restaurant in Mexico.

Ohmagosh! And then there’s the enchiladas in every style imagineable: de Mole, Espinaca, Potosinas (folded, stuffed with Queso Fresco, Pipian, Carnitas (tangy fried pork), Jaiba, Suiza, Del Norte and Chipotle.

Sazón is one of my favorite breakfast places, too. The last time we were there we ordered Chiquiles (fried tortilla pieces simmered in chipotle sauce) and the Arrachera  (a marinated, grilled hanger steak w/pico de gallo). Both were served with two eggs and choice of beans (see photo). The coffee is good and the orange juice is freshly squeezed.

From 3:00-7:00 Monday through Friday you can enjoy drink and appetizer specials at Sazon’s Happy Hour.  Live music is sometimes featured at the Sunday brunch.

For complete restaurant hours and also great descriptions of menu items in English go to their site: www.SazonAustin.com

Diane Payton Gomez
LoveLivingInAustin.com

Whenever someone I’ve just met finds out I’m a REALTOR® I’m almost immediately asked, “How’s the real estate market?” I have to imagine that if one’s profession is, say, dentistry or running a mortuary, do those guys get asked, “How’s the dental business? Are more people getting cavities these days?” Or, “How’s the funeral industry? Do you find many people dying this time of year?”

Yeah, I know. That would be kind of a weird way to begin getting acquainted, wouldn’t it? However, asking, “How’s the real estate market?” is actually not just an icebreaker, but a subject of real interest to most everyone past puberty. If you’re not presently thinking about buying or selling real estate you should be concerned about local property values since that is a reflection of not only our regional, but national economy, as well.

With that in mind I’m launching my new blog with the first of a series of articles in a category entitled, “How’s the Market?” which will be updated on a regular basis.

Today, there are 13,533 single-family residential properties for sale in the Central Texas areas covered by the Austin Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. In the past 365 days-to-date  21,437 listings have sold. Divide that figure by 12 and you get an average 1,786 sales per month. Divide the number of active listings by the average number that are selling per month and you find there is 7.58 months inventory available for sale.

In the past 30 days to date 1,429  homes were sold, which is less than the average sales per month during  the past 365 days.  The first-time/move-up tax credits have gone away, plus it’s the dead of summer which adds to the surplus of single-family residential properties. In the past 30 days 2,850 listings were posted. Is it a Buyer’s Market? You bet!

Of course, this picture is painted with a very broad brush. It’s like what I answer when I’m asked, “How’s the real estate market?” I say, “Which area of Austin are we talking about? Downtown? The surrounding communities such as Round Rock, Cedar Park-Leander, Kyle-Buda? Out near the airport? Northwest Hills? East Austin just off IH 35 near downtown? East Austin near Montopolis? How about the neighborhood where you live?” You see, sales statistics are not the same straight across the Austin Central Texas area.

And what price ranges are we interested in? Believe it or not, there are 218 properties priced from $50K – $75K. That price range has an inventory of only 3.77 months. On the other end of the scale there are 220 homes priced above $2,000,000 with 102.67 months inventory.  Curiously, we have an inventory of 10.53 months supply of homes priced from $525K - $550K, those priced from $550K - $575K have nearly 50 months inventory.

Right now the interest rate  for a 30-year-fixed conventional loan (zero + 1)  is around 4.125 percent. FHA is 4.25 (zero + zero). With interest rates this low it’s an amazing time to buy a home!

So, where are the buyers? Who’s buying, who isn’t – and why?? How can you increase your chances for loan approval? Stay tuned for my my next “How’s the Market?” post to find out.

Meanwhile, if you would like to know where the best deals are ,or what the present sales and inventory stats are for your neighborhood, please call or e-mail me . I can help you!

Diane Gomez, REALTOR®, ABR, CDPE, CNE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, TAHS