In every major urban center the ongoing battle between sensitive ecosystems and urban development is de rigeur, but in quirky Austin, when an SOS was sent out on behalf of the rare Barton Springs Salamander, the city rushed to the rescue. Fortunately for Austin homeowners, the decision to funnel their tax dollars into saving this urban amphibian seems to be paying off in more ways than one.
The only place in the world to find the four-inch Barton Springs Salamander is in the natural springs located in Austin's downtown Zilker Park. And since it was listed as an endangered species in 1997, the city of Austin has really gotten behind their little buddy. Perhaps spurred by regulations set out by the endangered species act, or maybe just living up to it's reputation as one of the greenest cities in America, Austin has managed to raise the local Salamander population in just a few years and is making plans to keep it rising.
Green City USA
Austin's committment to the environment is undoubtably part of it's charm and the push to save the Barton Springs Salamander is in keeping with the city's green approach to urban planning. Named the Greenest City in America by MSN and the Greenest City in the American South by National Geographic, Austin residents are proud of their committment to the environment. In a 2007 survey citizens gave Austin top marks for its water and energy conservation programs, the preservation of green space, and its clean good-tasting drinking water.
The Price of Austin's Green Real Estate
So what does this all mean for Austin homeowners? On a very basic level, improving the critter's habitat also improves the habitat for other living creatures - most notably humans. For instance, saving the salamander will mean even cleaner water for Austinites. It also represents a significant investment in a public green space at the heart of a city of 660,000 people, which is certainly nice. But could Austin's tenancy to do things like save their salamander actually be boosting the value of their real estate?
Almost everywhere else in the country the housing market has taken a swift downturn and over the past year sales have dropped in most urban centers - except Austin. Austin continues to see fewer houses on the market for fewer days while prices continue to rise.
It's not rocket science. For homeowners around the perimeter of Zilker Park, the preservation and recovery efforts are having a favorable impact on quaility of life - it's simply a nice place to live - and when a lot of people want to live in a place, the property values go up. In Barton Hills and Zilker where the average home is already listed at $450 to $550K, this is outstanding news. Properties in the Rollingwood, Town Lake and other nearby neighborhoods are also seeing steady appreciation that's not likely to slow down.
Rescuing Austin's Amphibian
The three acre Barton Springs is a natural spring fed pool with a year round average temperature of 68 degrees. One of three main pools, the springs are located in Zilker Park, voted the "Best Outdoor Public Space" by Austin Chronicle readers in 2006. A popular gathering spot and event site, the park also hosts the annual Austin City Limits Festival, the Kite Festival and the Trail of lights.
To date, the smaller Eliza Springs which is also in Zilker Park, has been the test location for improvements to the salamander's habitat. Here workers have restored the springs, increasing necessary water flow, improving water quality and clearing rock formations. As a result of their efforts, monthly counts have seen the area's salamander population increase from a scant 12 in 2002 to a stable 400 in 2007, an increase of 3,333%.
Last year, a master plan for improving the ecosystem for the entire aquifer was commissioned by city council. The first phase of the plan, which outlines a series of short term projects, will be presented to council this month (August 2007) for inclusion in the 2008 city budget. Longer term projects will be presented to council in the fall. The last phase in the project will measure the results of these efforts - a process that may take up to two years.
There are many factors that can influence the value of a property. Location is obviously one of the most important factors as demand for housing at a particular area has a big impact on prices. When looking for real estate make sure to find out the general pattern of property value in the area you want to live.
It is always a good idea to purchase a home where the trend of property value is increasing as this means that over time you will be able to take advantage of appreciation in the value of your home. The average for most locations is around 5 percent per year but some regions due to heavy demand may experience as high as 10 to 15 percent increase in property value each year.
The size of the house also influences property value as larger properties will command higher prices. Remodeling or making additions and improvements can also make a big impact on the price of a property. For example if you do a complete remodeling of the kitchen or bathroom this will usually add quite a bit of value often far more than the cost of the remodeling job.
Adding a carport to a home that did not have one can also add significant value much greater than the investment made on the carport itself. Of course complete renovations and adding new rooms or a new level altogether will also increase the property value. The great thing about real estate is that most modifications made usually increase the property value quite greatly and you usually end up making much more than you spent in the improvements if you do decide to sell.
This is one of the reasons you really should consider buying a home rather than renting because a house is like an asset that in most cases will grow in value and can pay you back quite significantly if you make a wise investment. The best things that increase property value are those improvements that make the house look newer and more expensive to potential buyers.
For instance just improving the heating and ventilation system may not add much value because potential buyers will assume that the house should already have a good heating and ventilation. However something as simple as replacing a dull wallpaper with a more bright wallpaper or paint job can return much more money than you spent.
Also making sure the front yard is clean and neat, even consider getting some landscaping done, and also making sure the driveway is painted or has good tiling that is not broken can all add more value and put more money in your pocket. Just make sure the house looks impressive and not broken down. Even minor flaws can turn off buyers and they will not want to pay the higher price.
The age of the house is also important as older homes that are over 25 years old may need a complete makeover whereas younger homes could just use a touchup. The best places to focus as far as improvement are the kitchen and bathroom. These two areas can increase the value of your home the most so put the money in to keep them looking great and make sure to maintain them properly. Also the best time to sell a property is when interest rates are low and people are eager to buy so you may want to wait for this kind of period to be able to attract the highest price for your home.
Both Jim Olenbush & Jake Beacons are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jim Olenbush has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate, Debts Loans and Real Estate. Jim Olenbush is a broker and Realtor that is proud to assist home buyers and home sellers with the world of . Jim is a top producer and an ex. Jim Olenbush's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
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