November 2021 Austin Residential Real Estate Market Statistics

 

Data compares November 2020 to November 2021.  Visit abor.com/marketstatistics for more information and for charts on additional counties in Austin's MSA.   

Visit us at Floyd Real Estate, LLC, if you are thinking about buying or selling property (residential, commercial, or land) in the Central Texas area.   We would be happy to advise you on your real estate related needs.  

Floyd Real Estate is a Texas real estate brokerage, TREC Lic. #9003790

Air Travel: Southwest Offering More Flights From Austin to Mexico

 

In June Southwest Airlines will be adding non-stop flights from Austin to Cozumel (subject to government approval) and will also be resuming non-stop flights to Puerto Vallarta.  Southwest will also be resuming non-stop service to Cabo San Lucas.   You can read more about this on Culture Map or in the latest press release from SWA.  

Maroma Point in Mexico, Between Cancun and Cozumel

Happy Anniversary, Floyd Real Estate

I'm pleased to report that Floyd Real Estate, LLC, is 7 years old.   Since launching the business we have done residential and commercial transactions.  We have enjoyed it and look forward to another exciting year.   Contact us if you're thinking of buying or selling property in the Central Texas area.  

Grand Canyon Trip: Getting There

 

Lobby of the Hotel Monte Vista

So you want to backpack in the Grand Canyon?  That's a great idea and I highly recommend that you do it.  Now you ask, what's the best way to get there if you are planning to enter the canyon from the south rim?  Here's what we did and what I recommend: fly to Las Vegas and drive to Flagstaff.  I've been to the Grand Canyon twice before, both times after driving up from Phoenix.  It's a nice drive (and coming back off the Mogollon Rim offers some great views) which can afford a detour in Sedona (recommended).  However, for our trip Vegas had better flight options (Southwest from Austin to LAS was cheaper than to PHX) with the bonus of a fly-by of the canyon (sit on the starboard side of the plane on the flight to LAS).  We rented an Outback which provided ample room for 4 people and their backpacking gear.   We then drove from Vegas to Kingman whereupon we hit I-40 and headed to Flagstaff.  It was an easy drive.  

We decided to spend the night in Flagstaff before making the hour and half drive to Grand Canyon National Park.  As for Flagstaff:

• Flagstaff has a large, well stocked REI staffed by knowledgable people.  I recommend that you buy your stove fuel online and have it waiting for you when you roll into town.  
• I recommend a stay at the Hotel Monte Vista.  It's a cool old hotel with a lot of charm.  
• You can visit their website to read up on the old-school actors who stayed their while filming westerns in the area.  
• You can walk to many bars and restaurants in the adjacent blocks.  I recommend less drinking and more eating to fuel up for canyon hiking.
• Also, it's allegedly haunted (I had zero paranormal experiences whilst staying there, but maybe you will get lucky).
• On two previous trips to Flagstaff I visited the Lowell Observatory.  I highly recommend going to the observatory for a tour.  It was founded by Percival Lowell (yes, the very same gentleman who theorized that canals on Mars were probably build by an intelligent civilization) and it's where Pluto was discovered.
• The south entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park is 79 miles from Flagstaff.  Once you're in the park you'll still have to drive around to find a parking place.   We entered the canyon from the South Kaibab trailhead while leaving the car by the Bright Angel trailhead.  There is a free shuttle which will take you from Bright Angel to South Kaibab, but there may be a wait so factor that in as well.  

Now you're at the trailhead.  I'll follow up with more posts about the hike and about gear at some point, so stay tuned.

Backpacking: Grand Canyon

On the South Kaibab Trail

A couple of weeks ago I alluded to training for a backpacking trip.   Well, said allusion was to backpacking in the Grand Canyon National Park for 4 days/3 nights.  It was a fantastic experience which I highly recommend if you are an outdoor enthusiast.   The backpacking part was bookended with stays in Flagstaff and Las Vegas, both of which were fun.  

I have a fair amount of material to cover regarding the trip, thus I'm going to spread out the information over a few posts.   Stay tuned...