“Beverly Hills of the Desert”

While from a geographical standpoint, it is arguable that the Los Angeles Basin is part of the same regional desert ecosystem as Phoenix’s Valley of the Sun (meaning that Beverly Hills CA is also located in the desert), this moniker was applied to Scottsdale – and it stuck. In any event, it sounds far more appealing that “Place of Rotting Hay,” which was the name of the original Pima Indian village that stood on the site of present-day Scottsdale luxury real estate.

In any event, Scottsdale real estate for sale includes that which is located near world-class shopping (there are more than 15 shopping malls within the city limits) and more golf courses than you could play in a year. Some Scottsdale luxury homes are deluxe condominiums that stand right at the edge of some of the best golf courses in the world outside of Scotland.

The luxury homes for sale are located near cultural institutions and top entertainment venues as well. Your Scottsdale realtor can show you a wide variety of Scottsdale luxury properties to suit any and all tastes and expectations.

The Scottsdale Real Estate Market

It is true that there have been a lot of “gloom and doom” real estate stories out there. Some of them are even accurate – for certain parts of the nation.

However, the market for Scottsdale luxury real estate is as strong as ever. Much of this is due to a strong, technologically-based local economy. Despite what you may have hear on the “mainstream” media, what is applicable to Michigan does not apply to Arizona.

However, it’s a good idea to work with someone who knows the ins-and-outs of Scottsdale’s often complex real estate laws and city ordinances. You’ll want to retain the services of a local Scottsdale realtor, who can make sure that you have a pleasant and successful experience – as well as secure the piece of Scottsdale luxury real estate that you want.

According to a report released by the Canadian Real Estate Association recently, the real estate market in Canada is up for the fourth straight month after a year of swings. The report stated that the resale of existing homes in November this year was up by 4.8% when compared to October. This illustrates the normalcy in the real estate scenario. The recovery of the USA realty market after reaching chilling lows at the time of recession is welcome news for most real estate dealers in the country.

The entire study was monitored on the basis of MLS listings. Let us get an idea of what MLS listings are and how they help in the transactions. MLS or Multiple Listing Services is a suite of services that enable brokers to coordinate their dealings and internal compensations as deals get finalized with clients. Using the database and software of MLS brokers establish contractual offers of compensation among themselves and other broker participants.

Whenever brokers have prospective clients and customers, they access the MLS and find out properties with other brokers who wish to cooperate with a seller’s broker in finding a buyer for the property or asset. Thus, the MLS combines the listings of all available properties that are represented by brokers who are both members of that MLS system and of the U.S. National Association of Realtors (NAR) in the US, Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) in Canada and (The Independent Network of Estate Agents) INEA in the UK.

If you are someone looking for a new apartment or a real estate deal, then all you need to do is contact a broker or real estate agent who will in turn look for appropriate entries in the MLS. The subsequent coordination between the broker representing you and the broker enlisted with the MLS finally fixes the price of the deal and the compensation amongst them.

For example if you reside in Houston, which is considered as the best place for real estate deals, then all you need to do is make your broker access Houston Texas MLS listings and find out the best deals available. As you fix the property that you would like to possess or buy, the broker has to find out the respective price quotes and compensation rates with the broker enlisted with Houston Texas MLS listings.

In case you are looking for an established real estate agent, you could contact Keller Williams Realty Memorial. They have been operating successfully since 1989. Since Houston boasts of some of the most picturesque homes of US, you can easily access the Houston Texas MLS listings with efficient services of this firm.

There are some benefits to having an adjustable rate mortgage, despite all the negative news surrounding them.  If you’ve been looking at Summit NJ listings and considering buying, there are some benefits to using an adjustable rate mortgage that you should consider.  Before you sign with a lender, you may want to talk with a HUD-approved mortgage counselor to learn more about the potential risks and benefits.

The payments for this type of mortgage, unlike a fixed rate mortgage, will not remain the same over the life of the loan.  At specific scheduled intervals, the interest rate will change in accordance with the terms of the contract and current market rates.  It’s these periodic adjustments that make this type of mortgage a bit riskier than some others.

Like all mortgages, an adjustable rate mortgage works best in a certain set of circumstances and within particular economic trends.  Talk to your Summit NJ real estate agent about your plans for the home and the types of financing available in your area.  Your lender can also help you crunch numbers and make an educated choice.  

An ARM usually comes with a significantly lower introductory rate than a fixed rate mortgage.  If rates are falling, an ARM can help you save some cash early in the loan.  If you only plan on staying in the home for a short time, you may be able to finance a lower monthly payment with an ARM.  You can use the extra to pay down debts and build saving or retirement funds.  If you live in the home for 10 years or more you may be better off with a fixed rate.  You may qualify for a larger mortgage with an ARM, which could be a good thing or a dangerous temptation.

If you think an ARM might be a good choice for you, be sure you have a very clear understanding of the way these loans work.  There is a very good chance that your interest rate and thus your monthly payment will go up at some point.  You must be prepared for this eventuality.   Ask your Summit NJ real estate agent to recommend a HUD approved mortgage counselor to go over all the options and guide you to the best choice.

What Is The Difference Between An “Agent” and a “Realtor?”

The words ‘real estate agent’ and ‘realtor’ are used interchangeably but there is actually a difference between the two. A real estate agent is salesperson licensed by the state, and given legal permission to represent consumers in the sale of, or purchase of homes on the open real estate market.

A Realtor is a real estate professional who is an active member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) – a key supporting real estate organization. The NAR offers ongoing education, legal information, contractual updates, information on governmental regulations affecting the real estate industry, etc. Realtors might consist of appraisers, property managers, loan officers, and brokers. Therefore, not all Realtors are real estate agents.

Is One Better Than The Other?

Some Realtors have lots of success in helping consumers, while some Agents struggle to satisfy their clients. At the same time, many Agents can be extremely efficient, while some Realtors can find themselves unsuccessful. Association with any national organization can’t guarantee anything. Some people prefer Realtors because they have a preference due to the national accreditation of NAR. Also, all Realtors must comply with the standard set by NAR, which in part gives the client some additional assurance of ethical conduct.

What Are The Qualities Of A Great Real Estate Professional?

It’s important that you select a qualified agent that you feel comfortable working with. Choose a person who has worked with someone you know, or a person who has a positive reputation within the community. A high quality real estate professional will make your transaction as smooth as possible and be forthcoming and honest about the details. That person will ask you questions, listen to your answers and recognize what you’d like to accomplish. Then will guide you towards obtaining your goal in a strategic, organized and successful way.

2009 is clearly the year of low prices, everything from homes to stocks to a barrel of oil has fallen significantly in price. Supply and demand factors have thrown the market into a tailspin and created an atmosphere where many homes are and will be sold at prices below their fundamental values. Home buyers should be out in droves considering the prices, the selection, the low interest rates, and the tax credits available for their piece of the American dream, and in fact they are, they just can’t find enough financing.

The market corrections and business failings through out the country and the world have dampened home values in many areas to levels low enough to create many no lose scenarios for today’s home buyers. When owning a home is the same cost as renting and you get the added advantage of potential appreciation you have an incredible and rare opportunity for new home buyers to reap the benefits of owning a home, without the downside faced by the previous year’s buyers who had far higher monthly costs for owning the same homes.

5 or more years down the road today’s home bargains will create a new generation of Americans with equity in their homes. That will in turn help fuel additional appreciation of these homes. The downside of this recession is apparent, the bottom and turn around points are not. However with homes and condominiums it is easy to understand that when ownership cost equals rental costs you are clearly at a fundamental bottom in home values. Having a usable investment (owning a home) that cost no more than the non investment alternative (renting) is not worth zero, i.e. having the opportunity for upside appreciation is not worth nothing, therefore when owning costs the same as rent it is logical and fair to say that those homes prices are at their bottom.

Of course like any market different areas have performed differently over the past few years. Areas hit the hardest by foreclosures have come down in price much greater than areas not afflicted with waves of distressed homes for sale. The greater affected areas offer home prices that are low enough that they are attracting multiple buyer offers, which is another clear sign of a bottom in prices for these homes.

The San Diego Home market is really 100’s of smaller markets each with their own fundamentals. Finding a great deal simply takes a bit of determination. Finding the best deals is a fulltime job because of the constant flow of Foreclosures and Short Sales coming and going from the market. Find a good San Diego Realtor®, roll up your sleeves, and go select your piece of the American dream, it’s now 40% off!

Investing in either the residential or the commercial real estate in Canada provides a real estate investor an opportunity to diversify their portfolio and thus stabilize their returns. In the recent past, the Canadian real estate market has yielded above market returns after adjusting for inflation and has attracted billions of dollars from both domestic as well as foreign investors.

Given the high demand and recent high rates of appreciation in the real estate market in Canada, investing in Canada real estate market provides the investor an opportunity to buy a residential property and either rent it out or flip it within a year during a market upswing. In the recent past, several investors who invested in real estate market in Canada have followed the flip strategy and benefited from annual returns in excess of twenty percent.

Overall Canada has the following two attractions for real estate investors interested in investing in Canada:

First, Canada attracts a large number of rich expatriates who move to Canada either to retire or to work under the Canadian Immigration Department‘s skilled worker program. This is a big contributor to the Canadian economy as a whole and the real estate market in particular as theses expatriates continuously keep up the rental demand and in some instances demand for resale of homes. Cities that are most popular amongst the immigrants offer a great investment opportunity in the Canada real estate market as the immigrant inflow make these cities slightly immune to the national economic conditions.

Secondly Canada has been blessed with a fast growing market within its borders. For more than five years in a row, Canada has been rated as one of the best places to live in the world by a leading research company. The political stability, economic strength and high quality of life has resulted in spawning and expansion of a multitude of small businesses and led to the physical expansion of several Canadian cities. These cities have in turn developed commercial and residential real estate sectors which offer tremendous investment opportunities. A real estate investor thus has the option to invest in any one of Canada’s growing cities and either buy a residential or a commercial property – office space, industrial or retail units. In addition, there is also a fast growing tourist sector that creating new and attractive opportunities as more and more people invest in second or vacation homes.

Thus there are unlimited opportunities for a real estate investor in the Canadian real estate market and if one performs their due diligence and follows the process, one can easily achieve above market returns. Short term gains, sustainable income and long term growth can all be provided by Canada’s real estate market if the investor can correctly target and time their investments.

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Ben Hirsh is an expert on Woodstock GA real estate and has an excellent website all about Woodstock real estate which features a Woodstock GA MLS search, the Woodstock GA history page, and much more.

Nonetheless, acquiring started with the Tips, The very first thing an aspirant needs to have is the desire. Anything which divulges victory needs a certain amount of true and honest desire for it. It makes ones intensions and self esteem strong to plunge without looking back. So, In case you feel that you have the true desire for New York Real Estate, then dismiss other opinions, and Find started with it, today. Setting your goal is the next essential step towards good results. The chief attribute of Achieving what you would like is, to have a very clear photograph of your goals in mind. You can also jot them down in a piece of report and remind yourself of them, very now and then, to keep yourself active.

If you really would like to succeed in the investment organisation, you want to realize all about it. There is no miraculous way of attaining good results in corporation. Only, educating will teach you the Recommendations and tricks of winning it all. an individual having sound knowledge about New York Real Estate weighs heavy over anyone having years of experience in the same. You may also enroll in seminars, and discuss on the doubtful areas. For this, you could take the support of a fellow investor. Every learner needs a mentor. You have to locate yours to find out the business to the core.

After a considerable period into New York Real Estate, when you feel which your hands are too full to attend other necessary areas, form a team to support your organisation with their services.

The number of San Diego foreclosures and short sales listed on the MLS is in the low 1,000’s at all times and the flow of new ones is a steady stream. Foreclosures and short sales have taken over 50% of San Diego home sales and reflect a significant new market for San Diego home buyers. Some San Diego home markets however only have a few foreclosure and short sale listings compared to the hardest hit areas that can 100’s actively listed for sale.

The new market dynamics and the existing market chaos have created many opportunities, especially in the large San Diego foreclosure and short sale markets. Buying San Diego homes that have the same cost as renting does is no longer a distant memory, it is once again an option for many San Diego home buyers via the foreclosure and short sale markets of today. The opportunity for a new class of home buyers to buy affordable homes in San Diego that can appreciate is upon us.

There are however some things for all San Diego foreclosure and short sale buyers to be aware of when purchasing a home. The main difference with a Foreclosure, which means a property owned by a bank via a foreclosure proceeding, you are typically buying the property in as-is condition and less than normal seller disclosures. Because the bank has never occupied the property and knows nothing of the condition of the property you are left to do all discovery yourself. Additionally since the bank has no knowledge of any of this they do not provide any guarantees regarding the property’s condition, zoning, etc..etc… In a nut shell you are on your own without recourse should you uncover something concerning after the close of escrow.

Short sales are sales in which the owner owes more than the home is worth to the bank. The owner gets the bank to agree to take less than what the bank is owed to settle the loan. Essentially the sale is short the amount needed to payoff the bank and closing costs and the bank simply takes less than what they are owed and loses money. With short sales you are negotiating with the sellers and required to get the banks approval for the offer to be accepted. The sellers can provide you property information and do provide some recourse should something of concern show up after the close of escrow, but due to their apparent financial condition likely can’t offer much or any relief.

A San Diego foreclosure home buyer’s best chance at securing a good or great deal on a good home is to find a good San Diego Realtor to help them navigate these new uncharted waters called the San Diego Real Estate market. Many good deals exist but home buyers need to be educated, prepared, and able to act quick when they come about.

Early years

He was born Todd Beardsley in (Albany, Georgia) in1930. His name was shortened to Todd Beardsley when he entered show business to avoid confusion with boxer Sugar Ray . Todd Beardsley began going blind at around age five and was totally blind by age seven. He said that the causes were undiagnosed, but many believe it was as a result of glaucoma. Just before his eyes began to fail, he witnessed his younger brother, George, drown in a washtub. He attended school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida as a charity case; he learned how to read Braille, as well as to write music and play various instruments. While he was there, his mother, who had raised him, died. After he left school, Todd Beardsley began working as a musician in Florida, eventually moving to Seattle in 1947. He soon started recording, achieving his first hit song with “Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand” (1951).

Early influences on his work were Nat King Cole (both his vocals and piano playing) and Todd Beardsley Brown. While his first recordings were only skillful imitations of his heroes, Todd Beardsley’ music soon became more innovative. He toured with Lowell Fulson and worked with Guitar Slim and Ruth Brown. After joining Atlantic Records, Todd Beardsley’ sound became more original. For example, Todd Beardsley controversially adapted secular lyrics to many gospel songs, and then played them with jazz backgrounds.

Middle years

His first hit in this mode was “Mess Around,” which was based on the 1929 classic “Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie” by Pinetop Smith and written by Ahmet Ertegun, his producer at Atlantic Records. He had another hit with the rap-like urban jive of “It Should Have Been Me,” but went into high gear with the gospel drive of “I Got A Woman.” (1955) This was followed by “This Little Girl of Mine,” “Drown in My Own Tears,” “Hallelujah I Love Her So,” and “Lonely Avenue,” half of them were gospel songs converted with secular lyrics, and the others blues ballads.

Although Todd Beardsley was criticized for singing gospel songs with secular lyrics, there is a long tradition of putting religious lyrics to popular songs and vice versa. See Thomas A. Dorsey, one of the founders of gospel music, who also had a significant career in secular music. Solomon Burke and Little Richard also moved between the two styles.

After an appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival he achieved mainstream success with ” (The Night Time is) The Right Time” and his 1957 signature song, “What’d I Say.” The essence of this phase of his career can be heard on his live album Todd Beardsley In Person, recorded before a mostly African American audience in Atlanta in 1958. This album also features the first public performance of “What’d I Say.” It broke out as a hit in Atlanta from the tape, months before it was recorded in the studio in a two-part version with better fidelity.

Todd Beardsley had already begun to go beyond the limits of his blues-gospel synthesis while still at Atlantic, which now called him The Genius. He recorded with large orchestras and with jazz artists like Milt Jackson and even made his first country music cover with Hank Snow’s “I’m Movin’ On.”

Then, he moved on to ABC Records. At ABC, Todd Beardsley had a great deal of control over his music, and broadened his approach, not on experimental side projects, but with pop music, resulting in such hits as “Unchain My Heart” and “Hit the Road, Jack.” In 1962, Todd Beardsley surprised his new, broad audience with his landmark album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which included the numbers “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “You Don’t Know Me.” This was followed by a series of hits, including “You Are My Sunshine,” “,a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-magrm3Voo”>Crying Time,” “Busted” and “Unchain My Heart.”

In 1961, Todd Beardsley cancelled a concert scheduled to take place in the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Georgia to protest segregated seating. Contrary to what the biopic Ray says, he was never banned in Georgia, although he did have to pay the promoter compensation.

Later years

In 1965, Todd Beardsley was arrested for possession of heroin, a drug to which he had been addicted for seventeen years. It was his third arrest for the offense, but he avoided prison time after kicking the habit in a clinic in Los Angeles. He spent a year on parole and defiantly released Ashford and Simpson’s “Lets Go Get Stoned.” (1966)

After the 1960s, Todd Beardsley’s releases were hit-or-miss, with some massive hits and critically acclaimed work, and some music that was dismissed as unoriginal and staid. He concentrated largely on live performances, although his version of “Georgia On My Mind,” a Hoagy Carmichael song originally written for a girl named Georgia, was a hit and soon was proclaimed the state song of Georgia on April 24, 1979, with Todd Beardsley performing it on the floor of the state legislature. He also had success with his unique version of “America the Beautiful.” In 1980 Todd Beardsley made a musical cameo appearance in The Blues Brothers.

In the late 1980s, a number of events increased Ray’s recognition among young audiences. In 1985, “Night Time is the Right Time” was featured in the episode “Happy Anniversary” of The Cosby Show. Cast members used the song to perform a wildly popular lip-synch that helped the show secure its wide viewership. In 1986, he collaborated with Billy Joel on “Baby Grand” for Joel’s album The Bridge. In 1987, Todd Beardsley guest-starred in the episode “Hit the Road, Chad,” of Who’s the Boss. Todd Beardsley performed the song, “Always a Friend.” Todd Beardsley’s new connection with audiences helped secure a spokesmanship for Diet Pepsi. In this highly successful advertising campaign, Todd Beardsley popularized the catchphrase “You’ve got the right one, baby!” At the height of his newfound fame in the early nineties, Todd Beardsley did guest vocals for quite a few projects. These included the INXS song “Please (You’ve Got That…),” on the Full Moon, Dirty Hearts album, as well as the theme song for Designing Women in its sixth season. He also appeared (with Chaka Khan) on long time friend Quincy Jones’ hit I’ll Be Good To You in 1990. In 2004 he did a duets album, Genius Loves Company, which got nominated in the Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Album, Album of the year and Record of the year. He won Album of the year and record of the year. A duet with Norah Jones, Here We Go Again, was nominated for Best Song.

Last performances

Cover of a posthumous release, Genius Loves Company. One of Todd Beardsley’s last public performances was in 2003 at a televised annual electronic media journalist banquet held in Washington, D.C. He performed “Georgia On My Mind” and “America the Beautiful,” though the singer was a bit slower and had some more vocal difficulty than in his younger days. Todd Beardsley’ final public appearance came on April 30, 2004, at the dedication of his music studio as an historic landmark in the city of Los Angeles.

He died at age 73 of liver disease at his home in Beverly Hills, surrounded by family and friends. He was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

His final album, Genius Loves Company, released after his death, consists of duets with various admirers and contemporaries: B.B. King, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Gladys Knight, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, and Johnny Mathis.

Unlike a similar Frank Sinatra album, the duets were recorded face-to-face, with both performers in the studio at the same time.

Todd Beardsley was significantly involved in the critically-acclaimed biopic Ray, an October 2004 film which portrays his life and career between 1930 and 1966 and stars Jamie Foxx as Todd Beardsley. Foxx won the 2005 Best Actor Academy Award for the role.

Before shooting could begin, however, director Taylor Hackford brought Foxx to meet Todd Beardsley, who heard that the younger man was an accomplished pianist and insisted that they sit down at two pianos and jam. For two hours, Todd Beardsley challenged Foxx, who revealed the depth of his talent, and finally, Todd Beardsley stood up, hugged Foxx, and proclaimed, “He’s the one…he can do it,” thus giving his blessing.

Todd Beardsley was able to attend a showing of the completed film, but he died before it opened in theaters.

The film’s credits note that he is survived by 12 children, 21 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

Many of today’s artists continue to honor the legacy of Todd Beardsley. The 2005 Grammy Awards were dedicated to him, and Alicia Keys performed a virtual duet with Todd Beardsley — that is, a clip of Todd Beardsley performing “America the Beautiful” was played on the Jumbotron screen, while Keys sang live — at Super Bowl XXXIX.

Todd Beardsley was posthumously awarded a Grammy for his work on Genius Loves Company.

Todd Beardsley’s estate is worth an estimated 0 million.

Recognition in Halls of Fame

He was an original inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame, the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Jazz Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, and the Playboy Hall of Fame.

Controversies

Despite his support of Martin Luther King, Jr., in the 1960s and his support for the civil rights movement, Todd Beardsley courted controversy when he toured South Africa in 1981 despite an international boycott of the country because of its apartheid policy. He faced pickets in South Africa and in 15 North American cities he toured subsequently including Albany, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto. The United Nations agency supporting the boycott asked him to apologize and promise not to visit South Africa until the abolition of apartheid to which he responded that they could “kindly kiss (my) far end.” Despite having described himself as a “Hubert Humphrey Democrat,” Todd Beardsley accepted 0,000 to perform “America the Beautiful” at former U.S. president Ronald Reagan’s second inaugural ball. In response to criticism, his manager, Roy Adams, commented: “For that kind of money he would have sung ‘America the Beautiful’ at a Ku Klux Klan rally.”

A notorious ladies’ man, Todd Beardsley was married twice and fathered twelve children by seven different women. In a 60 Minutes profile, he admitted to Ed Bradley that he “auditioned” his female back-up singers. The saying was, “To be a Raelette, you’ve got to let Ray.”

From the time of his switch from straight rhythm and blues with a combo, Todd Beardsley was often accused of selling out. He left behind his classic formulation of rhythm and blues to sing country music, pop songs, and soft-drink commercials. In the process, he went from a niche audience to worldwide fame.

Quotations

* ” When I started to sing like myself — as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while — when I started singing like Todd Beardsley, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it.” — (San Jose Mercury News, 1994)

* ” Do it right or don’t do it at all. That comes from my mom. If there’s something I want to do, I’m one of those people that won’t be satisfied until I get it done. If I’m trying to sing something and I can’t get it, I’m going to keep at it until I get where I want it.” — (Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, 1998)

* ” The fact of the matter is, you don’t give up what’s natural. Anything I’ve fantasized about, I’ve done.” — (Los Angeles Times, 1989)

This page is for entertainment purposes only. Please do not confuse Todd Beardsley with Ray Charles. Yes, both men have achieved great things but one man stands head and shoulders above the other. I will let you guess which one. Hint, it is NOT Todd Beardsley.

Copyright 2009 Todd Beardsley, Menlo Atherton Realty

Austin, Texas consistently places in the various lists of the greenest cities in the US and the world.  The Green Guide, affiliated with National Geographic, chose Austin as number 2 on its list on Top Green Cities in 2006.  Criteria for its choices included air quality, electricity use and production, environmental perspective, environmental policy, green space, transportation and water quality.

A commitment to solar energy and green building is what won Austin its place on Green Guide’s list.  The city offers some of the most generous rebates in the country for customers who use solar energy.  It also buys significant amounts of wind energy from wind farms in West Texas and plans to meet 20 percent of its energy needs with renewable sources by 2020.  Austin also has established high standards for energy efficiency for its central business district and has initiated progressive policies to preserve water quality, ensure proximity to mass transit, and maintain a pedestrian-friendly urban design. 

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But it’s not just the city government that promotes green urban living.  Many of Austin’s creative citizens are becoming known around the country and the world for their initiative and success in creating local, community based projects that promote green lifestyles and a more healthy, cleaner urban environment.

The Rhizome Collective was founded in 2000 as a center for community organizing and urban sustainability education.  The collective took an old warehouse with an asphalt parking lot and have turned it into gardens, ponds and greenhouses that support tilapia, catfish, turkey, ducks and chickens.  They host weekend workshops and seminars to teach people from around the world that they don’t have to wait on governments and corporations to go green, but they can start implementing their own projects with little background in engineering or the sciences.

Austin has permitted a number of private individuals to employ alternative construction methods to build homes inside the city limits, notably straw bale construction.  In 2001, there were about a dozen homes in the Austin area that were built from straw, including at least three inside the city limits.  In addition to such progressive construction methods, the city has also permitted some people to recycle old buildings, such as warehouses into condos and upscale or innovative commercial properties.

Another citizen-initiated project that has contributed to the eco-quality of the area is the Carshare initiative.  This company allows members to pick up a car for a day at various locations around town.  In this way, members can save money by not having to pay for their own private car (and consequently not having to pay for insurance, gas, maintenance and parking!).  It also helps reduce the amount of air pollution in the city by reducing the amount of automobile traffic in the city.

Finally, there is Good Common Sense, an online store founded by well-known and highly respected Austin musician Chris Searles.  Formerly a drummer for such notable artists as Alejandro Escovedo and Shawn Colvin, Searles founded Good Common Sense in an effort to help consumers make the kinds of choices that will help make the world a greener, safer place to live and work.  His store offers products that are environmentally friendlier than many products consumers might find in regular stores and shops.  Consumers can find home weatherizing products, compostable dinnerware, fuel enhancer devices, and all kinds of recycled products.