A local group wants to see more handicap friendly homes in Austin. Members are asking the City of Austin to require homebuilders to make five changes in the construction of new single family houses and duplexes.

They want new homes to include: one ramp entrance to the home; lower light switches and controls; reinforcements in bathroom walls to install grab bars if needed; and wider halls, doors and entry ways. Supporters believe designing these homes will allow Austin to be a more livable community.

Jennifer McPhail, an advocate for Visitability, said visiting public places that are accessible to the physically challenged is a freedom that she has enjoyed. Visitability is a growing trend nationwide. The term refers to single-family or owner-occupied housing designed in such a way that it can be lived in or visited by people who have trouble with steps or who use wheelchairs or walkers.

“There was a time when I couldn’t go out to public places, and now I can pretty much go anywhere I want and it’s accessible and that’s the kind of freedom we’re looking for in people’s homes,” McPhail said.

Advocates said the cost for alterations on a new home are anywhere from $200-$500. Those opposing the ordinance said it should be up to the homeowner to decide. There will be a City Council Hearing on the issue Wednesday night at City Hall beginning at 6 p.m.

None of the five markets selected are much of a surprise. These are all quality, affordable markets that have great job and population growth. If anything, investors looking at these cities might want to be a little worried about Atlanta’s oversupply of housing, but even with that hurdle, Atlanta still has a lot going for it. Overall, I agree with UBS in their assessment that these markets are likely to recover ahead of many other markets. One other thing to keep in mind is that these markets weren’t affected nearly as much by the housing crisis as most other markets. This is mainly because they did not see the type of growth that was experienced in the other markets, so they didn’t have as far to fall.

For those who are wondering which markets were on the bottom, according to UBS, those housing markets were Orlando, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Riverside and Tampa. These are also not much of a surprise. These five markets have been hit hard by the housing crisis and there has been a lot of press about their plight. All of these markets are still seeing pretty significant growth, however; during the bubble, their housing prices inflated way too much and now they are correcting back to where they should be. In the long term these markets still present good opportunities, but not at present and certainly not at 2005 pricing.

We don’t know when the housing market will start its recovery, but we can be certain it will eventually happen. The best gauge I can offer is to look at the affordability index and cash flow as an investor. Cash flow is something that you can account for and that you can control; appreciation (at least natural) is not something you can control, so you shouldn’t account for it in your profit projections. Areas that offer cash-flowing properties are unlikely to depreciate much because there is little incentive for owners to sell out at lower prices. In addition, while there are always investors looking for steady cash flow, the same cannot be said for appreciation–at least not anymore. So it is little surprise that UBS believes the housing market recovery will begin in affordable and cash-flow-producing cities.

State:  Texas 
City: Austin 
Location Detail: Lakeway (lake Travis) 
Property Name:  Lakeway Paradise Cove 
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 2
Pets?:  No 
Minimum Term: 2 Night Minimum 
Property Type: Vacation Rental 
Date Available: 06/18/2008 
Monthly Rate:  $4,400.00 
Daily Rate: $295.00-$325.00 
Contact Name:  Kim Maire 
Contact Number: (512) 626-6710 cell 
Email Contact Person

Amenities 
Fire Place
Garage/reserved Parking Included
Patio Balcony
Spa Or Pool
Dishwasher
Washer Dryer In Unit
Cable Package Available
High Speed Internet Access
 
Extra Information 
This 2100 sq ft home sleeps up to 10 people. It has a natural crk/waterfall, 3 sides greenbelt for privacy, lakeview, private hot tub, golf/tennis/marina 5 mins away. Watch the daily wildlife in this tranquil paradise “Home away from Home”. 
 
Full Details / Interior Images / Booking Options : http://www.tchnetwork.com/index2.php?page=view&mode=upcoming&id=2207&state=TX&regn=US

State:  Texas 
City: Austin 
Location Detail: Barton Hills, 78704 
Property Name:  Wren House 
Bedrooms: 2 
Baths: 2
Pets?:  Dogs 
Minimum Term: 3 Days 
Property Type: Townhouse  
Date Available: 06/18/2008  
Monthly Rate:  $3400  
Daily Rate: $190  
Contact Name:  Howard Barnett 
Contact Number: 512 441-2534  
 Email Contact Person 
    
Amenities 
Dogs Allowed
Fire Place
Garage/reserved Parking Included
Patio Balcony
Dishwasher
Washer Dryer In Unit
Cable Package Available
High Speed Internet Access 
 
Extra Information 
This beautiful, tranquil vacation home has it all, located on the Barton Creek Greenbelt five minutes from Zilker Park and Barton Springs Swimming Pool, a short 10 minutes from downtown. Our location is extremely private and quiet with a hiking trail a half block away. Furnishings are southwest rustic and eclectic with a beautiful surprise around every corner. The kitchen is fully equipped for gourmet dining and the living area includes a 42-inch high definition TV, an upconvert DVD player, and WiFi. The master bedroom has a king size bed and TV, while the second bedroom has a standard bed, and the loft has a trundle. You’ll have patios for bird watching and an upstairs deck with a wonderful view. Zilker Park offers swimming in a spring fed pool, train rides through the park, or canoeing/kayaking on Lady Bird Lake on us with a complimentary pass (we own the boat rental). This newly restored home has been described as a ‘work of art.’ Come stay at Wren House and leave refreshed.

Full Details / Interior Images / Booking Options : http://www.tchnetwork.com/index2.php?page=view&mode=upcoming&id=2465&state=TX&regn=US