Decoding the Austin Energy Star Chart: What it means to have a 3-Star, 4-Star, or 5-Star rated home

When working with buyers looking for an energy-efficient single-family home, I've often had to cop to a bit of ignorance when it comes to Austin Energy's rating system of stars. What makes the difference between a 3-Star, 4-Star and 5-Star system had me puzzled.

That was before I found this handy (if a little dense) 65-page report on specific requirements and overall point values for the rating system. Here it is, in PDF form.

http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Green%20Building/Participation/singleFamilyHomeRatingGuide.pdf

On the move with Craigslist

When you think of moving companies, you might think of the ones with the professionally painted big trucks like All My Sons, Longhorn Movers, or Apple Moving. Maybe it's a symptom of the economic downturn, but there sure seem to be a lot of new "couple guys and a truck" moving operations popping up in the "Services - Labor/Move" section of Austin.Craigslist.Org.

Here are some interesting ones:
**SUPER MAN MOVING**HERE THER ANY WERE**HERE TO SAVE THE DAY*$45HR* - (((#512-300-xxxx#)))
Muscle Man Moving Labor - Great Moving Labor For You From $25/Hour.... - (Austin+++ 512-577-xxxx)

but my personal favorite:
MOVING??? Call FIREFIGHTER MOVERS !!!!!!!!!!!! (Austin / Surrounding area)

Apparently, they're all off-duty firefighters. The best part: you get to provide the truck!

(Please keep in mind I have no relationship with these operations and I have no knowledge of whether they're bonded or insured. Buyer beware!)

A Wall Street Journal commentary on the Austin rental market . . . with a little perspective.

The Wall Street Journal Online ran a piece over the holidays highlighting the coming "glut" of apartment units about to hit the market in 2009. The implied consequences are reduced rent, greater negotiating power for prospective tenants, etc. The numbers are solid but there's a lack of context here.

First of all, the majority of the product is geared toward a special buyer. Either a luxury downtown tenant downtown (think of how many of the cited units were brought to market by projects like Monarch, the new rentals by the YMCA, the two new Gables towers opening in 2009, etc.) or a luxury outlying buyer (new Alexan properties on 2222/360, Southwest Parkway.) Where's the more basic but competent accommodations for wage-earning folks who need to live within five to eight miles of the central business district?

Check out the WSJ post below. I'd like to hear your conclusions.
WSJ ONLINE POST