Dripping Springs Outlook - Issue 3, Volume 21 - August 2024
370 Brady Pass Dripping Springs, TX
Introducing
Bill Flood REALTOR ® 512-914-6392 bflood@stanberry.com
205 S Flat Rock Way
Blanco County
$50K buyer incentive for Vets! The ultimate work at home or multigenerational home on 6.5 acres in beautiful Legacy Hills! 3 bdrm, 3.5 bath 1 story main home + a 1 story, 1.5 bath guest house/casita with game & weight rooms. Big deck overlooking pool, hot tub, pickle ball/basketball court and a fabulous panoramic view! Low tax rate 1.3457. Offered at $2,450,000.
rschulte@stanberry.com
14024 Timberline Trail
Austin, Texas 78737
Sunset Canyon
Located in a nice quiet section of Sunset Canyon on a large 3.25 acre lot! Room to roam! Three bedroom, 2.5 bath and two living areas. Great primary bathroom with views from the soaking tub!
Lot For Sale in Dripping Springs 439 Vail River Rd – 3.36 acres, ready to build, gated community. Asking $400,000
Lot for Sale in Johnson City Summit Ridge Trail – 7.81 acres with panoramic views, Ag Exemption. Asking $329,000
1137 Loop 163
Blanco, TX
City Limits
Zoned R5 Mixed-use
9.71 Acres Fenced
Several Structures
Tiny Home Village
CORRIDOR TITLE
22006 & 22008 Plockton Drive Spicewood, TX 78669
Walk from your backyard onto Cut-N-Putt Golf Course! Side one or both for over ½ acre. Enjoy front park and docks. Level building sites on quiet Cul-de Sac in beautiful Briarcliff. Only $114,900 each.
Editor Publisher
Cyle Elizabeth Johnson
Creative Director Nico Johnson
Cover
Ross Helen
The Dripping Springs Outlook, a subsidiary of Valentino Publications, is mailed monthly to all street addresses serviced by the Dripping Springs Post Office in 78620.
“SUMMER’S LEASE HATH ALL TOO SHORT A DATE.” –– WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
August is such an interesting month. It’s the gate between summer and autumn. A transitional space for growing up, moving on, and getting ready. As busy as this month can be for some of us, it also feels like a staging area, a time to get ready for what’s around the corner. The remaining months of the year tend to go by so quickly compared to the slow burn of summer.
August, for me, contains a lot of list making and planning. I like to know – as much as is possible – what to expect in the coming months so I can do my best to slow down and enjoy the new festive season. Wherever our somewhat temperate season has you, we wish you well and thank you, as always, for joining us.
Cyle Elizabeth Johnson, Editor
The Dripping Springs Community Library (DSCL) is a key resource for lifelong learning, serving over 54,000 residents. It offers a variety of print and electronic materials, music, informational services, educational programs, and meeting spaces, fostering education and innovation for all ages.
Since its inception in 1986 with fewer than 1,000 cardholders, DSCL has grown significantly, now welcoming over 12,000 active cardholders. However, the current facility is fully utilized and unable to expand its collection or services due to space limitations. The building’s condition hampers the library's mission to serve the community effectively.
To address this, the “Beyond Books, Building Community” capital campaign aims to raise $5 million for a new facility. Unlike typical libraries funded through property taxes or municipal budgets, DSCL operates independently, funded by 0.25% of sales tax revenue within its district and governed by a board of directors.
In our rapidly growing community, fostering connections and engagement is essential. Your support is crucial in making the vision of a new library a reality. The new 37,000-square-foot facility, located at the end of Benney Lane, will be four times the size of the current library and expand its footprint to 5.5 acres. It will feature community meeting rooms, study spaces, a dedicated children’s floor, a makerspace, and outdoor areas for events, a story walk, and a children’s play area.
In addition, the new library space will showcase a beautiful display of glass butterflies that will send a message of transformation through learning and discovery, capturing the natural beauty and sunlight that will stream through the expansive open space. Just like butterflies undergo a profound transformation, our library can be a catalyst for personal and community-wide change.
To contribute, sponsor a butterfly, or get involved in the campaign, visit DSCL.org/Future. Follow us on social media @DSBeyondBooks for updates.
Culture.
For my very first opportunity in the real world, I was asked to interview a candidate for a new position. I was specifically given direction to, “see if they were a culture fit.” I had no idea what that meant, but I took the assignment and quickly figured it out. Ironically enough and years later with a fully developed team at REGENERATE, my priority on building this team was exactly that – culture. To me culture has become, and has always been, the highest requirement when looking for team members.
What is my definition of culture? Culture is a defined and balanced environment, suited to preference and feel. You create culture by seeking out a one of a kind, a likeness, a down-toearth human being portraying grace, forgiveness, social balance, an extroverted introvert, all while loving their profession and the ability to truly help people. That may seem like an awkwardly detailed definition, but it clearly defines the priority of expectation amongst this business and my staff.
At REGENERATE, our secret sauce is purely this. Culture and staff. We have people who are truly great at what they do, outstanding professionals in their fields of expertise, and genuine humans that care about helping others. It is with great honor that I can share this article with you describing this business and our staff of professionals. We can highlight this month a few areas in which we have excelled in 2024.
We are so proud to announce this year our community has voted REGENERATE as the BEST SPA in Dripping Springs.
We are also honored to have outstanding professionals and medical staff this year who have been recognized as BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST, BEST AESTHETICIAN, and BEST NURSE. Bringing home four wins this year for Dripping Springs BEST OF is truly an
by Breca Tracy, PhD
honor! We also have many staff members unrecognized, but if you have been to REGENERATE you know we have only the best of the best!
We want to say THANK YOU to our Dripping Springs and surrounding communities for continuing to support this small business and our local, amazing staff members. We wouldn’t be here without your support! I would also like to say thank you to all our team members for your dedication and love for what we do at REGENERATE. We encourage any of you who haven’t been to come to REGENERATE. Experience our culture and our highly trained and recognized, award-winning staff members! We can promise you an amazing experience. Our hearts are open and full of your love and support. Thank you.
We have a very unique team of experts. Come see us, call, or email us! Dr. Breca Tracy currently serves as Director of Science & Operations at REGENERATE Dripping Springs. Breca has resided in Dripping since 2007 after obtaining her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Contact us at 512-368-4548, 800 Hwy 290 W, Building F, Suite 200. NaturalHealingTX.com.
Microdosing
I can’t believe it is already that time again – back to school! Clothes shopping, packing lunches, the busy lines at HEB. I’m feeling a little stressed just thinking about it. Often times, while taking care of others, we can forget about ourselves. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, so you can take care of everyone else. CBD has been shown to have tremendous benefits when it comes to anxiety, but small amounts of THC may also help.
More and more studies are emerging showing how our body interacts with cannabis through our endocannabinoid system (ECS.) This specialized group of receptors are present in tissues and systems throughout our body including our nervous, muscular, digestive, and immune systems. The ECS is believed by scientists to be the largest signaling system in the human body. In fact, every animal on earth, with the exception of insects, has an endocannabinoid system. There are new studies emerging indicating our ECS may actually benefit from regular supplementation of cannabis compounds, otherwise known as microdosing.
Chronic stress and disease can result in our bodily processes running amuck by causing our own natural cannabinoids like anadamide and 2-AF to be underproduced. Studies point to lowcannabinoid levels being partially responsible for certain autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, and anxiety and depression. Microdosing
Microdosing low levels of CBD and THC may support overall wellness by helping our ECS to operate at its prime. Another benefit of microdosing is that you get the medicinal effects without the psychoactive effects. Remember, more is
by Heidi Pousson
not always better. Sometimes taking too much can even intensify symptoms that cannabis may have initially helped you with. Studies are even showing that microdosing can be even more effective than consuming large doses with reducing pain, anxiety, PTSD, and other symptoms. There is no one size fits all approach. That’s why the best approach is to start low and slow
At Haus of Jayne, we are here to listen to your needs and help you find what will work best for you. It’s so easy to get caught up in the busy schedule that comes with the kiddos starting back to school, so don’t forget to take care of yourself.
Wife, mother, friend, 8th-grade teacher, member of Haus of Jayne. Follow Haus of Jayne on social media: hausofjayne_official on Instagram and Facebook.com/HausofJayne. Visit Haus of Jayne at 766 Old Fitzhugh Road. They can be reached at 512 648 7420.
The Lucky Rain Gage
by George Altgelt
I must tell you about a most wonderful experiment. It began with a statement from the American philosopher, William James. He said, “Believe in your belief and your
belief will make it so.” I knew he was right. Then I listened to a CD that was all about the power of expectation. It was then that I thought of this experiment, something I wanted. It was simple. I expected that the people who are driving their cars right now and on the road with me were becoming better drivers. In addition to their greater awareness of their driving skills and habits they became aware of their own genuine care for the safety of other drivers. I knew that I was expecting a lot but I also knew that William James was right. So it began.
I would get in my car or truck and say my expectation out loud. At first I didn't notice much but I was becoming more aware of the motorists around me. I noticed my own concern for the safety of all on the road. Then I noticed that the experiment was working! I began to believe in my belief that my expectation was having good effect on my highway environment!
My next experiment is even grander, it involves a large number of people, us. Us gardeners, ranchers, landscapers, farmers, homeowners who want and need rain! I ordered and began giving away the “Lucky Rain Gage”. That was early this spring and that’s when it started raining! The expectation is for steady, just
right rain, not flooding. If you’re getting too much rain, simply slide out the tube, turn it upside down and slide it back in the holder and the rain will miss your property. What makes it work is your expectation and belief in your actions.
At Geo Growers we are still giving away the Lucky Rain Gage. Come on by the store at 2110 US Hwy 290W, in Dripping Springs. We’ll be there, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm. Come and be part of this experiment!
George Altgelt is the owner of Geo Growers, located on 290 and Bell Springs Road. Geo Growers has been in business since 1995 and sells bulk material as well as bagged gardening products and plants. George believes we need to be producing more of our own food and each one of us can contribute. His goal is to make that easy and effective.
Tolerating the Ugly Before It Gets Pretty
I love that. It’s such a wonderful mantra to use when fighting against that creativity-killer, perfectionism. Perfectionism loves to compare and despair. Say you have a spark of an idea that bubbled up from your imagination. Then that small, mean voice in your head sneers, “You call that a sentence…or a sketch…or a melody line? Look at (fill in the blank with someone who has produced), now that’s someone with real talent.” And just like that, the mean voice has thrown acid on your beautiful spark, leaving you to possibly give up and leaving despair in its wake. Because while your will may have dried up, your longing persists.
by Leslie Tourish, LPC
Within us lies the seeds for creativity. Yet the difference between those who produce and those who don’t is that productive creative people have the audacity to show up and tolerate the learning curves of their current work. And by the sheer action of showing up and trying, degree by degree, they get better at whatever they are turning their attention to. You see a painting, read a book, hear a piece of music, or watch a movie and maybe think that the people who produced such works are born with a God-given talent.
And don’t get me wrong, there are people, such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Leonardo da Vinci, and Frank Lloyd Wright who were born with both a radiating talent and blessed with a creative nurturing environment. But even those people started off raw in their talents before their abilities accelerated. Yet most people who have the audacity to be creative don’t run off that level of high-octane fuel. They are more regular-unleaded. They approach their creative work as journeymen and journeywomen, and they don’t get precious thinking they are creating Art. It’s more like they’re chopping wood, one log at a time. An art professor used to tell her painting students when they were all working on their canvases in the university studio, “It’s going to be ugly before it gets pretty.”
The most heartbreaking thing is that your perfectionistic voice thinks it’s doing you a favor by keeping you safe. Because what if you produce something and it’s lousy? You might get humiliated and judged, and such an experience would be intolerable to your ego. So, to protect you from yourself, it shuts you down before you embarrass yourself. And then you are robbed of this real possibility: You. Can. Get. Better. If. You. Don’t Stop.
People who produce know the task before them is to be as good as they can push themselves, one day at a time. Are you writing a crappy first draft of a novel? Great! That’s the foundation from which your story is going to come alive. Polishing comes later. Don’t like the composition of a painting? Keep sketching, or painting over what you painted before. Be the first viewer of what evolves.
It all comes down to building habits so you can play in your current work in progress. Ask yourself: What would you do if you told your inner critic to take a hike, because you’re going to roll up your sleeves and focus your attention for the next hour on what you love.
The answer: In time, probably so much that you might just amaze yourself.
Leslie Tourish, LPC, is a Dripping Springs psychotherapist in private practice. To contact Leslie, visit LeslieTourish.com orLATourish.com
Choosing the Right Pet Care for Your Dog
by Diana Ozimek
Leaving your dog in someone’s care when you leave town can be a stressful experience. Will they be fed correctly, will their medications be given, will they be stressed, so many things to be concerned about. There are multiple options for you and your dog; traditional boarding kennel, crate-free kennels, in-home pet sitter, taking your dog to a pet-sitters home, drop ins, veterinary clinic. They all vary in cost and care type. Let’s hit the pros, cons, and what to look for in each.
Traditional kennels or veterinary clinics that offer boarding... Pros, more affordable than an in-home pet sitter, some offer playtime with other dogs or daycare included, experienced with all types of dogs and many situations. Cons, can be a stressful environment for some dogs; if they host a large population, things may get missed and there’s an increased chance of respiratory infection. Look for good reviews, personal recommendations, clean environment, knowledgeable staff. If your dog has already stayed, are they excited to go back? Some facilities will offer tours – I don’t necessarily agree with this. Everyone wants to see the facility but that adds more stress to the dogs staying there. Having a new person walk through the halls or near a play yard normally triggers lots of jumping and barking. The goal should be a low stress environment.
In-home pet sitters... Pros, personalized attention for your pet. The comfort of staying in their own home or a home environment. One-on-one walks or playtime or small group playtime if staying in someone’s home who has dogs. Often inhome sitters will do other things for the home – water plants, grab mail, take out the trash. Cons, more expensive, less secure. I’m referring to things like walking your dog in public places or a door or gate that gets left open. Larger facilities normally have multiple gates/doors to avoid a dog getting lost.
These are all good options; you need to figure out what works best for you and your dog. Be sure to ask questions on your end, what are policies if a dog gets sick or injured, how do they set up play groups, do they have experience walking dogs like yours (in case your dog is reactive or fearful during walks), do they post on a social media page or send updates while you are away? And don’t forget to book early! Lots of people have dogs and all boarding options book up fast.
Diana is the owner & lead trainer at Good Dog in the Making. She is excited to bring her puppy training expertise to her new community & help families raise confident, well-mannered dogs.
How Your Child Can Benefit from Performing Arts – and Have Fun Too
At On Stage Ready Performing Arts and Music School, we believe in the powerful formative benefits of performing arts to teach kids to be great artists, allies, leaders, and critical thinkers:
1. They learn history in a memorable way. Theater tells the human side of history. History becomes live, rich, palpable, and memorable.
They learn awesome public speaking skills. Being able to speak clearly and confidently in front of a Board of Directors, prospective employers, or on camera after the big game is a life-long skill that can be honed in acting classes.
2. They learn about others feelings as well as their own. In a world where social interactions are increasingly digital and anonymous, working in concert with a group of others to bring a production to stage fosters necessary “high touch” social skills: teamwork, cooperation, and listening.
4.
3. They have access to new experiences. In theater, children are exposed to a vast array of different creative activities in addition to acting, dancing, and singing. These include sewing, crafting, lighting, sound, carpentry, design, and scenic painting – to name a few! This is access to a buffet of potential future interests not readily found anywhere else.
5. They flex their creative muscles. Much of a child’s day is spent receiving information from their teachers, families, friends, and social media. Children need to flex their creative muscles to foster their imagination.
by Norah Martin
The ability to think creatively is an important asset as children join their respective work forces.
6. They learn goal setting and collaboration. They use collaboration to accomplish the main goal of bringing a production to stage, however, they set smaller goals with their individual contribution – learning a chorus or their lines for a particular scene.
On Stage Ready offers year-round curriculum at our Dripping Springs-based performing arts and music school. Please visit us at OnStageReady.com. Fall classes begin August 19.
Norah Martin is the co-founder of Meteor Theatre (Dripping Springs’ community theatre) and On Stage Ready (a performing arts and music school in Dripping Springs).
HOW TO AVOID THE WRONG AGENT
Most consumers are not aware of how low the barrier to entry is to become a real estate agent. Because of the activity and market dynamics seen during the Pandemic, there are countless agents who entered the market and lack the experience and understanding to navigate the current market environment. Conversely, there are many agents in the industry who have not kept up with market trends and changing technology. Unfortunately, it is very easy to get stuck with the wrong agent.
Here are interview questions that you could ask as you’re interviewing agents to help you buy or sell your property.
By Cody Johnson
Are you local? Do you know about property attributes commonly found in the Hill Country like Septic Systems, Rain Water / Wells, On-Site Propane, etc.?
How many years have you been in the business?
How many deals have you closed in the last 12 months?
What do you do for marketing? How much do you typically spend per listing?
What is your off-market reach? How many off market listings do you know about?
What makes you different from other agents?
What are some examples of creative ways you have marketed properties?
Will you handle my deal or pass me off to someone else on your team?
How tech savvy are you?
Do you have a good relationship with other local agents?
Are you a member of any local real estate groups?
At NestHaven Properties, we have been through market cycles from the Great Recession through the Pandemic.
Give us a call to see how these questions should be answered. The
Buyer Beware
It seems like everywhere we turn today there is land being cleared for construction of a new neighborhood. If you’ve ever moved into a new development, you know that there is constantly someone ringing your doorbell and attempting to sell you something for your new home. Unfortunately, the water treatment industry is full of companies who choose to employ this door-to-door tactic. Here are some things you should know before you open the door.
There is a very good chance that the “water specialist” who comes to your house is not actually a licensed Water Treatment Specialist. Some companies choose to ignore the fact that the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality regulates our industry and requires some level of licensing in order to test water for the purpose of making treatment recommendations. The salesman who comes to your home is simply there to convince you to say yes and open your wallet. If you’re not aware of your options, it can be tempting to let that happen.
Many neighborhoods have taken to posting No Soliciting signs at the entrances. In some of these cases, certain companies have struck a mutually beneficial deal with the homebuilder to allow them to place advertising on the softener loop and at the kitchen sink. This often contains misleading wording which indicates that the home is set up for their specific equipment and that damage will occur if you don’t choose their system. This is absolutely not the case. This often leads to homeowners paying far more for the system than necessary since they are
unaware that there were other choices. The water softener loop in a new home is capable of accepting any brand of water softener. Don’t be fooled by high pressure sales tactics or misleading literature. A licensed professional can perform a couple of simple tests to determine exactly what size system would best fit your needs. ......
by Randy Lawrence
A quick search of TCEQ’s occupational licensing database, as well as a review of the company’s Better Business Bureau standing will let you know whether you’re dealing with a legitimate, reputable dealer.
Randy Lawrence is the owner of ProQuality Water Systems, a full service water treatment company. He is one of only six Class III Certified Water Treatment Specialists in Hays County (LIC# WT0002693). With over 25 years of experience he has serviced Wimberley and surrounding areas for over 20 years.
“When
DS Chamber of Commerce Focus on Business
Barbara Gremillion & GM Property Group: Your Trusted Real Estate Experts
With over two decades of experience, Barbara Gremillion, team lead with GM Property Group, stands as a beacon of excellence in the real estate industry.
Barbara, a licensed real estate agent with 22 years of expertise and a local resident for 43 years, understands the community and market intricacies like no other. Her deep roots and extensive knowledge of the area enable her to provide unparalleled service to her clients.
Her commitment to excellence is reflected in the numerous awards she has received for sales production and customer service. Most recently, she won the Five-Star Real Estate Professional Award for the 12th consecutive year published in Texas Monthly. These accolades are a testament to her dedication, hard work, and the trust her clients place in her. She believes in building lasting relationships, and her track record speaks for itself.
Her team includes Amy Milligan, co-agent and daughter, who brings fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to their operations. Amy is a certified Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®), which prepares her to work with maturing adults who are making life changing decisions. Amy loves working with all ages, whether first time home buyers, downsizing, or investors. Their broker, Homestead and Ranch Real Estate, is a renowned brokerage known for its integrity and incredible agents. Their cutting edge marketing and technology, and wide network enhances their agents’ ability to serve you better.
Contact Barbara at Barbara@BarbaraGremillion.com or 512 775 2904. Amy at Amy@HomesteadandRanch.com, 512 228 4915.
Instructions:
FRESH SWEET CORN CHOWDER Makes 4 large bowls
Ingredients:
Fresh sweet corn on the cob, 4 ears
3T butter
8-12 oz. bacon (optional)
1 large garlic clove minced
1 small onion diced
5 T flour
2 C chicken or vegetable broth
3 C milk
2 large russet potatoes cut into ½” cubes
Fresh thyme or dried thyme, plus 2 bay leaves
¾ C heavy cream or half & half
3/4 cup chopped scallions, green leaves only finely sliced
Salt & pepper
Cut all corn off the cobs and keep the cobs. Break the cobs in halves or thirds to make the soup more flavorful. Put 1 T butter in 4-6 quart pot with lid. Add bacon and cook until golden brown. Remove bacon to paper towel but leave fat in pot. On med-high heat add another 2 T butter and onion & garlic. Cook about 4 min., until clear but not brown. Next mix flour in to make a roux, cook it stirring well into fat, about 2 min., again, don’t let brown. Add broth, milk, potatoes, thyme, & bay leaves then add the bare cobs. Stir and put lid on and gentle simmer for about 25 min. Test potatoes for tenderness. Remove lid, remove corn cobs. Add fresh corn and cook just about 5 min. or to your preference. Add salt and pepper. Stir cream through and add ¾ of cooked crumbled bacon & scallions. Ladle into bowls hot, chilled, or room temperature. Garnish with remain bacon & scallions.
Recipe brought to you courtesy of Personal Chef Jan Carlson. Carlson.Jan@gmail.com • 512 227 6277
Homestead and Ranch Real Estate
The Power of Knowledge and Conviction
Timid real estate agents can provide bad advice and allow clients to make critical errors at crucial moments. When presented with the opportunity to drive off a cliff, you don’t want an expert’s advice to be, OK, Let’s see what happens!
Knowledge is hard-earned, and knowing when to apply that knowledge is the hallmark of great agents. That doesn’t mean that the agent is in charge of the transaction. That role belongs solely to the client, but the agent’s main job is to give good advice based on experience to help guide the clients to the best outcome. An agent that is stingy with good advice is as valuable as an auto mechanic without a toolbox.
Part of the value of a real estate agent is navigating the inevitable curves in the road to closing a sale. No deal is without hiccups, and knowing what to do and say, and then saying it, is where an agent’s experience comes through as value to the clients. An agent that constantly bites his or her tongue is not making life better for anyone. Sometimes hard conversations need to be had.
A client may be listed at way too high a price, or someone may be tripping up a deal over a $500 repair. It’s the agent’s job to be blunt and clear with the client about the outcome of a bad decision and to offer up some good alternatives. No agent should ever say after the fact, I wish I had told them (fill in the blank). It’s the job of an agent to be forthcoming about the facts as they know them to be. In the end, the clients make the decisions, but if they disagree with the ........... .....
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
they disagree with the agent’s advice, there should be no doubt who made the decision if it turns out to be a bad one on the part of the client.
Agents come in all levels of experience and knowledge. Too many people think that an agent is an agent. That’s like saying, All red
by Steve Mallet
cars are slow. Are you talking about red Corollas or red Ferraris? When searching for an agent to work with, choose one that is not shy with advice and one that will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. The alternative is properties that don’t sell or transactions that get tripped up over small obstacles.
Steve has been selling real estate in DS & Austin since 2003. His team can help with all of your real estate needs. Residential, commercial, farm and ranch. Co-Host of the Mallett and Michelle on Dripping Springs Podcast.
Steve Mallet Team Leader/Broker Associate Mallet Integrity Team Real Estate
We are going to wander off into the legal weeds a bit today, but it might prove useful to some reader someday. We are familiar with being fashionably late – the planned late arrival to make sure the entrance is notable and that everyone is there to appreciate the “importance” of the fashionably late arrival. It’s not any of us, of course – but we all know someone who might well use that attention getting device. What a lot of folks aren’t familiar with is just how many deadlines exist regarding legal proceedings or how devastating it can be to fail to meet some of those deadlines. Let’s talk about a few of them.
The law establishes time limits, “statute of limitations”, within which claims must be filed in court. It does so because the passage of time dulls memories, allows tangible evidence to disintegrate or disappear, and generally makes getting to the truth of a matter more difficult. Failure to file in time usually is fatal to a claim. Each state establishes its own time frames while federal law establishes time frames for federally based claims. We will focus on Texas where the most commonly known statute of limitations for civil claims is the two-year period for filing a tort claim, such as a personal injury claim, and the four-year period for filing a contract claim. I won’t get into the deeper weeds of when the time begins to run other than to note that generally it is
date on which the claim is “ripe”. An example would be a negligent highway crash; you have the event, the cause of the event and injury which are the elements of the claim, so the time runs from the day of the crash.
by Roland Brown
There are always exceptions and variations too numerous to even begin discussing here. A couple of exampleswould be some intentional torts for which the time might expire a year from the event, or an injury to a child for whom the period of time does not generally begin to run until age 18. The primary take-away here is to seek legal advice early on, even when it may seem that things will work out without a lawsuit. There is no benefit to being late, fashionably or otherwise, to the courthouse.
Attorney Roland Brown handles exclusively personal injury claims. Roland, who offices in Wimberley, has been voted HAYS COUNTY’S BEST PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY for 2020, 2021, and 2023 in annual polls of Hays County attorneys. For more information call 512 847 2500.
Should you downsize when you retire?
When you retire, you’ll experience many changes – should one of them involve your living arrangements? The issue of downsizing is one that many retirees will consider. If you have children, and they’ve grown and
left the home, you might find yourself with more space than you really need. You might love your home and neighborhood and see no reason to go. But if you’re open to a change, you could find that moving to a smaller house, a condo, or an apartment may make sense for you.
Let’s consider some of the advantages of downsizing:
• Save money. A smaller space could lower bills and upkeep.
• Save effort. A smaller home means less maintenance.
• De-clutter. Most of us accumulate more possessions than we really need. Downsizing gives you a chance to de-clutter. Many charitable organizations will welcome some of your items.
• Make money. If you’ve had your home for many years, it’s certainly possible that it’s worth more – perhaps a great deal more – than what you paid for it. Generally, if you’ve lived in your home for at least two years in the five-year period before you sold it, you can exclude $250,000 of capital gains, if you’re single, or $500,000 if you’re married and file taxes jointly. (You’ll want to consult with your tax advisor, though, before selling your
home, to ensure you’re eligible for the exclusion, especially if you do own multiple homes. Issues can arise in connection with determining one’s primary residence.)
Downsizing does offer some potentially big benefits, it can also entail some drawbacks. It’s possible that your home might not be worth as much as you had hoped. If you still were paying off a mortgage on your bigger home, you may have been deducting the interest payments on your taxes – a deduction that might be reduced or lost to you if you purchase a less-expensive condo or become a renter. Then there’s the ordinary hassle of packing and moving. And if you’re going to a much smaller space, you may not have much room for family who want to visit or spend the night.
So, as you can see, you’ll need to weigh a variety of financial, practical, and emotional issues when deciding whether to downsize. And you will also want to communicate your thoughts to grown children or other family members who may someday have reason to be involved in your living space. In short, it’s a big decision – so give it the attention it deserves.
Don McGraw, Financial Advisor specializes in helping individual investors and business owners reach their financial goals. He can be reached at 512-858-2850. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor
