Many moons ago, I worked as a service manager (i.e. in charge of the wait staff) at Souper Salad restaurant on Anderson Lane in north central Austin.  I hired a waiter and waitress who became good friends of mine and when they began to privately express interest in each other while speaking to me, I played matchmaker and I was later the best man at their wedding.  They have been happily married for ten years now, and they have two very active little boys.

Today, I ate lunch at Souper Salad for the first time in awhile.  I guess I sort of got tired of the food when I worked there (and it was free), but I was struck today by how fresh the salad and soup ingredients were when compared with other places I have tried recently.

Souper Salad offers a huge salad bar, four soups each day, gingerbread, blueberry bread, and cornbread, potatoes, and an extensive dessert bar, all for a very reasonable price.  Vegetable beef is offered every day, there is a soup of the day assigned each day, and the other two are up to the manager and/or soup cook.  I was pleased to see that Tuesday is still Mama Mia Chicken day, since it is one of my all-time favorite soups.  The total today for my food with a drink was $9.40.  Tough to beat healthy AND inexpensive in today's market.

Back when I worked as a GM, I was approached by some people who wanted me to help them open a competing, yet similar, restaurant in Round Rock near Dell Computer's headquarters.  I discussed this with them a few times, then it turned out that they wanted me to STEAL the recipes for the prepared salads and soups from my employer.  Needless to say, we parted ways soon thereafter.  Later, Souper Salad opened a restaurant in the exact same strip center, which is still open today.  Good for them!  They have dramatically expanded since I worked there in the 1993-95 timeframe, and they now have locations in 12 states. 

As a father of three, I also appreciate the fact that kids under 4 eat FREE all the time at Souper Salad.  Additionally, the Sunday kids' prices are extremely low. 

Locally, there are five locations.  Three of these are in Austin proper:

One in Cedar Park:

And the aforementioned location in Round Rock:

They will also be opening a new location in Georgetown soon:

Copyright 2008   Jason Crouch   Austin Homes

I have worked with buyers relocating to Austin, Texas for almost 12 years now.  Of course, I also work with sellers and local buyers, too.  Many of the people that are coming from other states are quick to note how friendly everyone seems.

First, it starts at their hotel (or perhaps at the airport) when they arrive.  Those who are employed in the travel and hospitality industries could certainly be expected to be friendlier than average, since their livelihood depends on it.  The same goes for real estate agents (I hope). 

At some point, after we have spent a few hours together, perhaps enjoying lunch, and probably after we have encountered a few local residents, the question arises:

"Is Everyone in Austin Friendly?"

Well, I wish I could confidently say, "Yes, everyone is friendly here", but that would be a lie.  However, MOST people in Austin are pretty laidback and friendly.  I don't think about it that much, since I have lived here for 20 years now, but it is a terrific environment which makes the quality of life superb.  Often, those considering a move are in simple disbelief that Austinites are not cutting them off in traffic, and that we hold doors open for each other. 

I wouldn't say that the pace here is slow, but it is certainly relaxed.  I have always described Austin as an optimistic town with a youthful spirit.  With the dramatic growth that has occurred here over the past couple of decades, Austin managed to retain this vibe today.  With its slogan, "KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD", the city has done a lot to promote local small businesses.  This slogan was so popular that it spread to other cities around the U.S., including Portland, Tampa, Raleigh, NC, Albuquerque, and more. 

The natural beauty of the lakes, parks, and hill country make Austin a cool place to live, so naturally we are a happy bunch.  I can't think of anywhere else that I would rather raise my children. 

Looking for a friendly town?  Look no further - Austin, Texas is the place to be!

Over the past year or so, I have had a shift in perspective that has been refreshing.  I have re-discovered my love of writing, and I have made a ton of new friends, not just in the virtual world, but in person and on the phone as well.  Frankly, two of my closest friends are people that I have yet to meet face-to-face (and you know who you are).  Additionally, I have gained new spiritual growth with the death of my mentor and friend.  Although I dearly miss him, I know where he is, and I'll see him again someday.

Along with this, I have grown my company and moved to a new office.  The fresh start is fun and exhilarating.  I would like to add more agents in the upcoming months, along with expanding and improving our agent training.  In fact, I have my eye on a couple of the agents right here on ActiveRain.  Time will tell whether they will join my company.  If not, I still intend for 2009 to be my best income year ever (no small feat).  I know that I have all of the abilities, resources, and personnel to make this happen.

I would like to take a minute or so of your time, if you don't mind.  Here are some lessons that I have learned in recent months:

If you have your health, you are blessed.  My mother-in-law has lived with us for nearly a year now, in a hospital bed in the front room of our home.  Every day, I watch her struggle with her body, which is stronger than it was, but not strong enough to walk on her own yet.  She is not in pain, but she must get dialysis three times weekly.  I thank God that I am healthy, and I truly understand how fleeting health and life can be sometimes.  Two of my friends died this year, one from cancer and one at his own hand, sadly.  Both men were beacons of light while they were alive.  While I am here, I want to be a beacon, too, if possible.

If you have a spouse and/or children, you have an opportunity every day to affect their lives and to create lasting happiness for yourself and for them (hint and note to self: this DOES NOT come from the money, and it never will).  I will readily admit that I make mistakes with my own family, and I lose my temper and patience sometimes, but they NEVER doubt that I love them.  Fatherhood is a badge of honor, in my humble opinion, and it is not to be taken lightly.  I want to create the kind of relationship that grows and lasts well beyond the first 18 years of their lives. 

Sharing and giving to others is the best reward of all, and you truly reap what you sow.  I used to have a sort of scarcity mentality with regard to real estate, but on Saturday, I was pleased that a number of local agents and a couple of brokers attended my birthday party, just because they like what I write and they wanted to meet me.  This would have been inconceivable to me a couple of years ago.  Three of them made a point to tell me how thankful they were for my help.  I don't mention this to pat myself on the back, but to illustrate how sharing and teaching can have far-reaching positive effects.  One of the brokers, Russell Lewis, wrote this comment on Jason Sardi's post earlier:

Excellent tribute. A week or so ago, I called Jason to ask for 15 minutes of his time to learn more about active rain as my learning curve here has been very steep. He was in the process of moving so when I arrived at the office, furniture, files and various office items were spread everywhere. When he walked in I looked up and said "Man, You are one tall drink of water" and he is indeed tall but friendly and not the least bit intimidating. Well after 2 hours, I finally took my leave and i have to tell you Jason is incredibly articulate and has a quick wit and most impressively has an ethical sense that he exudes. i was  so impressed that i have decided to send any business referrals to him for the areas he works in North Austin. Pflugerville, Georgetown etc. I do not spend time in those areas but feel certain that anyone I send to him will receive that same professional service I strive to give to my own clients. if this sounds like an ad, it is. i really enjoyed the time and have to add that he has a great sense of humor too!

 Nuff said! Russell

The concept that a local "competing" broker would offer to send me business in some of the areas I specialize in strikes me as simply amazing.  Thank you, Russell!  As we discussed, I think if we aren't careful we might end up being good friends. 

Every single day of your life provides a unique platform for growth and interaction.  I used to squander these golden chances with regularity, but not anymore.  This may sound trite, but I can feel something powerful striving to be released from within me.  When I take the time to look around me and really notice people and their situations, my business grows and so does my soul in some small measure.  Rather than just being a good real estate broker, I am striving to be a good man.  That encompasses a lot of different areas, but I feel like I am up for the challenge. 

Thanks for reading my rambling thoughts tonight.

I read a story this evening that was sent to me by Brian Block (thanks!) about how Austin is experiencing its hottest summer since 1925.  This is not surprising to me, as I can't remember ever hearing so many people complain about the heat.  Old people, young people, everyone is getting in on the game.

"Wow!  It is really hot today, huh?"

"I don't want to go there - they don't have enough shade."

"Kids - come inside before you have a heat stroke."

Okay, maybe I haven't heard that last one as much, but even for August in Texas it has been miserably hot.  My latest electric bill was just over $700 this past month.  It was $300 two months before that, so I thought it might have been a fluke.  Sadly, I was wrong.

Austin has already had 44 days this summer with temperatures in excess of 100 degrees.  Although it is not as humid as other parts of Texas, it is not exactly a "dry heat" either. 

I once wrote a post addressing average temperatures here, along with some of the other perceived negatives:

"High Property Taxes, Heat, and Tornadoes, TOO? Why would I want to move to Austin, Texas?"

Ironically, last year was a very temperate summer, with lots of rain, and almost no (or perhaps absolutely no) 100-degree days.  This year, it looks like some of my neighbors are planning to harvest hay in their backyards.

I guess I wanted to write this post to let you know not to fear our heat if you happen to visit or if you are a new resident, as this is the hottest summer in 83 years' time.  At least it's not 1925, when there were even more super-hot days! 

Here is a link to the article from KXAN News:

http://www.kxan.com/global/story.asp?s=8813483

If you are considering a move to the Austin area, I would love the opportunity to assist you with this.  You might also be interested in my online relocation package here:

Austin Texas Relocation Package

My cell phone number is 512-796-7653 and our Austin Texas real estate website is at www.austintexashomes.com.  Thanks!  Jason Crouch 

My wife Pam and I had a true date night yesterday evening, which means all three children were at home with our sitter and my mother-in-law.  Pam understands the importance of my blog, so she suggested that we go some place local so that I could write this review.

We both enjoy Japanese food, so we selected Beluga Japanese, which is located in the strip center next to the H-E-B on Louis Henna in Round Rock. 

It was beautifully and (I think) authentically decorated, although I will readily admit that my experience with Japanese decor is limited to what I have seen in action movies.  There were two rooms with a more traditional setup (i.e. sitting on the floor, etc.), but we ate at a regular booth.  This goes hand-in-hand with my old saying, "When in Rome, sit in a booth if possible."

On a related note, I recall seeing "The Man Who Knew Too Much" with Jimmy Stewart when I was a kid - they had a Hitchcock revival at one of the Dallas theaters, and my mom and I saw several of them that year.  In the film, Stewart has an awkward time adjusting to the Moroccan style of dining since he is so tall.  But I digress...

Pam ordered the teriyaki salmon and I had the teriyaki chicken.  Both are served on a bed of mixed vegetables along with a side of white rice.  We also had the calamari appetizer, which I managed to eat with chopsticks somehow.  The calamari was probably the best that I have ever eaten, and it had a thin, sweet sauce drizzled over the top - delicious! 

Since we were feeling lucky, we even shared a dessert.  I don't recall the name of our choice, but it involved fried pound cake, ice cream, oranges, whipped cream, and honey.  We weren't able to finish the whole thing because it was huge, but it was also terrific.

As you can see, we took pictures of each other as we were hanging out - why not?

Our server was on top of her game, although it was not that crowded when we were there.  I never had to seek her out for a refill, and she was quick to answer questions or make suggestions. 

I would highly recommend trying Beluga Japanese if you are looking for high-quality Japanese food in the Round Rock area.  Here is a direct link to their website:

http://www.belugasushi.net

Looking at the web address, I just realized how close it is to "Belushi", but I suppose shortening the name would result in a copyright infringement.

Our bill was around $58 pre-tip for appetizer, two entrees, and the giant dessert I mentioned above.  Overall, not bad for a pretty elegant dining experience with great service!

Beluga did not offer teppanyaki-style dining.  If you are looking for a place where you can see the chef preparing the food in this way, you would probably enjoy nearby Tokyo Steak House:

http://www.austinscoolestblog.com/post/540777/Our-Date-Night-at-the-Round-Rock-Tokyo-Steak-House  

The title above refers to an old Dana Carvey routine when his son asks him, "Dad - does God have feet?"  We use the phrase "must...get...help" pretty often around our house these days.  In fact, we have said it with all three of our kids ever since my son was a baby.

Abby continues to be ridiculously cute, with her blond curls and funny vocabulary.  She continues to mispronounce "f" as "s":

"Daa - here's you cossee".  Translation:  Dada - here's your coffee.  Of course, this is usually accompanied by me frantically leaping from my chair in an effort to keep Abby from spilling hot coffee on herself or others, or my crotch.

"Daa - turn it oss.  I don't wike dat sound!"  Abby seems to have inherited bionic ears from somewhere, as she senses any distant sound ("whatsat noise?!") long before we do.  "I'm not sure what that sound is - perhaps the TV downstairs?  Maybe a satellite signal undetectable by normal human ears?"

One of my favorite new developments for her is the fact that she doesn't say, "NO!" as often.  Instead, it has been replaced with the simple "I can't."  Not openly defiant, right?  She is unable to accommodate your request, that's all.  This reminds me of a somewhat obscure Melville story called "Bartleby the Scrivener" wherein the protagonist states, "I would prefer not to" for the entire tale.  Of course, that story ends very sadly, so forget I said anything.

For some reason, Abby sounds a little more like southern belle Scarlett O'Hara when she says certain phrases, so "I can't" is really "I cayunt", as if she is going to say, "I do believe that I am coming down with a case of the vapors."  Neither my wife nor I have much trace of an accent (truly), so this is an interesting twist.

Any time we see a furry animal, such as a rabbit in the yard (there are several), or a stray dog, or a sloth at the zoo, Abby's response is very predictable:

"Can I pet her?  I want to pet her.  Can I pet her?"

Unfortunately, "petting" our cats often means picking up our smallest cat/kitten by the neck.  The cat is learning to defend itself a little bit, but Abby is undeterred by our punishments, or by being bitten or scratched.  I think she must honestly think that the cat is stuffed sometimes.

We went swimming the other night, and I realized that Abby thought the pool was called "the swim":

"Daa - I see the swim.  I see it!  It's the swim." 

We always talk about going swimming, but pool was not something we had taught until then.

I promise to share some new pictures of the kids again soon.  It has been months.  For those of you who are attending my party/gathering this weekend, you'll have a chance to meet them all. 

Thanks for reading!

I took my family to IHOP for a late breakfast (or early lunch) today around 11am or so, and I was surprised to see that there was a wait of about 15 minutes before we could be seated.  We sat on some long cushioned benches together while we waited.  I like to "people watch", partially because I just like trying to figure people out, and partly because I might see someone that I know.  The longstanding joke with my wife is that we will likely always see someone that I know if we go anywhere remotely crowded. 

While we were sitting there, some people came and sat right next to me.  When I say "right next to me", I mean RIGHTNEXTTOME.  They were too close, and I felt like it was a minor invasion of my personal space.  To be sure, there are things that are more uncomfortable, but it ranks up there with being stuffed into a skyscraper elevator for me. 

I thought about our personal mental space, and how easy it is to feel pressured or stressed over decisions or critical events.  When I am dealing with my buyers and sellers, I always try to be mindful of this. 

I have witnessed many agents who seem completely oblivious to their clients' mental state, forging ahead blindly trying to close the deal.  In my humble opinion, this is probably manifested in other areas.  In other words, the agents and brokers who try to cram their clients into a sale are the same people who treat waiters badly, or step on neighbors' toes, or cut you off in traffic.  All of these are symptomatic of the same disease, which is narcissism. 

Narcissistic agents are my least favorite to deal with during a transaction, because they are the least giving, and least willing to sacrifice on behalf of their clients.  They are the same ones that I find myself speaking about when I say, "How does this person make any money in real estate?  They are so difficult to get along with!"

Unfortunately, I find myself saying that far too often.  I'm sure you have heard a potential client say, "Well, I haven't really had very good experiences with Realtors in the past."  I am always quick to respond, "Me, neither!"  Feel free to steal this line if you like.

What is my overarching point here? 

It's simple.  We are paid to serve as fiduciaries for our clients.  If you are new to the business, I will let you look that one up in the glossary or on Google.  For the rest of you, consider the ramifications of this word.  It sounds harmless enough, but it has a pretty deep meaning. 

A true fiduciary is supposed to put his/her client's interest ahead of his/her own needs or wants, right?  Are you doing this with every transaction?  I know that I have probably had a handful of sales (most of them early in my real estate career) which probably fell into a gray area.  In other words, maybe I was a bit pushy.  Not today, however.  I am proud to state that I have never been threatened with a lawsuit, nor have I had to undergo a mediation for any sale.  I would like to keep it that way, which is why I take my fiduciary responsibility seriously.  Building relationships based on mutual trust is the only way to build a proper real estate business, at least in my mind.

Respect your client's mental space, and do your very best to put their needs first.  You'll be glad you did.

Copyright 2008  Austin Homes  Jason Crouch

I have previously alluded to the fact that my family and I are going to be part of the core group of people involved in planting a new church in Georgetown this fall.  We have our first real planning meeting tomorrow night, and we have established a place to begin meeting for our Bible studies, which will begin September 7th.  Along with our pastor Whit Anderson and another friend, I am one of three trustees for the new church, which is called simply Christ Church.  Denominationally, we are PCA (Presbyterian Church in America), which includes a "Reformed" Christian theology.

Thanks to a good friend of mine who has a lot of contacts in the running world (he is in charge of the Texas Independence Relay race), we will hold our initial meetings at the Run-Tex store, which is on the square in downtown Georgetown.  I am happy that there is a back way from my house, and I can get there in about 15 minutes or so now (this would have been a 30 minute trip before). 

The location where we will meet is next to the store itself, and I think it is often used to teach exercise classes.  It has hardwood floors and mirrors on one side.  Upstairs, there is a small apartment with separate rooms and a kitchen, which will make it terrific for child care during our meetings. 

I was thinking this week about my friends from high school and college, and what they would