Halloween is quickly approaching, but there's still time to catch some spooky fun events before the season is over! We've gathered events ranging from scary movies and haunted houses to bar parties and corn mazes. Make the most of what's left of October!   10/1-31/22Nightmare on Gibson StreetOne night of Halloween just isn’t enough and Gibson Street Bar is making sure you get your fix all month long at Nightmare on Gibson Street. Their official Halloween party will be held on October 29.   10/5-26/22 (Wednesdays)Austin Motel Freaky FloatsHead to Austin Motel every Wednesday in October for spooky poolside movie screenings. Watch some of your favorite horror flicks poolside, like Scream and Psycho, while sipping cocktails from the pool bar. Admission is $20 per person, and seats are first come first served.   10/7-30/22 (Fridays)Freaky FridayFierce Whiskers Distillery is conjuring up more than one type of spirit every Friday in the month of October. Bring a blanket for scary movies on the lawn, taste their fall cocktail menu, and pick up a pumpkin from their patch.   10/21-22/22Escape From Nightmareland: An Immersive Horror ShowImmerse yourself in a frightful performance of sleepwalkers, night shadows, and malevolent creatures at First Street Studio.    10/23/22Thriller Dance PartyDon your best zombie attire and make your way south to The Hive for an epic remake of the iconic Michael Jackson "Thriller" music video, led by Dance With Monica ATX.   10/26/22Werewolf Halloween Costume ContestMeanwhile Brewing Co. is hosting their annual costume contest for dogs and their owners. Whether you dress up or just go to see cute pups dressed up, you can enjoy fun prizes, dog treats, and local vendors.   10/28/22Spooky Silent DiscoDon't miss the Spooky Silent Disco at The Belmont with Quiet Events. Join party-goers decked out in their Halloween best singing, dancing, and drinking with 3 DJs battling for your attention all-night long.   10/28-29/22UNDEAD: Haunted House of DancesVentana Ballet returns to the Ballroom at Spider House for a spooky reimagining of the classic ballet Dracula. With two showings each evening, and a variety of seating options, all are guaranteed to have a haunting experience at this adults-only show.   10/29/22Boo & BrewSpend an evening at The Arboretum for their 5th annual Boo & Brew event. All guests can enjoy live music, vendor booths, and swag bags. For the kids, there will be a candy crawl, face painting, balloon art, and more. Adults can enjoy alcohol samplings, beverages at Arboretum restaurants, raffles, and more. Event is free for all and costumes are welcome.   10/29/2022Hall-o-Funky at Geraldine'sJoin Geraldine’s over Halloween weekend for their Hall-o-Funky themed music night. This distinct live music experience features tunes from Noella Gray and the Imaginary Band, Halloween-inspired libations, and spooky décor. Reservations recommended.   HAUNTED AUSTIN Tour the city in style and take a ride in the Haunted ATX Hearse Limousine to check out the landmarks in Austin that have officially been deemed haunted; such as the Clay Pit and the Littlefield House at the University of Texas. Enjoy a private tour or a limited capacity group tour. For a supernatural experience year-round, Austin Ghost Tours offers small group, guided walking tours to some of the city's most haunted places, turning an evening stroll into a walking ghost story. Join the investigation to discover who is lingering among the streets and alleyways of historic, downtown Austin. Even more spooky options are about with Austin Ghosts, offering nightly walking ghost tours through the Capital. Or, if you’d rather get your frights from home, try their Ghostflix, a live streaming ghost tour through Austin and other haunted sites around the country. If you need a little liquid courage to face all the spooks and frights, join the Haunted Pub Crawl though the capital city's most haunted pubs and restaurants. Hear the terrifying tales of Austin's "old west" days, all while celebrating Austin's wild and weird history. Scare enthusiasts looking for real fright should visit Scream Hollow just south of Bastrop. Experience 20 acres of outdoor frights and stroll through the Mansion of Terror Coven, take on the zombies in Lost Pines Asylum or creep your way through the Wicked Darkness Maze. No matter the route, be prepared to be genuinely scared. Groups are limited so plan your trip in advance. Like a trip through a modern horror movie, terror is felt throughout the season at House of Torment. The horror destination features even more ghoulish attractions this year. Prepare to scream as you journey through elaborate sets and come face-to-face with monsters, zombies and ghoulish characters.     FALL FAMILY FUN Bring the kids in full costume to Boo at the Zoo (Friday and Saturday nights from October 14-29, 2022), where they can experience the Austin Zoo in a whole new way: in the dark! A stroll through the “haunted zoo” will certainly scare, so ghosts and goblins of all ages enter if you dare. Limited tickets are available, so reserve your spot in advance today! Celebrate local makers  this season with a free family fun Boo! Bash at Parker + Scott on October 22, 2022. The first 100 kids can decorate their own Halloween tote bags with custom stamps by local printmaker Alex Quirk. Additionally, kids can decorate their own Halloween planters and Mayawell will be supplying beverages. While you're there, get started on your holiday shopping with some great local-made items in store. Back by popular demand, The Austin Symphony will be performing their annual Halloween Children's Concert on October 23, 2022. Come dressed in your Halloween best and enjoy the boo-tiful music for young eyes and ears! Whether families are looking for a kid-friendly candy crawl, a new way to experience Halloween, or an opportunity to test their Beetlejuice trivia knowledge, The Arboretum will offer a variety of onsite events throughout October, including story times, trivia nights, trick-or-treating and more. On October 29, 2022, they will host their annual Boo & Brew. Attend a concert at the George Washington Carver Museum by the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble on October 29, 2022. This free, public performance features fall-themed pieces like The Witch and the Saint by Steven Reineke and Music for a Darkened Theater by Danny Elfman. Traveling with your pup? Music Lane is hosting a family-friendly Trick-or-Treat Extravaganza on October 29, 2022—and furry friends are invited! Collect Halloween sweets from Music Lane retailers and stroll over to the the plaza for a complimentary pet portrait session in the pumpkin patch. Event goers can also enter a raffle to win a $250 gift card to a Music Lane retailer of their choice. Throw on your family costumes for the Halloween Carnival at the Neill-Cochran House Museum on October 30, 2022. Kiddos can enjoy crafts, trunk-or-treating, a bouncy house and more (for free!). Head to the Austin Asian American Resource Center for a Kids Halloween Bash. Fun for all ages, this event will have themed crafts, pumpkin art, outdoor races and carnival games, a costume contest (open to ages 12 and under) and more!  October brings a variety of Halloween-themed events to Austin. All things scary will be featured at the family friendly Pioneer Farms Pumpkin Nights, through October 31, 2022. The event will include a festive walking path featuring spectacular sights like 10-foot tall jack-o-lanterns, the world’s largest pumpkin guitar and more fun surprises designed and carved by artists. Throughout the month, you can also visit the historic living museum for daytime events like spooky ghost tours, pumpkin-carving demonstrations, a Dia de Los Muertos exhibit, and more. Buy your tickets in advance to reserve your spot! If you're looking for a low-key autumn experience with plenty of room to explore, head to Sweet Berry Farm through November 6, 2022 (closed Wednesdays) for the annual pumpkin patch. Kids and adults alike will love the hayrides, Candy Corn Kid Maze, pumpkin painting, scarecrow stuffing, face painting, crafts and more! Be sure to stop by your nearest Wheatsville Food Co-op on Halloween to pick up fun, seasonal treats for the family. Sweet treats include Pumpkin Spice and French Toast Vegan Donuts, seasonal pies, mummy cakes and monster donuts.   DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS From November 1-2, 2021, celebrate Día de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday that remembers loved ones who have passed. Several different cultural events throughout the month will feature a lineup of music performances, art exhibits and more. The Mexic-Arte Museum will host its 39th annual Day of the Dead Exhibition, Nuestra Comunidad/Our Community – Memory and Remembrance, paying tribute to the tradition that celebrates the return of the dead by their families and friends. On display through November 20, 2022. The museum will also host its 39th Annual Viva la Vida Parade, Austin's largest and longest-running Día de lost Muertos event on October 29. The event will feature hands-on art activities and artist demos, traditional foods, local artists and retail booths, a low-rider exhibition and live performances all day long.                           With the weather slowly changing and so many fun events going on, it's impossible for you to not enjoy fall in Austin! We can't wait to see how you celebrate. Happy Halloween!

If you close your eyes, blast the AC, and sip a Pumpkin Spice latte, it feels like fall! Regardless of what the weather forcast is telling us, we're choosing to celebrate the first day of fall with some seasonal things to look forward to. Celebrate fall in Austin with pumpkin patches and corn mazes, spooky tours, and amazing outdoor adventures in the scenic Texas Hill Country. 1. Pick pumpkins and explore a corn maze at local farms.Head on down to the farm for some old-fashioned harvest fun, such as exploring the five-acre corn maze and feeding the farm animals at Barton Hill Farms in Bastrop (September 23–November 6, select dates); picking your own pumpkins and gourds from the pumpkin patch at Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls (starting September 17); or going for a hay ride and meeting the animals at the petting zoo at Georgetown's Sweet Eats Fruit Farm (Starting September 10). 2. Take in fall’s splendor on horseback.Enjoy fall foliage and the quiet charm of the Texas Hill Country with a guided trail ride on horseback with Maverick Horseback Riding in Lockhart or Texas Trail Rides, just outside downtown Austin. Find more info about horseback riding near Austin here. 3. Enjoy beer, brats and bands at Oktoberfest events. Celebrate Central Texas’ German heritage with Oktoberfest beers and bites around the region. Toast the harvest with a stein of bier and a bratwurst in hand at Banger's, their annual Oktoberfest will be held from September 29-October 2. Or visit local Austin breweries like Like Oak Brewing and enjoy a cold Oaktoberfest in the biergarten. For an authentic Central Texas experience, make a day trip to Fredericksburg where you'll find German bakeries, restaurants, breweries and tons of history and charm. 4. Watch a movie under the stars.Drive over to the Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In, and watch classic and indie flicks on the big screen beneath the night sky. Check out Moonstruck Drive In Cinema at Circuit of the Americas. Travel a little further south to Doc’s Drive In Theatre featuring nightly showings, house-made food, and drinks for the adults. 5. Take a haunted tour.Ride in style with the Haunted ATX Hearse Limo and cruise local landmarks rumored to be inhabited by ghosts. Join a guided walk with Austin Ghost Tours and see some of Austin’s most haunted places. Or, attend the free, annual Murder, Mayhem & Misadventure Walking Tour (October 29), at Oakwood Cemetery and learn about the unfortunate demise of some of its locally famous residents, portrayed by actors at actual grave sites. 6. Peruse artwork at the Fall Pecan FestivalEach year, hundreds of makers, crafters and artists take over Austin’s Sixth Street Historic District for the annual Fall Pecan Festival (September 17-18). Find local makers and handmade wares, home goods and artwork and the various booths; and listen to local live music with the whole family. 7. Go on a camping adventure.There’s nothing like the crackle of a campfire and the smell of roasting marshmallows. Enjoy fall’s warm weather with an overnight adventure at one of the many state parks and campgrounds just outside of Austin. Pick the perfect spot to spend the night at Emma Long Metropolitan Park, McKinney Falls State Park, Inks Lake State Park or Pedernales Falls State Park. 8. Bring the kids to Boo at the Zoo.Unleash your little ones at the Austin Zoo, where they can enjoy Boo at the Zoo on Friday and Saturday nights from October 14-29. Enjoy a spooky train ride, an entertaining puppet show and a haunted mansion, in addition to meeting the animal residents. Tickets are limited, so reserve your spot in advance! 9. Work up a sweat on a hiking trail.From downtown Austin to the nearby Texas Hill Country, you’ll find no shortage of places to explore on foot. Take in scenic city views along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail that winds along the shores of Lady Bird Lake. Or, head out of the city limits to visit the unique landscape at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center (reservations required), follow the nature trails at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge near Marble Falls or hike the granite batholith at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Fredericksburg. 10. Get spooked at a haunted house.From brain-hungry zombies to bloodthirsty monsters, come face-to-face with the scariest creatures from your worst nightmares at House of Torment haunted house (fall season dates TBA). Or, travel an hour outside of Austin to Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park, where you can brave four different haunted houses and the only vampire bar in Texas (opening on September 16). 11. Sip a seasonal beer at a craft brewery.Savor the suds of the season at one of Austin’s many craft breweries. Enjoy the Wiesn Festbier, from Celis Brewery or Austin Beerworks’ seasonal Montecore, a balanced Oktoberfest featuring all German malts, hops and yeasts. 12. Dare yourself to explore the spooky trails at Pioneer Farms.Venture onto the haunted trails with a Night Owl Ghost Tour at historic Pioneer Farms and find funny and super-scary surprises along the way. The award-winning Night Owl Podcast hosts this paranormal adventure, exploring haunted sites and trails at Pioneer Farms. Come early and bring the family to enjoy historically-based workshops, a general store and plenty of socially distant fun. 13. Eat outdoors on the nearest patio.In Texas, autumn days equate to gorgeously sunny weather (which, if you ask us, means prime time for patio sitting). Try something from each food truck on the decked out garden at Cosmic Coffee and Beer, dine on German-inspired dishes on the expansive, dog-friendly patio at Scholz Garten, and enjoy brunch in the sprawling beer garden at one of three Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden locations. 14. Immerse yourself in the colorful celebration of Dias de los Muertos.From late October through early November, celebrate Dias de los Muertos in Austin, the Mexican holiday that remembers loved ones who have passed. Several different virtual and in-person cultural events throughout the month will feature music performances, art exhibits and more. Be sure to attend the 39th annual Day of the Dead Exhibition, dates TBA, at Mexic-Arte Museum. 15. Dig in to all things pumpkin.Forget pumpkin spice lattes. In Austin, we take the seasonal splendor up a notch for pumpkin lovers. For breakfast, indulge in the famous pumpkin pancakes at Kerbey Lane Cafe (pro tip: they also offer vegan and gluten-free options!) or try a pumpkin muffin with your latte from Stinson's Bistro. At lunch, indulge in pumpkin empanadas from La Mexicana Bakery. For dinner, try the homemade pumpkin ravioli at Andiamo Ristorante. And don’t forget dessert, a flight of sweet treats from Sugar Mama's Bakeshop including cupcakes, breads and pumpkin pie. 16. Attend the Texas Book Festival.The annual Texas Book Festival (November 5-6) is going hybrid this year with both in-person and virtual components. One of the top (and free!) annual in-person events is the Lit Crawl, featuring programming in Austin’s Six Square District and across East Austin. 17. Try a refreshing cider.Sure, you could always go to a nearby U-pick farm to enjoy the bounty of apple harvest season. Or, you could enjoy the grown-up version with a glass of hard cider made from freshly pressed apples. Sample the full-bodied, peppery Broken Crown honey mead at Meridian Hive Meadery. Or stop by Austin Eastciders restaurant and tap room to try the limited-edition Spiced cider, laced with cinnamon, cardamom and cloves (available later in the season). Drop in at Fairweather Cider Co. for uniquely infused ciders like their “Tejano Dreams” made with anaheim chiles for a ton of flavor without the spice. To round out the mix, Texas Keeper Cider is a small-batch cidery owned and operated by born and raised Austinites in South Austin. Stop by their Hill Country taproom for a crisp drink and lovely views. 18. Tune in to the spooky Halloween Children’s Concert by Austin Symphony.On October 23, 2022, tune in with the kids for a frightfully fun, online symphonic performance with the annual Halloween Children’s Concert. Bonus points if your kiddos watch in costume! 19. Spoon into a slice of pie.Enjoy end-of-summer fruits and the spices of fall with a slice of homemade pie. Try the made-from-scratch pumpkin pie at Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery. Or treat yourself to an adorable mini apple or pumpkin chai pie from Tiny Pies. 20. Take off on a Texas Hill Country wine trail.Spend a day wandering around sprawling vineyards and sipping your way through a lineup of award-winning wines when you go on a limited capacity excursion with Discover Texas Wine Tours. Make your way through the wine trails of Marble Falls, Dripping Springs or Fredericksburg. 21. Get out on the water.Make the most of Austin’s glorious fall weather with an excursion on the glittering waters of its lakes. It’s easy to get out on the water at Lady Bird Lake, where you can rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes from the Rowing Dock, Greenbelt Outdoors, Texas Rowing Center and more. For an insider’s perspective, take a guided kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour of downtown Austin with Austin City Kayak Tours. 22. Get in the spirit at a UT football game and tailgating party.It’s hard not to get in the team spirit when you’re in the midst of Texas Longhorn country. Don your burnt orange and white, and cheer on the University of Texas at Austin football team from your favorite sports bar patio. Favorites include Jack & Ginger's Irish pub in Domain NORTHSIDE, where you can relax and catch hours of football every weekend. Or, put your horns up from the shores of Lake Austin at Abel's on the Lake. Chow down on Texas-style brunch items and flutes of mimosas as TVs blast football games in the background.   Happy Texas Fall, Y'all!

You’re probably well aware that the real estate market is more competitive than ever (due to low inventory, among other things). Still, it’s not a bad time to buy a house. Mortgage rates are low, home values are on the rise and, in many cases, buying is still more affordable than renting. Are you considering purchasing a house in today’s fast-paced market? Here are five tips that can help.   Get pre-approved. Applying for a mortgage pre-approval is critical in a competitive market. Not only can it give you a good price range to shop in, but it can also help sellers feel more confident in your offers (and maybe even choose yours over others). Be flexible. If you can be flexible on your closing date or willing to waive a contingency or two, it will often work in your favor. Sellers are looking for the easiest, most lucrative sale in most cases. We can discuss what makes sense for you when the time comes.  Make a decent earnest money deposit. Earnest money deposits are “good faith” deposits that indicate how serious you are about a home purchase. A larger deposit may help your offer stand out. Be prepared to bid more than the asking price. Consider searching in a lower-than-maximum price range so that you have room to bid upward if necessary. In many cases, you’ll need to increase your bid to compete with other buyers, so maxing out your budget from the start probably isn’t the best strategy. Be patient (but stay alert). In the current conditions, you may not find what you’re looking for immediately. On the other hand, things could start moving quickly at any time. To find success, remember that communication and flexibility are key.   It can be challenging to buy a house in today’s market — but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Reach out today if you need assistance.