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Area Attractions Family Fun Lifestyle

What You Need to Know About Kyle, Texas and Austin

People looking to live in a place with small-town Texas charm that’s a short drive to Austin will want to explore the Kyle, Texas, community. It’s the fifth fastest-growing city in the state of Texas. Residents have many reasons to love living in Kyle and one of the biggies is its location.

Austin Texas skyline

Where Is Kyle, Texas?

Kyle is only 15 miles south of Austin and 63 miles northeast of San Antonio. Known as a gateway to the Hill Country, the town sits right on the I-35 corridor for easy access to retail, entrainment, dining, educational hubs, and business centers.

It’s only 15 miles from shopper’s paradise in San Marcos with its giant outlets. In fewer than 20 minutes, you can be in New Braunfels to float on the Comal River, visit Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and travel back in history at Gruene Historic District.

As of 2018, Kyle has 47,000 residents with many more to come. The City of Kyle is officially the Pie Capital of Texas. Yes, it’s trademarked by the U.S. Patent of Trademark Office. You have plenty to explore at Kyle historical sites give you a first-hand glimpse into its past.

Its location puts you near some of the best of Austin. Here are some of the Kyle residents’ favorites.

Barton Creek Habitat Preserve

The average high temperature in Kyle for July is 96 degrees. During the summer, residents head up to Barton Creek, which flows 40 miles east through Austin. Then, it remerges in Barton Springs, a spring-fed pool in Austin’s 358-acre Zilker Park. The pool contains four underground springs to maintain its average temperature of a cool 69 degrees, a perfect way to savor summertime.

The Barton Creek Habitat Preserve contains more than 4,000 acres in the Austin suburbs. It protects endangered species like the Barton Springs salamander. The preserve also preserves the water quality of Barton Creek and Barton Springs.

Zilker Park

If you visit Barton Springs, you’ll also want to take advantage of Zilker Park. It happens to be the home of the annual ACL Music Festival. Occurring over two weekends in October, more than 200,000 fans attend the festival to catch their favorites as the lineup contains more than 100 performers.

It’s also where you’ll find Lady Bird Lake, one of the best places to kayak. Surrounding the lake is a hike and bike trail. Every year, radio station KGSR hosts a summer concert series in the park. You can rent boats, browse the botanical garden, explore the nature and science center, or take in a show at Zilker Hillside Theater.

East Austin’s Hip Eateries

Austin has no shortage of restaurants as people rave about the eats there, especially on the east side of town. You’ll find something for everyone with options such as interior Mexican food, artisanal butcher shops, amazing sushi, several breweries, taco trailers, steaks, spun ice cream, several bars and breweries, and of course, barbecue.

People love the walkability of East Austin, and hop from spot to spot enjoying drinks at one place, a meal at another, and dessert at yet another. Just do a search for “east Austin eateries” or check out Eater Austin, and you’ll find a wealth of fabulous suggestions.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA)

Whether you go on vacation or a business trip, you have an easy drive to Austin’s airport. Finding the right flight is a breeze with many airlines offering nonstop flights from Austin to many U.S. airports and even Canada, Germany, and London.

Residents love Kyle because it provides a little slice of heaven and a wonderful location with easy access to all the resources they want and need. You can find endless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors and connect with your neighbors in the Crosswinds community in Kyle.

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Amenities

3 Ways Crosswinds Amenities Enable You to Live a Vital Lifestyle

When thinking about buying a home, do you also wonder what type of community amenities are available and the impact they can have on your life? Our Crosswinds amenities here in Kyle, Texas offer ample opportunities for your family to get out and live a vital lifestyle.

3 Ways Crosswinds Amenities Enable You to Live a Vital Lifestyle

1. Windy Point Amenity Center

Our brand new Windy Point Amenity Center is the heartbeat of our community. Not only does it have a large pool for families to enjoy, but it also has a splash pad, sunbathing shelves, shaded structures, a playground and a grilling area so your family can spend hours of quality time together outside.

2. Hike and Bike Trails

Get your heart rate up and explore nature with a thrilling ride on the hike and bike trails interwoven throughout our master-planned community. Or spend a cool evening talking with friends as you stroll along our trails.

3. Open Spaces

Our master-planned community in Kyle is known for its wide-open spaces. More than 130 acres of parks, trails and greenbelts provide space for families to spread out and enjoy some time outdoors. Have a picnic, play an impromptu game of soccer or just take some time to lay down and look up at the clouds.

In case you didn’t pick it up on it, our master-plan design and Crosswinds amenities are focused on preserving the natural beauty of the Texas prairie that first drew explorers to this landscape long ago. They are also designed to connect families by creating a lifestyle which brings people together. So if you’re on the hunt for homes near Austin, our community may be the place for you!

Enrich the quality of your life by owning a home at Crosswinds and enjoy our Crosswinds amenities. Contact us today to learn more about our available homes or connect with Crosswinds on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Amenities Education Homebuilder Lifestyle

Crosswinds at a Glance – Crosswinds FAQ

Crosswinds, new homes at Crosswinds, homes near Austin, master-planned community in Kyle

You’ve probably heard a lot about Crosswinds, our new master-planned community in Kyle, or maybe you haven’t, but either way you want to know more. Get to know more about our community and the new homes at Crosswinds with the answers to these frequently asked questions.

Why is Crosswinds the perfect place to call home?

As a picturesque master-planned community in Kyle, Crosswinds is the ideal location for families who want to be close to Austin but not actually live in the city. Essentially, Crosswinds is the perfect place for you to stretch out your arms and take in a deep breath of fresh air.

What is there to do at Crosswinds?

The community amenities at Crosswinds are excellent for families that want to spend time together outside. More than 130 acres of parks, trails and greenbelts provide plenty of space for biking, jogging, picnics and so much more! Let’s not forget about the newly opened Windy Point Amenity Center, which features a resort-style pool to help you beat the summer heat.

What school district is Crosswinds in, and what schools will children attend?

Our community of homes near Austin is part of the renowned Hays CISD. As for the specific schools, kindergarten through fifth grade attend Pfluger Elementary, sixth through eighth grade attend Chapa Middle School and ninth through twelfth grade attend Lehman High School.

Who are the homebuilders, and what are their lot sizes?

We have three exceptional builders that create the beautiful new homes at Crosswinds: Highland Homes, Meritage Homes and Pacesetter Homes. As for the lot sizes, Highland Homes builds on 50’ lots and 60’ lots, Meritage Homes builds on 50’ lots and Pacesetter Homes builds on 40’ lots and 50’ lots. We know that it can be hard to pick a builder, and that’s why we wrote a little guide to help you figure out which builder is the one for you!

What are the yearly HOA dues?

For our master-planned community, the yearly Home Owner Association dues are $575 and include maintenance of the community amenities and common areas. Our HOA is also managed by Guardian Associate Management.

Who handles utilities and cable?

The City of Kyle handles the water, sewer and trash collection. Natural gas is handled by CentralPoint Energy and electricity is handled by Pedernales Electric Cooperative. Lastly, internet, phone and TV are handled by Time Warner Cable.

We hope these answered some of your questions about our lovely master-planned community in Kyle! Now, if you still have some questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the new homes at Crosswinds. You can also get a feel for our community by connecting with Crosswinds on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Events Family Fun

Everything You Need to Know About the Easter Egg Drop Eggstravaganza in Kyle

Are you still looking for fun things to do in Kyle, Texas over the Easter Weekend? Trust us when we say that you don’t need to look any further than the Easter Egg Drop Eggstravaganza. This event is by far the largest Easter egg hunt that has ever happened in Hays County, though you’ve probably never seen an egg hunt like this one before. The city of Kyle has teamed up with the Eikon Church to put on the most exciting Easter experience Texas has ever seen. Here is everything you need to know about the Easter Egg Drop Eggstravaganza in Kyle from your friends at Crosswinds.

Easter Egg Drop Extravaganza

(Image via facebook.com)

Eggs Dropped From a Helicopter

On March 24, 80,000 Easter Eggs will be dropped from a helicopter at the Easter Egg Drop Eggstravaganza. Children of all ages will get to watch as a fully loaded helicopter drops eggs all over Gregg-Clarke Park. When the last egg has been dropped and the helicopter has been cleared from the area, children will be allowed to run at full pace to collect as many eggs as they can.

Age-Specific Egg Hunting Areas

The Easter Egg Drop Eggstravaganza will come complete with designated hunting areas separated by age. There will even be a specific area for toddlers and children with disabilities. Everyone will have the opportunity to celebrate Easter the right way with the Eikon Church and the City of Kyle. If egg hunting isn’t your thing, don’t worry. You can take part in carnival games, face painting and many more Easter activities that anyone living in Kyle won’t want to miss.

No matter the age of your children, it’s guaranteed that this event is something they will talk about for years to come. Anyone living in Crosswinds or in other homes near Austin should not forget to RSVP to this free Easter event to ensure that you and your children have an Easter to remember. We’ve also heard that the Easter Bunny might even be there for photo opportunities! Looking for more fun ways to spend your time in Kyle? Visit our blog today for more ideas and to explore beautiful Crosswinds homes near Austin!

 

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Events

3 St. Patrick’s Day Recipes That Will Bring You Luck

It’s that time of year again where everything starts to feel a bit more Irish. Get in the spirit by cooking some of our favorite traditional St. Patrick’s Day recipes. We may specialize in setting you up with beautiful homes near Austin, but we also like to think we are experts in food here at Crosswinds. Here are our three favorite St. Patrick’s Day recipes.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

 St. Patrick's Day Recipes That Will Bring You Luck

(Image via allrecipes.com)

 No St. Patrick’s Day is complete without corned beef and cabbage. This traditional Irish delicacy is not only delightfully delicious, it is also one of the easiest recipes we have ever prepared. Simply throw beef, vegetables, water and beer into a crockpot and forget about it for 8 hours. You’ll be left with the juiciest meat that you might ever taste. Be sure to check out the recipe before any food prep is done.

Irish Shepard’s Pie

St. Patrick's Day Recipes That Will Bring You Luck

(Image via allrecipes.com)

While this recipe requires a bit more attention than the last, the time you’ll put into this dish will be worth the wait. Shepard’s Pie is one of the classic St. Patrick’s Day recipes and we can’t get enough of this one. The combination of lamb, vegetables and a fluffy crust will leave you wishing everyday was St. Patrick’s Day. With prep time averaged out at 25 minutes, this recipe is certainly worth your time.

Beef and Guinness Stew

 St. Patrick's Day Recipes That Will Bring You Luck

(Image via allrecipes.com)

The addition of beer to any recipe is not only incredibly Irish, but it is also a great way to spruce up your favorite dish. Of course this recipe calls for the most abundant Irish beer in America. Guinness is a dark beer that is sure to thicken up this traditional Irish stew into gravy that sits perfectly on a bed of mashed potatoes. While beer and beef are the essence of this stew, the addition of bacon is what really turns this dish up a notch. Serve this at a St. Patrick’s Day party to impress all of your friends and family.

No matter what your plans are for this Irish holiday, these St. Patrick’s Day recipes are sure to add a bit of flavor to any celebration. Stop in at Longhorn Daiquiris near Crosswinds for a drink to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the traditional way. To learn more about all of the great things Kyle and Crosswinds have to offer, contact us for a tour of our homes near Austin today!

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Homebuilder

Top 4 Reasons to Buy One of Our New Homes at Crosswinds

If you’re feeling overwhelmed while searching for new homes near Austin, we urge you to check out our master-planned community in Kyle, Texas! There are so many reasons why we think you and your family will love our new homes at Crosswinds, but here are just our top four.

new homes at Crosswinds

1. Incredible Location

Just 20 minutes south of Austin, Crosswinds is right off I-35, which makes it an excellent community for Austin-working professionals and their families. Austin is a great city to have fun and to grow in your career, but if you want the room to raise a family and let your kids run around and be kids, then you’ll love our location.

2. Exceptional Homebuilders

Not only can our location help ease your morning commute but our amazing homebuilders make such breathtaking homes that you won’t ever want to leave! All three of our homebuilders were chosen because of their remarkable customer service, attention to detail and sheer dedication to building lasting homes. Check out our blog about the available new homes at Crosswinds from earlier this month.

3. Astonishing Amenities

As if our remarkable homes weren’t enough to make you love our master-planned community in Kyle, wait until you see the pool! Our Windy Point Amenity Center and other community amenities are exactly what you’ll be craving on those warm spring weekends and summer afternoons when you just want to get out and explore nature.

4. Exemplary Education

Even our youngest residents benefit huge from moving into one of our new homes at Crosswinds, because then they’ll be able to attend schools in the Hays Consolidated Independent School District. The specific schools your students will attend are Pfluger Elementary School, Chapa Middle School and Lehman High School. Not only does HCISD have an exemplary educational record, their Performing Arts Center is phenomenal.

These are just a handful of the so many great reasons why our master-planned community in Kyle is heads and shoulders above the competition. If you’re ready to make the move to our neck of the woods, contact us today and we’ll be more than happy to tell you all about our community and the available new homes at Crosswinds.

Image from Thinkstock by Getty Images. Item number: 640228626

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Uncategorized

Making Your Home a “Smart Home”

smart home technology
(Image via businessinsider.com)

Recent technological advancements have allowed us to make simple home improvements faster! By buying one or two gadgets, you can make life at home much easier. While making your home smart might sound like a daunting task, the technology has come a long way and it is now easier than ever. There are a lot of smart home goods like LED bulbs, locks, TVs and even robot vacuums that clean your home while keeping your pet intrigued. For those looking to step into the future of homes, here’s some information on smart home technology!

Your Personal Home Assistant

You have probably chatted with Siri, Alexa or Google on your phone or other device. Artificial intelligence is one of the many ways you can make your home smarter. Companies like Apple, Google and Amazon came up with their own home assistant technologies that execute some of the tasks you do at home like playing music, updating your calendar and even computing simple math problems as you dictate. If you paid attention to this year’s Apple WWDC (Apple Worldwide Developers Conference), then you might have noticed Apple’s new egg-shaped speaker called “HomePod”, which promises to innovate home speakers, but also act as a smart home assistant that lets you connect to the different devices inside your home. If you’re having trouble deciding which smart home technology assistant to purchase, see how they stack up to each other!

Wondering Where to Start?

With the number of brands and devices out on the market, choosing a smart home appliance can be overwhelming. The best starting point is your home TV. If you have bought your TV within the last few years, it probably has “smart features” that let you browse the web, stream videos and photos from your phone or even let you install third party apps like Skype, Netflix and Facebook for more productivity or entertainment.

Smart homes not only make your life easier, but are also good for the environment! If you’ve decided to buy one of our new homes in Kyle, TX, it’s a good investment to install a learning thermostat, LED bulbs or even a smart refrigerator. These devices are designed to conserve excessive electric usage and reduce your monthly cost. To learn more about our homes near Austin, contact Crosswinds today.

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Homebuilder

Homebuilder Highlight: Pacesetter Homes

When we were choosing who would build our new homes near Austin, we had a lot of builders to choose from. We handpicked three exceptional homebuilders. Today, we want to shine the spotlight on one homebuilder in particular – Pacesetter Homes. Here are some things to know about this great homebuilder and what they’re doing at Crosswinds in Kyle, TX.

Pacesetter Homes

Built to a Higher Standard

Getting their start in 2007, Pacesetter Homes is a part of the QUALICO development and communities brand. They have a reputation for creating amazing homes that are built to seamlessly fit into every homeowner’s lifestyle. They aren’t one of those homebuilders that try to build as many homes as quickly as possible. Pacesetter Homes takes the time to ensure that every one of their new homes meets their high standards.

Homebuilder Accolades

We aren’t the only ones that recognize Pacesetter Homes’ exceptional building. They’ve won numerous accolades and awards for their product design. In 2015 and 2016, they swept the HBA MAX Awards for best product design for $100,000 – $149,999, $150,000 – $199,999 and $200,000 – $249,999.

Dedication to Customer Service

Aside from their exceptional quality, one of the main reasons we chose Pacesetter Homes to build in our community was their dedication to providing a positive homebuying experience. Their friendly staff is always there to answer any questions you may have before, during or even after buying one of their new homes near Austin.

Pacesetter Homes at Crosswinds in Kyle, TX

The homes that Pacesetter Homes is building in our master-planned community will sit on 40’ and 50’ home lots and will be ideal for young families that are looking for their first home or even empty nesters that are looking to downsize for easier home maintenance. In their Craftsman Collection, they will be offering four base floor plans, and in their offering nine base floor plans in their Craftsman Plus Collection. Their homes start from the $200s and range from the 1,252 square foot Thatcher floor plan to the 3,117 square foot Haskell floor plan.

If you’re starting to search for homes near Austin, take a look at the Pacesetter Homes available in our master-planned community! You can contact Crosswinds in Kyle, TX today for more information about all of our homebuilders and our wonderful community.

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Area Attractions

Two Wheel Brewing in Buda Now Open Near Crosswinds

Crosswinds Kyle, TX
(Image via twowheelbrewing.com)

Calling all beer lovers! We’re beyond excited to announce that a brewery has opened up near our master-planned community in Buda. While Crosswinds is in Kyle, TX, Two Wheel Brewing Company is just a quick 10-minute drive from our new homes near Austin! Here’s what you should know about this new craft beer company.

The Cold Brews

To kickstart this brewery’s entrance into the world of craft beer, Two Wheel Brewing currently serves four beers – Budaful Blonde Ale, Twin Creeks Pale Ale, Amber German-Style Altbier and Brakeman Bitter English-Style Pale Ale. But that’s not all! The brewery plans to release even more craft brews, so you can expect to see seasonal varieties!

The Men Behind Two Wheel

There are just three men bringing these delicious beers to Buda. The first is the head brewer and founder, Marc Woffenden, who started his beer crafting career 10 years ago thanks to getting a homebrew kit for Christmas. He then went on to study brewing science and engineering at American Brewers Guild Brewing School. Next up is Dennis Howell, who also went to the American Brewers Guild Brewing School and has years of experience crafting tasty brews in Upstate New York breweries. Finally, there’s Douglas Korte, who keeps track of the business and also gets to have the best job someone in a brewery could have – quality testing. That means he’s the lucky guy that gets to taste all the beer to make sure it’s as good as it’s supposed to be.

Plan a Trip to Two Wheel

Since they are still so new, Two Wheel Brewing Company is only currently open on Fridays from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM. However, they are expected to extend those hours to more days very soon! You can keep up with all that’s going on by following their Facebook page.

Have you always wanted to live close to a brewery? If so, then you’re in luck! Our master-planned community of Crosswinds in Kyle, TX is less than 10 miles away from Two Wheel. To learn more about our new homes near Austin, contact Crosswinds today.