My Name is Lin Team. I use the tag Old Austin Realtor® to express with a bit of humor my special interest in the central area of town, or "old Austin." My commitment to historic preservation and neighborhood planning led me into real estate in 1997 to work with other people who want to preserve the history, culture and environment of our older neighborhoods.

Much is said these days about sustainability. Preserving our environment and our natural resources is an urgent item on the public agenda. Environmental conservation and historic preservation are inseparable, as "the greenest building is one that already exists."

I believe that our built environment affects our well being as much as our natural environment. The structure of our neighborhoods strongly influences how we feel and function. Before World War II, Austin was a small town where neighborhoods were laid out so that people naturally interacted with neighbors. Today, some of the most desirable places to live remain from that earlier time. I want to help preserve these neighborhoods and learn from them how to make our city work better.

Although some of Austin's early homes were quite grand, most were simply good, solid houses, built to last. Even modest homes were built with lumber that is superior to modern materials. Before zoning laws forced uniformity, homes of a variety of sizes and styles typically existed within one area, accommodating a diversity of ages and economic levels among neighbors. Variety of housing choices allows people to live in different dwellings as their needs change over the years without leaving the neighborhood. That potential for continuity fosters a strong sense of community.

In the 1950s Urban Renewal erased large swaths of homes where once vibrant communities flourished. In the 1970's, many older homes were destroyed to make way for expansion of downtown, government and the University of Texas. Demolition of some homes in the path of that development may have been necessary, but too often it was done without regard for the value of the structures or integrity of the surrounding neighborhoods. Many of the old homes that remain are still in danger of loss by neglect, abuse, or demolition. I hope to help buyers and sellers of those homes see that they are preserved.

Some people want, at least at some time in their lives, to live in the woods by themselves. Others want, at least some time in their lives, to live in an urban setting where they will be in regular sight of and contact with their neighbors. They find it satisfying to participate in associations that influence city planning decisions. It is the latter group of people I can best serve when they need real estate services.

Searching for a home in Old Austin can be difficult and frustrating. It is especially so without the help of a Realtor® who knows and appreciates Central Austin neighborhoods and old houses. I encourage anyone who wants to buy or sell an old house to work with one of the Realtors® who live and work here. We may not all be "old," but we have a demonstrated commitment and knowledge that can be extremely helpful to a discriminating buyer or seller.

Lin Team