January 2026

  Software developer is the most common occupation among Austin’s top earners and two-thirds of them are millennials, according to an American-Statesman analysis of census survey data. The analysis found the top 10% of earners in Austin made at least $173,000 in 2023, the most recent year with detailed occupational information available. That was notably higher than in every other Texas metro, the...

  One year ago, businesses — especially CEOs — were optimistic about the U.S. economy in 2025, expecting lower taxes and more market-friendly policies from incoming President Donald Trump. Then came April 2, Liberation Day. The market fell, uncertainty rose, and affordability became a more acute concern. Meanwhile, the labor market continued to weaken, as immigration restrictions led to a...

This is when many of us make our annual resolutions about what we plan on doing in the upcoming year.  I have a suggestion for one you may not have heard before: Make a will. I recently helped a long-term client (a recent widow) sell their home, but her deceased husband had never made a will. This cost her big time as she had to share 50% of the net proceeds (a substantial amount) with his 2 estranged...

  If you’re trying to decide if you’re ready to become a homeowner in the next twelve months, there’s probably a lot on your mind. You’re thinking about your finances, today’s mortgage rates, home prices, the current state of the economy, and more. And, you’re juggling how all of those things will impact the choice you’ll make. It’s a lot. Full article here: Not Sure If You’re Ready...

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market index climbed one point to 39 this month, the highest reading since April.  Full article here: U.S. homebuilder sentiment inches up to eight-month high December  (512) 853-0110 or robert@AustinTxHomeSales.com If you are unable to open the link/article above, please let me know so I can get it to you another...

In 2026, we expect a steadier housing market, but it’s not yet off to the races. Mortgage rates are forecast to average 6.3%, easing affordability pressures slightly, while home prices rise modestly by 2.2%. Existing-home sales should climb about 1.7% to 4.13 million, a small but meaningful gain from 2025’s near 30-year low. At the same time, for-sale inventory will continue to recover, up nearly 9%...