February 2026

  There’s finally a little good news for anyone who’s been priced out or sitting on the sidelines. Buying a home is getting more affordable. Monthly payments have started to come down, and the squeeze buyers have been feeling for the past few years is slowly loosening. Now, that doesn’t mean everyone can suddenly afford a home, but with how tough the market’s been, the improvement we’re...

  You may have heard homeowners today have a lot of equity built up. But what does that really mean? Let’s break it down. Because your equity isn’t just a number, it’s a powerful asset that can help you take your next big step in life. How Much Equity Does the Typical Homeowner Have? Full article here: Four Ways Your Home Equity Can Work for You (512) 853-0110...

 As the epicenter of America’s pandemic-era housing boom, Texas and cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio saw home prices soar to record highs, fueled not just by low interest rates, but also migration. Where do home prices stand today in these “boomtowns” after a period of rising inflation, climbing interest rates, and declining affordability? Full article here: State of U.S....

  If you’re planning to buy a home this year, you may be focused on the spring market. And hoping that when spring does hit, you’ll see: Mortgage rates drop a little more and more homes hit the market.  But here’s what most buyers don’t realize: Buying just a few weeks earlier could mean paying less, dealing with less stress, and feeling less rushed. Full article here: Top 3 Reasons To Buy a...

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has begun limited operations at its new chip manufacturing plant in Taylor, marking a major milestone for a project that has faced years of delays. The company confirmed that the facility’s first chips are expected to roll off the production line later this year. Several hundred employees have already been working at the still-under-construction site since November....

  Home prices are still rising in the majority of metro areas across the country, but with growth slowing and affordability improving, more hopeful buyers may be finding a long-awaited opening. Seventy-three percent—or 168—of the 230 metro markets tracked saw home prices rise year-over-year during the final quarter of 2025, and 12 of those markets even saw double-digit price gains. Full article...

  Base Power, one of Austin’s most valuable startups, plans to create 500 jobs at a new manufacturing facility and is seeking assistance from the city of Austin to do so. The energy company, led by co-founder and CEO Zach Dell, the son of Dell Technologies Inc. founder Michael Dell, plans to invest $265 million in a new 486,000-square-foot manufacturing facility near Austin-Bergstrom International...

The real estate market may be showing signs of improvement for first-time homebuyers as 2026 begins, with experts pointing to stabilizing mortgage rates and increased housing inventory as positive factors. Home prices have changed drastically in recent years due to COVID-19 and other influences.  Full article here: First-time homebuyers see improved outlook for 2026 housing market  (512)...

Here are the January/2026 MLS single-family statistics for Austin, TX: Our January numbers were a little better than December which closed out 2025…while our sales number dropped vs a 12% increase in December, most all the other numbers looked better: Listings up 12% in January vs. up 18% in December, Pendings up 9% vs. down 4%, Inventory up 20% vs. up 50%, Median price down .9% vs....

Readers ask: “Where exactly is the Balcones Fault?” And while we’re at it, “What precisely is the Balcones Escarpment?” The easiest answer: The fault and the escarpment, named for the Spanish word for “balconies,” signal the start of the Texas Hill Country. Or, in some places, they mark the transitional zone between the rugged hills to the west and the gently rolling plains and Blackland...