When mortgage rates started to drop this fall, home buyers took notice. More consumers are stepping back into the housing market, and contract signings are on the rise. Those lower rates also have been credited with fueling three consecutive months of gains in existing-home sales. Economists are hopeful that the momentum will continue into the 2026 housing market. Full article here: Pending Home...

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage fell to its lowest level of 2025 this week (w/e 12/31), an encouraging sign for prospective home buyers. The average long-term mortgage rate dipped to 6.15% from 6.18% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. That’s the lowest average long-term rate since October 3, 2024 when it dipped to 6.12% before shooting back up. One year ago, the rate...

  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%...

  The Texas housing market has experienced an unprecedented increase in appraisal values in recent years, particularly during the 2020-22 boom. As a result, homeowners have been feeling the pressure of rising property taxes. In the most recent election, Texas voters passed Proposition 13, which increased the homestead tax exemption for school districts from $100,000 to $140,000 — an increase that was...

  Mortgage activity continued to climb in November, posting the largest year-over-year increase in more than five years. Every major category increased on a year-over-year basis as mortgage rates continue to trend lower, led by strong increases in refinancing and adjustable-rate mortgage activity.  Full article here: Mortgage Activity Continued to Climb in November (512) 853-0110...