Each year, U.S. News & World Report evaluates data related to quality of life, employment, home value, crime rates, cost of living, net migration, climate and education to determine the most desirable places to live across the country. The 2025–2026 rankings include three Austin-area small towns within their top 15 best small cities to live. Full article here: 3 suburbs near Austin among best...

  If you think you need to make a down payment of at least 20% to buy a home, you're not alone. In fact, a Freddie Mac survey found that nearly one-third of prospective homebuyers think the same. Contrary to popular belief, the typical homebuyer makes a down payment between 5% and 20% of the purchase price, and some mortgage programs make it possible to put down as little as 3%. Full article here: Do...

Here are the May Single-family Home Sales Statistics for the Austin, TX metro: Our Austin metro single-family home market seems to be stuck in a rut this year with below average numbers for all 8 categories above except for one.  Pendings went up 3.2% which is a positive sign since pending listings are a future-indicator of home sales…once a listing goes pending, it should close about 30-45...

  If one day you aspire to be a homeowner, keep your long-term goals in mind. The transition from renting to buying is a big step that requires patience and lots of planning. Here are three ways you can prepare to become a homeowner while renting. Full article here: Renting with the goal of buying (512) 853-0110 or robert@AustinTxHomeSales.com If you are unable to open the link/article...

  Originally designed to serve 11 million travelers a year, Austin-Bergstrom was successfully operating at that size for years. However, as Austin began to turn into a tech, music and financial hub, officials knew its airport needed to grow. In 2019, nine gates were added to the airport to accommodate 15 million passengers annually. Full article here: With 20M travelers yearly, Austin airport...

  Despite economic headwinds that have pushed office vacancies into double digits and slowed new development, downtown Austin hasn’t lost its luster.  While slower, growth in the city’s central business district is still being fueled by new developments and population growth, even as businesses adapt to changing market conditions. Full article here: Downtown Austin hasn’t lost its...

Home values are up roughly 50% in five years, leaving households with $35trillion in equity. Of that amount, homeowners who have a mortgage have $11trillion in 'tappable equity' – money that can be borrowed against while leaving a 20% equity buffer in the home. Full article here: Americans are awash in home equity  (512) 853-0110 or robert@AustinTxHomeSales.com If you are unable to open...

  Home buyers may need to brace for a new reality: Mortgage rates in the upper 6% or even 7% range—at least for the time being. A comprehensive analysis of monthly costs is crucial for all home buyers, rather than focusing on minor fluctuations in mortgage rates as rates are only one component. Full article here: Maybe It’s Time to Stop Obsessing Over Mortgage Rates (512) 853-0110...

  There were 743,000 (SAAR) new single-family home sales nationwide in April. That’s a 10.9% increase from the revised March rate of 670,000. Sales of newly built homes are 3.3% above the April 2024 estimate, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The median price of new houses sold was $407,200, down 2.0% from a year ago. Full article here: April 2025: Despite The Headwinds, New Home Sales Blow Past...

  The real estate market constantly shifts, and knowing whether conditions favor buyers or sellers can help you make smarter, more confident decisions. Here’s how to recognize which type of market you’re in and what each means for you. Full article here: Consumer Guide: Buyer's vs. Seller's Market (512) 853-0110 or robert@AustinTxHomeSales.comIf you are unable to open the link/article...