Considering mortgage applications for home purchases are posting double-digit percentage annual increases, “it’s a clear sign that this year’s spring home buying season is off to a stronger start” than last year, says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. Full article here: After a Wild Ride, Mortgage Rates Settle Back Under 7% (512) 853-0110...

  A distinct Austin culture began to emerge during the 1960s, so what has changed over the past 40 to 50 years? Austin has grown in geographic size, population, complexity, wealth and cost of living. You don’t need numbers to convince you of this conclusion, but one set of data related to the population of the metro area, can stand in for the rest: It grew from 320,000 people in 1975 to an estimated...

  After several delays over the past couple of years, Google Inc. has confirmed it will finally be moving into the high-profile, 35-story sail-shaped tower in downtown Austin this year. Google has been at home in Texas since 2007. The 804,000-square-foot Sail Tower at West Cesar Chavez and Nueces streets is near the Second Street entertainment district downtown, and it has unobstructed views of Lady Bird...

There are all sorts of activities listed like festivals, culture, art & theatre, music and sports. Full article here: Monthly calendar of events in May for central Texas  (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...

  Before 1974, women couldn’t secure a mortgage without a male co-signer. That was before passage of the Fair Housing Act’s prohibitions against sex discrimination and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. But today, single women have emerged as a major segment of homebuyers. In fact, single women have outpaced single men in homebuying for more than 40 consecutive years. Full article here: Single...

  An Austin developer has kicked off construction on the first phase of a six-story luxury condominium project just west of downtown. Located at 300 Pressler St., just a few blocks from Austin’s Whole Foods flagship store, the initial phase of the development, called the Belvedere, will have 158 upscale condominiums.  Full article here: Upscale condo project launches near trail along Lady Bird...

  The past year was another terrific one for homeowners. Their overall net housing equity swelled to $35 trillion in 2024. Nearly a third of that growth came in the past four years. The momentum of higher home sales was already noted in the final months of 2024. A steady boost in inventory, starting in the summer months, has brought more options and excitement to those looking to buy. And, incomes have...

Last year was the slowest existing home sales market since 1995. It's wasn't that people didn't want to buy -- there simply wasn't much for sale. The big question now is whether a frozen market can begin to thaw. Signs suggest things are starting to shift, with more inventory coming on the market. In February, there were 17% more existing homes for sale compared to last year, followed by a 10% increase...

  Some observers even think the 2025 spring season might be one not seen in a number of years: an almost normal housing market, as close to evenly balanced between buyers and sellers as anything we’ve seen in a while. Selma Hepp, chief economist with Cotality, the real estate data provider formerly known as CoreLogic, predicts 2025 home sales to be 'slightly above' the pace set in 2024. Full article...

A 65-acre, mixed-use project in Leander is under construction with one restaurant already open and luxury apartments ready for lease. Crystal Village is expected to be completed by 2030 with retail, offices, a hotel, conference and meeting spaces, and more residential units. The project, expected to cost more than $250 million, is at the southeast corner of the 183-A tollway and East Crystal Falls...