Some segments of the U.S. residential real estate market started to thaw in January after December’s deep freeze, with a growing number of homeowners listing their homes for sale in a sign that the stubborn “lock-in” effect is finally beginning to ease. The “lock-in effect” refers to homeowners’ reluctance to sell because they have a low mortgage rate and would have to take out a mortgage at a...

While the number of homes for sale varies by local area, nationally we’re up over 36% year-over-year, but still down almost 29% compared to what’s normal.​ Here’s what that means when you buy: more options for your search, more negotiation power for you, it’s more likely sellers will make select repairs, and more moderate price growth.If you want to talk more about what rising inventory...

Three cities in Texas ranked in the top ten for growth, according to the moving company. U-Haul ranked cities by rentals of trucks, trailers and container boxes. These rentals are generally linked to families moving from one city to another. U-Haul said they handled about 2.5 million of such rentals in the U.S. and Canada annually.   Full article here:  Austin #5 on U-Haul growth...

Knowing what to budget for when buying a home may feel intimidating — but it doesn’t have to be. By understanding the costs you may encounter upfront, you can take control of the process. Here are just a few things experts say you should be thinking about as you plan ahead.   Full article here:  What To Save for When Buying a Home (512) 853-0110...

In today’s housing market, many sellers are making a critical mistake: overpricing their houses. This common error can lead to a home sitting on the market for a long time without any offers. And when that happens, the homeowner may have to drop their asking price to try to re-ignite buyer interest.   Full article here:  The Number One Mistake Sellers Are Making: Overpricing Their...

Here are the December/2024 MLS single-family statistics for Austin, TX: While December ended 2024 with a slightly slower month than November, it still had some positives like being our 3rd month in a row of increasing home closed sales and our 2nd month in a row where home prices increased over their respective months the prior year.  And, we were better than our 2024 monthly averages (see...

More homes for sale are going “stale” after sitting on the market for months, raising concerns that some sellers are overestimating what the market is willing to pay. In December 2024, half of all active listings had sat on the market for 70 days or longer, up from 61 a year earlier, and the longest median time on the market for December since 2019. Worse, the share of “super stale” listings that...

Trying to decide whether it makes more sense to buy a home now or wait? There’s a lot to consider, from what’s happening in the market to your changing needs. But aiming to time the market isn’t a good strategy – there are too many factors at play for that to even be possible.   Full article here:  Time in the Housing Market Beats Timing the Market (512) 853-0110...

Fueled by solid demand, single-family construction moved higher in December despite several headwinds facing the industry, including high mortgage rates, elevated financing costs for builders and a lack of buildable lots. Overall housing starts increased 15.8% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.50 million units. Full article here: Housing Starts End 2024 on an Up Note (512)...

Experts say rates will come down slightly in the year ahead – but some volatility is expected. So, you shouldn’t try to time the market. Instead, it’s better to focus on how even a small change impacts your future mortgage payment. As rates come down, even a little bit, your monthly payment on your next home will too. Want to see what this looks like at a different price point? Let’s...