Home Buyers

  For the past few years, affordability has been what’s stopped a lot of buyers in their tracks. Maybe it stopped you, too. At some point you probably did the math, looked at the monthly payment, and decided to pause your search and wait for things to get better. But here’s something you may have missed while you’ve been sitting on the sidelines. Over the last year, housing affordability has...

  In the fourth quarter of 2025, the median price for a new single-family home was $405,300, which was $9,600 lower than the median price of an existing home, which stood at $414,900. This marks the third consecutive quarter for which existing home prices have exceeded new homes prices, according to U.S. Census Bureau and National Association of Realtors data (not seasonally adjusted – NSA). Full...

  Contract signings for home sales climbed slightly in February as buyers emerged amid lower mortgage rates and moderating home prices. In February, NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index—a gauge of future home closings based on signed contracts—rose 1.8% from January. Compared to a year ago, pending home sales are down slightly by 0.8%, NAR reported. Full article here: More Home Buyers Go Under...

  Location plays a big role in affordability and the ability to own a home.  However, examining the numbers, the differences across markets are striking. This is when it becomes apparent that where people live can make such an enormous difference in the ability to buy a home. Full article here: Where Millennials Own Homes (512) 853-0110 or robert@AustinTxHomeSales.com If you are unable to...

You may have seen headlines on social saying the number of buyers backing out of their contracts is on the rise – and has recently reached a high not seen since 2017. That can sound intimidating. But it varies a lot by market. And here’s the key thing to understand if you want to sell. A lot of the time, there’s one common cause. And it’s something you can actually control. Full article here:...

  Down payment assistance (DPA) has quietly become one of the most powerful — and most misunderstood — tools in mortgage lending. Despite near-record availability and growing flexibility, persistent myths keep many lenders from fully using DPA to expand approvals, improve affordability and strengthen pipelines. We think it’s time to separate fact from fiction. Full article here: What Lenders...

  The numbers from First American, a title, settlement, and risk solutions company for real estate, reveal that more than 20 million single women are homeowners — about 50.9% of the total demographic. That number is actually down 1% as far as total demographic homeownership rate, but it’s still a record for the amount of single women's homeowners, thanks to the population segment’s growth. Full...

  Mortgage rates have already dropped into the upper 5s twice this year. But after just a few days, they ticked back up into the low 6% range. If you saw that and thought, “Great. I missed it,” you’re not the only one. A lot of buyers are treating the 5s like some kind of magic number. As if moving from 6.1% to 5.99% suddenly changes everything. And from a mindset perspective, it does feel...

Climbing out of a gloomy winter, existing-home sales reversed course following a sharp drop in January and ticked up slightly in February as housing affordability improved nationwide. Lower mortgage rates, rising wages and slower price growth are offering improving conditions for prospective home buyers. Full article here: Home Sales Perk Up as Housing Affordability Improves (512) 853-0110...

  Buying a brand-new home has obvious appeal—everything is fresh, modern, and move-in ready. But if you're working directly with a builder, you might wonder: Do I really need a real estate agent for new construction? The short answer is yes. While builders have their own sales teams (often called builder’s agents), those professionals are hired to represent the builder’s best interests—not...