It’s that time of year when I’m asked to look into the crystal ball and predict what the future in real estate will look like. It seems despite all of the full moons we’ve had; the crystal balls weren’t fully charged in 2024. Remember mortgage interest rates were supposed to come down to 5%.

Homeowners are questioning whether to put their homes on the market now. Buyers don’t know whether it is better to start looking or wait until spring. After selling homes for 17 years, I can help without the crystal.

How hungry are you? Real estate advice heading into the holiday season

As a seller, the decision to sell rests on your schedule for the next 6 weeks or so. Austin is in a neutral market. It isn’t catering to buyers. It isn’t catering to sellers.

Active participants are sitting at the table and would like a party sitting across from them. Consider homes currently on the market invitations to have a conversation. Neither side will get everything they want, but if hungry enough – both will leave satisfied.

What is the Austin real estate market like right now?

The supply of homes for sale is better than it has been in years. From the outside, it might appear to be a buyer’s market. It is, for the equity rich. Most buyers don’t have enough money to bring to the table to create a low enough monthly payment left over to live on.

How much time do you have to buy a home or sell one?

The only reason to wait to sell a house right now as a homeowner is if you simply don’t have time to let buyers in to see it. Anyone who finds the time to look for houses during the next 6 weeks is a serious buyer. A seller only needs one ready, able and willing buyer. A buyer only needs one able, willing and ready seller.

As a buyer or seller, if you think things are going to get better in the spring, you probably have a lot of company. More buyers mean more competition. More sellers mean more competition. More isn’t always better. Sometimes it just means more.