How’s the market? Making today’s real estate market work means making lemonade. The real estate market as a whole is slow. It’s slow because people have more homes to see than they have had in years. It’s slow because mortgage interest rates are high enough to question whether any house is worth it. It’s slow because housing prices haven’t really come down enough to aid in the affordability factor. Interest rates and housing prices equal fewer ready, willing, and able buyers. While it may be slow, it is not dead. More and more sellers are meeting the market where it is.
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Author Archives: Doreen Zelma, REALTOR
Austin Real Estate News October 2023
Austin real estate market news for October 2023 is here. The Central Texas housing data shows that the Austin Round Rock MSA reached 4.0 months of inventory, the highest level in more than eight years. There was a drop in closed sales along with median prices indicating affordability and higher interest rates are tempering the market. September median sales prices were down 4.3% and spent an average of 24 more days on the market year over year.
According to the Austin Board of REALTORS® September 2023 Central Texas Housing Market Report, the Austin-Round Rock MSA, experienced a decrease month-over-month in closed sales, indicating the market has cooled a bit. Housing inventory is the best it has been in years. Cash buyers or those who can work with the financing options available, have a bit of a selection right now. Those choices are creating a more competitive market for sellers as home sales slow.
Austin Real Estate News September 2023
Austin real estate news for September 2023 is here. The Central Texas housing market shows that overall, the Austin Round Rock MSA is finding its footing. The number of closed sales and pending sales is continuing to increase year-over-year. August median sales prices while down compared to last year, were fairly consistent with July. Interest rates are still volatile, which continues to temper home prices.
According to the Austin Board of REALTORS® August 2023 Central Texas Housing Market Report, the Austin-Round Rock MSA, experienced an 8.8% month-over-month increase in closed sales, a healthy indication of buyer confidence in the market. Housing inventory also continues to show gradual progress with a year-over-year increase of 1.0 month to 3.8 months of inventory. The Austin housing market continues to show signs of resilience.
Austin housing market plays red light, green light
The Austin housing market is a bit stagnant right now, along with the air, heat, and even interest rates. It’s pretty easy to feel the effect of mortgage rates on the market. As soon as they start with a six, we get an uptick of homes suddenly going under contract. When the rates hit seven again, everything stops. Remember the schoolyard game red light, green light? It’s kind of like that. Here are some market insights and home buying tips to help you decide when to stop and when to go. Continue reading
Austin Real Estate News August 2023
Austin real estate news August 2023 is here. The Central Texas housing market shows that overall, the Austin Round Rock MSA is showing signs of recovery. The number of closed sales and pending sales are increasing year-over-year, and the median sales price is stabilizing. However, interest rates are still volatile, which could put some downward pressure on prices in the coming months.
According to the Austin Board of REALTORS® July 2023 Central Texas Housing Market Report, closed listings increased 0.6% year-over-year to 2,815 closed sales across the AustinRound Rock MSA. When considering July 2022 is when the market initially began to stabilize, and when combined with pending sales rising 14.5% to 2,892 pending sales, the housing market is poised for a strong finish to 2023.
What makes a home a condo?
What makes a home a condo? I represent buyers and sellers all over Central Texas. When I’m not looking for specific buyers, I’m touring new communities. I have seen various types of condominium regimes and neighborhoods comprised of fee simple single-family houses. Think you can tell a fee simple house from a condo? Think again. The perception is that you can tell a single-family house or duplex from a condo just by looking at it. Truth be told, there is nothing about the style of a house that dictates its classification. Continue reading
Don’t Wait for Another Barbie to Buy Your Dream Home
A dream house can be in other people’s dreams. Growing up, I didn’t have any rendition of Barbie’s dream home. Instead, I had her country living house, which was a tad more modest having three rooms, a living room, a kitchen, and one bedroom, all on a single story. The rooms were equally sized and could hold about two people (dolls) comfortably. Continue reading