The holiday season is officially upon us. ‘Tis the season to make those lists, check them twice, and then rewrite them. Here is some Austin real estate market advice on those wants and needs in your next home including home buying tips, home selling tips, and how to check that must-have list twice.

Home Buying Tips:  Check that Home Buying Wish List twice

Some items on your holiday shopping list are mandatory, while others are considered luxury items. Certainly, they would be nice to have, but you will find a way to survive without them. When buying a home, your wish list is no different.

Like any list, your must-have features need to be at the top. Add too many items and you are either custom building or not buying anything. In the beginning, I suggest my clients start with items like location, price, and the number of bedrooms. From there, we look at the inventory and modify the list. Excluding an item like a pool, for example, or a known flood zone typically makes sense to modify first. It is better to just add a few items and see how many homes meet the existing criteria before adding more.

Home Buying Tips:  Austin Real Estate Market Advice

The Austin real estate market inventory is the best it has been in 15 years, but the population of the metro area has also grown by a million since 2008. You can pick your zip code, but you may not be able to pick your neighborhood.  After consulting with a client, if I can find 7 or more properties that meet the must-have list, then I know we are in the realm of matching expectations and goals. If the search is only pulling two houses, it may be because the search location is too small, or you may be missing your market altogether. 

Single-story floorplans, for example, maybe more common in certain neighborhoods than in others.  Green belts, attached garages, and even internet connectivity options can vary greatly even across neighboring subdivisions.  Like any list, the smaller your must-have criteria list, coupled with your flexibility – the greater your chance of checking the boxes.

Home selling tips:  Why Sell a Home During the Holiday Season

For homeowners, my Austin real estate market advice is based on the understanding that people move for love or money.  This time of year, those reasons come in equal parts. One of the major advantages of selling a home in the greater Austin area is the positive influx of out-of-state buyers moving to Austin for jobs. More people move to Austin than leave and many new hires start in January. New residents are eager to get themselves settled in a new home as soon as possible.

Home selling tips with a simple reminder during the holiday season

A home is what people are buying. Those four walls generate a feeling of comfort this time of year, more than any other. So, it’s not a bad time to sell, after all, it’s a home buyers are looking for, not a house.

From My Home to Yours

As we inch closer to 2024, I wish you and your family a safe, healthy, happy holiday and a bright new year.

Cheers!