They say you are what you eat. What kind of home you purchase can say something about you as well. Austin is known for being weird. The eclectic mix of politics, religion and style are as unique as the tastes in architecture, landscaping and design of Austinites who call this city home. There is quite a mix of homes for sale in Austin.
Homes for Sale in Austin offer a unique blend of vintage and modern designs
I have a client looking in South Central Austin right now, specifically in zip code 78704. We have discussed how you can just turn a corner and be in a different neighborhood with a completely different vibe. I’ve had clients in the past who refer to master planned communities as ‘Disney Word’, because all of the homes conform to the same aesthetic tone. Other neighborhoods here look like something out of storybook with bungalow style homes and lemonade porches.
Bungalow Homes for Traditional Buyers in Austin
I have found, more often than not, that who you are, as a buyer, has a lot to do with what type of home you pick. Buyers who like antiques, nostalgia or tend to like structure, tend to like colonial and bungalow style homes. These buyers don’t care if the floors creek, have no finish and are original from the 1940’s. To them, the floors as real wood and they appreciate the history and authenticity they represent. These traditional buyers also like defined rooms. They like a formal dining room, separate from the kitchen and other rooms, because to them every room has a unique purpose and therefore should have a unique identity, which may simply mean a different paint color.
Dated homes ready for a remodel attract creative types in Austin
Unlike traditional, progressive buyers roll with the times. In my experience these buyers tend to be creative, artist types who don’t always look at a house for what it is… but rather what it could be. These buyers are deciding what walls they are knocking down and how they are going to expand the kitchen. These are the dreamers who know very well they may never get to every project they envision, but see the potential and possibility.
Modern Austin homes for buyers who think out of the box
Lastly, modern buyers are similar to progressive type, but have a flare for drama. These buyers are drawn to open floor plans and like mid-century, contemporary and modern design. They feel boxed in with too many walls. They like vaulted ceilings with a uniform tone between living areas. To some people, these homes look like office buildings, but to modern home buyers, they are dramatic and unique – a work of art in their own right.
The funny thing is that you typically don’t like what you grew up with. For example, I grew up in a mid-century modern single story home, but my brother, sister and I have always lived in 2-story traditional homes. I find this to be the case with more of my buyers than not. Maybe it’s the rebel in us or simply that we know deep down change is good.
Part of the Austin home buying process is a home inspection which takes place during an option period and typically signifies the mental transition of stepping off cloud 9 for a minute. Buyer’s remorse, if it’s going to happen, usually occurs within the first 24 hours of signing the contract to purchase. If the buyer is not having second thoughts, the inspection puts emotions aside and brings the buyer back to earth to explore the data.
The transition from leasing an apartment or house to buying a permanent residence can be tricky. It’s often a careful dance in terms of the timeline, so planning is key. The first thing I ask a buyer is when the lease is up or due to renew. If a buyer is calling six months in advance my approach is often to have a lender be contacted so that monthly payments and overall affordability can be established. If a buyer has never owned a home before, budgeting for taxes, HOA fees and often utility bills are often new considerations. The second question I ask potential buyers is how much notice needs to be given to the existing landlord. Often, tenants don’t always know how much notice is required which is typically in the existing lease. Required notifications can vary greatly. I have seen anywhere from 30 to 60 days and sometimes there is leeway even if the lease has hard terms. If there is a waiting list to get into an apartment complex the timeline typically stands, but if there isn’t and there are already vacancies available, a landlord may allow for a tenant to transition to a month to month lease or even week to week. Like anything else, it is all about communication, so having that conversation early on (and in writing) will help with the plan to keep a roof over a buyer’s head during the process.
Buyers come back for a second showing when they really like a house. If buyers don’t like a house the first time, they don’t come back. It’s important, for a seller, to make every showing count and not to let anyone in until they are 100% ready. It is often about the little things that make a good first impression. Replacing burnt light bulbs, lampshades, throw rugs, sweeping the walkway and cleaning the windows can give a house a mini face lift and really show pride of ownership. One of the benefits of selling a home this time of year is that many of those things happen anyway.
A list of subdivisions in the greater Austin area and current real estate market data for them is featured below. Active homes on the market are defined as units that do not have an accepted contract on them. Active homes, as well as other data change constantly as houses in Austin enter and leave the market. The data is subdivision specific and gives an overall snapshot of the price point and desire for that particular Austin market. There may be additional homes available for purchase in the general market area.