Once upon a time November and December were the months that home buyers slowed down and investors came out of hibernation. During the holiday season days are shorter, not only because of the amount of daylight hours, but because of the added tasks taken on this time of year. Shopping for presents, food, cleaning, parties and travel can add to the daily grind and often put the thought of buying a home on the back burner. Historically, with fewer buyers in the real estate market this time of year, inventory would tend to rise a bit because houses would tend to stay on the market longer than spring and summer. With a larger supply of homes available, prices would tend to fall and investors would enter the market to get a good deal or two.
Austin Home Sales
That was then, this is now. The Austin real estate inventory hasn’t really grown that much in the past month and in many select markets, it has only gone down which has pushed prices up. The home buyer that expected to be settled by now who had plans to host Thanksgiving dinner is still in the real estate market. Interest rates and home prices have gone up in the last 6 months, but inventory has not.
Inventory on Austin Investment Properties
The inventory of multiple family units, like duplexes, has not increased either. The buyer pool albeit is smaller, but the supply and demand is not any more level in that market which is leading to multiple offers, even for investors.
Keep the New Home Bug Alive during the Holidays
Do not cross that new home off your holiday wish list. Stay in the market at whatever level you can. It is a lot easier to find the time to see one or two houses a week you really might like, than to see 10 you really won’t, which is what happens when buyers start over. Buyers who bow out this time of year with too much to do will literally be starting from scratch in January along with a new crop of people with New Year’s resolutions to buy a new home.
Finding the perfect home is often about being in the right place, at the right time. If it’s meant to be while everyone else is at the mall, then so be it.
When I have an initial consultation with new buyers moving to Austin, one of the questions I ask is whether or not they need a garage. The answer is often “of course, I need a garage – why would a house not have a garage?” Understanding there are areas of the country where everyone has one, I explain that, in Austin, garages can be somewhat of a luxury item depending on where in this fair city one wishes to live. There are many homes that have garages, but some areas in Austin began development in the early 1900’s and simply don’t. Houses found in neighborhoods like 
I had a buyer call and ask how strong a contingency offer is perceived in the 
Austin inventory is so low right now that if you are on a search for a particular zip code or area, you may be lucky to find one or two new houses a week. The low inventory is prompting buyers to look in other parts of Austin in order to find the ideal home. I have spent quite a bit of time in North East, North West, 
Austin is hot and I’m not just talking about the weather. Austin’s growth is outpacing the supply of homes in inventory which is making it a competitive market to buy and even rent in. Over 25,000 people moved to Austin between July 2011 and July 2012, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The growth moved Austin’s ranking of the nation’s largest cities from the 13th spot to number 11.
Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! It’s a bird, it’s a plane…no – it’s a successful Austin Home Buyer. Now, you don’t need to be a superhero to buy a home in Central Texas, but you do need super speed. Buying a home in Austin in this market requires you to be very prepared in order move fast.