Lance Lambert, real estate editor at Fortune Magazine, called Austin the most interesting real estate market in America.

Prices went up like a rocket and came back to earth, but still up 43% since March 2020. Some people can’t get over missing out on timing the market. The truth is few people did because even those who sold at the top had to buy in the same market at the top.

If I told you in March 2020 your home would be worth 43% more in 3 years you would have been over the moon happy about that. If you’ve allowed yourself to get stuck because you missed out on the peak perhaps a change in perspective to thinking about how much better off you are than 3 years ago will help you get unstuck. Otherwise using 2021 and early 2022 as your baseline…

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About this time last year we saw interest rates increase at a rate never seen before along with a dramatic increase in the number of homes on the market. As a result, buyer demand dropped off the cliff which caused prices to fall around here almost as much as anywhere in the country. Of course, our prices had gone up so much we had farther to fall.

Many buyers, especially those influenced by social media predictions, held off buying thinking they could wait for prices to crash like in 2008.

Instead of seeing a 2008 crash, this spring has seen a resurgence in buyer demand. It appears buyers have gotten used to interest rates in the 6% range and have realize we aren’t going back to 3% rates any time soon and likely not forever.

In addition, we have…

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It’s hard to believe, but summer is already around the corner. Here in the Austin area, our home-selling “season” kicks off in spring and reaches its peak in the summer. It’s our busiest time of year, although this year things will be a little different.

With interest rates up, demand has slowed compared to last year. Prices remain high and sellers still have the upper hand, but buyers have a bit more leverage and homes are taking longer to sell on average. This season, homes that are attractive to buyers and marketed aggressively will sell fast and high. Here are the strategies we’re using to position our summer sellers for the best result possible.

I have to give myself a little grace here because I haven’t gotten much sleep lately and I’ve…

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After 497 people told me they were going to wait to move until the market is good again, I realized I wasn’t doing a good job. 

You see, I am a “Professional Mind Maker Upper” and people count on me to consult with them so they can make the best decisions for their lives and their families. There’s a saying “Garbage in and garbage out” meaning if you don’t use accurate information, you won’t make good decisions. I was letting people use bad information without taking the time to ask more questions and explain some of the data that’s available about the real estate market. 

I have to give myself a little grace here because I haven’t gotten much sleep lately and I’ve changed a lot of diapers over the last few months so it’s possible I simply…

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Determining the list price of your home in the Austin area is a delicate balance that involves taking into account a variety of factors. The perfect balance can be achieved by considering the following:

  1. Comparable Sales: Researching recent sales of similar homes in the area (comparable sales) can provide a good starting point for determining the list price. This will give you an idea of what similar homes in the area are selling for and can help you set a realistic price for your own home.
  2. Home Condition: The condition of your home is also an important factor to consider when determining the list price. A well-maintained, move-in-ready home will generally command a higher price than a home that needs repairs or updates.
  3. Market…

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Because we have a market-proven system to sell investment properties that have always been a good portion of our business. This year we have been contacted by an unusually large number of investors who are considering selling their investment property. Some of the investors think the market is nearing a top while others have decided being a landlord isn’t for them. If you are thinking about selling your investment property here are a few questions to ask yourself.

Do you want to be a landlord?

I believe successful investors enjoy owning investment properties and they run their investment properties like a business. If you don’t enjoy some of the negative aspects of owning rental properties such as dealing with tenants or having to lease a…

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One of the neighborhood events I look forward to is the semi-annual Avery Ranch garage sale. This event happens in both the spring and the fall. The Spring 2022 Avery Ranch garage sale will take place on Saturday, April 30th, 2022 from 7AM-1PM.

With almost 4,000 homes in the neighborhood there will be plenty of homes selling items. This is a great opportunity to find clothes, toys, bikes and furniture.

If you are having a garage sale at your home feel free to leave your address and a list of items you are selling in the comment section below.

One piece of advice is to get started early. Cars will be lined up at 7AM and the great items will sell right away.

We are Avery Ranch homeowners and real estate experts. If you are interested in…

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65 offers for 1 home! In this Austin housing market update we’re going to talk about how to get 65 offers on your home, the most recent real estate statistics for Austin, Texas, rising interest rates and what all this means for you as a buyer or seller of real estate in the Austin area.

First, let’s review the statistics for the January, 2022 Austin real estate housing market.

The number of homes sold in January, 2022 was 2,116 which was down 11.83% from 2,400 sales in January, 2021.

The average sold price in January, 2022 was $578,554 which was up 25.84% from $459,760 in January, 2021.

The average sold price per square foot in January, 2022 for Austin was $292.83 which was up 26.3% from $231.72 in January, 2021.

The median sold…

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One of the most frequently asked questions and something that is commonly misunderstood about selling your home is what taxes you will pay. The tax code can be confusing and isn’t always black and white. Hopefully the takeaway from this article is you likely won’t pay any taxes and if you do, they may be less than you expect. If you are holding off selling due to taxes contact me and I can point you in the right direction of how to find out what you will pay based on your situation. In addition, looking at IRS Publication 523, Selling Your Home is a great resource to understand what taxes you may or may not have to pay.

2 In 5 Exemption

If you have lived in your home for 2 of the previous 5 years than you should qualify for the “2 in…

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Let’s review the Austin real estate statistics. In October there were 3,353 homes sold which was down 16.4% from October, 2020. The months of inventory is slowly increasing to 1.3 months from 1.1 last year. This is the most important supply and demand statistic to watch and as we head into the end of the year and January, it will tell us where the market is heading. Keep in mind anything under 4-6 months of inventory is considered a sellers’ market so we have a long way to go and buyers have to be careful not to overestimate the market moderating to mean the market is crashing.

The average sold price increased 20.6% to $555,124 and the median sold price increased 25% to $450,000. This is also an increase from September’s median price…

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