In Austin, there are no mixed signals. Living and working here, you can feel the growth. The pace of the real estate market feels like 2006 again, and maybe even a little more frenetic! My Austin Market Dashboard helps to explain 2012, and gives us a glimpse into 2013. Continue reading
As of October 2012, we have seen 17 months of year-over-year growth. Even in Austin, the past few years have been challenging but there is every reason to believe that 2013 will be a solid year in Austin real estate. Not all homes in all neighborhoods will be affected the same way, so consult a real estate professional about your specific situation. Continue reading
Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are holding 849,000 acre-feet of supply. We used 880,000 acre-feet in 2011. See the problem? The State Water Plan must be funded. Please contact your representatives. Continue reading
As with most of this market recovery, Austin gained momentum ahead of most other cities. Single family permits are up a healthy 30% compared to the same time last year, but the 5+ Family segment is already almost 70% ahead of last year’s 12-month total! Continue reading
The strength of the Central Texas real estate market continues …. Listing inventory is down, representing just a 4-month supply — solidly in seller’s market territory. The monthly unit sales pace is still about 20% lower than the peak of the market cycle in June 2006, but is almost 24% higher than the same month last year. Continue reading
There is an obvious upward trend overall from 2008 through 2011, and the shape of this curve in 2011 looks very much like pre-bubble 2005. Year-to-date dollar volume in 2011 (January through September) is just 2% lower than the same period in 2005.
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Austin is ranked #2 in this study of “markets to watch” in 2012 Continue reading
Our market absorption rate has dipped over the past couple of months, but this is the fiirst time since 2005 that we have seen this metric bouncing around the long-term average of 21% rather than a much lower level. With continuing uncertainties in the U.S. political and economic scene, and in the world economy, these Winter months may remain a little soft, but if history is an indication then we are poised to enter a new growth phase in the local real estate market. Continue reading
Investors and developers are considering significant projects in Downtown Austin … a great demonstration of their confidence in Austin’s future. Continue reading
There is every reason to expect some seasonal softness in unit sales and prices in the coming months, but as I mentioned at the outset the Austin/Central Texas economy remains resilient. Economic strength continues to attract employers and employees to move here, that trend is filling available rental space and pushing rents upward, and as those new Austinites either sell homes elsewhere or just gain confidence in their futures they become Austin-area homeowners. Continue reading