New listings for homes for sale in the Austin metro climbed in February. BRANDON LAUFENBERG

Austin Business Journal shares, "New listings for homes for sale in the Austin metro surged in February, a rise driven largely by lower-priced homes that are considered affordable for first-time homebuyers, according to data from the Austin Board of Realtors.

February saw 3,915 new home listings in the metro, according ABOR’s latest market report. That’s up from just 3,064 in January, and an increase of more than 40% year-over-year from the 2,764 new listings reported in February 2023.

ABOR housing economist Clare Losey said many of the new listings are for homes priced under $400,000.

“Higher home prices and mortgage rates have diminished affordability for first-time homebuyers over the past few years, but February provided encouragement for…

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Driving the majority of the metro's growth are cities north of Austin in Williamson County — Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park and others, according to new data. NICK SIMONITE

Austin Business Journal writes, "About eight out of every 10 people added to the Austin metro during a recent 12-month period settled outside of Travis County — which roughly mirrors the Austin city limits. Travis County added an estimated 7,400 new residents in the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, which is not far off of what Oklahoma City can expect for annual population growth these days.

It's perhaps a sobering comparison for many Austinites and especially Texas Longhorn fans, but a deeper dig into the latest U.S. Census Bureau data reveals what may be a more disturbing fact: More people are moving away from Travis County than to it. If it wasn't for babies, Travis County would be shrinking.

Travis was the only county in the…

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The Austin Board of Realtors said data shows both buyers and sellers are feeling optimistic about the housing market in a press release.  Photo by @armandososaa

ATX Today writes, "In a word, the Austin housing market is looking fairly stable for both buyers and sellers, according to the Austin Board of Realtors’ February Market Statistics report. 

Let’s dive into some statistical highlights from last month."

City of Austin

  • Sales rose by 3% compared to February 2023.
    • About 200 more homes sold in February 2024 than January 2024.
  • The median sale price is $543,200, about $15,000 less than February 2023. However, that’s ~$8,700 more than January 2024.
  • New listings increased by 41.7% compared to this time last year.

Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metropolitan area

  • The median sale price in February was $443,065, which is ~$13,000 more than January 2024 but ~$6,000 higher than…

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Ashton Gray Development's Briarwood community is Elgin's first in-city MUD. It's just one of the many developments that the Houston-based company has on its books. ASHTON GRAY DEVELOPMENT

Austin Business Journal reports, "the company behind Elgin’s Briarwood mixed-use development has big plans for other parts of the Austin metro.

Houston-based Ashton Gray Development recently gained approval from the Elgin City Council to annex 75 acres into Briarwood, a housing development and the city's first municipal utility district. With a pipeline that ranges from Jarrell to Lockhart and stops in between, however, that's only the tip of the iceberg for Ashton Gray, which is aiming to bring more than 5,300 single-family homes to the region, plus apartments and commercial projects.

“We started acquiring land in Austin several years ago,” said Shaun Vembutty, Ashton Gray founder and president. “This was even before some of the buying frenzy…

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Some experts predicted Austin's housing market would tank, but "For Sale" signs keep turning to "Sold." Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Business Insider writes, "just when some people thought the Austin, Texas, housing market was going to crash, it's starting to heat up again.

It could be a sign of relief for homeowners across the US — but bad news for hopeful buyers.

This sudden surge in Austin housing sales is a bit surprising. Not only were some experts predicting the downfall of the city's housing market just a few months ago, but interest rates have been back on the rise in 2024, reaching their highest level since December. However, Austin isn't the only city beating the odds; prices are still rising in 85% of US cities even though 91% of all homes are deemed "overvalued."

The inventory of houses for sale in Austin and the number of houses that sold both increased…

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JP Morales/Compass; Defend the Dream Foundation

Robb Report shares, "Former Texas Longhorn and Kansas City Chief linebacker Derrick Johnson—known to his many fans simply as “DJ”—has officially hoisted his swanky estate in Austin’s exclusive Spanish Oaks gated community up for sale.

The founder and president of the Defend the Dream Foundation, which serves low-income and inner-city youth, acquired the modern residence back in 2018. Now, six years later, the place has returned to the market with a nearly $4 million ask.

Custom-built by Olson Defendorf in 2015, and designed by Geschke Group Architecture, the creamy stucco and brick structure features five bedrooms and five bathrooms in a little more than 5,400 square feet of multi-level living space boasting an office wing, a gym, movie theater…

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Developer Mark IV has made updates to the long-anticipated The District project in Round Rock amid changes to the market. SCREENSHOT OF CITY OF ROUND ROCK DOCUMENTS

Austin Business Journal reports, "one of the region's most-anticipated projects is back on track — and much bigger than previously planned.

Eight years ago, Mark IV Capital, a Newport Beach, California-based commercial real estate firm, purchased a 66-acre plot near Interstate 35 and the State Highway 45 toll road for a project known as The District. But the plans subsequently stalled, mostly due to shifting market conditions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

Since then, the size of the project has more than doubled. The District is planned as a $500 million investment that will result in 3 million square feet of development and a minimum of 5,000 jobs at full buildout in 2039. Original plans called for 1 million square feet by 2039 and a…

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WorldSprings wants to develop an 8-acre project in Cedar Park that could have more than 40 pools. COURTESY OF WORLDSPRINGS

Austin Business Journal shares, "a wellness company is planning an Austin-area spa destination as it wraps up work on its flagship project near Dallas.

WorldSprings wants to develop an 8-acre project in Cedar Park that could have more than 40 pools, including hot springs, a Dead Sea floating pool and cold plunges. It would be in the New Hope project along U.S. Highway 183A, a stretch of highway that includes rocket maker Firefly Aerospace Inc. and the future Nebraska Furniture Mart development.

Project representatives presented initial plans for the project during a Feb. 20 meeting of the Cedar Park Planning and Zoning Commission as part of a request for a special use permit for the site.

Representatives said during the meeting that the…

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The Related Cos.' plan to raise a new mixed-use urban node along South Congress Avenue would bring more high-density development to the southern banks of Lady Bird Lake. THE RELATED COMPANIES

Austin Business Journal reports, "a New York-based real estate development firm is planning to transform a 6-acre site at the intersection of South Congress Avenue and West Riverside Drive with high-rise towers — the latest indication that Austin's downtown skyline is poised to expand across Lake Bird Lake.

The Related Cos. wants to establish a planned unit development with a maximum building height of 575 feet, or about 50 stories. The multitower project would include approximately 800 residential units, as well as a 225-room hotel, 200,000 square feet of office space, 90,000 square feet of retail space, 30,000 square feet of space for restaurants and a 25,000-square-foot grocery store, in addition to an underground parking garage, according to…

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Culturemap Austin shares, "homebuyers and sellers are starting to feel optimistic about the Austin-area housing market, according to a new report by the Austin Board of Realtors.

According to the latest analysis by Unlock MLS, which provides real estate data across the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metropolitan statistical area (MSA), bothpending and closed sales increased slightly in January compared to the previous year. 1,667 homes were sold last month, up 4.3 percent; There were also 2,480 pending sales, up 3.8 percent.

Median prices in the MSA dipped slightly year-over-year to $430,000. Unlock MLS and ABoR housing economist Clare Losey, Ph.D., shared that the recent decline in mortgage rates has allowed for lower home prices heading into…

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