Housingwire shares, "Compass is adding another feature to its suite of agent technology tools. On Tuesday, the Robert Reffkin-helmed firm announced the launch of Buyer Demand.

Buyer Demand enables Compass agents and their home seller clients to see the number of serious buyers in Compass’s network who are searching for homes that match theirs. Compass says this number is based on current buyer activity and saved searches. The brokerage notes that the insights provided by this tool help agents and their sellers understand demand dynamics across different price points and help them create a more informed pricing strategy. 

The new tool provides users with an up-to-the-minute look at buyer interest. According to Compass, this will be a game…

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CultureMap Austin writes, "After an August declaration that Austin was becoming a buyer's market, the latest Central Texas Housing Report studied September data and found the metro's highest growth in closed home sales all year.

The new report from from Unlock MLS and the Austin Board of Realtors (ABoR) revealed that closed sales rose 6.7 percent year-over-year in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan statistical area (MSA). Median home prices in the metro dipped nearly two percent year-over-year to $420,000.

Unlock MLS research advisor Vaike O'Grady said the September data indicates buyers are showing a "renewed confidence" as the market stabilizes. September's housing trends are also following ABoR's expectations for the season as the…

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The NY Post writes, "When tech companies move in, rents have a bad habit of going up.

Recently booming Austin, Texas has managed to buck that trend. 

Besides a thriving live music scene, outdoor attractions, world-famous brisket and low taxes, the Lone Star State’s keeping-it-weird capital has something else surprising to brag about — low rents.

That’s right — after a sustained period of significant growth, Austin has managed to become country’s most affordable rental market, according to Realtor.com.

Furthermore, the city’s generous rent-to-income ratio also ranked it third in a multinational study of metro areas, Bloomberg reported. 

The famously oddball city’s welcoming rental market has emerged from a period of intense in-migration…

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CultureMap Austin shares, "A new luxury development breaking ground near Fredericksburg might have Hill Country oenophiles ready to break out the bubbly. Querétaro, Mexico lifestyle company and winemaker Puerta del Lobo has uncorked a new wine-inspired project that will combine a working winery, event spaces, and massive lots with private vineyards along Wine Road 290.

The ambitious development is the first project for the Mexican winemaker within the United States. The site will be similar to a 2014 Querétaro flagship that blends wine tourism accommodations and fine dining. A press release says the Hill Country tract will eventually include “chef-led restaurants, green areas, recreational amenities, a clubhouse, a wedding venue, an exclusive…

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Austin Business Journal writes, "Uhland, about 25 miles south of downtown Austin, is hardly a household name, but developers are starting to circle the tiny city.

For the last several years, Uhland has been a target of homebuilders due to its prime location near fast-growing cities like Kyle and Lockhart. The official population now is 1,885. Based on home platting, current estimates are that Uhland could add 18,000 residents soon — a tidal wave of growth that's turning the heads of real estate investors.

The city has celebrated some wins in recent years. Operators of the popular Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival moved the fall event to Uhland and rebranded it as the Uhland Fall Fest — with owners aiming to turn the site into a 97-acre "Old…

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CultureMap Austin writes, "Situated at 2323 South Lamar Blvd., The Code is a new Zilker-area hotel offering something rare in Austin’s hospitality scene: the chance to actually own your suite.

A collaboration between Austin-based real estate developer Pearlstone Partners and short-term rental company AvantStay, The Code combines the strengths of both brands in a five-story property featuring 178 units, a resort-style pool, a rooftop terrace, a 24-hour concierge, and a suite of upscale amenities.

Locals may recall construction going on at the intersection of South Lamar and Bluebonnet Lane since 2022, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records.

Per a news release, guests can choose from three options when booking a stay…

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Realtor.com reports, "while aspiring homeowners are facing economic headwinds, rents are becoming increasingly affordable nationwide, with Western and Southern metros leading the way. However, one metro stands out from the rest.

In September, Austin, TX, the COVID-19 pandemic-era boomtown and technology hub, overtook Oklahoma City, OK, as the nation's most affordable rental market.

A family earning a typical household income looking to rent in Austin would spend just 16.5% of their monthly paycheck on housing, down 2.8 percentage points from a year ago, according to the September monthly rent report from Realtor.com®.

"Austin's rising housing affordability is primarily driven by declining rents," says Realtor.com economist Jiayi Xu. "The…

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Realtor.com shares, "Brokerage giant Compass is set to become the largest residential real estate firm in the world after announcing a deal to acquire major rival Anywhere for $1.6 billion.

Compass, which also operates Christie’s, announced the acquisition on Monday, which will see it take control of Anywhere's subsidiary brands, including Century 21, Sotheby’s, and Coldwell Banker.

The all-stock deal values the combined companies at roughly $10 billion and will create what is by far the largest residential real estate brokerage in the world.

Compass says the merger will expand its reach into every major U.S. city and 120 countries, with a combined workforce of 340,000 real estate professionals globally. Compass was already the largest U.S.…

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Austin Business Journal writes, "Off a quiet road in South Austin, a homebuilder is trying something new to bring more and less expensive housing to the city. 

Ash Creek Homes is using the city's Home Options for Mobility and Equity ordinance — known as the HOME ordinance — to build 28 detached homes on a 2.4-acre property with 10 residential lots. The location is on Drew Lane near the intersection of Slaughter Lane and Menchaca Road. 

The goal of the project is to see if building a mid-sized housing development under Austin’s HOME ordinance will result in more homes at cheaper prices, said Jenna Edge, president of Ash Creek Homes. She said the company bought the property before the HOME ordinance was approved, with the hope of using the…

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Austin Business Journal reports, "The Austin Independent School District plans to consolidate operations amid a tough financial outlook and could either sell or lease up to 13 school sites that it's considering closing.

The district published a proposed consolidation plan Oct. 3 in which 13 schools would be closed and most of the district’s attendance boundaries would be altered. The proposal is aimed at addressing anticipated enrollment declines and financial challenges, with the AISD’s approved 2025-26 budget projecting a $19.7 million deficit and the potential consolidation forecast to save more than $25 million. 

“To protect the quality of education in Austin ISD, we must reassess where our limited resources are spent,” Superintendent Matias…

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