Luxe Austin Homes

"Austin inches closer to air conditioning mandates for residences"

Community Impact Austin reports, "A new city mandate for air conditioning in all residences is moving closer to final approval, and residents can weigh in on the change in July.

What's happening

The city is in the process of revising its technical codes, including its first proposed air conditioning mandate under the building code.

The update would require all residential property owners to keep rooms at least 15 degrees cooler than outdoor temperatures, and no hotter than 85 degrees Fahrenheit at most.

If implemented, the standards would apply for all existing properties and new construction in Austin.

Austinites can weigh in on the new building code items online until July 24. The revisions will also be discussed at the July 9 planning commission…

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"Sustainable East Austin community Whisper Valley gains new international homebuilder"

Austin Business Journal reports, "The latest homebuilder to get involved in East Austin’s Whisper Valley neighborhood — a Central Texas epicenter for innovation in sustainable housing — is pushing the limits of how quickly a home can be built.

Kosovo-based InstaBuilt LLC will build its first U.S. homes in Whisper Valley and also is establishing its North American headquarters in East Austin, according to a July 1 announcement.

The company's homes, which will take advantage of Whisper Valley’s geothermal and solar capabilities, are manufactured off-site and then assembled on-site in eight to 12 hours. Because of the technologies it uses, it's able to construct in an energy-efficient manner at a lower price than the average in Austin, InstaBuilt…

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"Wood Partners Celebrates Grand Opening of 267-Unit Alta Wildhorse Ranch Luxury Townhome Community in Austin, Texas"

MultifamilyBiz writes, "Wood Partners, a national multifamily real estate development leader, announced the grand opening of Alta Wildhorse Ranch, a luxury townhome community located directly off U.S. Highway 290 and Texas SH-130. Alta Wildhorse Ranch marks the third Wood Partners property opened in Austin within the past year.

"We are excited to bring our latest community to Austin," said Bart Barrett, Managing Director for Wood Partners. "Located down the street from downtown Manor and with easy access to the Austin metro, Alta Wildhorse Ranch is a luxury townhome property that fits in well with the small town feel of the local community."

Alta Wildhorse Ranch is situated in an ideal location, with access to major employers, recreation and…

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"Home industry experts talk landscaping with water restrictions"

Community Impact Ausitn writes, "As Austin Metropolitan Area cities remain in stage 1, 2 or 3 water restrictions in response to varying drought conditions, homeowners have to keep these restrictions in mind when landscaping—whether they’re buying, selling or staying where they are.

Adam Mosier, co-owner of of Austin custom homebuilder Mosier Luxury Homes, and Kent Redding, Austin Board of Realtors 2024 president, shared their insight on the most effective water restriction-friendly landscaping and how this can impact the local housing market.

The outlook

Mosier said there are many variables his team must consider when contracting with landscape installation contractors and thinking about a landscape plan for clients.

As an added layer to city regulations,…

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"Meet the Ander Condo Project, Bringing Nearly 200 Homes to West Anderson"

TOWERS Austin writes, "Here’s a completely true thing you can say that will greatly irritate many people: Condos are pretty rare in Austin. Although they’re the boogeyman of choice for locals lamenting the relentless march of time, the fact is that the vast majority of new multifamily residential construction in Austin delivers apartments for rent, rather than condos for sale. Of the thousands upon thousands of new housing units constructed in the region since the start of the pandemic, condos make up about five percent or less of that total, and this isn’t great news for first-time homebuyers, since condos are often significantly less expensive than detached single-family homes.

The reason developers tend to prefer apartments over condos is all…

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"Riviera at Lake Travis: Unveiling a bold new vision of luxury living"

Austin Business Journal shares, "Welcome to Riviera at Lake Travis, where Texas charm meets unparalleled luxury living. Emerging from the acclaimed Montechino development, Riviera represents the pinnacle of lakeside opulence in Lago Vista, Texas, under a dynamic new management.

A new name, a new chapter

Riviera at Lake Travis represents more than just a name change — it’s a bold new vision. With fresh leadership guiding our transformation, we are introducing a level of refinement and attention to detail that reflects the finest Texan tastes. Riviera is not just a place; it’s a destination. Here, every sunset over Lake Travis inspires a lifestyle deeply rooted in luxury and comfort.

Opportunities for industry professionals

• Prime real…

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"Over 1,400 homes may rise in Lockhart"

Austin Business Journal reports, "Over 1,400 rooftops are slated to rise south of Austin as the city of Lockhart continues to grow.

Lockhart City Council on June 18 approved the addition of a 472-acre municipal utility district, called Juniper Springs, from Houston-based Perry Homes to the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, a move that required the ETJ to be expanded by 88 acres.

The new MUD would allow 1,428 homes to be built on the western edge of Lockhart along State Highway 142, officials said during the meeting. That amount of homes could result in dramatic population growth for Lockhart, a city that's attracted big projects and industrial development in recent years.

Lockhart’s growth over the past decade-plus has been muted, rising…

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"Austin shines as top 10 housing market for new grads"

CultureMap Austin writes, "College grads living in Austin already have a lot on their minds this summer with job searching and career building, but at least they won't have to worry as much about where to put down roots: Austin is the No. 10 best U.S. market for new graduates in 2024, according to a new report by Zillow.

Zillow compared the rent affordability, job market, and demographics across the 100 largest U.S. metros to determine the best housing markets for recent graduates.

Although Austin is an obvious choice to live during college, it may surprise some that the economics checked out for sticking around after graduation. San Antonio did even better at No. 4. The Alamo City's real estate market has dramatically improved as a prospect for…

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"Homeowner equity continues to rise despite housing-market challenges"

Austin Business Journal reports, "American homeowners continue to build significant equity even as the housing market has slowed and home prices aren't rising as rapidly as they did in recent years.

U.S. homeowners with a mortgage pulled in $28,000 in equity gains on average year over year in the first quarter, the highest amount since late 2022, according to CoreLogic Inc. That average year-over-year increase of 9.6% translates to a collective gain of $1.5 trillion and means net homeowner equity totaled more than $17 trillion at the end of Q1.

The implications behind homeowners' gains in home equity are varying, but the gains seen since the Covid-19 pandemic ultimately mean homeowners are gaining wealth, said Selma Hepp, chief economist at…

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"Austin home prices jumped 87 percent in 10 years, report reveals"

CultureMap Austin shares, "A new real estate report confirms something that Austinites pretty much already knew: The city of Austin saw a significant increase in housing prices among U.S. cities within the last decade, with median home prices skyrocketing up to 87 percent.

The report by online real estate database PropertyShark analyzed median home sale prices in 41 of the most populous U.S. cities and locales in 2014 and 2023. According to the study, the median sale price of a home in Austin in 2014 was $287,000. A decade later, median housing prices in the city nearly doubled, landing at $538,000 in 2023.

Demand for housing increased dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when "millions of office employees suddenly shifted to working from…

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