Luxe Austin Homes

"Share of first-time homebuyers hits record low as affordability challenges persist"

Austin Business Journal shares, "First-time buyers hit a record low share of the homebuying market last year, another sign that affordability continues to make homeownership out of reach for many.

Only 24% of homebuyers surveyed by the National Association of Realtors said they were purchasing a home for the first time — a substantial drop from the 32% who said the same the year prior. Meanwhile, baby boomers were the largest cohort of homebuyers last year, making up 42% of all homebuyers.

The survey took place in July and included buyers who purchased a primary residence between July 2023 and June 2024. Results were released earlier this week.

Rising home prices, high mortgage rates, limited supply and competition with all-cash buyers…

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"Competition among Austin-area homebuyers set to heat up in mid-April"

CultureMap Austin writes, "If you’re a first-time homebuyer in the Austin metro area, beware of mid-April.

A new study from Austin-based Realtor.com shows that in 2025, the best time to list a home for sale in the Austin area is the week of April 13. This translates into stepped-up competition among homebuyers during that time frame.

Why is the week of April 13 such a popular time to put a home on the market in the Austin area? Brandy Wuensch, president of the Austin Board of Realtors and Unlock MLS, offers three reasons:

• Springtime offers a pleasant climate for open houses, leading to more potential buyers touring homes.
• Buyers often prefer to move in the spring so they can settle into a new home before the start of the school year in…

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"Pearlstone secures big construction loan for downtown Austin condo project"

Austin Business Journal reports, "Pearlstone Partners has secured a $154.5 million construction loan for its latest downtown condo project, which broke ground March 26.

The Belvedere, a 158-unit condo in west downtown, is Austin-based Pearlstone’s first to break ground in the city since co-founder and CEO Robert Lee retired earlier this year.

Pearlstone, which is known for its luxury condo projects, secured the construction loan through New York-based Benefit Street Partners, according to an announcement.

Located on around 3 acres at 300 Pressler St., The Belvedere will be almost 300,000 square feet in total. Its 158 condos will range in size from 766 square feet to 2,488 square feet, with one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. They'll be…

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"The best time for Austinites to list their home"

AXIOS Austin writes, "It's prime time to list homes in Austin, according to a new Zillow report.

Why it matters: Sellers who listed their homes in early spring last year made more money on the sale than at any other time of the year.

The big picture: The "best time to sell," per Zillow researchers, depends on where you live, and the season starts early in Austin.

• Across the U.S., homes listed late last May sold for 1.6% more — typically $5,600 — than any other time of year.
• San Jose, California; Seattle; and San Diego also saw price premiums in March, while late fall was prime time to sell in Tampa Bay and Phoenix.

Zoom in: Listing Austin-area homes in the second half of March boosted the final sale price by 2.3%, or about $10,400, on…

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"REALTORS RANKED Who sells the most?"

Austin Business Journal shares, "The ABJ's 26th annual Residential Real Estate Awards luncheon on March 27 honored some of Austin's top-selling Realtors and homebuilders.

Realtors are ranked by the value of homes sold in 2024. Some sold only a handful of homes but they were big transactions, while others became winners by focusing on volume and selling more than 100 homes in 2024. Information is supplied by the Realtors or their agency.

Even with elevated interest rates and other factors slowing home sales, the Realtors who entered this contest put up impressive numbers this year.

The roughly 50 winners honored in this contest moved more than $3 billion worth of real estate last year. Collectively, these agents sold more than 3,300 homes in…

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"The Hottest U.S. Housing Markets"

U.S. News & World Report writes, "With inflation through February slowly heading in the right direction and 30-year fixed mortgage rates recently settling in at about 6.7%, hopeful homebuyers are slowly edging back into the housing market. But is it enough to unlock a semifrozen housing market?

The good news is that according to Freddie Mac, applications for mortgage purchase loans were up 5% year-over-year through mid-March. At the same time, with stock markets in flux and consumer sentiment dipping sharply in recent weeks, if concerns about rebounding inflation and job security continue to build, that could prompt some buyers to wait for more certainty.

Still, even if consumers hold back on high-ticket items such as new cars,…

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"Homebuyers Face Less Stress as More Listings Hit the Market"

Realtor.com writes, "It’s spring home selling season, and there’s good news for buyers who may feel less pressure to commit to a home on the spot as more listing options are available.

The Realtor.com® weekly housing data showed that listing prices flattened even as new listings and active inventory growth continued. The data suggests that March home shoppers will have more options and a bit more time to evaluate those options this year versus last.

The Realtor.com forecast expects modestly higher home sales from the low 2024 bar as inventory recovery gives home shoppers more options and more market power. That mortgage rates are steady this year at a time when they surged last year will likely benefit spring shoppers and should encourage…

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"Greater Inventory Brings Home Buyers Back to the Real Estate Market"

Realtor Magazine writes, "As the spring thaw sets in, new housing momentum is “flashing encouraging signs” for the market, says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

A notable uptick in housing inventory nationwide may be pulling the real estate market out of a long winter hibernation.

Total existing-home sales, which account for completed transactions for single-family homes, townhomes, condos and co-ops, rose 4.2% month over month in February, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Thursday.

“Home buyers are slowly entering the market,” even as mortgage rates and home prices appear frozen at elevated levels, says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “More inventory and choices are releasing pent-up housing demand.” 

Existing-home…

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"Why Is Everyone Moving to Texas?"

House Beautiful writes, "Texas is hot these days. To be fair, Texas is usually pretty hot, but the real estate and rental market? Sizzling. Lately, it seems as though everyone is moving to Texas, picking up stakes all over the country to relocate to the Lone Star State. But why? What is this sudden draw, and will it last?

According to a recent report by real estate news site Redfin, the three most affordable cities for renters in the country are Dallas, Houston, and Austin, and all three metropolitan areas are actually improving in these fields. Austin, in particular, has the most favorable rental affordability rating in the country, with renters in the city earning a median income of just over $69,000 per year. A full 25.1 percent more than they…

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"Good News for Homebuyers—It’s a Friendlier Market as Sellers Get Ready for Spring"

Realtor.com shares, "The much anticipated spring selling season is a few weeks away, and signs point to a friendlier market for homebuyers.

The share of consumers saying that now is a good time to buy was the highest in over a year, but still only at 24%. Meanwhile, the share of those saying that it’s a good time to sell remains high, at 62%.

On the one hand, this aligns with the data. The Realtor.com® weekly housing inventory showed that listing prices softened as new listings and active inventory growth both rose and homes took longer to sell. These are all signs consistent with a housing market shifting into buyer-friendlier territory.

At the same time, when the market is shifting and uncertain, it can be wise to home in on seasonal…

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