Three of five ZIP codes in the North-Northwest Austin market experienced double-digit percent change increases in the number of homes sold year over year in March, according to data from the Austin Board of Realtors. (Courtesy Austin Board of Realtors)

Community Impact shares, "Three of five ZIP codes in the North-Northwest Austin market experienced double-digit percent change increases in the number of homes sold year over year in March, according to data from the Austin Board of Realtors.

The details

The 78759 ZIP code netted more home sales than other North Austin-area ZIP codes and experienced the greatest year-over-year growth in March.

Home sale prices varied in March, with some areas experiencing declines in home prices while others, such as ZIP code 78727, saw an almost 15% increase.

The 78729 ZIP code saw an almost 50% decrease in the average days spent on the market, while ZIP code 78758 saw a 14.3% increase.

The majority of homes sold in the area in March were between…

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This three-bedroom, 1956 cottage at 6501 Linda Ln. is quintessentially Austin and right at median price: $450,000. Keller Williams Realty/kw.com

Culturemap Austin writes, Austinites looking to own a home for the first time may be in luck this year, as the housing market is finally starting to look more lucrative for buyers. The post-pandemic homebuying craze left many scared and uncertain about the possibility of becoming homeowners with prices and rates skyrocketing. However, 2024 is shaping up to be a lot more hopeful for those wanting to trade renting for owning.

According to the US News & World Report market forecast for Austin, the current housing market is favoring buyers as mortgage rates are coming down, there’s a more balanced supply and demand of both new and existing homes, and median prices have slowly dipped by 4.2 percent over the past two years. At its peak in 2022, the…

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Austin Business Journal reports, "Two multifamily projects are moving forward in North Austin that could collectively bring more than 600 new apartments to the city and create more opportunities for builders, contractors and more.

Austin City Council approved a zoning change on April 18 for a roughly 10-acre site at 10911 Stonelake Blvd., just north of the North Burnet and Gateway district. That change, from limited industrial zoning to multifamily, sets a path for the construction of about 400 apartments.

The council also approved a zoning change from general office to mixed-use on a 9-acre site at 13614 Metric Blvd., allowing for 238 new multifamily units near the Wells Branch neighborhood to move forward.

Don Reese, founder and partner of…

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Phase II of the HOME Initiative builds upon the first phase by changing zoning practices to allow smaller lots.  Photo courtesy of Whisper Valley

ATX Today reports, "Austin City Council will vote on Phase II of the HOME Initiative — a move that would reduce the minimum size of a single-family lot — as early as May.

The council passed the first phase of the HOME Initiative, which stands for Home Options for Middle-income Empowerment, in December 2023. In part, the decision increased the maximum number of units from one to three on certain single-family lots.

This new phase would change single-family lot minimums from 5,750 sqft to 2,000 sqft, something the Austin Board of Realtors said could improve home affordability moving forward.

Why is this under consideration?

Proponents say passage of the new phase could alleviate the housing shortage by allowing construction of 87 to 871 new…

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Relocations between Texas and Californians resulted in a 60,000-resident net increase to Texas' total population. TEXAS REALTORS

Austin Business Journal reports, "The Lone Star State continues to be a magnet for people moving out of California.

According to Texas Realtors, a professional organization for the state's real estate industry, the number of relocations from California to Texas surpassed any other state-to-state relocations in the country. The group's 2024 Relocation Report is based on U.S. Census data from 2022.

An estimated 102,000 Californians moved to Texas that year, the report shows. In addition, more than 41,000 Floridians moved to Texas, as did 30,000 New Yorkers. Illinois, Louisiana, Colorado, and Oklahoma each saw roughly 25,000 of their residents move to Texas in 2022.

In total, about 668,000 people moved to the Lone Star State from other states in…

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Austin American-Statesman writes, "With the typical busy spring buying season upon us, what's happening in the Austin-area housing market?

The Austin Board of Realtors just released its monthly housing report, which shows that there were 4,714 new home listings across the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown region last month, 10.2% more over the prior March. The increase has led to four months of inventory in multiple parts of the Central Texas region as the market continues to stabilize, the board said.

The board said 2,563 homes sold last month, down 0.3% from March 2023. The median price last month was flat year-over-year, with half of the homes selling for more than $450,000 and half for less.

The numbers indicate that homeowners have confidence…

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CultureMap Austin reports, "more homes hit the market in the Austin area in March, inspiring confidence among home sellers while simultaneously boosting options for first-time homebuyers, according to the latest real estate report by Unlock MLS and the Austin Board of Realtors (ABoR).

There were more than 4,700 new home listings placed on the market in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in March, which was a 10.2 percent increase year-over-year from March 2023. Housing inventory in the Austin area has now climbed for two straight months, after a previous real estate report showed more than 3,900 new home listings were added in the month of February.

"In an era marked by economic resilience and favorable market…

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Austin American-Statesman writes, "This year's appraisal notices — an annual spring ritual often accompanied by fear and loathing and, on occasion, a sigh of relief — are on their way to Travis County residential and commercial property owners.

Overall, the median market value of homes in the county declined about 7%, Travis County Chief Appraiser Leana Mann said Thursday. While some homeowners will see their values decline, others will see increases, and some values could be relatively unchanged from last year.

How do appraisal values this year compare with last year's?

The 2024 median market value for a residential property in Travis County is $551,419, down from last year's median of $592,819, the appraisal district said. The market value…

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Realtor.com writes, "One oft-forgtten room that can always benefit from a seasonal refresh is the bedroom. And more specifically, bedding is a small upgrade that can make a big difference.

With the weather warming, we say it’s time to shed those heavy winter quilts and swap them for something lighter.

So we’ve scouted out five fresh spring looks from Instagram that incorporate natural motifs, playful details, and inviting textures. These will make your bedroom the perfect cozy haven for all those rainy spring weekends and maybe even help you catch a few extra winks.

Here are our top picks for trending, spring-themed bedding this season.

1. Cotton, block-print quilt

If you’re ready to store your winter quilt, swap it out for something a…

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An Austin real estate investor has a plan to redevelop Barton Springs Apartments. The project would more than triple the total number of residences on the existing site. CITY OF AUSTIN

Austin Business Journal reports, "A plan to demolish a 40-unit apartment complex near Barton Springs Road to make way for a bigger one is set to be considered by City Council later this month.

The project at 1725 Toomey Road — on a less-than 1-acre tract sandwiched between Butler Shores and the original Chuy’s restaurant — would replace the existing Barton Springs Apartments with a new building containing more than 203 units.

Property owner Greg Smith of First Austin Properties is seeking a zoning change for the location to remove a conditional overlay that restricts building height to under 75 feet. Aside from the conditional overlay, the property has the city's highest-density multifamily zoning.

The exact height and other details of the…

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