Luxe Austin Homes

"Is Austin housing hot or not? Prices are sliding but buyers, sellers cautiously test waters"

Austin Business Journal writes, "despite chilly forecasts from the likes of Zillow and Goldman Sachs, others expect the heat to stay elevated in Austin’s housing market — by at least one measure, it's still among the hottest in the country.

Austin tied with Durham, North Carolina for third place in the U.S. News & World Report’s latest Housing Market Index, released Feb. 14. Raleigh, North Carolina ranked first and Denver ranked second.

The index takes into account data on employment, housing prices, builder sentiment and much more.

Austin ranked No. 4 in the supply sub-index, which included government data on housing supply, rental vacancy rates, construction costs, construction jobs, builder sentiment from the National Association of Home…

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"Hundreds of Realtors, builders nominated for Austin Residential Real Estate Awards"

Austin Business Journal shares, "the time to honor Central Texas' top-selling Realtors, superlative homebuilders and inclusive master-planned communities is approaching.

Austin Business Journal's 2023 Residential Real Estate Awards are scheduled for next month. A total of 214 agents and realty teams and 16 builders and master-planned communities were nominated — you can find their names below.

There's nothing subjective about the agent awards — they are based on hard numbers. Realtors were asked to submit data on their 2022 transactions for deals in the six-country area: the five counties in the Austin metro, plus Burnet County. Winners will be crowned in three categories for solo agents and teams and ranked by last…

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"The Hottest Housing Markets in the U.S."

U.S. News reports, "now that the demand for housing is showing renewed signs of life amid lower mortgage rates, declining inflation and a reduced risk of recession, it’s certainly an opportune time to analyze which markets are the hottest across the country. While the term "hottest" may no longer mean desperate buyers bidding thousands over asking prices and waiving inspections, it does mean returning to the basics of healthy demand, supply and financing options.

Because the U.S. News Housing Market Index incorporates so many varied data points, it provides a simple and comprehensive way to rank the covered metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) from shivering to scorching on a scale of 1-100. Designed to work on desktops and laptops but not on…

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"Seller’s Market, Buyer’s Market, ‘Nobody’s Market’? The Weird State of Housing Right Now"

Realtor.com writes, "today’s housing market has everyone wondering: Is it still a seller’s market, or has the power dynamic finally shifted in favor of buyers?

Try neither.

Uncertainty about the future of inflation, the economy, mortgage rates, and more have seized up the market—and wrenched power away from buyers and sellers alike.

“Today, real estate is ‘nobody’s market,'” notes Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale in her analysis of housing data for the week ending Feb. 4. “The number of homeowners deciding to sell continues to lag, but inventory and time on market continue to climb, reflecting still-hesitant buyers.”

We’ll break down what the latest real estate statistics mean for homebuyers and sellers in this latest installment…

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"6 Different Types of Home Loans: Which One Is Right for You?"

Realtor.com shares, "if you’re a first-time home buyer shopping for a home, odds are you should be shopping for mortgage loans as well—and these days, it’s by no means a one-mortgage-fits-all model. You’ll want to get and understanding of all the basics, with mortgage 101.

Where you live, how long you plan to stay put, and other variables can make certain mortgage loans better suited to a home buyer’s circumstances and loan amount. Choosing wisely between them could save you a bundle on your down payment, fees, and interest.

Many types of house loans exist: conventional loans, FHA loans, VA loans, fixed-rate loans, adjustable-rate mortgages, jumbo loans, and more. Each mortgage loan may require certain down payments or specify standards for loan…

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"Here’s what’s happening with home prices as mortgage rates fall"

CNBC reports, "the U.S. housing market cooled off pretty dramatically last year, after mortgage rates more than doubled from historic lows. Home prices, however, have been stickier.

Prices began falling last June, but are still higher than they were a year ago. Now, as demand appears to be coming back into the market, due to a slight drop in mortgage rates, prices are pushing back.

In December, the latest read, U.S. home prices were 6.9% higher year over year, according to CoreLogic. That was the lowest annual appreciation rate since the late summer of 2020. Last April, annual price appreciation hit a high of 20%.

Falling home prices were reflecting weaker housing demand, as inflation, job cuts and uncertainty in the economy piled onto the…

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"Cedar Park's Silverado Ranch offers proximity to Brushy Creek Park, community pool, playground"

Community Impact highlights Silverado Ranch. "Situated just south of Whitestone Boulevard in Cedar Park, the Silverado Ranch neighborhood, developed by KB Homes starting in 2005, includes a variety of home sizes and prices.

The neighborhood is located close to Brushy Creek Park, Gupton Stadium, H-E-B and the 1890 Ranch shopping center. Residents of Silverado Ranch have access to a community pool with a clubhouse, picnic facilities and a playground.

• Median home value: $602,000
• Homes on the market*: 2
• Homes under contract*:2
• Median annual property taxes: $12,981
• Median price per square foot: $247
• Average days on the market*: 87
• Build-out year: 2012
• Builders include: KB Homes
• Square footage: 1,300-5,500
• Home values:…

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"10 Austin spots tackle Super Bowl plans with takeout and watch parties"

CultureMap Austin shares, "it seems fair to say Austinites know they can drop by H-E-B for most of their game day needs. But we’re not talking needs, we’re talking excess. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a host who wants to offer something truly memorable — or just absolutely clueless on this whole football thing but looking forward to Rihanna and the food — CultureMap is setting you up for a touchdown.

On February 12 at 5:30 pm, the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, and there are basically two places to be: at home, or out with everyone else. If the former is more your style, make sure you order well in advance. If the latter, keep in mind that many of these events operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. Either…

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"Austin housing market more stable after cooling 2022 demand, report finds"

CultureMap Austin writes, "In a slightly contradictory year, the 2022 Central Texas housing market saw both higher barriers to affordability and a shift toward buyers.

According to the Austin Board of Realtors' last monthly report of 2022 and year-end overview, inventory rose, but so did interest rates and construction costs. Prices rose, too, reaching a new annual record for the Austin-Round Rock MSA at $503,000 (up 11.4 percent). Travis County mirrored the pattern, as median prices increased 10.6 percent to $575,000.

Demand in the MSA lagged while supply stayed the same: New listings stayed steady but 33,547 homes were sold, down 18.3 percent from the previous year, and they generally stayed on the market for 31 days, 11 days longer. This was…

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"A Tale of 2 Housing Markets: Why Some Homes Still Cause Heated Bidding Wars While Others Sit Unsold"

Realtor.com shares, "homebuyers who are closely watching the correction in the real estate market might believe now is a good time to pounce. After all, homes are sitting on the market for longer, those maddening bidding wars have dried up, and wild offers over the asking price are things of the past, right?

Well, not exactly. It all depends on what they’re hoping to purchase.

Those searching for a home are seeing plenty of fixer-uppers, homes lacking curb appeal, and those in less desirable areas sitting on the market for longer and undergoing price reductions. But well-appointed, well-situated turnkey homes are still selling fast, often receiving multiple offers, and even selling over the asking price. It’s as if the housing slowdown hasn’t…

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