Luxe Austin Homes - Grossman & Jones Group

"Your Recent Mortgage Statement Holds the Secret to a Big Tax Bonus This Year"

Realtor.com writes, "Tax season can be very stressful for many Americans—and for homeowners, having a place to call home can add another layer of complexity.

Sure, several tax breaks are available to owners. However, navigating them, finding the appropriate forms, and ensuring you do not forget any deductions can be challenging.

Recently, a real estate expert posted a TikTok video reminding homeowners that one of these tax forms could actually help them get a tax bonus this year. The video was liked more than 26,000 times, underscoring taxpayers’ interest in understanding deductions as much as possible. 

Real estate agent warns not to throw out your recent mortgage statement

TikTok user and mortgage expert @loanladyliz explained that there…

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"Realtor.com relocates HQ to Austin from California"

Austin Business Journal writes, "Count Realtor.com as the latest California company to name Austin its new corporate headquarters.

The real estate platform, which already has an Austin office at 901 E. Sixth St. and employs 400 people here, is making the city its official headquarters instead of its previous home base of Santa Clara, Calif., according to an announcement. The move appears to be mainly a change of letterhead for the time being, but CEO Damian Eales said the company expects to add hundreds of new hires in Austin over the coming years, with many likely to be recruited locally.

The company will maintain its presence in New York and Scottsdale, Arizona, but will be closing its offices in Santa Clara and Chicago.

Austin's central…

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"Where’s My Refund? Here’s When Homeowners Can Expect Their Money Back From Property Taxes"

Realtor.com shares, "A few years ago, my husband and I bought a townhome. The place is perfect for us, in a great area with nice neighbors, but it’s modestly sized and, admittedly, a little dated. It’s certainly not a luxury property—though seemingly well within the means of two 30-something professionals.

But with HOA dues, unexpected home repairs, car fixes, as well as the cost of two kids (and another on the way), I’m dedicated to clipping coupons and find myself biting my nails whenever I get an unexpected bill.

It’s no wonder I’m always stressed during tax season.

“How much do we owe this time?” I ask my husband every year, usually rubbing my temples as I try to fight off a money-induced migraine.

But recently, I realized that our…

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"4 things to know about Austin’s housing market in 2025"

ATX Today writes, "Predictable, steady, opportunity. Those are the words Unlock MLS Housing Economist Dr. Clare Knapp used to describe Austin’s housing market this year at the Austin Board of Realtors Headquarters today.

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in the Capital City in 2025, here’s what to expect. 

1. Predictable mortgage rates

Knapp said mortgage rates will likely stay in the 6% range during the first half of the year and might dip into the 5% range later in 2025.

2. Consistent home prices + sales

Active listings in Austin were up by nearly 15% in 2024, and Knapp said healthy inventory is expected to carry over into 2025. Home sales and prices will probably remain flat, but Knapp emphasized that prospects may still be…

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"New South Austin development offers 23 townhomes for $270,000 or less"

CultureMap Austi shares, "Applications are now open for a new affordable townhome community in South Austin slated to be completed in March.

The development, called Industry Soma, is located near William Cannon Drive and South Menchaca Road, at 1905 Keilbar Ln.

The 23 townhomes are a collaboration between developer Industry ATX and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation. Prices will range from $235,000 to $270,000, with the goal of providing the opportunity for homeownership and attracting and retaining families with generational ties to the neighborhood.

“We are grateful to support a townhome community that will provide prospective buyers with an affordable option for homeownership. Affordable home ownership is important to Austinites, helps…

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"Austin saw 'solid' economic activity in 2024 — here's what to expect in 2025"

Austin Business Journal writes, "When asked to sum up 2024, local economic leaders use labels like "solid," a "continuation," and "bright" — healthy, in other words, but not necessarily stellar.

That's because it was a mixed bag, with Austin continuing to search for equilibrium after huge wins in recent years, such as the successful courting of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. to Taylor and Tesla Inc. to eastern Travis County.

Central Texas has long been a hotbed for relocations and expansions, starting largely with IBM Corp. coming to town in the 1960s, and continuing with big steps like Samsung picking Austin for a factory in the 1990s. The trend picked up steam and hit a fever pitch during the pandemic, with companies such as Oracle Corp. and…

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"What will happen in 2025 to rent in Austin?"

Austin Business Journal reports, "Austin’s multifamily market is oversupplied again, and with the switch in cycles come deals for renters.

The area has seen a steady drop in rental prices through recent months, with the median rent at the end of 2024 about 5% lower than at the end of 2023. The drop comes after the pandemic supercharged both Austin’s growth and cost of housing as many people relocated to the city for its warm weather and quality of life — which when paired with historically low interest rates encouraged a building boom in the area.

“The market was so good in 2021 and 2022 you saw record rent growth, over 20% rent growth,” said Patton Jones, vice chairman of Newmark’s Central Texas office, who oversees the firm’s multifamily…

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"Austin's luxury real estate market brought in $4.1 billion in 2024"

CultureMap Austin shares, "A new 2024 report from Texas Realtors has revealed the number of homes that sold in the state for $1 million or more increased 10 percent from last year to reach its second-highest peak ever recorded.

According to the report's findings — which calculated sales data from November 2023 to October 2024 — Texas' luxury real estate market accounted for $21.4 billion in economic activity. The period from November 2021 to October 2022 still holds the current statewide record, which is $22.6 billion.

A total 12,888 homes sold for at least $1 million during this time, which represented nearly 16 percent of all Texas residential home sales.

May 2024 was the busiest month for Texas' luxury home sales. Nearly 1,580 homes were…

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"Elevated prices, interest rates will continue to curb housing affordability in 2025"

Austin Business Journal reports, "Homebuyers and sellers in the Austin metro likely will see little change in prices and inventory in 2025.

That's because median sales prices are likely to hover around the $450,000 mark reported in December 2024, and interest rates are expected to stay high, according to Clare Knapp, housing economist for the Austin Board of Realtors and Unlock MLS. It's a combination that's considered unaffordable for many first-time homebuyers, which means the onus is on homebuilders to build more homes with lower price tags to help move the needle on affordability in the metro.

A first-time homebuyer can typically afford to pay three times their income for a home, putting many in the market for a home in the $300,000 to $400,000…

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"City of Austin checks in for new short-term rental rule debates"

CultureMap Austin writes, "Austinites may be friendly, but the city as a whole fosters many conflicting feelings about vacation rentals. A January memo from assistant city manager Veronica Briseño alerts the City Council that some proposed changes are coming regarding regulating short-term rentals (STRs).

The changes will have to go through several filters first: public meetings plus separate Planning Commission and City Council meetings in February and April. The memo says "the changes will apply to a significant number of properties throughout the City."

It's difficult to summarize or forecast concerns associated with STRs, because they vary widely depending on changing factors. It's not just who's visiting and how well they behave, but…

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