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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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"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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"Dirt to turn on 586-home neighborhood"

Austin Business Journal shares, "almost 600 new homes will spring up in the fast-growing suburb of Dripping Springs during the next three years or so — welcomed development in a region still short on housing.

Tri Pointe Homes Inc. enlisted the aid of “Queer Eye” star Bobby Berk to design the model home for the new neighborhood the homebuilder is co-developing with Ohio-based M/I Homes Inc.

The 188-acre development — known as Heritage — will be home to 586 homes at full build-out, according to a Jan. 26 announcement. The Berk-designed model home will serve as both a marketing resource and a design inspiration tool for potential homebuyers interested in Tri Pointe’s offerings in the development, said Chelsea Timmons, vice president of community…

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"Are buyers already coming back into the housing market?"

Austin Business Journal reports, "since the start of the new year, there's indications buyers may be — albeit slowly — reentering the housing market, owing in part to mortgage rates that've stabilized since 2022's volatility.

Redfin Corp. (Nasdaq: RDFN) found while pending home sales fell 26% year over year during the four weeks ending Jan. 22, that was the smallest drop in more than three months, and that metric had began rising on a month-over-month basis since December.

Separately, home tours and requests for service for Redfin remain down 23% and 27% respectively from a year prior, but both are an improvement from a November trough of that activity being down 40%.

Pending home sales increased in December for the first time since May 2022,…

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"Zillow says Austin’s housing market is now ‘ice cold,’ Austin Board of Realtors says no way"

KXAN Austin writes, "just days after the Austin Board of Realtors said the local housing market is starting to “rebalance,” Zillow has released a much harsher outlook: the Austin market is now “ice cold.”

The characterization comes as Zillow released its market report for December 2022.

The report shows homes in the Austin area are spending a median of 68 days on the market, more than in any other major metro nationwide. Back in December 2021, Zillow reported homes in the area were on the market for a median of 22 days.

Another metric in the report shows homes aren’t selling for as much as they used to. In November, just 11% of listings sold for higher than the asking price, down from 47% a year before.

That may be leading some homeowners…

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"Rents Are Still Rising—but Not By Much. Are the Steep Hikes Finally Over?"

Realtor.com writes, "the rent may still be too damn high, but at least it isn’t skyrocketing anymore.

That’s the message from the Realtor.com® monthly rental report, which shows a welcome cooling-off after the craziness of the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Rental prices in the largest metropolitan areas across the country rose 11.6% for the full year in 2022 but downshifted steadily throughout the year. By December, prices were only 3.2% higher, compared with the same month a year earlier.

Nationally, the median monthly rent was $1,712 in December—down $69 from the peak in July.

However, the national numbers mask enormous differences in metros around the country, where the locations people are moving to and from are reversing. And instead of…

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"3 new casual spots to grab a bite in Austin"

Community Impact shares, "Buzz Burger, a new burger food truck, opened on Jan. 20 at The Buzz Mill in Riverside. Buzz Burger offers a half-vegan, half-omnivore menu with burgers, wraps, loaded fries and sides. Buzz Burger and The Buzz Mill are both owned by Austinite Jason Sabala and located at 1505 Town Creek Drive, Austin. Instagram: buzzburgeratx

Homie Fries—a new food truck from the team behind Burro Cheese Kitchen—opened at 75 Rainey St., Austin, in December. The food truck, owned by Justin Burrow and Aaron Ross, sells loaded fries with an array of toppings, including cheddar jack cheese, smoked brisket, bacon and more. www.homiefries.com

Masa y Más—a counter-style restaurant serving up birria, al pastor and other Mexican favorites—opened on 1817…

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