Luxe Austin Homes - central texas

"First-time homebuyers flock to Williamson County"

In October, the most recent data available, the median sales price of a home in Williamson County clocked in at $420,000 compared to $510,000 in Travis County and $565,000 in the city of Austin, according to the Austin Board of Realtors’ and Unlock MLS’ latest market data.

While the more affordable inventory in Williamson County is attractive to first-time homebuyers, the job market fueled by employers such as Apple and Samsung is also a major driver of demand in the region.

Kent Redding, ABOR's 2024 president, said buyers are comparing the average sales price of a home in Austin to other areas of the metro and deciding they simply can’t afford a house in Austin — especially at a time when mortgage rates are elevated.

The average 30-year…

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"Planned 'new town' near Jarrell moving 'full speed ahead' — albeit behind the scenes"

Austin Business Journal shares, "About 18 months ago, representatives of Arizona-based DMB Development LLC unveiled initial plans for its long-anticipated Solana Ranch project near Jarrell. The effort called for billions of dollars of investment and construction of 14,000 homes and mixed-use buildings on more than 7,000 acres.

Elements of the project aren't yet visible on the sprawling site at the northern end of the Austin metro, but DMB President and CEO Brent Herrington said the company "is making tremendous progress and our current status is full speed ahead."

Split between Williamson and Bell counties, the planned development is among the most anticipated in the region. In early 2023, the Austin Business Journal first revealed plans for the…

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"Construction to gain steam at luxury Lake Travis master-planned community Thomas Ranch"

Austin Business Journal reports, "The expansive Thomas Ranch luxury housing development on Lake Travis has secured $106 million in financing for construction of infrastructure and initial homes in the master-planned community.

Thomas Ranch developers Areté Collective and the Wasatch Group will use the loan, underwritten by D.A. Davidson’s Development Finance Group, to complete roadwork, water and wastewater treatment plants and other infrastructure at the 2,200-acre development along State Highway 71 near Spicewood, according to a Dec. 3 announcement. The financing also will support construction of the first homes in Loraloma Private Club & Estates, a luxury enclave within Thomas Ranch where homes and homesites are now available.

At full…

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"2025 could bring some relief to one major housing challenge. Here's what to expect in the new year."

Austin Business journal shares, "More rate volatility, more affordability challenges — but slightly more inventory.

Those are some of the predictions among housing economics for the 2025 for-sale housing market. Beset by continued home-price appreciation, scarce inventory and a mortgage lock-in effect — not to mention sweeping industrywide changes — buying and owning a home continues to be out of reach for many.

Here's what to expect in the U.S. housing market next year.

Inventory and home sales

The biggest potential for relief in 2025 could come from an uptick in inventory.

While many existing homeowners are carrying a mortgage rate of 4% or less, life events and a broader acceptance that rates likely won't drop down to those levels…

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"Here's a look at changes Austin made to development regulations in 2024"

Austin Business Journal shares, "It has been a year of change in Austin for regulations around homebuilding, with many new policies enacted that are meant to boost the supply of residences. 

They include new density bonus programs that enable developers to build taller buildings if they include affordable units, as well as modifications to rules governing lot sizes and how many homes can be built on them.

Here is a look at some of the changes enacted in Austin in 2024, in addition to proposals that the City Council may consider soon.

HOME Initiative 

One of the most debated undertakings was the implementation of the HOME Initiative, which altered the rules regarding how many homes can be built on single-family lots and also reduced the…

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"Public-private partnerships seen as key to affordable housing development in the metro"

Austin Business Journal writes, "With a lack of affordable housing among the most pressing problems affecting Central Texas, public-private partnerships have become a necessary tool to help solve it.

That's the view of Nick Walsh, vice president of development at The NRP Group, a for-profit developer of multifamily and affordable housing projects currently engaged in a number of public-private partnerships. Such partnerships are delivering thousands of housing units priced at levels deemed affordable, based on the region's median income levels.

The price of land is just too steep to make regular math work, real estate experts have lamented for years. Relationships that offer tax breaks and other perks only found via the public realm are pretty…

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"Homebuyers can afford to be picky as Austin housing inventory rises"

CultureMap Austin shares, "The latest real estate report from Unlock MLS and the Austin Board of Realtors (ABoR) has revealed housing inventory is still on a steady rise in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA, creating more choices for potential homebuyers as they navigate a high interest rate market.

Residential home sales dipped by a mere 1.5 percent year-over-year from October 2023, amounting to 2,248 closed sales in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA. Median prices have also dropped to $430,000, or 3.2 percent less than this time last year. More than 3,300 new home listings were added on the market — a 7.4 percent increase from 2023 — bringing the total number of active home listings to 11,599.

According to Unlock MLS and ABoR housing…

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"New homebuilder joins Whisper Valley neighborhood"

Austin Business Journal reports, "A new homebuilder is working in one of East Austin’s most technologically advanced housing developments.

Denver-based Richmond American Homes will build 121 homes in the 2,067-acre Whisper Valley development, according to an announcement. The homebuilder is active in 16 states, according to its website, and joins several Central Texas homebuilders and one international builder already active in Whisper Valley, which has been an epicenter for innovation in sustainable housing in Central Texas.

Richmond American will build 21 homes in the current, fourth phase of development in Whisper Valley, and 100 more in the next phase. The new homes will be available in three- to five-bedroom floor plans ranging from 1,950…

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"New affordable housing complex in Austin has rentals starting at $600"

CultureMap Austin shares, "A new affordable housing complex is now open in South Austin.

Parker Lane Apartments officially opened on the morning of Saturday, November 16, and is now accepting applications.

Nonprofit Foundation Communities said its goal is to bring more affordable housing for families to the city.

Rent prices start as low as $600 and are income-based. On top of an affordable apartment, the community also offers sustainable green features and on-site services such as a healthy food pantry and a no-cost learning center for after-school and summer programs.

"The on-site learning center is primarily for residents but also open to the public. It is a no-cost service to residents that will take away the pressure and the stress…

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"California-based homebuilder New Home growing in Austin metro"

Austin Business Journal shares, "A California-based homebuilder is making a splash in Georgetown’s Bluffview neighborhood, where it purchased 105 homesites for more than $17 million.

New Home Co., which made its Texas debut in 2023 with the purchase of Katy-based Hamilton Thomas Homes, is now building new homes in the Austin region, according to an announcement. In addition to homes in Bluffview, it's at work building homes in Buda and Kyle, and it has plans to grow further, New Home Co. CEO Matthew Zaist said.

The 105 homesites in Bluffview consist of 65 lots with 50-foot frontages and 40 lots with 60-foot frontages, Zaist said. Homes on the lots will range from 2,100 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet.

New Home Co. expects to begin…

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