Luxe Austin Homes - compass

"Is the Rental Market Beginning To Normalize? Priced-Out Tenants Sure Hope So"

Realtor.com writes, "renters haven’t had much good news lately as landlords have jacked up monthly rents to previously unthinkable amounts across the country.

However, the rental market may be returning to something more seemingly normal. In September, the median monthly rent in the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas dropped for a second straight month, to $1,759, according to a recent report from Realtor.com®. That’s $12 lower than last month and a $22 drop from the peak in July.

Rents were still up 7.8% from September of last year. However, it’s the lowest year-over-year price increase since May 2021.

The report looked at apartments, condos, townhomes, and single-family homes advertised for rent in September on Realtor.com in the 50 largest…

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"Study makes case for investing in cheaper housing as Austin group buys more apartments for moderate-income rentals"

Austin Business Journal writes, "a new report challenges the idea that investing in more affordable housing developments yields lower returns than luxury apartments — bringing added weight to a local fund that aims to maintain cheaper housing.

The report from Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Austin finds that moderate-income rental housing is a viable and profitable investment for those seeking to support a fund that embraces environmental, social and governance principles, or ESG.

Supported by Affordable Central Texas Inc., which controls a low-cost housing fund in Austin that has raised tens of millions of dollars, and the Wells Fargo Foundation, the study aimed to define a profitable asset class called…

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"How High Can Mortgage Rates Possibly Go?"

Realtor.com writes, "higher mortgage interest rates have taken a battering ram to the housing market.

Since the start of the year, mortgage rates have more than doubled. They’ve blown past all expectations, nationally exceeding 7% by some estimates. The possibility that rates could continue to rise has struck fear into the hearts—and bank accounts—of many stressed-out homebuyers.

The simple, and dispiriting, math: Every time they tick up, fewer buyers can qualify for loans—and those that do often can afford to buy only much cheaper homes.

So how high could rates go? The answer depends largely on how the economy fares. If inflation persists, the U.S. Federal Reserve will keep raising its own interest rates and mortgage rates will likely follow…

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"Austin boasts some of the biggest houses in the country, new ranking shows"

CultureMap Austin writes "If everything’s bigger in Texas, that should include our homes, right? Well, a new study shows homes in the Lone Star State are among the biggest in the country — but not the biggest.

Texas appears at No. 11 on American Home Shield’s list of the states with the biggest houses. In Texas, the average home is 2,170 square feet, well behind top-ranked Utah (2,800 square feet).

But don’t despair, fellow Texans. Six Texas cities, including Austin, land on American Home Shield’s list of the top 20 major cities for home size. This list looks at average home sizes in the country’s 50 largest cities.

After reviewing more than 500,000 U.S. home listings from Zillow, American Home Shield concluded that Austin's average home…

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"It’s the perfect starter home. But it’s only for rent."

"Adam and Tahnya Gaston arrived in this Austin suburb in June with a toddler, a dog and enough money for a down payment. But within days they scrapped their plans for buying a house, deterred by soaring home prices and rising mortgage rates. Instead, they’re paying $4,000 a month to lease a three-story house in a new development aimed squarely at renters.

As the housing market sours, families around the country are eschewing homeownership and turning instead to new homes in rental-only developments such as the one where the Gastons landed. When completed, the Oaks on Chisholm Trail will have 113 stand-alone homes, each with a kitchen island, two-car garage and tiny plot of lawn — all exclusively for rent.

It’s one of…

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"Crane Watch: More condos to rise in S. Austin; More warehouses slated for I-35 corridor"

According to Austin Business Journal, "There’s another industrial development sprouting in the fertile I-35 corridor.

Mississippi-based EastGroup Properties Inc. broke ground Sept. 12 on Stonefield 35, a 275,559-square-foot project in Buda, the company announced Sept. 22. The development comes amid impressive growth, especially for industrial space, in the corridor between Austin and San Antonio.

The development will be built on about 21 acres at the northeast corner of I-35 and Robert S. Light Boulevard. EastGroup is constructing three buildings with varied dimensions.

The largest building will be 148,233 square feet and equipped with 51 dock doors and two ramps, according to marketing material. The building will have 195 parking spaces.

…

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Austin has highest housing inventory since 2018, report says

The Austin housing market continues to become a healthier ecosystem for buyers — a welcome sign for many after years of sellers having heavy hands.

The metro’s housing inventory increased to 2.9 months in August, according to the Austin Board of Realtors’ monthly market report. That’s the highest level of inventory since September 2018, well before the Covid-19 pandemic era that saw Austin’s housing inventory crater even further. Additionally, median home sales prices continued to fall since setting a record of $550,000 in April and May, and are under $500,000 for the first time since February.

The inventory is bolstered by declining home sales and an increase in active listings.

August saw 2,924 closed home sales, a 23% decrease from last…

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Real estate company with Bee Cave office debuts on Fortune 500

Real estate company Compass debuted on the Fortune 500 alongside companies such as Apple, American Express and others in May. The business has 67 markets, over 300 offices and over 25,000 agents who assist in home buying and selling nationwide, including The Grossman & Jones Group in Bee Cave, which is recognized as the No. 1 team at Compass Austin, according to a press release. Compass launched in 2012 and provides personalized attention throughout the buying and selling process as well as continuing support after the transactions, according to the business. It is located at 12117 Bee Caves Road, Bldg. 3, Ste. 180, Bee Cave. 512-470-3173. www.compass.com/agents/grossman-jones-group

Source: Community Impact Newspaper

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Austin ranks among top luxury real estate markets with soaring 550% sales volume increase

Shocker—Austin’s luxury real estate market is booming but after an especially fruitful year, the capital city is joining the big leagues for high-priced homes.

According to a study comparing industry-wide sales activity done by real estate agency Compass, Austin saw a 450% increase in $10 million-plus real estate transactions from 2020-2021, placing it among the 30 highest-value markets in the U.S.

With 11 total transactions totaling $189 million, the sales volume in Austin jumped 562% since 2020, putting the city markedly higher than major cities like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Jersey Shore, New Jersey; Long Island, New York, and Washington D.C.

Dallas was the only other Texas city to be included on the list and nearly mirrored Austin’s…

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