Luxe Austin Homes - homebuyers

"Real estate agents see shift in priorities within housing-market decisions"

Austin Business Journal shares, "A substantial number of real estate agents believe climate change is affecting homebuyer decisions, and the impact is getting stronger in certain parts of the country.

Among real estate agents surveyed in real estate firm Redfin Corp.'s 2025 Industry Survey, 39% of the respondents said they believe climate change is impacting to at least some degree consumer choices about where to live and what homes to buy. That total included 13.2% who “completely agree” that climate change was impacting choices, and 25.8% who “somewhat agree.”

The 39% total is more than the 35.8% who "somewhat disagree" or "completely disagree." The balance of the respondents did not offer an opinion on the topic.

The number of respondents…

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"Mortgage Interest Rates April 17, 2025: Mortgage Rates Swing Up After Bond Sell-Off"

Realtor.com writes, "Mortgage rates swung up on Thursday compared to the previous week, inching toward the dreaded 7% level, following the recent surge in 10-year-Treasury yields driven by investor concerns about escalating global trade tensions. 

The average rate on 30-year fixed home loans increased to 6.83% for the week ending April 17, up from 6.62% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac. It is the largest one-week increase in 12 months. Rates average 7.1% the same week in 2024. 

"The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage ticked up but remains below the 7% threshold for the thirteenth consecutive week," says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. "At this time last year, rates reached 7.1% while purchase application demand was 13% lower than…

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"March median home prices drop year over year in Cedar Park"

Community Impact shares, "The median home sale price in the Cedar Park and Far Northwest Austin areas declined slightly for March 2025 when compared to the previous year.

The median home price in March 2024 was about $530,233, compared to $500,000 in 2025. The number of new and active listings also increased, while the region showed a slight decline in closed sales and homes under contract.

The 78726 ZIP code in northwest Austin saw a steep decrease in the number of homes sold when compared to the same time in 2024. The region dropped by 55.56% year over year, dropping from nine houses sold in 2024 to only four in 2025. The 78641 ZIP code, encompassing parts of Cedar Park and Leander, also saw a decline, dropping 19.58%, while other ZIP codes showed…

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"Discover Austin’s best homes with The Grossman & Jones Group’s expert touch"

In the competitive Austin real estate market, The Grossman & Jones Group, Compass Real Estate stands out by delivering a client experience defined by expertise, integrity and results.

Led by Todd Grossman and Michelle Jones, the group’s commitment to excellence has earned them a strong reputation, a referral-driven business and recognition among the top real estate teams in the city.

“Buying or selling a home is one of life’s biggest financial and emotional decisions, and being able to guide people through that journey is truly fulfilling,” Jones said.

The company has built its success on three fundamental principles: listening and prioritizing, continuous learning, and building lasting relationships. Every client’s needs are carefully assessed to ensure a…

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"Air conditioning now mandatory in Austin homes"

Austin City Hall has six changes to housing rules to know about.

Effective July 10:

• Air conditioning in homes is required

• Single stairway developments, recently chronicled in the ABJ, are allowed

• Homes in some areas face higher regulations due to fire and wildlife concerns

• Hempcrete, a plant-based construction material, is now allowed

• Electric vehicle charging stations will be required of some builders

• And pest control in apartment complexes must now include services to beat back bed bugs and scorpions

The city of Austin has a summary of the code changes here.

Source: Austin Business Journal 

Written by: ABJ Staff

Published: April 11, 2025

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"Construction underway at luxury Lake Travis master-planned community Thomas Ranch"

Austin Business Journal shares, "Construction is underway at the expansive Thomas Ranch luxury housing development on Lake Travis, but there’s still room for custom homebuilders to get involved with the project.

Thomas Ranch developers Areté Collective and the Wasatch Group secured a $106 million loan to finance infrastructure and initial home construction in the master-planned community late last year and have been making headway on the development’s first phase, called Loraloma, said Joe Rentfro, the project's managing director.

Homes should start rising soon in that section, Rentfro said, and its golf course, designed by David McLay-Kidd, should be playable later this year.

At full build-out, the 2,200-acre Thomas Ranch, which is situated…

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"Share of first-time homebuyers hits record low as affordability challenges persist"

Austin Business Journal shares, "First-time buyers hit a record low share of the homebuying market last year, another sign that affordability continues to make homeownership out of reach for many.

Only 24% of homebuyers surveyed by the National Association of Realtors said they were purchasing a home for the first time — a substantial drop from the 32% who said the same the year prior. Meanwhile, baby boomers were the largest cohort of homebuyers last year, making up 42% of all homebuyers.

The survey took place in July and included buyers who purchased a primary residence between July 2023 and June 2024. Results were released earlier this week.

Rising home prices, high mortgage rates, limited supply and competition with all-cash buyers…

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"Competition among Austin-area homebuyers set to heat up in mid-April"

CultureMap Austin writes, "If you’re a first-time homebuyer in the Austin metro area, beware of mid-April.

A new study from Austin-based Realtor.com shows that in 2025, the best time to list a home for sale in the Austin area is the week of April 13. This translates into stepped-up competition among homebuyers during that time frame.

Why is the week of April 13 such a popular time to put a home on the market in the Austin area? Brandy Wuensch, president of the Austin Board of Realtors and Unlock MLS, offers three reasons:

• Springtime offers a pleasant climate for open houses, leading to more potential buyers touring homes.
• Buyers often prefer to move in the spring so they can settle into a new home before the start of the school year in…

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"The best time for Austinites to list their home"

AXIOS Austin writes, "It's prime time to list homes in Austin, according to a new Zillow report.

Why it matters: Sellers who listed their homes in early spring last year made more money on the sale than at any other time of the year.

The big picture: The "best time to sell," per Zillow researchers, depends on where you live, and the season starts early in Austin.

• Across the U.S., homes listed late last May sold for 1.6% more — typically $5,600 — than any other time of year.
• San Jose, California; Seattle; and San Diego also saw price premiums in March, while late fall was prime time to sell in Tampa Bay and Phoenix.

Zoom in: Listing Austin-area homes in the second half of March boosted the final sale price by 2.3%, or about $10,400, on…

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"The Hottest U.S. Housing Markets"

U.S. News & World Report writes, "With inflation through February slowly heading in the right direction and 30-year fixed mortgage rates recently settling in at about 6.7%, hopeful homebuyers are slowly edging back into the housing market. But is it enough to unlock a semifrozen housing market?

The good news is that according to Freddie Mac, applications for mortgage purchase loans were up 5% year-over-year through mid-March. At the same time, with stock markets in flux and consumer sentiment dipping sharply in recent weeks, if concerns about rebounding inflation and job security continue to build, that could prompt some buyers to wait for more certainty.

Still, even if consumers hold back on high-ticket items such as new cars,…

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