Luxe Austin Homes - homeowners

"How Austin fits into Zillow's predicted housing market growth in 2025"

CultureMap Austin writes, "It looks like a few more people are about to turn their online home shopping daydreams into reality in 2025. Zillow, the famous real estate listings website, says in a press release that next year will likely bring "a gradual but bumpy decline in rates, impacting sales and price growth."

It attributes the forecast to "erratic and dramatic mortgage rate movements" throughout 2024, which will continue to affect the market. The website's housing market predictions report estimates that 2025 will see about 100,000 more sales than 2024, that home value growth will be "low and slow" at 2.2 percent, and that inventory and new listings will continue recovering from pandemic weakness.

On a local scale, Zillow's latest data…

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"Forecasts in 4 top markets a reminder that real estate is local"

Key points:

• During NAR’s annual real estate forecast summit, a panel of economists shared predictions for their markets in 2025.
• Compared to much of the country, Austin and Florida have significant inventory, while in Virginia and California, supply remains constrained.
• Regional issues including post-boom rebalancing, chronic underbuilding and job shifts will continue to impact local markets next year.

RealEstateNews.com writes, "As real estate agents and brokers prepare for 2025, they will need to consider how national forecasts — including predictions of more transactions in 2025 — apply to their local markets.

While the mantra "all real estate is local" remains in play, some trends proved fairly consistent between 2020 and…

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"HOA Fees Are On the Rise—Does It Make Sense To Buy a Home With Monthly Dues?"

Realtor.com writes, "You’re looking through homes online and spot one you love. It looks great, it’s the perfect size, and the price is right. You scroll down to see it has a homeowners association with dues that total $150 a month. Do you click away as fast as you can? Or are you impressed?

Many buyers wonder if they should avoid, or seek out, real estate with an HOA. On one hand, HOAs can be expensive and buyers who’ve been scrimping and saving to afford a home probably won’t look kindly on the extra monthly fee. On the other hand, HOAs can do a lot of good, like taking the stress off of home and yard maintenance.

Amber Brown, a real estate broker in Waco, TX, notes that HOAs can keep neighbors in check, as well.

“I’ve seen homeowners build…

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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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"Prices still at record levels even as existing-home sales tick up"

Key takeaways

• Existing-home sales in October 2024 rose 3.4 percent from the previous month and 2.9 percent from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors — the metric’s first annual gain since 2021.
• The nationwide median sale price was $407,200, up 4 percent from last year and the highest October median on record.
• Inventory in October was at a 4.2-month supply — still tight, but a sign that buyers are gaining more bargaining power.

Bankrate.com writes, "The housing market suffered from sluggish sales again in October 2024, but sales volumes finally are looking up. And home prices remain near record highs, a new report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows.

The median home-sale price marked the highest…

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"Real Estate Is Still a Good Investment: See How It Stacks Up Against Other Assets, From Gold to Bitcoin"

Realtor.com shares, "High mortgage rates are making it more expensive to buy a home right now—but many experts still believe that real estate beats out other investment opportunities.

Despite that, many investors have been swept into the thrill of playing the markets or trying out new asset classes like art, cryptocurrency, classic cars, and even wine.

If all of these options leave your head a bit scrambled about where to put your money, you’re not alone.

Choosing an investment strategy requires considering your budget, time horizon, and risk appetite. It also depends on how much effort you’re willing to put into learning about the particular market.

Some areas of investment, like art, require specialized knowledge while others depend on…

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"Housing Market Predictions For 2025: When Will Home Prices Drop?"

Forbes Advisor writes, "Home prices remain at record highs and mortgage rates are climbing again. Is there any relief in sight for buyers? Potentially. Although home prices continue to break records, they’re rising at a slower pace due to loosening inventory and sluggish demand—and experts project further price growth deceleration in 2025.

Meanwhile, even as many are still waiting for lower mortgage rates before taking the home-buying plunge, pending sales data indicates that at least some prospective buyers are starting to dip their toe into the market.

In fact, experts say now might be the ideal time for buyers to get ahead of a potential demand surge in 2025—one that could drive home prices up again and leave some would-be homeowners out in…

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"Austin, San Antonio, Houston Realtors to have access to nearly 60% of Texas real estate listings"

Community Impact shares, "A data share agreement between the Austin Board of Realtors, San Antonio Board of Realtors and Houston Association of Realtors is set to give Realtors with all three associations access to nearly 60% of all Texas real estate listings by the end of the year.

How it works

The agreement between the three metroplexes, which was announced in early October, will open up access between the associations' Multiple Listing Service, or the online portal where Realtors can share information about homes for sale in their markets.

As of Nov. 4, there are approximately:

• 17,970 ABoR MLS subscribers
• 14,889 SABoR MLS subscribers
• 48,000 HAR MLS subscribers

After the data share agreement goes live, the over 80,000 combined MLS…

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"Housing market hits highest inventory since 2019 as sellers flood the market"

The New York Post writes, "The housing market is finally giving buyers some breathing room.

After two years of skyrocketing prices and shrinking inventory, the number of homes on the market just hit its highest level since 2019, sparking hope for frustrated buyers across the country.

In October alone, available homes surged 29.2% from last year, marking a full year of growth in listings, according to an analysis by Realtor.com.

Homeowners nationwide are throwing up “For Sale” signs in droves, especially in former pandemic hot spots like Austin, Memphis and Orlando.

These “boomtowns” are making a comeback in a big way, with Austin inventory jumping a staggering 40.1%, while Memphis and Orlando posted gains of 39.2% and 26.6% respectively.

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"Despite Inventory Rise, Home Buyers Remain Cautious"

Realtor Magazine writes, "Home buyers may finally be finding more inventory options this fall, but they’re still being cautious about entering the real estate market, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Wednesday.

“Home sales have been essentially stuck at around a 4-million-unit pace for the past 12 months, but factors usually associated with higher home sales are developing,” says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “There are more inventory choices for consumers, lower mortgage rates than a year ago and continued job additions to the economy. Perhaps, some consumers are hesitating about moving forward with a major expenditure like purchasing a home before the upcoming election.”

Total existing-home sales—which reflects completed…

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