Luxe Austin Homes - housing

"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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"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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"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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"Housing inventory, listings increase in Austin metro as mortgage rates remain elevated"

Austin Business Journal reports, "Mortgage rates remain elevated compared to recent years, but Austin-area homebuyers have a robust inventory of choices, according to the latest market data from the Austin Board of Realtors and Unlock MLS.

The median sale price for homes fell slightly in October to $430,000, a 3.2% drop from the same time last year. And with a housing inventory that eclipsed the five-month mark, buyers had plenty of options.

Meanwhile, overall transaction volume remained flat year-over-year, as both active and new listings increased compared to October 2023.

But elevated mortgage rates — the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.79% for the week of Nov. 7 — continue to be the biggest factor affecting home sales, said…

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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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"Landsea Homes opts for larger digs in Austin as its local pipeline grows"

Austin Business Journal reports, "As Austin’s housing inventory continues to grow, a Dallas-based homebuilder with a national footprint is increasing its presence in the Texas capital.

Landsea Homes Corp. (Nasdaq: LSEA) signed an 8,000-square-foot lease for an office at North Austin’s Stonebridge Plaza, according to an announcement. The company will leave its current office at 4001 W. Parmer Lane, which is roughly 4,500 square feet, when the new office opens in early 2025.

“Landsea Homes has been expanding rapidly in the Austin area over the last year and we have quickly outgrown our current office space,” said Jill Wasik, Landsea’s director of sales and marketing for its Austin division, in a statement. “Stonebridge Plaza is centrally located,…

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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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"There Are Now 30 Renters for Every Home for Sale in the U.S."

Realtor.com reports, "the number of homes for sale for each renter household in the U.S. remains near record lows, highlighting the supply crunch that first-time buyers face in the current housing market.

Currently, there are about 30 renter households for each available home for sale, up from less than 10 in 2006, according to Freddie Mac’s latest market outlook report.

The supply shortage dates back to the Great Recession, which dealt a major blow to new home construction. Since then, construction has slowly increased, but failed to keep pace with demand, resulting in a shortage of at least 1.5 million homes.

“Therefore, not only do people seeking to buy their first home have to navigate an expensive market, but they also have to compete…

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