The Smiths in 2025
No, there's no need to rent Victorian-era attire for caroling anymore. AI image generation has really advanced this past year, so I thought I’d just take very plain studio portraits and then transport us through time and around the globe digitally. I’ve long been a big photoshopper, and this year's
A Few of the Reasons I Know Austin Is the Right Place for Me
When I moved to Austin, people kept telling me that this city had an energy unlike anywhere else. I nodded politely at the time—how many cities say that about themselves? But after spending 2025 here, I finally get it. This was the year Austin really showed me what it means to live in a place where
Why the Future of Home-Buying Just Got a Big Boost: 3‑D Printed Homes in Texas
If you’ve been keeping an eye on housing trends, there’s a story unfolding in Texas that’s worth your attention. In Wolf Ranch, just outside Austin, a collaboration between ICON and Lennar has created the world’s largest 3‑D printed neighborhood. And for anyone in real estate—buyers, investors, or a
Battling the Chill: What Austin Learned from the Recent Winter Storms
Austin isn’t exactly known for harsh winter weather. But earlier this year, the city found itself grappling with a series of unusually cold, icy, and snowy days that tested not just its roads and infrastructure, but also the resilience of its residents. It all started in mid-January 2025, when an Ar
Unlocking More Homes: Why Minimum Lot Size Matters for Affordability in Austin
Austin’s housing market is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Median home prices have surged, mortgage rates are still high, and homes affordable to the average resident are increasingly hard to find. In 2023, the median sales price in Austin was $540,000, yet only 5.5% of homes sold for un
Austin’s Tech Renaissance: How “Silicon Hills” Became a Global Innovation Powerhouse
Austin, Texas — once celebrated mostly for its live music, creative soul, and unmistakably quirky charm — has spent the last decade quietly transforming into something much bigger. Today, “Silicon Hills” isn’t just a catchy nickname; it’s a reflection of Austin’s position as one of the world’s faste
Why 2026 Could Be a “Little Bit Better” for Housing — Especially Here in Texas
If you’ve been wondering whether the housing market might finally feel a bit more manageable, there’s some encouraging news on the horizon — especially for those of us in the San Antonio and Schertz area. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is predicting that 2026 won’t be a dramatic turnarou
Meet Austin’s Emerging Billionaires: Profiles of Power and Innovation
Austin has always had a reputation for attracting big thinkers, but over the last few years the city’s billionaire class has undergone a fascinating transformation. The familiar titans — figures like Elon Musk and Michael Dell — once defined the economic landscape almost single-handedly. They were t
The Smiths in 2024
Confused by the postcard picture? Well, it's a combination of two things that are usually pretty big parts of a normal year with the Smith's: 1.) Our neighborhood goes all out on Halloween, and we host a block party. Our family’s costume contest entry this year was 'Astronauts.' It's also meaningf
Is Austin’s Traffic Among the Worst in the U.S.?
If you’re an Austinite, you’re all too familiar with the struggle of navigating the city’s traffic—it often feels like it couldn’t be worse. Surprisingly, though, Austin doesn’t even rank in the top 15 cities for worst traffic in the U.S., according to Visual Capitalist. Read here to learn more abou
X Headquarters Moving to Austin Suburb
Elon Musk is reportedly moving X headquarters from California to Bastrop, Texas, about 30 miles east of Austin. This move follows the relocation of some of his other ventures, such as the Boring Company and SpaceX, to the Bastrop area. Read more about the company’s move here.
Austin’s Unspoken Rules
If you’re new to Austin or even if you’ve lived here a while, there are some unspoken rules that are good to know. Here you can find a detailed guide of these must-know tips, along with some insight from locals. Below are a handful of the unspoken rules with links offering more detail about their si
Median Home Prices and the Salary Needed to Make it Work
Whether you plan to buy soon or just want to stay up to date on the housing market, the median home prices in your area can provide a brief snapshot of where the market currently stands. In the link below, you can find charts and graphics of these statistics that not only compare median home prices
Which Cities Have Had the Fastest Population Changes?
The Texas population has been continually increasing over time, with 2020-2023 showing exponential growth. Austin, often referred to as a “boomtown” in the recent years, is typically at the center of this conversation, but there are many other cities in Texas and other states that experienced very r
Friendliest States in the U.S.
We’ve all heard of southern hospitality and the charm often associated with many of the southern states. In fact, you would probably expect those states to be at the top of the list for being the friendliest to tourists. You might be surprised, though, at which state holds the number one spot. Find
Texas City Ranks on Worldwide Quality of Life Index
Texas cities are receiving global recognition in a study assessing quality of life. Surveys based on affordability of housing, cost of living, crime rates, health system, traffic and pollution were used to determine the ranking of the cities. In 2024, several Texas cities were ranked worldwide for t
UT Austin to House Microelectronics Manufacturing Hub
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and University of Texas at Austin have agreed to a 5-year partnership to establish the first advanced microelectronics manufacturing hub in the U.S. The project will be spilt into two phases and will focus on an advanced approach to microelectronics fabr
“Tornado Alley” Moving East?
Historically, the term “Tornado Alley” has referred to the central Plains region of the U.S. that has been the most susceptible to tornadoes. For many years, tornado formations peaked in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, however, tornado pattern maps have indicated a gradual shift to the east with tornad
Are Realtor Stereotypes Accurate?
In a previous blog post, the question “are realtors, lenders, title agents, etc. worth the money they’re being paid?” was posed in relation to the recent changes happening. How much value you feel they add is, of course, a factor in how you may answer this question. But, here’s another factor to con
Tesla Takes Over as Largest Private Employer in Austin
Tesla’s employee count has been on the rise as they have gradually been building their team at the Austin Gigafactory. Not only has this growth contributed to a rise in new jobs, but it has also led the company to take over as the largest private employer in Austin. Read more about their growth and
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