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 about how many hours are lost […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 rapid increases as well. In contrast, there are […]
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 out which […]
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 their quality of life. Austin earned a top […]
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 fabrication. Learn more about the details of the partnership […]
"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 tornado events peaking in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. […]
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 […]
Changes to How Contracts and Representation Work
Hi everyone, maybe some of you have heard about some of the changes to how contracts and representation work across the nation. Here’s a brief catchup if you’re out of the loop: I won’t have all the answers because it’s still so new, but I did actually sit in on a seminar last week listening […]
Reversal in Travis County Population Trends
Travis County has been a consistent hot spot for people moving to the Austin area, but for the first time in two decades, the number of people leaving the county is greater than the number moving in. It’s a prime example of how, sometimes, what goes up, must come down. Nevertheless, while this phenomenon is […]
Is Austin Losing its Appeal?
In the recent years, especially since the pandemic, Austin has been the go-to place for companies, start-ups, and investors. The population has had a huge influx due to Austin’s appeal in affordability and job opportunities. But has the allure worn off? Read here to learn more about if Austin has lost its luster.
The Smiths in 2023
Being something of photographers in a past life, Hillary and I had already seen a thousand pictures of the TA Moulton Barn that sits in front of the Grand Tetons. As we were accompanying my mother on a bucket list trip up to Glacier National Park a couple months ago, I realized we’d be passing […]
Austin Ranked Among Worst Cities for Traffic
How does Austin traffic compare to other U.S. cities? According to this article, on average, Austin drivers lost 53 hours of commute time due to traffic delays in 2022. A breakdown of these traffic stats and where Austin ranks nationally among the worst traffic cities can be found here.
Austin's Role in the Introduction of Central A/C
There’s no doubt that the heat we experience here in Texas makes central A/C a household necessity. It’s something we’ve become accustomed to, but maybe never gave much thought to how it got its start. Interestingly enough, an Austin neighborhood played an early role in this invention eventually becoming a fixture in every home. Read […]
America's Best Taco Cities
Tacos are, of course, a staple here in Austin. But how does Austin rank when searching for the best cities in the US for tacos? That ranking and even more taco data can be found here.
Austin Market Facing Pandemic Correction
So where are we now? What goes up must come down? We were among the leaders of home appreciation during the pandemic era, and now we’re one of the areas with the biggest correction happening. As a smaller city, smaller changes in migration and investor participation make a bigger difference in our market. Recall that […]
The Smiths in 2022
With an eye injury, a month as a pirate, and three surgeries to follow, 2022 took off from a bit of a low point. Not having to wear a mask anymore–definite high point. Real estate was also surging and was keeping us busy. The Austin market is a roller coaster, though, now down about 20% […]
State of the Market
Since we’ve taken a short blog sabbatical, the entire real estate world has changed. Although the evening news will sometimes say trite things like “Finally an opportunity for homebuyers…” everyone trying to buy knows the truth. Buyers have all lost 20-30% of their purchasing power from interest rate increases alone, compared to about a year ago. This doesn’t […]