A first-time buyer recently gave us a very reasonable goal:

“We currently pay $1,200 in rent. If we buy, we would like to keep our monthly mortgage payment around $1,500.”

They hoped to find a single-family home south of Austin with enough land to park a trailer. One buyer had served in the military and expected to use a VA loan, possibly with no down payment.

Then a promising house appeared.

It was listed for $225,000 on approximately one acre with no HOA. The seller was even offering 2% of the purchase price toward the buyer’s closing costs.

At first glance, it sounded perfect.

But would the payment actually be $1,500?

The Home Price Is Only the Beginning

When people say “mortgage payment,” they may only be thinking about…

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When the Culture Can’t Afford the Real Estate

Valhalla has been at 710 Red River since 2010, and now the building has been sold to Gus’s Fried Chicken, leaving the venue with 60 days to figure out what comes next.

And directly across the street, another piece of Red River is on the market.

701–713 Red River, where Elysium and 13th Floor live today, is listed for $4.1 million and, according to the listing, hasn’t been offered for sale in 80 years. There is an extraordinary amount of Austin history packed into that little stretch of buildings, going all the way back to a Red River lined with antique shops, secondhand stores and strange little businesses that could somehow afford to exist right in the middle of town, long before those rooms…

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Flex. MLS. IDX. Syndication. Active. Coming Soon.

Real estate professionals use these words every day, but most people do not. It can feel a little like sitting in a doctor's office while someone explains something important using language you have never heard before. You nod, try to follow along and leave wondering, What did any of that actually mean?

If a real estate term is unfamiliar, that is not your failure. It is our job to explain it.

Let's start with a term Austin-area buyers and sellers are hearing more often: Flex listing. To understand Flex, we first need to clear up one of the biggest misconceptions in real estate.

Zillow is not the MLS

Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, Homes.com, HAR.com and local real estate websites are…

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What can under $400,000 actually buy in South Austin? At 6906 Moonmont Drive, it buys a renovated single-story home with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a two-car garage, a shaded backyard and no HOA.

Twilight view of 6906 Moonmont Drive in South Austin 6906 Moonmont Drive offers renovated single-story living in Austin’s 78745.

$397,000  |  3 bedrooms  |  2 bathrooms  |  1,460 sq. ft.  |  2-car garage  |  No HOA

Renovated Where It Matters

This is not a home that asks you to spend your first year managing a long renovation list. Several of the updates buyers care about most have already been completed, including a new roof, updated windows, a renovated kitchen and refreshed bathrooms.

Luxury vinyl flooring keeps the interior cohesive and easy to maintain, with no carpet…

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A Local Austin Guide

How to Spend a Classic Day in Austin, Texas

Austin is best experienced slowly: an early walk near the water, breakfast tacos, a neighborhood worth exploring, time outside and live music after dark.

You do not need to visit every attraction to understand Austin. You need to experience the rhythm that makes people want to stay.

Explore Austin Communities

Start Near Lady Bird Lake

Begin with a walk, run or bike ride along part of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. The trail follows Lady Bird Lake through the center of Austin, connecting downtown views, parks, bridges and the Boardwalk.

You do not need to complete the full loop. Pick a comfortable section, start early during warmer months and…

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Living in Austin

It’s August in Austin. Here’s What Life Really Feels Like.

If you’re thinking about moving to Austin, August is one of the best months to understand what living here is actually like.

Yes, it’s hot. Really hot.

But locals don’t stop living because it’s 101°. They simply change how they live.

Morning walks replace afternoon hikes. Neighborhood pools stay full until sunset. Patios do not come alive until after dinner. Kids head back to school. Football returns. Everyone starts talking about ACL Festival and cooler weather, even when both still feel weeks away.

Austin in August is not only about surviving the heat. It is about learning the rhythm of the city.

Explore Austin Communities

6:30 AM: Austin…

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Southwest Austin Neighborhood Guide

Living in Circle C Ranch: Is It the Right Fit for You?

Circle C gives buyers something increasingly difficult to find in Austin: an established neighborhood with mature landscaping, substantial community amenities and room to live beyond the walls of the house. The tradeoff is that the neighborhood is large, home styles vary and most daily routines still depend on a car.

Location Southwest Austin ZIP Code Primarily 78739 Home Character Established to newer Best Known For Pools, parks and trails Jump to: Lifestyle Homes Prices Homes for sale Amenities Schools Compare areas FAQs

The short answer

Circle C Ranch is a strong match for buyers who want a Southwest Austin address,…

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May 2026 Austin Housing Market Update: Austin Just Hit a Major Milestone. 

Austin just crossed a milestone that only a handful of American cities have ever reached.

According to the Austin Business Journal, new Census data confirms Austin surpassed 1 million residents in 2025, becoming just the 12th city in U.S. history to reach that mark. Since 2020, the city's population has grown by approximately 4.6%.

Headlines like these matter because they tell a bigger story than month-to-month market fluctuations. People continue moving to Central Texas for jobs, lifestyle, education, and opportunity. While the housing market has become more balanced than it was a few years ago, long-term demand for housing isn't disappearing.

Now let's look at…

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Austin Neighborhood Guide

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Living in West Lake Hills: What Buyers Should Know

Just west of central Austin, West Lake Hills offers a rare combination of privacy, architectural character, mature trees and convenient access to the city. It feels removed from the pace of Austin without requiring residents to leave it behind.

As an Austin REALTOR® who has spent years working throughout the area, Kent Redding understands that choosing a neighborhood is about more than comparing homes. Buyers need to understand how a community lives, what makes one property different from the next and which factors may matter when it is time to sell.

View Homes for Sale in West Lake Hills ```

In This Guide

  • Location and access
  • The West Lake…

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Should You Buy a Home Before Interest Rates Drop?

Many Austin-area buyers are asking the same question: Should I buy now, or wait until mortgage rates come down?

It is a reasonable question. Mortgage rates affect monthly payments, and if you have been watching the headlines, you have probably seen plenty of predictions that rates could fall.

But there is another part of the equation that often gets overlooked:

The best time to buy is not always when interest rates are lowest.

Why Buyers Are Waiting

There is a simple reason many buyers are pressing pause. Lower interest rates generally mean lower monthly payments. Depending on the loan amount, even a one-percent difference in a mortgage rate can change the payment by hundreds of…

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