All Blog Entries by Chuck Farr

January is Time for Homestead Exemptions, Big Jobs & Ceiling Fans [[+]] 2022 Austin-Area Market Set Price Records, Shifted Towards Buyers With Increased Inventory and Interest Rates: Chuck Farr’s January 2023 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Happy new year, homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors. If you bought a home last year and if you live there (it is not an investment-only property) and you did not already do so, make a note to file your homestead exemption in January 2023 (also check on disability and over 65 exemptions if applicable) at your local county tax office to save money on property taxes. It can save you thousands of dollars this year!

In the news,the Austin Board of REALTORS® says that in 2022, “the

Winter is Time for Homestead Exemptions, Big Jobs, Ceiling Fans, & HVACs [[+]] Median Price for a Home in Austin-Area Market Stays Flat As November Housing Inventory Nearly Quadruples: Chuck Farr’s December 2022 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Happy Holidays, homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors. If you bought a home this year and if you live there (it is not an investment) and you did not already do so, make a note to file your homestead exemption in January 2023 (also check on disability and over 65 exemptions if applicable) at your local county tax office to save money on property taxes. It can save you thousands of dollars next year.

In the news,the Austin Board of REALTORS® says that in November, “home sales

November is Time for Gutters, Leaves, Lawns, & HVACs [[+]] Austin Area Real Estate Home Prices Stabilize, Inventory Inches Toward Balanced Market: Chuck Farr’s November 2022 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Hello again, homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors! In the news,the Austin Board of Realtors says that in October, “sales dollar volume fell by 24.6% to $1,346,229,031 as new listings declined 13.1% to 3,255 listings across the MSA. The median price increased by only 4.9% to $474,990—setting a median price record for the month of October. Pending listings dropped by 40.0% to 2,141 listings and available inventory increased by 2.2 months to 3.2 months of inventory. Homes spent an average of 47 days on market, up 26

October is Time for Gutters, Leaves, Lawns, Gardens & HVACs [[+]] Austin Area Real Estate Market Shows More Inventory, Sales Decline, and Slower Price Growth: Chuck Farr’s October 2022 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Hello again, homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors! In the news,the Austin Board of Realtors says that in September, “sales dollar volume fell by 12.7% to $1,777,575,531 as new listings declined 3.8% to 3,967 listings across the MSA. The median price increased by only 5.6% to $470,000—setting a median price record for the month of September. Pending listings fell by 29.7% to 2,365 listings and available inventory increased by 2.1 months to 3.1 months of inventory.” Remember also that historical

September is Time for Leaves, Lawns, Gardens & HVACs [[+]] Austin Area Real Estate Market Shows Normal Price Growth and Increasing Inventory, Continued Housing Stabilization: Chuck Farr’s September 2022 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Hello again, homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors! Even real estate agents take a vacation now and then, so I’m getting a late start on the September issue after a memorable trip to the mountains and American Revolutionary War battlefields of New England.

In the news,the Austin Board of Realtors says that in August, “active listings in the five-county area skyrocketed 170.2%, causing housing inventory to reach 2.9 months – the highest inventory level since September 2018.

August is Time for Lawn & Garden Survival and HEAT Management [[+]] Austin Area Real Estate Market Continues to Normalize as Price Growth Slows, Inventory Rises: Chuck Farr’s August 2022 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Hello again, homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors! In the news,the Austin Board of Realtors says that in July, “median price grew by only 8% year over year to $515,000, a record for the month of July but the first time home price growth has been in the single digits since June 2020. The region’s housing inventory reached 2.7 months — the highest level of inventory since November 2018.” Remember that historical guidelines tell us that 6 months of inventory indicate a “balanced” market—so we are still

July is Time for Yards, Watering, and HEAT Management [[+]] Austin Area Real Estate Market Begins Return to Pre-Pandemic Activity: Chuck Farr’s July 2022 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Hello again, homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors! In the news,the Austin Board of Realtors says that in June, “residential home sales declined 20.3% year over year to 3,441 closed sales as the median price rose 13%, setting a record of $537,475 for the month of June. Sales dollar volume dropped 9.9% to $2,301,865,479 while new listings jumped 19.6% to 6,160 listings. The number of homes on the market skyrocketed 217.8% to 7,090 active listings, causing housing inventory to jump to 2.1 months of inventory, up 1.5 months from last

June is Time for Yards, Watering, and Heat Management [[+]] Austin Area Market Inventory Improves While Closings Remain Robust: Chuck Farr’s June 2022 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Welcome to the Summer Solstice, homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors! In the news,the Austin Board of Realtors says that in May, “residential home sales declined 6.7% year over year to 3,633 closed sales as the median price rose 19.6%, maintaining the all-time record of $550,000 set in April 2022.” (Check the [[“Talking Real Estate” Monthly Enewsletter]] for all the market details!)

Summer Home Maintenance Tips: Summertime has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas, especially for existing property owners. Here are a few

May is Time for Termites & HVACs [[+]] Austin Area Market Remains Competitive As Home Sales Dip in April: Chuck Farr’s May 2022 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Spring is in full swing, and hello to you all!--homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors! In the news,the Austin Board of Realtors says that in April, “residential home sales declined 6.2% year over year to 3,280 closed sales as the median price rose 19.6% to a new all-time record of $550,000.” (Check the [[“Talking Real Estate” Monthly Enewsletter]] for all the market details!)

Spring Home Maintenance: Springtime has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas, especially for existing property owners. Here are a few items to consider during May:

April is Time for Termites, Property Tax Protests, & HVACs [[+]] Austin Area Home Sales Decline and Inventory Ticks Up As Prices Set New Records: Chuck Farr’s April 2022 “Talking Real Estate” ENewsletter

Spring is here--homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors! In the news,the Austin Board of Realtors says that in March, “residential home sales declined 5.9% year over year to 3,302 closed sales as the median price rose 22.6% to a new all-time record of $521,100.” (Check the [[“Talking Real Estate” Monthly Enewsletter]] for all the market details!)

Spring Home Maintenance: Springtime has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas, especially for existing property owners. Here are a few items to consider during