Skip to main content

per NicGerli Twitter: Austin, TX is now the 7th most affordable metro area in terms of Rent / Income Ratio. Amazing how far it has come. (more affordable than St. Louis, Akron, and Milwaukee for locals)

 per NicGerli Twitter: Austin, TX is now the 7th most affordable metro area in terms of Rent / Income Ratio. Amazing how far it has come. (more affordable than St. Louis, Akron, and Milwaukee for locals)


1) Not only that - this is the most affordable Austin's rental market has ever been (at least going back 20 years).

2) How is this happening? Two reasons. The first is that rents in Austin have dropped significantly over the last several years. The second is that incomes in Austin are going up. With the median household income increasing from $79k prior to pandemic to $101k today.

3) I moved to Austin in August 2020 right when the bubble got going, and I saw how crazy it got on the ground. I left in late 2021 just as the bubble started popping. Since then, it has become significantly more affordable to both buy and rent.



·


4) The biggest thing I remember from being there in 2020-21 was how many tech people from California were buying up investment properties, or renting multiple apartment units (one in
California, one in Austin).


5) The level of demand during that period was never really "fundamental". It was transient. Now much of that demand has gone away, back to California, or the next "it" city. Leaving Austin facing a stiff housing correction on both rents and home prices. (ultimately great news for locals)


6) The other thing I remember about Austin was how much home and aparmtent construction there was. Every multifamily developer in the U.S., and many outside the U.S., were obsessed with developing in Austin. The result was a huge surge in construction, which is still delivering new units onto the market today in a lower demand environment.


7) In fact, the building permit levels in Austin are still crazy. 32,000 permits were pulled the last 12 months, which is down from the pandemic peak, but is still above pre-pandemic levels. Meaning plenty of new homes and apartments are still in the pipeline.


8) Homebuyers and investors interested in the Austin market should expect another 6-12 months of rent and home price declines. We here at Reventure App think values will drop another 8% over the next 12 months. But at some point in 2026, this market will become a buy. It's fundamentals are lining up nicely, both in terms of Rent and Home Value to income.


9) Access data on Austin's housing market on Reventure App. Access our Rent / Income Ratio to the ZIP code under a premium account as well as data on Building Permits at the state, metro, and county levels. These data points are especially important for investors in determining the best areas to buy in the long term, and spotting inflection points. http://reventure.app

Comments

Most Popular Posts on ATX Real Estate Life Blog

Per TheATX1 (@The ATX) on Twitter: Here are the Future Development Plans for West 6th and Lamar in Old West Austin, near Downtown, ATX.

 This is a massing of the 6th & Lamar (Waterloo Records site) residential project based on the Planning Commission approved zoning. The original plans before a compromise was reached with the local neighborhood association called for a building 31' and two or three floors taller. TheATX1 (@The ATX) posted: This is a massing of the 6th & Lamar (Waterloo Records site) residential project based on the Planning Commission approved zoning. The original plans before a compromise was reached with the local neighborhood association called for a building 31' and two or three floors taller.  https://x.com/theatx1/status/ 1944435039199985686?s=66

Should you BUY a FLIPPED House? ATX Broker Associate GVM Tips, Insights.

 SHOULD YOU BUY a "FLIPPED" HOUSE?  Have you personally ever considered and wondered if you, yourself should BUY  a "flipped house." In my 15+ years of predominantly residential Central Austin brokerage practice and experience, here are my insights, opinions, suggestions and things to be cognizant of.  #1. Absolutely, for sure get a LICENSED INSPECTION on the flipped house! Not all flippers are the same. Just like in life there is a wide spectrum in regards to quality. Some flippers are flat out awful. They make very lipstick-like improvements, skip the expensive items such as the foundation, and plumbing and try to trick the consumer into paying more for a home, when the consumer shouldn't.  On the Flip Side (this joke was just too obvious) There are also excellent high-quality flippers whom selectively choose which homes they flip, and then they invest carefully and beautifully while genuinely  improving a home! Some of these hi-quality upper tier flippe...

THE UNICORN LIST for Austin, Texas 2026 Edition via GVM Real Estate Broker:

  🦄 GVM's Austin Texas UNICORN LIST™ George Vance McGee's Favorite Local Professionals, Businesses & Hidden Gems 2026 Austin Edition By George Vance McGee, Austin Native, Real Estate Broker Associate, Austin Silent Market Austin is a rapidly & constantly changing city, but some local businesses, professionals, and community institutions continue to stand out. Over years of working in real estate sales, leasing, lot development and simply enjoying life in Austin, I've developed my personal "UNICORN LIST" of trusted local resources. A "Unicorn" is an ATX resident who was born and raised in Austin, TX. My mother Andrea Roberts McGee (rest in peace) birthed me at Seton Hospital on West 38th Street in November of 1981.  ⚖️ Real Estate Attorneys Claiborne Cowan & Associates Wills Probate Estate Planning Real Estate Legal Matters Jon M. Daves Evictions Landlord & Tenant Law Leasing Disputes Property Rights Shapiro & Dunn Business Law Practi...