Culture

3 tips for navigating changing real estate market conditions in ATX

Presented by an ATXtoday Partner

Aerial photo over a Sacramento, CA home, driveway, and street.

While you can’t always count on a hot housing market, you can count on the certainty of a cash offer from Opendoor. | Photo provided by Opendoor

Location, location, location — that’s been the name of the real estate game for decades. These days, though, you may be hearing more: recession, economy, inflation… terms that definitely have less appeal.

The real estate market is cyclical, and today’s market is currently trying to find out where it will land (albeit a bit dramatically). The difference? Unlike big market turns of the past, this time we’ve swayed quickly from one extreme to the other.

In just two short years, we’ve seen outsized home price appreciation in most US markets (like right here in ATX), followed by a swift decline in housing demand. The whiplash of these fluctuations (and the uncertainty about what happens next) can be hard to wrap your head around.

The good news is, even though none of us can predict what will happen next, that’s okay. If you’re a seller or a buyer (or both) currently stuck in the loop of dreaming, hoping, anticipating + dreading, the experts at Opendoor have three tips to help ride the wave.

Wide-angle view of a woman walking a dog in front of a row of brick townhomes in Dallas, TX. — In the absence of bidding wars, you have time to get to know a neighborhood, look at different housing options, and narrow in on your “must-haves”.

Tip No. 1: Don’t worry about finding the “perfect” time to sell or buy.

Hint: It doesn’t exist. The perfect time is what works best for you and your life. Some factors, like a growing family or a new job in another state, are an easy call. But other reasons require you to dig deep. Think:

Will a move improve your day-to-day life?
Will you gain more time, be closer to friends and family, or be nearer to activities that bring you joy?

Tip No. 2: Research your financing options.

The good news: You’ve got options. Whether you’re getting a new loan, refinancing, or looking to lower your payment, a mortgage calculator can help you figure out how much you can afford in minutes. There are also rate buydowns, which can help you lower your rate. Pro tip: A lender can help you figure out what your options are.*

TIP NO. 3

This content was created in partnership with Opendoor and written by Garcelle Vierra Erdie.*

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Dec. 5

2nd Street District Holiday Window Walk | Monday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Jan. 1 | 8 a.m.-10 p.m. | 2nd Street District, 214 Guadalupe St., Austin | Free | Professional artists will create holiday window installations for this annual window walk, which starts today and lasts through December.

Tuesday, Dec. 6

A Charlie Brown Christmas | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Parker Jazz Club, 117 W. 4th St., Ste. #107B, Austin | Take a walk down memory lane with The Ryan Davis Trio’s performance of the classic Vince Guaraldi songs.
The Happy Fits: “Under The Shade Of Green Tour” | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 6 p.m. | Historic Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St., Austin | $11.50-$23 | This indie rock band will be joined by Daisy The Great and Phoneboy.

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Beer Pairing Dinner: Fireside Stout & Still Austin | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Vista Brewing, 13551 FM 150 W., Driftwood | $90 | This four-course farm-to-table dinner includes oysters, prawns, a 24-hour sous vide short rib, and bourbon pot de crème.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 7 p.m. | The Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $45-$280 | This legendary rock band is in Austin for its “Ghosts of Christmas Eve” tour.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

76º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain

Closing

Counter Culture is closing. The restaurant will reduce its hours starting today, Dec. 5., so be sure to stop by for vegan eats from 5-10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday through the end of the year. (KVUE)

Civic

Austin City Council passed a measure to bring more affordable housing to the city. The resolution will allow triplexes + fourplexes to go on the market faster and introduces a faster “site plan lite” for developments with five to 16 units. The “site plan lite” will be voted on next June. 🏠 (KVUE)
City council has been busy. The council also passed an ordinance to help prevent wage theft by creating a coordinator position and a database of employers with wage theft violations. Any employer on that database will be banned from entering into contracts with the City. 💰 (KVUE)

Transit

Round Rock’s public transportation system will introduce a new on-demand transit service offered next year — which will allow residents to book a ride within 15 minutes on their phone. Additionally, some Capital Metro bus routes will be modified or canceled starting Monday, Jan. 9. Check out which routes are impacted. 🚌 (Austin American-Statesman)

Announced

Thought you should know. Morgan Wallen is coming to the Moody Center on Wednesday, May 24. If you can’t make it on hump day, he’ll also play in Houston on Friday, May 26 — his only other Texas date. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Dec. 9. 🪕(KXAN)

Seasonal

Your Monday morning holiday gift inspiration, courtesy of Etsy: For the person who loves bread. For the person obsessed with their pet. For the person who can take a joke. For the kid who loves to color. Plus, all you need is popcorn or all you need is marshmallows. 🎁*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Tito’s Vodka honors rescued distillery dogs in free exhibition

A painting of a small black dog near a riverbank

John Walker’s portrait of Cowbelle is one of the paintings in Tito’s new exhibit at the Long Center. | Artwork by John Walker, photo provided by Tito’s Vodka

When you hear the name Tito’s, your first thought is probably of vodka. But the Austin-based brand prides itself on another identity as well: loving dogs.

In the early days of the distillery, employees often cared for stray dogs. Before long, the mission to rescue pups became a core part of the vodka company’s ethos — to date, Tito’s has been involved in rescuing more than 120 animals.

Now, the Tito’s dogs are being recognized in a free exhibit at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

The collection, aptly called “Impressions of Tito’s Distillery Dogs Over 25 Years,” includes portraits from local artists like Tom Jean Webb, Raine Lipscher, and Hope Perkins.

The installation will be up until Wednesday, Jan. 4. To learn more about Tito’s efforts to transport dogs to safe homes across the country and how dogs join distillery employees as “co-woofers” in Austin offices, click here.

A paiting of a dog in the desert next to a snake and two rabbits — Local artist Saira Holland’s work portrays Annie.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Jessalin.

Editor’s pick: What’s up, Austin? I’m National Content Editor Jessalin. I work for ATXtoday’s parent company 6AM City, and support all the newsletter products — including San Antonio (SATXtoday) and Fort Worth (FTWtoday). So, you may see me around from time to time.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We’ve got a sustainable gift guide here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Figi, London Gibson, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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