Over the past 12 months, the typical Round Rock home spent about 35 days on the market. That number comes from 1,677 closed single-family sales, and it blends two very different markets. The 210 new construction homes (13% of sales) took a median of 94.5 days. Every other home took 29. Among Round Rock resale […]
Buying a Home in Austin, TX
Buying a home in Austin looks different than it did even a few years ago. Rates have shifted. Inventory has improved in some areas and tightened in others. Prices have pulled back from their 2022 peaks in many zip codes, but not across the board. If you're trying to figure out whether now is the right time, what you can realistically afford, or which neighborhoods fit your priorities, this is where we break it all down.
At Eleven Oaks Realty, we've been helping buyers in Austin and the surrounding suburbs since 2007. These guides are written from real experience working with buyers in this market, not from generic advice that applies anywhere in the country.
What You'll Find Here
The articles in this section cover the full spectrum of what Austin buyers actually ask about:
The Austin market. Is it a buyer's or seller's market? Are prices still falling, or have they stabilized? What does the data actually show? We publish updated takes on market conditions throughout the year so you're working from current information, not last year's headlines.
Affordability and costs. Property taxes in Travis County are among the highest in Texas. Homeowners insurance rates have risen sharply across Central Texas. Mortgage payments at today's rates look very different from what buyers were calculating in 2021. We walk through what buying a home actually costs, month to month and at closing.
Neighborhoods and suburbs. Austin is not a monolith. Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Pflugerville, Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs, and the urban core neighborhoods of Central Austin each have distinct price points, tax rates, commute profiles, and community characteristics. We cover all of them so you can compare on your own terms.
The buying process itself. From getting pre-approved to making an offer, handling inspections, and reaching the closing table, we walk through each step in plain language. We also cover the questions buyers don't think to ask until it's too late.
Working with Eleven Oaks Realty
Eleven Oaks Realty represents buyers exclusively in the Austin metro area. We do not represent sellers in the same transactions, which means our focus is entirely on your goals as a buyer. If you're ready to start or just researching what's possible in this market, we're happy to talk through your situation without any pressure to commit.
Rebecca Jacks, Broker Associate (licensed since 2007), leads our buyer representation practice and writes or reviews the content on this page. You're getting perspective from someone who has worked through multiple Austin market cycles, not a content farm.
Moving to Austin from out of state? Start with our Austin relocation guide — it covers everything from choosing a neighborhood before you visit to navigating taxes, insurance, and the home buying process from a distance.
Already here? Our Living in Austin blog covers school rankings, neighborhood comparisons, commute guides, and lifestyle resources for current residents.
How Fast Do Homes Sell in Georgetown? Neighborhood by Neighborhood
Georgetown homes took about 46 days to sell, but neighborhoods ranged from 13 to 89 days. See days on market by neighborhood and what it means for you.
How to Make a Competitive Offer in Austin Without Overpaying
If you’ve been house hunting in Austin this year, you’ve probably heard some version of the same thing: it’s a buyer’s market now, take your time, you have leverage. Broadly, that’s true. As of this fall, Austin has 4.45 months of housing inventory, down from 6.06 a year ago, and homes are moving faster too, […]
Right-Sizing in Austin: A Practical Guide to Moving to a Home That Fits Your Life Now
The house that once felt exactly right can start to feel like too much. Rooms you rarely use gather dust. Weekends disappear into yard work and repairs instead of the things you’d rather be doing. A floor plan built for a busier chapter of your life doesn’t automatically stay one you want to keep maintaining […]
Austin HOA Guide for Home Buyers: What to Know Before You Sign
Buying a home in an Austin HOA? Here’s what Texas law actually requires, the right most buyers don’t know they have, and the red flags to catch before you’re under contract.
ADUs in Austin: Rules, Real Costs, and Where It Actually Makes Sense (2026)
More and more buyers are house hunting in Austin with one extra question in mind: could this property support a second, independent living space? Maybe it’s a parent who needs to be closer, an adult kid who needs some separation without leaving, or a rental unit to help offset the mortgage. Whatever the reason, the […]
Why the List Price in Austin’s Newest Neighborhoods Is Not the Real Price
Stand in a model home in one of Austin’s newer master planned communities and ask the sales representative if the price on the sign is negotiable, and you will usually hear some version of the same answer. The price is the price. Incentives are available, but the number itself does not move. The closed sales […]
What 19,809 Austin Home Sales Say About When to Offer Below Asking
We measured 19,809 Austin area sales. Days on market predicts your negotiating room almost perfectly. See the numbers before you write your offer.
What No One Tells First-Time Buyers About Earnest Money, Option Periods, and Inspection Rights in Texas
You’ve found the home. You’ve made the offer. Your agent calls to say it’s accepted – and then rattles off a list of deadlines, fees, and forms you’ve never heard of. The option fee is due by tomorrow. The earnest money needs to go to the title company within three business days. You have a […]
Should You Sell First or Buy First in Austin? The Real Answer for 2026
You’re ready to move up. You have equity in your current home. You know the neighborhood you want, the extra bedroom you need, the yard that would change how you spend your weekends. But every time you sit down to plan the move, you land on the same question: do you sell first or buy […]
