Best Neighborhoods in Austin: A Local Realtor's Guide for 2026
From walkable downtown condos to Hill Country estates, here's an honest breakdown of Austin's best neighborhoods by lifestyle from a realtor who's closed deals in every one of them.
Austin Homestead Exemption 2026: New $140K Exemption Explained
Texas just passed the largest homestead exemption increase in state history. Here's what the new $140,000 school district exemption means for Austin homeowners — plus how to file, what seniors get, and how much you'll save.
Understanding Property Taxes and Appraisal
When buying with financing, your lender orders a third-party appraisal and only loans on that value. Texas is a non-disclosure state, meaning no one knows your purchase price except you, the lender, and your Realtor.
Protect Your Biggest Investment
I can't stress enough the importance of a good insurance policy. Here are some tips on choosing the right policy and protecting your biggest investment from expensive repairs and damages.
Buyer's Checklist
A compiled check list of things you need to do while buying.
Checklist for New Homeowners
There are 6 home maintenance items that you should keep on top of mind throughout your first year of home ownership.
Removing Your PMI
There are several ways to remove PMI, but the process isn't black and white — specific requirements must be met. Reach out to our preferred lenders to discuss the best removal method, and ask for a market analysis to see if your property has appreciated enough to qualify.
Common Real Estate Terms You Need To Know
We've defined some common real estate terms you need to know for your home buying process.
Questions to Ask Your Lender
Here's are some questions that you can ask your lender to help ensure a seamless mortgage process.
Questions to Ask Your Builder
Choosing the right builder is critical for your project's success. Ask key questions to understand their pricing, workload capacity, and openness to using your preferred vendors. Clarify communication frequency, team involvement, & in-house services like design or landscaping.
Questions to Ask When Buying a Condo
We've gathered some of the best questions to ask when buying a condo.
Warrantable and Non Warrantable Condos
Purchasing a non-warrantable condo is a complicated process. In fact, most Realtors don't know what warrantability is or how it works. Many conventional lenders do not have non-warrantable finance options. The problem is, there are a lot of non-warrantable condos in Austin.
Tax Benefits
It's important you speak to your accountant about the tax benefits below. Laws change which affects whether or not a homeowner can still claim deductions. The deductions are also different for married and unmarried people.
Zoning
Zoning laws are subject to change due to CodeNext. This blog was written in 2018 Everything you need to know about zoning is on the City of Austin website and this zoning guide. I've highlighted the basic information you need to know with links for more in-depth descriptions.
1031 Exchange and Capital Gains Tax
A 1031 exchange lets you defer capital gains tax when selling an investment property by reinvesting proceeds into a similar property. Instead of paying tax on your profit at sale, you postpone it — tax deferred, not tax free. It's a powerful tool for real estate investors.