Over the last year, there has been an amazing flow of rumors about the major downtown Austin condo projects. Most of these rumors have been false. In particular, both the Austonian and W have been plagued with gossip that the projects were facing cancellation. Even in the last month, when construction patterns changed during the…
Austin Home Building Plummets, Still Best in Nation
Across the country, housing starts are down dramatically. During 1998, Austin builders started construction on slightly more than 8,000 houses last year. This was the lowest number in 11 years. According to Metrostudy, a Houston-based research firm, ustin has experienced a 66 percent decline in housing starts from its peak in the third quarter of…
Austonian Profiled in Architectural Record
An article published in Architectural Record, the leading national trade publication for architects, provides an extensive profile of the Austonian. The article reveals new details about the projects green features including it’s “Chilled water HVAC” and rainwater collection system. It also talks about the project’s high-end touch screen controls for lighting, security, media, and climate…
New Market Data: 2008 Downtown Condo Sales Analysis
We have put together a comprehensive analysis of recorded downtown Austin condo transactions in 2008. The analysis looks at MLS data capturing 2008 condo sales in area DT during the year 2008. Like all listing data, it excludes private transactions that were not listed on the MLS. This is a big exception considering that 360,…
360 Rentals Hit Market Starting Under $2/SF
Earlier this year, the 44-story 360 condo project opened with most of it’s 430 units sold out. A small number of owners held special investor deeds which allowed them to freely rent their units. Now, 20 units have hit the rental market with monthly rents ranging from $1,550 to $3,200. 20 units is a lot of…
Is Downtown Austin Overbuilt: Understanding Austin Condo Supply & Demand
The national real estate markets are a mess. The economy is in recession, credit is very tight, jumbo rates remain high. While the Austin market has stayed alive — and actually thrived compared to the rest of the country — it is a very tough time to be selling real estate. In this market, it…