Central Texas home sales increase in first half of 2019; decrease in Austin

Single-family home sales experienced strong gains in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) but declined in the city of Austin in the first half of this year, according to the June and Midyear 2019 Central Texas Housing Market Report released today by the Austin Board of REALTORS®.

"We have seen slight dips in Austin's home sales before, but because this decrease is over the course of six months, it could be indicative of a larger trend," Kevin P. Scanlan, 2019 president of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, said. "Austin's limited housing inventory—which dropped below two months in June—and increasing home prices have resulted in fewer sales over time. As Austin continues to be one of the most desired cities to live in the United States, the suburbs are benefiting from this demand."

While the market continues to grow due to strong demand, Austin's limited housing inventory and increasing prices are pushing people further into the suburbs, Scanlan added.

People are moving to Austin in greater numbers than those leaving, “which has been true for a very long time and will continue to be for the foreseeable future,” Mark Sprague, state director of information capital for Independence Title, said. “The good news is resales are well in line with where values should be. And, developers are putting more dense communities on the outer rim of the city, a trend which should lead to more affordable pricing comparatively.”

Austin-Round Rock MSA

In the first half of the year, Austin area single-family home sales increased 4.3% year over year to 16,203 home sales, while the median home price increased 1% year over year to $315,000. The volume of homes on the market and pending sales activity increased during the same period. From January to June 2019, new listings increased 1% to 22,047 listings; active listings increased 4.8% to 6,282 listings; and pending sales rose 7.9% to 18,180 pending sales. Sales dollar volume in the Austin-Round Rock MSA was $6,439,059,121—a 6% increase from the first six months of 2018.

This June, single-family home sales activity increased 0.5% year over year to 3,349 sales. During the same period, the median price for a single-family home rose 3% to $334,702. Monthly housing inventory decreased 0.2 months year over year to 2.7 months, well below the Real Estate Center of Texas A&M University’s benchmark of 6.0 months as a balanced housing market.

City of Austin

In the city of Austin, single-family home sales in the first half of the year decreased 1.6% year over year to 4,736 sales, while the median price for a single-family home rose 3.2% to $387,100. During the same period, new listings decreased 3.4% to 6,249 listings and active listings decreased 5.7% to 1,215 listings; pending sales edged upward by 0.2% to 5,229 sales.

In June, the city of Austin home sales decreased 2.3% to 985 home sales as the median price experienced a double-digit percent increase of 10.9% to $420,000. Housing inventory decreased 0.2 months to 1.9 months of inventory, and homes spent an average of 30 days on the market.

Travis County

In Travis County, single-family home sales increased 1.1% year over year to 7,872 home sales in the first half of the year. During the same period, the median price for single-family homes grew 2.8% to $370,000. New listings decreased 1.1% to 10,844 listings and active listings decreased 2% to 2,735 listings; pending sales increased 4.2% to 8,850 pending sales.

In June, single-family home sales remained flat at 1,675 home sales, while the median price increased 8.4% to $400,000. Monthly housing inventory decreased 0.2 months to 2.5 months of inventory.

Williamson County

In Williamson County, single-family home sales in the first half of 2019 increased 7.8% year over year to 5,783 home sales. During the same period, the median price for single-family homes decreased 0.6% to $285,000. New listings increased 1.3% to 7,428 listings; active listings increased 6% to 2,183 listings; and pending sales rose 10.9% to 6,410 pending sales.

In June, single-family homes sales dipped slightly by 0.4% year over year to 1,152 sales, and the median price decreased 2.1% to $292,500. During the same period, housing inventory declined 0.2 months to 2.6 months of inventory.

Hays County

In the first half of 2019, Hays County single-family home sales rose 6.3% year over year to 1,861 home sales, and the median price increased 1.9% to $269,900. New listings increased 4.4% to 2,678 listings and active listings increased 12.8% year over year to 927 listings. During the same period, pending sales rose 10.9% to 2,127 pending sales.

In June, single-family home sales increased 6.9% year over year to 389 sales, while the median price decreased 5.2% to $269,950. During the same period, housing inventory decreased 0.1 months to 3.3 months of inventory.

Bastrop County

In the first half of 2019, Bastrop County single-family home sales increased 9.4% year over year to 538 home sales, and the median price increased 3.2% to $235,000. New listings increased 12.4% to 854 listings; active listings jumped 37% to 337 listings; and pending sales rose 21.2% to 624 pending sales.

In June, single-family home sales increased 1.9% year over year to 108 home sales, while the median price decreased 5.3% to $241,500. During the same period, housing inventory increased 0.5 months to 4.3 months of inventory.

Caldwell County

In the first half of 2019, Caldwell County single-family home sales increased 2.8% to 149 home sales, and the median price increased 12.4% to $204,500. New listings increased 12.5% to 243 listings; active listings increased 29% to 98 listings; and pending sales rose 14.2% to 169 pending sales.

In June, single-family home sales decreased 19.4% to 25 home sales, and the median home price decreased 4.5% to $198,750. During the same period, housing inventory increased 1.0 months to 4.4 months of inventory. (Source: ABOR Monthly Report)