opinion
Austin Housing Market "Improves," Still Somehow a Nightmare
Austin’s housing inventory is up—but don’t get too excited. The market’s "improvement" is about as stable as a Jenga tower in an earthquake.
Published July 11, 2025 at 5:09pm
Oh, rejoice, Austinites! The housing market has finally decided to take a breather from its relentless assault on our bank accounts. According to the latest reports, our beloved city now ranks second in the nation for housing inventory growth—right behind Denver, which, let’s be honest, probably only beat us because they have more legal ways to cope with the stress of homebuying.
Yes, the days of bidding wars over dilapidated sheds listed as "charming fixer-uppers" may finally be behind us. The inventory has surged nearly 70% since 2019, which means buyers can now take a full 24 hours to panic over their life choices before making an offer, instead of the previous 30-second window. Progress!
Of course, this newfound abundance isn’t due to some miraculous act of divine intervention. No, it’s because builders have been frantically slapping together new homes like they’re assembling IKEA furniture during a tornado. Austin issued 3,889 building permits in early 2025, because nothing says "affordable housing" like a half-million-dollar shoebox with a "Live, Laugh, Love" sign pre-installed.
And let’s not forget the city’s latest stroke of genius: a $3.5 million AI program to speed up permit reviews. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from technology, it’s that algorithms never make mistakes. Soon, your dream home could be approved by the same system that once recommended you buy a toaster because you clicked on a bread recipe.
But before you pop the champagne (organic, locally sourced, and served in reusable flutes, of course), remember: the rest of the country is still short 4 million homes. So while Austin’s market might be cooling, the national housing crisis is still hotter than a Tesla parked in direct sunlight.
In the end, this "buyer’s market" is really just a brief respite before the next wave of Californians descends, driving prices back up. So act fast, before your future neighbor—a remote-working tech bro with a penchant for kale smoothies and "disruptive" startup ideas—beats you to it. Happy house hunting!
P.S. If you see a "For Sale" sign in my neighborhood, ignore it. We’re just testing the market. Again.