Can you buy a home in an Austin floodplain, and what does it change? Last updated November 2026 Yes, you can buy a home in an Austin floodplain, but it changes your insurance, your loan, and what you can build later. If the home sits in a FEMA high-risk zone and you use a federally […]

What is a PID assessment on an Austin home? A PID, or Public Improvement District assessment, is a separate charge that funds the roads, parks, lighting, or drainage in a newer Austin-area development, and it shows up on your property tax bill in addition to your regular property taxes. Texas Property Code Section 5.014 requires […]

Yes, and it’s happening to more Austin sellers than you’d think. If you bought between 2021 and early 2023, near the top of the market, you could net less in 2026 than you paid for the home, even though your house hasn’t lost a shingle of value. Research from Redfin found that a meaningful share […]

Updated October 2026 Yes, if the seller has a VA, FHA, or USDA loan, you can apply to take over that loan at the seller’s original interest rate instead of today’s rate. It’s called a mortgage assumption, and in 2026 it’s one of the only ways an Austin buyer can lock in a rate that’s […]

What are Austin’s short-term rental rules in 2026? Updated October 2026 Every property rented out for less than 30 consecutive days in Austin needs a City of Austin short-term rental (STR) license, and as of July 1, 2026, Airbnb and VRBO are required to delist any property that doesn’t display a valid license number. There […]

Last updated: October 2026 Walk through your home during or right after a long storm and look at every ceiling for small yellow or brown rings, darker damp spots, or bubbling paint. These small stains often show up only in heavy or wind-driven rain, and they can appear on newer roofs too, usually around the […]