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Austin's Monthly Digest
May 2026 Edition
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⚠ RATES JUMP TO 6.51%: The Iran conflict pushed Austin rates up 40bps in weeks — what it actually does to your numbers
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Hey Alex,
Austin had a lot going on in May.
Some of it matters now. Some of it will matter later. Some of it is just good to know so you’re not surprised when it shows up in prices, rents, taxes, traffic, or your group chat.
We kept it skimmable.
Haus Index first. Local stuff after that.
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📊 May Haus Index
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| Buyer Advantage |
66% ▲ |
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Active listings down 15% YoY. Pending sales jumped 15.4% when rates briefly dipped. You still have leverage as a buyer — but competition is returning.
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| Seller Advantage |
34% ▼ |
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67 days on market. 94.3% close-to-list. Demand returned for homes priced right and presented well — the middle is still where homes sit.
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| Renter Advantage 40% · |
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Rent down 4.5% YoY. Lease inventory tightening fast.
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Want my full take on this month's numbers?
Read it here →
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Blues on the Green is back at Zilker
June 9-10. Free. KGSR. Cooler, blanket, sunset. The Austin tradition that actually still feels like Austin.
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AUSTIN BUILDER WATCH · MAY 2026
Austin builder incentives are shrinking. Here's what changed.
$30K in builder incentives was the norm a year ago. Most builders are offering half that now. What it means for new build vs resale, which builders are still aggressive, and where the math actually pencils.
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SpaceX files for what could be the biggest IPO ever
And it confirms Bastrop's expansion. Starlink kits made here generated $11.4B last year. Bastrop is about to become a different place.
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In this market, staging is the new pricing.
67 days on market. 94.3% close-to-list. Homes that price right and present right are closing near asking. Unstaged ones become the comp that drags everyone else down.
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Council approved 2,600 acres in East Austin. They call it Dog's Head.
Biggest land deal in city history. East Austin home values just got a new variable. Here's where the boundaries fall.
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More from the Haus
The overlooked side of Austin housing — the stuff people quietly stress about.
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A lot moved this month. Let's figure out what it means for you.
Whether you're buying, selling, renting, or just want to know where you stand — I'm a text away.
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This intel hit different?
Forward to a friend who needs to see it.
May Haus Index based on April 2026 closed market data from Unlock MLS & Austin Board of REALTORS® (released May 12, 2026). Rate data from Freddie Mac PMMS. The Haus Index is a directional snapshot calculated from MOI, days on market, close-to-list ratio, pending-to-active ratio, price trend, and sales trend — not an appraisal, CMA, or investment advice. Consult a licensed REALTOR® for decisions specific to your situation.
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