Mortgage Austin Journal
Rates, programs, and local market moves, explained without the jargon.
Buying a Home
Builder incentives look generous in Austin's 2026 buyer's market. The fine print decides what they are actually worth. Six mistakes to avoid before you sign a builder contract.
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Buying a Home
Buying an Airbnb near Austin? Down payment tiers, rental income rules, reserves, and a worked example at today's median price,…
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Buying a Home
Austin's 5.9 months of supply gives contingent buyers real negotiating room. When sellers say yes, how kick-out clauses work, and…
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Buying a Home
Austin rents have fallen while ownership costs stay high. Here are the real monthly numbers at the $435,000 median and…
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Buying a Home
Texas now requires a written buyer agreement before an agent shows you a home. Here is a 7-point checklist for…
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Buying a Home
Student loans do not have to block an Austin home purchase. Walk through one buyer's 2026 numbers and see how…
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Buying a Home
From financing a car to closing old cards, these credit score mistakes cost Austin buyers real money. What to avoid…
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Buying a Home
HOA dues count like a debt in your qualification math. See what Austin condo fees run in 2026, what each…
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Buying a Home
The 28/36 rule shows up in every affordability guide, but Austin lenders approve DTI well above it. Here is what…
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Buying a Home
At Austin's $435,000 median price, 3 percent down is $13,050 and 20 percent is $87,000. Here is what each down…
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Buying a Home
WalletHub ranked Austin a top-25 large city for first-time buyers in 2026. The ranking misses the payment math, property taxes,…
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Austin Market
Texas voters raised the homestead exemption to $140,000 for school taxes. Here is what Austin owners save, how to file…
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Learn
One spouse keeps the house, the other gets paid for their share. Here is how a divorce home buyout works…
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Austin Market
Texas's small-lot law is bringing lower-priced starter homes to the Austin metro. Here is what changed, where the homes are,…
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Austin Market
Georgetown draws Austin buyers with newer homes and real negotiating room. Here are the 2026 prices, taxes, and loan numbers…
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Buying a Home
Adding a parent to your mortgage can turn a declined file into an approval. How co-borrowing works in Austin, whose…
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Buying a Home
Appraisal waivers let some Austin buyers skip a $600 fee and close faster. Who qualifies in 2026, how lenders decide,…
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Buying a Home
A 2-1 buydown and discount points both lower your payment in different ways. Compare real costs on a typical Austin…
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Buying a Home
Texas HELOC rules surprise a lot of Austin homeowners. These five myths cover borrowing caps, rate risk, and when a…
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