Got a rental or commercial building and want to pull more cash flow out of it early? A cost segregation study can lift your first‑year tax deduction dramatically. Below you’ll find what it is, how it reshapes depreciation, who should bother, and the paperwork you’ll need , especially in Texas. Table of Contents What Is […]
Greater Austin Real Estate Blog: Expert Advice and Local Insights
Looking for straightforward, practical real estate advice for Austin and the surrounding area? Welcome to my Greater Austin Real Estate Blog.
I’m Robbie English, Broker, REALTOR. With more than 40 years of experience, I created this blog to help buyers, sellers, investors, and homeowners separate reliable guidance from outdated advice and real estate myths.
Here you’ll find practical buying and selling tips, neighborhood guides, Austin housing market insights, and plain-English explanations of contracts, inspections, appraisals, negotiations, and investing. You’ll also learn what makes communities throughout Greater Austin unique—so you can make informed decisions with confidence.
No clickbait, gimmicks, or sensational predictions—just honest answers to real questions. I hope you’ll bookmark the blog, explore the articles, and return whenever you need trusted Greater Austin real estate guidance.
Walkable Neighborhoods in Austin: 5 Areas to Compare
Austin’s walkability changes fast from one street to the next. Rainey Street and Downtown score 94, while South Lamar scores 71, so the right address matters more than a broad neighborhood label. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty, and I’ve spent over 40 years helping buyers compare location, housing, and daily life. Here […]
Austin Neighborhoods for Pet Owners
If you thought Austin’s pet-friendly neighborhoods were all priced alike, the numbers tell a different story. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker, and I’ve compared six areas through a pet-owner lens, while separating verified facts from details you still need to check in person. Mueller and central Austin areas bring daily walkability closer to home. Dripping […]
Austin Real Estate Agents for Buyers and Sellers
Austin real estate can feel strange right now. Homes may sit longer while prices hold in some areas, and the right agent needs to explain that gap without making promises. I’m Robbie English, Broker, REALTOR at Uncommon Realty, and I’ve spent over 40 years in Texas real estate. Here are the main types of Austin […]
Austin Property Tax Rates by Area
Austin property taxes can change the monthly cost of a home more than many buyers expect. The rate depends on the address, not only the city name or list price. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty, and after more than 40 years in real estate, I still tell buyers to check the full […]
Do You Have to Sign a Buyer Agreement Before a Showing in Texas?
If you are wondering, “Do I have to sign an agreement with a Realtor to see a house in Texas?”, the simple answer is yes, in most private-showing situations involving a residential buyer and a Texas real estate license holder. As of January 1, 2026, Texas law requires a written agreement before a license holder […]
What Is PMI on a Mortgage? Costs, Removal & How It Works
Private mortgage insurance shows up on many loan statements, and it can feel like a mystery fee. In a few minutes you’ll see what PMI really is, how it hits your monthly payment, when it drops off, and what to watch out for. Table of Contents What PMI Means and How It Works on a […]
Your Home Is for Sale. Now Someone Has to Want to Buy It
There is a moment in almost every listing conversation when I need a seller to look at their home a little differently. It is still the place where they wake up in the morning, make dinner, let the dogs out, pile the mail on the counter, and live their normal life. But once they decide […]
How To Inspect A Pool Before Buying A Home
A swimming pool can be one of the reasons you fall in love with a home. It can also become one of the most expensive parts of the property when the structure, equipment, plumbing, electrical system, or safety features have been neglected.The pool may look beautiful during a showing, especially when the water is clear […]
Your Guide to Spring Break in Austin
Every March, I start fielding the same question from clients and neighbors: is this the week Austin gets crazy? Spring break in Austin is a real shift in how the city feels for about a week, and if you live here, it helps to understand why, even if you don’t have kids in school and […]
Best Down Payment Assistance Texas Programs
Finding help for a down payment can feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack. The good news is Texas offers a handful of solid options that can shave thousands off your upfront cost. Below are the five programs that consistently help buyers move forward, and a quick guide to pick the right one […]
Living in Downtown Austin, TX
I get asked about downtown Austin condos more than almost any other segment of this market, and I’ve noticed most of what’s written about it online only covers one slice: whether a luxury tower is “worth it.” That’s a fair question, but it skips the bigger one people actually need answered first, which is what […]
Your Guide to the Zilker Kite Festival
Every spring, thousands of people spread out blankets on the Great Lawn at Zilker Park, unpack kites of every shape and color, and spend the day watching the sky. I’ve lived and worked in Austin long enough to consider the Zilker Kite Festival one of the events that actually feels like it belongs to the […]
The History of Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin’s Lost Music Landmark
I’ve lived in Austin long enough to hear the Armadillo come up in conversation more times than I can count, usually from someone who either saw a show there or wishes they had. This is the first article in a series I’m starting on Austin’s history, the buildings and moments that shaped the city before […]
What $400K, $600K, $800K, and $1M+ actually buys you in Austin right now
I get some version of the same question almost every week, usually early in a buyer conversation: what does my number actually buy right now? It’s a fair question and it doesn’t have one answer, because Austin isn’t really one market. It’s a collection of submarkets that happen to share a metro area, and a […]
Living in Rob Roy, Austin TX
Rob Roy comes up a lot when I’m talking with buyers about West Lake Hills, but I’ve never actually given it its own page on this site until now. That’s an oversight I want to fix, because Rob Roy has a personality of its own within West Austin’s luxury market, separate from its neighbors along […]
What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House?
Thinking about buying a home but not sure if your credit score is high enough? The numbers matter, but there’s a clear range for each loan type. Below you’ll see the exact scores you need, why those scores matter, and what you can do if yours falls short. Table of Contents What Credit Score Do […]
Adverse Possession Texas: How to Claim Property in Texas
Could a fence, years of use, and a stack of records ever lead to a Texas property claim? Maybe, but time alone won’t do it. In Texas, you usually need ten years of continuous possession before the affidavit process begins, then title may vest after five more years if no qualifying heir objects. I’m Robbie […]
Best First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Texas
Finding a way to afford a home in Texas can feel impossible. The state actually offers a handful of programs that hand you cash or cheap loans. Below is a short list of the most useful options and who each works best for. Table of Contents 1. Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker 2. My Choice Texas […]
Duplexes for Sale Austin TX
Austin duplex prices don’t follow a neat bigger-means-more rule. One three-bedroom option is listed at $360,000, while a five-bedroom property is listed at $330,000. I pulled together the named listings and property types worth comparing, plus the financing and due diligence questions that can save you from a bad deal. Table of Contents 1. Robbie […]
Buying a Manufactured Home in the Austin Area: What to Know
I get questions about manufactured homes more often than you might expect, and I have almost nothing written on my site to point people to. That is a gap I want to fix, because manufactured housing is a legitimate part of the Austin-area market and it comes with its own rules, financing paths, and terminology […]
The Texas Eviction Process: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know
I get eviction questions from both sides of the table. Landlords call me wondering how long it will take to get a nonpaying tenant out, and tenants call me wondering what their rights actually are once a notice shows up on the door. Because my brokerage, Uncommon Realty, runs a property management division that handles […]
Austin’s Short-Term Rental Regulations: What Owners Need to Know
I get asked about short-term rentals more than almost any other investment property question I field as a broker in Austin. The city has one of the most litigated STR ordinances in Texas, and the rules have shifted enough times over the past few years that even owners who did their homework two years ago […]
What Texas’s New 2025 Zoning Laws Mean for Austin Homeowners
I’m Robbie English, REALTOR and broker at Uncommon Realty here in Austin, and I want to walk you through something I’ve been fielding a lot of questions about lately: the zoning changes the state legislature passed last year. If you’ve seen a headline about Texas “overriding” local zoning and wondered what it actually means for […]
Living in Hutto, TX: A Complete Guide
I get a lot of questions about Hutto from buyers who found it on a map, heard the name from a coworker headed to Samsung’s plant in Taylor, or noticed a hippo logo somewhere and wanted to know what that was about. Hutto doesn’t get talked about as much as Round Rock or Georgetown, but […]
Zilker Park’s Trail of Lights: What to Know
Every December, Zilker Park turns into one of the more distinct stretches of Austin, and I get asked about the Trail of Lights every year by people who are new to the city or thinking about buying near the park. I want to lay out what the event actually is, where it came from, and […]
Where to See Bluebonnets Near Austin, TX
I grew up watching for that first flush of blue along the highway shoulders every spring, and I still get the same small thrill now that I sell real estate in this area for a living. Bluebonnet season is one of those things that reminds me why so many people fall for Central Texas in […]
Your Guide to SXSW in Austin
I get asked about SXSW every year, usually by someone who is either looking at a downtown condo or already lives in one and wants to know what they are in for. So I put together this guide as a straightforward look at what South by Southwest actually is, how it affects downtown Austin, and […]
Your Guide to F1 Weekend at COTA in Austin
I get asked about Circuit of the Americas more than almost any other Austin landmark, and not just from race fans. Buyers, sellers, and people relocating for work all want to understand how this track fits into the bigger picture of southeast Austin. I put this guide together to walk through what COTA actually is, […]
Your Guide to ACL Music Festival in Austin: Living Near Zilker Park During Festival Season
I get asked about Austin City Limits Music Festival every fall, usually by clients who are looking at homes near Zilker Park and want to know what festival weekends actually feel like from a resident’s perspective. So I put together this guide to walk through what ACL Fest is, how it uses Zilker Park, and […]
