Travisso comes up by name more than almost any other community in Leander, and once you’ve driven through it, it’s easy to see why. It sits up in the hill country terrain on the west side of town, with views that most of Leander’s flatter new-build communities simply don’t have, and it’s priced accordingly. If […]
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of experience, I created this blog to help buyers, sellers, investors, and homeowners separate reliable guidance from outdated advice and real estate myths.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.
Luxury Homes for Sale in Austin, TX: Where, What They Cost, and How to Buy Right
People throw the word luxury around loosely in real estate listings, so let’s start with what it actually means in this market. In Austin right now, a million dollars is roughly where the luxury segment begins, and the region sold well over 2,700 homes above that number in the past year alone. That’s not a […]
New Construction Homes in Leander, TX: What to Know Before You Buy
New construction makes up such a large share of what’s actually for sale in Leander right now that buying here is a genuinely different process than buying an older resale home across town in Austin. I’ve walked enough buyers through it to know where people get surprised, and most of the surprises aren’t about the […]
Homes for Sale in Leander, TX: Prices, Communities, and Commute (2026)
Leander doesn’t get talked about as much as Cedar Park or Round Rock, and I’ve never understood why, because the numbers tell a pretty loud story on their own. This is a city that had roughly 59,000 people in 2020 and is closing in on 90,000 now, and for a stretch a few years back […]
Buying a Home Near Amazon in Austin | Local Guide
Amazon’s footprint in Austin has grown into two pretty different worlds, and if you’re relocating here for a job with them, the world you’re headed into makes a real difference in where you should be looking for a home. One side is the corporate and tech hub up at The Domain. The other is the […]
Homes for Sale in Georgetown, TX: Prices, Neighborhoods, and What to Know
If you’re looking at homes for sale in Georgetown, Texas, you’ve picked one of the fastest-moving markets in the state, and I mean that in the most literal sense. This is a city that had about 28,000 people in the year 2000 and has since grown past 90,000, which means the Georgetown you’re touring homes […]
Sun City Georgetown: Homes, Lifestyle, and What to Know Before You Buy
Folks ask me about Sun City Georgetown more than almost any other neighborhood in my territory, and it’s usually the same question dressed up different ways: is it actually as good as everyone says, or is it just a big name with a big marketing budget. Short answer, having sold homes there and walked more […]
Top Short Sale vs Foreclosure: Texas Homeowner Realities
Stuck with a mortgage you can’t keep up? You’ve got two big routes in Texas: a short sale or a foreclosure. Below is a quick rundown of the ten real options you’ll meet, plus a handful of tips to help you pick the right path. Table of Contents 1. Robbie English, REALTOR (Our Top Pick) […]
The New Home Appraisal Report: Before and After
For decades, residential appraisals have arrived in familiar fixed forms filled with boxes, grids, abbreviations, and addenda. That familiar look is now changing. The new UAD 3.6 Uniform Residential Appraisal Report is more flexible, more data driven, and designed to adapt to the property rather than forcing every property into the same rigid form. I […]
The Biggest Home Appraisal Changes in 30 Years
Home appraisals are undergoing their biggest structural change in decades. The familiar residential appraisal forms that buyers, sellers, lenders, agents, and appraisers have relied on for years are being replaced by a redesigned, data-driven reporting system known as UAD 3.6. I am Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker with Uncommon Realty. I am also a national real […]
How to Choose a Mortgage Lender
Picking the wrong mortgage lender can cost you thousands of dollars and months of stress. I’ve been working with buyers for over 40 years, and the mistakes I see most often aren’t about the house, they’re about choosing the lender. Here’s exactly what to look at, what to ask, and what to walk away from. […]
Is AI Replacing Home Appraisers?
Artificial intelligence is changing residential real estate, but the idea that a computer is simply replacing every home appraiser is much too neat for what is actually happening. Technology can collect data, identify patterns, review reports, recognize images, estimate values, and help determine whether certain eligible mortgage loans require a traditional appraisal. What technology cannot […]
What Happens During a Buyer Consultation?
A buyer consultation is a working conversation that turns questions, priorities, and concerns into a practical plan. We Start With Your Reason and Timeline Before discussing bedrooms and neighborhoods, I want to understand what the move needs to accomplish and when. Your reason affects everything from search geography to negotiating flexibility. You do not need […]
Top 8 Loan Options for Conventional vs FHA Loan Comparison
If you’re trying to decide between a conventional mortgage and an FHA loan, the choice can feel like a maze. Here’s a quick rundown of eight real loan options, who they fit best, and the trade‑offs you should know. Table of Contents 1. Robbie English, REALTOR (Our Top Pick) 2. Conventional loan – PMI required […]
Can a Seller Refuse to Pay Buyer Agent Compensation in Texas?
Yes. A Texas seller may refuse to pay compensation to a buyer’s broker. Buyer-agent compensation is negotiable and is not automatically owed by the seller simply because the buyer is represented. A seller may agree to pay some, all, or none of the compensation stated in the buyer’s written representation agreement. The buyer and buyer’s […]
Can I Cancel a Buyer Representation Agreement in Texas?
You can ask to be released from a buyer representation agreement in Texas, but that does not necessarily mean you can cancel it unilaterally without consequences. A buyer representation agreement is intended to be a legally binding contract between the buyer and the real estate broker. Whether you can terminate the agreement depends on its […]
Exclusive vs. Non-Exclusive Buyer Representation Agreements in Texas
A buyer representation agreement explains the relationship between a Texas homebuyer and a real estate broker. One of its most important terms is whether that relationship is exclusive or non-exclusive. An exclusive agreement generally means the buyer agrees to work with one broker for the property types, locations, services, and time period covered by the […]
Not All Listings Are Publicly Available
Most homebuyers begin their search on Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com, or another consumer real estate website. Those sites can be useful, but they do not necessarily display every property that may be available to purchase. So, let’s get into why not all listings are publicly available. Some sellers choose not to market their homes publicly. Other […]
New Home Appraisal Report Changes in 2026: What Buyers, Sellers, and Homeowners Need to Know
A major residential appraisal reporting change is already entering the mortgage market. The new UAD 3.6 standard and redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report will change how appraisal information is organized, displayed, and delivered, but it does not replace the appraiser’s professional judgment or rewrite the basic meaning of market value. My name is Robbie English, […]
Best Real Estate Brokers in Austin
Finding the right broker in Austin is harder than it looks. There are hundreds of licensed agents here, and most of them look identical on paper. This shortlist cuts through that noise. Here are the top Austin real estate broker worth your time, who each one is best for, and what makes them different from […]
Introducing the Real Estate Resource Center by Robbie English
There is no shortage of real estate information online. You can find market predictions, home improvement opinions, financing explanations, neighborhood rankings, investment advice, and plenty of people telling you what you should do next. The problem is not finding information. The problem is knowing which information is dependable, which advice applies to your situation, and […]
Why Zillow Can Cause Austin Homebuyers to Miss Homes for Sale
Most homebuyers begin their search in the same place. They pull out their phone, open Zillow, type in a price range, and start scrolling through homes. There is nothing wrong with that. Zillow is convenient, familiar, and easy to use.But here is what many buyers do not realize: Zillow is not the Multiple Listing Service, […]
What New Yorkers Wish They Had Known Before Moving to Austin
If you’re thinking about trading the energy of New York for the sunshine and space of Central Texas, you’re certainly not alone. Every year I work with buyers who are relocating from New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, upstate New York, and other parts of the Empire State. Some are following careers in technology, […]
What Seattle Buyers Wish They Knew Before Moving to Austin
Moving from Seattle to Austin can feel like trading gray skies, evergreen trees, and ferry rides for sunshine, live music, breakfast tacos, and a whole lot more space. On paper, the move can look pretty straightforward. You compare home prices, calculate the cost of moving, identify a few neighborhoods, and start scheduling showings. But after […]
The Biggest Mistakes California Buyers Make When Relocating to Austin
Relocating from California to Austin can feel like opening the door to a completely different way of living. You may be looking forward to more space, a different pace, strong employment opportunities, and the possibility of buying a home that better supports the life you want to build. Still, a successful move involves more than […]
Living Near Tesla Gigafactory
When you work at Tesla Gigafactory Texas, choosing where to live is not simply a matter of drawing a circle around the factory and selecting the closest available house. Your commute certainly matters, but so do your weekends, the style of home you prefer, your tolerance for traffic, your monthly housing comfort, and how long […]
Buying a Home Near Apple Campus
Buying a Home Near Apple Campus can make a great deal of sense when you want to shorten your commute without giving up the space, comfort, and neighborhood character that make a house feel like home. Apple’s presence in Austin sits near a part of the metro where established neighborhoods, newer communities, major employers, shopping, […]
Austin New Construction Guide
Buying a brand-new home in Austin can feel a little like ordering dinner from a menu where half the prices are missing. The model home looks beautiful, the sales representative is welcoming, and the builder may advertise an attractive starting price. Then you begin asking about the lot, structural options, design selections, financing, inspections, taxes, […]
How to Win Multiple Offers in Austin
Finding the right property is exciting. Learning that several other buyers want it can make that excitement turn into anxiety mighty fast. When you are competing in a multiple-offer situation, every decision matters, from your opening price to your financing, option period, closing date, and the way the contract is written. Here is the good […]
How Long Does It Take to Buy a House in Austin?
One of the first questions Austin homebuyers ask me is, “How long does it take to buy a house?” The honest answer is that the timeline depends on how prepared you are, what type of property you want, how flexible your search is, and whether financing or property-related surprises appear along the way. For […]
