What actually happens when you request a tour on Zillow isn’t what most Austin buyers assume. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty. Tapping that button doesn’t connect you to the listing agent, it usually routes you to whoever paid Zillow for that lead. TLDR: What Happens When You Request A Tour On Zillow? […]
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of experience, I created this blog to help buyers, sellers, investors, and homeowners separate reliable guidance from outdated advice and real estate myths.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.
Tell Me More About Homes For Sale in Avery Ranch
If you are thinking, tell me more about homes for sale in Avery Ranch, you are in the right place, and y’all are not alone. This page exists because readers of this blog asked for it, and that tells me something important. People want clear answers, local insight, and guidance they can trust when they […]
Should I List or Quietly Sell My Luxury Home in Austin
Whether to list your luxury Austin home publicly or sell it quietly comes down to one real constraint most sellers don’t know exists: NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty. Here’s what that rule actually allows, and doesn’t. TLDR: Should I List Or Quietly Sell My Luxury Home? NAR’s Clear […]
Can I buy a luxury home in Austin off market?
Yes, you can buy a luxury home in Austin off market, and it works the same way it does for sellers who want privacy: through NAR’s rules on delayed marketing and agent networks, not some secret backchannel. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty. Here’s how off-market buying actually works in this market. TLDR: […]
Texas Now Requires Written Buyer Broker Agreement To Show Homes As Of Today
Since January 1, 2026, Texas has required a written agreement between a buyer and their agent before that agent can show a residential property. If you’re hearing that Texas now requires a written buyer broker agreement to show homes, that’s accurate, and it’s worth understanding what it actually means before you schedule your next showing. […]
Should I sell my luxury home off market in Austin?
If you are asking yourself should I sell my luxury home off market in Austin?, you are not alone. This question comes up often among owners of high-end homes in Central Texas who value privacy, control, and precision just as much as price. Austin is not just another real estate market. It is layered, relationship […]
How competitive is the Austin real estate market right now?
How competitive is the Austin real estate market right now? Less than the 2021-2022 frenzy, but it’s not soft either, it depends heavily on price and neighborhood. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty. Here’s what the actual numbers say. TLDR: How Competitive Is The Austin Market Right Now? Austin’s median sale price is […]
What are the best neighborhoods for luxury homes in Austin?
Finding the right place to put down roots in Austin feels different when you are shopping at the upper end of the market. The stakes are higher, the expectations run bigger, and the details matter from the moment you step into the search. When people ask me what are the best neighborhoods for luxury homes […]
Do Luxury Homes in Austin Take Longer To Sell?
Do luxury homes in Austin take longer to sell? The data doesn’t fully back up that assumption, some luxury price bands have actually been moving faster than the overall market. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty. Here’s what the numbers actually show. TLDR: Do Luxury Homes In Austin Take Longer To Sell? Not […]
Is Rollingwood popular with empty nesters?
Is Rollingwood popular with empty nesters is a question I hear more often than y’all might expect, and it points to a shift happening across Austin TX. Folks who have lived through several seasons of life begin to crave something different, something easier, something quieter but still close to the heart of the city. I […]
Can I Downsize in Northwest Hills And Stay Central?
TLDR (Too Long; Didn’t Read): Can I Downsize in Northwest Hills And Stay Central? Most Northwest Hills homes are 1960s to 1980s ranch construction on generous lots, averaging around 2,200 to 2,700 square feet, so the neighborhood’s core single-family stock skews larger, not smaller Genuine smaller-footprint inventory inside Northwest Hills itself is mainly condos and […]
What Are The Best Lock And Leave Homes In Westlake
Finding the answer to what are the best lock and leave homes in Westlake can open the door to a lifestyle that blends ease, luxury, and the kind of everyday comfort that people dream of when they think about living near the heart of Austin. Westlake has carved out a reputation for offering upscale neighborhoods […]
What price range is considered luxury in Austin TX?
What price range is considered luxury in Austin TX is a question that comes up more than y’all might expect, especially as buyers and sellers look around this fast growing city and try to understand where their property stands in the grand scheme of things. Austin has grown in such dynamic ways that the definition […]
How private can a luxury home sale be in Austin?
Luxury homeowners in Austin often ask me how private can a luxury home sale be in Austin, and y’all would be surprised by how much control you can truly have over exposure, access, and information. Some folks want to enjoy the full reach of the open market, while others prefer a quieter and more intentional […]
Are buyers still moving to Austin for upscale homes?
The question on many minds these days is simple yet carries plenty of weight: are buyers still moving to Austin for upscale homes, and what does that mean for anyone thinking about joining them. Y’all have likely heard Austin described as a lively mix of charm, culture, and opportunity, and that idea has never been […]
Is it worth it to FSBO in Austin TX
Is it worth it to FSBO in Austin TX is a question many Austin area homeowners quietly ask themselves long before they decide to put a sign in the yard. It may seem tempting at first, especially when y’all see a few online articles or hear a neighbor say they sold on their own. Yet […]
What is an off-market home sale in Austin?
When y’all start exploring the idea of selling your home in Central Texas, one of the first questions that might cross your mind sounds a lot like this: what is an off-market home sale in Austin? It is a fair and important question because Austin’s market does not behave like other places. Our neighborhoods stretch […]
Are people still moving to Austin?
Are people still moving to Austin? That question shows up in conversations with buyers, sellers, renters, business owners, and long-time locals more than just about anything else I hear these days. It comes up at kitchen tables, during listing appointments, and even at coffee shops when folks find out what I do for a living. […]
What paperwork do I need to sell my house in Texas?
When sellers start asking, “What paperwork do I need to sell my house in Texas?”, the question usually comes with a mix of excitement and unease. Selling a home in Austin is a major financial move, and the paperwork can feel intimidating if you have never walked through it before. I see this every day. […]
Do I need a lawyer to sell my house in Texas?
Selling a home in Austin raises smart questions, and one that comes up often is, “Do I need a lawyer to sell my house in Texas?”. That question deserves a clear, Texas-specific answer, especially when your property sits in a market as nuanced and fast-moving as Austin. I am Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon […]
Should I care if my REALTOR has my home for sale on Zillow?
When y’all decide to sell your place in Austin, one of the first questions that pops up often sounds a whole lot like this: should I care if my REALTOR has my home for sale on Zillow? It is a fair question because Zillow sits right in the middle of the national real estate conversation. […]
Is Austin in a buyer’s market or seller’s market?
Is Austin in a buyer’s market or seller’s market? That question has become one of the most talked about topics across Central Texas, and it is on the minds of buyers, sellers, and investors who want to understand what is really happening beneath the surface. I have heard it from folks relocating to Austin, from […]
Why are homes sitting longer in Austin TX?
Why are homes sitting longer in Austin TX? It is a question y’all hear more often these days as the rhythm of the Central Texas market shifts and buyers take a slower stroll through their options. Austin has always marched to its own beat, and its real estate market reflects that unique spirit. The city […]
Is Opendoor better than using a REALTOR?
Is Opendoor better than using a REALTOR? That question lands on my desk almost every week, and it deserves a straight answer from someone who lives and breathes Texas real estate. I am Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty, and I have watched sellers wrestle with the promise of speed versus the payoff of […]
What is the 20% rule in real estate?
What is the 20% rule in real estate? That question comes up every week in conversations with buyers, sellers, and investors across Central Texas, and for good reason. The rule touches everything, how much cash you bring to the table, how you measure value, and how you decide when to hold or sell. I’m Robbie […]
Is it a good time to sell a house in Austin, TX?
If you have found yourself asking, “Is it a good time to sell a house in Austin, TX”, you are not alone. That question gets louder every year as Austin keeps evolving, and it deserves a thoughtful, honest answer that actually protects your bottom line. You are about to make a major financial decision, one […]
What Sellers In Austin Should Know In A Cooling Market (2025)
In 2025, selling a home in Austin is no longer about riding a wave of wild demand and hoping ten buyers trip over each other to get to your front door. It is about strategy. It is about preparation. Most of all, it is about knowing exactly how to move in a market that rewards […]
Buying A Home For The First Time
Buying a home for the first time feels exciting, intimidating, and confusing all at once, especially in a market where decisions carry consequences that last decades. You may have read blog articles, scanned checklists, and maybe even watched a few videos that make the process look neat and simple. It is not. It is layered, […]
Cost Of Buying A Home Without A Realtor
When people first start searching for answers about the cost of buying a home without a REALTOR, they usually expect a clean number and a confident conclusion. What they find instead is a maze of opinions, half answers, vague advice, and articles written by people who have never sat across the table from a nervous […]
How To Start The HomeBuying Process
If you have ever whispered to yourself, “I wonder how to start the home buying process,” you are not alone. Almost every future homeowner in Texas starts with that simple question because buying a house is not just a transaction, it is a milestone. It is a decision that blends emotion, money, timing, and plain […]
