Is now a good time to buy in Austin? It doesn’t come down to the season or a headline about “the market.” It comes down to three things that move independently of each other: mortgage rates, home prices, and how fast local wages are growing. Understanding how those three interact tells you more than any […]
Homeowners Insurance in Austin: What Buyers Should Know
Every buyer I work with in the Austin area eventually asks some version of the same question: why is my insurance quote so much higher than what a friend in another state is paying? It usually comes up right after their lender orders a quote during underwriting, and the number catches people off guard. Central […]
How to Vet a Realtor Before You List Your Home
Most sellers interview one agent, maybe two, and pick whoever they liked best in the meeting. That’s not enough information to base a decision on. The agent you choose controls your price strategy, your marketing, and how many headaches you deal with between now and closing. A short list of pointed questions in that first […]
Preparing Your Home to Sell: What to Fix, What to Skip
Sellers usually ask me the same question first: paint the walls, call a stager, or start packing? The order matters more than the checklist itself. Spend money on the wrong thing first and you’ll run out of time and budget for the fixes that actually stall a sale or knock down an offer. I’m Robbie […]
Seller Blind Spots: What You Stop Seeing in Your Own Home
One of the hardest things about getting a home ready for the market is that the seller knows the house too well. That may sound backwards, but familiarity changes what we notice. We all get used to the rooms we live in, the way the house smells, the things we leave on the counter, the […]
Why Showing Your Home Is an Inconvenience You Actually Want
One of the hardest adjustments for sellers is realizing that putting a home on the market means their normal routine is about to get disrupted. Buyers want to come through at inconvenient times. The house has to stay cleaner than usual. Pets need to be managed. Meals, work schedules, children, appointments, and quiet evenings at […]
You Have to Sell Your Home Four Times in One Transaction
One of the things I tell sellers at a listing appointment is that they may have to sell their home four different times before we ever make it to the closing table. That usually gets a puzzled look because most people naturally think a house is sold when a buyer makes an offer and everybody […]
How to Choose a Real Estate Agent You Can Actually Trust
The right agent makes it easier to ask questions, admit uncertainty, and hear honest advice—even when that advice is not what you expected. Trust Begins With How an Agent Listens Pay attention to the questions an agent asks before offering solutions. Do they want to understand your timeline, financial comfort, decision-makers, and worries? Or do […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
How Fast Are Homes Selling in Northwest Austin? As Asked On Reddit
If you’ve been wondering how fast are homes selling in Northwest Austin, you’re not alone. I see this question come up often, and recently I noticed it being discussed on Reddit. It is one of the most common concerns buyers and sellers have because the speed of the market affects nearly every decision they make. […]
Do I Need To Stage My Home In Austin
If you are asking yourself do I need to stage my home in Austin, you are already thinking like a smart seller. That question shows awareness, intention, and a desire to get the best outcome possible. Around Austin, where buyers move quickly but still expect a strong first impression, staging is not just about decorating. […]
Why Are Homes Sitting Longer In Austin
If you’ve been watching the market and wondering why homes are sitting longer in Austin, you’re not alone, I get that question from buyers and sellers almost every week. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker with Uncommon Realty. Austin has always moved to its own rhythm. But even in a strong market, real estate doesn’t stay […]
What Happens If My Home Does Not Sell Right Away In Austin
If you’re asking yourself what happens if your home doesn’t sell right away in Austin, you’re not doing anything wrong. A home that doesn’t sell immediately isn’t a failure, it’s information you can act on. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty, and here’s how I help Austin sellers read that information and adjust. […]
What Is The Impact Of Property Taxes When Selling In Austin
Property taxes are one of the most misunderstood parts of selling in Austin, and the numbers don’t sort themselves out at closing on their own. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty. Texas’s property tax system doesn’t work like other states, and how it’s handled in a sale directly affects your proceeds, negotiations, and […]
Should I Renovate Or Sell My Austin Home As Is
If you’re wondering whether to renovate or sell your Austin home as is, you’re not alone, I hear this question every week. Both paths can work well, the key is which one fits your specific home, timeline, and goals. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty. Austin real estate isn’t one-size-fits-all, what works on […]
What should my Realtor be doing for me when selling a home?
What should my REALTOR be doing for me when selling a home? If you are asking that question in Austin, Texas, you are already ahead of the curve. Selling a home is not just about putting a sign in the yard and hoping for the best. It is about strategy, preparation, timing, presentation, negotiation, and […]
Do Luxury Homes Need Different Marketing Strategies In Austin
Luxury buyers in Austin move differently than the general market, so the question of whether luxury homes need different marketing isn’t really about “elevated storytelling,” it’s about who’s actually looking and how they find homes. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Realty. Here’s what actually changes once a listing crosses into luxury territory. TLDR: […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
