Area Market Statistics

Austin real estate gaining momentum heading into buying season

Austin Board of REALTORS® releases March 2009 real estate statistics

April 20, 2009 - According to the March 2009 Multiple Listing Service report by the Austin Board of REALTORS®, the volume of single-family home sales in March 2009 was 1,421, down 22 percent from March 2008, and the median price was $180,160, down 4 percent over the same time period.

Jay Gohil, Chairman of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, provided some insight, “Sales volumes in March are still down compared to a year ago, but we’re beginning to see the gap in volume close.”

For example, in January 2009, sales volume was down 36 percent compared to January 2008. In February 2009, sales volume was down 28 percent compared to February 2008. In March 2009, the 22 percent decrease in volume compared to March 2008 shows the Austin real estate market is gaining momentum.

Chairman Gohil continued, “Looking at the first quarter of 2009, we’re seeing sales volumes improve and home values remain steady – that’s good news for Austin homeowners. Those factors, combined with Austin’s strong economic fundamentals, bode well for our market heading toward the summer buying season.”

One of the most important economic fundamentals driving the real estate market is job growth, for which Austin was fortunate in 2008. Looking ahead, a recent study based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cited Austin among the top 10 metropolitan areas in the country with the highest potential for job growth in 2009.