Clash of Cultures DISTORTED Austin's Real Estate Market

Discover how Austin's evolving culture has had far reaching effects on the local real estate market. If you're considering moving to Austin or interested in the housing market, this is a must-watch!
Charles Lewis is a REALTOR® in the Austin area and helps people buy and sell houses all over the Austin metro area. Schedule a no-obligation phone call to find out how he can help you accomplish your real estate goals: bit.ly/ATXPhone
Charles Lewis
Keller Williams Realty
call/text: [phone]
email: [e-mail]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO HIRE THE RIGHT AGENT
charleslewisre...
READ THIS IF YOU’RE SELLING YOUR HOME
charleslewisre...
READ THIS IF YOU’RE BUYING A HOME
charleslewisre...
________________________________________________________________________________

[@AtsircEcarg]

I would rather live next to a pink house than have an HOA

[@SFSCharles]

It's all about personal preferences and priorities!

[@dmimcg]

You must be a Biden voter.

[@diegolara4202]

It's not just the color of a home that is an issue. You say that now, but if you had neighbors with 6 cars in their drive way and on the yard parked, and loud music every day you would complain and wish there was order in your neighborhood. Those that complain about HOA are usually people that have no idea how stressful life can be when you have neighbors who don't care.

[@dmimcg]

You must be a Bidenn Voter.

[@leo78744]

HOA keeps the riff raff out

[@georgecuster527]

As Joni Mitchell said , they paved paradise and put up a parking lot . Austin is now just another sky scraper big gross city .

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing that perspective, it's always interesting to see how songs like Joni Mitchell's resonate with our experiences today.

[@beachbum8215]

Yep. Very same thing happening right now where I'm at.

[@bobloblaw10001]

The best anti suburban anthem is not Ticky Tacky Boxes nor Paved Paradise. The best anti suburban anthem is "Back to Ohio" by The Pretenders. It's the only one that really connects all the dots.

[@bobloblaw10001]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpnYaXeNqM6lgNEsi=X_ebudtXnTAs721X

[@garyspence2128]

You mean : "I woke up one morning, and my city was gone". That song? Hits too close to the bone these days. Hanging on by my fingertips, in a smaller studio style apt. Just another renter paying higher prices than I should, like everyone else who's holding on. The sellout of the old Austin has been brutal to watch, but the town itself still has some charming little echoes of what it used to be. Traffic is nightmarish, though. And going out to these overpriced restaurants is a deal breaker. But I'm not ready to move to Manor, Taylor, or the country just yet. I'm hunkering down for now. Pray for me, and good luck...

[@eugenegardnerjr1815]

Been living in Austin since 2009! It's lost its "Keep Austin Weird" 😢 personality!!! My first apartment 2 bedrooms on 53 st I paid $700 a month now is $2600 a month!! Austin used to be full with Musicians, Artists, it has lost it "cool" 😎 factor!!! Let me real America has lost it "cool" factor 😢

[@SFSCharles]

It's sad to see how much Austin has changed over the years.

[@rifekimler3309]

I lived in Austin from '82 to '90 while at UT. The seeds of what it is now where growing in the '80's. Greed has destroyed what Austin was

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your perspective on the changes in Austin.

[@godsdozer]

I gave up on Austin when the Night Hawk closed down on congress ave.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your memories of the Night Hawk, it's always bittersweet when a beloved spot closes.

[@ziv2liv]

I used to own two houses near Austin (Pflugerville and Round Rock) I sold my Pflugerville house cause the property taxes were killing me. 80% of the taxes were going to School district (Travis and Williamson counties) and the schools ratings were and still are just awful! What are they spending their money on!??? Austin area still has much punch, it is not so much about "Music" and "Musicians", but about industries and those still going strong.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's important to shed light on these issues.

[@JBoy340a]

We own in RR and seeing the same thing. But luckily some of the tech companies are moving out here. The Apple campus is good and the Amazon one will get bigger.

[@terebrate]

Re School districts; "What are they spending their money on!???" Higher salaries for the administrators, and then of course their pensions get bigger and they have to be funded, so...

[@ziv2liv]

@@terebrate 🥵🥵🥵

[@JBoy340a]

@@terebrate Football stadiums and other sports facilites seem to get a lot of funding. Let's focus spending on teaching children better.

[@joemartino6976]

Good stuff. I spent 30+ years in the ad agency business, putting me in the position of having a close-up view of a lot of different industries. The single biggest trend I saw over that time was a relentless emphasis on profitability, to the exclusion of all other considerations. I think that dynamic has seeped into all corners of our lives, and, over several decades, we are being divided into the haves and the have-nots. My wife and I have been very fortunate. But, like you, I worry about creatives and artists, who don't have the cash flow to survive. Or young families who can't afford a home. Or the middle class, for that matter, which I would suggest has been our greatest legacy as a country. Our many and greatest achievements were all born out of a thriving and growing middle class. This is a problem that goes well beyond Austin. Is it reversible? Well, being the pollyanna that my wife accuses me of being all the time, I guess the answer is yes!

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for your thoughtful analysis and positive forecast for the future. I don’t know how but I also believe it can

[@ROTALOT]

I remember completion of the loop in the 80s and proposed development cap. I lived off west 6th and then off Lamar at Oltorf in a bamboo forest! Brodie Oaks was the brother to the og whole foods st MLK on Lamar. Wheatsville coop and Hyde Park were still growing. I student taught at Martin JH, a huge Title and Chapter funded campus. 45 7th graders in a reading class. ESL. The city was terrorized by flashers in overcoats back then. Bat watching was the trend too. I hiked and swam right there behind Brodie Oaks in Horseshoe Bend Creek. Limestone cliff jumping.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your nostalgic memories, it's a trip down memory lane!

[@fmxman1564]

I hope to visit one day! Stay cool Austin

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for watching. Hope you make the visit

[@Kings0375]

It’s not just the facts you’ve stated in the video…society in general has changed. In my opinion even the quality of artists isn’t as good as it used to be.

[@SFSCharles]

I appreciate your perspective on how society and art have evolved over time.

[@G.G.8GG]

That doesn't even take into account the property tax situation. Not having a personal state income tax sounds great until you are retired, living at the level of income you were accustomed to, but your property value goes up and you can no longer afford the taxes.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your insights! It's crucial to look at the full picture when it comes to taxes and retirement. Your comment adds a lot to the discussion!

[@rmkensington]

Cohesiveness is boring. I personally love the contrast.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your preferences

[@GreeneJPaul]

I hadnt been near west campus in 5 years and was appalled at what theyve done to hyde park. The city is slowly being bled dry of its soul.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Change can be tough to accept.

[@TheTexican05]

Austin is what happens when your mayor and city council allow unchecked commercial developers and private equity groups free rein of the area…this has been a race to convert Austin to CA since 2010 when the mass migration first began. The Plandemic and CA’s insane lockdowns + terrible cost of living sent people here in droves. Austin’s fate has been slated for a while now. Smart folks stay in the far outskirts, or move to another state entirely. -Austin area resident for 33 yrs, remembering the glory of it from 1990-2009…

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your firsthand experience and insights on the transformation of Austin.

[@Hybridog]

One thing that is becoming a factor for exisitng residents and those just moving in - the weather has become utterly miserable for 2/3 of the year. I've lived in Texas my entire life and and in Austin over 35 years total. The summers always had some miserable summer days over 100º here, but now they have become numerous. The stiffling heat and humidity has been cited by many leaving the area. This foreshadows what is to come over the next several decades as temperatures continue to rise and water use gets rationed more and more frequently. People will leave. The coastal areas will experience the same thing as heat and tropical storms increase. I would say buy land and property in Colorado and maybe some other areas. Stick to states that don't have a lot of snow, as the hot state migrants don't like snow. I'm old and trying to decide if we should stay here in Austin or look for a kinder, milder climate to age into.

[@SFSCharles]

The changing weather patterns can indeed be a concern for many residents. It's important to consider how climate changes may impact our living conditions in the future.

[@AntilleanConfederation]

Earth is getting colder not hotter. Lmaoo. Young earth was largely tropical.

[@giovanirodriguez2964]

Austin turned into New Los Angeles

[@SFSCharles]

That's an interesting observation! Austin must be evolving.

[@extremejoy]

I spoke with a former board member of Austin & he asked me to join him for lunch next time I’m in Austin; I told him he wouldn’t catch me dead in that city. He asked why & I said the traffic (35) sucks! He laughed & said they never planned the city to be 10X population like it is now & their infrastructure can’t really handle it.

[@SFSCharles]

The story I heard was during the 70s and 80s the city council voted against infrastructure hoping that would prevent population growth. Of course, people moved anyway and now they’re playing catch up

[@richstex4736]

@@SFSCharles It was generally characterized as "Don't build it & they won't come". Then city leaders got into the car full of developers like a street trick.

[@artiglesias9317]

I would have told him it is NOT a laughing matter.

[@joshuakhaos4451]

@@richstex4736 Its happening to so many cities now. So many cities are now catering to wealthy outsiders at the expenses of their own citizens. Its disgusting and almost criminal with how malicious its been. I hope the selling out of Americans ends soon and so people can try to pick up the pieces that remain. Because theres only so many cities and decent job economies one can have a decent life in, the next outcome is that we have to go to shit hole small towns or cities that barely provide a life at or below the poverty line, or we stay and live in poverty while the wealthy run about all over your home towns and bask in the fruits of your enslavement.

[@tonyscott4333]

Long term, we will never see those super low interest rates again. However, with all the big tech continuing to move to Austin, such as Samsung Tesla, etc. The need for more affordable housing and surrounding areas will be met. Particularly to the Northeast Taylor. For example there are lots of cornfields where developers can still put up track housing. One thing is certain. Old Austin is dead. Three years ago, I moved to Rockdale and had to drive an hour a day each way to work in Pflugerville. At 6 AM. There’s a line of cars heading inbound on Highway 79 every morning.

[@SFSCharles]

You bring up some great points about the shifting landscape in Austin and the impact of big tech on housing. It's definitely an interesting time for the area!

[@JeredtheShy]

The thing that weirds me out is who the heck is this alien species of affluent homebuyers that are able to drive all this gentrification in every city even kinda worth living in, when the median US income (individual not household) is something like $43k? You need a $150k income just to think about buying the house. Everyone says "Blackrock" but I don't think that's true, I think the US is just one country of wealthy aliens stacked on top of another different country made from poor people who can barely pay the rent, but it's technically the same country.

[@SFSCharles]

That's a very interesting observation. The ultra-rich can afford multiple homes, but when you consider it happens across the country that means there is a high percentage of expensive homes compared to entire population.

[@myobmyob2215]

There is a weird crew of foreigners. 2 years ago an Indian man from India bought for 1.6 and had no plans to actually live there. This year a Asian couple from Asia bought an overpriced place for 2. Will they actually live there? Doubt it. As long as the market gets buyers for inflated prices for average places it wont stop. Whyowhy would you buy 1 mill over the value. It's not Aspen or Beverly Hills or Yellowstone. Less than 10 miles away there are 750 k houses, not the ghetto. A foreign fam told me that though they work at a fancy outfit 30 miles away they need to BUY and LIVE in this area. Something very odd about it.

[@kaythegardener]

Now nearly 40% of the 4 plex & under (which are eligible for homeowner loans) are now bought up by private equity firms, which have no outside stockholders or public input!! That is why the tax rates should have the same rates for incomes from ALL sources at the same rates & they should be raised for singles earning over $250K/ year & $450,000/yr for couples!! The rates also need to have 3-5 new brackets added to the top income levels!! The IRS collects nearly $5 tax revenues for every $1 of its budget!!

[@SafeEffective-ls2pl]

@myobmyob2215 There is a visa program where if foreigners invest at least $1.8 million in US real estate, they qualify for an EB-5 immigration, then greencard, and eventually US citizenship

[@KimDecker-n9t]

All major cities in Texas are dealing with this crap. After Covid CA, NYers moved in high numbers to Texas. They brought their high wages, sold their homes and bought bigger homes at half the cost. A nice home not long ago for average Joe would cost 150-250,000..When the developers saw the economy shift they doubled the home values starting at 400k. Now the average working Joe cannot afford homes because supply and demand of all the people moving here from other states have warranted they can afford 400k+. Big Corp caused this too moving their businesses to Texas and bringing tons of people with them. The cost for apartments doubled too. Its just sickening! Where Texas average Joe could afford homes or apartments, now we cant. Its even harder for single income homeowners. There is alot of them. I saw this happen to Colorado years ago too. I dont see it changing. Austin is a mess. Now all these people are moving to Central Texas rural areas. Rockdale of 5000+ residents is looking to grow to 20k+. Developers are already way ahead of it seeing what people are going to do is move outward and drive everything up out there and turning quiet retirement home areas into busy towns. I have a small 70+ acre ranch in Central Texas area btw Austin and B/CS and if I ever sell I will make damn sure its not to a developer. I will research the hell out of the potential buyer before I sell and look for a born and raised Texan!

[@robertnagy2163]

So glad I left 20 years ago. My mind's eye view of Austin is still in it's reputation-making phase.

[@SFSCharles]

It's interesting how our perceptions of a place can change over time. Austin has definitely evolved, and does seem to be trying to define itself.

[@robertnagy2163]

@@SFSCharles It has always had difficulty defining itself because the town attracted a highly diverse set of people. It never even coined an "Austin musical style". For the last decades it has been attracting people based on it's only actually defined reputation - which evolved primarily through 1970-1995. This was the Hippy-Cowboy-Techie Genre. Each wave of immigrants prior to 1995 didn't quite have enough numbers to alter the flavor of the city dramatically towards their direction. The New Yorkers and Mid-Westerners blended-in. Subsequent to the Dissolution of the USSR, many Californians who lost jobs because of lost military contracts- realized they could move to Austin and "retire" in their 40's...and become "consultants". This mass influx strained resources and actually pulled Austin away from it's root vibe. The creative people who birthed Austin's amazing atmosphere- could no longer afford to live there. Those who stayed are in 800 sq ft rectangle houses with open-flame heaters and no insulation in the walls... and those houses are $800,000. The upside is seeing that what people really want is to be around creative, intelligent folks who are diverse, tolerant and connective.

[@mritzs5142]

As a tween, I was there in the 60s as a runaway. It was such a beautiful little game board type town ,magically dotted with old street lamps, gorgeous homes from the turn of the century up to the 20s 30’ winding roads, lush lush lawns and trees. And the music scene , was so raw the Vulcan, gas company ..The culture of Psychedelic meaning mind expansion so many of you way too young to know what I’m talking about, I never went back after the 70s except for a visit 80’s 90’s and at that time I was shocked at the change so right now even though I’m back in Texas I have not ventured into that city. But I saw some of the homes in South Austin West Austin where I stayed multi million modern structures ,sleek elegant and austere, but not Austin .. no it will never be the same , not as good, as artsy ,as promising ..it will burn itself out most likely

[@SFSCharles]

It's fascinating to hear your memories of Austin from the 60s! The changes over the decades really highlight how much cities can evolve while still holding onto their unique charm.

[@JBoy340a]

With tech moving into a slump, it may take a while for buyers with enough money to appear. Add to that some tech companies are now pushing work in the office requirements. I predict some of those new homes shown will end up being sold at a loss to stop the bleeding.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your insights and thoughts on the current tech and real estate situation.

[@Tex_Track]

i like austin. would love to move there but im stuck in the mud.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Austin really is a great city, and I hope you get to experience it someday!

[@DIVISIONINCISION]

I live an hour north of you near Fort Cavazos. I'm down in Austin for different events all the time. The only way to truly enjoy Austin is if you are a multi Millionaire owning a house in the city interior where you can walk or take a short drive anywhere you need to go. Condos are not worth it. Housing prices are not worth it. I would have considered Leander/Cedar Park because it's far enough away but with access, but even those homes are way overpriced. Austin's problem is a lack of infrastructure planning and it's too late to change that.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about living in the Austin area

[@andywalex]

Slowly Texas is disappearing forever, it's not just Austin. All of these people moving here have zero idea what Austin ever was and they don't care about what it should be, all they care about is that they've moved here and they want it to be exactly like where they moved from. The best question is, if these people love where they came from so much why did they move here in he first place? There are what I call "old money" neighborhoods around downtown with a concentration of similar houses, but the "new money" is building houses just like this with twenty houses around them that are being held together with plywood and nails. The bottom has fallen out of the housing market in Austin and many Californians have learned about property tax the hard way, these newly renovated (or completely rebuilt) homes in otherwise "undesirable" neighborhoods will only help the property value of the homes around them and the people who would buy and renovate/rebuild are either moving to one of the no longer small towns around Austin (goodbye Bee Cave, Lake Travis, Lago Vista, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, etc. Y'all will be missed), living in apartments or condos, or they're no longer moving to Austin at all.

[@SFSCharles]

You've raised some valid points! The changing landscape of Austin is definitely a topic that stirs up a lot of emotions. It’s fascinating to see how the city evolves and what we might lose in that process.

[@jr.carlosnava9165]

Let's go in, drive up prices so high, real working people cannot afford to live there. Then, let's bit h because we have no workers to sustain our desires.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for pointing out this important issue that affects so many people.

[@kennek1976]

no to the constant pushing of stack and pack by the city counsel

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this important matter.

[@Frank-nh9fe]

High density. Austin should be a walking/biking mecca. Get cars out of downtown.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It's awesome to see people passionate about making Austin a more sustainable city.

[@rickbecket2820]

I hate to see people romanticize old homes and slums. A house built in the 1930s is 90 years old. Be happy when the slums and old homes are replaced with something new. A wood framed house has a life expectancy of 70 years.

[@SFSCharles]

I appreciate your perspective! It's important to recognize the balance between preserving history and making way for new and improved living spaces.

[@chrishitch3202]

The way you make housing affordable is to increase supply. People complaining about affordability usually are against density and change. Can’t have your cake and eat it too.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your insights on creating affordable housing

[@RatTerminator]

Seems luje Austin is now SoCal

[@SFSCharles]

It does seem like Austin is soaking up the SoCal vibes!

[@luisvilla799]

Californians gentrified Austin price wise

[@SFSCharles]

That played a major role in the price runups

[@Ronnock]

I grew up in Austin in the 90's and 2000's. It looks like it'll never return to its former humble and odd glory. Oh well.

[@SFSCharles]

Nostalgia for the Austin of the past is real, but change is inevitable. It's all about appreciating the memories!

[@DoD890]

Little San Fran

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for watching!

[@sladestreet6086]

Rents there are the same as when I lived there 10 years ago. Same Amli apartment, same price. Rents are SO CHEAP in austin compared to other relevant cities.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's great to know that Austin's rental prices have remained affordable compared to other cities.

[@jozejeaux3962]

Californians are moving to Austin

[@SFSCharles]

It's definitely a trend that's been happening lately!

[@tomb5552]

Welcome to the 21st Century, change happens.

[@SFSCharles]

Embrace change and keep evolving with the times!

[@WilliamCloud9]

Blame the hipsters

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts

[@charleslewis8699]

Why do you have my name

[@SFSCharles]

It's the best name every invented, isn't it?

[@richstex4736]

@@SFSCharles Did you pay him commission for use of his name?

[@charleslewis8699]

@@SFSCharles Sure is! Glad you’re here in Texas, too. There needs to be more of us, lol. Charles Lewis army

[@SFSCharles]

@@charleslewis8699 Will the real Charles Lewis please stand up?

[@bobloblaw10001]

Go back to just selling houses.. you don't really know what you are talking about on big picture stuff. You conflate cause and effect (things got expensive because they raised height restrictions? Maybe it was just as much the other way 'round).

[@SFSCharles]

Appreciate your insights but I think I will pass on your suggestion

[@bobloblaw10001]

@@SFSCharles This video is bad. It's a mix of nostalgia and real estate agent clichés and fear mongering.. self-contradictory statements. Such as how HOA type rules are so important but why is it then that downtown and inner neighborhoods are so expensive and desirable despite the messiness and relative lack of rules.. or maybe it's partly because of rather than in spite of. The headline sensationalist and misleading. As if all recent newcomers were a monolith. As if there are no more artists in Austin.. it's really silly.

[@SFSCharles]

@@bobloblaw10001 It sounds like you have some strong feelings about the topics in the video.

[@bobloblaw10001]

​@@SFSCharles you are presenting cocktail party conjecture as fact. If people take your video seriously and put new construction on hold, it will make problem worse, not better. Rents and home prices in Austin are coming down a bit now because of new supply of all types of housing. Austin was and is doing the right thing and building more housing supply. If it were up to me the only thing I would do differently is less skyscrapers downtown and more midrise throughout the city. This video from About Here is a thoughtful explanation of why your fear mongering over condos and outsiders is a very unhelpful thing to do, both for newcomers and for natives. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppO0cqVpgJpqjbMsi=3d8A1ogY-5UZV7ue

[@SFSCharles]

@@bobloblaw10001 Interesting observation. I don't go to cocktail parties. How about an easy question for you - how many properties do you own in the city of Austin that are impacted by zoning changes. If that number is zero, then why is you opinion on what someone else does with their property even relevant?

[@stonecrestquilt]

Crime crime crime. That’s all I hear about Austin and Houston anymore. Maybe Texas should be renamed “California West”.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It's important to shed light on these issues for a better future.

[@TheTexican05]

“California: Site B” since ~2010. Conversion rate has been logarithmic instead of linear… 🥵 🤢 Key difference: go outside of Travis County (Austin), and we actually prosecute our criminals. 😎 👮‍♂️ Houston has been a crime ridden mess for years. Look at the demographics to understand why. This, coupled with the incredibly large population, it’s gonna happen.

[@midlifecrisis7888]

Austin has been ruined by Californiaans forever. It’s done. 😂

[@SFSCharles]

It's definitely a hot topic among Austin residents!

[@papiparsons9045]

Not unusual, Bidenomics has made it the similar in many cities

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic.

[@Lonniepsangel]

Such a shame…Austin has been destroyed!🥲

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for your concern, it's heartbreaking to witness some of the changes in Austin.

[@jnucleo]

The US is receiving a bitter pill now. Profit at all costs has dire consequences.

[@SFSCharles]

It's important to consider the long-term effects of prioritizing profit over everything else.

[@safeandeffectivelol]

It's up to the corrupt city governments

[@WildBikerBill]

I would blame over ten years of near zero interest rates blew up prices, and now we have still high prices combined with back to normal interest rates. Except you can't have both at the same time. The price correction is going to be brutal.

[@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr]

Austin got ghetto. Change my mind.

[@felipenunez2058]

​@@WildBikerBillyou blame neo zero interest not the corporations buying up homes and bringing up home prices. It's fine to have 18% interest rate what is not fine is a home that was worth 90k back in 2019 and now selling for 400k. inflation doesn't even match that 300% mark up.

[@katwmn17]

I have to admit I gave up on Austin when ACL became super commercialized, and the Broken Spoke became completely converged upon by apartment complexes and condo builds with residents complaining of the "noise." Same with Stubb's. Many of the creatives have made their way out into areas like Wimberley and formed little cohorts for good reason. Lamar & Congress have chased out all of the eclectic shops and replaced them with mass produced "luxury" BS. I feel sad about the changes in Austin and I think it's all a damn shame. I support as many of the remaining and long term artists as I can via the Kessler, Poor David's & Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. I, too, believe it's irreversable.

[@SFSCharles]

It's tough to see the changes in a city you love. Your support for the artists in Dallas is commendable.

[@bletchdroshek5984]

You said it all. Texas is changing for the worse

[@DIVISIONINCISION]

You're missing the point, baby Kat. People with money want the "luxury BS". That's what they expect. Most people in Austin aren't from Texas.

[@butterflygirl2285]

@@DIVISIONINCISION IMO - Sadly, you are correct. It's been over run by people fleeing from the very economic and political mess they created in other states. Now, they are here trying to impose their supposedly better views on us.

[@bloodbane93]

Congress is just so sad now. Seeing small wacky shops like Lucy in Disguise go only to be replaced by some BS $200+ boutique was just a nail in the coffin. I used to walk down south congress almost every weekend, now I haven’t been down there in years. It’s just too depressing knowing that it’s not for me anymore.

[@alejandrohernandez7340]

Real Texans and especially native Austinites will remember who cool and relaxed the city was 20 years ago. Now it’s a mini LA

[@SFSCharles]

It's true, Austin has definitely seen a lot of changes over the years.

[@richstex4736]

Only 20 yrs. ago?? 😂😂😂

[@UneducatedGeologist]

Great Video. Nearly same thing happened in Nashville. 80% was affordable middle class homes. Now thru rebuilds and remodels 80% is for $200k income earners.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. It's always great to hear from viewers like you.

[@GuyThompsonFWTX]

Culture shift isn’t unique to Austin, it’s everywhere.

[@SFSCharles]

You're absolutely right! Change is a constant, and it impacts every corner of the world.

[@frequentlycynical642]

The place where there isn't any no one wants to live there. My family moved to Sarasota, FL in 1959. Florida post war boom. Our neighborhood was very eclectic, we would call it today, with plenty of kids. Regular people owned small boats that were docked in the back yard on the bayou. It takes 65 years to be able to get the long term, high altitude view of what life was like then compare to now. Lots of nature everywhere back then, whether fishing or exploring the reef at Point of Rocks on Siesta Key. Just drive up to the latter on a shell road and grab your snorkel. Today a giant McMansion sits there eliminating access w/o a mile long walk from public accesses. Today Sarasota is becoming a Ft. Lauderdale. If you don't have lots of money, or got a foothold long ago, you don't get to play.

[@swingcity7]

lol we need those ‘cultures’ to go back immediately tho

[@bell9620]

You sure got that right.

[@DoubleOhSilver]

Decadence*, there was no shift, the culture died and all that's left are the usual vices like greed.

[@IllegalAlien-ep2ty]

Austin has become like LA but with very hot weather and no mountains.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your observation! It's always fascinating to see how cities transform over time.

[@JBoy340a]

And no miles after miles of beaches and sunbathers.

[@desertdc123]

True, which I started seeing over a decade ago, but decided not to move there. The US is getting to the point of becoming a nation of renters, only not as fast as Austin. While LA is getting Honolulu and Vancouver BC prices.

[@JBoy340a]

@@desertdc123 In Texas the big issue is property taxes. They do not have a sales tax, so property taxes are used to fill the gap.

[@desertdc123]

@@JBoy340a I think you mean TX has no state income tax. Though it remains that before one can pay property tax, they can't even afford the median priced house in Austin, with median incomes. (or lower priced houses with lower incomes). Of course, renters help pay the owner's property taxes too, though renting was also never the price burden that it is today.

[@pinecone1321]

The big McMansions ruined the neighborhoods of Austin. Thanks Cali! I moved from Austin in 2020 and local music artists have not been able to live in Austin for a couple decades.

[@SFSCharles]

It's sad to see how the character of neighborhoods can change so drastically over time.

[@AntilleanConfederation]

Local music artist? Lol. You mean those liberal art degrees didn’t work ?

[@BigRodd91]

@@AntilleanConfederation That too!

[@AntilleanConfederation]

@@BigRodd91 Lolol.

[@texbeaumont8134]

It will never regain what it once had.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Change can be challenging, but it also opens up new possibilities.

[@artiglesias9317]

Therein lies the absolute truth.

[@benniebarrow348]

@@artiglesias9317yep …..the cool , hip, eclectic days of the 70’s thru the early 2000’s are over and done …….Austin has gone from happily “weird” to California obscene ( in both culture and pricing)

[@artiglesias9317]

@@benniebarrow348 Right On! Same happened in California "before" Austin.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Sorry to say that the 70s are gone and that your great granny is dead. This is life.

[@williamrowlands1789]

Just glad I had the chance to live in Austin for 4 years back in the 80's and experienced it back then when it was a fun and enjoyable place to live, work and play. Would not want to live or be able to afford living there now. Will remember Austin as it once was.

[@SFSCharles]

Austin may have changed, but at least you have the memories to cherish!

[@williamrowlands1789]

@@SFSCharles Yes I do. Have to admit even back then Austin was still a little more expensive to live in than other cities in Texas. But definitely not as expensive as now.

[@sandraclick7812]

My husband and I started our married lives together in Ausin in 1962 - 66 and we were very blessed in a quaint and lovely community, fun and enjoyable activities for little money ! Of course, we are very proud of State Capital today but very liberal Austin, not so much !!

[@sandraclick7812]

Austin today is way too liberal and woke media/news sources that always favor the left and Dems !! SAD !

[@dxg789]

I moved to east Austin in 87 on a hill crest. We had chickens/roosters. And If climbed to my roof I could hear the dish-falk field and UT football fans from my roof top. I could easily walk or bike. to downtown, UT drag, Barton springs. I sold Austin American statement subscriptions for my afterschool job, which meant I understood each neighborhood, spoke and interacted those ppl, sometimes partied and hung out with them. Saw first hand all the weirdness of ATX B4 my 18th bday. Cranes started going up around 95, and they haven’t left. My parents cashed out and now childhood home is a two detached duplexes. Been living in cedar park for the last 15 yrs. I’m glad I’m grew up here at the very specific time period and enjoyed the last few years of ATX uniqueness.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your memories of East Austin and how things have changed since 87

[@paxundpeace9970]

You can't complain if you sell out.

[@brotherted9212]

People are misinterpreting a short term correction after a giant housing rally as if it’s a long term reversal. It’s not. Austin’s population is still projected to rise by 46,000 people, even in 2024. And CA & NY are still losing population. Austin homes are like a stock that rose 40% over three years, then corrected 10% in the fourth year, while the fundamentals remain strong.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your analysis of what we can expect moving forward.

[@rolandledesma-de7qd]

U speak tha truth bruh. Keep on keeping on.

[@gskyle4822]

That's only a 2% growth, less than half of what it used to be before the pandemic. The population growth of Austin has been on a steady decline, with less than 1% growth projected by 2030, things are not looking good to me. 😢

[@brotherted9212]

@@gskyle4822 None of us have a crystal ball, but in my view the shift wasn’t that people changed their minds about what Austin has to offer, but rather that Austin essentially ran out of homes in 2021-2022, producing a sharp price spike. Once the new supply finishes integrating into the market, I believe it will revert to healthy growth. Austin is still the city with both business-friendly policies and a thriving creative class.

[@pcatful]

I hope that's right. We need fewer people in California.

[@erinsmart8422]

Folks who worship money give no f^€

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for highlighting this important issue. It's crucial to remember the value of culture in our lives.

[@DIVISIONINCISION]

Wrong. Money is it's own culture. If you know, you know.

[@UpperZenith]

I went to University at Texas State in the mid 1990s. Lived in San Marcos, Wimberley and , lived and worked in Austin until year 2000. From that time I have frequently revisited Austin and the hill country around Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Wimberley and Austin, with a long term plan of transitioning to Austin eventually. I now live in Houston. However the land prices in the Hill Country area have risen to ridiculous heights since 2020 to as much as $180,000 for one acre and I do not foresee a reduction in prices happening anytime soon. Texas is my home State, and I really like the countryside and culture in the central Texas area...however I've been to quite a number of beautiful places on this planet and those hills and hill country beauty is really quite paltry in comparison to the mountains in any US Western State, not to mention other countries in the world. Any day of the week I can pick up 10 acres for $180,000 in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Tahoe region California, Washington State, Oregon, Montana, northern Arizona, New Mexico not too mention North Carolina, Tennessee etc etc you get the point. Texas prices for land no longer make sense. In fact land prices across the entire lone star State oddly ratcheted up after the pandemic, even in areas that have historically been unpopulated due to the poor quality of the land such as Brewster county. I find it peculiar how acreage across the entire Lone Star State increased almost simultaneously as if it were done intentionally by one very large investor. Anyhow, paying $180,000 for an acre of scrub scratch hill country limestone that is parched of water resources, little ceder trees and pin oaks, that smolders in the blistering 100+ temps throughout the summer seems less appealing these days, especially since all of the hill country State parks and nature trails are stuffed full on any given day, can't even enjoy nature without a 60 day reservation. The mystique of the Austin hill country is being vanquished from all of the housing development. It is actually the high cost of land that has pushed housing costs upward. Austin has almost always been in a significant market growth period of economic and population expansion since I lived there. It grew significantly through the dot com era. The only time I noticed housing prices freakishly low was post 2008 financial crash. My best friend bought a repo home on lake Austin for $150k, sold it in 2011 for $375k. Homes were for sale everywhere at highly reduced prices during that time of uncertainty. It will take another significant financial crisis to bust the high price bubble in the Austin area, and with prices that high, you will see far fewer large corporate organizations relocate to the Austin hill country. May see more take flight. *Adding to this post, 2 days later: I just searched the Austin area all the way out to New Braunfels and Dripping Springs. Even at a time when real estate prices are declining due to deteriorating economic conditions in Austin from the tech slump, land owners seem to have ratcheted up land prices in recent weeks. I'm seeing 1/4 of an acre selling for as much as $100K, averaging $65K for 1/4 (.25) acres. Not large enough for a medium sized home with a driveway.

[@SFSCharles]

It's interesting to hear your perspective on the changes in land prices and the evolving landscape of the hill country area in Texas.

[@stephenross4333]

Left Austin in 1998 for Washington State. Best move I ever made. I can't imagine living in that heat & humidity again.

[@that1johnson]

The PNW is fantastic

[@71chevy]

Live in Madison WI.People are paying $125,000 or more for half acre deed restricted lot with no yard and house in arms reach next door.lmfao that's an apartment not a real house with a yard and big garage garage

[@bobfoster687]

You can thank Rick Perry and Greg Abbott for courting so many California companies to move to Texas! Was inevitable when they started that push!!!

[@chrispeters4405]

I drove up and down 35 the whole first part of my life. I remember round rock being rolling hills and mostly pasture. by 2003 it was completely filled out. more than 30 miles of development. what happened to dfw later happened to austin. debt funded growth by housing expansion bottomed out in 08 and investors got right back in and started all over again. as long as crude makes it market in us dollars , the race to the bottom could continue to depths unseen before. the industrial economy that built the united states in the last century, by which interest rates were designed to float against, is largely gone. how many more election cycles and "narratives" can come and go remains to be seen, but the real economy that laid the roads and established the cities in this country is not going to come back. technology is a contractionary force that concentrates wealth into absentee shareholders and produces forthcoming generations of fast food workers and clock punchers who are alienated from the land.

[@SFSCharles]

I appreciate you taking the time to reflect on the economic shifts and their impact on the landscape. It's always valuable to hear different perspectives.

[@jeffspicoli2643]

Same thing going on in the mountain towns in Colorado. Has been for 30 years!

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective on the mountain towns in Colorado.

[@49558201]

Colorado $ $

[@fitz3540]

The "master planned" communities look cheap and disposable, and the "non HOA" ones look more cohesive and natural I hope HOAs go by the wayside

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your insights on HOA’s and master planned communities

[@johnsmitht11]

The middle class is gone. RIP.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for watching and commenting

[@TheVoiceofTheProphetElizer]

Great and informative video - concise, well filmed, well narrated! I learned more about Austin Real Estate in 6 and a half minutes than any other Austin real estate video I've seen combined - not kidding, not exaggerating. Please, continue to make fantastic content like this.

[@SFSCharles]

Your support means the world to me. I'm grateful for your feedback and encouragement.

[@raytaylor3077]

I think it is gone. and irreversible .

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. There are many who feel the same way.

[@groovy1937]

Austin is a train wreck. I lived near Austin in the 1970's. We lived in a small town near by where my father was an executive for a large global company. My family would go shopping in Austin every weekend. It was a great city then, and had class. Now, it is a disjointed dump. My dad designed our house and it was built by Gaeke Construction of Giddings Texas. It was a beautiful Texas Ranch style. These new style homes don't match the neighborhoods and are a disgrace. Mental illness has taken over Austin.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for reminiscing about your experiences in Austin. It's always valuable to hear different viewpoints.

[@carefulconsumer8682]

Austin is toast. The Golden Days were definitely pre-2002. After that, high-rise construction and crime destroyed the city imo. I left in 2004 when things got even worse. Every morning the radio station would start by announcing traffic congestion, pollution report, and the crime stats. Sad to see it happen.

[@SFSCharles]

It's unfortunate to see how a city can change so drastically over the years.

[@Null-o7j]

I visited for the first time in like 2005 and it still felt like a college town to me. Lotd of young people. I visited in 2012 and it was already dead. Then in 2016 and it was taken over my middle aged people in sport coats.

[@dealstogo2649]

@@Null-o7j Now, downtown crime, even on 6th street, is pretty bad. It's very violent. Never walk down the side streets off 6th at night. Extremely dangerous. Anyone who doubts that just sit in the Austin ER on some Saturday night and you'll see some brutal beatdowns.

[@dealstogo2649]

@@Null-o7j Very dangerous after the sun goes down there now.

[@gantz4u]

We have a sushi bar. You probably moved next to a Furr's to be closer to it right before they closed it down.

[@papasquat355]

The boom will increase property taxes on those still there to the point that they will have no choice but to sell or lose the house.

[@SFSCharles]

That's a valid concern. Rising property taxes can definitely put pressure on homeowners.

[@dkennell998]

Haiving a single developer building a whole neighborhood is absolutely _not_ normal - it's a historical aberration, and only something that had been happening for the last 50 years, and only in North America, on a cloud of subsidies and debt. It's also visually reminiscent of centrally-built communist housing imo. I think there's a decent chance we'll soon see the collapse of this suburban experiment and the return of normal, natural growth to cities.

[@SFSCharles]

It's interesting to think about how urban development has evolved over time.

[@katydid2877]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cristinawilliams8026]

It’s sad that the community that makes Austin so vibrant (artists, musicians and performers) have been priced out of Austin. It’s becoming a different animal.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for recognizing the importance of the artists, musicians, and performers in Austin. They truly make the city special.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Would even say they died out because they aren't alive anymore or just retired.

[@mayorb3366]

I had visited Austin many times since the mid 70s, and lived there for three years in the early 90s. Back then the SXSW (South by Southwest) festival was locally known as the "South By So What" festival. Maybe a few regional "A" list bands would sign on to draw people, but largely the bands were garage wanna-be bands that sucked. In the early 90s the first waves of Californians were moving in. Over time they turned into San Francisco v 2.0. They turned Austin into the same shit hole they had just fled from. And drove property values through the roof. Not planning to be in that town again.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your perspective on Austin's evolution. It's always valuable to hear different experiences and viewpoints.

[@uumlau]

One factor that caused this all over the country were the absurdly low interest/mortgage rates. People think there's a lot of money to be made. There is, but only before the inflation kicks in and bumps prices beyond what can be afforded. Austin was lucky enough to escape the housing bust of 2008, and also benefited from starting off with extremely low housing/rental rates in the 1980s that resulted from the 1970s oil bust. But with the low interest rates came higher prices, and the inevitable Ponzi scheme of "house flipping" that had also caused the 2008 housing bust. The high prices were all based on a lie, however. I am lucky enough to have a house in Austin, and I just watched helplessly as its appraised value went up due to nothing but rampant speculation. I could sell it, but then what? Buy an even more expensive house? Now the appraisals are falling (as they did 2009-2011), and we'll see what happens next. I'm just tired of wildly changing interest rates intended to stimulate the economy, when all they do is make people throw absurd amounts of money at houses and cars, and politicians shrug and act like they had nothing to do with the chaos that results when the boom collapses.

[@SFSCharles]

It's a challenging cycle for sure. The real estate market can be unpredictable.

[@elisabethkolling6697]

“Politicians have no great incentive to avoid mistakes because it is other people who pay for those mistakes.” Thomas Sowell

[@uumlau]

@@elisabethkolling6697 You had me at "Thomas Sowell". 😎

[@abelflores1593]

The East Side used to be the low income housing now they're trying to tax their home so they can't afford it

[@SFSCharles]

It's sad to see the struggle of long-time residents facing rising property taxes.

[@Thomas63r2]

You wanted weird, what came was freaky. The transformation of Austin will be complete when it has poop maps just like San Francisco. I'm still trying to understand Tesla in Texas (layoffs?) when new Teslas can't be sold in Texas.

[@SFSCharles]

It's definitely a strange world out there!

[@SafeEffective-ls2pl]

What do you mean new Teslas can't be sold in Texas? I see them everywhere

[@Thomas63r2]

@@SafeEffective-ls2pl Yes I see them too - they have to be bought out of state because Texas does not allow manufacturer direct sales of cars!

[@Meowhsss]

They literally have Tesla sales dealerships in Texas, seen them with my own eyes. You can easily go buy one there.

[@Thomas63r2]

@@Meowhsss There are Tesla showrooms in Texas, but the sale is handled as an out of state purchase that must be completed before the vehicle is shipped to Texas. So what happens in Texas is essentially a courtesy delivery of a sale completed out of state.

[@butterflygirl2285]

I personally know of people who sold their ratty homes, in central Austin, for millions. Then, they would move to; for example, a new subdivision in the northwest section of Austin. Now places like Dripping Springs are getting trashed out, and over priced. Austin was once a charming place, but now I would never move there.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences, it's always interesting to hear different perspectives.

[@MeJonTheDon]

Austin may be great for others, has is long past great for most people living there. Loved growing up there, havent goke back in years. Its like NYC or Vegas: looks cool in a video, but too many and the wrong types of people with infrastructure that cant handle it. 7 + years ago it would take 45 minutes to go two stoplights sometimes miles from downtown. Glad we left

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences about Austin.

[@utube343434]

They spend their money on football stadiums

[@SafeEffective-ls2pl]

@utube343434 Austin doesn't have a pro sports team.

[@GTPInternational]

Get ready Nashville your next

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic!

[@joshuakhaos4451]

Its already happened

[@droid4369]

Irreversible. And has been for quite some time. You'd have to ask yourself what it would take for the artist types to live inside Austin again like before. I can't find an answer.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, it's always great to hear different perspectives.

[@artiglesias9317]

A very long time ago when I was in the market for real estate in central Texas I looked around with a real estate agent named John, one day he told me he would tell me what runs the real estate market, I told him if he did I would never forget. John said "Fear and Greed". He nailed it 100%. What Austin is experiencing is a transition that happens at different rates in all urban-suburban areas. the rates of change are highly porportional to the current economy. You pick an area, do your homework, and you will get the picture. There is one constant in all areas, it will never have the character, and culture it was once cherished for, the same is true for rural areas destroyed by urban-suburban development; the Texas Hill Country is a perfect example. "You can't go home again" wrote Thomas Wolfe. Fear and Greed is always a destroyer of men, and nations.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your insightful experience with John and your thoughts on the real estate market dynamics in central Texas.

[@artiglesias9317]

@@SFSCharles Always happy to share what I learned along the way with hopes it will enable others to chart the best course possible.

[@michaeld766]

I like this guys calm demeanor. Regarding HOA’s though, you can have an asshole next to you regardless. I’d prefer not to pay for a service that ultimately can’t fix that. But if loved a house with an HOA enough, I’d pay it. No big deal.

[@SFSCharles]

It's true that HOAs can be a mixed bag, but sometimes the benefits outweigh the negatives.

[@ebinrock]

So, to reduce this video down to one second and one word, greed.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts!

[@ed0078]

Austin revealed its true colors during the pandemic - ugly!

[@SFSCharles]

It's unfortunate to see how some places can change during tough times.

[@texsurfer]

Big tech money ruined Austin beginning in early 90's...

[@SFSCharles]

It's interesting how big tech money can shape a city's development over time.

[@marspentacle751]

They ruined everything i loved about Austin. I've lived here for 30 years and its sad how its no longer Austin

[@SFSCharles]

I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way about Austin. Change can be tough, especially when it affects a place you've called home for so long.

[@roalvarez]

It's possible that Austin real estate will keep growing in value, but the city will never be what it was before the boom started. Most of the people I know are planning on moving away once their kids leave. Austinite for 20+ years.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your perspective. It's always interesting to hear from long-time residents like yourself.

[@Tomsconcertvideos]

Definitely. Who wants to pay that property tax? Austin is a special city but not worth the price these days.

[@KateEASN]

I lived in Austin from '74 - 04. It was so much fun back in the day. I remember seeing a girl riding her bicycle at 10:30 pm on 15th headed to the bar and she was decked out-dress and everything. Good times!

[@SFSCharles]

Sounds like you have some amazing memories of Austin!

[@marudoethiopia]

Wow you have an eye for editing. This video is top class.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I really appreciate it.

[@imlistening1137]

I bout a house in Austin in 1992, for $75,000- 1500 SF 3 bdrm 1 bath, on a LARGE corner lot. Zillow says it’s now worth $1.2 million! Unreal.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your story. Many homeowners look to Zillow to get an idea of home values.

[@imlistening1137]

@@SFSCharlesOh! I forgot something important. The new owners added a partial second floor. I don’t remember the additional square footage, perhaps 400. But even here in Collin County (north of Dallas), home prices are crazy. I feel so bad for my kids. They both have professional jobs, but could buy a home right now. Homes in our neighborhood are going for 3-3.5 times what we paid for them in 2005- Only 19 years!

[@weiss27md]

Do not move to Austin, Houston or Dallas. There is no reason to move here. I have lived in Austin my whole life and want to move. It's hot, expensive, lots of traffic, crime, bad home builders.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your honest opinion about living in Austin, Houston, and Dallas!

[@johnd.5601]

I'd rather have a pink house in my neighborhood than live with an HOA! HOA fees never go down. The pink house will eventually change colors or owners. You will be permanently stuck with your HOA and their fees.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It's important to consider all aspects before deciding on a neighborhood.

[@johnd.5601]

@@SFSCharles There's nothing to consider when an HOA is involved. HOA are a form of government that are totalitarian. I'd rather live under a bridge than pay another tax to a socialist who will make the decision who will paint my house and when it will be painted. America is to unstable for the added stress. Large companies lay-off workers to cause financial stress. Nobody needs an HOA to make life worse!

[@PukeyMcDork]

The CRIME. He didn't mention it, but the hordes of aggressive beggars - All the Way up to Great Hills and RR and petty criminals have made life in Austin even more irritating. It's political, and so i get why he didn't mention it - but even just 20 years ago Austin was a delightfully safe place compared to Houston. Now it's become downright hazardous. Austin is in need of a serious real estate re-set and an attitude change - i'm sure it won't happen but if you remember the "slackers paradise" era you pine deeply for it. Austin used to be so cool!

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your perspective on the changes in Austin. It's important to have open conversations about these issues to work towards positive solutions.

[@anirudh_s17]

This was happening in the Bay Area for the last 50 years and is beginning to spread to the rest of the country as even tech employees are getting priced out of San Francisco. Austin has the benefit of having more relaxed laws for construction, but there are few homebuilders that would prioritize construction for low and middle income residents.

[@SFSCharles]

It's a concerning trend that's impacting many cities across the country.

[@Miata822]

I live up in DFW and love visiting Austin, but it is nothing like it was 20-30 years ago. I'm no "roll the clock back" kind of guy, but no, I don't see how the Austin art and music scene can be again what it once was, or the Dallas scene either.

[@SFSCharles]

It's true that cities evolve over time, but the memories we hold dear from the past shape our perspectives. Change can bring new opportunities too.

[@loum.4377]

Austin will follow San Fran. TROUBLE!

[@pcatful]

If you mean the costs of high population and the vagaries of corporate turnover, I think so. I don't think the politics will ever be the same.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for pointing that out, always good to keep an eye on city trends!

[@katemason-murphy9129]

@@pcatful Agreed. The State of Texas will follow thru with the District of Travis plan and Austin will be no more. Sanctuary cities spell D-O-O-M.

[@bobloblaw10001]

People can still get high and celebrate Eor's birthday if they want..

[@SFSCharles]

That's so thoughtful of you to remind of that.

[@BalconesRoofing]

It’s unfortunate what’s happened to many iconic Austin neighborhoods. We’ve worked on all of it & these new homes are terribly built & wont stand the test of time.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for sharing your observations about the new homes in the iconic Austin neighborhoods.

[@currendodds3304]

United Nations Agenda 21

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@currendodds3304]

@@SFSCharles download the pdf from the website and see what you think

[@currendodds3304]

@@SFSCharles you’re welcome

[@celestialtl]

I lived in Hyde Park starting in 1987. I went to graduate school and rent was $200/month in one of Minni Seay’s duplexes. Amy’s ice cream had just opened up and Dell was underway. Austin was fantastic. Visited 10 years ago and the freeways now make it look like Houston. They took a college town and made it into another Texas megaplex. If you want to live there make sure you like cedar fever.

[@SFSCharles]

It's amazing to hear about your experiences in Hyde Park! It truly has transformed over the years, hasn’t it? Thanks for sharing your memories!

[@Kevrow88]

Irreversible. Two things houses sitting on market has nothing to do with people preference change. It’s has everything to do with interest rates and inflation. Those factors are not forever. Also, you stated positives about urban living the allure of urban living has not changed neither its demand. What also has not changed is shorter commutes and convenience of being close proximity to things are higher now than ever. As the pandemic had a lot of people move far and out and now that rush to sell a bad investment during the boom to get closer to everything. It’s not going anywhere and we can hope the economy catches up to growth of Austin. Also, you may ask your self what’s next after gentrification. They will come to a small town near you little by little before a surge. This is the good and bad of it all. I know home owners who owe zero on mortgage, bought there house at 100k many moons ago to sell today for 600-700k. This is what allows gentrification to happen

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It’s always great to hear from viewers who understand the complexities of the housing market. Your perspective adds so much to the conversation!

[@nathanhall9177]

Born here in 1966. Mom sold our childhood home right at the top of the boom. It sure was a blessing for her too. She had a little bit bigger lot on lazy ln. My house is in Avery ranch and has at least tripled in value. When I retire I’m moving somewhere cold. I’m not sure I really care for Austin as much as I used to. It’s a little too much of everything nowadays. I’d like to find me a little town and check that out.

[@SFSCharles]

Thank you for sharing your journey with us! It's amazing to see how far you've come, and your story is truly inspiring. Wishing you all the best in finding that perfect little town!

[@sonofdirt]

I'm just here to say that painting over limestone is blasphemy

[@SFSCharles]

Well, someone's not a fan of DIY home improvement projects!

[@steveobarnes]

No one cares what a house looks like. They care about proximity to good jobs, school, and amenities. They would live in the ugliest house possible if it meant they could forward two of the other things I mentioned. If you want to tell other people how they can live their life call up Benedict Arnold and tell him you’re ready for round 2.

[@SFSCharles]

Thanks for letting us know about that. I'm going to call HGTV right now and tell them to cancel season five of "Unsellable Houses." Apparently, they've got it all wrong.