Driving It Home with Unlock MLS

Market Research Advisor Vaike O'Grady breaks down the top five ZIP codes driving May 2026 volume. Then CEO Emily Girard and Deputy Director of Government Affairs Taylor Smith unpack the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, one of the most significant federal housing legislation in nearly 20 years, and what its 50-plus provisions mean for Central Texas buyers, builders, and agents.   Mentioned in...

Price corrections are holding — and spring momentum is proving it's not a fluke. Market Research Advisor Vaike O'Grady joins Deputy Director of Government Affairs Taylor Smith to break down two consecutive months of double-digit pending sales growth, why 2019 is the right benchmark, inventory falling 16.6% from last year's peak, and why Travis County's 20% pending sales surge may b...

Price corrections are working — and the buyers are back. Market Research Advisor Vaike O'Grady joins Deputy Director of Government Affairs Taylor Smith to break down closed sales surging 33–45% in San Marcos, Marble Falls, and Lockhart, Wimberley's surprising 32% median price jump, Austin crossing one million residents, and why April's data may signal the MSA's turning point.   Men...

Resale and new construction are behaving like two different markets. Unlock MLS Market Research Advisor Vaike O'Grady joins CMO Kelea Youngblood to break down April's $65,000 price gap between segments, pending sales surging 15.4% across the MSA, Hays County's surprise 8.8% price jump, and Austin officially crossing one million residents.   Mentioned in the episode:  April 2026 Market...

The affordable market isn't gone - it's moved. Vaike O'Grady kicks things off with a zip-code-level breakdown of where sub-$300K sales are happening in Central Texas right now (Kyle, Jarrell, Elgin, and a few surprises). Then Emily sits down with Taylor Smith, Deputy Director of Government Affairs, to dig into Unlock MLS and ABoR's brand-new HOME Impact Report — measuring whether A...

Q1 looks flat — until you remember what Q1 2025 looked like. Vaike O'Grady and Kelea Youngblood break down March's spring rebound, Austin's surprise job growth revision, and why the national "frozen market" narrative doesn't match what the data is showing in Central Texas. Links mentioned in the episode:  AustinHomeSearch.com https://AustinHomeSearch.com Free Subscription...

The Central Texas market's March headline? Momentum. Vaike O'Grady joins host Kelea Youngblood to break down what's moving the market — starting with five things every agent should know: Elon Musk's proposed Tesla Terafab in Travis County, Oracle's sweeping layoffs, a Pew Research report validating Austin's supply story, the best week of the year to list nationally (hint: i...

Property tax season is here. TCAD Chief Appraiser Leanna Mann joins Emily to demystify how your property value gets set, how to protest it, and why a homestead exemption is worth understanding. Plus Vaike O'Grady opens with a local market update — zip code spotlights, Austin's development reform push, and where the rental market is settling. Links mentioned in the episode: Property Protest...

Is the bottom behind us? In this episode of the Unlock MLS Market Update Podcast , market research advisor Vaike O'Grady walks through the February 2026 Central Texas housing market — and the signs are worth paying attention to. From December's cyclical lows to back-to-back monthly gains in pending sales and close-to-list ratios, the data is telling an encouraging story. Tune in for the fu...

This week on Driving It Home , we’re trying something new — starting with a quick, hyperlocal market pulse from Vaike O’Grady: five minutes, three headlines you need to know right now in Central Texas real estate. Then Emily Girard sits down with Taylor Smith  to talk about how affordability is playing out in Austin, and the things our local leaders are doing to keep an eye on it overall. Links me...

In this month’s Unlock MLS Market Update, we take a closer look at how the Central Texas housing market is evolving as we moved from December into January — and how today’s conditions compare to this time last year. We unpack sales and leasing momentum, explain why pricing strategy matters more than ever, and share ZIP-level snapshots that highlight where homes are still moving and where sellers r...

December 2025 didn’t deliver a rebound but it did deliver clarity. In the latest Unlock MLS Market Update Podcast , we break down where the Central Texas housing market actually landed at the end of 2025. From realistic pricing and balanced inventory to patient buyers and a rental market driven by payment certainty, this episode explains why Austin is entering 2026 on steadier ground — and what th...

In this episode of Driving it Home , Emily and Market Research Advisor Vaike O’Grady break down what the latest data reveals about Austin’s housing market. The conversation looks back at how 2025 unfolded—from shifting buyer behavior to rising inventory—and explores what those trends signal for 2026. It’s a grounded, data-driven discussion focused on clarity, context, and what comes next for Centr...

In this episode of Driving it Home , Emily and Market Research Advisor Vaike O’Grady take a clear-eyed look back at Austin’s 2025 housing market. From slower sales and rising inventory to new home activity to surprisingly steady prices, the data shows a market that behaved largely as expected amid higher rates and economic uncertainty. The conversation sets the stage for what stability—and selecti...

Prop Q made headlines — but what actually happened? Emily Girard sits down with Taylor Smith to unpack the vote, the budget changes that followed, and what it all means for housing, affordability, and the future of Austin. Get the facts and the key takeaways real estate professionals need to know.

This new Unlock MLS episode breaks down Q3 trends, Austin’s October stability, fresh job market signals, and NAR’s latest 2026 outlook. Vaike and Danielle share what agents need to know now — and why there’s reason for optimism heading into the new year. Mentioned Links: Market Research and Statistics https://www.unlockmls.com/stats UnlockMLS Stats ⁠ https://www.unlockmls.com/unlockstats  

This month’s episode of Driving It Home cuts through one of the noisiest economic months we’ve seen all year. Between the federal shutdown, delayed data, shifting mortgage-rate expectations, and some surprising wins for Central Texas—from Samsung’s supplier expansion to major growth at ABIA—we break down what really mattered for Austin’s October housing market. If your clients are asking what’s ha...

In this episode of Driving It Home , Kelea Youngblood and Vaike O’Grady discuss the Fed’s recent rate cut, the unexpected rise in mortgage rates, and national home sale cancellations. placing it all in context with Austin’s continued economic strength and the region’s steady, well-balanced housing market.

Emily Girard hosts a special episode of 'Driving at Home,' featuring highlights from the Central Texas Housing Summit's advocacy panel. Industry leaders discuss the key drivers of regional growth, including business recruitment, population growth, and infrastructure investment. They also address the impact of economic development on housing demand and the challenges of maintaining affo...

In this episode of Driving at Home , we take an early look at September’s Central Texas Housing Market report.

The federal government has shut down, and it's not just a political headline—it has real implications for your transactions. In this critical episode recorded on Day 1 of the shutdown, Emily and Taylor break down exactly how the shutdown affects real estate and mortgage services, from the National Flood Insurance Program (threatening 1,400 transactions per day) to FHA condo approvals, USDA loa...

UnlockMLS brings you key takeaways from the recent Central Texas Housing Summit featuring Vaike O'Grady. This data-packed episode covers how Central Texas is growing, the current state of our housing market, and actionable statistics you can share with clients. Grab a pen and paper, and check the show notes for Vaike's presentation materials to follow along. If you're interested in div...

UnlockMLS brings you key takeaways from the recent Central Texas Housing Summit featuring Hannah Jones. This data-packed episode covers how Central Texas is growing, the current state of our housing market, and actionable statistics you can share with clients. Grab a pen and paper, and check the show notes for Hannah's presentation materials to follow along. If you're interested in diving...

In August, the weather is hot but the Austin housing market has cooled off.  However, demand is building beneath the surface. In this episode, we break down the highlights from the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin’s Mid-Year Forecast, and how new home activity is shifting. We also unpack the latest economic data and what the Federal Reserve’s upcoming September meeting could mean for mo...

In this month’s Unlock MLS Market Update Podcast, Kelea Youngblood and Vaike O’Grady spotlight the July 2025 housing stats that bucked the trend. Pending sales surged more than 15% across the metro — and over 22% in Austin — even as overall sales slowed. City prices climbed while the broader market dipped, inventory hit multi-year highs, and county-level data revealed sharp contrasts in market per...