Driving It Home with Unlock MLS

In the latest episode of Driving It Home , Emily interviews interim Market Research Advisor Vaike O’Grady, who breaks down the biggest takeaways from Unlock MLS’s June and Mid-Year 2025 Housing Report. Tune in to hear why the Austin market may be turning a corner, how lease activity is shifting, and what rising inventory means for buyers and sellers in the months ahead. Whether you're an agent...

How does this work? Get ready for a special “passing the baton” edition of Driving it Home! Emily brings on Research Advisor Vaike O’Grady to fill in for Housing Economist Clare Knapp, who’s off on leave. You’ll hear Vaike’s journey from Texas to Florida, her unique boots-and-flip-flops perspective, and her plans to steer UnlockMLS research and stats through October. Together, they’ll unpack Austi...

In this episode, Kelea Youngblood, Chief Marketing Officer of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, recap a key national economic headline and its likely effect on the Austin housing market over the coming months. The two also unpack the local labor market--specifically, jobs growth and the highest- and lowest-performing job sectors-- as well as new construction in Austin vs. Tex...

In this episode, Emily Girard, CEO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, recap May monthly stats. Despite a continued YoY decline in sales and median sales price, May proved a more favorable month for the market amid a growing level of affordable inventory. The two also discuss high- and low-performing zip codes with respect to sales activity in the MSA.

In this episode, Emily Girard, CEO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, review key homeownership trends in honor of National Homeownership Month. With the median net worth of homeowners outpacing that of renters nearly 40 times over, the two unpack need-to-know information to impart to clients on the benefits of homeownership.

In this episode, Emily Girard, CEO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, review the Austin leasing market thus far in 2025. The two discuss lease activity in relation to sales activity, expectations for lease activity over the summer, and the most popular bedroom count desired by renters.

In this episode, Kelea Youngblood, CMO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, continue last episode’s discussion of the 2025 NAR Generational Trends Report, touching on major takeaways for listing agents and sellers.

In this episode, Emily Girard, CEO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, discuss the key takeaways for buyers’ agents from a recent report released by NAR on generational homebuying trends. Learn how to leverage your skills to their fullest based on the attributes of agents that buyers most value!

In this episode, Emily Girard, CEO of Unlock MLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, distill April housing stats. Major takeaways include a historically high level of inventory affordable to the average buyer and a YoY uptick in sales activity in areas primarily in areas south and east of the MSA. Emily and Clare also highlight a new research report that just dropped!

In this episode, Emily Girard, CEO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, discuss the effects of broader economic and policy movements on the national YoY decline in March home sales. Amid the pause in many of the previously announced tariffs, consumer confidence may eke up from recent lows, providing more of a boost to the housing market in the late spring.

In this episode, Emily Girard, CEO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, discuss the characteristics of homes that sold for their original list price in 1Q2025. The two unpack the differences between homes that sold for their original list price and sales that incurred at least one price drop in terms of price ranges, the number of days on market, and the number of open houses...

In this episode, Emily Girard, CEO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, discuss monthly and quarterly housing stats for the MSA. Year-over-year, the first quarter of 2025 saw a 9.1% decline in home sales, while the median sales price remained relatively steady, down 2.3%. Stubbornly high mortgage rates and a weaker local labor market weighed on the Austin housing market as se...

In this episode, Kelea Youngblood, Chief Marketing Officer of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, discuss the implications of the Fed's March meeting on mortgage rates and review the findings of an NAR report on minority homeownership. While the rate of minority homeownership increased from 2013 to 2023, disparities in affordability continue to drive lower rates of minority hom...

In this episode, Deputy Director of Communications of UnlockMLS and ABoR, Danielle Hammett, and Housing Economist, Clare Knapp, discuss last week’s market volatility and its implications for the Austin housing market. A rise in economic uncertainty from the enactment of tariffs and reciprocal tariffs led to a correction in the stock market and a significant drop in consumer confidence. Meanwhile,...

In this episode, Emily Chenevert, CEO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, discuss February housing stats for the MSA. Higher mortgage rates in December and January slowed sales activity and prices amid historically high levels of supply. The recent decline in mortgage rates will provide buyers with slightly more purchasing power heading into spring homebuying season. 

In this week's episode, CEO Emily Chenevert and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, discuss the current state of affordable housing in Austin, drawing distinction between owner- and renter-occupied housing. The two also discuss the trajectory of affordable housing in Austin over the past decade for moderate-income families. 

In this episode, Emily Chenevert, CEO, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist, discuss the current state of the national economy, projections for the course of the national economy over the rest of 2025, and implications for the Austin housing market amid the spring homebuying and selling season. The two also discuss the potential impacts of the proposed tariffs on aluminum and steel on housing afford...

In this episode, Kelea Youngblood, CMO of UnlockMLS and ABoR, discusses opportunities and challenges in the Austin housing market alongside Emily Chenevert, CEO, Taylor Smith, Deputy Director of Government Affairs, Danielle Hammett, Deputy Director of Communications, and Clare Knapp, Housing Economist. The five home in on these issues from an organization-wide focus and provide actionable ways lis...

Kelea Youngblood, Emily Chenevert, Danielle Hammett, Taylor Smith, and Clare Knapp discuss opportunities and obstacles facing both ABoR and the broader real estate industry. The five detail ways for members to harness ABoR communications, advocacy, and research initiatives to enhance business practices and interactions with clients. A run-down of new member benefits reveals that monthly leasing da...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Housing Economist Dr. Clare Knapp and Taylor Smith, Deputy Director of Government Affairs, discuss Texas property taxes and their impact on homeowners. Taylor explains the state’s unique tax system, where local governments collect property taxes for schools, roads, and public services. Despite recent $18 billion tax relief measures, including increased homestead...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert   review the December 2024 Central Texas Housing Report and reflect on overall market trends from the past year. They discuss a slight positive shift in the market in December, with closed sales up 2.5% and median prices showing a small increase of 1.5%. They also highlight a slowdown in the growth rate of active listings, wit...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Kelea Youngblood continue to explore predictions for the Austin housing market in 2025. Dr. Knapp anticipates a relatively flat market, similar to 2023 and 2024, with home prices and sales fluctuating between -5% to 5% year-over-year. This cautious outlook reflects the impact of high mortgage rates, a trepidatious Federal Reserve, and sellers...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Kelea Youngblood  kick off 2025 by examining the Austin housing market and forecasting the year ahead. Dr. Knapp predicts a stable market this year, mirroring 2024's conditions, with steady home prices and inventory levels. Although the market may feel stagnant to some, stability allows buyers and sellers to plan confidently. Dr. Knapp emphas...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Kelea Youngblood wrap up 2024 with a comprehensive overview of the Austin housing market, described as a "steady" year. Dr. Clare Knapp highlights key trends, including a modest decline in home sales and prices by less than 2% year over year. Elevated mortgage rates and persistent high home prices were major themes, with sellers still benefit...