Driving It Home with Unlock MLS

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Deputy Director of Government Affairs Taylor Smith discuss the details of ABoR Advocacy, which is guided by two central documents: the Public Policy Principles (updated every five years) and the annual Public Policy Agenda. These documents prioritize areas like private property rights, strategic land use, and business practices, aiming to add...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Danielle Hammett discuss how  UnlockStats  streamlines tasks by providing pre-programmed charts and user-friendly dashboards in seconds. This robust platform allows agents to generate customized insights in real time, helping them communicate trends and make informed recommendations to clients. Dr. Knapp and Danielle dive into the practical u...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Unlock MLS Housing Economist Dr. Clare Knapp and ABoR & Unlock MLS CEO Emily Chenevert discuss the state of the Austin housing and leasing markets as 2024 comes to a close. They begin by reminding listeners of the upcoming holiday season and the importance of completing their Code of Ethics by the Dec. 31 deadline. As they delve into market dynamics, they hi...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Housing Economist Dr. Clare Knapp and Deputy Director of Communications Danielle Hammett, discuss the October housing market data for Central Texas. Dr. Knapp reveals that closed sales and median sales prices are relatively flat on a year-over-year basis, with only a slight decrease in both metrics. She notes a peak in active listings, suggesting inventory may s...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Danielle Hammett focus on the potential impact of the presidential election on the housing market, especially in Austin. Dr. Knapp explains that while there's an assumption that elections influence the economy and, by extension, the housing market, the Federal Reserve’s role in setting interest rates generally limits any direct impact. Mortga...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Unlock MLS Housing Economist Dr. Clare Knapp and ABoR & Unlock MLS CMO Kelea Youngblood discuss ABoR’s global real estate initiatives, highlighting the organization’s recent efforts to expand its international reach. Kelea recounts the recent trip to Milan with other ABoR representatives to attend an international MLS conference, where they networked with gl...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Kelea Youngblood discuss the recently released September Housing Report , focusing on the real estate trends in the Austin market. They begin by addressing the headline numbers, highlighting a slight 3% decline in closed sales and a 7% drop in median sales prices, now sitting at approximately $425,000. Despite these declines, Dr. Knapp emphas...

In this episode of Driving It Home, ABoR Deputy Director of Communications Danielle Hammett  covers several key announcements from the recent Central Texas Housing Summit and updates on the local housing market. She highlights the launch of  UnlockStats , a new customizable data reporting tool for Unlock MLS subscribers, and the upcoming  Data Share with Houston Association of REALTORS® and the Sa...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Kelea Youngblood discuss the dynamics of the Austin housing market, particularly focusing on sellers and their home equity. Kelea begins by highlighting that sellers are keen on retaining the significant home equity gains accumulated during the pandemic, which is still evident in the high home prices. Dr. Knapp explains that despite a moderat...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert discuss the recent Federal Reserve rate cut of 50 basis points, the first in more than four years. They explore its potential impact on the Austin labor market, which has seen contraction over the past year. Although unemployment remains low, job growth has stagnated, particularly in the professional and business services sect...

In this episode, Emily Chenevert and Dr. Clare Knapp discuss the current state of the Austin housing market. Emily kicks off by mentioning the recent NAR-mandated MLS rules changes, and highlights the recent Market Shift Conversations event that Unlock MLS has been hosting. Dr. Clare Knapp provides a detailed update on home sales and prices, stating that while home sales are down just over 3% and...

Today’s podcast episode centers around key economic data, the housing market, and predictions for interest rate changes. ABoR & Unlock MLS CMO Kelea Youngblood and Unlock MLS Economist Dr. Clare Knapp begin by discussing the release of recent jobs data and upcoming inflation data, which will guide Federal Reserve decisions. Dr. Knapp anticipates a 25-basis-point cut in interest rates but notes...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert discuss the recent decline in mortgage rates and its impact on the housing market. The conversation highlights that mortgage rates have dropped from around 7% in early July to approximately 6.35% by late August. While this reduction has increased buyers' purchasing power slightly, it has not significantly altered the marke...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Danielle Hammett, Deputy Director of Communications at ABoR, discuss the current state of Austin's rental market, comparing it to other metropolitan areas and exploring its implications for 2024. Dr. Knapp explains that Austin's rental market is slightly skewed toward renters, partly due to the city's major educational institution...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert discuss the recent changes to Unlock MLS rules and the current challenges in the housing market. Emily emphasizes the importance of staying informed through the resources provided by ABoR, such as classes and events, to help members stay competitive. The episode also highlights the value of the Buyer's Agent Portfolio publ...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert discuss the latest real estate market stats for Central Texas, focusing on the slight decline in overall closed sales, which were down by 3.5% in the MSA. A significant factor was the 12% decline in sales within Travis County, although outlying counties like Williamson, Hayes, Caldwell, and Bastrop saw an uptick in sales. Desp...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert discuss the latest economic developments, particularly focusing on the recent jobs report and its impact on the housing market. The conversation highlights the rise in the unemployment rate to 4.3%, a three-year high, and the addition of fewer new jobs than expected. These factors, along with the market's anticipation of p...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Deputy Director of Government Affairs, Taylor Smith , discuss the current real estate market dynamics in the Austin area, focusing on seller expectations, new home construction, and leasing trends. Sellers are holding onto significant home equity gains, with prices up 30-40% compared to 2019. However, there is a reluctance to adjust prices in...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert discuss the recent mid-year ⁠ housing statistics for June ⁠ , focusing on more detailed granular data. They emphasize the importance of understanding these nuances to better navigate the current housing market and help clients make informed decisions. Dr. Knapp provides insights into the areas within the MSA where home prices...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert discuss the recent mid-year housing statistics for June , focusing on more detailed granular data. They emphasize the importance of understanding these nuances to better navigate the current housing market and help clients make informed decisions. Dr. Knapp provides insights into the areas within the MSA where home prices have...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert delve into the upcoming June housing statistics. They highlight a significant expected decline in home sales by 15-20% year-over-year, while median sales prices have remained relatively stable, only dropping about 5%. This discrepancy raises questions about whether this sales drop is an anomaly or a trend for the rest of the y...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Emily Chenevert reflect on last week’s Market Shift Conversations program featuring special guest, Marki Lemons-Ryhal. They highlight the new  Buyer’s Agent Portfolio released during the event that includes research on Austin's demographics and leasing, plus a mid-year review and a Buy vs. Rent Index Addendum.   Dr. Clare Knapp provides i...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp co-hosts with ABoR Deputy Director of Government Affairs, Taylor Smith. The two dive into the HOME Initiative, which aims to address housing affordability in Austin with two phases: first is to allow three units by right on all residential lots (approved December 2023) and second, to reduce minimum lot size from 5,750 to 1,800 square feet (approv...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Danielle Hammett delve into the complexities of the current housing market, exploring whether it is a buyer's or seller's market. Dr. Knapp explains that the market doesn't fit neatly into either category due to various factors, including elevated mortgage rates, increased active listings, and high home prices. These elements crea...

In this episode of Driving It Home, Dr. Clare Knapp and Danielle Hammett discuss the state of the housing market as of May 2024. Danielle opens by noting the end of May and the imminent release May's Central Texas Housing Report. Dr. Knapp highlights the significant impact of mortgage rates on the national housing market, noting their fluctuation between the high six and low seven percent rang...