Driving It Home with Unlock MLS

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 Statistics: https://unlockmls.com/stats

Flex by Unlock MLS: https://unlockmls.com/flex

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 Austin's landmark housing reform is actually working. Spoiler: the data says yes. 

Plus, what agents need to know about upcoming City Council action and how to tap into the advocacy team directly.

Mentioned in the episode: 

Unlock MLS Research Page + HOME Impact Report https://www.unlockmls.com/research

Advocacy Office Hours — May 20th, ABoR HQ, 10AM–1PM  https://www.unlockmls.com/event/abor-advocacy-office-hours

Live from City Hall Newsletter https://www.abor.com/livefromcityhall

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 to Austin Business Journal for ABoR Members: https://www.unlockmls.com/abj
• Market Data & UnlockStats Lab: https://www.unlockmls.com/classes-and-events?location&categories&participants.name&format×&sea…
• UnlockStats: https://www.unlockmls.com/unlockstats
• Market Research & Statistics: https://www.unlockmls.com/stats
• Opportunity Austin Job Growth Report: https://opportunityaustin.com/austin-region-job-growth-unemployment-update-april-2026/

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: it's next week), and nearly 4,300 homes planned in Georgetown. 

Then the March numbers: pending sales are surging, inventory is pulling back, and the rental supply peak may finally be behind us. Plus — don't miss the ABoR Industry Awards Midnight Cowboy Gala on May 1st.

Links mentioned in the episode: 

Unlock MLS Research Page https://www.unlockmls.com/research

Flex by Unlock MLS https://www.unlockmls.com/flex

Industry Awards https://www.unlockmls.com/industryawards

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 Resources https://www.unlockmls.com/propertyprotest

• Unlock MLS Research Page ⁠https://www.unlockmls.com/research

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 full picture and what it may mean for buyers, sellers, and their agents.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Central Texas Housing Market Statistics https://www.unlockmls.com/stats
• Flex Listings https://www.unlockmls.com/flex
• Unlock MLS Research Page https://www.unlockmls.com/research

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 mentioned in the episode:

• Austin household growth (NAR): https://www.nar.realtor/blogs/economists-outlook/austin-tx-one-of-the-fastest-growing-areas-for-households-in-the-country-over-the-past-decade

• Austin named top capital city to live in (Realtor.com): https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/best-state-capitals-to-live-2026/

• Opportunity Austin / 3billion announcement: https://opportunityaustin.com/3billion/

• Voter resource hub: https://unlockmls.com/vote

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 retain leverage. It’s a practical, data-informed conversation designed to help agents price, position, and advise clients with confidence in today’s market.

Links:

• Unlock Stats 
• Unlock Stats Lab registration
• Broker Forum

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 that means for agents, buyers, and sellers navigating what comes next.

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 Central Texas real estate.