Mark McClendon

Meritage's Austin Inventory Crunch: Spring 2026 Pivot That Could Echo Across Texas Markets Real estate is defined by cycles, but there are moments when that cycle takes a sharp turn. Meritage’s current inventory crunch in Austin is one of those moments. Spring 2026 is on the horizon. What now feels like a local supply challenge may very well set off meaningful ripples across Texas markets. We know the pulse of Austin beats hard. Its pain points and pivots have a way of radiating far beyond city limits, reshaping the entire region. Let me share a moment that sticks with me. Years ago, in a different market, I watched an unexpected shortfall in inventory drive not just innovation, but collaboration among unlikely partners. Builders, agents, and communities stepped up. We had to course-correct quickly. Solutions demanded more than operational agility; they required empathy and a willingness to serve beyond our own immediate interests. That level of service will be Austin’s test, and by extension, Texas’s. It’s easy to default into defense when resources feel scarce. But the real leaders, the ones who create lasting value, stay focused on serving others and keep growing through the headwinds. Here are a few ways we can rise to this moment: - Serve relentlessly. See clients, partners, and competitors as humans first. Everyone is navigating uncertainty. - Embrace discomfort. Solutions worth building usually stretch us further than we expect. - Scan your peripherals. Tunnel vision on inventory numbers can blind us to the opportunities and needs just outside the core problem. Innovation happens at the edge of uncertainty. If we stay aware, keep challenging ourselves, and serve the people in front of us, Austin’s crunch could become Texas’s blueprint for resilience. What pivot will you make today so that, when the cycle shifts again, you are ready in both heart and strategy? Sarah Cook CMO NewHomesDirectory.com

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Why are mortgage rate buydowns so critical in today's new home market? In Zonda’s July survey of homebuilding (S/O to Bryan Glasshagel for the awesome data) Division President across Texas, nearly 70% of respondents indicated that affordability is still holding buyers back. For many buyers, affordability isn't the price of the home, but the amount of the monthly housing payment. 💸 What moves the dial the most on that front? Mortgage rate buydowns. Most builders in the survey indicated that they are buying rates down to the high 4.0% or low 5.0% range. For Example: On a $500,000 home ($400,000 mortgage), buying the rate down from 6.75% to 4.75% saves a homebuyer over $500 per month (payment drops from $2,594 to $2,087). That rate buydown would likely cost the builder about 8 to 10 points (percent) of the mortgage amount or roughly $32,000 to $40,000. What would it take to get to the same lower housing payment via a reduction in home price? Almost a $98,000 or 20% drop in home price. More than 2x the cost of a mortgage rate buydown to the builder. Buydowns offer more bang for the buck by a wide margin. This math also explains why the resale market doesn't offer a lot of competition right now when it comes to payment sensitive buyers. A $25,000 "price improvement" does not move the monthly housing payment dial. It won't last forever, but this represents a huge competitive advantage for the new home market. Builders love (brings in buyers) / hate (erodes margins) relationship with buydowns is here to stay for now. Big thing to watch in the back half of 2025 is consumer confidence. Builders can have all right incentives in place, but if buyers aren't confident in their outlook about the economy or their jobs/income, they will stay on the sidelines. We saw that play out this spring.

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Hi! 👋 Jeff from IR here! DFW multifamily isn't slowing down. It's evolving. Here's what I'm seeing in the data for 2026: 📊 Rent growth is stabilizing at 3-4% YoY across Class B/C properties 📊 Value-add deal flow is UP — buyers are targeting 1980s-2000s vintage assets 📊 Renovation ROI timelines are compressing — tenants are paying premiums for modern finishes FASTER than ever 📊 The DFW metro added 70K+ jobs in the last 12 months. People need places to live. What does this mean for property owners? The window for value-add renovation is WIDE OPEN. Properties that looked "fine" 3 years ago are now losing tenants to renovated comps down the street. The rent gap between unrenovated and renovated Class B units in DFW is averaging $175-$250/month. That's not a trend. That's a mandate. If you own multifamily in DFW and haven't started your renovation strategy, your competitor already has.

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🚀 Fort Worth innovator Reannah Glover, with 12+ years of experience and over $140M in closed deals, has launched The Real Time App — a new platform designed to transform the way Realtors and clients navigate the home buying and selling process. By eliminating scattered emails, texts, and spreadsheets, Real Time App provides a seamless, stress-free transaction experience — keeping everyone on the same page, in real time. 📲 Tested by early adopters, the app has already proven to improve efficiency, elevate client satisfaction, and give Realtors a competitive edge. 👉 Learn more about how Real Time App is simplifying real estate transactions at The Business Press website: https://lnkd.in/gCm8NB58

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Dallas Housing Market Update — Summer 2025 The Dallas–Fort Worth housing market is shifting from its red-hot peak toward a more balanced playing field. Here’s what buyers, sellers, and partners should know: Inventory Rising - DFW housing supply is up 53% year-over-year - More than half of homes now sell below asking price Prices + Sales - Dallas median home price: $451K (+1.8% YoY) - Across DFW, prices dipped slightly (–1.75%) while sales fell ~2.5% - Forecast: 4–6% price growth in 2025 Balance Returning - Buyers gain more options + negotiating power - Sellers still see strong demand in hot suburbs like Frisco, Plano, McKinney Why Dallas Stays Strong - Fast-growing population - Diverse economy - Nearly 72,000 new housing units approved in 2024 Affordability Alert - Dallas has now surpassed Austin as Texas’s most expensive rental market Takeaway: Buyers have more leverage, sellers need smart pricing, and Dallas remains one of the strongest long-term real estate markets in the U.S. At MH Title, we’re here to guide clients through these shifts and deliver smooth, stress-free closings.

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