The city’s proposed overhaul of regulations for short-term rental properties could tighten licensing requirements, impose new restrictions on ownership, and shift enforcement responsibilities onto rental platforms. Members of City Council and the Planning Commission got a detailed look at the possible changes last week during a joint meeting that served as the first public hearing […]
Housing
Posted inHousing
City needs up to eight permanent supportive housing projects per year to solve homeless housing
The city’s housing staff members acknowledge a need to accelerate the pace of new permanent supportive housing projects in the coming years to meet the long-term goal of 5,000 additional units over the next decade to address the long-term needs of people experiencing homelessness. At its latest meeting, City Council’s Public Health Committee reviewed the […]
Posted inDevelopment
Federal report shows city’s progress, shortfalls in addressing housing needs
A report recently submitted to the federal government offered a picture into how the city has progressed in achieving its housing goals using federal dollars, while also highlighting areas where improvement is needed to make sufficient progress on its most recent five-year housing plan. At its most recent meeting, the Community Development Commission (CDC) reviewed […]
Posted inHousing
U.S. accuses six landlords of rent price fixing. See which apartments they own in Austin.
Lee esta historia en español Tens of thousands of renters in the Austin area may have had their rents set by landlords accused of using software to illegally fix prices, according to a Department of Justice lawsuit and an analysis of data by KUT. Last summer, the Department of Justice sued Texas-based software company RealPage, accusing it of […]
Posted inHousing
City outlines proposed code changes to regulate short-term rentals
The city plans to move forward with an overhaul of its short-term rental regulations, with public hearings beginning next month to discuss the code amendments under consideration to manage the industry and collect Hotel Occupancy Tax from the more than 10,000 STRs believed to be operating throughout the area. The proposed changes are outlined in […]
Posted inHousing
Real estate trends point toward stable growth even after Austin loses ‘supernova’ status
While Austin has moved out of the “supernova” growth phase among real estate markets across the nation, real estate and development professionals expect the Central Texas region to remain a hot spot in 2025 for many types of construction and property development. Urban Land Institute Austin’s monthly breakfast panel last week looked at what’s forecast […]
Posted inHousing
Austin went on a land-buying spree in 2020. So far, little has been built on it.
Lee esta historia en español As Austin was coordinating Covid-19 test centers and trying to secure personal protective equipment at the start of the pandemic, it was also buying land. Lots of it. Thirteen acres by July 2020. Another 3 acres that fall. Six more acres in December. By the end of 2020, the city […]
Posted inHousing
After a decline last year, Travis County homeowners should expect a return to rising property taxes
Lee esta historia en español As Austin-area homeowners receive their latest property tax bills this winter, they should expect to see an increase. According to an analysis by the Travis County Tax Office, the average property tax bill this year for homeowners who live in their homes is $1,123 higher than last year, or about […]
Posted inHousing
HEB’s $1M donation to fund two affordable housing projects in East Austin
To aid in the construction of affordable housing in East Austin, HEB has announced a $1 million donation to Austin Habitat for Humanity to help fund two new clusters of affordable homes in East Austin. The grocery giant’s contribution will help fund construction on Habitat’s 126-unit Persimmon Point project, and the organization’s work at the […]
Posted inHousing
Eyeing statewide affordability, two new housing conservancy deals include move into Dallas
The Texas Housing Conservancy has closed two new deals for multifamily workforce housing properties, including a Dallas-area acquisition that marks its first step in expanding outside the Austin area. The nonprofit, which was founded five years ago as Affordable Central Texas and is dedicated to preserving affordable housing for middle-income renters, has completed the purchase […]
Posted inHousing
Austin opens new affordable housing development in Southeast Austin
Lee esta historia en español Just days before Thanksgiving, some older residents have another thing to be thankful for: a safe, affordable place to live. Tucked away in a corner of Southeast Austin sits the city’s newest affordable housing project, Ekos City Heights. The Austin Housing Finance Corporation and McDowell Housing Partners opened the new […]
Posted inHousing
City Council passes resolution prioritizing co-op housing for older people and people with disabilities
City Council passed a resolution Thursday directing the city manager to prioritize city-owned land for the development of income-restricted, shared-equity housing for older residents and people with disabilities, including options like cooperative housing and community land trusts. The resolution also called for prioritizing sites located near public transit corridors, particularly within equitable transit-oriented developments (ETODs). […]