OHA Market Update Series - May 15, 2025
National: Decluttering is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to boost your home’s value and help it sell faster. Even better—you can sell unused items to fund repairs or upgrades before listing.
Local: Austin’s rental market is shifting as leasing activity slows and supply climbs, giving renters more options and bargaining power. At the same time, nearly half of sellers are offering concessions to buyers—putting both renters and buyers in a stronger position this season.
Intrigued? Keep reading.
(4 minute read)
National Real Estate Update
Housing Trends, Interest Rates, and Market Forecasts
How Decluttering Can Boost Your Home’s Value by $100K (And Help It Sell Faster)
When you're prepping your home to sell, one of the easiest and most impactful things you can do is declutter. It doesn’t just make your home look better in person—it makes it shine in listing photos, which is where buyers get their first impression. I’ve seen firsthand how a few too many items lying around can make a space feel smaller and less inviting.
Brokers estimate that simply tidying up added $100,000 in perceived value to a home. That’s not paint or renovations—just clearing out the extra stuff. And in that case, the home sold within three days for full asking. Numbers don’t lie: 99% of agents say clutter hurts property value, and clean homes sell twice as fast.
Beyond helping your home show better, you might be sitting on some serious cash. That old furniture, vintage rugs, unused jewelry, or even boxed-up Lego sets can be sold to help cover moving costs or pre-listing touch-ups like paint or light landscaping.
A few highlights:
Furniture: Older pieces (especially real wood) can be valuable to antique buyers.
Rugs: Silk or woven rugs might be worth way more than you think.
Closets: A clean closet looks like better storage—and buyers notice.
Jewelry: Always worth getting a professional appraisal before you let it go.
Games, CDs, DVDs: There’s still a market, especially for vintage stuff.
And that extra cash? Put it to work. A coat of paint, some minor repairs, or sprucing up the yard can help avoid buyer concessions and boost your home’s value. The ROI on paint alone can be over 100%.
Decluttering isn’t just about making your place look good—it’s a smart financial move when it comes time to sell.
OHA’s HOT TAKE:
Thinking about selling soon? Start with decluttering—it’s low-cost, high-impact, and can seriously boost your bottom line. Want help figuring out what to tackle first or how to make your home market-ready? Let’s connect—We’d be happy to walk you through it.
Austin Area Real Estate & Community Update:
Market Trends, Local News, and Neighborhood Insights
April 2025 Austin Housing Update: Renters Gaining Leverage as Seller Concessions Hit New Highs
🌟 April 2025 Austin Rental Market Snapshot for Renters 🌟
As summer approaches, the Austin rental market is shifting—and renters have more options than ever! 🏡
📉 Leasing activity for single-family rentals is down nearly 8%, giving renters more time and space to shop around and negotiate.
📈 Landlords are still listing confidently, with new listings up 4.37%. More choices = more power for renters.
💵 Rents are holding steady—average prices ticked up slightly to $2,643, but median prices actually dipped a bit, landing at $2,295.
⏳ Homes are sitting on the market for 38 days on average, giving you extra time to explore your best fit.
🏘️ Duplex rents saw the biggest softening: average prices fell 2.8% to $1,840, and units are taking longer to lease—now averaging 52 days on the market.
What this means for you:
If you’re a renter in Austin, it’s your season to shine. Increased supply, price stability, and longer market times mean more room to negotiate, more homes to choose from, and a better chance of finding a place that fits your lifestyle and budget.
🔍 Homebuyers Are Getting Help Too
Concessions aren’t just for renters—buyers are benefitting as well. In Q1 of 2025, nearly 45.3% of homes sold in Austin included a seller concession, meaning the seller chipped in to help with the buyer’s closing costs, repairs, or other expenses. That’s up slightly from last year and mirrors a national trend, with over 44% of U.S. home sales including concessions.
💡 What this means for you: Whether you're renting or buying, it's a great time to explore your options, ask questions, and know your negotiating power. Deals are out there—and the market is giving savvy movers more flexibility than we've seen in years.
OHA’s HOT TAKE:
✨ Looking for your next place? Now’s a great time to explore the market and make your move before peak summer competition kicks in!
Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on these changes as they arise in the Austin area! 🏡✨
Jennifer Carey
Realtor and Agent Success Manager at Open House Austin, real estate investor, and renovation enthusiast with Wimberley Airbnbs. She loves mid-century modern design, hiking Austin with her dogs, yoga and pilates, and has been enjoying gardening at her new home in East Austin🎶✨
