What Austin Roofers Are Actually Charging After Hail Season and How Long the Wait Is
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By James Hartley ·
Section
Home & Property
Local home & property news and services in Austin, TX.
Latest in Home & Property
What Austin's Current Drought Stage Means for Your Yard, Sprinklers, and Water Bill
Austin Water's outdoor watering rules are triggered by a number on a gauge at Lake Travis, not by a bureaucrat's judgment call. Here's what that number means for your lawn right now, and what happe…
By James Hartley ·
What Every Line on Your July Austin Energy Bill Actually Means
Austin households are opening electricity statements this week. Here's what each charge actually is, which ones are fixed, and which ones you can do something about — in the order they appear on yo…
By James Hartley ·
What Austin Renters Can Do When a Landlord Won't Fix the AC in Extreme Heat
Texas law gives renters a mandatory repair window, a deduction right, and a legal exit. Most tenants don't know them. Most landlords count on that.
By James Hartley ·
What Austin's Expansive Clay Is Doing to Foundations Right Now and When to Call Someone
If you've found a crack in your foundation or interior walls this summer, you're not imagining things and you're not alone. Austin foundations move during dry summers — not because houses are falli…
By James Hartley ·
What Austin's New Zoning Code Actually Lets You Build in Your Backyard
Nearly every search result you'll find about Austin ADU rules is wrong. Not because the writers made things up, but because the code rewrote itself. HOME Phase 2 took effect in August 2024, unlocki…
By James Hartley ·
How to Protest Your Travis County Property Tax Appraisal in 2026
Every April, Travis County property owners open a Notice of Appraised Value from the Travis County Appraisal District and face the same decision: accept the number or fight it. Most accept it. That…
By James Hartley ·
What Closing Costs Actually Look Like on an Austin Home Purchase Right Now
From Travis County recording fees to Texas's fixed title insurance rates, here's what to expect on your Closing Disclosure — and what's negotiable in today's market.
By Sarah Okonkwo ·
What the Travis County Homestead Exemption Covers and Saves You
Austin homeowners on a median-value home are leaving roughly $1,700–$2,000 a year on the table. Here's who qualifies, what the dollar savings look like on a real Travis County home, and the one doc…
By Sarah Okonkwo ·
Is It Cheaper to Rent or Buy in Austin in 2026 If You Plan to Stay Five Years?
The honest answer, built from Travis County tax rolls and actual submarket rents, is that five years puts you right at the knife's edge. Which side you land on depends almost entirely on your appre…
By Diana Park ·
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Pool in Austin in 2026
From DSD permit backlogs to limestone blasting fees to your Austin Water bill spike, here's the full financial picture before you sign anything.
By James Hartley ·
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