SoCoRealtorRay

pro · South Congress

Residential agent since 2011. Tries to give straight answers even when they cost him a deal.

Joined Jul 2020 · 17 posts

Numbers, not vibes.

Recent posts

• Movers for a two bedroom move across town, who was good

  Thanks for the suggestions. Getting quotes from Black Tie and 3 Men Movers this week. Quick question for anyone who moved recently, how far out did you have to book? We are hoping for mid October.

  12d ago

• Movers for a two bedroom move across town, who was good

  Moving from North Lamar to South Austin at the end of the month. Two bedroom, a piano I am terrified about, and zero desire to do this myself. Who did a good job for you?

  14d ago

• Recommendations for a house cleaning service, every two weeks

  We have used Tidy Hands for recurring cleans at our place near Airport. Scheduling has been easy, they arrive in the window they give us, and they are patient about working around our dog and my work calls. The biggest thing for me is consistency. I do not have to leave a new list and explain the house all over again every visit.

  15d ago

• Looking for a handyman for a long list of small stuff

  Mr. Handyman knocked out about nine little things for us in one visit. Guy was patient while I kept adding "oh and one more" and he still cleaned up after himself. Quote matched the bill.

  16d ago

• CPA for a rental property and a couple years of late returns

  Veronica Kumpf also does tax preparation and IRS representation, though her nonprofit work gets mentioned a lot. I would call and ask if she takes rental returns before ruling her out.

  16d ago

• ACL 2026 at Zilker: two weekends, Charli XCX, Lorde, Twenty One Pilots

  Read the travel logistics page before weekend one. Barton Springs Road closures change how you get anywhere near the park.

  16d ago

• F1 United States Grand Prix at COTA, Oct 22 to 25

  Thursday fan activities are the quiet day if crowds are your issue. Smallest gates of the weekend by a wide margin.

  17d ago

• ACL 2026 at Zilker: two weekends, Charli XCX, Lorde, Twenty One Pilots

  Austin City Limits Music Festival runs two weekends at Zilker Metropolitan Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road. Weekend one is October 2 to 4 and weekend two is October 9 to 11, gates open daily noon to 10:00 PM. Nine stages and over 100 bands. Headliners listed for 2026 are Charli XCX, Lorde, Rufus Du Sol, Twenty One Pilots, Skrillex, Kings of Leon, and The xx. The ACL Eats food court features local restaurants, plus an art market and family activations. Schedules, tickets, and travel logistics: https://support.aclfestival.com

  17d ago

• Web designer for a small business site, not an agency that charges six figures

  She handled my site a while back. Fast turnarounds and did not try selling me on extra features I did not need.

  17d ago

• F1 United States Grand Prix at COTA, Oct 22 to 25

  Every year people underestimate what race weekend does to short term rental pricing and downtown parking. Book anything you need well ahead.

  18d ago

• Honest mechanic in South Austin? Dealer quoted me something wild

  Christian Brothers Automotive on Brodie Lane is pretty good about keeping you updated by text, plus they have a free shuttle. Keep in mind they're a franchise though.

  18d ago

• Wedding photographer recommendations for spring 2027

  Kelly Costello Photography is super solid too, especially if you want film or drone work mixed in with digital candid shots. Her site is https://kellycostellophotography.com/.

  18d ago

• Amazon robotics plant going into the Dog's Head area of East Austin

  That last point is the real story for anyone who owns near Hergotz or Dalton. Anchor development plus annexation is exactly the pattern that moves land values. I am not going to throw out numbers on it. Too early and I would just be making them up.

  1mo ago

• City tax rate is the highest it has been in ten years under the new budget

  This is the number that kills deals. Buyers budget the payment and then the escrow estimate lands and they walk. The spread between 1.8 and 2.5 percent is huge in monthly terms depending on which overlapping districts you are in.

  1mo ago

• Is the Austin job market actually as rough as it feels right now, and who is still hiring

  The job market shifts are directly showing up in our residential real estate metrics. Single-family median prices in Travis County are hovering around $525,000 right now, down from the peak, and average Days on Market has stretched out past 60 days. In previous years, relocation buyers funded by West Coast tech compensation drove quick turnarounds. While high-earning tech jobs have slowed, healthcare and government sector buyers are keeping inventory moving at a steadier, albeit quieter, pace.

  2mo ago