TJ Theis - Austin Real Estate Broker

10/12/2026

“Should I buy right now?” is the question I hear most.
The honest answer: it depends on you, not the headlines.
So I put together a guide that walks through the six questions worth answering first — from whether this is actually a buyer's market to whether you should wait for rates to drop.
No pressure, no pitch. Just the numbers and the trade-offs.
Comment “GUIDE” and I'll send you a copy.

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

10/07/2026

What if you could keep the same monthly payment and still buy more home?
That's what a permanent rate buydown can do. You pay points at closing, your rate drops for all 30 years, and lenders qualify you at that lower rate.
And in this market, the seller can often help pay for it.
Point pricing varies by lender and credit, so the real numbers depend on you.
Want to see what a buydown could do for your budget? Send me a message.

09/14/2026

A lot can happen in a housing market over 10 years.
A single year rarely tells the whole story. This graphic shows local appreciation year by year and what those changes could mean for a home purchased at the beginning of the period.
Of course, every home is different. Location, condition, improvements, and property type all matter.
If you’ve owned your home for several years, there’s an important question to ask:
How much has YOUR home changed in value, and how much equity might you have today?
Send me your address and I can help you take a closer look.

09/12/2026

What happens when you zoom out and look at housing costs over 10 years instead of one month?
This example compares two paths: renting versus buying and building equity through appreciation and principal paid.
Buying isn’t automatically right for everyone, but if you’ve been renting for a while, it’s worth seeing what the numbers look like for you.
Want to compare?
Comment “RENT” or DM me for the Rent vs. Buy Calculator.

09/10/2026

Every second counts in the housing market when there's so much demand for a relatively low supply of homes. DM me to learn more about how getting pre-approved before starting your home search will make you agile enough to sn**ch up your dream home before anyone else can.

09/08/2026

Rates feel high. But what are we comparing them to?
For many buyers, it’s 2020–2021, when mortgage rates were historically unusual. Zoom out across decades of rate history and the picture looks very different.
That doesn’t mean today’s rates are affordable for everyone, or that rates won’t change. But if you’re waiting for a specific rate, it’s worth asking:
How common has that rate actually been?
What mortgage rate are you waiting for?
Drop your number below.

08/07/2026

Nearly one in five active listings in the U.S. has taken a price cut, so sellers are already negotiating.
But a lower price isn’t the only thing a buyer can ask for.
If a seller is willing to negotiate, the next question is how you want to use that opportunity.
In this example, the same seller credit can be used in two bigger ways: toward a temporary 2-1 buydown or toward closing costs.
A price cut is still an option—but it often creates the smallest monthly change.
The best strategy depends on whether you want more monthly relief or less cash due at closing.
Let’s run the numbers and see which option fits you best.

08/05/2026

Has your rent increased in the last two years?
Rent has nearly tripled since 2000—and a significant portion of that increase has happened since 2020.
That doesn’t automatically mean buying is the right move for everyone.
But if your rent keeps increasing, it may be worth comparing what you’re paying now with a realistic homeownership scenario.
Comment “RENT” if you’d like me to run a simple rent-versus-own comparison.