AUSTIN, Texas - s4story -- First-time buyers looking at buying a home in Austin under $450,000 have more room to negotiate than the headlines suggest, according to a new look at Unlock MLS data by Sarah Maddali, REALTOR® and team leader of Serendipity Realty Group at Compass. In the 30 days ending Nov. 2, 2026, South Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown and Leander each had 6 to 7.5 months of supply, based on Unlock MLS data pulled by Serendipity Realty Group.

The Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University considers 6 to 6.5 months of supply a balanced market. Round Rock sat at 6.0 months with a $394,500 median close price, South Austin at 6.9 months and $411,500, Georgetown at 7.0 months and $415,000, and Leander at 7.5 months and $443,000.

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Timing still matters. In South Austin, homes that sold in their first week closed at 99.1% of original list price, while homes listed 120 days or more closed at 87.9%, a gap of about $46,000 on the median. Georgetown showed a similar split, 99.3% versus 85.4%.

"First-time buyers keep telling me they feel priced out, and in a lot of these areas the numbers say they have more leverage than they think," said Maddali. "Get fully pre-approved first, then look hard at the homes that have been sitting. That's where you can ask for closing costs or repairs and actually get them."

What first-time home buyers in Austin can do this month:
- Compare months of supply, not just price, for every area on your list.
- Ask how long a home has been listed and whether the price has changed.
- Get pre-approved before you tour so you can move fast on the right home.

Free Austin home buyer guides are available at https://sarahmaddali.com/links/.

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About Serendipity Realty Group
Serendipity Realty Group is an Austin, Texas real estate team led by Sarah Maddali, REALTOR® and Military Relocation Professional (MRP). Before real estate, Sarah worked in physical therapy, and she moved into real estate after her own first home purchase left her feeling like nobody was in her corner. Since 2016, Sarah and her team have closed 220+ transactions and helped flip 22+ homes around Austin, and she has been recognized by Austin Real Producers. The team helps first-time home buyers, relocating families and sellers across Austin, South Austin and the surrounding Hill Country. Serendipity Realty Group is a real estate team affiliated with Compass. Equal Housing Opportunity.