ATX PULSE 4/16/25 (free) (sponsored by No Scrubs): CenTex Region Home Prices Down 9.1% in Q1 ’25 from ’24 // City Officials Warn of ATX Flood Risk // Travis County: ‘Significant Increase’ in Child Abuse Cases // Del Valle ISD Facing $13M Deficit

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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TODAY’S WEATHER

H: 86° / L: 65°. Partly cloudy week, per Fox 7 Austin. Warm, gusty winds leading up to Easter weekend storms, per KXAN.

La Niña is over: What that means for spring rain, per KXAN.

TOP NEWS

“Here's how much Austin's home sales dropped in a year,” KVUE’s Morgan McGrath — “Home sales have dropped across Central Texas this year compared to the same time last year, according to recent data. 

Unlock MLS recently released its first quarter Central Texas Housing Report for 2025, which shows a 9.1% dip in house sales in five counties from January-March 2025 as opposed to the same three months of 2024. 

The report analyzed five counties, including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell, to determine the exact Year-over-Year (YoY) change.  

March saw a large shift, with 9.3% less sales but 9.5% new listings and nearly 19% more active listings YoY. 

Austin-Round Rock, San Marcos and Travis County

In the Austin-Round Rock and San Marcos areas, homes were sold for roughly $446,000 on average in March 2025, which is .9% less than the same time last year. Still, 9.5% more homes were placed on the market this year, with almost 19% more listings than last March. 

Specifically in Austin, homes sold for roughly $590,750 this in March 2025, with 17.3% more new and 23.7% more active house listings in comparison to March 2024. 

When looking at the entire first quarter, 9.1% less homes sold this year compared to last year in Austin-Round Rock and San Marcos, and the median home price also dipped by 2.3% YoY, to $429,869. 

Looking an all of Travis County, the average home sale price increased YoY in March 2025, raising by 4.9% to $529,950. New and active home listings also spiked by 14.7% and 18.6% respectively. 

Williamson County

In Williamson County, new and active house listings also increased by 11.1% and 26.3%, but 9.9% less homes were sold this year compared to last in March. 

Hays County

In comparison, Hays County saw a dip in new home listings of 1.5%. Still, the county's active home listings increased by 8.5%, with houses selling for about $390,000 this month. 

Bastrop County

Bastrop County reported an even more significant drop in new home listings, with a 5.8% drop YoY. Active listings increased by nearly 24%, with over 10% more homes sold in March 2025. 

Caldwell County

And in Caldwell County, nearly 39% less new homes were listed this year, with 13.3% less active listings, as well. Similarly, about 23% less homes were also sold this month compared to March 2024. 

Some of the reason for this shift could be economic troubles and affordability concerns, according to an Austin Board of Realtors and Unlock MLS housing economist.“ KVUE

“‘Austin is Flash Flood Alley:’ Prepare now for severe weather season, Austin officials warn” KXAN

THE BLOTTER

“1 dead in downtown Austin car crash: ATCEMS” Fox 7 Austin

“Travis County dealing with "a significant increase" in child abuse cases” CBS Austin

“Man shot after allegedly running up to his ex-girlfriend's vehicle with a pickaxe” KVUE

“Several attempted child abductions in WilCo leave residents worried” Fox 7 Austin

“Leander police say report of child abduction attempt 'unfounded'” KVUE

“Police see new car theft trend in Kyle, Texas” KKVUE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

“Del Valle ISD faces $13M deficit, social worker jobs cut for now” KVUE

“Pflugerville ISD adding more license plate readers” KVUE

BUSINESS NEWS

“Texas robotic prosthetics startup Phantom Neuro raises $19M” ABJ ($)

TEXAS SPORTS

AUSTIN FC: “Austin FC celebrates Earth Day at Pease Park” KXAN

QUICK LINKS

~ Multifamily developer to build affordable apartments in North Austin - ABJ

~ Monkey See Monkey Do relocating from South Congress after 20 years - ABJ

~ Airlines bullish on Austin airport as it undergoes multibillion-dollar expansion - ABJ

~ Landsea Homes announces new Texas leadership team - ABJ

~ Austin-area manufacturers navigate on-again-off-again tariff landscape - ABJ

~ Industrial and defense tech leaders, VCs and policy makers launch new institute in Texas - ABJ

~ West Campus zoning program set for changes as city plans density-focused upgrade - Austin Monitor

~ Music Commission, staff weigh final criteria for next Live Music Fund grants - Austin Monitor

~ Scaled-down Violet Crown development near Bee Cave under consideration again - Austin Monitor

~ Austin Rôtisserie now serving French comfort food in Bastrop - Community Impact

~ Thom’s Market to close after 18 years in Austin - Community Impact

~ Austin hosts community workshops for housing development under HOME policies - Community Impact

~ Austin council pushes for continued monitoring of Sixth Street safety, business trends downtown - Community Impact

~ Eanes ISD to apply for program that could increase some teacher compensations - Community Impact

~ Drive-thru-focused Chick-fil-A on Dessau Road and Parmer Lane to open soon - Community Impact

~ Heritage Crossing opens in Round Rock's Old Settlers Park - Community Impact

~ Neighbors begin rebuilding following tragic house explosion in northwest Austin - KVUE

~ Georgetown FD identifies firefighter killed in crash on SH 29, announces celebration of life - KVUE

~ Storm chances expected this weekend in Central Texas after another day in the 90s - KVUE

~ A new requirement for all airline passengers could lead to major delays at Austin's airport - KVUE

~ 'I just really hope my husband is okay': man found in the rubble after house explodes - KEYE

~ Appraisal notices are in the mail — will it impact your property tax bill? - KXAN

~ First responders, neighbors assess damage after home explosion in northwest Austin - KXAN

~ At least 24 homes damaged, 6 injured after Austin house explosion - CBS News

~ An Austin drag queen is teaching people about the Texas Legislature — in the club - KUT

~ 'Completely leveled': Homeowners ID'd in Texas house explosion - MySA

~ U.S. Soccer calls 80 players to Central Region U-14 Girls Talent ID Mini-Camp in Austin, TX - SoccerWire

~ KXAN wins multiple accolades at the Texas Broadcast News Awards - KXAN

~ HSEM Hosts Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up Event April 16 - AustinTexas.gov

AUSTIN CULTURE

~ TRAVEL: “Premium air carrier JSX offers summer flights from Austin to Taos” Culture Map Austin

~ F1 WEEKEND: “Garth Brooks, others to headline F1 at COTA in October” KXAN

~ DINING: “The Best Restaurants in the Domain in Austin” Eater Austin

~ DINING: “Group behind Haywire and Sixty Vines opening new restaurant at The Domain” ABJ ($)

~ NIGHTLIFE: “Antone's Nightclub launches first stage collaboration at Austin distillery” Culture Map Austin

~ AUSTIN PETS ALIVE!: “Austin Pets Alive! opens new Brodie Lane hospital, increasing capacity” Culture Map Austin

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

~ LIVE MUSIC: Kylie Minogue (with Rita Ora). Moody Center. 7:30pm. Tix $39.50 and up here.

~ COMEDY: Maria Bamford. The Thompson Theater (506 San Jacino Blvd). 7pm. Sold out tonight. Some re-sale tix for tomorrow here.

COOL JOB ALERT

~ Communications Associate. Breakthrough. Salary: $51,000-$63,000 / annually. Info / apply here.