Inside The Independent

A new look inside the tallest building in Austin — and what it will offer

The tallest building in Austin is still two years from completion, but a batch of renderings revealed Thursday offers a taste of the luxury living that awaits.

The Independent has released new renderings of the anticipated development, which broke ground earlier this year at the corner of Third Street and West Avenue. At 58 stories tall, it will be the tallest tower in Austin — and the tallest residential structure west of the Mississippi River — and now we know what to expect of the lobby, club rooms, and residential units.

The mixed-use development will house 370 units ranging from 756-square-foot one bedrooms to four-bedroom condos, all of which boast quartz countertops, wide-plank hardwood floors, marble bathrooms, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Two floors of The Independent — the ninth and 34th — will be dedicated to amenities. Renderings showcase the ninth floor club room and exclusive 34th floor "owner's club room." Other amenities on the ninth floor include a deck with infinity heated pool, dog lounge and park, and children's play area; the 34th floor will feature a theater, fitness center, yoga/barre studio, board room, wine bar, chef's kitchen, and private dining room.

And, as one would expect from the tallest building in the city, The Independent promises breathtaking views of Austin, from Lady Bird Lake to the Capitol. Those views come at a cost — prices range from $400,000 to over $3 million — and people are willing to pay. More than half of the units are under contract, and only a few one-bedroom options remain.

The Independent is 20 percent complete and on target for a 2018 debut.

This aerial shot provides a south-facing look of the tower.

The Independent jenga tower downtown Austin skyline landscape

Photo courtesy of The Independent

This aerial shot provides a south-facing look of the tower.

downtown condos

local real estate report

Homebuyers can afford to be picky as Austin housing inventory rises

Photo by Avinash Kumar on Unsplash

Housing economist Clare Losey said the most significant factor affecting home sales in Austin is high mortgage rates.

The latest real estate report from Unlock MLS and the Austin Board of Realtors (ABoR) has revealed housing inventory is still on a steady rise in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA, creating more choices for potential homebuyers as they navigate a high interest rate market.

Residential home sales dipped by a mere 1.5 percent year-over-year from October 2023, amounting to 2,248 closed sales in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA. Median prices have also dropped to $430,000, or 3.2 percent less than this time last year. More than 3,300 new home listings were added on the market — a 7.4 percent increase from 2023 — bringing the total number of active home listings to 11,599.

According to Unlock MLS and ABoR housing economist Clare Losey, Ph.D., October's mortgage rates stood at 6.4 percent and are showing no signs of a significant drop in the near future. Even heading into 2025, Losey says potential homebuyers who are biding their time in the hopes of seeing rates plummet "may be in for a long wait."

"In the meantime, sellers must recognize that bringing buyers to the table requires a more aggressive pricing approach," Losey said. "Even in a more balanced market, buyers with limited purchasing power are struggling to meet current price expectations."

As for the overall health of the Central Texas housing market, 2024 Unlock MLS and ABoR president Kent Redding labeled recent news reports that called Austin "ground zero" for a downturn as an "extreme over-exaggeration."

"Austin led the state and nation in record-breaking home price growth and sales activity during the pandemic," Redding said. "For three years, near-zero housing inventory, numerous offers above list price and a rapid-paced market raised home prices and left little negotiating power for buyers. During this record-setting growth, ABoR and Unlock MLS consistently emphasized the unsustainability of the rapid growth, and now, our market is working to balance those extremes."

Central Texas housing trends in October 2024

In Travis County, 979 homes were sold last month — a slight 2.5 percent increase from last year. Median prices remained flat year-over-year at $510,000. Active home listings continued growing to 5,702 homes, which is 9.4 percent more year-over-year.

In Williamson County, 807 homes were sold in October, with median prices steadily dropping to $420,000. There were 1,028 new home listings on the market, showing a 4.5 percent increase from October 2023, bringing the total number of active home listings to 3,369.

Residential home sales dropped by nearly eight percent in Hays County in October, totaling 315 sales. Median prices also fell 5.5 percent year-over-year to $359,000. Active listings rose 6.6 percent year-over-year to 1,740 homes with the addition of 534 new listings on the market.

Meanwhile, 114 homes were sold in Bastrop County last month, which is 4.4 percent more than this time last year. Median prices dropped by a single percentage point year-over-year to $355,000. There were 654 active listings on the market in October, and 152 new home listings, representing a 1.3 percent slip in new inventory when compared to last year.

Only 33 homes were sold in Caldwell County in October to reflect a near 14 percent decline year-over-year from October 2023. Median prices fell to $262,990, which was a 13.5 percent decrease from last year. There were 136 active homes on the market last month, and 40 new homes added on the market.

austin travis county housing market real estate report real estate