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We made this over the time we were locked in during the freeze, and will definitely be making it again.  So delicious!  Enjoy! Ingredients Protein & Pasta 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot; casings removed) 9–12 oz cheese tortellini (fresh or refrigerated works best) Soup Base 1 tbsp olive oil (if needed) 1 medium yellow onion, diced 3–4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp Italian seasoning ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional) 6 cups chicken broth 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (fire-roasted if you have them) 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional, but adds depth) Greens & Finish 2 cups fresh spinach or kale (chopped) ½ cup heavy cream (optional but recommended) Salt & black pepper to taste Fresh grated Parmesan (for serving) Instructions Brown...

Home Builders Association (HBA) – 2026 Market Forecast Key Takeaways & What They Mean for Austin Real Estate I had the privilege of attending the HBA 2026 Forecast, and wanted to share several important insights from the speakers—both at the macro (national) and micro (Austin-specific) levels. Macro Economic Outlook The macro perspective was presented by Dr. Julia Coronado, PhD, with the Texas Real Estate Center. One of the most striking shifts discussed was demographic: The average age of a first-time homebuyer has increased to 38–39, up from 31 just ten years ago.This reflects affordability pressures, delayed household formation, student debt, and longer career runways before homeownership. From a broader economic standpoint: The U.S. economy has been surprisingly resilient, but not without disruption. In 2025, GDP...

🥣 Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup ⭐ Serves 6–8 ⭐ Ready in ~55–70 minutes 🛒 Ingredients Chicken & Base 1.5–2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs (boneless/skinless) 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter 1 onion, diced 3 carrots, diced 3 celery stalks, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced Seasoning 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning (optional but great) 1 bay leaf Salt & pepper to taste Liquid & Rice 6 cups chicken broth 1 cup wild rice blend (NOT instant rice) Creamy Finish 4 tablespoons butter 4 tablespoons flour 2 cups milk or half-and-half Optional ½ cup heavy cream for extra richness Mushrooms for extra earthiness Spinach added at the end for a little green 👨‍🍳 Directions 1️⃣ Cook Chicken...

If you’ve watched the news lately, you’ve probably seen some loud headlines about real estate. Some say Texas is booming. Others say Texas is cooling. Others are predicting a “big shift.” So what’s actually true? Let’s slow the noise down and talk honestly about what really matters in the Texas housing market going into 2026 — whether you’re thinking about buying, selling, investing, or just trying to understand what’s going on. Because Texas isn’t just “a market.”It’s dozens of different micro-markets, each with its own reality. 1️⃣ Texas Isn’t One Market… It’s Many One of the biggest misconceptions is thinking “Texas real estate” moves as one unit. It doesn’t. Austin doesn’t behave like Houston.Houston doesn’t behave like Dallas.Dallas doesn’t behave like San Antonio.And small-town Texas...

As a real estate broker, I work with many families who are navigating one of the most emotional and confusing transitions in life—helping aging parents plan for what happens to their home and other real estate assets. A common theme I see is this: many parents have a will, but not a trust, and often the family isn’t sure what that means until the time comes to act. This blog is meant to help you understand, in plain language, the differences between using a will (which goes through probate) and setting up a trust, especially when real estate is involved. This isn’t legal advice—but it’s the practical, real-life perspective families wish they had before facing these decisions. What Happens When a Parent Only Has a...

Ingredients – This is AMAZING!! For the Fish (serves 4) 4 redfish fillets (6–8 oz each), skin removed 2 tbsp blackening seasoning (or homemade—see below) 2–3 tbsp butter 1–2 tbsp olive oil Homemade Blackening Seasoning (optional but accurate) HEB also has a really good blackening Seasoning. 1 tbsp paprika 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp dried thyme 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp cayenne (cut in half if you want less heat) 1 tsp black pepper ½ tsp salt For the Pontchartrain Sauce (This is the magic part — salty, buttery, lemony, with seafood richness.) 6 tbsp butter 1 tbsp olive oil 8 oz sliced mushrooms 1 cup heavy cream ½ cup seafood stock (or chicken broth + splash of clam...

  Weather is cooling off and this is perfect!  Don’t forget some parmesan bread to pair.  Ingredients For the Soup: 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot) 1 tbsp olive oil 1 small yellow onion, diced 3–4 garlic cloves, minced 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce (or your favorite pasta sauce) 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes 2 tsp Italian seasoning 1 tsp dried basil 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste) ½ tsp black pepper 8 lasagna noodles, broken into bite-size pieces For the Cheese Topping: 1 cup ricotta cheese 1 cup shredded mozzarella ½ cup grated Parmesan 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional) 🍳 Instructions Cook the sausage In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over...

Closing Costs You Might Not Expect (But Should Plan For) When most people think about buying or selling a home, they focus on the big numbers — the sales price, the down payment, the mortgage rate. But in almost every transaction, there are closing costs hiding just beneath the surface that can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared. Whether you’re on the buying or selling side of the table, here are a few of the most commonly overlooked closing costs — and how to plan for them. Title Policy & Title Company Fees For sellers: In Texas, it’s common for the seller to pay for the owner’s title policy (unless negotiated otherwise). This protects the buyer from any issues with the title after...

Hope it starts cooling down soon.  This is a perfect recipe to kick off Soup Season! Ingredients 2 Tbsp. Butter 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced into coins 1 stalk celery, chopped Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts 3 sprigs fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 3/4 lb. baby potatoes, quartered 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth  Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish   In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add carrots and celery and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add flour and stir until vegetables are coated, then add chicken, thyme, bay leaf, potatoes, and broth. Season with salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a simmer and...

When the Federal Reserve makes a move—or even hints at one—buyers and sellers in the Austin area feel it. Mortgage rates don’t follow the Fed directly, but the Fed’s decisions set the tone for the bond market, which in turn impacts mortgage rates. Understanding this connection is key if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in today’s market.   How the Fed Influences Mortgage Rates The Fed controls the federal funds rate, the interest rate banks charge each other for overnight loans. While mortgage rates are tied more closely to the 10-year Treasury yield, the bond market reacts to what the Fed does (and says about future policy). If the Fed raises rates → bond yields rise → mortgage rates tend to follow....