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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

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Six new murals added to South Congress

The permanent installations are on display now.

News

Austin loves electrolyte powders, but doctors say they don't work

Doctors say drinking electrolyte supplements instead of plain water is a waste of money.

Business

Complaints mount as robotaxis roll through Austin streets

There are 125 autonomous vehicles on Austin's streets.

How Austin leaders are grappling with the heat

The city has launched cooling centers, misting areas and cool pavement technology.

Climate

Austin's home insurance premiums could rise

Insurers are changing how they factor extreme weather risks.

Nearly 88% of properties in the Austin metro area could be facing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="higher insurance premiums or policy non-renewals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/27/insurance-rates-climate-change-extreme-weather" data-vars-content-id="a25a6f26-5cfd-4299-a639-9e98be5257fc" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s home insurance premiums could rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/27/insurance-rates-climate-change-extreme-weather" target="_self">higher insurance premiums or policy non-renewals</a> due to the risk of wildfires, high winds, and flooding, Axios&#x27; Brianna Crane and Kavya Beheraj report, based on a new analysis.Driving the news: Insurers are changing how they factor climate and extreme weather risks into premiums, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas is among the states" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/03/texas-homeowners-insurance-premiums-rising" data-vars-content-id="a25a6f26-5cfd-4299-a639-9e98be5257fc" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s home insurance premiums could rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2023/08/03/texas-homeowners-insurance-premiums-rising" target="_self">Texas is among the states</a> with the steepest increases in homeowners insurance premiums since last year.

Austin homes linger on the market

Austin homes averaged 60 days on the market in August.

Real Estate

Less than a fifth of Austin homes for sale are snapped up in two weeks or less, per new Redfin data shared with Axios.<ul><li>Nationwide, roughly 41% of listings were marked pending, contingent or sold within that window, Redfin found.</li></ul>

A chart of homes off the market within two weeks.

Austin is still one of the nation's top remote work hubs

It's the second-highest among American metro areas, per new Census Bureau data.

Remote work is holding strong here — 28% of Austin metro area workers were working from home as of 2022, compared to a peak of 32% in 2021, per newly released Census Bureau figures.Driving the news: That&#x27;s the second-highest percentage among American metro areas, the highest in Texas and well above the national average.

Other Texans are searching for Austin homes on Zillow

The majority of people searching Austin-area postings from outside of Austin are from Dallas.

The majority of people searching Austin-area Zillow postings from outside of Austin are from Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Driving the news: Roughly 59% of page views from out of town for Austin-area Zillow listings are from within Texas, according to first-quarter Zillow data shared with Axios.

Airbnb launches apartment platform in Austin

The move makes 2,901 units eligible for Airbnb hosting.

Renters in nine Austin-area apartment buildings can now list their units on Airbnb to earn extra cash while out of town.Driving the news: The company announced last week that its Airbnb-friendly apartments platform will expand to the Austin metro, making 2,901 units eligible for Airbnb hosting.

Austin pool construction on the rise

The spike has played out during a transformative period for the city.

The crush of COVID-19, climate change and new wealth appears to have driven a rash of pool construction around Austin, per an Axios review of city data.Why it matters: Pools have become a key amenity in an increasingly scorched city.

Austin City Council eyes housing density

Supporters say the move would create more housing for the city's middle-income earners.

City Council members are expected to consider a resolution Thursday to rewrite the city&#x27;s land development code, a move aimed at tamping down rising housing costs and creating more housing for the city&#x27;s middle-income earners.What&#x27;s happening: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="resolution" data-vars-click-url="https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=412080" data-vars-content-id="5059de92-3a03-4cfa-940a-c077c7caeffc" data-vars-headline="Austin City Council eyes housing density" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=412080" target="_blank">resolution</a>, sponsored by Council Member Leslie Pool, would shrink the minimum lot size of 5,750 square feet to 2,500 square feet or less and allow at least three units per lot in areas with single-family zoning.

Illustration of Austin City Hall with lines radiating from it.

"Golden handcuffs" lock up Austin housing supply

Homeowners likely can't move without spending a lot more cash.

Roughly 57% of homeowners with mortgages in Texas had a rate below 4% as of late last year, locking homeowners in place and leaving buyers with fewer homes to choose from, per Redfin data shared with Axios.Why it matters: Mortgage holders are experiencing the &quot;golden handcuffs&quot; phenomenon, writes Axios&#x27; Brianna Crane.

East Austin arts space slated for hotel conversion

The property is owned by former politician Jim Hightower.

An old East Austin church that has recently served as a home to a variety of arts organizations could soon become a hotel.Driving the news: Owned by former Democratic politician Jim Hightower, the nearly half-acre property at 81 San Marcos St., a block east of I-35 and south of Cesar Chavez Street, is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="under contract" data-vars-click-url="https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/tx/austin/81-san-marcos-st/pid_48496012/" data-vars-content-id="829901ac-f05a-4573-b9ac-da6a6d5b3169" data-vars-headline="East Austin arts space slated for hotel conversion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/tx/austin/81-san-marcos-st/pid_48496012/" target="_blank">under contract</a> after being listed for nearly $2.5 million.

Austin rent remains higher than rest of Texas

What $1,500 gets you in Austin and other Texas cities.

There&#x27;s new evidence it costs more to live in Austin than any other spot in Texas.Driving the news: A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="monthly rent of $1,500" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/rental-space-for-1500/" data-vars-content-id="70e62af4-f2f1-40d7-9d96-3ec6856b4210" data-vars-headline="Austin rent remains higher than rest of Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/rental-space-for-1500/" target="_blank">monthly rent of $1,500</a> can get you a 714-square-foot apartment in Austin, smaller than the national average of 782 square feet, per a new report from listing service RentCafe.

Real Estate 🏠