Sami Sparber

Austin

Reporter at Axios

reporter @axios. past @WSJ @TexasTribune @dallasnews @NBCPolitics + @UTAustin

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Articles

Metro Denver is home to a buyer's market — for now

2 days ago | axios.com | Esteban L. Hernandez |Sami Sparber |Emily Peck

Data: Redfin; Map: Axios VisualsHomebuyers hold an edge in the Denver real estate market — so long as you can foot the hefty bill. The big picture: Metro Denver had just over 4,800 more sellers than buyers, a stark 42% difference, signaling a homebuyer's market, per a recent Redfin estimate based on April figures.
Austin apartment permits have plummeted since the pandemic

3 days ago | axios.com | Sami Sparber |Asher Price

Data: Redfin; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosPermits for multifamily housing have dropped below pandemic-era levels across the country, according to Redfin, with Austin seeing among the most dramatic fall-offs. Why it matters: Apartment construction influences housing affordability in Austin, where a wave of new apartments ultimately helped curb rent hikes. The construction slowdown, which tariffs could prolong, risks reigniting rent inflation.
Multifamily housing permits issued in Atlanta remain above pandemic-era levels

4 days ago | axios.com | Kristal Dixon |Sami Sparber

Data: Redfin; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosPermits for multifamily housing have dropped below pre-pandemic and pandemic-era levels in most large cities, but they've increased slightly in Atlanta, according to Redfin. Why it matters: A wave of new apartments helped curb rent hikes over the past few years. For many renters, however, that break is fading.
It's a homebuyer's market - if you can afford one

4 days ago | axios.com | Sami Sparber |Emily Peck

Data: Redfin; Note: Number of buyers based on Redfin analysis of pending home sales, MLS listings and other data; Sellers number is amount of homes listed for sale on the MLS.; Chart: Axios VisualsIt's a buyer's market in real estate — if you can afford it: There are nearly 500,000 more home sellers than buyers in the U.S. housing market, Redfin estimates.
It's a homebuyer's market — if you can afford one | Flipboard

4 days ago | flipboard.com | Sami Sparber |Emily Peck

19 hours agoA New Study Says This One Home Feature Increases Your Home Value by 54% — Yes, ReallyI always wanted to have a pool growing up, and it turns out that I’m not alone.
Portland businesses cater to micro wedding boom

1 week ago | axios.com | Kale Williams |Sami Sparber

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/AxiosBallrooms are out. "Micro weddings" are in — and they might be smarter, too. Why it matters: Some couples are skipping big weddings to save money and throw a more intimate gathering, and some Portland businesses are embracing the trend. By the numbers: The average guest count nationwide was 131 in 2024, down from 184 in 2006, according to data shared with Axios by The Wedding Report.
Exclusive: Bennett Richardson departs Semafor for the National Association of Realtors

1 week ago | axios.com | Eleanor Hawkins |Sami Sparber

Bennett Richardson at the Semafor 2025 World Economy Summit. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesBennett Richardson is departing Semafor to take the top communications and marketing job at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Axios first learned. Why it matters: Richardson will be joined by former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development official Raffi Williams as NAR beefs up its communications operation.
San Francisco sees drop in wealthy renters

1 week ago | axios.com | Nadia Lopez |Sami Sparber

Data: Redfin; Chart: Axios VisualsJust 10% of San Francisco renters in 2023 were wealthy, down 1.5 percentage points from 2019, per a Redfin analysis of the latest Census Bureau data. Why it matters: Rich renters are on the rise in 35 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros, the real estate site reports. The big picture: Nationally, the typical affluent renter earned more than they needed to afford a median-priced home, per Redfin.
Renters who are top-earners increase in metro Denver

1 week ago | axios.com | Esteban L. Hernandez |Sami Sparber

Data: Redfin; Chart: Axios VisualsThe number of wealthy renters in metro Denver is growing, but only slightly. Zoom in: At least6.9% of metro area renters — people whose household income is in the top 20% locally — were considered wealthy in 2023, up 0.4 percentage points from 2019, per a Redfin analysis of the latest Census Bureau data. Metro Denver's rate is lower than the 7.9% national average.
As homebuying costs climb, more wealthy Tampa Bay residents rent

1 week ago | axios.com | Yacob Reyes |Sami Sparber

Data: Redfin; Chart: Axios VisualsAround 9% of Tampa Bay renters in 2023 were wealthy, up almost two percentage points from 2019, per a new Redfin analysis. Why it matters: The cost of buying a home in Tampa Bay has risen more than the cost of renting since 2019, which makes it an attractive choice for many, even those with deep pockets. Rich renters are on the rise in 35 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros, the real estate site reports.