A crystal ball...that is what I wish I had when I started appraising in Williamson County in 1991. I cannot tell you the times I have kicked myself for not buying something when I had the chance.
I do not have that crystal ball, but I do have an opinion that I will give in answering the questions I hear so often. What is the market doing? The market has slowed a bit in recent months due to the increased interest rates but is still higher than it was a year ago. With long-term gains still expected, the slow-down we currently are experiencing is not believed to be even close to what was experienced in 2008. I believe that the properties that will be primarily affected will be homes in the $1,500,000+ range. Because we are in a growing community, I do not believe our county will be as adversely affected as other parts of the country and should recover even quicker.
Have we reached the peak?
Again, while interest rates are currently having a slowing effect on our market, I do not see a doomsday ahead for the Williamson County real estate market. We have had long-term appreciation that is expected to continue even with some short-term slowing and slight decline. The Federal Reserve just raised interest rates again so we may see more slowing and decline in the short-term.
Will it ever stop?
That I cannot answer. But I will say this, I do not want to be kicking myself even more in the future for not buying a property when a good deal presents itself. I think that real estate investment, even if it is only with your own home, is a great way to build wealth in the long term.
Why are all the people moving here?
Those of us who have lived in the area for many years know the answer to this. Our county is not only beautiful with its rolling hills and historic sites, but we have a very friendly county where neighbors wave “hello” and are always happy to see you. People want to raise their children in safe communities with good schools.
Will we ever see affordable housing again?
Affordable housing is very necessary for our workforce, including retail, restaurant and support personnel. “Affordable” can be a somewhat subjective term. For some moving from places like California where home prices are very high, we may appear to have affordable homes. For those who were born and raised in the county, you may wonder if your children will be able to afford to live here. The type of affordable housing most preferred in this market is single-family detached housing over condominium or multi-family housing. There are no simple answers to these questions. If the best indicator of the future is the past, then I would say Williamson County will continue to be a sought-after location for people wanting to raise families, own and run businesses, and live the good life. One thing I do not need a crystal ball to know...scarcity influences supply and demand. To quote Mark Twain, “Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” 
