Housing prices have been rising  quickly in recent years (9-10% from 2015 to 2016).

I'm qualified to do this because of my background as a project manager/construction engineer for NYC high-rise projects.

You always need a back up or comparison contractor otherwise they will get complacent and prices will slowly rise on you over time because they are comfortable and know you will pay it if you are not getting competing bids.

Unless jobs start vanishing or interest rates rise my money is on things staying even.  

There is still around two months of inventory, slightly up from this time last year.My sense, and the sense of those I talk to in the Austin real estate community, is that rising prices are starting to have a cooling effect on sales volume and the market as a whole.

The median rent for this area has been rising pretty consistently since Jan from $850 to right around $950 for this month.

@Dani Sung,What you're seeing with rising values right now is purely the product of supply-and-demand.In the crash, some 80% of home builder went under.

Also, with the rising cost of UCONN, Western has become a very popular option.  

I would hold and rent it out, but the taxes will double after all of the senior exemptions fall off and put an end to, what would actually be, great cash flow.The market I'm in has been on the rise for some time now and all the schools are 8/10.  

In fact, as it was owner occupied, the plan was to pay off more of it if interest rates were to rise.