$500,000 in Austin real estate (2020): $688,844 now
$688,844
Updated May 1, 2026 · Redfin
$500,000 in Austin real estate in 2020 would be worth $688,843.97 today — a 38% change, about 5% a year over 6 years. Figures track the typical home price per m² (Redfin index); they exclude rent, taxes and costs.
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The investment curve
The worst drawdown: the position fell as much as 28% from its peak (2025/01). The chart makes the multiple look easy; holding through that drop is what almost no one does.
What if you'd started in another year?
The same $500,000, for every entry year:
| Entry year | Value today | Multiple |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $1,297,130 | 2.6× |
| 2013 | $1,215,145 | 2.4× |
| 2014 | $1,086,940 | 2.2× |
| 2015 | $968,806 | 1.9× |
| 2016 | $881,693 | 1.8× |
| 2017 | $835,986 | 1.7× |
| 2018 | $788,860 | 1.6× |
| 2019 | $751,253 | 1.5× |
| 2020 | $688,844 | 1.4× |
| 2021 | $532,209 | 1.1× |
| 2022 | $464,353 | -7% |
| 2023 | $492,684 | -1% |
| 2024 | $531,816 | 1.1× |
| 2025 | $547,728 | 1.1× |
Against the benchmarks
| The same money in | Value today |
|---|---|
| Austin | $688,844 |
| Inflation only (U.S. CPI) | $647,267 |
| S&P 500 | $1,134,104 |
The S&P 500 figure is a price index, in U.S. dollars, with no dividends reinvested. The inflation line is the same money doing nothing but keeping its purchasing power.
Typical home price per m² (Redfin). Excludes rent received, closing costs, property taxes, maintenance and vacancy — the value of the property itself, not the investor's total return.
Frequently asked questions
Did Austin real estate beat inflation?
After adjusting for U.S. consumer prices (CPI), the result is a 6% change in real terms — what's left once the dollar's loss of purchasing power is removed.
What if I'd invested in a different year?
The result changes a lot with the entry point. Our series starts in 2012; the year-by-year table on this page shows the outcome for every starting year.
What was the worst drawdown?
The largest peak-to-trough drop was 28%, reached around Jan/2025. Holding through that decline was the cost of the full result above.
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Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.