The Westsider: field notes from the west side of Austin, by Diana Roberts
Cover story · No. 05 · October 2026
The 70-page report. How to survive the inspection.
What Austin inspection reports really say, and how buyers, sellers and agents get through the repair negotiation.
By Diana Roberts · Austin Real Estate Advisor · Compass
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The 70-Page Report: How to Survive a Home Inspection in Austin
A good house can come back from inspection with a seventy-page report. What Austin inspection reports really say, what to repair and what to let go, and how to keep the deal together.
Austin’s Second Market: The Homes That Never Reach the Big Websites
The full Austin market is not on one website anymore. How private and Compass-first homes work, how to see them first, and what it means if you are buying or selling on the west side of Austin.
What Makes a Home Great, and Why It Doesn’t Have to Be New
A great home is defined by proportion, flow, light, function and a sense of place, not by its finishes or the year it was built. The qualities that make a house feel right can keep working for generations.