Real Estate & Development Reporter

About the role

The Austin American-Statesman is seeking an experienced business reporter to cover Central Texas real estate—from home sales and housing starts to office, industrial, retail, and multifamily development, occupancy, rent, and the policies shaping growth in one of the fastest-growing regions in the state and nation.

As a member of the regional Business team, this reporter will break news and deliver exclusive enterprise on sales, leases, developments, and market trends in residential and commercial real estate. In collaboration with the Austin Business Editor, the reporter will take a leading role in producing a regular real estate- and development-focused newsletter and collaborate on data-rich interactives, maps, and visuals that bring growth and development to life.

Responsibilities

• Surface breaking news and trends by mining data from sources such as area municipalities, courts, state agencies, real estate associations, brokers, and banks.
• Develop a network of sources among developers, builders, financiers, government officials, neighborhood groups, and others impacted by development.
• Work with public records and market data, including building permits, market reports, state development filings, zoning cases, deed and plat records, and convert such data into clear, compelling stories.
• Juggle breaking news with ambitious enterprise and analysis that connects the dots for readers and influences policy discussions.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of daily journalism experience and at least 3 years in business, real estate, or growth and development coverage.
• A digital-first mindset with strong SEO, headline writing, and audience instincts.
• Adept at using social platforms to track companies, officials, and community conversations.
• Track record of source development in publicly traded, closely held, and private companies.
• Experience covering earnings reports and other SEC filings.
• Ability to collaborate in a fast-paced environment with visuals, data, and audience teams across Hearst Texas newsrooms.

About the Austin American-Statesman

The Austin American-Statesman has been the leading source of news and information for Central Texas since 1871, serving a dynamic and fast-growing region anchored by the capital city of Texas. Austin is known for its vibrant tech industry, rich cultural heritage, influential government institutions, and creative spirit.

The Statesman's award-winning journalists provide in-depth coverage of the issues that matter most to Austinites—from local government and business to education, the environment, and Austin’s ever-evolving music and cultural scenes. With a strong focus on accountability journalism and investigative reporting, the Statesman plays a critical role in informing and engaging its community.

This position reports to the Austin Business Editor as part of a Hearst Texas Business news staff in Austin and San Antonio. The department also covers technology, energy, utilities, auto manufacturing, labor, trade, aerospace, cybersecurity, insurance, retail, tourism, economic development, and the region’s major companies and industries. Among the companies of focus are Tesla, Dell, Cisco, Oracle, Valero, USAA, SpaceX, Boeing, Samsung, H-E-B, and Whataburger.

About Hearst Newspapers

With 2,500 employees across the nation, Hearst Newspapers represents a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the Austin American-Statesman, San Antonio Express-News, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate.

At Hearst Newspapers, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories—growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, and evolving platforms—to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action, and be inspired.