Austin Relocation Guide

Austin ranked as one of the fastest growing cities in the nation in the last decade. With a healthy job market, great weather and a plethora of outdoor activities year round, it’s no wonder so many people chose to move here. However, Austin has had some growing pains in recent years with the rapid and large influx of people moving to the area. Development was happening at a breakneck speed – seemingly with little regard for important infrastructure  It really put a strain on the housing market after Covid. Supply was low and demand was high, which drove up prices at an unsustainable pace. Many experienced, long time agents warned of the dangers, but we can’t control the market unfortunately.

Rapidly rising interest rates and inflation have put a real damper on the market here and it has been exacerbated by a call back to the office for many remote workers, as many of them moved here from high cost areas to take advantage of lower priced housing and a better quality of life. Ironically that’s what helped to drive up prices. Many people who purchased at the peak are not able to sell now without losing equity, so they have chosen to rent their home. Rentals are abundant right now, especially in the farther suburbs where new constuctoin boomed. Builders are still building. And they are giving some pretty nice incentives, like discounts, upgrades and interest rate buy downs. This makes it hard for resale homes to compete for a limited pool of buyers.

So, here we are now with an abundance of inventory, more so in some parts of the Austin metro than others. It’s yet to be seen what 2027 will bring, but prices have come down and interest rates are stable, slightly above historic averages. Buyers definitely have more choices and less pressure to buy. It’s a more balanced market now, which is a good thing for buyers who want to take their time and find the right house. Sellers who have owned a log time and have equity are able to meet the market. Those sellers holding out hope for covid-era sales prices, might be waiting a long time. Realistic sellers are selling.

If you need help navigating the Austin housing market and deciding which area is right for you and how to navigate the changing market, contact Cedar Park Living. We specialize in Cedar Park and North Austin Suburbs, but have partner agents who serve the entire Austin metro area. We are here to help you with expert guidance and also have some fun along the way getting to know the area.

One big consideration when deciding where to live in the Austin metro is your commute to work. Will you be working in North, South, East or West Austin? Going from North to South or vice versa for a daily commute could be grueling to near impossible. If you are working downtown, you definitely have more options. Parking downtown can also be challenging and expensive. Public transport by bus is available inside the city and out to certain suburbs that are part of the Cap Metro system. The metro rail only runs from Leander through Cedar Park to north Austin/Domain and into to downtown at this time, although Cap Metro Rail is planning extended light rail routes.

North Austin Suburbs include Cedar Park, Round Rock, Leander, Liberty Hill, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Pflugerville, Hutto, and Georgetown. Some people commute as far north as Taylor. Any of these suburbs will be fairly convenient for jobs in downtown or anywhere north of downtown Austin. For jobs south of downtown, the commute will be much longer. If you can at all avoid having a daily commute on I35, you will be doing yourself a favor.

West Austin and western suburbs include Rollingwood, West Lake Hills, Barton Creek, Lost Creek, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Serene Hills and Spicewood. These areas are very scenic and tend to have the highest prices for homes.

South Austin areas and suburbs include Sunset Valley, Oakhill, Circle C, Belterra, Driftwood, Dripping Springs, Buda, Kyle and even into San Marcos for some commuters.

East Austin suburbs include Del Vale, Manor and parts of Pflugerville. East Austin suburbs have been booming in recent years with the expansion of SH130 Toll Road and 290 Toll Road, making those areas much more accessible. Housing tends to be more affordable and many amenities are being built to meet growing housing demand. Eastern suburbs are now expanding farther outwards to Bastrop, Giddings and Elgin. Bastrop even has a new Sun City retirement community now building, Del Webb Austin at Lost Pines.

Get more detailed information here with some specialized AUSTIN AREA RELOCATION GUIDES about living here such as Maps, Local Happenings, Day Trips and More.

The public school system in Texas can be confusing to newcomers because it does not follow County or City boundaries. The Independent School Districts, referred to as ISD’s, are geographical areas, divided by taxing districts. The Austin metro area is served by many Independent School Districts including: Austin ISD, Del Vale ISD, Eanes ISD, Hays CISD, Leander ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Lago Vista ISD, Georgetown ISD, Hutto ISD, Manor ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Round Rock ISD and Taylor ISD.

Generally the closer you are to the city center, the more expensive housing will be. Although there are many highly desirable suburban areas that also fetch high prices. The most affordable areas of the Austin metro are in S, SE, N and NE Austin.

New home communities are being built all over the Austin metro, mostly in suburban areas of rapid growth all around Austin in a wide variety of price ranges. If you are considering new construction, read more here. Search new home communities here. Hiring an experienced buyers agent is crucial in the new construction buying process. The builder rep works for the builder. Let me work for you! Most builders will pay a buyers agent through their marketing budget, so why not have your own representation? If you are considering buying new constructions, let’s meet.

My expert buyer represention services include:

• Evaluating communities based on your lifestyle, budget, location, commute and other needs.
• Negotiating the best price, incentives and upgrades with the builder to ensure you get everything possible.
• Guiding you through the upgrades and options selection and design center selection process to ensure you stay in budget, maximize your investment and consider sppraisal and resale value.
• Managing third party inspections to ensure you are delivered a quality home.
• Holding the builder accounbtable to you every step of the way.
• Coordinating closing details, move logistics and home sale or rental timing if needed.

If you would like some help figuring out where to land in the Austin metro based on your commute, budget and lifestyle needs, please contact us. We are here to help!

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Download our Relocation Guide by clicking the picture below to learn more about living in Cedar Park. Fill out our Home Buyer Questionnaire here if you are considering making a move to the Austin Metro area.