Austin is at the forefront of the South’s recent meteoric rise. There are many reasons to move to Austin, glorious weather, a hot property market, the friendliness of the local Austinites, the favourable job market and the world-famous music culture. Austin was ranked as the number one best place to live by US News’ Best places to live in the USA, honouring the city’s transformation from a college town to a growing metropolitan, tech hub that thrives on creativity.
The first thing to understand is the heat. Austin is warm almost all year round and scorching in the summer. Poolside access, air conditioning and shade are Austinites’ favourite accessories in the summer months. The city has an average of one snow flurry a year, around 50 days of rain a year and highs of 40 degrees celsius in the summer. Sweet relief from the summer heat can be found at Barton Springs, Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin or Lake Travis, all of which are in and around Austin. Alternatively, many suburban houses have space for private swimming pools, a great luxury which can be used 10 months of the year.
Divided into almost five distinct areas, each of which offers something different, it can be difficult to decide where in Austin is best for you and your family. At Propeterra, we are here to help.
Downtown Austin
The central hub of the city, downtown buzzes constantly with Austinites and visitors enjoying the city’s attractions. As in most cities, downtown is, on average, more expensive than other areas. However, for this added expense you are right at the heart of what the city has to offer. Austin is famous as a foodie centre of excellence, with great restaurants and up-scale bars, the centres of Rainey Street, Red River Cultural District and Sixth Street draw crowds from all over the world, not just locals. Lady Bird Lake, which somewhat dissects the city and remains a focus point for activities and socialising year-round, offers a different perspective on downtown, helping to show you how much you love being downtown in Austin.
Credit: Visit Austin (austintexas.org)
North Austin
A popular district in Austin, this neighbourhood has areas such as North Loop and Anderson Lane which are teaming with bars and restaurants that will keep your evenings entertaining all year round. North Austin is close to downtown, making it an easy commuter location. It is a more affordable location than downtown and feels less metropolitan, allowing you to feel slightly distanced and back to the verdant state of Texas that surrounds Austin.
Credit: Visit Austin (austintexas.org)
East Austin
The trendy area, inspired by artists of all types and particularly musicians, East Austin’s transformation in the last few decades has made this a desirable destination to settle. The area’s residents have caused the supply of art galleries and new food outlets to spike, making it a modern, cultural hub for the city. East 6th street is your place to go for all things cultural, with a pit-stop at the local eatery for some flavours of the south such as the world-renowned Franklin’s Barbecue.
Credit: Visit Austin (austintexas.org)
South Austin
Old-school architecture meets new-school businesses. Whilst the infrastructure is more narrow and can be cumbersome for drivers, the organic feel of this area is unsurpassable. The area called SoCo (South of Congress) is a trendy strip full of delicious restaurants and lively bars. This area is particularly popular with visitors and residents from around the globe, making it a diverse, cultural neighbourhood.
Credit: Justin Jensen (flickr.com)
West Austin
The more affluent of the Austin neighbourhoods, this suburban community is a great place to be if you appreciate the ability to retreat into the picturesque Texan countryside with accessibility to Lake Travis and Lake Austin. The larger houses and reputable clientele make this a highly desirable location. It has luxurious amenities such as exquisite golf courses worth of US Open Championships, and high-quality community necessities such as quality public and private schooling nearby. Find your dream home in Austin, Texas here.
Credit: City-Data (city-data.com)
Transport
Austin is fortunate to be spared of the traffic nightmares of Los Angeles or New York. It maintains good commuter times up to 30 minutes on average and highly accessible public transport. To make your way to work or Saturday soccer practice, chose from:
- Capital Metro - avoid traffic with this public transport network
- MetroRail - late night trains available for access to downtown
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
- Cycling - Austin is a cycle friendly city, with notable routes such as Shoal Creek Greenbelt and Colorado River
- Micromobility - electric scooters etc.
If you find these methods are too mundane, retreat into nature with a trip on a water taxi, which can take you out of the city to secluded lakeside locations in well under an hour.
Credit: Element Cycles (elementcycles.net)
Buying a Home in Austin
Austin’s property market is a great opportunity for those looking to make a rewarding investment with their next property. However, before buying, it is worth considering what you require. That way, you can look to maximise your investment return in the years to come as Austin states its claim as one of the most significant cities in modern America.
Simple questions such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and the size of the living space you want will determine the comfort of you and your family but also the potential return on investment as this property market continues to grow healthily. Also consider some of the neighbourhoods that we mentioned earlier, what do you want out of your local area, community spirit, nightlife, great schools or access to the great outdoors perhaps? With Austin receiving increasing international attention from individuals and investors, a strong job market with a strong technology base and its friendly, music orientated atmosphere, the property market is a wise investment for the future.
Education
Austin is saturated with great schooling. For young families looking to make the transition, there are 29 public schools, 27 charter schools and 100 private schools for education up to high school graduation. The University of Texas at Austin is one of the best universities in the state for academics and state-of-the-art sports facilities, with notable alumni that include Hollywood stars and Senate politicians, the opportunities from a UT education are endless.
Credit: University of Texas (utexas.edu)
Austin is a great place to buy as an investment for your financial and personal future. For warm, sunny weather, live concerts, creative food and drink and access to the sprawling Texan countryside, buy in Austin with Propeterra.
