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Five Great Things You Should Know Before Moving To Austin, Texas

Written by Posted On Monday, 13 November 2017 17:35
Austin Texas Real Estate Austin Texas Real Estate

Over the past few years, an increasing number of people from across the United States have been moving to Austin, Texas. The increase is attributed to the fact that the city is experiencing the highest economic growth rate in the US. In 2016 Forbes Magazine called Austin the fastest growing city in the country and predicted an impressive 6% economic growth. With this growth, more jobs are being created and ambitious Americans are taking advantage of the career opportunities by relocating to Austin.   

3 years ago, I was living in Los Angeles and facing a classic American existential crisis. I was unhappily working at a deadend job, I had just broken up with my girlfriend of 5 years, and I felt like my life had absolutely no direction. Not to mention I was still living with my parents. To my friends and family, deciding to leave L.A. was viewed as running away from reality. However, in my opinion, it was the only way to make a fresh start and get out of the dreary rut I was stuck in. After months of sending applications and interviewing with numerous marketing companies around the country, one in Austin offered me a position that would pay nearly double what I was making. For me, the decision was a no brainer, so I accepted the offer the very next day.

My depressing daily life, the new job opportunity, and a big pay increase were my main motivations for moving to Austin. However, although I didn’t know it then, there are several other factors that make Austin the perfect city for anyone considering making a fresh start. Although there are more positive things than I can count on 2 hands, here are my top 5:

1. The Weather

Alright, I’ll be honest - It’s hot here in Austin. The subtropical humid climate provides boiling hot summers and very mild winters. Highs average at around 80 degrees and lows at 60. In fact, it only gets below freezing for about one month out of each year, IF it even gets to that point. There are a couple of rainy months, usually in September and May, where locals expect an annual rainfall of about 34 inches. During summer, people take advantage of the many swimming locations to cool off, or, they visit one of the 200+ parks where they cool off under the trees.

I found that the cloudless summer skies motivated me to spend more time outdoors. Bad weather becomes a quick excuse to spend time binge watching your favorite TV series, but that’s not what happens in Austin. I felt drawn to the outside simply because looking out the window from inside my room made me feel as though I was wasting the day away. Before moving here, I preferred spending time in front of my computer or lying around the house. Contrarily, my friends in Austin were a motivational factor in my life, always calling me to some open air event or football match.

People here are outdoorsy in every sense of the word. They are constantly partaking in activities such as running, frisbee, picnics, and especially tubing, which is the highlight of summer afternoons. Students take to the lakes and rip through the waves, sending their friends flying out of the inflatable donuts and splashing away. Overall, the weather is quite pleasant, and makes for a great excuse to spend lots of days out in the sun. Just don’t forget to put on sunscreen!

2. The Austin Lifestyle

Austin’s nightlife is varied. This quickly became one of my favorite parts of this city, as there’s something to enjoy regardless of your tastes. Sometimes I feel like quiet beers at a bar with close friends, other times I’ve felt the need to dance until the early morning hours, or to get pushed around in the frontlines of a crowded rock concert. Its main drag, Sixth Street, is famous for its dedication to live music. Every night of the week there are live shows to see with varied music styles. Austin has built a reputation for itself in the live music scene, and they live up to it in every way. Venues and fans alike actively support musicians.

Locals divide Sixth Street into three sections; East, West, and Dirty Sixth. This Dirty section extends from the I-35 to Congress Avenue, and if you’re into the crazy drinking and party scene where all the frats go binging, this is the place to be. Shots are 1.5 ounces and they go around all night, and you might not want to wear your best outfit, as you’ll likely walk out of there with several different types of liquor spilt all over you. On the other hand, East Sixth is considered more of a laidback hipster ambience. There you’re more likely to find bars where you can have some drinks accompanied by good music and conversation. Finally, there’s West Sixth, which has a classier feel to it. Wear your nice shoes on West Sixth, where you won’t have to worry about being trampled by drunk students.

Austinites, as they call themselves, are dedicated foodies. The city has an affinity for barbecue, and it definitely lives up to its reputation. Food trucks have a cult following, BBQ restaurants have you feasting on a succulent portion of ribs, and Mexican eats offer up delicious crammed burritos and tacos. There are also superb Chinese and Indian restaurants to feed your Asian desire. After indulging in the culinary diversity Austin offers, you can join one of the many gyms in the area, as people here take fitness very seriously. Gym memberships aren’t expensive and will run you around $40 monthly.

3. Real Estate

Don’t believe what you hear; rent prices in Austin are not cheap. Of course, it all depends on the neighborhood you decide to live in. The area surrounding downtown Austin tends to have the highest prices. If you’re looking to rent on the cheap, you might want to consider this map which compares pricing by neighborhood in Austin. I initially settled into the downtown district, but found the quiet atmosphere in Hyde Park more relaxing, so I planned to move there. Initially I wanted to save some money and move all my belongings on my own, but quickly realized how difficult it is. So I did the sensible thing and searched for an affordable moving company. I found many options and after shopping around a bit I found my Austin movers to get all of my stuff into my new place.

Buying property in Austin has been rising in price lately due to the influx of new residents to the city and its constant development. The fact of the matter is, once people start realizing that a place offers a great living situation, then prices will inevitably go up as the population density increases. The average number of people moving to Austin on a daily basis is around 160, so price hikes in real estate are to be expected when a city develops at that rate. Generally, the housing market has risen significantly since 2012. Make sure to properly research and keep up with the Austin housing reports.

4. Cost Of Living

Putting aside the housing costs, what’s it like to live in Austin on a monthly basis? Obviously, this depends on your frame of reference. If you’re coming from a more expensive city like Los Angeles, then Austin will seem cheaper to you. I’ve heard people complaining about the low wages, and many friends of mine have had to move to neighboring areas of Austin due to their median salaries. Finding work in Austin is not difficult, as it’s rapidly growing economy provides leeway for new businesses, job openings, and startups. Although many people I’ve met here have not had difficulties finding work, what they’ve expressed frustration over is not getting a job in the field that they want. At the moment Austin is thriving in the tech world, which means if you’re looking for something in that area, you might have some stiff competition.

That being said, Austin is still considered to be an affordable city. A beer will run you 3-5$ depending on where you go, and an inexpensive restaurant meal can range from 12-15$. Rent will definitely use up the bulk of your monthly expenses. Monthly spending depends on the person, but without rent included, I was racking up about 800-1,000$ in costs for shopping, transport, utilities, going out, and so on. For a more accurate answer, or if you want to compare Austin’s prices to those of your city, check out this link.

5. Transportation

After cost of living, the final aspect to consider is transportation, so let’s start with public transport. Locals are split down the middle on this one; some believe that the transport system is almost nonexistent, but they may be comparing that to the convenience of cities such as New York and Chicago. Austin only has one North to South metro line as of right now. As a result of this and other factors many have come to criticize the lack of public transport infrastructure expansion in comparison to the rest of the city’s growth.

Compared to other cities in Texas, in my opinion Austin has a pretty strong public transport system. In my experience, the best use of the buses and metro line is if you’re planning on making your way around downtown and its surrounding areas. If you’d prefer a more active option, there are bike rental racks downtown which allow you to ride through traffic, if you can withstand the heat.

Getting around the city itself is easy due to the numbered street names (first, second, fifth…). Finding addresses is simple and straightforward, and getting around the city quickly became one of my favorite activities, as within a few months I knew my way around like a local. Having a car eliminates most of your public transport worries, but brings new ones, as the traffic situation in Austin is worsening. Some prefer biking, others use the public system, and of course there are those who prefer the comfort of their own car. All of these options are viable and you won’t have a hard time going from point A to point B in Austin.

Austin, like every other city in the world, obviously has its positives and negatives. The weather, lifestyle, cost of living, housing and transport in my opinion are important aspects to consider when thinking of moving to Austin as a city of choice. Efficient research before moving to a new city is essential, and I strongly recommend one or more visits to Austin before making your decision. Who knows, maybe the atmosphere will catch a hold of you, the same way it caught me.

Are there any other items you’d like to add to this list? Do you have valuable insider tips regarding Austin? Please comment below, we’d love to hear from you.

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Andy Macia

Hi, my name is Andy. I have been a real estate investor since 2008. I got my feet wet when the market crashed by purchasing some foreclosed homes in the midwest. Today I own 4 properties in the U.S. and 2 in South America. Apart from being a real estate investor, I am an avid writer. 

 

https://www.getbellhops.com/market/austin-texas/
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