LIVING IN AUSTIN
Starting a new lifein Austin, honestly.
Not just the highlights. Everyday life, what it really costs, the hard parts, and the next ten years — what you should know before you move.
01 — A SUBURBAN DAY
Your neighborhood,not downtown,is your life.
Most suburban families only go downtown a few times a month. Days revolve around home, school, work and the grocery store — so choosing the neighborhood is choosing your quality of life.
7:15School runMost schools are in the neighborhood. You drive or kids take the bus.
8:00Commute20–40 minutes on toll roads like 183A and SH-45. Tolls bill automatically with TxTag.
12:00Remote & lunchHybrid work is common at tech companies. Lunch is local.
16:00After schoolSwim, soccer, martial arts, music. Usually within ten minutes.
18:00GroceriesH-E-B is the center of daily life. Everything else is a short drive.
WeekendLakes & parksLake Travis, the neighborhood pool, trails. Downtown is for shows and dinners out.
02 — SHOPPING, SPORTS & PARKS
Weekends you’lllook forward to.
From errands to pro sports, kids’ activities, lakes and parks — the places suburban Austin families actually go.
Shopping & dining
The DomainNorth AustinDepartment stores, restaurants and rooftops — Austin’s “second downtown.”
Round Rock Outlets & IKEARound RockA shopping belt along I-35.
Lakeline Mall & 1890 RanchCedar ParkEveryday retail for the northwest suburbs.
CedarView & ScheelsCedar ParkA new mega shopping district, opened 2026.
Southpark MeadowsSouth AustinThe big shopping center on the south side.
MuellerCentralFarmers market and H-E-B next to the park.
Sports to watch
Austin FCQ2 StadiumMajor League Soccer with a loud home crowd.
Texas LonghornsUT AustinCollege football Saturdays — an Austin tradition.
Round Rock ExpressDell DiamondTriple-A baseball and summer fireworks nights.
Texas StarsH-E-B Center, Cedar ParkPro hockey (AHL).
Formula 1 U.S. Grand PrixCOTA, southeastA world-class racetrack.
For the kids
Swim teams & soccer clubsMost neighborhoodsSummer swim teams and seasonal leagues.
Old Settlers ParkRound RockHome of youth baseball and soccer tournaments.
Round Rock Sports CenterRound RockIndoor basketball and volleyball.
Kalahari ResortRound RockA year-round indoor water park.
ThinkeryMuellerA hands-on children’s science museum.
Martial arts, music & roboticsAll aroundPlenty of after-school options close to home.
COTALANDCOTA, southeastAustin’s first big theme park, open since September 26, 2026 — about 30 rides on 30 acres.
Parks & outdoors
Lady Bird Lake TrailDowntownAbout 10 miles of lakeside trail and kayaking.
Barton Springs & Zilker ParkCentralA spring-fed pool that stays near 68°F all year.
Lake TravisWestBoating, paddleboarding, lakeside dining.
Brushy Creek Lake ParkCedar ParkLakeside playground and trails.
Pedernales Falls & Hamilton PoolAn hour westState park and a grotto swimming hole (reservations required).
Lake Georgetown & Blue HoleGeorgetownSwimming, hiking and camping.
03 — THE GOOD AND THE HARD
Every upsidecomes with a catch.
The goodThe catchHow to plan for it
No state income taxThe catchProperty taxes are high — typically 1.9–2.5% of value a year, higher in newer MUD communities.How to plan for itFile your homestead exemption ($140,000 off school taxes) as soon as you close.
More house for the moneyThe catchYou drive everywhere. Transit is limited; two cars per family is normal.How to plan for itPrice your commute and tolls into the home decision.
Mild wintersThe catchLong, hot summers — anywhere from 11 days over 100°F (2024) to 71 (2023).How to plan for itCheck the AC, window orientation and insulation.
Jobs keep comingThe catchTech is restructuring. Oracle and others cut jobs in 2026; unemployment rose to 4.0%.How to plan for itChoose a location that works for more than one employer.
Prices have resetThe catchAbout 27% below the 2022 peak (Zillow index). August median: $412,000, down 6.4% year over year.How to plan for itBuyers have room to negotiate. Buy to live, not to flip.
Nature is closeThe catchCedar pollen allergies in winter, hail in spring. Texas home insurance averages $3,506 a year (2025).How to plan for itInspect the roof and get insurance quotes before you sign.
04 — COMMON WORRIES, ANSWERED
“But isn’t Austin…?”Here’s the other side.
The worries we hear most. We won’t pretend they aren’t real — here’s why people who live here are still glad they came.
“It’s too hot.”The other side →✓Winters are mild. You’ll almost never shovel snow.✓AC is standard everywhere — homes, cars, stores, schools.✓Neighborhood pools, splash pads and lakes nearby. Summer life shifts to mornings and evenings.
“Property taxes are brutal.”The other side →✓There’s no state income tax — the higher your salary, the more you keep.✓Your primary home gets the homestead exemption ($140,000 off school taxes).✓You can protest your appraisal every year.
“You have to drive everywhere.”The other side →✓In exchange: more house, a garage, and one-stop grocery runs.✓Jobs are spread across the suburbs — Samsung in Taylor, Apple on Parmer, Dell in Round Rock — so commutes can be short.✓Hybrid work is common, so you’re not in traffic every day.
“Prices are falling.”The other side →✓For buyers that’s an opening — there’s room to negotiate.✓On new builds, weigh builder incentives like rate buydowns and upgrades.✓Population and jobs are still growing. If you’re buying to live, short-term dips matter less.
“Tech is laying people off.”The other side →✓Austin still added 23,800 jobs in a year — #2 among the 50 largest metros (Jul 2026).✓The economy now spans chips, EVs, healthcare and government.✓Pick an area that reaches several employers and changing jobs is easy.
“It’s getting too crowded.”The other side →✓Growth brings new schools, hospitals, parks and stores close to home.✓Suburban streets stay quiet — most of the crowd is downtown and on I-35.✓Moving in early means you pick your spot before the next wave.
“Allergies are rough.”The other side →✓Cedar pollen peaks in one season, mostly December to February.✓The rest of the year is great for being outdoors.✓Good AC filters and an air purifier go a long way.
“Insurance and hail?”The other side →✓Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofs often earn an insurance discount.✓We check roof age and get insurance quotes before you sign.✓New builds start with a new roof and systems.
05 — MOVING WITHIN TEXAS?
Coming from Houston,Dallas or San Antonio?
You already know Texas. Here’s what’s different about Austin — and what isn’t.
Compare costs with your city →Houston · Dallas–Fort Worth · San AntonioFrom elsewhere in Texas
“Isn’t Austin more expensive?”Austin proper is — about $550K median. Many suburbs aren’t: Hutto $335K, Kyle $292K, Round Rock $384K, versus Dallas $449K and Houston $350K (Redfin, Aug 2026).
“Are property taxes the same as back home?”Same system, different rates by county: about 1.68% in Williamson versus 2.24% in Tarrant and 2.27% in Bexar. In newer communities, check for MUD taxes.
“Is traffic as bad as Houston or Dallas?”Austin’s highway network is smaller, so I-35 and MoPac bottleneck. The fix is living near work — and Austin’s jobs are spread across the suburbs.
“What about hurricanes and flooding?”Austin is inland, so hurricanes reach it as rain, not storm surge. The real risks are hail and flash floods — we check flood maps and roof age on every home.
“Will my kids’ school transfer easily?”Yes. Same Texas curriculum (TEKS) and STAAR tests, so the move is smooth. You enroll by address.
“I need to sell before I buy.”We line up both timelines and can refer you to a trusted agent back home. Contingent offers and bridge options are worth comparing.
06 — MONTHLY COSTS
The price tagis only half the story.
For a $450,000 home — near the metro median — here is what you pay each month on top of principal and interest. Every address is different; use this as a rough guide.
Property tax$700–8501.9–2.3% a year, after homestead exemption
Home insuranceabout $290Texas average $3,506 a year ÷ 12
HOA$30–100Varies; more with pools and amenities
Mortgage P&Idepends on rateWe run real numbers on your consultation
Illustrative only. Actual costs depend on address, tax rate, insurer and interest rate.
Compare costs with your city →07 — WHERE THE ECONOMY IS GOING
Not one company.Many industries.
Austin is becoming a city where one industry can slow down and others carry it. Not the 2021-style spike — steady, broad growth.
SemiconductorsSamsung’s 2nm fab in Taylor, SpaceX’s circuit board plant in Bastrop
EVs & autonomyTesla Giga Texas, Cybercab production
TechApple’s $1B campus, Dell HQ, $6.5B in startup funding (2026)
HealthcareUT Dell Medical Center opening 2030
Government & educationState of Texas, UT Austin
Risks to watch● Tech layoffs and AI-driven restructuring● Plenty of new supply keeps price growth slow● I-35 construction; roads still catching up with growth
Our takeAustin is moving from a boomtown to a great place to stay. With prices catching their breath, now is a good time to start a new life here.— Melissa Jung
08 — YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS
Your first 90 days,in order.
Week oneSet up power, water and internet (providers vary by area). Enroll kids in school (proof of address needed).
Within 30 daysRegister your vehicle in Texas (required within 30 days for new residents).
Within 90 daysSwitch to a Texas driver’s license (required within 90 days).
If you boughtFile your homestead exemption with the county appraisal district — it’s free.
OngoingJoin your HOA and neighborhood groups. That’s where local life happens.
Your first Austin home,let’s find it together.
English 512-317-6595 · MarkinCedarpark@gmail.comSources: Unlock MLS (Aug 2026, via CultureMap), Zillow Home Value Index (Jun 2026), Texas Department of Insurance (2025), Texas Proposition 13 (2025), extremeweatherwatch (Camp Mabry), Opportunity Austin (Jul 2026), company announcements. Tax, insurance and rates vary by address and date.