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Austin Real Estate - Buying a Home in Austin, Texas
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Austin, Texas is a great place to live for many reasons. There are good schools and colleges in Austin, plenty of history and culture, outdoor activities -- and, of course, the world-famous Austin music scene. So if you're thinking of investing in Austin real estate, you have plenty of factors to support the decision.
But where do you start? Buying a home anywhere is a major undertaking, and Austin home buying is no different.
We hope this guide to Austin real estate helps you enjoy a smoother home buying process in Austin. Specifically, we hope to (A) teach you about the city itself, (B) educated on the home buying process, and (C) point you toward some helpful resources related to Austin home buying. So without further ado, let's start with the city itself.
About Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital of Texas. It's also referred to as the Live Music Capital of the World. The main campus of the University of Texas is located in Austin. With so many different institutions in close proximity to one another, Austin has diversity to spare. Take a stroll down Congress Avenue, and you'll encounter everyone from politicians to musicians and students to artists.
Austin's Geography
If you're going to buy Austin real estate, you'll need to know a little about the geography. In Austin, you could have a home by the lake, a home by the river, or a home out in the rolling hills ... without going too far in any one direction. That's one of the many benefits of buying Austin real estate.
Austin is located in Central Texas and serves as the "gateway" to Texas Hill Country, a region of scenic rolling hills that stretches westward from Austin. The Colorado River flows through downtown Austin, forming a series of lakes that cover more than 100 miles.
[No, not the Colorado River of Grand Canyon fame. This Colorado River]
Dallas is about 100 miles north of Austin, Texas; San Antonio is about 80 miles to the south; and Houston is about 160 miles southeast of Austin.
Yahoo map of Austin | MapQuest of Austin | Official city map of Austin
Austin's Population
Austin is the fourth-largest city in all of Texas. It is the 16th largest city in the United States. Austin's population has grown steadily over the years, largely due to the influx of workers from other cities, states and countries. As of this writing, there are approximately 1.5 million people living in Austin proper.
Austin's population growth shows no signs of stopping. Whether that's a good or bad thing depends on who you ask. Fortunately, most of the area's massive highway upgrades are either complete or nearing completion, so the traffic situation is much more tolerable now. This traffic relief will have a continued (and positive) affect on Austin real estate.
Austin Real Estate
So now you know more about the city of Austin. But where do you go for information on buying a home in Austin? You don't go anywhere, because we've put all the information you need in one place ... right here! Below, you'll find information on Austin neighborhoods, home builders in Austin, school information and more. In other words — Austin Real Estate 101.
Austin Neighborhoods
First of all, you'll need to determine which part of Austin you want to live in. We've gathered some resources to help with that part:
- Map of Austin neighborhoods
- Another list of neighborhoods in Austin
- Crime data by neighborhood
- Neighborhood planning / zoning
Home Builders in Austin
Because of the city's consistent growth, you'll find a large variety of home builders in Austin, Texas. The list below is by no means all-inclusive, but we've done our best to present some of the major builders who operate in and around Austin.
Austin Builders
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More info on builders:
Custom Builders in Austin
Austin Schools
If you're investing in Austin real estate, the quality of local schools will affect you whether or not you have school-aged children. Schools have a direct impact on home values (in addition to their obvious importance for parents). So you need to do a little homework before buying ... pun intended.
Austin Public Schools
Austin Colleges & Universities
- University of Texas at Austin
- Austin Community College
- Concordia University
- St. Edward's University
- Texas State University
Additional Resources
- Top-rated Austin schools
- Private schools, charter schools, etc.
- School reports at Yahoo (enter city name)
- School info at About.com
Austin Real Estate Agents
When buying a home in Austin, it's wise to have the help of an Austin agent. It's a hot real estate market where things move fast, so a skilled agent can help you avoid costly mistakes. Here are some resources to help you find and choose an Austin real estate agent that's right for you.
Find an Austin Agent
Austin Mortgage Loans and Lenders
Unless you've recently won the lottery, buying a home will probably mean taking out a mortgage loan as well. The type of mortgage you choose will affect you for years to come, so it's important to choose the best mortgage loan in advance. We have recently launched an Austin mortgage tips website geared for this purpose -- to help Austin home buyers make smart decisions about the types of mortgage loans they choose. We also have a helpful tutorial about Austin home loans here on this website.
Moving Companies in Town
Home buying and moving go hand in hand. You can't do one without the other. So if you need the services of a trustworthy Austin mover -- we recommend M&M Moving.
Questions or Comments?
We hope you've found our Austin home buying guide helpful. If there's something missing from this page that you think others would find useful, please send an email to editor[at]homebuyinginstitute.com. Happy home buying!
More Articles on Austin
Here are some articles about the Austin real estate scene provided by mortgage and realty professionals in the area.
Luxury Austin Condos
A luxury Austin condo offers the best of both worlds. Experience city and rural living in various luxury Austin homes in central Texas.
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