Want to Move To Austin TX?

Are you thinking about moving to Austin, Texas? I was in your shoes in 2004. I had so many questions about Austin real estate and neighborhoods, the Austin job market, what the lifestyle was like, how Austin schools ranked, and could my husband and I deal with Austin weather?*

It turns out, Austin is as great as everyone makes it out to be.

I've lived in some great cities - Paris, LA, San Francisco, Charlotte - seven cities in all since turning 18. And this is the first place that feels like home. You can do it too. And it will (hopefully) be less scary the more informed you are. Let me help you with the following:

• Austin neighborhood guide - a helpful guide for understanding the Austin real estate market or for finding a rental. Take my handy personality quiz that matches you to an Austin neighborhood. What to know where the wealthiest or most affordable neighborhoods are in Austin? I've got you covered.

• A snapshot of what your money can buy in Austin.

• Austin school guide - find out how schools rank in the area, plus handy tips on how to compare schools when looking for a house to buy.

• Austin job market - information on employment in Austin, like who's hiring, what types of jobs are available, latest unemployment news and insider tips on making it.

• Things to do in Austin - find out about Austin bars & nightlife, special events like Austin City Limits Music Festival and South by Southwest, sports, shopping and outdoor activities.

• Places to eat - Ooh yeah - barbecue, Tex-Mex, chicken fried steak. All the great restaurants in Austin.

• Austin weather - find out if you can handle Texas summers.

• Austin scouting trip - a list of things to do and see when you visit Austin.

• Austin resource guide - a list of essential services you need once you move to Austin.

• Move to Austin Blog - where I post random thoughts/news/tidbits about Austin. Keep informed about my updates by checking there!

Feel free to contact me with specific questions, and I will be happy to help you further.

* In the interest of fairness, I was born in Texas and lived in Corpus Christi, TX until I was 12. I come from a long line of proud Texans (7 generations, going all the way back to the Austin family, the founders of Texas). So you may say I was predisposed to love it here. You're probably right. However, my husband, once a die-hard Californian, now proudly wears cowboy boots and can discuss the barbecue, fishing, and Texas trivia like a pro.

Move to Austin Table of Contents:
(for those of you into synopses)

Austin TX Neighborhood Guide
An introduction to finding the perfect Austin neighborhood that fits your family and lifestyle. Don't move to the boonies if you're into partying all night! And vice versa.

Austin Neighborhood Quiz
A special personality quiz I've created to help you discover what neighborhood you'd fit in at. It's fun, totally unscientific, but I've had amazing results when testing it out on my friends - I usually peg them correctly!

Austin Neighborhood Descriptions
Learn more about all the different areas Austin has to offer, and figure out where you're most likely to love living. And conversely, hate living.

How Much House Can You Afford?
See what your money will buy you in Austin Texas. Drool over what you can't afford too.

Austin Commute Times
Figure out how long you'll be sitting in the car on your way into town with my handy breakdown and maps of commute times from Austin neighborhoods.

Schools in Austin TX
An introduction to finding the perfect school for your offspring to attend.

Where are the best schools in Austin TX?
I've made a google map showing where all the area elementary, middle and high schools are located in Austin, along with a color coding to show their rankings. An easy way to discover what neighborhoods have the best schools.

Austin School Rankings
Lists of all the area schools (including those for Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Westlake Hills and Dripping Springs) with their state ratings, plus links on how to locate them on a map.

Helpful School Links
Find out how to do school comparisons when you are comparing houses or neighborhoods, plus information on how to transfer students or look into private schools if you decide that buying a house in Round Rock or Westlake just ain't your thing.

Austin Texas Job Market
I've compiled a list of major employers in the region, and discuss why Austin is ranked on many top 10 lists as best places to move to for a job. I also have a breakdown of the different sectors in town and their average salary for the area.

Austin Job Links
Good places to start when looking for a job in Austin.

Austin TX Cost of Living
Wondering what it costs to live here? Compare auto & home insurance rates, electrical and gas bills and property taxes here.

Things to do in Austin TX
I've come up with some ideas for what to do in Austin so that you'll never be bored here. There's something for everyone, including:

Bars & Nightlife in Austin
Ok - even though I'm a 32 year old parent with 2 young children, I still know of some of the hot spots to hit. I may never actually go there, but I still know about them, dammit.

Movies and Films
Austin goes leaps and bounds beyond the standard megaplexes and Hollywood blockbusters. We have those too of course, but here we take it to the next level. Ever watched Smokey and the Bandit in a theatre full of people wearing fake mustaches?

Outdoor Activities In Austin
Many people love it here because of all the awesome things you can do outside. Think of hiking, biking, camping and swimming. Read about my favorite places here.

Sports
If you love sports, you'll find some like-minded folk here. Especially if you're into football.

Kids Activities in Austin
This is one subject I can really help you with, as I have 2 young kids with plenty of energy.

Shopping in Austin
Learn how to spend your hard-earned cash at local retailers, and put some money back into the Austin economy. We thank you!

Movies and Films
Austin goes leaps and bounds beyond the standard megaplexes and Hollywood blockbusters. We have those too of course, but here we take it to the next level. Ever watched Smokey and the Bandit in a theatre full of people wearing fake mustaches?

Daytrips from Austin
Austin is smack-dab in the middle of Texas, and we're relatively close to all the great things Texas has to offer. Find out more here.

Festivals
Austin loves to celebrate food, beer, wine and music. Who doesn't, really? Find out about all our festivals, including information on our world famous South by Southwest conferences and Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Places to Eat
A compilation of my favorite restaurants in the Austin area. I love to eat, and I love going to restaurants - even if I'm a bit hindered now by toddlers' appetites.

Weather in Austin TX
Information on all the seasons in Austin. Yes, we get really hot in the summer, but sometimes we get down into the 30's in our brief winter. For me, that's perfect.

Plan a Scouting Trip
Have a local help you figure out what to do when you come to Austin on a scouting trip.

Austin Resource Guide
I've compiled a list of my favorite people and services in town - so you don't have to worry about picking a dentist out of the phone book.

Favorite Things about Austin
I've asked my friends to list what they love about Austin, so you don't just have to take my word on it. I'm not the only one who drank the Austin kool-aid.

Move To Austin Blog
This is where I write random stuff about Austin, when I'm too lazy to make up a new page for this website.

Contact Me
I'm not into spam email, so I had to do a contact form instead of putting my direct email address. But I promise I'll respond to you, barring major insults.