Austin, TX Reviews


449 Reviews



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What BestPlaces Users Say about Austin

Austin, Texas is a rapidly growing city known for its vibrant music scene, outdoor activities, and booming tech industry. With a diverse population and a thriving economy, many people are flocking to this city to live and work. However, as with any place, there are both positive and negative aspects to living in Austin. In order to better understand the experiences of those who have lived in this city, I have gathered a variety of user reviews from BestPlaces.net.

According to user reviews on BestPlaces.net, there are many positive aspects to living in Austin. One user, Grace, shares that "Austin has a great sense of community and a friendly atmosphere. People are generally laid back and open-minded, making it easy to make new friends." Another user, John, praises the city's job market, stating that "Austin offers a wide range of job opportunities, especially in the tech industry. I was able to find a job in my field within a few weeks of moving here." Additionally, user Lily highlights the city's vibrant culture, saying that "there is always something fun to do in Austin, whether it's attending a music festival, trying out a new restaurant, or exploring the city's beautiful parks."

On the other hand, there are also some negative aspects mentioned by users about living in Austin. One user, Mike, expresses his frustration with the city's traffic, stating that "the traffic in Austin is a nightmare, especially during rush hour. It can be stressful and time-consuming to get around." Another user, Samantha, mentions the high cost of living in Austin, saying that "rent prices and property taxes are constantly on the rise, making it difficult for some people to afford to live here." User David brings up an important issue, stating that "while Austin is a diverse city, there are also issues with gentrification and displacement of longtime residents in certain areas."

In conclusion, many user reviews on BestPlaces.net highlight the positive aspects of living in Austin, such as its sense of community, job opportunities, and vibrant culture. However, there are also some challenges and drawbacks mentioned, such as traffic, cost of living, and issues with gentrification. Overall, these user reviews provide valuable insights for anyone considering a move to Austin, allowing them to weigh the pros and cons and make an informed decision for themselves.

 based on 449 Reviews
Get to know Austin with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Austin

Property Tax - 11/13/2006
Texas gets a bad rap when it comes to property tx. The latest studies show that the overall tax burdon for Texas ranks us 44th. So eventhough our property tax is higher, the rest of the taxes in Texas more than makes up for it. Yes I am in Real Estate as was suprised as you are reading this to know that. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce and Tax Foundation. Austin Texas is one of the highest project appreciating real estate markets in the country and has one of the best job outlooks as well for Read More

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Response to NE thinking of moving to Austin - 11/1/2006
I'm not sure how long you've been considering a move to Austin, but I believe it to be a good move. Austin has it's issues as any growing city (traffic is horrible most of the time)--Here's the good and bad that I've found. PRO'S--Safety of city itself- it depends on where-lower crime than most big cities-some areas very exclusive high end cost//ART-growing community-many museums-many shows-as an artist myself I find it lively//DOGS-very pet friendly-many dog and no leash parks//NATURE-parks,lakes, etc-not as easily accessable as upstate NY but more to choose from//CON'S hot muggy summers (but not desicating like Phoenix & not unpredictable drizzly soggy like Rochester) - only two seasons-summer and mild(no brisk fall or freezing snowbound winter)-High property tax (but probably similar to NY and the "no TX state income tax" doesn't make up for Read More

In response to "Living in the NE" - 10/10/2006
Hello, NE, I have moved from Toronto, so I know what you mean by "living in the NE and in a big city. Austin is so much better, if you like it hot in the summer, very pleasant and mild the rest of the year. Yes, you can buy property by the water (quite pricey though). I'd be happy to send you more info about Austin in general and homes in particular since I am a realtor. Contact me either by email (vdordea@austin.rr.com) or by phone Read More

Hi, Texas! :-> - 10/10/2006
I have been living in the NE for the last decade and it's awful here. ( the cost of living, the NY attitude and too much to mention ) I'm an artist and warm hearted and Austin appeals to me. If I moved to Austin it would be with the intention of contributing- not eroding the quality of life for Austintonians. ( I imagine that Austin has grown because people are fleeing over crowded and uninhabitable places in the NE corridor and many might not be too happy about this in Austin )

My question: Is it safe to live in the city itself? Is there a lively Arts community and is the city dog friendly? I take care of a disabled man and he
wishes to relocate so he is in a position to buy some property. We are both mid-life and single and aren't sure what areas of Austin we should consider.
Acccess to water and nature would be important to us both-
I thank you in advance for any help which you might provide.
Read More

home prices - 10/9/2006
I noticed that on this web site the median home price is from 2005. For all those of you considering moving to or investing in Austin, here are some more accurate data. The median sale price in 8/06 was $182,500, a nice increase from the 2005 $169,400 (slowly but steadily). The average sale price increase looks even better. In 8/06 it was $243,700K compared to
$217K in 08/05. If you need more information on home prices or anything else that may help you with your relocation or investing, contact me by email or by phone, I am a realtor and a certified relocation professional.
 Read More

Californication and the real reasons not to move t - 10/3/2006
My wife and I and our daughter moved to Austin about a month ago from the SF bay area. I've had a couple "what the hell have we done?!" moments, but they've been brief, and mostly on the freeways while trying to get to work (more about the traffic later). Like the previous poster, I've only gotten warm welcomes from the people here, and really enjoyed getting to know them. Having previously lived in Oregon and Santa Fe, NM, I can attest to what real anti-Californian sentiment feels like.

While Austin is culturally and politically more liberal than many parts of California, I would agree with some of the posters below: if the thought that your neighbor might be a church-attending Christian freaks you out, you might not want to move here. There are a lot of churches, almost all of them are Christian, and some of them lean social-conservative. This does have its disadvantages (see the part about Sunday mornings and beer-buying below).

On the other hand, if you Read More

Investing in Real Estate - 10/2/2006
Right now is the best time to be investing in Austin Texas real estate, as unlike the rest of the country we have been flat the last several years and right now are just beginning out growth period. So if your looking to make money in real estae this is the place. Don Robinson 512-659-4045 Five Star GMAC Real Read More

Austin lover getting a little tired of exclusionar - 9/25/2006
On this site, there are several complaints of "too liberal" or "liberals stay out," or complaints that "liberals are ruining the great state of Texas." I guess this is someone's idea of southern hospitality. Be hospitable as long as you have the same political views. My own experiences with Austin have been just the opposite, with warm reception from every side, and even though I was born in Southern California, I was never made to feel like a carpetbagger. The people are wonderful, the city is beautiful, and the summers go on forever (if you can take the heat). To out of state visitors, be prepared for real southern flavor from every corner, and if you let them know its appreciated, they'll increase it tenfold. From what I've seen, the majority of Texans are courteous people who welcome you into their state to take a load off and enjoy the scenery. The xenophobes in some of these posts are an Read More

Elgin School District - 9/19/2006
My husband and I are relocating to Austin at the end of the year. We need to know what the school district is like in the Eligin area. I've heard that if we want the best we should live North (i.e. Round Rock, Hutto, Leander). With the way that the city is expanding, I'm sure that someone out there can give us some insight on this topic. I have a four y.o. and a four mo. Read More

Flooding? - 9/14/2006
What is the story on flooding in Austin? I have read that it is called "flood alley". Is it really that bad? Should I be concerned about relocating because of Read More

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