Austin Review: My 12 Years There
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7/12/2006
Austin was a very unique place when I moved there 12 years ago. The people were great, attractions were never ending, population was perfect, real estate was cheap, and traffic was not a problem. It has grown to the point where it has lost a lot of its charm, but it is still a great place to live. The freeways did not expand at all while the population doubled. They have been working a lot in the last year to help though.
Austin is hot if you are not used to a warm climate. It is not as humid as Houston, so I don't think it is too bad. There are still a lot of things to do in Austin. Real estate is still relatively cheap compared to most of the country and certainly compared to any large city. You can find a 2000 sq. ft. house in South Austin that is whithin 15 mins of downtown for about $160,000. That's tough to do in most large cities. I now commute 50 mins 1-way to Houston.
Having the largest univeristy in the country does mean that salaries are depressed. That's actually why I just left. Houston and Dallas pay more in general. I think real estate prices will expand well beyond the annual inflation rate over the next 5 years. As you have read, there is a lot of immigration going on now. It has always been that way though. I remember meeting people when I first moved there 12 years ago, and almost everyone I met was from somewhere else. I think a lot of the people complaining are not native to Austin either. Don't get me wrong though, I don't want them their either.
Allergies are no joke. It took about 5 years before I had any problems with them. Once they hit though, they hit hard. I have to take Allegra every day to be able to breath and not feel like crap. If this is a potential issue for you, Austin is not likely the place for you.
I think Austin will always be a great place to live. I have been all over the country and I would put it in the top 10. I think it has a lot to offer, and I have not met anyone who said that they hated it. Come there, rent first, and see if you like the town. Go to 6th street and 4th street, go to Lake Travis, go to a Horn's game, see the many natural attractions near Austin, live in South Austin, and enjoy the city.
Jason | Austin, TX