Featured image source: Ed Schipul via Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/5731580765
The city of Austin is famous for its delicious cuisine, including its juicy barbecue, and for being the world’s live music capital. The city also has a great reputation for its nightlife scene that features a wide variety of vibrant clubs and bars. It’s no wonder then that people are purchasing investment properties or moving here while visitors continually flock in this city for vacations.
6 Great Pros of Moving to Austin
1. Delicious Food
Austin is famous for its barbecue, among other delicious food options. In this city, people queue up a long time to satisfy their cravings, whether it’s for BBQ or tacos. There’s no better place to enjoy a Texan barbecue, which you can find in food trucks, casual dining places, and formal restaurants all across the city. Some of the most famous barbecue places in Austin are:
- Franklin Barbecue
- LeRoy and Lewis
- Kerlin BBQ
- Loro
- Sam’s Bar-B-Que
- Texas Ranch BBQ
2. A Lively Music Scene
Austin’s live music scene attracts a lot of visitors to the city. You can experience live music at a variety of venues here, including theaters, bars, and restaurants. Musicians from all genres perform here so you’ll likely discover new favorites along the way.
If you like music festivals, you should definitely visit in the fall to experience the Austin City Limits music festival.
3. Laidback Vibes
If you’re looking for a casual lifestyle, where shorts and flip flops are your regular attire, you’ll fit right in with the residents of Austin. Summer days in this city mean fewer clothing layers which is a great way to travel light if you’re just visiting.
4. Employment Opportunities
The technology scene in Austin is growing rapidly. If you want to join this financially rewarding industry, Austin is a great place to live. With the low cost of living, you can be certain that you’ll be able to maximize your earnings while furthering your career.
5. Access to Nature
If you love nature and being outdoors, Austin is the city for you. You’ll get to enjoy easy access to three lakes where you can go fishing, boating, kayaking, rafting, and swimming. There are also a variety of parks for biking and hiking in and around Austin for you to enjoy.
6. Frequent Festivals
There are many music festivals in Austin that you can check out. Some people even plan entire vacations around a single festival. Here is a list of just a few of them that you can check out throughout the year:
- Free Week
- Austin’s Carnaval
- Rodeo Austin
- SXSW (South by Southwest)
- Urban Music Festival
- Art City Austin
- Austin Reggae Festival
- Pecan Street Festival
- Austin City Limits Music Festival
- Viva La Vida Festival & Parade
- Austin Area Jazz Festival
- Austin Celtic Festival
6 Drawbacks of Relocating to Austin, TX
1. Hot & Humid Weather
The constant exposure to high heat and humidity means that air conditioning is necessary for living in Austin, whether you’re at home or driving. If you’re not a fan of hot weather, you’ll need time to adjust. You can always refresh by visiting the cinemas, dipping in the springs, or renting a sailboat and exploring the local lakes.
Image Source: Larry D. Moore / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
2. Limited Public Transportation Options
Public transportation in Austin is limited to buses only. Unlike big cities where a public metro or other train systems might exist, Austin is geared towards driving. If you don’t like to travel by bus then your other option is to buy a car. Since a lot of people opt to drive the traffic can be a source of frustration.
n is limited to buses only. Unlike big cities where a public metro or other train systems might exist, Austin is geared towards driving. If you don’t like to travel by bus then your other option is to buy a car. Since a lot of people opt to drive the traffic can be a source of frustration.
3. Heavy Traffic
As mentioned, traffic is an external source of frustration that residents can’t fix themselves. If you’re moving to Austin for work, you should try and find somewhere to live as close to your workplace as you can for a shorter commute. Otherwise, you’re looking at double or possibly triple the normal travel time. In fact, Austin’s traffic has been compared to other big cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
4. Limited Sports & Museum Entertainment
Austin is a haven for music lovers, but it lags behind in terms of hosting sporting events and having a variety of art museums. If you prefer either of these kinds of cultural immersions, you may need to travel to enjoy them.
5. College Ambiance
Living in Austin, you have to get used to the large student population completing their secondary education here. This can present certain challenges in terms of job competition. It also means that a lot of establishments cater largely to this demographic.
6. The Temptation to Overspend and Overeat
With so much excellent local cuisine available, it can be hard to say no to eating out every day. This can be anything from barbecues, tacos, Frito pies, enchiladas, chicken fried steaks, and more. It’s essential to build self-discipline if you want to stick to your budget and dietary needs.
Conclusion: Is Austin, Texas a Good Place to Live?
Austin is exciting for music enthusiasts, food connoisseurs, and those who love fun festivals. But like other cities, it’s not perfect. Depending on your level of interest, you’ll find a way to work around the drawbacks to maximize the advantages of living in this city.
If you’re more sports-inclined then you can visit other cities nearby to see some games. If you don’t like to waste time in traffic, you can always move closer to where you work to decrease your commute time. The key is to be comfortable where you are and enjoy what Austin has to offer.
If you’re looking for a rental property in Austin, contact Bigham & Associates. We can help you!
