Moving to Austin, Texas
The tech capital of Texas is in a rare price correction. After years of being unaffordable, 2026 may be your window to buy in Austin.
$425K
Median Home
2.3M
Metro Population
Correcting
Market Status
$0
Income Tax
Living in Austin
Austin was THE pandemic boomtown — Tesla, Oracle, Samsung, Apple, Google, Meta all expanded here. That drove prices up 60%+ in two years. Now reality has set in. Prices are correcting, inventory is rising, and buyers have leverage for the first time since 2019. The median home dropped from $500K+ peaks to ~$425K and trending down in some submarkets. If you've been priced out of Austin before, this is the opportunity. The tech job market remains strong, the live music scene is legendary, and the food/outdoor culture is unmatched. Round Rock and Cedar Park suburbs offer better value with top schools. Downtown and East Austin remain premium but negotiable.
Top Neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Vibe | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round Rock | Suburb, top schools, Dell HQ | $350K-$500K | Families, value |
| Cedar Park | Growing suburb, outdoor access | $380K-$550K | Families, nature lovers |
| East Austin | Hip, gentrified, food/art scene | $450K-$700K | Young professionals |
| South Austin (78745) | Keep Austin Weird heartland | $400K-$600K | Culture seekers |
| Pflugerville | Affordable suburb, diverse | $320K-$450K | Budget families |
| Dripping Springs | Hill Country, wineries | $500K-$800K+ | Space, luxury, nature |
Pros & Cons of Austin
✅ Pros
- ✓ Tech job capital of TX
- ✓ Zero income tax
- ✓ Prices correcting — buyer leverage
- ✓ Live music capital of the world
- ✓ Outdoor lifestyle (Barton Springs, trails)
- ✓ UT Austin — world-class university
- ✓ Food scene rivaling any US city
⚠️ Cons
- ✗ Still expensive vs other TX cities
- ✗ Traffic on I-35 is legendary
- ✗ Summer heat (100°F+)
- ✗ Cost of living rising despite correction
- ✗ Homelessness concerns downtown
- ✗ Property taxes 1.8%+ in some areas
Financing in Austin
- Sellers offering concessions — rate buydowns and closing cost credits common
- New construction incentives from builders (up to $30K in some communities)
- Round Rock and Pflugerville have USDA-eligible pockets
- Price correction means appraisals are favorable for buyers
- First-time buyer programs through TDHCA available