Over 160 people a day are relocating to Austin. Though we don’t have exact figures as to how many of those come from the Bay Area, we can’t tell you how many people we’ve met since relocating to Austin from San Francisco who are from the Bay Area.
Why Relocate to Austin from San Francisco?
Austin is often referred to as the “San Francisco” of Texas. With the high tech companies (Facebook, eBay, Dell, IBM, Intel, Apple, Google, Freescale Semiconductor….) and more businesses relocating to Austin everyday, Austin is a great place to find a quality job. In fact, Texas is one of the only states creating jobs in this down economy.
Cost of Housing is Much Less in Austin
Depending on where in the Austin area you want to live, cost of housing can be as little as $150,000 or as much as several million. If you’re looking to live in Central Austin or South Austin, you can find something decent for between $300,000 and $500,000. If you’d prefer to live in a more suburban area, you can find a nice house for the high $100,00s to the $400,000s.
Texas Has No State Income Tax
Texas is one of the 7 or 8 states in the US with no state income tax. Our sales tax is less than sales tax in California and our property taxes range from 2-3%. With housing prices less than half of what you’d spend in the Bay Area, you’ll probably be spending about the same for your property taxes or maybe even less.
Austin Residents Enjoy a Higher Quality of Life
Though the Austin high tech jobs don’t provide the same pay as they would in San Francisco, the low cost of living and no state income tax allow residents a higher quality of life at ¼ the cost. Plus, Austin is a great city for those who like the outdoors. With two lakes, hike and bike trails and great weather 80% of the year, there aren’t many days you’ll be cooped up inside.
Three of Texas’ Largest Cities Within 3 Hour Drive
If you get tired of Austin, three of Texas’ largest cities are within a 3 hour drive from Austin. San Antonio is just over an hour away while Houston and Dallas/Ft Worth are 3 hours away.
Austin is Small Business Friendly
Looking to start a business? Austin is one of the most small business friendly cities in America. Plus, residents really embrace “buying local”. You’ll find a lot of independent shops, restaurants and several local chains.
Austin Residents are Welcoming and Friendly
One thing that really surprised me when I moved here was how welcoming and nice the people are. Everyone is more than willing to help you – and its not fake. San Francisco is slowly creeping up as one of the most unfriendly cities in the United States. You don’t realize it until you live in a place like Austin just how unfriendly San Francisco is. Its a refreshing change.
Need More Reasons to Relocate to Austin from San Francisco?
Plan a trip to Austin. You can often find pretty cheap airfare. Spend a few days in Austin exploring the area and you’ll have a good sense for whether or not Austin is the right city for you to relocate.
Relocating to Austin?
Check out our Austin Relocation Guide. There you’ll find several guides that will help you with the transition. We also share some of our experiences and help you avoid the mistakes we made. When you’re ready to speak to a Realtor about your move, call us at (512) 827-8323. We’ve relocated to Austin and understand what you’re facing. Let us help you make your transition as smooth as possible.
Check Out Austin Homes for Sale
Considering Relocating to Austin from San Francisco?
We can help! Not only have we all done it, we’ve helped several other families like yours do the same thing. We know the Austin area better than any Realtor, even those who’ve lived here all their lives. We can also share our mistakes and make sure you don’t make them. Check out our Austin Home Buyers section to learn more about out team. Then, fill out our Relocation Survey, email us at info@11OaksRealty.com or call us at (512) 827-8323 to schedule a no obligation consultation.
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