Wow.. the 2018 US News & World Report just named Austin the second year in the row as The Best City to Live In! They say people are drawn to the Texas capital’s music, outdoor spaces and cultural institutions. Austin is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country. Of course the “Hot” job market plays an important role in attracting new residents!
In 1839 Austin was establish along the Colorado River on the edge of the Hill Country and has done nothing but steadily grow and attract a plethora of music venues and local bands to entertain the endless crowds clamoring to be a part of the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
Austin is stepped in history, from the bronze statue of Stevie Ray Vaughan that greets visitors near the river, to the stately Capital that anchors downtown, to the LBJ Presidential Library at the University of Texas! There are so many establishments where residents and visitors can enjoy live music! So many exceptional dining places offer a bustling and diverse culinary scene. There are many food trucks offering a very
relaxed dining experience.
The local economy is thriving but homes prices are going through the roof with the median sales price for a single family home well above the national median. The good news is there is no personal or corporate income tax and a low state and local tax rate.
CNBC also carried an article on Austin’s claim to the top spot for the 2nd year in a row. Austin’s excited about the national coverage and is still waiting to see who Amazon picks for their Second Quarters Amazon HQ2! CNN released in January the not-so-short list of possible cites and Austin was in the final 20.
Neal Spelce tells us, “Speculations continues to run rampant. Despite criticism from some quarters about how Austin is handling congestion caused by growth office space is leasing at record high rates and construction is continuing.”
Troy Holme, Executive Vice President of Austin’s brokerage firm CBRE is optimistic on our Austin market. He told the Austin-American Statesman “we believe that Austin is going places never seen before! Even if there is a hiccup, large or small, in the overall national economy, Austin is perfectly positioned to withstand a downturn due to the diversity of industries, favorable state taxes and incentives, and the environment Austin has to offer.”
It’s an exciting time to live in Austin..we are morphing and who knows what the end product will be. My guess is we will be like everything in this world, living in a constant sea of change. Hold on to your boot straps Austin we are in for a ride! Just don’t let them take away our uniqueness and character that we all love, we will fight that for sure!
