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        <title>JBGoodwin REALTORS® - Austin &amp; San Antonio Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/tags/relocating-to-austin/</link>
        <description>Stay up to date on the latest Austin, San Antonio, and Central Texas real estate trends with JBGoodwin's real estate blog.</description>
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    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/how-austins-housing-market-compares-to-living-in-the-west.html</link>
        <title>How Austin's Housing Market Compares To Living In The West</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 

In recent weeks, we’ve glanced at some of the most popular cities in different regions of the country. We compared each of those cities to the cost of living here in Austin, Texas.


As the final blog post in this series, we’re looking at the Western U.S. The cities in this part of the country make up some of the most popular places to visit in the U.S., and in many ways, they reflect many of the lifestyle features that people cherish about living in Austin.


Don’t forget to read our previous editions, in which we compared Austin’s cost of living to moving to the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest. Let us know what you think of our findings in the comments below or on social media. To make fair comparisons, we use Best Places to reflect the price differences between cities. 


Strap yourself in and get ready because here is how Austin compares to living in the Western U.S.:


The cost of living in Los Angeles, CA vs. Austin, TX


Let’s start in California. Best Places ranked Austin as “29 cheaper than Los Angeles.” And when we looked at some of the specifics, housing and utilities appear the most significant factors in that conclusion. Housing in California is known for being high compared to much of the rest of the United States, so the fact that its prices leave Austin in its wake isn’t a surprise. 


The cost of living in San Francisco, CA vs. Austin, TX


San Francisco, our second California city comparison, has a similar conclusion to Los Angeles. The difference: San Francisco is costlier than Austin AND Los Angeles. Housing especially is far outside the affordability of Austin. Best Places said, “Housing is the biggest factor in the cost of living difference.” In fact, San Francisco’s real estate is 73 more expensive than here in Austin, according to Best Places.





The cost of living in Seattle, WA vs Austin, TX


Now let’s go to Washington.


The numbers drop again from what we saw in San Francisco, but Austin is still the less expensive place to live. “Austin is 33 cheaper than Seattle,” Best Places says. An interesting difference between these numbers and those from California is that in every category Seattle is costlier, even if it is only by a small amount. Like the previous two cities, real estate is the biggest factor in Austin’s success as the more economical place to call home.


 


The cost of living in Portland, OR vs. Austin, TX


Portland shares one of Austin’s most famous slogans. While in Texas we say, “Keep Austin Weird,” Portland folk tweak it to match their own city pride “Keep Portland Weird.” I couldn’t tell you who claimed their weirdness first, but I can tell you that Austin is the cheaper place to stay weird. Like Seattle, Portland is more expensive than Austin in every category of our comparison. Take a look for yourself:





The cost of living in Denver, CO vs. Austin, TX


Denver and Austin are the two closest cost of living prices on our list, with Austin proving 8 cheaper. The biggest difference here is again in the category of housing. Best Places says “Housing is 12 cheaper in Austin.” And just like that, Austin was cheaper than all the major cities on our Western U.S. list.


 


If you’re looking for a home in Austin, get in touch today with a JB Goodwin real estate agent. We can help you find the rental or purchase that fits your budget and caters to your lifestyle. Based on the data above, it’s no wonder why so many people from the west coast are moving to Central Texas. Let us know how we can help you. We’re excited that you’ve decided to call Austin your home.


 
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    <pubDate>Mon, 18 Sep 2017 12:02:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/how-austins-housing-market-compares-to-living-in-the-southeast.html</guid>
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        <title>How Austin's Housing Market Compares To Living In The Southeast</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 

This is our second trip to the East Coast during our Cost of Living blog series. In a previous post, we compared the cost of living in Austin to that of living in the Northeast United States. Today, we take on the southern half of the East Coast and look at three of the region's largest cities. 


We used Best Places to compare the cost of living in each of the cities. This website lets you compare city-to-city costs of living across the country, and factors in the cost of daily essentials such as housing, food, and utilities. If you don’t see the city you’re curious about in this post, you should wait for the fourth and final blog we have of this series, which will compare the cost of living in Austin to cities on the West Coast.


Sit back, relax, and learn about how Austin compares to living in the Southeast United States.


Cost of living in Jacksonville, Florida vs Austin, TX


Although, Jacksonville and Austin show a comparable cost of living almost across the board. However, there are some key exceptions. The cities start to deviate on affordability in key categories such as food, housing, and utility prices. There is one thing that the information fails to compare though—the job markets in each of these cities.


Austin’s job market - particularly within STEM-based (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields - is thriving. The only fair way to compare housing costs is with the consideration of your potential income.





Cost of living in Charlotte, NC vs Austin, TX


Austin is costlier than Charlotte in every category except food. The quality and quantity of Austin's cuisine makes it that much more economical and more enjoyable than sitting down to your average meal in Charlotte


As was the case for Jacksonville and Austin, many of the numbers between Charlotte and Austin are very close. The only reason bestplaces.net said that Austin is 21 more expensive than Charlotte, is that the cost of housing is that much more in Austin. The other numbers, as you can see in the chart, appear nearly identical. As with Jacksonville, you should consider your job prospects and the wages that you will earn in Austin, which will likely make up the difference between the two cities.  


With such a marginal difference, make sure that you research both cities thoroughly. Austin and Charlotte provide distinct living situations from one another. Find the city that reflects the goals of your family and career.





Cost of living in Memphis, TN vs Austin, TX


In just about every category, Memphis is not as costly as Austin to live in. From housing costs to transportation, Memphis manages to keep its prices down across the board. Their exception is the cost of food, for which Austin is less than one percentage point cheaper. 


Again, financial and occupational opportunities deserve to be considered before taking these dollar amounts point-blank. Smaller cities tend to offer less competitive pay than their larger counterparts, and the smaller job market provides fewer career options for those wanting to thrive in their field.





Cost of living in Atlanta, GA vs Austin, TX


If it were not for Austin’s housing cost, Atlanta and Austin would practically be equal regarding every aspect of their costs of living. Food—which is again cheaper in Austin—is the second-highest factor, but still only shows a difference of about 14. Every other category on the chart, there are marginal differences between the two cities, totaling to less than 3 or 4 percentage points.


If you’re wrestling with the decision of which place to call home, research more extensively the area, lifestyles, and job opportunities. And always remember that a little research can go a long way.


Cost of living in Miami, FL vs Austin, TX


Austin is slightly cheaper than living in than Miami, Florida. It seems that Miami and Austin’s housing costs are the only two on our list that are comparable to each other. In fact, Austin is the more affordable place to call home.


In fact, in every category except for housing, Austin is the more economical city. The most pronounced difference on the chart was between Austin and Miami’s food costs—where Austin was about 15 cheaper than Miami.


Feel free to check out other cities through bestplaces.net. But remember, the best consultation for your move comes from a person who understands the local real estate market. If you’re looking for a new place to call home, Austin could be the right place for your family. Let a JB Goodwin real estate agent help you to find the home that fits the needs and budget of your family. We look forward to the opportunity of helping you


 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 18 Aug 2017 16:35:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/how-austins-housing-market-compares-to-living-in-the-midwest.html</link>
        <title>How Austin’s Housing Market Compares To Living In The Midwest</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



Locals are the first to brag about the experience of living in Austin, Texas. Their happiness has spurred a migration of families from every corner of the country who couldn’t resist all that is offered in this slice of the Hill Country.


New families come to Austin every day. The healthy lifestyles, booming job market, year-round warm weather, and renowned cuisine is enough to incentivize people to try Austin for themselves.


As real estate agents, we know that exciting and tasty motivations are not all that gets factored into a move. Choosing the next city to call home is a decision that considers job possibilities, housing costs, and more. To help families looking for their next home, we devoted this blog series to compare Austin real estate to other major cities across the country.


With the help of bestplaces.net, here’s what we found out about how Midwest cities compare to Austin’s cost of living:


Cost Of Living In Chicago, IL vs Austin, TX


Chicago is a less expensive place to live than Austin, but not by much. “Austin is 6 more expensive than Chicago,” says the bestplaces.net. And looking at the numbers, the cities go back and forth between which details are more expensive than the other. Transportation and food, for example, are far more expensive in Chicago than Austin. Housing is where Chicago takes a big leap in its affordability.





Cost Of Living In Indianapolis, IN vs Austin, TX


Indianapolis and Austin also have similar costs of living to one another. The numbers – except for housing – are comparable to one another in almost every respect. Whether you choose to be a Hoosier or an Austinite, it looks like your reasons for moving to one city or the other will need to weigh different factors. If you need an outsider’s opinion: we could not recommend Austin more.





Cost Of Living In Columbus, OH vs Austin, TX


Almost across the board, Austin is more expensive than Columbus. Bestplaces.net says “Austin is 39 more expensive than Columbus,” and that “Housing is 149 more expensive in Austin”. Those are some steep numbers. Columbus is the more affordable place, but have you tried Austin’s breakfast tacos?


Cost Of Living In Detroit, MI vs Austin, TX


The housing numbers from Detroit will not surprise too many people who’ve paid attention to the news in recent years. Detroit’s housing market has endured hard times that have caused the cost of homes to fall to almost nothing. Austin, of course, is far costlier than Detroit. $10,000 homes are easy to find in Detroit, so if you’re looking for a low-cost investment, do some research about the area.


The city can be dangerous and job security is difficult to come by. If you want a remarkably low cost of living, Detroit is an option that might appeal to you. But if you’re looking for a safe place to have a job and raise a family, Austin’s hospitality will cater nicely to needs.


Cost Of Living In Milwaukee, WI vs Austin, TX


As is the case of most cities on our list, Milwaukee and Austin proved very similar numbers across the chart, until you find the Housing category. Austin’s high demand for housing in the past several years has inevitably caused our real estate costs to climb. The competition for local housing has resulted in a generous appreciation for property owners but has simultaneously taken Austin out of the affordable leagues of many cities in the Midwest.


If you’re in the market for a lower cost home, the Midwest offers beautiful cities you will enjoy. But if you’ve read and heard the great reviews that consistently come from Austin, then maybe it’s time you came to Texas to find out what all the fuss is about. Give Austin a try. It’s a choice you’re sure to love


Don’t forget, the first blog of this series compared Austin’s cost of living to the Northeast


If your family is considering a move to Austin, contact JB Goodwin real estate agent to find the property the caters to the needs of your family. Austin is an opportunistic location for finding a beautiful house, a cozy apartment, and numerous attractions that people come from across the world to explore.
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    <pubDate>Mon, 31 Jul 2017 07:30:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/how-austins-housing-market-compares-to-living-in-the-northeast.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.jbgoodwin.com/blog/how-austins-housing-market-compares-to-living-in-the-northeast.html</link>
        <title>How Austin's Housing Market Compares To Living In The Northeast</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 

Have you ever wondered how Austin real estate costs compare to other major cities across the U.S.? We were curious too.


Austin’s delicious food, prolific creativity, booming industries, and vast outdoors are no national secret. More families are won over by our awesome city every single day. But these aren’t the only features that qualify a town to be the next place a family calls home. One of the most important factors behind any move is affordability.


Cost of living considers many income and expense variables. Before moving, it’s worth looking into the average rental cost, grocery bills, and median incomes of that city. Since JB Goodwin is a team of expert real estate agents, we decided that crafting a blog series that compares Austin’s cost of living is a helpful tool for families who know they love Austin, but who also want to preview other major city option across our great country. This post can help you know what your budget can handle.


We'll admit it, we’re a little biased about the benefits of owning a home in Austin. We live here, after all. And we can’t seem to help ourselves from talking up the incentives of our own home. With that confessed, we also promise to not let our city pride get in the way of bragging about other regions of the United States.


This post is part 1 of our 4-part series that compares region-by-region housing costs across the U.S. We begin our series with some of the most famous cities in the Northeast. All of the numbers we include can be found at bestplaces.net.


Sit back, relax, and enjoy our comparisons:


Cities More Affordable Than Austin


Cost Of Living In Philadelphia, PA vs. Austin, TX


If you move to Philadelphia, try not to spend all your extra cash on cheesesteaks. Philadelphia’s real estate costs are on average 57 cheaper than in Austin. Bestplaces.net said that “Housing is the biggest factor for the cost of living difference,” and based on the chart they provided, we agree. That’s because regarding other expenses such as food, transportation, and utilities, Austin shows more affordable numbers.





Cost Of Living In Baltimore, MD vs. Austin, TX


Like Philadelphia, Baltimore proved lower average real estate costs than Austin. Comparisons reflected that Austin’s real estate is about 60 more costly than in Baltimore. Of course, Austin has some low-expenses going for it. Food and utilities are not only cheaper in Austin, but they also happen to fall below the national average. It’s nice to know that we eat well, and on a budget.


We guess the east coast has some cost-incentives in their back pocket. Order some crab-cakes if you pay a visit, but never forget the rich, savory taste of Texas BBQ.


 


Cities More Expensive Than Austin


Cost Of Living In New York, NY vs. Austin, TX


It’s a concrete jungle – and an expensive one, we might add.


New York and Austin proved the most substantial real estate cost difference on our list. The numbers were stunning, even when you consider the fact that we knew Austin was cheaper than NYC to begin with. Bestplaces.net says, “Housing is 94 more expensive in New York”.


With those sort of housing numbers, it probably isn’t too big a surprise to find out that in every category Austin proved the more affordable place to live.


 


Cost Of Living In Boston, MA vs. Austin, TX


We looked at Boston. It turns out, their housing market is 66 more expensive than it is here in Austin. Moreso, Austin was less expensive than Boston in every category. When it comes to real estate, groceries, or healthcare, Austin is the more cost-friendly place to call home.


They may have resplendent colors to show off in the fall, but Austin shows off its livability through affordable housing.





Cost Of Living In Washington, D.C. vs. Austin, TX


For the final Northeast comparison round: National Capital vs Texas Capital. We compared the real estate costs in Washington D.C. to those in Austin. It turns out that D.C. is 70 more expensive than houses here in Austin.


Just like New York and Boston, D.C. is across-the-board more expensive than Austin. Perhaps those high numbers are how they afford their free museums – but we doubt it.


 


If there is a city in the Northeast that you didn’t find on our list, feel free to make comparisons on your own by visiting bestplaces.net and crunching some numbers for yourself. Keep an eye out for the next three blogs. We are going to compare cities from all 4 corners of the U.S. by the time we’ve concluded.


If you are shopping for a house in The Greater Austin area, make sure you reach out to a JB Goodwin agent today. We will work closely with you to find the home that best fulfills the needs of your family. We look forward to helping you
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    <pubDate>Thu, 20 Jul 2017 07:14:00 -0500</pubDate>
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