The Highland Lakes are a chain of reservoirs on the Colorado River northwest of Austin — Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, and Lake Austin — and the region built around them covers everything from small lake towns like Marble Falls and Kingsland to resort communities like Horseshoe Bay. If you’re thinking about a move here, whether for a second home, retirement, or a full relocation, the right fit depends a lot on which of those lakes and towns you’re actually drawn to.
I’m Robbie English, REALTOR and Broker at Uncommon Realty, and I’ve spent decades helping clients move into this region.
TL;DR: Moving to the Highland Lakes
- The Highland Lakes are six reservoirs on the Colorado River — Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls, Travis, and Austin — each surrounded by different towns with different characters.
- Popular draws include water sports, golf, and a slower pace than Austin proper, without giving up amenities like dining and healthcare in towns like Marble Falls.
- I’ve spent decades helping clients relocate here, and I’m also a national real estate speaker and instructor.
- Where you should look depends heavily on what you want — waterfront access, golf-course living, small-town walkability, or acreage.
What Draws People to This Region
The lake towns each have a different feel. Marble Falls has a real downtown core and sits right on its namesake lake. Kingsland and Sunrise Beach sit along Lake LBJ. Horseshoe Bay is built around its golf resort. Buchanan and Inks Lake lean quieter and more rural. None of them are far from each other, so it’s common for buyers to look across a few towns before deciding which one actually fits.
Whatever you’re after — a waterfront lot with a private dock, a golf-course home, or acreage with some distance from neighbors — one of these towns usually has it.
Ready to Start Your Search?
Working With Me on a Highland Lakes Move
I’m REALTOR and Broker at Uncommon Realty, and I’m also a national real estate speaker and instructor, teaching negotiation and market strategy to agents across the country. That means the pricing and negotiation approach I bring to your move is the same material I teach professionally — not something improvised for each client.
Because the Highland Lakes region spans several distinct towns, I help you narrow down which one actually matches what you’re looking for before we start touring specific properties. That saves time and keeps you from falling for a house in a town that isn’t the right fit.
What to Expect
Amenities vary by town, but most of the Highland Lakes area gives you boutique shopping, farmers markets, and solid dining options without Austin-level traffic or congestion. Marble Falls in particular has grown its downtown considerably over the last several years.
Ready to Make Your Move?
If you’re considering a move to the Highland Lakes — for a vacation home, retirement, or a full relocation — reach out and let’s talk through which town and property type actually fits what you’re looking for.


