Texas’s state motto is Friendship. For me, that word should describe more than our history. It should describe how people feel when they build a life here: welcomed, respected, and able to imagine a future for themselves. After the November 2026 midterm election, I’m feeling something I’m excited to share with people considering a move to Austin: renewed optimism.
Voters chose a significant change in direction, electing Gina Hinojosa governor and Vikki Goodwin lieutenant governor while giving Democrats control of the Texas House. Republicans retained the Texas Senate, meaning the next chapter will require cooperation across party lines.
To me, this blue wave signals an opportunity to build a more inclusive, practical, and welcoming Texas. If state politics have kept you from considering Austin as your future home, I believe this is a meaningful moment to take another look.
Why This Change Feels Personal
In my work helping people buy and sell homes, I hear what makes them feel comfortable putting down roots-and what makes them hesitate.
Prospective out-of-state buyers have told me they love the idea of Austin but worry that Texas’s politics are too conservative for their comfort. Concerns about abortion restrictions and women’s reproductive healthcare have been especially difficult for some people to move past.
I have also had the painful experience of helping clients, friends, and lifelong Texans leave our state because they wanted greater LGBTQIA+ protections. Others told me they no longer recognized the Texas they loved or wanted a more progressive environment in which to build their lives.
Those decisions were about much more than a house.
They were about belonging, personal freedom, healthcare, and whether people felt their state had a place for them.
That is why this election matters to me. I see an opening for Texas to become a place more people feel comfortable choosing-and staying.
What “Texas Turning Blue” Means Today
The election represents a substantial shift after decades of Republican leadership. It does not mean that every Texan shares the same priorities, or that progressive proposals have already become law.
The incoming administration will take time to establish its agenda. With a Republican-controlled Senate, passing legislation will require finding agreement.
Still, voters have changed who will lead important parts of state government. I interpret that result as a demand for a different approach to the issues shaping everyday life.
My hope is that the next chapter brings stronger public schools, greater attention to healthcare, more manageable household costs, and development decisions that put residents’ needs at the center.
A More Livable Texas Starts With Everyday Priorities
A homebuyer’s decision reaches well beyond the purchase price. Schools, utilities, healthcare, infrastructure, and community services all influence whether a move feels right.
Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa’s campaign emphasized public education, affordability, and concerns about data center development. Those priorities give me reasons for optimism about the conversation ahead.
Lieutenant Governor-elect Vikki Goodwin has also identified public schools, affordable housing, inclusive healthcare access, and clean power and water as priorities. Vikki Goodwin’s published priorities For people considering a move, these issues have tangible meaning.
Stronger public schools can support students, educators, and the communities around them. A focus on energy affordability can address an important part of the monthly cost of owning a home. Thoughtful oversight of major development can help communities consider water supplies, electricity demand, and the effects on existing residents.
Goodwin has specifically called for greater regulation of data centers to protect water, land, health, and access to electricity. Goodwin’s data center policy
I want to see a Texas where growth creates opportunities for residents and where homeownership remains within reach of people who want to live in the homes they buy. That includes taking concerns about large investors seriously while examining which policies would actually help buyers.
There may also be renewed debate over marijuana legalization, which Goodwin has supported. That remains a policy discussion rather than an enacted change. My optimism extends to social programs and community services, too. I hope to see more attention paid to helping Texans thrive through different stages of life. The details, funding, and results will matter as proposals move forward.
Reproductive Healthcare and LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Matter to Homebuyers
For some buyers, feeling at home starts with knowing they can access the healthcare they need and live openly in their community. I know this because people have shared those concerns with me directly.
I am hopeful that Texas’s political shift creates more room for progress on reproductive healthcare and LGBTQIA+ inclusion. An election result does not itself change existing laws or establish new protections. Anyone making a move based on those issues deserves an accurate picture of current policy as well as an honest discussion of what could change.
But hope matters, too. For someone who previously ruled out Texas, a change in leadership may be a reason to reopen the conversation. For someone who left, it may be a reason to watch what happens next.
What Could This Mean for Austin Real Estate?
The potential effect begins with something straightforward: more people may feel willing to consider living here. If concerns about state policy have kept some buyers away, a more welcoming direction could bring Austin back onto their lists. That is a possibility based on the conversations I have had with buyers, rather than an established market trend.
Over time, improvements in schools, infrastructure, healthcare access, and household affordability could strengthen the reasons people choose to put down roots. The actual effect will depend on what gets passed, how it is implemented, and whether residents experience meaningful benefits. A political shift alone cannot tell us where home prices will go.
Mortgage rates, employment, available homes, construction, taxes, insurance, and buyers’ budgets will continue to shape the market. Renewed interest could support demand, while additional housing could help accommodate it. There is no automatic outcome.
For buyers, the opportunity is to reassess Austin with fresh eyes and make a decision based on both the life they want and the financial realities of the move.
Friendship Has Room for Everyone
My enthusiasm for this change includes my conservative and Republican neighbors. I want them to feel just as welcome in Texas as anyone else.
A better Texas should serve people across political differences. Good schools, dependable utilities, thoughtful growth, accessible services, and a fair opportunity to build a life are priorities around which many Texans can find common ground.
I believe we can move toward a more inclusive state while respecting the people who see the world differently. Austin offers an opportunity to participate in that future: to find a community, contribute to it, and help shape what comes next.
If You’ve Been Reconsidering Texas, Let’s Talk About Austin
I don’t expect Texas to change overnight. I do believe we have a meaningful opportunity to move forward. For me, returning to what people have loved about Texas means carrying its warmth, generosity, and sense of possibility into a future where more people feel included.
If you have been drawn to Austin but uncertain about making Texas your home, I would love to hear what matters to you. Your questions about community, lifestyle, housing, and the direction of our state deserve a thoughtful conversation. I am incredibly optimistic about our future-and excited about what this moment could mean for people ready to build a life here.
Feel free to contact me to talk about moving to Austin and reconsidering Texas as your future home. Together, we can explore the communities, homes, and practical details that fit your next chapter.
Friendship is our state motto. My hope is that more people will soon feel it is their experience, too.
