Austin’s housing market runs on rules that don’t always match what a first-time buyer expects from a “national” homebuying checklist. Texas has no state income tax, so property tax carries more weight here than in most states, and it works differently once you actually own a home instead of renting one. The city itself is […]
Living in Downtown Austin, TX
I get asked about downtown Austin condos more than almost any other segment of this market, and I’ve noticed most of what’s written about it online only covers one slice: whether a luxury tower is “worth it.” That’s a fair question, but it skips the bigger one people actually need answered first, which is what […]
Living in Rob Roy, Austin TX
Rob Roy comes up a lot when I’m talking with buyers about West Lake Hills, but I’ve never actually given it its own page on this site until now. That’s an oversight I want to fix, because Rob Roy has a personality of its own within West Austin’s luxury market, separate from its neighbors along […]
Living in Clarksville, Austin TX: A Neighborhood Guide
I’ve sold homes all over Austin, and Clarksville is one of the few neighborhoods where I can walk a buyer down the street and point out a piece of Texas history on nearly every block. If you’re looking into living in Clarksville, Austin TX, I want to give you the real picture: where it is, […]
Living in Rosedale, Austin TX: A Neighborhood Guide
TLDR (Too Long; Didn’t Read): Living in Rosedale, Austin TX Rosedale sits in north-central Austin, bordered roughly by 38th Street, Shoal Creek, North Loop/Hancock Drive, and Lamar Boulevard, tucked between Central Austin and North Loop. The neighborhood’s housing stock dates mostly to the 1930s and 1940s, when the Ramsey sisters platted the original subdivisions, and […]
Living in Windsor Park: A Complete Guide to This Austin, TX Neighborhood
I spend most of my week driving Austin’s neighborhoods with buyers and sellers, and Windsor Park is one I keep coming back to because it still looks and feels like Austin did before the boom reshaped so much of the city. It’s a Northeast/Central-East Austin neighborhood with a housing stock and street pattern that hasn’t […]
Living in Zilker, Austin TX: A Neighborhood Guide
I get asked about Zilker more than almost any other neighborhood I work in, and I understand why. It’s one of the few pockets of Austin where you can walk to a natural spring-fed pool, a 350-plus acre park, and a hike-and-bike trail along the lake, then be back home in time to grab dinner […]
Living in Barton Hills, Austin TX: A Neighborhood Guide
I’m Robbie English, a REALTOR and broker with Uncommon Realty here in Austin, and Barton Hills is one of the South Austin neighborhoods I get asked about most and write about least. That’s a gap I want to close. If you’re weighing a move to this part of 78704 or you already live here and […]
Living in Travis Heights, Austin: A Neighborhood Guide
I’ve sold real estate in Austin long enough to watch a lot of neighborhoods change names, boundaries, and reputations. Travis Heights is one of the few that has held onto its identity the whole time. It’s one of the older residential neighborhoods in the city, and it still looks the part: mature oak trees arching […]
Living in East Austin, TX
TLDR (Too Long; Didn’t Read): Living in East Austin, TX East Austin sits just across I-35 from downtown, and several pockets are an easy walk or bike ride to the urban core. Housing stock is a mix of original 1930s-1950s bungalows, renovated homes, duplexes, and new construction, often on the same block. The area includes […]
Living Near The Domain, Austin TX
I get asked about The Domain more than almost any other part of Austin. People hear about the shopping, the restaurants, and the office towers, and they want to know what it actually looks like to live nearby. So I put together this guide based on what I see working with buyers and sellers in […]
Living in West Lake Hills, TX: A Complete Neighborhood Guide
I get calls fairly often from people who found one Westlake listing online, fell for the trees and the hilltop view, and now want to know what the area is actually like day to day. West Lake Hills gets lumped in with “Westlake” as a general term, but it’s worth understanding what it really is […]
Living in Cuernavaca, Austin TX: A Neighborhood Guide
I get asked about Cuernavaca more often than you’d expect for a neighborhood that doesn’t show up on most people’s mental map of Austin. It’s not a name that gets thrown around the way Zilker or Tarrytown does, but once buyers see it, they tend to remember it. If you’re considering a move here or […]
Living in Great Hills, Austin TX: A Neighborhood Guide
I get asked about Great Hills often enough that I wanted to put together a real guide to it, not a rehash of listing descriptions. I’m Robbie English, REALTOR and broker at Uncommon Realty, and I’ve shown and sold homes across this part of Austin for years. Great Hills is one of those neighborhoods people […]
A Guide to Living in the Eanes ISD Area
I get asked about Eanes ISD more than almost any other topic when buyers start looking west of Austin. It comes up in nearly every conversation about West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, or the Bee Caves corridor, and for good reason. School attendance zones are one of the most misunderstood parts of buying a home in […]
Living On Lake Austin, TX: A Real Guide To Waterfront Life
People ask me about “the lake” in Austin more than almost anything else, and I always have to ask which one they mean. Lake Austin and Lake Travis get lumped together constantly, but they’re two very different bodies of water with two very different ways of life attached to them. I’ve walked clients through waterfront […]
Living in Austin Lake Estates, TX: A Neighborhood Guide
Austin Lake Estates doesn’t get talked about as often as some of its West Austin neighbors, but it’s one of the more distinctive pockets of the Westlake area. I work with buyers and sellers across Austin, and I always tell people this neighborhood rewards a closer look. The terrain, the tree cover, the lake proximity, […]
Living Near Tesla Gigafactory
When you work at Tesla Gigafactory Texas, choosing where to live is not simply a matter of drawing a circle around the factory and selecting the closest available house. Your commute certainly matters, but so do your weekends, the style of home you prefer, your tolerance for traffic, your monthly housing comfort, and how long […]
Buying a Home Near Apple Campus
Buying a Home Near Apple Campus can make a great deal of sense when you want to shorten your commute without giving up the space, comfort, and neighborhood character that make a house feel like home. Apple’s presence in Austin sits near a part of the metro where established neighborhoods, newer communities, major employers, shopping, […]
Austin Cost of Living Guide
Living in Austin can mean breakfast tacos on a Saturday morning, live music after dinner, afternoons beside the water, and a career connected to one of the country’s most recognizable business and technology centers. It can also mean carefully considering housing, property taxes, utilities, transportation, insurance, childcare, entertainment, and the everyday expenses that may look […]
Best School Districts Around Austin
When families begin looking for a home in the Austin area, one of the first questions I hear is, “Which school district is the best?” That sounds like a simple question, but the honest answer is that the best district depends on your child, your preferred lifestyle, your commute, your housing budget, and what you […]
Bouldin Creek vs. Zilker: Which Central Austin Neighborhood Is Right for You?
If you’ve narrowed your Austin home search down to Bouldin Creek and Zilker, congratulations. You’re looking at two of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city. They’re close to downtown, packed with local character, full of great restaurants, and home to some of Austin’s most recognizable outdoor spaces. On the surface they can feel very […]
Best Suburbs Of Austin For Commuting
If you’re searching for the best suburbs of Austin for commuting, you’re already thinking like a smart buyer, the drive matters as much as the house does. My name is Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker, and I lead a team at Uncommon Realty here in Central Texas. Here’s how the suburbs I get asked about most […]
Tell Me More About Homes For Sale in Avery Ranch
If you are thinking, tell me more about homes for sale in Avery Ranch, you are in the right place, and y’all are not alone. This page exists because readers of this blog asked for it, and that tells me something important. People want clear answers, local insight, and guidance they can trust when they […]
What are the best neighborhoods for luxury homes in Austin?
Finding the right place to put down roots in Austin feels different when you are shopping at the upper end of the market. The stakes are higher, the expectations run bigger, and the details matter from the moment you step into the search. When people ask me what are the best neighborhoods for luxury homes […]
Are home prices dropping in Austin?
Are home prices dropping in Austin, TX? It’s a question more and more people are asking, and understandably so. Whether you’re selling, buying, or just watching from the sidelines, it feels like the market is shifting. But the answer isn’t black and white—it really depends on your goals, your timing, and where you are in […]
Which area is best to buy a house in Austin?
Which area is best to buy a house in Austin? It depends on your individual situation and where your life is right now. Whether you’re a first‑time buyer, someone craving walkable streets, or a homebody who treasures quiet mornings, the answer shifts with your priorities—and that’s where Robbie English, REALTOR and Broker at Uncommon Realty, […]
What new builds/policy changes affect affordability?
Navigating Austin’s evolving housing landscape just got even more interesting. With the buzz surrounding the Austin lot-size reform 2024 impact, many buyers, sellers, and investors are asking: What exactly does this mean for affordability, development, and the future of building in our city? It’s a fair question. And it’s one that deserves an answer rooted […]
Is Austin Expensive to Live? A Practical Breakdown
Austin is one of the most talked-about cities in the country, and for good reason. It’s lively, full of opportunity, and has a culture all its own. But if you’re considering moving here, the big question on your mind is likely: Is Austin expensive to live? Let’s break it down so you can decide if […]
Which Part of Austin Is Best to Live In?
Austin is a city that thrives on personality. Each neighborhood has its own distinct character, offering something for everyone. But when it comes down to choosing where to live, the best part of Austin is the one that fits your lifestyle. So, let’s break it down. Whether you prefer the buzz of downtown, the charm […]
