Austin Texas Real Estate Blog

With apologies to Frank Zappa, it’s Austin and not Centerville that’s a great place to raise a family. House prices remain low, but jobs continue to grow, creating a quality spot to relocate and settle for the duration.

Austin is home to eight independent school districts, which include the Austin Independent School District in Travis County and the Round Rock Independent School District in Williamson County. There is no lack of educational opportunities in the area as Austin is home to a branch of the University of Texas which offers studies in Business, Communication, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Nursing, Natural Sciences, Architecture and Social Work among many others.

The climate in Central Texas is conducive to many outdoor activities and Austin offers much in the way of events and activities for the whole family. There are plenty of art galleries, some that offer child-friendly activities and many with low or free fees. There is a long list of out- and indoor markets – flea markets, farmers markets, garage sales, and such on the weekends.

The Austin Zoo posts a very low entry fee. With 60 different species and over 200 animals, the zoo is a great place to spend the afternoon. The Topsey Exotic Ranch offers a drive-through safari for wildlife viewing from the comfort of your car for a low entry fee. And, if you love wild flowers, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center is open Tuesdays through Sundays. The Research Center reflects the late first lady’s love of wildflowers and her campaign to create beauty along the highways of the nation.

Austin’s low crime rate, clean environment, and low cost of living is a definite draw when families start looking around for a prime relocation area.

A unique planned community in Port O’Connor offers not a site for your home but one for your boat as well, with lots starting in the $100,000 range, and ready access to prime fishing waters. The Caracol coastal master-planned community is located along the Intra-coastal Waterway near Port O’Connor on the Gulf of Mexico. It’s convenient to Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, and yet far enough away to be a relaxing vacation destination. With the Gulf in the backyard, a homeowner in this gated community can park the car in the driveway and the fishing boat at the slip.

Port O’Connor is known world wide as a prime close- and deep-sea fishing location. Just off shore, the waters teem with red snapper, king fish, tarpon and jack fish. Farther out, tuna, dolphin, and blue martin are abundant. Port O’Connor hosts the annual Poco Bueno fishing tournament that attracts sport fishermen from all over the globe.

The planners building Caracol aim to provide a second home for serious fishermen in an upscale gated community. Construction has begun and, when completed, the development will boast 74 home sites in various sizes, ranging from 40 to more than 100 feet of waterfront. Future development plans include a mid-rise condominium with a marina attached. There will also be a community pool and pavilion, which is currently in progress.

Caracol is a joint venture of Trend Development, Inc., and Forestar Real Estate Group. Trend Development is a privately held real estate development company with several large-scale projects in progress throughout Texas. Forestar Real Estate Group operates in two areas: real estate and natural resources. The real estate segment holds interests in ten states. The natural resources part manages oil and gas resources and wood fiber sales from land located in Georgia.