A ustin, Texas and the outlying community of Lakeway each offer a relaxed lifestyle in the heart of Texas Hill Country. Full of sunshine, lakes, and rolling green hills, these towns offer the best of outdoor activities, entertainment, and friendly communities. These are thriving towns that are considered highly desirable places to live. Because of this, they have both seen significant growth in population over the past decade.

The city of Austin is the state capitol of Texas, as well as America's largest college town. It has also come to be known as "the Live Music Capital of the World." thanks to the plethora of live music venues located along downtown's Sixth Street, and its annual music festival, SXSW (pronounced South By Southwest). Austin's population is currently just under 700,000 residents, whose median age is around 30 years old. The average household income in the area is approximately $45,000 per year. Home prices in the area have continued to appreciate at a steady rate, and homeowners have experienced a healthy return on their investments. The median home value of an Austin-area home, as listed on the 2000 Census, was $124,700.

The majority of residents here, nearly thirteen percent, are employed in the manufacturing sector. Retail trade follows at a close second, employing approximately eleven percent. The sector of professional services, the sciences and technology rounds out the top three, employing nearly ten percent of Austin's residents. Austin benefits from having a diverse array of economic streams. State and city government, as well as local universities are the largest employers in the area. Additionally, many Fortune 500 firms have chosen to headquarter in the Hill Country. Dell Computer, Motorola, IBM, Advanced Micro Devices, and Solectron Texas all have a major presence in the area, and are among the top ten employers for the Austin area.

Austin residents are an incredibly friendly and social group of people. In their free time, they tend to be outdoors golfing, boating, or hosting lavish barbecues. In the heat of the summer, the lakes become popular areas, and in many places restaurants have sprung up on their peripheries. You can pull your boat right up to the restaurant, dock, and enjoy a leisurely meal. Barton Springs is another wildly popular spot to cool off. This natural cold water spring pool is known for its rejuvenating qualities, as well as the steep grassy knolls on either side.

For festivals, there's just no place like Austin. Its SXSW music festival has achieved international acclaim, drawing amateur and professional musicians hoping for their big break. This is a major tourist attraction for the region, drawing music lovers as well as record company executives and music journalists hoping to spot the next big thing. Moreover, anytime the famed University of Texas Longhorns football team plays a home game becomes a festival in its own right. The town and its residents are swathed in orange and the call "Hook 'em Horns!" is the phrase of the day.

The outlying area of Lakeway is an upscale community outside of Austin. This area offers all of the benefits of close proximity to a major metropolitan area, without the congestion and hassle. Lakeway offers a truly relaxed way of life, and is a popular golf community.

Lakeway supports a population of approximately 8,500 residents. The median age of a resident of Lakeway is 42 years old, with an annual household income of nearly $90,000 per year. Home values in Lakeway reflect the desirability of the area. The median value, as listed on the 2000 Census, was $230,200. The majority of folks here, nearly twelve percent, are employed in professional services, the sciences and technology. Manufacturing follows a close second, employing just over ten percent. Retail trade rounds out the top three, employing approximately nine percent of Lakeway residents.

Lakeway offers a small-town feel with spectacular scenic beauty. Three greenbelt areas offer magnificent walking and bicycling trails. But perhaps the most popular activity in Lakeway is golf. The town is renowned for its private club, The Hills of Lakeway. It is the only country club in Texas to offer 36 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus, and was the region's first to be a Nicklaus signature course. The Hills have recently expanded to offer another 18-hole course co-designed by Nicklaus and his son, Jack Nicklaus II. In addition to golf, the club offers world class tennis and fitness facilities, as well as a gourmet dining room.

Both Austin and Lakeway offer hospitable living in the heart of the Texas Hills. If you are thinking of moving, consider a move to either the city of Austin, or its suburb Lakeway, Texas. Ask for our free relocation packet today!