Austin, Texas Real Estate Remains Strong

Big things are happening in Austin Texas. Austin is an expanding city, fast becoming one of the most popular areas in the U.S. to live. CNN ranks Austin as the third fastest growing area in the United States. As a major market city with all the conveniences of a metropolitan center and excellent real estate values, Austin is proving to be a great environment for the investing sector.

In a real estate market that has shown signs of decline nationwide, the market in Austin has continued to see steady increases. This is a refreshing change compared to the climate seen in the over all real estate market recently and Austin homes are showing great value, appreciating at double the national rate. In the ongoing search for sustainable real estate markets, investors are finding that cities like Austin are remaining constant in property appreciation and market demand making Austin a great place to invest your real estate dollars.

The city of Austin is home to well over 700,000 residents, with almost 1.5 million people living in the greater Austin-Round Rock, five county metropolitan area. Boasting an energetic arts and entertainment scene, exceptional restaurants, and fantastic wilderness areas and Lake Travis in the nearby hill country for outdoor enthusiasts, Austin is a very attractive real estate option for the home buyer or investor.

Austin is also a very popular area for those looking to retire, especially the Texas Hill Country, where fertile open plains give way to rugged rolling limestone hills. With its many golf courses and proximity to Lake Travis, the area has the feel of a luxury resort, yet residents remain close to all that Austin has to offer.

One of the major factors in Austin's appeal is the variety of established, quaint and unique communities. Homes in Austin can vary as much as the people that live in them. Architectural home styles in Austin are just like any found in other areas of Texas or in any metropolitan city in the country, including a number of restored Victorian brick buildings.

Central Austin has a number of condos are under construction, as the demand increases for downtown living. Home builders on the other hand are concentrating on the more suburban areas where growth continues around new roadways that are cutting travel time almost in half. There are a number of large shopping mall complexes and high end stores being built in Austin and at this time, there is no indication of a slow down in the near future.

When it comes to the housing bubble that everyone in the country seems to be talking about these days, the Austin real estate market remains largely unaffected, unlike cities such as Phoenix, Arizona and a number of states on the east and west coasts where prices have continued to appreciate at large, unstable rates. Austin properties have seen a strong but moderate increase in value. New construction remains strong as well, with more jobs being created, and the available housing inventory continues to shrink at a comfortably slow pace. Best of all, Austin Texas real estate still remains affordable, and the Austin real estate market is extremely healthy.

Cherri Fox contributes to an Austin realtors directory where potential home buyers can find the best Austin Realtor from a list of pre-screened real estate agents.