Austin, nestled among the rolling hills and lakes of Central Texas, is the seat of state government, an educational Mecca with seven area universities and an entertainment complex that includes the best of live music, the arts and all the fun of the great outdoors.

The Greater Austin area ranks high on the livability scale, which is why Austin frequently ranks high on national lists of Best Cities. In 2003, for example, Austin came in fourth on Travel & Leisure´s list of best loved cities, first on Forbes´ list of Best Cities for Singles, and third on Hispanic Magazine´s list of Best Cities for Hispanics. In 2002, it was in the Money Magazine´s Top !0 list of Best Places to Live. Amount the reasons given are a cosmopolitan atmosphere without big city hassle, great scenery and recreational opportunities, a reasonable cost of living, and a great music and cultural scene.

Austin's a great city, no doubt, but what ultimately makes the city feel like home is its many and varied neighborhoods. From charming inner city to lush developments ringing the metropolitan area the real estate choices are many and varied. The median home price was $151,700 as of the fourth quarter of 2001, and the offerings range from classy downtown condos costing in excess of a million dollars to elegant old homes to modern showplaces to countryside ranches and farmhouses on the outskirts of town. Wherever you choose to live in Austin, you will always find the friendly and neighborly atmosphere that pervades the entire community.

To choose one of these housing options for yourself, you have to find it first. Single family homes are the most readily available in Austin. Town homes were popular in the early eighties, and are regaining their edge on the housing market. Garden homes, zero lot line homes and condominiums are usually found in heavily populated area like Wells Branch, Cedar Park, and downtown and South Austin. Duplexes may be found sporadically throughout the city and in almost every major neighborhood, usually in the back of a development and in the more lived-in areas.The inner city loft and condo developments have become more popular as the warehouse district has rejuvenated downtown, especially for those relocated from larger cities like Chicago and New York, where they live in the same building they office out of, or don´t care about a yard or living in an isolated format.