Austin Named Best Place for Young Adults and Entrepreneurs

Photo Compliments of The City of Austin

The Austin Chamber of Commerce reports that the city’s population has exploded by an astounding 37% between 2000 and 2010. Approximately 7% of people currently living in the city were residents of a different metropolitan area just a year ago. So what’s attracting people to this booming area?

Austin for Young Adults

After you earn your degree, it’s time to enter the real world. It’s a scary place to be and millions of recent graduates are struggling to find a job that will allow them to move into the next phase of their life.

Fortunately, Austin has plenty of opportunities for young adults. The city has been ranked as the #1 major market in the United States and rapid employment growth is one of the biggest reasons for the top ranking. Job growth in the private sector of our Texas city has held steady at an average of 1.5% per year.

Young adults who are wondering where to go next should certainly put Austin high on their list of possibilities. Along with the abundant jobs available in the city, Austin is known for having an active night life that focuses heavily on music and the arts.

Austin for Entrepreneurs

That top ranking as a major market in the U.S. also bodes well for entrepreneurs. Anyone looking to start a new company can benefit from readily available talent, as University of Texas graduates continue to look for job opportunities and the growing population provides plenty of potential clients.

While entrepreneurs may be cautious about Austin because it is not typically known as a hub for big companies, plenty of well-known businesses have offices or headquarters in the city. Among these are Google, Apple, Facebook, Whole Foods and Dell.

One of the biggest benefits for young adults or entrepreneurs considering a move to Austin is the low cost of housing, as compared to other growing cities. The Statesman  reports that the median home cost in Austin in 2012 was $205,000. Compare that to the average of $750,000 in San Francisco and $1,055,000 in New York City. It’s no wonder that Austin is gaining popularity as an affordable city full of possibilities.

If you’re ready to succeed and have fun in one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., let Buffington Homes be your resource for finding the perfect home in Austin. Conduct your home search by looking through our available move-in ready homes. If you’d rather have a house custom-built to your specifications, home building is an area of expertise here at Buffington. Contact us today!

More Kudos for Austin, Texas

Texas was named the top state in the nation for 2012 by Business Facilities. This esteemed title is the result of an economic upswing that places the state above the rest of the country. With this in mind, it is easy to see why Austin homes have hit a six-year-high in sales. Not only will new residents be able to enjoy everything that the Austin area has to offer, but they will also find it much easier to land a financially rewarding career.

Forbes recently announced that Austin is the fastest growing city in the country for the third year in a row. Austin ended 2012 with an unemployment rate that is almost 4 percent lower than the national average and the city expects to see an additional job growth rate of 2.7 percent during 2013. With job prospects like these, it is no wonder that new home builders are continuously busy in Austin. The city also provides a great opportunity for people who like to invest in real estate, due to its robust home appreciation rate of 2.74 percent.

If you are interested in living outside of Austin, the nearby city of Leander is expected to benefit from the planning, development and construction of 10,000 new homes during 2013. This area provides residents with all of the perks of living near a major city and the community is expected to experience a large population increase by 2019.

Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts has been working with the Cedar Park City Council for three years to bring a new water park to the Austin area. Although the initial plans stalled after the developers left the project, the city and Schlitterbahn are still committed to moving forward. If these plans become a reality, residents of the Austin area will receive both a new source of entertainment and another boost to the area’s economy. After all, amusement parks have the tendency to attract tourists and this will create a ripple effect that will cause several of the local businesses to need additional employees. Even if the water park never comes to fruition, however, it is an example of the innovative thinking that has helped the Austin area become so successful. Therefore, it is a given that something positive will be done with the land that is currently earmarked for the water park.

Your Austin home search will provide you with many different options. The city and the surrounding areas have a wide variety of different neighborhoods to choose from and there’s also a solid mixture of previously owned homes and projects that have just been completed by new home builders. As a result, it’s possible to find Austin homes that will suit almost any price range and our professional team at Buffington Homes will be delighted to help you narrow down your options.

Westcreek – The Reserve: Buffington’s Newest Subdivision

Developed by Buffington Homes, one of the most respected homebuilders in Austin, Westcreek – The Reserve offers a splendid selection of affordable homes surrounded by a wealth of amenities.

Buffington’s newest community, Westcreek – The Reserve features lovely Austin-area homes that are visually attractive, energy-efficient, professionally designed and expertly constructed.

With floor plans starting at 1,384 square feet and ranging upward to well over 2,000 square feet, the homes at Westcreek – The Reserve offer buyers plenty of enticing components.

Interior features include ceramic tile at the entry, marble vanity tops in the master bath and laminate countertops in the kitchen. Each home also features a professionally landscaped yard.

Built on high-quality, post-tension reinforced slabs, the homes come with a 10-year structural warranty for buyers’ peace of mind.

Residents of Westcreek – The Reserve enjoy access to a community center that features a luxurious Junior Olympic-size swimming pool, a tennis court complex and a children’s play area.

Golf enthusiasts living in the community have extremely convenient access to Blackhawk Golf Club, with other courses such as Forest Creek, Star Ranch and Teravista nearby. The area also offers easy access to superb shopping and dining destinations.

Westcreek – The Reserve is located 13 miles northeast of downtown Austin just off of Kelly Lane, east of Toll Road 45/130, in Pflugerville, Texas. This makes it an ideal location for commuting to Austin for business or entertainment opportunities.

Named by Forbes magazine as one of the fastest growing suburban cities in the U.S. and honored by Money magazine with a place on the prestigious “Best Places to Live” list, Pflugerville combines a dynamic business and retail environment, unparalleled community spirit and a great family-oriented lifestyle.

Pflugerville is home to nearly 50,000 residents who appreciate the area’s excellent school district, its safe and friendly neighborhoods, its picturesque trail system and its wide selection of recreational activities. Pflugerville’s leaders are committed to the environment, with plans to develop the city’s Renewable Energy Business Park and the 720-acre Pflugerville Solar Farm.

From the City to the Suburbs

When the new Millenium rolled around, there was a revival of urban life, dominated by young professionals moving into the big cities. However, those same young professionals and others are leaving the city behind in favor of suburban life.

Why Suburbia?

The previous influx of people into the cities sparked the construction of new housing, new attractions, and new city services. With all of this development, why are so many people now leaving the big city?

Many of the young people who flocked to the city are no longer young individuals. Instead, they are members of young families looking for safe and sturdy homes in which to raise children. Many families thrive in the big cities, but some families simply prefer a suburban setting.

Despite the development of new housing, living in the big city is rarely a small expense. Generally speaking, it is more expensive to buy or rent property in a large city setting.

Suburban Life is No Easy Choice

Despite the huge motivators of family and the cost of living, there are some huge considerations that can make leaving the city less attractive. Here are a few examples:

•    Commutes can be dreadful within the city, but trying to commute into the city can be dreadful. Additionally, public transportation options are usually less extensive in the suburbs.
•    Some utilities can be more expensive in a single-family home.
•    Depending on the particular city or suburb, the choice of schools might be more limited in the suburban area.
•    Like schools, access to some businesses and services can be more limited in the suburbs.

Some of the other concerns about suburban life are detailed in a post in the New York Times.

Is There a Compromise?

Is there a middle ground between big city life and a suburban home? Relatively young cities are catering to the need for a happy medium between the big city and the sturdy suburb. According to the U.S. Census statistics published at New Geography, Texas cities like Austin managed growth in the traditional city area and the suburbs. An Austin home search reveals many new communities that are outside the traditional limits, but within reach of many city-grade luxuries and the city itself. Many Austin home builders have recently focused their energies on the construction of homes within these communities.

Highpointe and Mesa Verde Situated in the Dripping Springs School District

If you have been visiting homes in Austin, Texas, you probably have a number of things that are important to you. You may need a certain number of bedrooms or a large backyard. If you have children, you’re probably looking for a family-friendly neighborhood, within a stellar school system. While this may seem like a tall order, you can shorten your Austin home search by visiting the new homes at Highpointe and Mesa Verde. These are two new communities by Buffington Homes that are conveniently situated in the highly desirable Dripping Springs School District.

The Dripping Springs Independent School District is comprised of three elementary schools, one middle school and a high school and it serves nearly 5,000 students. Recently, all three elementary schools received exemplary ratings for academic achievement from the Texas Education Agency. The middle school and high school were similarly recognized. The district boasts a graduation rate of 99 percent and it is the only district in the surrounding area that was recognized by the College Board and awarded a spot on its Advanced Placement Honor Roll. With nearly 93 percent of its graduates going on to pursue higher education, the Dripping Springs High School was recognized by several publications as one of the top high schools in the United States. In fact, two of its students were National Merit Finalists in 2012. Additionally, most of the students are involved in sports, music, drama, art and other extracurricular activities. Also, students from all of the district’s schools have earned awards and recognition in several different areas.

One of the reasons that the Dripping Springs School District enjoys such a high success rate is that there is an incredibly high level of parental involvement in all of the schools. Parents who live in the beautiful areas of Highpointe and Mesa Verde take pride in their homes and communities and they want to ensure that their children receive the best possible education. Buffington Homes is proud to be one of the new home builders in the Dripping Springs School District.

Stonewall Ranch: Experience the Beauty of the Hill Country in a Buffington Home

Central Texas boasts a great expanse of green known as the Texas Hill Country. As the capital city continues to break out of its limits, the towns of North Austin are growing by leaps and bounds. One such city is Liberty Hill, home to one of the newest developments of Austin homes, Stonewall Ranch.

Many Texans are finding Liberty Hill to be a perfect place to raise a family. With its excellent school system and its proximity to all the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, it’s no wonder that new homebuilders are flocking to this growing little city that lies just about 30 minutes northwest of Austin.

One of the draws of living close to a large metropolitan area is being able to find quality jobs while still coming home to peace and quiet. That is what you’ll get from a home in Stonewall Ranch. You’ll enjoy fabulous views of the Hill Country, in addition to quality amenities like a community swimming pool, picnic area, and playground.

The real estate market is bouncing back nicely all over Texas, and new homes for sale in the Austin area are becoming more plentiful. That means you have more choices of what type of home to buy and where to relocate.

According to CNN Money, cities in Williamson County, Texas are among some of the fastest growing in the country due to the fact that they offer large businesses such as Dell Computers some great tax incentives to move to the area. While Liberty Hill is not mentioned in this article, its proximity to the other cities mentioned gives it the advantage of equally healthy growth in the coming years.

So what makes Liberty Hill a good choice? For starters, it is a small town. That means you’re going to find a lot of friendly people who will welcome you with open arms. It means quaint establishments such as the Dahlia Café, a local eatery serving up not only home-cooked meals, but some of the best live music in the Hill Country. It means you’ll become a part of a growing and inviting community and best of all, the homes in Stonewall Ranch are competitively priced, so getting in now assures you are making a good, solid real estate investment.

Buffington Homes Stonewall Ranch: http://www.mybuffington.com/community.asp?CommunityID=17

Efficient Ways to Keep Your Home Warm in the Winter

It’s a big misconception that the only way to keep your home nice and warm is to have your heater running full blast and constantly pumping out warmth. Luckily there are alternatives for keeping your home warm in the winter. Check out these simple ways to help your home stay warm during the colder season:

1. Ventilation fans in your bathrooms and kitchen can remove heat from a room and have the potential to empty the heat from  your home in a matter of hours. Be sure to use them sparingly and don’t forget to turn them off when they aren’t needed.

2. If you have a water heater in your basement or other location that is inadequately insulated, wrap it in an insulation blanket to keep it running efficiently.

3. Opening your blinds or rolling back the curtains to let the sun in are great ways to utilize natural heat and light. Doing so while lowering the thermostat can help preserve energy, which will in turn save you money.

4. Curtains made of heavy material/fabric can help contain the heat within a room by trapping it. So switch out those lighter fabrics for heavy fabrics and close the curtains at night when your heater is on.

5. Outside taps generally go unused during the winter, so shut them off to prevent the internal and external freezing of your plumbing—this also saves on your energy consumption and water bill.

6. Insulating your windows and weather stripping your doors during the winter is another great tip. This prevents drafts and possible air leaks.

7. Everyone loves a good fire in the winter and it’s a great source for warmth. Be sure to check your fireplace for possible leaks and hazards before using it.

Not all new homes in Austin are created equal, some manufacturers and designers take efficiency into consideration when building or drafting their construction ideas. Buffington Homes is a local Austin home builder that takes efficiency into consideration long before the construction process begins.