The Hidden Advantage of Living in Texas (That Most People Overlook)
When people compare different states, the conversation usually starts—and ends—with income. Which state pays more? Where can I earn the highest salary? Where are the biggest opportunities? Those are important questions. But they don’t always capture what day-to-day life actually feels like once you’
What Wage Trends Tell Us About Home Prices in Texas
When people try to make sense of home prices—why they rise, where they’re headed, and whether now is the right time to buy—they usually focus on things like interest rates or inventory. Those matter, of course. But there’s another factor quietly shaping the market in the background: Wages. At a basi
Texas vs. High-Income States: Where Does Your Money Actually Go Further?
It’s easy to assume that higher income automatically means a better financial situation. If you’re earning more per hour, things should feel easier, right? On paper, that logic checks out. States like California, Washington, and Massachusetts consistently report higher average wages than Texas .
Why So Many People Are Moving to Texas (And What They’re Seeing)
If you’ve lived in Texas for a while, you’ve probably noticed it without needing to look at the data. More out-of-state plates. More new neighbors. More conversations about people relocating from places like California, New York, or Washington. It’s not just a feeling—it’s a real trend. And while
Thinking About Leaving Texas? Here’s What Other States Might Cost You
At some point, almost every homeowner thinks about it…What would life look like somewhere else? Maybe it’s a higher-paying job in another state, a change of scenery, or just the feeling that there might be something better out there. On the surface, it’s easy to be drawn to places where wages are hi
Is Texas Actually More Affordable? Here’s What the Numbers Really Say
When people talk about moving to Texas—especially places like Austin—“affordable” is almost always part of the conversation. It’s become one of those things everyone just assumes is true. But when you actually look at the numbers, it’s a little more nuanced than that. Based on national wage data, T
The Smiths in 2025
No, there's no need to rent Victorian-era attire for caroling anymore. AI image generation has really advanced this past year, so I thought I’d just take very plain studio portraits and then transport us through time and around the globe digitally. I’ve long been a big photoshopper, and this year's
A Few of the Reasons I Know Austin Is the Right Place for Me
When I moved to Austin, people kept telling me that this city had an energy unlike anywhere else. I nodded politely at the time—how many cities say that about themselves? But after spending 2025 here, I finally get it. This was the year Austin really showed me what it means to live in a place where
Why the Future of Home-Buying Just Got a Big Boost: 3‑D Printed Homes in Texas
If you’ve been keeping an eye on housing trends, there’s a story unfolding in Texas that’s worth your attention. In Wolf Ranch, just outside Austin, a collaboration between ICON and Lennar has created the world’s largest 3‑D printed neighborhood. And for anyone in real estate—buyers, investors, or a
Battling the Chill: What Austin Learned from the Recent Winter Storms
Austin isn’t exactly known for harsh winter weather. But earlier this year, the city found itself grappling with a series of unusually cold, icy, and snowy days that tested not just its roads and infrastructure, but also the resilience of its residents. It all started in mid-January 2025, when an Ar
Unlocking More Homes: Why Minimum Lot Size Matters for Affordability in Austin
Austin’s housing market is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Median home prices have surged, mortgage rates are still high, and homes affordable to the average resident are increasingly hard to find. In 2023, the median sales price in Austin was $540,000, yet only 5.5% of homes sold for un
Austin’s Tech Renaissance: How “Silicon Hills” Became a Global Innovation Powerhouse
Austin, Texas — once celebrated mostly for its live music, creative soul, and unmistakably quirky charm — has spent the last decade quietly transforming into something much bigger. Today, “Silicon Hills” isn’t just a catchy nickname; it’s a reflection of Austin’s position as one of the world’s faste
Why 2026 Could Be a “Little Bit Better” for Housing — Especially Here in Texas
If you’ve been wondering whether the housing market might finally feel a bit more manageable, there’s some encouraging news on the horizon — especially for those of us in the San Antonio and Schertz area. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is predicting that 2026 won’t be a dramatic turnarou
Meet Austin’s Emerging Billionaires: Profiles of Power and Innovation
Austin has always had a reputation for attracting big thinkers, but over the last few years the city’s billionaire class has undergone a fascinating transformation. The familiar titans — figures like Elon Musk and Michael Dell — once defined the economic landscape almost single-handedly. They were t
The Smiths in 2024
Confused by the postcard picture? Well, it's a combination of two things that are usually pretty big parts of a normal year with the Smith's: 1.) Our neighborhood goes all out on Halloween, and we host a block party. Our family’s costume contest entry this year was 'Astronauts.' It's also meaningf
Is Austin’s Traffic Among the Worst in the U.S.?
If you’re an Austinite, you’re all too familiar with the struggle of navigating the city’s traffic—it often feels like it couldn’t be worse. Surprisingly, though, Austin doesn’t even rank in the top 15 cities for worst traffic in the U.S., according to Visual Capitalist. Read here to learn more abou
X Headquarters Moving to Austin Suburb
Elon Musk is reportedly moving X headquarters from California to Bastrop, Texas, about 30 miles east of Austin. This move follows the relocation of some of his other ventures, such as the Boring Company and SpaceX, to the Bastrop area. Read more about the company’s move here.
Austin’s Unspoken Rules
If you’re new to Austin or even if you’ve lived here a while, there are some unspoken rules that are good to know. Here you can find a detailed guide of these must-know tips, along with some insight from locals. Below are a handful of the unspoken rules with links offering more detail about their si
Median Home Prices and the Salary Needed to Make it Work
Whether you plan to buy soon or just want to stay up to date on the housing market, the median home prices in your area can provide a brief snapshot of where the market currently stands. In the link below, you can find charts and graphics of these statistics that not only compare median home prices
Which Cities Have Had the Fastest Population Changes?
The Texas population has been continually increasing over time, with 2020-2023 showing exponential growth. Austin, often referred to as a “boomtown” in the recent years, is typically at the center of this conversation, but there are many other cities in Texas and other states that experienced very r
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