Moving to Austin? Consider these points before committing to the move ...

This is the very last post I will make as a resident of Austin, TX.

It wasn't so long ago that Austin, TX was the best place in the USA to be a high-tech worker. There were (and still are) plenty of jobs, great music, lots to do, and a good, central location in the best State in the Union. Now, however, there are mounting clouds on the horizon. I now have four days left here, and I wanted to share my perspective and give some hopefully valuable advice to people moving to Austin.

People considering a move to the area might want to think very carefully, do a lot of research, and perhaps choose one of the exurbs surrounding Austin (Hutto, Bastrop, San Marcos, etc.) since the cost of living is much lower and there are fewer of the irritants and dangers described below. IMHO, urban Austin and its suburbs are poor bets, especially for family-oriented people, and I voted with my feet - I just sold my home, and leave forever next week.

I lived in Austin for 40 years, and saw quite a bit of the history while I was here. Sadly, Austin is in long-term decline, and so should be viewed as a source of business, jobs, perhaps fun, but most definitely not a good place to live, except for non-family oriented 20's and 30's who might as well choose New York City, Chicago, San Francisco or Los Angeles in order to have constant excitement.

Why?

Cost of living:    Median home prices: Urban Austin: $441,250; Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area: $365,000. Practically speaking, you need to be making $220K and $183K respectively to afford your own home. Rentals, although slightly attenuated by what people can afford, are likewise high. Food (like from HEB) is still cheap, especially if you are smart and shop at the more challenged neighborhoods like my old neighborhood.

Traffic:    Want to live in a nice, prestigious neighborhood? Expect that lots of other people want that, too, and commute times will be just horrible, up to two hours each way. Better overall to put up with occasional gunfire at night and live in a more challenged neighborhood that is in the opposite direction of traffic. I did that for thirty years, and save a bunch of time doing so. The more challenged neighborhoods in Austin are gentrifying (improving for the most part), while most of the rest of the affordable housing is coasting or declining.

NB: COVID-19 has likely changed the workplace forever, and remote work is not just a possibility now, but likely the rule going forward. Now that they were forced to allow it, they find WFH is cheaper and just about as efficient, and saves a hell of a lot on commercial property rent. 'Nuff said.

Additionally, drivers in Austin have been historically pretty durned aggressive, especially upscale drivers, and the truly massive number of illegal immigrants drive just like they were in Central Mexico - ever been to Monterrey? I drove slowly and with great caution my last year in the neighborhood - you never know when someone in a heavy truck or SUV will come barreling out of nowhere, cell phone held between cheek and shoulders, cutting a corner and not looking for other drivers. Damned dangerous!

Homelessness:    I worked for the Texas welfare system for seven years, during a fairly large expansion of social programs. Those programs are literally exploding today, and new ones are enacted all the time. The number of homeless has also exploded at the same time, belying any claims by advocates to "solutions". It's not happening - it's getting worse. The homeless beg on nearly every street corner, they haunt convenience store and drug store parking lots, they case neighborhoods, steal packages, camp under all the overpasses. 

Austin is turning into a San Francisco-like shithole very quickly, thanks to the mindless (or deliberate) decisions by our far-left City Council. Since they all just got re-elected, none of this will change any time soon. 70+% of these people are on the streets due to alcohol and drug problems, and you can be sure the drug dealers in Austin are getting wealthy off of the drug boom happening here. They form a shadow constituency already, and have for a long time.

Mindless Austinites routinely give homeless people a few bucks. Makes them feel better about themselves, I guess. It is not charity - these people lead dangerous, high-risk lives and die relatively young. Giving them money continues their path, and never changes it. Stupid of the people who give, but they don't give a shit - it is a spontaneous thing, done without thought.

I'd advise never giving to street people - you simply increase their number every time you do it. Statistically, one of these days, you'll be a victim of a crime. You will feel bad and violated. But, you encouraged it, and didn't think it through. Tough luck!

Politics:    Austin is occasionally referred to as "the blueberry in the tomato soup", in other words, a far-left blue bastion in an otherwise almost completely red state. If you are a liberal, socialist, or communist, you'll love it, but everyone else should live elsewhere - these people are massively corrupt, rotten and damned mean. And, there are a lot of them.

This is no place, anymore, for centrists or conservatives, the religious. My honest recommendation for anyone to the right of Nancy Pelosi (!!!!!) is to sell out and move somewhere where your neighbors are unlikely to lynch you (see above for a few exurb recommendations). Think I'm kidding? Keep paying attention to local news (suggest subscribing to NextDoor to get real people, complaining about real things). TL;DR: Get out, get out, get out!

Crime:     Exploding, of course. What did you expect? Allow thousands of homeless people to populate underpasses? They are hungry (not just for food, but for drugs and alcohol), and must beg since almost none of them can get or hold a job. They are the bottom layer of bricks in the crime pyramid - they have to commit crimes to get their stuff, since begging is a competitive business with lots of recent entrants.

Upshot: Austin is a place for the young and risk-takers, not for the established and family people. I advise all family and conservative people to abandon Austin as soon as possible, and never look back. The best days are in the past, and there is nothing but atonement in the future. You stay at risk of your property and your lives. Don't be fooled!