REALTOR® in Austin, TX: Guidance for Buyers and Sellers Across Austin
I’m Bre Meador, REALTOR® with All City Real Estate. My home base is Bastrop County, just east of Austin, and I help buyers and sellers across Austin as part of my work in Bastrop County and the Greater Austin Area. Whether you’re buying or selling in the city or weighing an Austin home against one in Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville or Cedar Creek, I help you compare your options address by address. The county line is only one of the differences.
Who this page is for
- Austin owners thinking about moving east. You may want more land, a different price point or a different pace, and you need to sell and buy in the right order.
- Relocating buyers who are deciding between an Austin address and a Bastrop County address and want a fair comparison of total monthly cost and commute.
- Austin buyers and sellers who want an agent who also knows the county next door.
Austin has many distinct neighborhoods, and every address has its own details to verify. If a property or search would be better served by a hyperlocal specialist, I’ll tell you and help you find the right next step. For a wider look at places to consider, read where to move outside of Austin.
How I help buyers and sellers across Austin
I help buyers and sellers across Austin, and the homes shown on this page are active Austin listings priced at $500,000 and up. Because I live and work in Bastrop County, I can also help when your plans connect Austin with Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville or Cedar Creek along SH 71, US 290 or SH 130.
Austin vs. Bastrop County: a side-by-side cost framework
A lower list price doesn’t automatically mean a lower monthly payment. I don’t quote general “cost of living” figures. Instead, we compare the actual addresses you’re considering, line by line:
| What to compare | Austin address (Travis County) | Bastrop County address (Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville, Cedar Creek) |
|---|---|---|
| Taxing units and rates | Look up on the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD); confirm the current adopted rates | Look up on the Bastrop Central Appraisal District; confirm MUD/PID and emergency services district units |
| School district | Confirm by address with the district; an Austin mailing address can fall in more than one ISD | Confirm by address with the district |
| Water and wastewater | Usually city utilities inside city limits (verify) | City utilities, a water supply corporation, a well, and/or septic, depending on the parcel |
| Insurance | Get an address-specific quote | Get an address-specific quote; ask about wildfire and flood questions |
| Commute | Drive it at your real travel times | Drive SH 71, US 290 or SH 130 at your real travel times; factor in tolls |
| HOA and restrictions | HOA documents; historic-district rules where they apply | HOA and deed restrictions; land-use limits on acreage |
For Bastrop County specifics, see my guides to MUDs and PIDs, septic systems, water and wells and wildfire and insurance. You can then run the verified numbers through my mortgage calculator.
Selling in Austin and buying in Bastrop County
Selling in Austin and buying east of town at the same time is mostly a sequencing problem. We look at:
- Sell first, then buy. It’s cleaner financially, but you may need a leaseback or short-term housing.
- Buy with a sale contingency. It protects you, but it can make your offer less competitive.
- Bridge or other financing options. These are for your lender to evaluate. I help you line up the timelines.
I help price the Austin home against its own neighborhood comps. At the same time, we narrow the Bastrop County search, so the two closings can be coordinated. Read more on selling before buying and moving to Bastrop.
Commute and jobs between Austin and Bastrop County
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is in southeast Austin, and its main entrance, Presidential Boulevard, connects to SH 71.
- Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas is in unincorporated Travis County along SH 130 at Tesla Road (formerly Harold Green Road), east of the airport.
- SH 71 runs east from Austin to Bastrop and Smithville. US 290 runs east through Manor to Elgin. SH 130, a toll road, links those corridors north to Hutto and south past the airport.
- Downtown Austin is reachable from the east side and from Bastrop County by these routes, but travel times vary a lot by time of day and construction.
A job nearby doesn’t guarantee a home’s future value. Test your commute at the hours you’ll drive it. If you’re relocating for Tesla, SpaceX or another eastern-corridor employer, see moving for an eastern-corridor job.
What to verify on an Austin address
- City limits vs. ETJ or unincorporated Travis County. This affects taxes, permits and services.
- Floodplain. Check the City of Austin’s ATXFloodPro map and FEMA information for the parcel, and get an insurance quote.
- Historic districts. Some Austin properties are in local historic districts, which can affect exterior changes. The City’s Historic Property Viewer shows designations.
- HOA and restrictions, plus permits and open code issues where relevant.
- Taxing units on TCAD, and the school district and campus assignment confirmed with the district.
Why work with Bre Meador
I’m a U.S. Army veteran, a former registered nurse and a business owner, and I bring a calm, organized approach to contracts, deadlines and negotiations. Because I live and work in Bastrop County, I can show you both sides of an Austin-or-Bastrop County decision: the Austin home you’re leaving and the Cedar Creek, Elgin or Smithville home you’re considering. Learn more about me or read client reviews.
Useful Austin and Bastrop County resources
- Bastrop vs. Cedar Creek
- Bastrop vs. Del Valle: parcel taxes, utilities, schools, and special districts
- Moving for a Tesla, SpaceX, or eastern-corridor job
- Bastrop County MUD and PID guide
- Septic and OSSF due diligence
- Water providers, wells, and land feasibility
- Wildfire risk and home-insurance questions
- Hutto, TX buyer and seller guidance
- All service areas
Frequently asked questions
Do you serve every Austin neighborhood?
Yes. I help buyers and sellers across Austin as part of my work in Bastrop County and the Greater Austin Area. The homes shown on this page are active Austin listings priced at $500,000 and up. If a property or search would be better served by a hyperlocal specialist, I’ll tell you and help you find the right next step.
Is it cheaper to live in Bastrop County than in Austin?
It depends on the specific homes. List price is only one part of it. Compare property taxes, MUD or PID assessments, insurance, utilities (including septic or well where applicable) and commute costs for each address. I’ll help you build that comparison with verified figures.
Can I sell my Austin home and buy in Bastrop County at the same time?
Yes, with planning. The usual options are selling first with a leaseback, buying with a sale contingency, or using lender-approved bridge financing. I coordinate the timelines so both closings line up.
How far is Bastrop County from the Austin airport?
SH 71 connects the airport area directly with Bastrop and Smithville, and SH 130 links it with the US 290 corridor toward Elgin. Travel time depends on the exact address and time of day, so we test the drive for the homes you’re considering.
Where do I check taxes for an Austin property?
Start with the Travis Central Appraisal District to see the taxing units for the property, then confirm current adopted rates with each unit. For Bastrop County homes, use the Bastrop Central Appraisal District.
Can you help with an out-of-state move to the Austin area?
Yes. I offer an organized remote process with orientation calls, video showings, written notes, document coordination and deadline tracking. Independent inspections and property-specific verification are still essential.
Current listings in Austin, TX
- 2303 East 2nd St #1, Austin, TX 78702 · $895,000 · Active · MLS 8639250 Listed by Andres Bego · Amazing Realty LLC
- 109 Largo Cv, Austin, TX 78734 · $2,075,000 · Active · MLS 1430568 Listed by Robert Friedmann · Friedmann Parks Realty
- 8120 Meandering Way, Austin, TX 78759 · $598,000 · Active · MLS 3485938 Listed by Ruth Hsu · Evergreen Properties
- 312 Horseback Holw, Austin, TX 78732 · $1,050,000 · Active · MLS 2974802 Listed by Lauren Kennemer · Compass RE Texas, LLC
- 13212 HUMPHREY Dr, Austin, TX 78729 · $549,900 · Active · MLS 8128357 Listed by Molly Zurek · Pure Realty
- 3009 Val Dr, Austin, TX 78723 · $649,000 · Active · MLS 4017555 Listed by Brien Silver · Compass RE Texas, LLC
- 5405 Amanda Ellis Ct, Austin, TX 78749 · $625,000 · Active · MLS 2658132 Listed by Ashley Stucki · Ashley Austin Homes
- 9200 Ashton Rdg, Austin, TX 78750 · $800,000 · Active · MLS 9233958 Listed by David Bunyea · Compass RE Texas, LLC
- 5400 Ketch Ct, Austin, TX 78730 · $685,000 · Active · MLS 9720227 Listed by Amber Broadway · Opendoor Brokerage, LLC
- 3228 Jewelfish Cv, Austin, TX 78728 · $549,000 · Active · MLS 1982362 Listed by Jenn Carey · Open House Austin Group LLC
- 11220 S Bay Ln, Austin, TX 78739 · $840,000 · Active · MLS 3840334 Listed by Stacy Zellner · Let's Move Austin LLC
- 2603 Burly Oak Dr, Austin, TX 78745 · $599,000 · Active · MLS 8697340 Listed by Mark Moore · Gottesman Residential R.E.
Start with the two addresses
Send me the Austin home you’re leaving or considering and the Bastrop County home you’re weighing it against. I’ll help organize what’s known about each and flag what still needs to be verified before you decide. Call or text (512) 993-8488, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., email forsale@bremeador.com, or contact me here.
— Bre Meador, REALTOR®, All City Real Estate
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Written by Bre Meador, REALTOR® — All City Real Estate · Texas real-estate license #0835116
Last updated August 6, 2026. Service areas and property information can change. Equal Housing Opportunity. This page is general information, not legal, tax, lending, appraisal, engineering, environmental, inspection, medical, or insurance advice.