Sad Future Coming For Austin Texas 

I've lived in Austin since the mid 80s. I'm gonna have to leave back to Kyle soon because I can't afford it much longer. The old affordable, friendly Austin gone. None of these changes are gonna be for the better for most people who live in and around Austin. The reason why people live further and further out from Austin is to escape the unaffordability. That's the real nightmare no one wants to admit.

As a musician I have lived in Austin since 92… because of the massive changes and how ridiculously expensive it’s become I decided to move out… so I did at the first of this year.. I loved Austin; but it isn’t the same anymore… the whole feel is different, people are different.. but frankly, 1500 dollars for the little apartment I had is criminal… my landlord raised the rent over $500 in one swoop… anyhow I was sorry to leave; but it had to be done.. I will miss Austin and left good friends behind.

Hi Jeremy, thanks for your hard work on these videos. It's heartbreaking because I'm 5th generation Austinite and have seen our City Council sell us out year after year. I'm all for change and know growth is inevitable. It's the greed that really gets you down. When I meet new folks moving to Austin, they say they have moved here for the "culture".......I say, we were the culture and that sleepy, friendly, absolutely cool college town is long gone. ☹️

I've been in Austin since 1969 yes, it's changed. I don't mind change, but I mind the culture dying because of it.

Moved to CTX in 94, into ATX in 96. Decided to move here because it was cheap, no traffic, and safe. The city had a big town kind of vibe. You could get from RR to south Austin in 10-15 min on 35. Downtown didn't have meters, you could park at the AAS to see the bats at night, Sunday brunch at Threadgills, happy hours at Trudy's, and trail of lights was so easy and hassle free. My wife and I, part time waitress & security guard, bought our first brand new house in 98 for 94k off Slaughter in Park Ridge. Back then South Park was still a farm that had concerts. Sadly, none of this is relevant anymore.

The main problem Austin is having atm is that it's mainly 6 figure + workers moving here. The other sub 6 figure workers (the people that actually make society function) aren't coming. Consequently, we are seeing a collapse in services. Can no longer call the police for most things. Can't get through to 911. Can't get an ambulance. Can't get a bus driver to take the kids for school. Can't get a kid into daycare (1 year+ wait). Can't even get a dentist appointment without a 3 month wait. Indeed, good luck getting anything from the healthcare system. What services can be received at this point are of low and deteriorating quality. It's perplexing to pay such a premium for such levels of total dysfunction. I've lived in CA and other places and it was never this bad.

The poor teachers, public servants, service workers, and people who make less than $150k. We left 18 months ago and don’t miss it. Traffic, entitled people, insane property taxes. No thanks.

You should make a video about Pflugerville new built properties around the 130 toll road. The taxes are around $16k on a $400k house! It includes a MUD tax of $6k that most owners weren’t aware of. Hopefully people are aware of this issue through your videos

Hi Jeremy. Thanks for the quality video and the visuals are great!!! Very impressive. I will also like to add which many people are not paying attention too is the water and climate crisis that all of central Texas is headed too. Central Texas is about to face a dire water shortage very soon. According to the Community Impact News leter and Texas Tribune, Central Texas had its worst drought since 2011 last year and the level of development is putting a dire strain on water resources. The Edward's Aquifer lost some 40% of surface water area just with the past 5 years and it is not being replaced but instead being pumped out too fast because mostly of shortage of rains. Comal springs last year at one point stopped flowing in New Braunfels. Barton Springs is becoming more unsafe to swim because of rising E.coli levels and presence of amoebas. The beautiful Jacob's well in Wimberley stopped flowing and may not allow swimming for the foreseeable future. The Colorado River in Austin now supposedly cuts short of around 90 miles before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The atmosphere is loosing more O2 and instead is becoming more pollutant with dangerous metalloids and gases because once the trees are cut, then that further takes away the O2 retaining capacity and instead you have more C02 in the atmosphere amongst other things. I could go on but all saying all this development is going to affect all of us here in Central Texas very soon in very dire ways most people never would have thought of if we don't retain what little of Austin that isn't developed.

Born in East Texas and always loved Atx. My whole life I've been going to austin. Finally got to move there in mid 2000s. And sadly I watched it slowly turn into what it has become. Typical progression of a cool city. It went from chill, hippy, weird. The charm has gone by way of over development. Old Austin is knocked down and up came new flashy condos no local wanted or could afford! I moved in 2014. It's just not the city it used to be!

Born and raised in Texas; I moved to Austin years ago from San Antonio. And man, Austin sure has changed drastically. The artistic free spirit it once had is gone. It's rare I run into people from Texas or Austin itself. Smh.

Rainey street was originally a small neighborhood with families that had been there for generations that got pushed out of their homes.... The cute little bar part was just a short phase to the high rises.

I live in the D/FW area and I feel bad for native Texans living down there. Affordable homes are a thing of the past.

Much respect for all your hard work on these videos Jeremy.

Im having to move all the way out to Burnet. Not only has it gotten completely unaffordable but the crime is skyrocketing. Im tired of having to worry about having my truck broke into again every night.

I live in Dallas and I swear that Austin traffic is 100 times worse. It’s out of control. The aggression is real and the wait time is hours upon hours.

I’m a renter. One bedroom 2000 dollars! Traffic horrible. I miss the quaint Austin.

Man prices are gonna get crazy. Burnet, wimberly, and other rural towns will be the new norm.

I'm sad for Austin....it's success has destroyed it's once beautiful free-spirit. I moved to Austin in '78 when MoPac from Anderson Ln northward was still 2 lanes. Back then, there were big gaps of nothingness between surrounding towns and Austin. The urban sprawl has made some people wealthy but, it's brought an abundance of misery, too.

I’m so opportune that irrespective of the economy crisis and financial conditions I'm still able to earn $19,500 returns from my initial $3500 every 7 days. Crypto investment is the really profitable...

Love Austin. I lived there for almost 10 years.I just left this summer. Congestion and traffic everywhere. And It just got so ridiculously expensive. It was time to go.

You’d be shocked at how many people live in my area (Killeen/Fort Hood) and commute to Austin for work each day. Taking 195 to 130 will get you to most spots in Austin in an hour or so. Housing here is still incredibly affordable and Tesla has started daily shuttles from our area to the Giga factory. Bought my house in 2004 for 81k and it’s probably worth about 200k or so now. A lot of people say bad things about our area but there’s a lot of stores and restaurants and we’ve never felt in danger….just some food for thought

I likethis, hearing possibilities for austin to help decide where to buy for 1-3 years out, 3-5 years out, and 5 to 7 years out. Dell Valle, spicewood, laneway, even southwest austin past sunset valley near the Y... great job finding these models of future growth. I woumd for sure like to see more of these type of videos!

Yes, please make a video on Del Valle. Also interested in where any HEB’s are going it.

There's nothing out to Spicewood. Yes please do another video on that new development out there. Good info. Thanks for the updates. We're really close to you.

My family and I currently live in Del Valle and while there is development to come, we would be happy to at least have a grocery store out here. A video about Del Valle would be great as there are more people moving here and new housing communities and apartment complexes are currently under construction. We’re excited about Velocity though.

The tech bro blandness that has infiltrated the city has really broken the old creativeness that made Austin unique. It's so sad to see how unrestrained capitalism can ravage a thriving arts scene and turn it into another bland strip of big box stores, generic clubs, and endless beer gardens for Instagram "influencers" and tech bros to play at.

I'm an Austin native and can't stand how Austin has pushed out Austinites. So, sad that I can't afford to live in the city I was born in.

Been living here for 2+ years.. relocated from Arlington, VA. Austin is an absolute gem of a place to VISI... And Austin is a great place to live IF YOU HAVE TO LIVE HERE (i.e. If you have to come here for work, school, starting a business) I work from home and can live anywhere in the states and for me personally, Austin is wayyyy too liberal (like, noticeably liberal), getting more and more expensive by the day, and getting way too crowded. Traffic is just horrendous and there are multiple accidents on the highways everyday, when finally get to your destination you have to wait in line (especially in the summer) to do ANYTHING. OR try to find parking - good lord. Also... I guess I am not coming from NY or CA but everyone says people are "so friendly here".... furrows brow I would never say this is a "southern hospitality type of town" by any means. People aren't going to stop and ask you how your day is or anything (and the people that do... are the true Texans, which are like 1% of the people here). People aren't down-right rude and mean but they aren't particularly altruistic either... not like when you go to the Carolinas or conservative midwest. Negative Nancy... but seriously, when moving to TEXAS.. I guess I thought "Southern Living"...but I think there are just so many transplants from those fast-paced towns and that is the vibe now. Move to Fort Worth if you want slower-paced & southern hospitality, I suppose. The BBQ is dammmmmmn good, I will give Austin that (be prepared to wait in a 2 hour line but yeah dammmmn good).. and the food in general (which now is coming from all different areas of the US and the World). On that note, there is a reason so many people come here to visit (especially for bachelor/bachelorette parties). There are seriously ENDLESS bars and restaurants. I wish there was just more to do without having to going out and drop a dime. You only have a few options (that I know of) when it comes to outdoor activities... in comparison to places like Colorado, California, Utah, Vermont, etc. This about sums it up: -Lady Bird Lake (walking/running/biking) & Barton Springs (swimming and SUP/kayaking) -Zilker (for picnic, laying out, throwing the football) -Lake Travis (for boating) -Greenbelt (hiking/mountain biking) Also the dating here - geeze la weeze (not a fan - definitely a "singles" city lets just say) Needless to say - I am moving. It is a bitter sweet because I've made some great friends but I have learned that this is a transitory city and many people come for a short time and move. Hope this helped someone :)

Am really sad for Ausin i used to call it the best kept secret for a capital city not only is landscape changing but crime is too they have took the texas hospitality out of Austin I dont even fell like a Texan around here anymore and it's really sad for me city council sold us out for money shame on them if Governor ann richards was still around she would of never let that happen.

Moved to ATX from Houston 25 years ago. People were friendly, rent was cheap, the vibe was chill and I35 moved. Now, no one is from here, the rent is outrageous and I35 is a parking lot even on Thanksgiving day. Hoping to pack it in and shake the dust of this over grown town off before Spring time. Toodles, Austin and thanks for the memories.

Austin doesn’t have enough water for this many people here!

I moved here about 7 months ago, (without ever visiting) as everyone I met had said how awesome Austin was... how laid back & chill... I had visited Dallas, where people warned me of "pretentiousness". I found the people in Dallas to be amazingly friendly, while my time in Austin, I cannot say the same. The people seem cold, anti-sociable, and just not very friendly at all. It is really disheartening. Now I am here paying $1,600 for a 600 foot studio, when I could've been in southern California next to the beach for that price... Hopefully in time things get better.

Great video Jeremy. The editing, presentation, and research that went into this is much appreciated.

Our obsession with SF zoning is embarrassing and the root of many of our problems

I really want to hear more about Del Valle. Its an underdog area and I've seen so many apartment and commercial dev areas there. Its a great bridging area between Buda and austin.Austin. and as for taxes, its getting insane. Our taxes 4x'd this year.

“Closer to the highways “ they are already way too close to them and the noise is unbearable!

I think it just happened so fast. We had no infrastructure for it. I understand everything changes, money will always rule and everyone has a right to live where they want. It was still so sad to see so many things that have been here forever go away.

Yes Jeremy, please kindly make the video on the new developments coming up in suburbs

Thanks for your video. It was well made. I moved to Austin 30 years ago and really enjoyed it then. Matched my laid back attitude. Present Austin is a nightmare. I knew eventually this gem of a town would be discovered by developers and turned into a circus. Wildlife around Austin is becoming road kill because these developers are destroying all the land. I moved to Spicewood and used to see the beautiful night sky, but now it's harder to see the stars because all the light from the city. I'm done being here and will start to look for a way to move out of Texas.

I’m from and was born in Austin Tx. All of the 29 years of my life, I’ve seen all of the changes and it’s not good at all. Everybody else probably think that’s good but it’s not. Austin isn’t Austin anymore.

austin was a college and music town now it more than that i-35 needs to be go up over the existing platform just my opinion

Please do Del Valle video ..I have been staying here close to 2 years and i see lot of new homes/construction in progress and it’s affordable ..closer to downtown

The projects in South East Austin are exciting. I just moved to Addison which is a bit Northeast from Easton Park right next to the Airport so I'll be right next to all those growing developments. There's still a lot of rural area around here.

Congrats Austin, you've turned yourself into California.

Yeah we're moving to Jarrell because of a lot of these reasons. Downtown is also ghetto af especially 6th street. The domain is getting that way and housing prices are ridiculous.

Spotted a dark Grey Tesla with “Knight R” on the plate in Round Rock this morning 👀

Yes please make a video on Del Valle! My husband says it not that great of an area…

Yep ...rent made me move.

All this development has ruined Austin, it has taken away it's charm. Seen it happen to the Phoenix area, Sedona too. No thanks. Bigger is not better.

Is there more commercial development coming in suburbs northwest of Austin? I’d love to have a pulse on that and see up to date videos. Leander/Liberty Hill area. Also, another question, how do people retire in Texas is property taxes are so high?

I personally like the Domains of austin. I'd like to see more Domains and Gallerias but with Condos not apartments.

I think there are 100,000 apartments being built here in Pflugerville as we speak😅. Seems that way. I’ve lived in the Austin area for near 17 years now and the changes have been amazing.

The Austin homeless population will probably rival the entire Texas homeless population combine within 10 years.

Always funny when people reminisce about Rainey. It’s squarely in downtown, the best place for tall residential towers. It was only bars for barely a decade.

Thanks to realtors and developers, who have been making a killing.

We left 3 1/2 years ago from Austin. Miss parts but for the most part we are very happy to have left. Even though it was home, it turned in to something that was so off from being ok. I would never recommend anyone move here and I never recommend it for vacation 😢

All this sounds like traffic is going to get worse. Maybe we will agree to fund light rail all around the Austin area and get more cars off the road.

I've seen this a hundred times. People move to Austin because they think it's better. It is in many ways BUT after 2 to 3 years they grow into the "Keep Austin Weird" mentality and realize they don't like it, not impressed with it and don't want to hook up with it. Then they realize their itchy feet never went away and ultimately move out of Austin. This just happened a week ago to a coworker of mine from California. I asked him why he was leaving and essentially he stated Austin isn't what he thought and didn't meet his expectations.

Tech has/will swallow this city whole. The middle class will no longer exist. Everyone will be pushed out. Same thing happened in San Fran/Seattle. Hopefully the people won’t turn cold.

Maybe more mixed development will mean people can walk to a destination close to where they live rather than drive. That should mean more density while not necessarily increasing traffic. This would be true especially if the public transportation infrastructure is improved over widening a freeway. I’d rather not have my property taxes increase to repeat mistakes from the 20th century that we’re all paying for today.

500k home isn’t crazy expensive in the burbs, but the property tax rates of 2.6% makes it really unaffordable for most. We locked in a 3 year lease in July 2020 on a 3bd/2ba 1900sqft brand new home in pflugerville. The owner bought the home at a dirt cheap price and low interest rate and we locked it in rent at $1750/month. The property taxes on the assessed value for 2021 and 2022 caused the owner to beg us to sign a new lease. We declined and it makes the situation awkward, but we didn’t control the market, rates or property taxes. I really feel like Texas needs to revised the property tax code to fall in line with the current market and rates. Washington state has no income tax and their property taxes are almost half of Texas. This isn’t the same Texas from 10 years ago, it’s a hot market and home values are way up

Growth and change is good. You mentioned several times about increases in taxes and how expensive it’s getting. It would be great if all those huge companies would take on more of the expense than it being passed down to the local residents. And for them to come in with the respect to keeping Austin “weird”, so that it maintains it’s character.

Affordable austin , Austin culture, and Leslie Cochran are all dead . I’m just holding on as long as I can in this husk of what was once Austin .

Very nice video! I moved to Austin 5 years ago, this city is scam! Internet and phone connections are terrible. The constructions that will not end in the city center continue, the roads are closed, the traffic is disgraceful. And of course, it doesn't matter what the free market and the price is, you are greeted by how much money you have!! I bought a house in this city. I pay $10,000 tax, this is embarrassing. The state or local government doesn't care about anything. I am thinking of moving from here as soon as possible and please think twice before moving this city is a complete scam. People are really nice but texas is texas :(

I moved to Austin in 2017 it baffles me how Texans believe the U.S. Government has any say in the power grid made up of private investors who have monopolized 90% of TX. Governor Abbott has no say in that grid cause it is NOT government property but private. Sad Texans don't see what is happening in their own state but an outsider from Indiana does.

Great video but disagree with moving to some of these suburbs. They are flat and ugly that's why they never grew. They are growing now as city of Austin land is hard to come by. Dripping Springs on the other hand is beautiful. So cudos to you for moving there tho Circle C remains one of my favorite areas. I am pretty sure my tiny Zilker home will outpace these flat areas in value growth. I am almost at the high point in South Austin and am close to everything. Houses on my street are ridiculous prices. I will not move unless I can no longer afford the property taxes but house is paid off and the HS cap limits increases in my prop tax so good for now. When I bought here many years ago I wanted a view of the city but didn't like the drive my daughter finally said 'Do you want a view or do you want to be the view?". So smart - I chose being the view.

I lived in Austin on and off for 40 years and I don't know I'll be back I just got to let the city get normalized a little bit. I'm in the music industry and it's the only place to be for music.

There are some things that you could have included such as the Domain, West Campus, the planned Wilson tower and the project going in at the old Amer. Statesmen property on the lake. Austin is still relatively small compared to DFW and Houston but Austin is rapidly turning into more of a major city. I tell people around Ausitn that one day in the not so distant future Austin will be home to an NFL football team, probably in the next 10 years or sooner.

I live here in Austin and I just waiting the opportunity for going out!!

Yeah, I would like to see you do a video on Del Valle. I started school there and it's definitely changed a whole lot since I lived there.

Come along and dream with me... Make 130 the toll free designated truck route for all non-local deliveries. Construct an elevated express lane with exits only at 71, 290, and 183. Finish the exits and interchange at 45 in Round Rock. Complete the connection of 290 to MOPAC. Construct another expressway connection over Cesar Chavez for North and South cross town expressways. Widen MOPAC south of the river. Implement a five cent per drink tax in Austin bars to pay for the complete removal of every "mountain cedar" tree in central Texas and replace them with better post oak and mesquite trees.

I absolutely hate what has become of this city. It grew to fast, and out of control. It's mostly all new, flashy, vapid, and sterile overpriced condos and restaurants. I see apartments here with damn near NYC priced rents. Nuts. Most of the artists, musicians and freaks have been pushed way out. Been here 25 years, and if I did not have the best job I would split and drag some friends along with me. Still have a lot of them left, but they scattered in a 150 mile radius. Theres still a couple cool hang spots that have not been turned into plastic generic lameness. It is what it is I guess, but nobody can make me like it. In fact, I travel a lot for work and take any chance I can get to tell people how utterly stupid this place is. Its my new hobby saying stuff like "Oh yeah, you wanna move somewhere and start new, well don't go to Austin. It's overpriced and fake. Everything you hear that's cool about this place is from decades ago"

Austin failed at redevelopment. Maybe they should have looked at Nashville on how to grow live music instead of killing it. The thought process wasn't there it was just throwing up high rises wherever with no actual plan. You mentioned Rainey St which was a hip area with great bars. Austin decided they needed to destroy that also. There needed to be an entertainment district that wasn't surrounded by condos. Live music and housing don't mix. Such a loss. Austin is no longer the live music capital. Actually Austin isn't much of anything anymore except traffic and inflated housing.

I lived there from 1984 to 1999. Mid 90s I could see the changes over night. I moved in April 1999….never looked back and never regretted it. You couldn’t pay me to live there now.

Saw what was happening sold our house we bought for less than $135,000. For waaaay more ( hint: it was walking distance from 🍎)- moved north of georgetown and the madness followed us😢 SO We are moving 5 states away in near future.

It's only sad if you have unrealistic expectations about home prices central to Austin. This area has some of the highest demand in the state. It's not going to be cheap. That's what the suburbs and cars are for. It's cheaper to live further out. Near the city the best we can hope for is more condos. That appears to be happening. If you're fine with that there should be some optimism.

My dad said in 1972 Austin was behind on the development of the Austin highways by 20 years compared to Dallas and Houston, They have been working on these highways and streets since I was in grade school and now I am 39

I live in a condo on Barton Springs and Lamar..my property tax…this year..$15K owned since 2013..outrageous

We moved from a bedroom community in Utah to Oatmeal Texas in July of 2021 to be by my Mom. I may have to go back to work in the legal field and I don't know how I'm going to work. The commute from Oatmeal to Austin is ridiculous. 40 minutes to a Leander train and an hour to downtown Austin for the major law firms is not an option!

Hi Jeremy, Thanks for all the content! I'd be curious to see a full video on your thoughts in the area near the Y consturction (HWY 290/71). What sort of developments do you believe will follow the $700M dollar city funded project? Do you forsee an increase in commercial space, residential homes, or perhaps a nother big company building an HQ in the area? Really curious to know if there is any insider info for plans in this area and if you have any predictions of your own. Thanks!

We are a family of 6, 4 little children. We make over $100k. But we a contemplating moving out. Too expensive.

I’m from Austin originally & i can honestly say there are some real pros and cons about the developments. My main concern is keeping up 😢😅 I may have to migrate like my family have.

the water used to be green. now it looks brown. 👍

Have you done any comparison videos from other major cities that have went through this growth? Denver comes to mind. I work in the Chicago loop, but live in Aurora, IL (Wayne's World!!!) It's an hour commute on a good day. There's traffic, but it's manageable. I almost moved to ATX in 2009, and again in 2019, probably should have, but how does all this growth compare to other major cities?

Austin WAS home & when we retired were coming back so we were close to family. Not happening now. The town I grew up in is completely gone. The only people who can now afford Austin & the surrounding towns are those who can afford outrageously overpriced homes on lots less than the size of a postage stamp. & people who currently live there may end up losing their homes because they won't be able to afford the sky high property tax increases.

I love some of the change but at the same time I don’t, Born and raised here and it’s just ridiculous the prices of homes are crazy but hey that’s life

So much info in this one! How do you have time???

bro went hard

Have lived in Austin since '94 and looking to move out of Texas in the next year or two. It lacks magic. The west side hills and lakes are nice but I need mountains and 4 seasons.

An incredible statistic is Travis County is the number one migration source for San Antonio and Texas Department of transportation is dumping over $4 billion over the next five years for infrastructure improvement here in San Antonio. It’s almost like the state knows everybody wants to leave Austin and come to San Antonio. Agree?

I know growth and change is inevitable but Austin will never be the place that I absolutely loved going to and spending vacation in back in the late 80’s and early 90’s

I've lived here since the late 80s. I absolutely HATE all this crap! .. and the CRIME that comes with it!!

Can you make big video of how many companies in Austin and how many more coming.

I miss the more slow and steady growth of Austin while it kept most of its identity from when I moved here in 1998 to around 2014 when the combination of Abbott at the state level and Adler locally making it a tax haven for the big corporations, which created too much growth too quickly. Still have a great home here in Gracywoods on Walnut Creek Park, but will probably have to sell eventually with the property tax increases, which are made worse by Pflugerville ISD that runs the schools in this area; though, I'm slightly protected by the homestead exemption, but assessed values may catch up with 1-2 years of slow to negative growth in prices.

I also had the idea Austin kept the same vibe as it used to be like back from 10 years ago how muhc has it changed is it worth moving how long do you recommend saving

In lived in ATX back in 2010 -2013, it was changing but a blast. It’s not the same in 2023. I moved to SATX but commute to ATX work like 100,000s and that’s why traffic is so bad. Most people can’t afford to live in ATX and can’t find a decent paying job in the surrounding communities. I make double in ATX and I make the brutal drive. People I work with that live in ATX have minimum 2 roommates to afford it. The only other comment I would make is that I never stood out in Austin. I’m 60 y old woman with a purple Mohawk and I blended in with everyone else. Now I’m pointed out as an old “austin weird”relic- SUX😂

Tech layoffs have already started, so the days of high real estate prices are about to be over.

Wish something would move out too Jarrell

After living in Austin since the 1960s, I left two years ago. It has become too expensive and entitled.