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Emily Karonika
Call Emily at (737) 265-6333

Relocation

Make Austin home.

Moving to a new city is a lot to hold at once. Emily helps you understand how Austin really lives, narrows the search to the right few streets and handles the details from wherever you are now.
Plan your moveCall or text (737) 265-6333
Paddleboarders gliding across Lady Bird Lake at sunrise with cypress trees and the Austin skyline beyond

How Austin lives

Start with the life, then the house.

Most relocating clients know how they want to live before they know where. These are the shapes Austin life tends to take, and the neighborhoods that fit each one.

  • Central and walkable

    Older homes, big trees and dinner within walking distance, a few minutes from downtown.

  • Established and leafy

    Generous lots and quiet streets west of MoPac, close to Lake Austin.

  • Lock-and-leave city living

    Condominiums with views, full-service buildings and the lakeside trail at your door.

  • Hill Country views

    Wooded lots, privacy and Eanes ISD schools, still a short drive from the city.

  • On the water

    Boating, golf and long sunsets, with more room and a slower pace.

Before you move

Six things worth knowing about buying here.

  • Taxes work differently here.

    Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes carry more of the load and vary by county, city, school district and special districts. After you close on a primary residence, filing for the homestead exemption can lower your bill, and Emily will remind you when it's time.

  • Look for MUDs and PIDs.

    Many newer communities around Austin sit in a Municipal Utility District or Public Improvement District that adds its own line to the tax bill. It isn't a reason to avoid a home, but it belongs in the math.

  • School districts follow their own lines.

    District boundaries don't match city limits or ZIP codes. Austin ISD, Eanes ISD, Lake Travis ISD and others can all sit within a short drive, so confirm the district for each address.

  • Respect the ground and the creeks.

    Central Texas clay soils expand and contract, which makes a good foundation inspection essential. Austin's creeks can also rise quickly in heavy rain, so check flood maps for any home near water.

  • Drive it at rush hour.

    MoPac, I-35 and Loop 360 can change a commute dramatically. Before you commit to a part of town, drive your daily route at the times you'll actually be on the road.

  • Plan around the seasons.

    Spring is traditionally Austin's busiest season for real estate, and summers are long and hot. Shade trees, a pool and an efficient home matter more here than you might expect.

Friends at a long dinner table under a live oak and string lights on an Austin patio at dusk

Buying from a distance

Close by, even from afar.

Many of Emily's relocating clients do much of their search before they arrive. She becomes your eyes, ears and advocate on the ground.

  • Live video tours of any home, with honest commentary on what the camera misses
  • A visit planned around the neighborhoods on your shortlist
  • Introductions to trusted local lenders, inspectors and title partners
  • Inspections, paperwork and closing coordinated wherever you are

Contact

Let's talk about what's next.

Whether you're ready to move or simply starting to think about it, reach out. Emily will follow up with you personally.

Call or text
(737) 265-6333
Email
emilykaronika@serhant.com
Serving
Austin & Central Texas
Follow
@emilykaronika on Instagram (opens in a new tab)