Greater Austin · Relocation
The short answer
Barrett Raven of Raven Residential Group at eXp Realty, (512) 855-2713, helps California buyers relocate to Greater Austin with guidance on the Texas purchase process and in-person or virtual tours. Ask how the written representation terms work, then talk through your budget, location and the decisions you need to make from a distance.
Three things to settle first
- 1 Start with the terms. Read the proposed agreement and ask what services, compensation and duration it covers before a tour.
- 2 Price the whole move. Compare address-specific property taxes, insurance and financing alongside the home price.
- 3 Test the daily routine. Use a live tour and a realistic travel check to compare a home with the life you actually want.
What changes when you buy in Texas?
Texas has no state personal income tax, but property taxes are local and belong in your housing budget. California taxes residents on their income, and the move year can be more complicated than a simple change of address. The Texas Comptroller explains the income tax distinction; the California Franchise Tax Board explains part-year and nonresident rules. Ask a tax professional about your dates, California-source income and any equity compensation.
Property taxes are assessed and administered locally, so ask for the taxing units and an estimate for the actual address. A residence homestead exemption may reduce taxable value if you qualify, but don't assume the seller's tax bill or exemption will become yours. The Texas Comptroller explains exemptions and the application through the county appraisal district. Ask that district about eligibility and timing for your situation.
Here's the deal: a favorable income tax difference does not tell you what your monthly housing cost will be. Ask your lender to include an address-specific tax estimate and insurance quote, and check any association charges. Keep cash for the move and the costs that don't fit neatly into a mortgage comparison.
What should you read before a tour?
Read the written agreement before a Texas agent shows you a residential property, including by video. The Texas buyer agreement statute, effective January 2026, also requires an agreement before an offer if no property is shown. A virtual tour gives you access from California, but it is still a decision to make with the proposed terms in front of you.
Look at the services, end date, whether the agreement is exclusive, whether the broker represents you, and the compensation and how it is determined. Broker compensation is negotiable. Ask the broker to explain anything you don't understand and request changes you want to discuss before signing. A showing alone doesn't tell you the full scope of advice you have hired someone to provide.
A video can help you decide whether Barrett's approach fits, but it cannot tell you his current availability or the terms of your agreement. Ask who will handle tours, how you will communicate, and what happens if your plans change. Make the answers specific to your move instead of assuming a familiar process from California applies here.
How do remote tours and offers work?
Start with a discovery call, then ask for a live walkthrough of the actual home if you cannot visit. Raven's guide to buying without visiting recommends sending the address, travel window, features you want to see and questions that could change your decision. A live camera lets you ask for another look, but it cannot reveal every defect behind a wall or establish the condition of the roof or foundation.
Raven's published buyer process describes in-person or virtual property tours, offer negotiation guidance and closing support. Ask Barrett to explain the offer and document timeline for the particular home. A tour by video does not mean every signing, identity check or closing service can happen remotely. Ask your lender and title company what they can arrange before you rely on it.
Arrange an independent licensed inspection and review the findings before deciding how to proceed. Set a stop rule: if a condition, cost or unanswered question changes the deal, decide whether to get more information, travel or pass. Confirm wire instructions through an independently verified phone number. The convenience of staying in California is real, and so is the need to verify what a screen cannot show.
How does the Texas contract affect your timing?
The contract and its negotiated deadlines drive the next steps, so read the actual documents with your agent. In the TREC resale contract effective July 2026, the option period length is negotiated. If the buyer pays the agreed option fee as required, the option provides an unrestricted right to terminate during that period. A fee paid late can mean losing that right.
That window can give you time to investigate, but it is not a substitute for scheduling an inspection and understanding the notice deadline. The option fee is not refunded if the buyer terminates under the option; earnest money is refunded when termination is timely under that provision. Ask your agent to identify the exact dates and procedures in your signed contract. Different property types can use different forms.
Put the inspection, lender, insurance and title questions on a written calendar. If you may need to fly in, discuss that possibility before agreeing to dates. Distance does not create a universal option period or guarantee a closing schedule. Your lender, title company and the contract all matter, and a qualified Texas attorney can answer legal questions about your obligations.
What does Barrett say Californians should expect?
Expect to test the Austin picture against your own tolerance for heat, travel and cost. In his March 2026 video, Barrett says Austin is not the right fit for everyone. He recounts a client from Fresno, California, who thought they knew heat, and says Austin's summer heat was a concern worth taking seriously. His point is an opinion from the video, not a forecast for your move.
In that same video, Barrett says people from cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco sometimes doubt Austin traffic, and his answer is that it can be really bad, especially on I-35 and Mopac. He adds that it is not as bad as some larger metros, so how it feels depends on what you are used to. He also describes Austin as car dependent. More room to consider homes across the area can be appealing, but you're going to want to test the actual drive and the places you use, at the times you expect to travel.
Barrett's March 2026 video describes the city of Austin as expensive and sees value in suburban options. That's his opinion at filming, not a current price quote. A suburb may fit your home search better, but the tradeoff can be a different daily routine or a longer trip to the places you want to visit. Compare actual listings and routes before deciding what value means for you.
Which Greater Austin suburbs should you compare?
Compare suburbs by the homes and daily routine that fit you, not by a city name alone. Start with Round Rock listings and its city page, then read the Round Rock relocation post. Compare Georgetown listings, its city page and the Georgetown relocation post. A wider search gives you choices, but each address can change the drive and expenses.
Look at Leander homes, the city page and relocation post. Do the same for Cedar Park, using its city page and relocation post. Compare actual homes and routes rather than treating either city as a single neighborhood.
Check Pflugerville listings, its city page and relocation post. Then compare Hutto listings, its city page and relocation post. A home that meets your space needs still has to fit your travel and total-cost limits. Ask Barrett to help narrow the addresses before you schedule tours.
How should you set a budget from California?
Build a budget around the full cost of a particular home, not an assumed saving from leaving California. Ask a lender for financing figures and cash needed to close, an insurer for a quote, and the appraisal district about the property and taxing units. Check association charges and any other property-specific costs. A home that looks affordable on its listing price can feel different once those amounts are included.
Keep your California transition in the picture too. Tell your lender about any sale, lease or job change affecting the move, and ask about documents and timing. Don't treat a future sale price or closing date as settled until you have the relevant agreement and professional guidance. Flexibility helps, but two sets of costs are a real expense.
Write down the payment and cash range you are comfortable with, as well as the features you can give up. Share those priorities with Barrett without sending sensitive financial documents in an initial text. Your lender can help with the detailed numbers; your tax and insurance professionals can address their parts of the decision.
How can you start the move from a distance?
Call or text Barrett, search homes and use the relocation guide to turn your questions into a plan. Share your travel needs, budget, home preferences and timing. Ask about his availability and read the proposed written agreement before arranging a tour. A clear conversation makes the search more useful, but it won't settle every property question on its own.
Save a few addresses and request a live walkthrough focused on the things that would change your decision. Compare costs, arrange an independent inspection when appropriate, and ask your lender and title company about signing arrangements. Decide in advance what would prompt a visit or make you pass. That way the convenience of working from California doesn't replace the checks you need to feel comfortable.
Barrett's team can help you organize the search and guide the offer discussion. Your own review of the agreement, financing, inspection and location is still part of the job. If the fit isn't there, keep looking. Choose a home that fits your plans.
Frequently asked questions
Does moving to Texas eliminate my California income tax?
Not necessarily. Texas has no state personal income tax, but California rules can still matter for the part of the year you were a resident and for California-source income afterward. Ask a tax professional to review your move date, income sources and any equity compensation. Do not calculate your housing budget from an assumed tax saving alone. The California Franchise Tax Board explains the rules for part-year residents and nonresidents.
Can I tour a home from California?
Yes. Raven describes in-person or virtual property tours, and his remote-buying guide recommends a live walkthrough of the actual home. Send the address and the features you want to see. Read the proposed written agreement first, and arrange an independent inspection because a camera cannot establish every aspect of a property's condition.
How long will the purchase take?
The timeline depends on your contract, financing, inspection and title work. Ask Barrett, your lender and the title company to put dates and responsibilities in writing. Plan for any necessary travel before agreeing to deadlines.
How much should I budget beyond the home price?
Ask for address-specific financing, property tax, insurance and association charge estimates, plus cash needed to close. Include moving costs and any overlap with California housing. Your lender and insurer can provide figures; a seller's bill is not automatically yours.
Which suburb should I choose?
Compare homes with your budget and routine. Check routes and destinations at the times you expect to travel. Tell Barrett the features you need and tradeoffs you can accept.
What should I check in a buyer agreement?
Check the services, duration, representation status, exclusivity and compensation, including how compensation is determined. Ask the broker to explain terms you do not understand before signing. Texas requires a written agreement before an agent shows residential property, including by video, or before presenting an offer if no property is shown. Compensation is negotiable.
Can I complete every closing step remotely?
Do not assume that a virtual tour means every signing, identity check or closing service will be remote. Ask your lender and title company what arrangements are available for your transaction and location. Put the document timeline in writing and verify wire instructions through an independently verified phone number before sending funds.
About Barrett Raven
Local context for your decision
Raven Residential Group at eXp Realty
TX Real Estate License #639278
Barrett Raven is founder and team lead of Raven Residential Group with eXp Realty, TX Real Estate License #639278, serving Greater Austin. He helps buyers compare homes and plan a relocation from out of state. This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice.
Sources and further reading
- Texas Comptroller on income and property tax
- California Franchise Tax Board on part-year residents and nonresidents
- Texas Comptroller property tax exemptions
- Texas Legislature buyer representation statute
- Texas Real Estate Commission resale contract
- Raven Residential Group buyer process
- Raven Residential Group remote buying guide
- Why People Move to Austin Texas and Regret It (The Truth No One Tells You)(Barrett Raven, YouTube)
