City Guide / Austin

Why‌ ‌Companies‌ ‌Are‌ ‌Moving‌ ‌to‌ ‌Austin‌

By Landing | Nov 13, 2020
Skyline view of Austin, Texas, at night

Austin has the fourth-largest population of cities in Texas and is the state’s capital. Over the past decade, Austin’s population has increased steadily, with a population growth rate outpacing all other large cities in the United States from 2012 to 2019.

Austin’s population growth has been driven by the technology sector and new businesses in the city. Dubbed Silicon Hills, leading tech companies including Oracle, Apple, and eBay have opened offices in Austin. There are several reasons companies are moving to Austin. If you’re looking for an ideal place to start your business or relocate to, this southern state capital should be given serious consideration.

Housing

Austin has a healthy housing market. Although demand has prompted housing prices to increase, it’s more affordable to buy or rent a property in Austin than to buy or rent in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C. When the most expensive U.S. cities to live in are listed, Austin doesn’t even appear within the top 20.

Austin offers a range of housing options, including furnished apartments. Whether you’re looking for a studio apartment or a unit with two bedrooms, you’ll find options to choose from within the city. Renting a furnished apartment eases the stress of moving, and many units offer custom features, such as stainless steel appliances and Smart TVs. Some furnished apartments also allow occupants to have pets.

Recreation

People who enjoy spending time outdoors will appreciate all Austin has to offer. The Colorado River runs through the city and feeds Austin’s seven reservoirs. Rowing, kayaking, boating, and paddleboarding are all options. Water lovers can also head to one of the famous swimming holes in the area to cool off during the hot summer months. Austin is also home to four water parks, featuring swimming pools, slides, and lazy rivers.

Austin is known for being one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States. There are mountain biking trails, as well as bike paths suitable for bicyclists and bladers. You can also take advantage of the city’s bike rental shops if you don’t own a bike.

Whether you want to head out for a day trip to a state park or hike around Lady Bird Lake, Austin offers easy access to several hiking trails.

The city also boasts a thriving music scene, with multiple music venues featuring live performances year-round. Austin also hosts several music festivals each year.

Education center

The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is a Public Ivy school, allowing students to receive an Ivy-league education at a public school price. Over 50,000 students attend UT each year. The university offers 170 undergraduate disciplines and 100 graduate disciplines. Fields of study include architecture, engineering, business, education, communications, and natural sciences.

Austin’s ability to attract post-secondary students ensures businesses in the area can draw from the talent pool and attract qualified candidates for internships and entry-level opportunities.

Affordability

Austin isn’t just affordable to live in. Although Texas has several regulations that apply to businesses, it is not as heavily regulated as California and New York. Many businesses have relocated from California because of their ability to capitalize on lower real estate costs and reduce the number of regulations that have to be followed. Austin has been able to attract many of these companies by charging lower taxes.

Networking

There are multiple networking opportunities for business leaders. Leading tech companies have attracted other tech companies to the area. In addition to household tech companies such as Apple and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, rising tech companies such as BigCommerce, Cision, and Chive Media Group have established operations in Austin. When a city has a high concentration of companies in the same business sector, it can attract qualified applicants to the region, making it easier to fill staff openings.

Austin also hosts the annual South by Southwest conference. As the home of the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, Austin also hosts conferences for bankers, educators, and small businesses throughout the year. Local companies can capitalize on their proximity to these events by participating in panels, promoting their businesses, and recruiting staff.

Transportation

Austin has an affordable public transit system, making it easy to navigate the city at a low cost. It takes less than three hours to drive from Austin to Dallas, Fort Worth, or Houston, and less than three hours to fly to California. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is just a few miles from downtown, making it convenient for business travel.

Affordable housing, access to post-secondary education, and efficient transportation options have helped Austin, Texas, attract numerous businesses over the past decade. The growth in the business sector and low tax rates have fueled the city’s population growth. New residents can also capitalize on Austin’s thriving music scene, recreational activities, and low cost of living, ensuring they’re gratified by their decision to make Austin home.

Should you decide to relocate your business to Austin, Landing offers peace of mind with their network of fully furnished apartments with a flexible leases. If Austin ends up not being the right place for your business, there is a full network of apartments nationwide for you to choose from and move in to. Browse our available apartments in Austin today!

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Landing

Ted may be the world's slowest typist and struggle to hold a pen, but he has mastered how to pursue a more flexible lifestyle throughout his airborne adventures around the U.S. Whether you're looking for more information before migrating to a new city or want to find an easier way to rent a nest—erm, apartment—Ted will always be here to share his best advice for where to live and how to thrive.