Relocating to Northwest Austin
The right part of Austin for your job, your commute and your schools, from someone who has lived here since 1976.
What relocating here really involves
Most of my relocating buyers are moving for a job: Apple's Parmer campus, the offices at the Domain and North Burnet, or the space and defense employers growing north toward Cedar Park and Leander. They usually have a start date, a few trips to look, and a long list of neighborhoods they've read about online.
The hard part isn't finding houses. It's knowing which part of Austin fits how you'll actually live: the commute you can tolerate, the schools you want (or don't need), and how much land you want around you.
How I help people moving in
I've lived in Northwest Austin since 1976. I went to the schools relocating families ask about, from Spicewood Elementary to Canyon Vista to Westwood, and I've watched these neighborhoods grow around 183, MoPac and Parmer. That's what I bring to the search.
- Match the area to the real priority. One buyer starting at Firefly didn't need schools at all. The commute mattered, so we found a home about eight minutes from work. Another couple wanted land and strong schools and found a half-acre lot behind Laurel Mountain Elementary that most search filters miss.
- Look remotely when you can't be here. Video calls and listing videos let you narrow the list before you fly in.
- Decide buy-first or sell-first early. If your down payment is tied up in a home in another state, that decision shapes the whole move. I'll walk you through the options and loop in your lender.
The full buying plan is on how I help you buy a home.
What you get
- A consultation focused on your job, commute, schools and timeline before we look at a single listing.
- My buyer guides and buyer video series.
- Honest notes on each neighborhood, including the trade-offs a listing won't mention.
- In Deanna Berger's words: "James really listened to what we were looking for in a home and what locations appealed to us, and ultimately he found an off-market home that was the perfect fit."
Relocation across the neighborhoods I serve
Frequently Asked Questions
Which part of Austin is closest to Apple's Parmer campus?
The neighborhoods along Parmer and 183, like Avery Ranch and the areas around it, are closest. Whether closest is best depends on schools, lot size and budget, which is what the consultation sorts out.
Can I buy without visiting first?
Some buyers do, using video walkthroughs. Most narrow the list remotely and then make one focused trip.
Should I sell my current home before buying here?
It depends on how much of your down payment is tied up in that home and how the two markets compare. I'll walk you through both paths with your lender.
Relocation by neighborhood
Keep exploring
Ready to make your move with James Brinkman?