When it all started

For friends who know we (Spencer & I) are moving to Austin, TX and those still learning, we didn't just decide this overnight. We have been planning this for almost a year and a half now!

It was Spencer's idea, without a doubt what I believe a great idea. The excitement began as we researched the city learning about their taxes, entertainment, job market, housing costs, school districts, crime, environmental progress, etc. We loved everything we were reading, and decided that this may be a great place to start as a young professional and move forward in our lives. Since Spencer has already completed his Bachelor’s degree, we agreed that we would wait to move as soon as I graduated from SJSU in fall 2009 -- despite how anxious we are to start moving.

In March 2009, Spencer took a trip out to Austin with his buddy. They enjoyed the great eats the city has to offer along with checking out some home communities. They stumbled across a master planned community in the hill country part of Austin called Steiner Ranch http://steinerranch.com. Spencer returned home from the trip quite excited about this community and we immediately popped in the DVD where I discovered our dream homes. It didn't even take a second for me to realize this is where I wanted to live and grow with a family.

We immediately got in touch with a realtor, Paula Gold (http://paulagold.stanberry.com), located in Austin who was referred to us by my mother’s co-worker. We discussed with her our interest in Steiner Ranch and she agreed to show us homes located there. Our flight was quickly booked -- now it was my chance to finally experience Austin in May 2009.

Austin was everything I imagined and it lived up to my expectations in every way. We toured homes in Steiner Ranch which I adored. We ate some of the most flavorful food imagined; thank you Trudy's for your wonderful chicken stuffed avocado. Experienced the nightlife all along 6th street like taking in the intense live music scene Austin nurtures. We certainly did not miss out on the millions of bats fleeing at dusk to catch their pray or come to figure out the hard to miss lady/gentleman who walked passed us in south congress was the ‘famous’ Leslie that many austinites friend.

To catch you up to speed, we are now in the stages of selecting an apartment to move into come January, with the help of wonderful Paula of course. We are trying to focus in on downtown so we can experience all the city has to offer on a daily basis.

This is our journey to Austin, Texas and our accounted experiences moving forward.

-Amanda