You missed the scorchingly hot summers! I was born & raised in the L.A. area and first visited Austin in the late 70's. I fell in love immediately. It took me another 20 years to move here. Yes, it has changed a lot and I would concur with many of your points. I can understand why people would come here based only on the hype they've heard and then say "I don't get it - what's the big deal?" Well, some of the magic has gone. You hit on a number of the things that have changed. I still consider this area as more home than anywhere I've lived. I would say to those who came here, didn't like it, and have moved on - farewell! Maybe you'll find that right place for you.
@@GregMeece haha Absolutely! This is my home and I wouldn't rather live anywhere else! (fyi- I'll be doing a "15 reasons I LOVE living in Austin" video soon! As for the heat, you're spot on. The only reason I didn't include it here and that that's more of a general Texas thing- and not just Austin. But you're right! :)
This video was really well done. Good points. Good presentation. As someone who is politically centrist I loved listening to a self-described conservative who sounds eminently reasonable. The country needs intelligent conservatives (not extremists) to push back on progressive governments and challenge them to mitigate against left-wing extremism. There's plenty of extremism on the right and left.
I lived in Austin for almost 40 years. I started seeing the handwriting on what was happening in the 2000's. I sold all my real estate in 2020 and moved to San Antonio. I like it here. Very mellow city and there is a lot of good food here too. I've noticed the people here in SA seem nicer then in Austin. SA isn't weird but the people are more friendly.
So, basically Austin has "big city" problems now (homelessness, overcrowding, political monoculture, etc.). I can't disagree. My main problem is how the city's infrastructure hasn't come close to keeping pace with the growth, and there's no coherent plan to address it.
Oh my goooosh you are speaking to my soul right now! 😂 I always say - Austin‘s transportation infrastructure is always about 15 years behind where it should be. 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻 It’s embarrassing…
@@HarpethRealty I live in the Tampa area and we have the same problems here with unregulated growth. I've learned that wherever you live people are going to crap all over it. I see it as a badge of honor. I love it here and if they hate it so much, by all means never come here. Super easy solutions.
After visiting San Francisco, back when it was nice and not a dumpster fire, I thought the BART system would work well in Austin to take you to all 4 points of the city, all 4 directions.
Yay Pflugerville shout out! We love Austin too though, haha. But I would say, the thought of moving back into ATX is something weird to consider. We can't afford it, so we don't have to worry about it!
@@HarpethRealty - the heat and humidity are a deal breaker for me. I live in the mountains of Ecuador- 50-75 degrees almost every day, and low humidity.
I don't know why people just focus on austins heat,it's basically same as tokyo but never heard of tokyo heat that much,maybe people are comparing austin with la's mediterranean climate which is why it may be focused
The other thing to me, that is awful about Austin is the oppressive heat. I've lived in Central Missouri my entire life, and I knew it was hotter down there, but had no idea the difference was so massive! Austin has an average of 106 days a year over 90 degrees. Here in Cental Missouri? 38 days.
It is a fact we are more adapted to the place where we were born, than anywhere else. I was born in Guatemala City, and trhough I know several cities in the US, in Europe, Mexico Israel and Peru, I would not like to live anywhere else but the City where I was born.
The thing that I hate about Austin is there are toll roads and speed traps everywhere. I am seeing homeless people in some small cities where I had never seen them before. Also, I saw some younger homeless men who seemed to be able bodied but just didn’t want to work.
@@HarpethRealty Gas is to expensive or car broke down to drive into city for free food handouts. Plus people is small towns are more likely to hand out cash for weed. Notice though the upswing in creation of small town food pantries. Must be more and more people starting to suffer this inflation!
Thanks for your video. It's interesting to get an outside perspective. Let me first say I am an original Austinite, born and raised and have been here all my life; 50 years. Many people have moved from California or other progressive places and brought their liberal values so Austin has turned very blue over the last several years. I reviewed how people voted in the last election and in Travis County it was almost a 70/30 split leaning blue which really surprised me. The city government is very liberal which has made the homelessness and crime as bad as I've ever seen it in Austin. Many people find Austin attractive, as well as companies, and lots have moved here which has also had an effect on people moving here. Austin has been a popular destination to move to for a long time but it's accelerated over the last 10+ years or so. This has had some effect on housing, local restaurants and music. I grew up on the east side when it was the hood, back before it was hip, and then moved out to the suburbs in SW Austin about 25 years ago. I love Austin and will never move away because I love my city and I love Texas. But it has definitely changed alot, some for better and some not so much.
This is so excellently put! Thank you so much for sharing! My dad was born here in the 50s (and my grandparents in the 20s!) And he reports a very similar experience.
@@HarpethRealty That's amazing! I really enjoy hearing family history. My grandpa would take my mom and her 2 sisters down to Barton Springs to swim when they were little girls :) I'm 3rd generation Texan and my grandkids are 5th generation Texan.
@@Marchant2 Totally! I always say - Austin‘s transportation infrastructure is always at least 15 years behind where it should be. Why is it so much better in Dallas? I know it’s growing so much. So are they always working on the roads?
@@HarpethRealty I feel it's betters because the roads are designed for high capacity traffic. The roads inside Austin remind me more of the roads in Northeastern cities.
The big money incorporate influences have ruined Austin. It's not weird anymore or quirky. There aren't even hippies anymore. Just missing the old days.
I’ve lived in Mass., FL, MD before moving to Austin 3 months ago. The further I get from Austin the more I love TX. Food in Austin is highly overrated if you’re from the northeast. I thought traffic complaints were hilarious before I moved here but it’s true…it is horrible, mainly due to construction and curiously slow driving habits.
Hah! This is mostly a completely valid take. The only thing I disagree with you about is the food. Maybe you don’t know exactly where to look! Curious… What kind of food are you into?
@@HarpethRealty velvet Taco is great. Others that I’ve tried are mid. Will someone PLEASE move here and introduce Austin to pizza?!?! Don’t give me that home slice mumbo jumbo.
@@MegaGuapo97Oh man, I actually loveHomeslice! I used to work there back in the day - and it’s the real deal! Have you tried Eastside pies? Also, Bufalina is excellent IMHO.
It's like this , if you weren't around during the old Austin Days , that is before 2005. Then you really don't know Austin, Texas. I take old Austin, Texas, compared to what it has become as of 2024.
As someone who remembers Austin prior to 2005 I'll answer- 1.Lower cost of living (average joe could still afford a home back then) 2. A lot of the things that made Austin weird were still around, and were just at the beginning stages of being priced out (think quirky mom & pop shops, busking musicians, local artist etc ) 3. Traffic, although bad, was still no where near today's levels. 4. Prior to 2005 you could argue Austin was still relatively off the national radar and truly alternative. 5. The droughts were not as severe, simply for the fact fewer people lived in Austin then (water conservation was less of an issue I suppose). That's pretty much it.
Austin has a reputation for its music. If you're a performer, be advised that Austin is impossibly expensive to live in, and you'll have to live outside the city and travel into the city for your gigs. If you're classically trained, Austin has massive cliques. If you're not a member of one of those cliques, you will have VERY limited performance opportunities.
The biggest problem I see is a safety issue. In areas like Lakeway/Spicewood there are almost no street lights which means the roads are pitch black and people have to drive thru hills at night to get home and it is so dark the curbs can often not be seen ahead without bright lights. They should tell people not to move to Lakeway unless they have better than 20 20 vision and even that will not be much help.
Well I have lived in west Austin since 1994 and Austin was an amazing city to live up until about 20 years ago when they started demolishing Austin landmarks to build high rises.
Lucky enough for work to have lived in Texas for about 2 months. Did about 2 weeks in Houston, then Dallas, then San Antonio then Austin. By far my best time was in Houston. San Antonio and Austin gave me the feeling of nice and peaceful but really nothing there (like it was a stretch to find something to do). I even went to the yearly Formula 1 race there. Meh.
@@ReallyAtlanta Oh gosh, I wish we could have been in touch because I could have given you so many awesome things to do here! But I agree, Houston is so awesome and heavily underrated!
We're living in the gap between Mandated parking miminums and when public transit can make cars more optional. This gap looks like it may last another 20 years! But hey, Project Connect has gotta come through at some point
I hope now you understand California , specially in the Bay Area Tech companies and Elon Musk put prices in the sky ruin now the beautiful Austin Blame your politicians
Iv thought about moving there but would only work at a regular store or shop etc. I just would like to live in the location. Is parking actually that hard? no parking at all? I heard the cedar trees in san antonia cause alot of problems for allergis , i saw on a map there are somewhat spread out in texas but mostly down south. Is that what gets you? I never thought of allergies when i thought of texas but apparently its an issue
Oh man, yes, the allergies can be intense! And I would definitely say parking can be an issue here- especially if you're out during busy times...which is all the time here. 😂 Not trying to be a downer here- just realistic!
oh, i was thinking of maybe living ouside austin and driving in, but then no parking i suppose. So sad. Im a musician so even tho there are apartments available im looking to rent a house so i can practice and be loud. I dont mind a commute but it seems even then theres nothing. I do have a motorcycle license...
Wake up austin texas, if you vote for the mess we has live through for the past few years, don't complain!!!, remember support the country you live in or live in the country you support... don't let the door hit where th good Lord split YOU!!!😢😅😂
I've been in the Dallas area since the '70s. Austin was always cool to visit, bars music, the scene. But it's been years since that scene was real. "Real" yo9u say? Think Bourbon Street. Think Duval in Key West. Along with Austin they have all become cartoons of themselves. Way back when, when South by Southwest sued Denton for hosting the "North by 35" afterparty, that's when Austin died, became Austin, LLC. Keep Austin Weird was the death cry at the end of an era. It was already over before you could buy the tee shirt.
People that are leaving are actual born and raised in Austin we are moving cause the creeks and rivers are poisoned caused people polluting them, poeple evry year moving in and not respecting Austin, if your not from here in school we learn to protect our parks and ecosystems cause austin sits on top of an Edward’s aquifer. It’s poisoned from the festivals, cars and people coming in not respecting the city , in this video the man just but can’t admit he himself is the problem, he by moving shallow reasons, there’s trash everywhere, and it’s over crowded from UT students evry year, you poisoned my city. ( and people who have dogs pick up your dogs shit it’s gross)
Austin is exceptionally...mediocre. It's weather sucks; the new areas have all the charm of Florida sprawl; as a college town, it pales compared to Ann Arbor, Madison, Charlottesville, Flagstaff and even (horrors!) Berkeley, Claremont or SLO; no views, no large national parks nearby; you have to head to Colorado for any respite. So, yeah it's over-hyped.
😜🤪😝"I have been in Austin since 2017 and I can finally say, Austin, Texas does Suck"😝😜🤪I am originally from Dallas, Texas and Dallas has a cooler vibe than Austin. AND BY THE WAY "AUSTIN IS NO LONGER THE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, IT IS ALL OVERHYPE2024A.D. THE MUSIC IS DEAD HERE, I HERE NO NOISE AND IF YOU MAKE NOISE THEY TELL YOU TO SHUT IT OFF, AUSTIN DOES NOT LIKE MUSIC AS IT SEEMED. ROCK N'ROLL IS DEAD HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THERE ISN'T MUCH SHIT TO DO OUT HERE UNLESS YOU HAVE MONEY TO THROW AWAY AT THESE BUSINESSES THAT DON'T REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS. GO TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA OR FT.WORTH TEXAS, THERE IS MORE INTERESTING STUFF TO DO OVER THERE.2024A.D.🤪😝😜IT IS THE TRUTH, I DO NOT FIND AUSTIN TO BE COOL OR MAYBE IT IS JUST ME NOT BEING COOL, EITHER OR AUSTIN SUCKS!
@@HarpethRealtyI don’t think it is a bad thing that California has a conservative city like orang county and Texas got Austin . I studied in Texas and lives in California, it will be sad if two great states completely don’t know each other’s language at all. But luckily both state still got part of each other in their own heart . ❤
Really??? I've been coming to Austin for 40 years and I just don't remember that. I mean, occasionally I remember isolated experiences- but nothing at all like this. Do you live in Austin now?
@@HarpethRealty no, but my sister first moved to Austin in 1984. I've been there 100 times since. I never really cared for the place; just too liberal and hippie for me, even when I was a kid. Sure, I've had some great times there, but overall I just don't like Austin.
@@michaeldelgiudice1057 😂 More public homelessness? Local business getting pushed out? G-town getting more progressive? THat's so hard to believe! I need to know more!
@@HarpethRealty i didn't say it had the same problems as austin. how about indiscriminate growth, private equity slapping up ugly overpriced condo cities, no consideration for the evironment, habitat, beauty: small-town mentality, small-town mediocre taste. minimal amenties in the way of quality and quantity of places to shop and eat...if you're going to rape and pillage at least have some sense of taste. worshipping the gods of religion, high school football, military, bar-b-que. traffic with no plce to go because the infrastructure isn't here. i could go on, but i'm talking to a realtor, like the g-town mayor, who probably sees no problem with some of these things.
I'm a Californian & I have been to Austin but I would never move there or anywhere in Texas lol, I don't get the social media hype about Austin, as if the ones moving there cant afford to live anywhere else cooler and they try to romanticize it just to make up for their failed ego. I liked Austin but it's not that great either and no where near my favorite cities I've visited. I have been to 150+ cities around the world.
I live in Austin near ladybird and most of these issues are just big city issues besides the local spots that just couldn’t afford to stay anymore which sucks 😞
@@HarpethRealty not sure if you’ve heard of The Lost Well but that was a super popular hangout spot for all sorts of weirdos and eccentrics and developers forced them to close. It’s a huge loss for many cultural Austinites with roots there.
The Lone Star State is just not for me. I like living in a state that has a long coastline. Texas has a coastline,but it's too short and boring with no good beaches at all.
@@jp7357 haha Well, sorry about that! Always trying to improve over here. Well, at the end, I talk about how I don’t ultimately regret moving here. But these are serious concerns/regrets I do have. I love living here and raising my family here - But our leadership needs to do something to address these issues and they need to do it fast.
For a girl born and raised in Austin and was a homeless girl at 6 with my mom and sisters living in homeless shelter, this video is hurtful, if you move into the city there are going to be problems everywhere, THE PROBLEM IS YOU, how are you going to move into the city and not help fix its community by volunteering, austin used to be full of people with big hearts, every year UT students come and trash the city and become our new community, if you are not schooled in Austin they teach you to respect the parks and rivers to not poison the aquifer, sadly it’s poisoned and the ecosystem that used to thrive there isn’t there no more, we used to have people volunteer and gather people to make an change for the better of the community, now people here are just selfish and shallow , PS maybe teach you kids actual to help the community , as a homeless girl at the at 6-10 I would volunteer at the biconical gardens, go to the park clean up trash, I would even go back to the homeless shelter and give socks and cloths, I would volunteer for the Austin triathlon and help my mom work her patience, what are you doing for your community ask yourself that ?
I am so sorry you experienced that as a child! I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. Regardless, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
@ wow even your responses are heartless , again your the problem , “I’m sorry you experienced that !!!! “ I’m not it made my heart bigger. get your ass up and help your city instead of complaining about homeless people, Fr I literally saw a homeless 12 your old of research, and I might go see if he’s ok today cause no one should go without a mom or dad at that age. What are you doing for community ?
@@allengardner4672 haha I hear ya! Curious: did you watch the whole video? To be clear, I love our great city and I want to see our leadership step up and address these issues! I mean, I’d much rather be here than California! 😂
@@HarpethRealty yes, My problem is that like most cities these complaints are legitimate but they are universal social problems that all major cities encounter because that is the nature of the game. and that makes them easy targets, but seldom are the any solutions offered. Your problem isn't that different then when people were rushing to Califiornai in the 1950s or to Colorado in the 1970s. What did you expect, s that others would also migrant looking for the same thing as you? In essence, you have contributed to creating the very problem that you are criticizing now. You can't have it both ways.
@@allengardner4672 Mostly fair points. I’ve been coming to Austin all my life. (my family goes back generations here) and I moved here more than 18 years ago and I’ve seen it changed so much since then. I do think there is some low hanging fruit here that could be addressed to make things so much better. In your opinion, what do you think is an example of a model city in the US?
@@HarpethRealty " In your opinion, what do you think is an example of a model city in the US? I don't think utopia exist. A Model city? That depends on those who comprise the city. Things are only as good or as bad as the people that comprise them. A Model City, that may depend upon Taste, A Viable Ecominc structure etc. I think like most things, nothing lasts forever and things for obvious and unknown reasons, like all things, Cites will continue to evolve for better or worse. Plus, you yourself might have gone through changes, for better oe wrose, tastes change.
No one told you to move there...... that was your choice..... the homeless problem is everywhere, the drug problem is everywhere, California is worse.....
@@johnmaurer3097 haha that’s a very interesting strategy! 😂 so, what are a couple of cities off the top of your head that are amazing but not big on social media?
One thing I forgot to mention is the freakin' ALLERGIES!!! This season, I've had to blow my nose every 15 minutes for the past FOUR MONTHS!!! 😵💫🤯
😢😢
@@nuriqbal5163 😵🫠😵🫠🤧🤧🤧
You missed the scorchingly hot summers!
I was born & raised in the L.A. area and first visited Austin in the late 70's. I fell in love immediately. It took me another 20 years to move here.
Yes, it has changed a lot and I would concur with many of your points. I can understand why people would come here based only on the hype they've heard and then say "I don't get it - what's the big deal?"
Well, some of the magic has gone. You hit on a number of the things that have changed. I still consider this area as more home than anywhere I've lived. I would say to those who came here, didn't like it, and have moved on - farewell! Maybe you'll find that right place for you.
@@GregMeece haha Absolutely! This is my home and I wouldn't rather live anywhere else! (fyi- I'll be doing a "15 reasons I LOVE living in Austin" video soon!
As for the heat, you're spot on. The only reason I didn't include it here and that that's more of a general Texas thing- and not just Austin. But you're right! :)
This video was really well done. Good points. Good presentation. As someone who is politically centrist I loved listening to a self-described conservative who sounds eminently reasonable. The country needs intelligent conservatives (not extremists) to push back on progressive governments and challenge them to mitigate against left-wing extremism. There's plenty of extremism on the right and left.
Hey, thanks so much for stopping by- and for the kind words! And I'm totally with you!
I have lived in Austin for 50 years; a once nice city is now a garbage hell hole.
Everything they are dealing with native Californians have been dealing with for the last 40 years.
So true! Hey, I haven't envied the Californians, that's for sure!
Same with Hawai’i
Austin is a victim of its own success
Can't say I disagree!
@@HarpethRealty was there 84-87 in grad school, so easy to live there, now wouldn't try it again even as a retiree, allergies are bad in Houston too
@@michaelsix9684 oh man, I lived in the Houston area until 2006 and I don't remember any allergies!
So now you now what native Californians have had to deal with.
@@HarpethRealty they're here, ragweed etc.
I lived in Austin for almost 40 years. I started seeing the handwriting on what was happening in the 2000's. I sold all my real estate in 2020 and moved to San Antonio. I like it here. Very mellow city and there is a lot of good food here too. I've noticed the people here in SA seem nicer then in Austin. SA isn't weird but the people are more friendly.
San Antonio is awesome!
I've lived in Sa Antonio for 67 years, and would appreciate it, if you didn't give it such the hard sell... Thanx!
@@Kharkovkid hahaha The secret's out!
So, basically Austin has "big city" problems now (homelessness, overcrowding, political monoculture, etc.). I can't disagree. My main problem is how the city's infrastructure hasn't come close to keeping pace with the growth, and there's no coherent plan to address it.
Oh my goooosh you are speaking to my soul right now! 😂
I always say - Austin‘s transportation infrastructure is always about 15 years behind where it should be. 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻
It’s embarrassing…
@@HarpethRealty I live in the Tampa area and we have the same problems here with unregulated growth. I've learned that wherever you live people are going to crap all over it. I see it as a badge of honor. I love it here and if they hate it so much, by all means never come here. Super easy solutions.
@@johnmaurer3097 hahaha Wait, what are the solutions? I think I missed that!
After visiting San Francisco, back when it was nice and not a dumpster fire, I thought the BART system would work well in Austin to take you to all 4 points of the city, all 4 directions.
Sounds like too many people and not enough space to hold them all to me, getting way too crowded.
Yay Pflugerville shout out! We love Austin too though, haha. But I would say, the thought of moving back into ATX is something weird to consider. We can't afford it, so we don't have to worry about it!
Heck yeah it’s the Pfreakin BEST!!! 😂😂😂
Plus, Austin is about 1 mile from the Sun. How people put up with that heat is beyond me.
Hahaha You definitely have a point there. The only reason I didn’t include this is because that’s more of a whole Texas thing - and not just Austin!
@@HarpethRealty - the heat and humidity are a deal breaker for me. I live in the mountains of Ecuador- 50-75 degrees almost every day, and low humidity.
@@johngarbarini1048Holy moly that is amazing! Are you from here?
I don't know why people just focus on austins heat,it's basically same as tokyo but never heard of tokyo heat that much,maybe people are comparing austin with la's mediterranean climate which is why it may be focused
@ Totally agree! Also, I am from this area - so the heat doesn’t really bother me at all. I would so much rather the heat than the cold!
The other thing to me, that is awful about Austin is the oppressive heat. I've lived in Central Missouri my entire life, and I knew it was hotter down there, but had no idea the difference was so massive! Austin has an average of 106 days a year over 90 degrees. Here in Cental Missouri? 38 days.
@@brockreynolds870 Totally valid point. But that is more of a general Texas thing than specifically Austin. Agree?
Same as tokyo but never heard it that much abt tokyo heat maybe comparing to california
@ Yep!
This place is a HELL hole & I am leaving as soon as my lease is up! Thk God!
Where you headed???
@ Tennessee here I come! Cooler weather, beautiful scenery and solid Christian values!!!!!
AMEN
Yeah, I moved here in July and we are probably going to TN. Way overpriced for what you get as far as housing. Its California prices and politics.
@@ThunderStruck94660 OUCH!!!
It is a fact we are more adapted to the place where we were born, than anywhere else. I was born in Guatemala City, and trhough I know several cities in the US, in Europe, Mexico Israel and Peru, I would not like to live anywhere else but the City where I was born.
The thing that I hate about Austin is there are toll roads and speed traps everywhere.
I am seeing homeless people in some small cities where I had never seen them before. Also, I saw some younger homeless men who seemed to be able bodied but just didn’t want to work.
@@picklerix6162 Absolutely! Regarding the uptick of homeless people in small towns, what do you think is going on there?
@@HarpethRealty Gas is to expensive or car broke down to drive into city for free food handouts. Plus people is small towns are more likely to hand out cash for weed. Notice though the upswing in creation of small town food pantries. Must be more and more people starting to suffer this inflation!
@@johnhix484 Interesting theory! 😵💫
Thanks for your video. It's interesting to get an outside perspective. Let me first say I am an original Austinite, born and raised and have been here all my life; 50 years. Many people have moved from California or other progressive places and brought their liberal values so Austin has turned very blue over the last several years. I reviewed how people voted in the last election and in Travis County it was almost a 70/30 split leaning blue which really surprised me. The city government is very liberal which has made the homelessness and crime as bad as I've ever seen it in Austin. Many people find Austin attractive, as well as companies, and lots have moved here which has also had an effect on people moving here. Austin has been a popular destination to move to for a long time but it's accelerated over the last 10+ years or so. This has had some effect on housing, local restaurants and music. I grew up on the east side when it was the hood, back before it was hip, and then moved out to the suburbs in SW Austin about 25 years ago. I love Austin and will never move away because I love my city and I love Texas. But it has definitely changed alot, some for better and some not so much.
This is so excellently put! Thank you so much for sharing! My dad was born here in the 50s (and my grandparents in the 20s!) And he reports a very similar experience.
@@HarpethRealty That's amazing! I really enjoy hearing family history. My grandpa would take my mom and her 2 sisters down to Barton Springs to swim when they were little girls :) I'm 3rd generation Texan and my grandkids are 5th generation Texan.
@@jerryrivera4436 Right on!!!
The traffic is horrible there. I live in Dallas, and the traffic is no picnic here, but it's exponentially better than it is in Austin.
@@Marchant2 Totally! I always say - Austin‘s transportation infrastructure is always at least 15 years behind where it should be.
Why is it so much better in Dallas? I know it’s growing so much. So are they always working on the roads?
@@HarpethRealty I feel it's betters because the roads are designed for high capacity traffic. The roads inside Austin remind me more of the roads in Northeastern cities.
@@Marchant2 Ahhhh interesting. That actually makes a lot of sense.
The big money incorporate influences have ruined Austin. It's not weird anymore or quirky. There aren't even hippies anymore. Just missing the old days.
I definitely miss a lot of things about the old Austin as well! Do you still live in town?
Funny, coming from Philly I remember thinking there weren't that many homeless people in Austin. And I was last there in 2023
Austin sucks...overpriced, overcrowded...the traffic is crazy...hard to find a job. Yes, the homeless problem is overwhelming.
I’ve lived in Mass., FL, MD before moving to Austin 3 months ago. The further I get from Austin the more I love TX.
Food in Austin is highly overrated if you’re from the northeast. I thought traffic complaints were hilarious before I moved here but it’s true…it is horrible, mainly due to construction and curiously slow driving habits.
Hah! This is mostly a completely valid take. The only thing I disagree with you about is the food. Maybe you don’t know exactly where to look! Curious… What kind of food are you into?
@@HarpethRealty velvet Taco is great. Others that I’ve tried are mid. Will someone PLEASE move here and introduce Austin to pizza?!?! Don’t give me that home slice mumbo jumbo.
@@MegaGuapo97Oh man, I actually loveHomeslice! I used to work there back in the day - and it’s the real deal!
Have you tried Eastside pies?
Also, Bufalina is excellent IMHO.
Depends upon your acquired food tastes. Spent months in NY and did not find food that fit my Texas taste. Bland and extremely overpriced.
@@w.l7515Yes!!! When I’m away from Texas for more than just a few days, I lonnnnng for Texas food!
It's like this , if you weren't around during the old Austin Days , that is before 2005. Then you really don't know Austin, Texas. I take old Austin, Texas, compared to what it has become as of 2024.
@@johnpaulsanchez3339 Thank you for sharing! What do you think it was about 2005 that was so pivotal?
As someone who remembers Austin prior to 2005 I'll answer-
1.Lower cost of living (average joe could still afford a home back then)
2. A lot of the things that made Austin weird were still around, and were just at the beginning stages of being priced out (think quirky mom & pop shops, busking musicians, local artist etc )
3. Traffic, although bad, was still no where near today's levels.
4. Prior to 2005 you could argue Austin was still relatively off the national radar and truly alternative.
5. The droughts were not as severe, simply for the fact fewer people lived in Austin then (water conservation was less of an issue I suppose).
That's pretty much it.
I was born in Austin and grew up here. It’s not the same and it saddens me. It used to be such a beautiful, artistic place
Yes! I still love it here. But it’s DEFINITELY different 😢😢😢
The major roads are like parking lots.
@@IllegalAlien-ep2ty I knowwwwww 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻
It’s embarrassing 😩
Which part of town are you typically coming from?
Austin has a reputation for its music. If you're a performer, be advised that Austin is impossibly expensive to live in, and you'll have to live outside the city and travel into the city for your gigs.
If you're classically trained, Austin has massive cliques. If you're not a member of one of those cliques, you will have VERY limited performance opportunities.
Austin is awful. I regret the entire 2 years that I lived there.
Why do so many people claim they love Austin?
Austin ain't weird anymore.
The biggest problem I see is a safety issue. In areas like Lakeway/Spicewood there are almost no street lights which means the roads are pitch black and people have to drive thru hills at night to get home and it is so dark the curbs can often not be seen ahead without bright lights. They should tell people not to move to Lakeway unless they have better than 20 20 vision and even that will not be much help.
@@John-go9xe that is so interesting because I had a very similar thought driving back home from Lakeway recently. Thanks for sharing!
Well I have lived in west Austin since 1994 and Austin was an amazing city to live up until about 20 years ago when they started demolishing Austin landmarks to build high rises.
@@TimoBrown79 so sad!!! 😢
Out of control homelessness is out of control everywhere.
Lucky enough for work to have lived in Texas for about 2 months. Did about 2 weeks in Houston, then Dallas, then San Antonio then Austin. By far my best time was in Houston. San Antonio and Austin gave me the feeling of nice and peaceful but really nothing there (like it was a stretch to find something to do).
I even went to the yearly Formula 1 race there. Meh.
@@ReallyAtlanta Oh gosh, I wish we could have been in touch because I could have given you so many awesome things to do here! But I agree, Houston is so awesome and heavily underrated!
We're living in the gap between Mandated parking miminums and when public transit can make cars more optional.
This gap looks like it may last another 20 years! But hey, Project Connect has gotta come through at some point
😩😩😩😩
I hope now you understand California , specially in the Bay Area
Tech companies and Elon Musk put prices in the sky ruin now the beautiful Austin
Blame your politicians
Iv thought about moving there but would only work at a regular store or shop etc. I just would like to live in the location. Is parking actually that hard? no parking at all? I heard the cedar trees in san antonia cause alot of problems for allergis , i saw on a map there are somewhat spread out in texas but mostly down south. Is that what gets you? I never thought of allergies when i thought of texas but apparently its an issue
Oh man, yes, the allergies can be intense! And I would definitely say parking can be an issue here- especially if you're out during busy times...which is all the time here. 😂 Not trying to be a downer here- just realistic!
Parking is insane unless you live NW Austin ….Unless you have stock options in parking lots. Parking is insane…and costly
@@davethehammer8325 hahaha Stock options! 😂 But yeah, you're so right...
oh, i was thinking of maybe living ouside austin and driving in, but then no parking i suppose. So sad. Im a musician so even tho there are apartments available im looking to rent a house so i can practice and be loud. I dont mind a commute but it seems even then theres nothing. I do have a motorcycle license...
Wake up austin texas, if you vote for the mess we has live through for the past few years, don't complain!!!, remember support the country you live in or live in the country you support... don't let the door hit where th good Lord split YOU!!!😢😅😂
Thank you so much for stopping by and for sharing!
"I know I sound like an 85 year old man right now..." Nah, most of us started to figure this stuff out around 50. Welcome to the red pill.
Hah! Well, I turned 40 this year - so looks like I got an early invite to the club. Feels good to be home. 😂😂😂
Red pill???wth dude???
@@JRMunoz-vu5zb hahaha
Watch Georgetown get ruined next...
I've been in the Dallas area since the '70s. Austin was always cool to visit, bars music, the scene. But it's been years since that scene was real.
"Real" yo9u say? Think Bourbon Street. Think Duval in Key West. Along with Austin they have all become cartoons of themselves. Way back when, when South by Southwest sued Denton for hosting the "North by 35" afterparty, that's when Austin died, became Austin, LLC. Keep Austin Weird was the death cry at the end of an era. It was already over before you could buy the tee shirt.
@@Miata822 😩😩😩😩😩
People that are leaving are actual born and raised in Austin we are moving cause the creeks and rivers are poisoned caused people polluting them, poeple evry year moving in and not respecting Austin, if your not from here in school we learn to protect our parks and ecosystems cause austin sits on top of an Edward’s aquifer. It’s poisoned from the festivals, cars and people coming in not respecting the city , in this video the man just but can’t admit he himself is the problem, he by moving shallow reasons, there’s trash everywhere, and it’s over crowded from UT students evry year, you poisoned my city. ( and people who have dogs pick up your dogs shit it’s gross)
@@chrome.cowgirl Thank you so much for watching and sharing your thoughts! ☺️
Bragging they’re Portland, Oregons sister city I wouldn’t even drive through Portland.
EEK! 😱
because of ted wheeler
Austin is exceptionally...mediocre. It's weather sucks; the new areas have all the charm of Florida sprawl; as a college town, it pales compared to Ann Arbor, Madison, Charlottesville, Flagstaff and even (horrors!) Berkeley, Claremont or SLO; no views, no large national parks nearby; you have to head to Colorado for any respite. So, yeah it's over-hyped.
hahaha Thanks for stopping by and for sharing!!!
Enchanted Rock if that counts. It’s a 2 hour drive.
Move to Florida. It's Heaven.
Haha If it wasn’t for those dang hurricanes! 😂
@@HarpethRealty yes the beautiful hurricane, we thinking about leaving. But where to go it’s the big question.
@@MelanieTalley hmmmm....the possibilities are endless! Honestly, Texas is the bestest. haha
@@HarpethRealty High taxes and crazy HOA fees.
@@loisaustin6200 In Austin/Texas?
John Holmes
My boy, John!!!
Oh they tried to put more and more AND MORE Lipstick on the Pig..
Oh they tried...
😜🤪😝"I have been in Austin since 2017 and I can finally say, Austin, Texas does Suck"😝😜🤪I am originally from Dallas, Texas and Dallas has a cooler vibe than Austin. AND BY THE WAY "AUSTIN IS NO LONGER THE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, IT IS ALL OVERHYPE2024A.D. THE MUSIC IS DEAD HERE, I HERE NO NOISE AND IF YOU MAKE NOISE THEY TELL YOU TO SHUT IT OFF, AUSTIN DOES NOT LIKE MUSIC AS IT SEEMED. ROCK N'ROLL IS DEAD HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THERE ISN'T MUCH SHIT TO DO OUT HERE UNLESS YOU HAVE MONEY TO THROW AWAY AT THESE BUSINESSES THAT DON'T REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS. GO TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA OR FT.WORTH TEXAS, THERE IS MORE INTERESTING STUFF TO DO OVER THERE.2024A.D.🤪😝😜IT IS THE TRUTH, I DO NOT FIND AUSTIN TO BE COOL OR MAYBE IT IS JUST ME NOT BEING COOL, EITHER OR AUSTIN SUCKS!
not what it means "KAW"
Austin is a left wing town like San Jose Calif.
@@KongSunWu There are two interesting mottos we have in Austin:
“keep Austin weird“
And
“don’t California my Texas“
🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻
@@HarpethRealty Austin kind reminds me of Berkley
@@KongSunWu Interesting! I mean, I don't think it's THAT bad! haha
@@HarpethRealtyI don’t think it is a bad thing that California has a conservative city like orang county and Texas got Austin . I studied in Texas and lives in California, it will be sad if two great states completely don’t know each other’s language at all. But luckily both state still got part of each other in their own heart . ❤
@@climbing-668 Beautifully said! 👍
Austin has ALWAYS had a big homeless problem. Always had drug problems. You WILL be approached by beggars.
Really??? I've been coming to Austin for 40 years and I just don't remember that. I mean, occasionally I remember isolated experiences- but nothing at all like this.
Do you live in Austin now?
@@HarpethRealty no, but my sister first moved to Austin in 1984. I've been there 100 times since. I never really cared for the place; just too liberal and hippie for me, even when I was a kid. Sure, I've had some great times there, but overall I just don't like Austin.
@@Madmun357 I totally hear ya. But fyi- a LOT of people looooooove the suburbs/outskirts here!!!
One word: CALIFORNIANS
🫠🫠🫠🫠
Oh moan, moan, moan.
try moving to georgetown, tx. it's worse.
HAH! In what sense?
@@HarpethRealty i can tell you but will trigger my ptsd.
@@michaeldelgiudice1057 😂 More public homelessness? Local business getting pushed out? G-town getting more progressive? THat's so hard to believe! I need to know more!
@@HarpethRealty i didn't say it had the same problems as austin. how about indiscriminate growth, private equity slapping up ugly overpriced condo cities, no consideration for the evironment, habitat, beauty: small-town mentality, small-town mediocre taste. minimal amenties in the way of quality and quantity of places to shop and eat...if you're going to rape and pillage at least have some sense of taste. worshipping the gods of religion, high school football, military, bar-b-que. traffic with no plce to go because the infrastructure isn't here. i could go on, but i'm talking to a realtor, like the g-town mayor, who probably sees no problem with some of these things.
I'm a Californian & I have been to Austin but I would never move there or anywhere in Texas lol, I don't get the social media hype about Austin, as if the ones moving there cant afford to live anywhere else cooler and they try to romanticize it just to make up for their failed ego. I liked Austin but it's not that great either and no where near my favorite cities I've visited. I have been to 150+ cities around the world.
My little secret is: I actually really love living here and it’s freaking awesome! 😂 But I definitely wanted to share some of the downsides ☺️
I live in Austin near ladybird and most of these issues are just big city issues besides the local spots that just couldn’t afford to stay anymore which sucks 😞
Hey, no argument from here. And yes, we need to protect our local spots- or they'll be gone for good!
@@HarpethRealty not sure if you’ve heard of The Lost Well but that was a super popular hangout spot for all sorts of weirdos and eccentrics and developers forced them to close. It’s a huge loss for many cultural Austinites with roots there.
Its boring
The Lone Star State is just not for me. I like living in a state that has a long coastline. Texas has a coastline,but it's too short and boring with no good beaches at all.
hahaha Hey, I grew up going to Crystal Beach a ton- and it's got a certain charm to me. The Redneck Riviera!!!
It smells too.
@@jaengen hahaha Like delicious tacos!
😢😢😢😢😢 I'm so sad for You !! ..😚🥰🤩😭🥳
Hahaha Your pity means everything to me! 😂😂😂
💥🤛🏼
Ive been in Austin since 1985 and love it here. I guess nothing is stopping you leaving ?
@@jp7357 you are so right! Curious: did you watch the full video?
@@HarpethRealty no got bored.
@@jp7357 haha Well, sorry about that! Always trying to improve over here. Well, at the end, I talk about how I don’t ultimately regret moving here. But these are serious concerns/regrets I do have.
I love living here and raising my family here - But our leadership needs to do something to address these issues and they need to do it fast.
Austin is extremely gay
Elaborate?
@@HarpethRealtyOh I just meant Austin is a city with a really high pride presence, especially compared to some other big Texas cities!
For a girl born and raised in Austin and was a homeless girl at 6 with my mom and sisters living in homeless shelter, this video is hurtful, if you move into the city there are going to be problems everywhere, THE PROBLEM IS YOU, how are you going to move into the city and not help fix its community by volunteering, austin used to be full of people with big hearts, every year UT students come and trash the city and become our new community, if you are not schooled in Austin they teach you to respect the parks and rivers to not poison the aquifer, sadly it’s poisoned and the ecosystem that used to thrive there isn’t there no more, we used to have people volunteer and gather people to make an change for the better of the community, now people here are just selfish and shallow , PS maybe teach you kids actual to help the community , as a homeless girl at the at 6-10 I would volunteer at the biconical gardens, go to the park clean up trash, I would even go back to the homeless shelter and give socks and cloths, I would volunteer for the Austin triathlon and help my mom work her patience, what are you doing for your community ask yourself that ?
I am so sorry you experienced that as a child! I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. Regardless, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
@ wow even your responses are heartless , again your the problem , “I’m sorry you experienced that !!!! “ I’m not it made my heart bigger. get your ass up and help your city instead of complaining about homeless people, Fr I literally saw a homeless 12 your old of research, and I might go see if he’s ok today cause no one should go without a mom or dad at that age. What are you doing for community ?
Ha ha ha bye Felicia’s
Hahaha thanks for watching!
Stop complaining and make a sad song better
@@allengardner4672 haha I hear ya! Curious: did you watch the whole video?
To be clear, I love our great city and I want to see our leadership step up and address these issues! I mean, I’d much rather be here than California! 😂
@@HarpethRealty yes, My problem is that like most cities these complaints are legitimate but they are universal social problems that all major cities encounter because that is the nature of the game. and that makes them easy targets, but seldom are the any solutions offered. Your problem isn't that different then when people were rushing to Califiornai in the 1950s or to Colorado in the 1970s. What did you expect, s that others would also migrant looking for the same thing as you? In essence, you have contributed to creating the very problem that you are criticizing now. You can't have it both ways.
@@allengardner4672 Mostly fair points. I’ve been coming to Austin all my life. (my family goes back generations here) and I moved here more than 18 years ago and I’ve seen it changed so much since then. I do think there is some low hanging fruit here that could be addressed to make things so much better.
In your opinion, what do you think is an example of a model city in the US?
@@HarpethRealty "
In your opinion, what do you think is an example of a model city in the US? I don't think utopia exist. A Model city? That depends on those who comprise the city. Things are only as good or as bad as the people that comprise them. A Model City, that may depend upon Taste, A Viable Ecominc structure etc. I think like most things, nothing lasts forever and things for obvious and unknown reasons, like all things, Cites will continue to evolve for better or worse. Plus, you yourself might have gone through changes, for better oe wrose, tastes change.
@@allengardner4672 Very well said! Seriously, thanks for commenting ☺️
No one told you to move there...... that was your choice..... the homeless problem is everywhere, the drug problem is everywhere, California is worse.....
@@juliemorgan4937 You are so right! I would much rather be here than California. Curious: did you watch the whole video?
It's not everywhere - it's unique to cities and "popular places on social media". If you can knock those off your list the problems mostly disappear.
@@johnmaurer3097 haha that’s a very interesting strategy! 😂 so, what are a couple of cities off the top of your head that are amazing but not big on social media?
@@HarpethRealtywhat abt outdoor and heat
@@Ryosuke-12 yes, it’s hot here. But that is more of a general Texas thing and not just Austin.
Bragging they’re Portland, Oregons sister city I wouldn’t even drive through Portland.
Say whaaaaa?????