Real Estate City Profiles - Round Rock, Texas

Real Estate City Profiles - Round Rock, Texas

by Brandon Cornett

I've been writing and publishing these real estate city profiles for some time now, but this profile of Round Rock, Texas is a special treat for me. That's because (A) I live in Round Rock and (B) the city is growing in size and popularity.

But don't take my word for Round Rock being a great place to work and live. Here's what some others have said on this subject:

* In 2006, CNN Money published its yearly list of "Best Places to Live" in the United States -- a list of 100 cities that stand out in terms of quality of life, housing costs, education, climate and other factors. The city of Round Rock appeared at #48 on that list.

* In that same year, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine included Round Rock in its top 25 cities that were a smart investment for home buyers.

* A 2007 survey by CQ Press found Round Rock to be the 13th safest city in all of the U.S. based on per capita crime rates.

* In 2008, Entrepreneur.com published a piece that ranked some of the "Best and Worse Places to Buy a House" in the United States. Here too, Round Rock showed up on the list. This time it was listed right up top.

So what does all this favorable coverage mean? It means that (A) people across the country are recognizing Round Rock as a great place to buy real estate, (B) the city will continue growing as a result of such coverage, and (C) Round Rock real estate will probably remain a solid investment for years to come.

So anyone planning to buy real estate in the Round Rock area has plenty of supporting information to base that decision on.

Round Rock Real Estate - My Own Top 10

Everyone has his or her own preferences when it comes to places to live, work and play. So while this Central Texas city clearly appeals to many, it certainly won't appeal to all. With that being said, here are some of the things I like about Round Rock.

1. The location. The city is located just a few miles north of Austin, the capital of Texas and the unofficial Live Music Capital of the World. Round Rock also marks the start of what's known as Texas Hill Country, which offers rolling hills and beautiful scenery.

2. The real estate prices. Every once in a while Austin will appear on one of those real estate values TV shows, such as "What You Get for the Money." It's usually to show how far the real estate dollar goes in Austin, when compared to high-price cities like San Diego. Round Rock (Austin's northern neighbor) is even more affordable than Austin, so you really can get a lot for the money here when compared to other cities.

3. The activities. There's plenty to do in Round Rock, Texas. You'll find hike and bike trails all over Williamson County, plus an abundance of parks and recreation facilities. Williamson County Regional Park is a massive facility with eleven soccer fields, two softball fields, a football field circled by a 400-meter track, eight tennis courts, six basketball courts and more. And the world-famous Austin nightlife is only a few miles south.

4. The schools. The public schools here are managed by the Round Rock Independent School District, or RRISD. This district has a solid reputation with performance numbers higher than the national average.

5. The bats. The Austin bats under the Congress Avenue Bridge are world famous. But Round Rock also has a large colony of Mexican free-tail bats living under certain bridges. At dusk, it's quite the spectacle to see these bats emerge by the thousands. Thanks to these bats, there aren't many mosquitoes in Round Rock!

6. The climate. Like most of Central Texas, Round Rock has mild winters with snow being a rarity. Spring is a joyous time in Round Rock, with a vast array of Texas wildflowers (such as the bluebonnet) sprouting up along the roads and in fields. The summers are hot but not unbearable, with only mild humidity as compared to coastal Texas.

7. The shopping. When a city has good shopping opportunities, it typically has a positive effect on real estate values. Such is the case with Round Rock real estate values, thanks to the addition of an IKEA store and the Round Rock Premium Outlets (among other things).

8. The highway improvements. Texas spent a lot of money on highway improvements over the last few years, and much of this took place in the greater Austin area, including the city of Round Rock. As a result, the traffic situation in Round Rock (which used to be a nightmare) has improved considerably -- and it continues to do so.

9. The people. There's a unique mix of people living in Round Rock, Texas. We have an interesting mix of yuppies, students from University of Texas, politicians who work at the nearby state capital, the computer-minded folks from Dell, the cowboys and ranchers who've lived here for decades ... you name it. In that regard, Round Rock is a cosmopolitan type of city.

10. The water. Living in Round Rock, you'll have easy access to many bodies of water that offer boating, fishing, tubing, kayaking and more. There are lakes all throughout the area, as well as rivers, creeks and streams.

I hope you've found this city profile of Round Rock, Texas both interesting and helpful. It's truly one of America's great cities.