Relocating to Austin, Texas and facing some tight deadlines? While we can't do much to help you unload your Mississauga real estate, we can assist you with your research into the Austin real estate market. Visiting the city and having meetings with local real estate agents are the best ways to familiarize yourself with a new market, but we realize you don't have the time. Luckily, even people who don't have a lot of time can be prepared. Let us show you with our quick overview of the Austin, Texas real estate market.

The first thing you need to know about Austin is that like houses for sale in Danforth Village, Toronto, it comes highly recommended. It has been the #2 big city on Money magazine's list of Best Places to Live, the #3 Greenest City according to MSN, and Travel and Leisure #2 rated it the "best people" city, the Travel Channel's #1 college town, the fifth safest city in America, and the 2009 Least Stressful City according to Forbes magazine. These awards span the spectrum of lifestyles and qualities, making Austin one of the most well rounded cities you can buy into.

With so much to recommend itself by, you would expect housing prices in Austin to be through the roof, when in fact they're quite reasonable for a city of its size. The average listing price is around $450,000 and the median sale price is around $135,000. These values have actually managed to increase nearly 4% on last year's figures despite the nationwide recession that has dropped the values of Arlington, TX homes and condos in California. The price per square foot works out to be around $112.

Which neighborhood you choose depends upon your lifestyle and budget. Urbanites will like Austin's downtown, which has its fair share of high rises. You can also find a great place if you like your space, as the city has a wealth of suburbs along the lines of the newer Acton Homes developments. The most popular neighborhoods among buyers include Yarrabee Bend and The Canyon, which list at $110,000 and 1.5 million respectively.

The great thing about Austin is that you can find homes in any style or size. There are modern condos and converted lofts near the fancy cafes, inner city town houses favored by wealthy professionals, and suburban detached homes for those who were looking at Ajax homes for sale before they decided to move to Austin.