When you’re buying a home as a self-employed professional, finding the right neighborhood is key. Not only do you need one that fits with your budget and household needs, but you also need a place that offers the professional amenities your unique career requires.
That means co-working spaces, coffee shops, cafes, libraries and maybe even colleges and training facilities where you can hone your skills or learn new ones.
Sound like too much work and research to handle? Fortunately, if you’re a self-employed pro looking to buy a home in Austin, we’ve done it all for you. Here are the city’s absolute best spot for self-employed pros:
Downtown
Want all the career resources you could possibly need at your fingertips? Downtown is your best bet. A condo in this community gives you access to educational opportunities via various culinary, music and language schools, as well as the University of Texas, a number of libraries and Austin Community College. In addition to the countless coworking spots in the neighborhood (Reset, Industrious Austin, SWAP, Capital Factory & Galvanize), there are also countless parks, cafes and coffee shops. You’ll never have to work at the same place twice.
Round Rock
If you’ve got a family (or are planning to start one) Round Rock is one of Austin’s top spots for kiddos. Not only does it offer top-notch schools, lots of culture and even a minor-league baseball team, but the city also boasts coworking spaces via Regus and WeWork, too. Best of all, homes are extremely affordable, According to Zillow, the average house is just $279K — well below the national average.
South Congress
If you’re looking for a young, up-and-coming place to put down roots, South Congress is it. Full of fun and funky shops, restaurants, music venues and more, it offers a little bit of everything. It also boasts the Orange Coworking space, a handful of cafes and coffee shops (Jo’s Coffee, Magnolia Cafe and even Starbucks) and quite a few late-night spots if you’re the night-owl type of worker.
East Austin
In East Austin, you’ll find condos and single-family properties available, both coming in around the national average ($300K) or below. Most real estate in East Austin is older, boasting historic charm and vintage vibes. East Austin is also home to coworking spots Perch, Atmosphere and East Side Collective, and tons of coffee shops like Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors, Cuvee Coffee Bar, Fleet Coffee Co. and more.
Clarksville
This quaint and quiet Austin neighborhood is full of history, character and diversity. It’s also one of the city’s most historic areas, so the options for real estate run the gamut. A highly walkable (or bikable) neighborhood, Clarksville offers plenty of shops, restaurants and parks. For female entrepreneurs, The Riveter coworking space is a popular spot in the area. Clarksville is also just a hop away from the countless downtown coworking facilities like Reset and SWAP.
Bouldin
The Bouldin neighborhood is another hotspot for entrepreneurs and the self-employed. Fibercove, Vuka Collective, Impact Hub and WeWork are all in the area, as well as lots of cafes and coffee shops, like Bouldin Creek Cafe, Merit Coffee, Seventh Flag Coffee, Caffe Medici and more. Homes in the area come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. From quaint and historic cottages to massive, just-built mansions, there’s something for everyone in Bouldin.
Need a Self-employed Mortgage?
If you’re self-employed and buying a house in one of these Austin neighborhoods (or anywhere in Texas, like Dallas, Houston or Fort Worth) you might want to learn about mortgage options for you by reading our Guide to Self Employed Mortgages. We specialize in self-employed mortgage loans, and we’re here to help every step of the way.
