Home : Blogs : Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) : Austin Texas Real Estate Blog (and other stuff)

Texas Looks Like That? A Native Texan's Perspective

Having been born and raised in Dallas, and having lived in the Austin area since 1988, I grew up not really thinking about what a great state this is and how nice it really is to live here. After I got my real estate license and started working with out-of-state buyers, I realized that many of them are surprised when they come for a visit, because they expect our area to look like this ------------------------------------------------------->

I guess this image is perpetuated in some older movies, and people have a deeply ingrained thought that Texas has rolling tumbleweeds and open plain land primarily. To be sure, there are parts of Texas that DO have tumbleweeds and plains, but I have not been to those parts myself.

Texas actually has FIVE of the Top 20 largest cities in the country by population, according to 2006 statistics that I found today (Austin is #16 now and moving up).

I wanted to share a few photos that I have taken in and around Austin in order to give a flavor of what central Texas has to offer with regards to scenery:

lake austin view - real estate

I took this photo from a lot for sale on Courtyard Drive in west Austin, just a few minutes from my office. This is a view of Lake Austin (Lower Colorado River).

This same body of water runs directly through downtown Austin.

This is the 360 Bridge, which is actually named the Pennybacker Bridge. This is about 6 minutes from my office. It is considered a major Austin landmark, and is is often used in marketing materials. The body of water is also Lake Austin (as above).

river place real estate

This was taken in the River Place subdivision showing part of the golf course as it runs through the hills. The view is awesome, and you can see for miles. This was a beautiful and clear day, breezy and perfect, with a temperature in the 80's.

This picture was taken from the patio of an acreage property that we sold last year (near Lake Travis). As you can see, central Texas is flat and arid with no greenery or trees.

This is a view of Lake Travis from Highway 620. This is a very large lake to the west of downtown by about 30-35 minutes. It is a great lake for water skiing, sailing, swimming, and more!

If you are considering a move to the Austin area, please feel free to call or email me anytime. I look forward to hearing from you soon! I can be reached at 512-796-7653 (cell) or by email at jason@austintexashomes.com.

Jason Crouch - Broker/Owner, Austin Texas Homes, LLC

If you enjoyed this post, why not connect with me in these other communities?

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. Thanks!

Posted by Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) on 10/04/2007 03:10 PM

Comments (40)

Texas Scenery in the Regional (Localism) Channel

austin real estate, lake travis real estate, lake austin real estate, austin texas real estate, river place real estate, relocation package

This post has been included in Texas Information Travis County, TX Information Austin, TX Information
Post is included in group: Local Expert
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism

40 Comments on Texas Looks Like That? A Native Texan's Perspective

OCT

2007

Jason:

Excellent pictorial presentation - and yes - you are right. The first picture is generally what people think when they hear about your state.

JOAN - Thanks for your comments. I just thought it might be nice to show what we really have around here. I am not surprised that you agree with my ideas about the first picture. I am not sure where that one was actually taken - I found it on Printshop Deluxe.

Ohhhhh you're making me miss Texas! There are some beautiful parts! I love the Austin stone. We had that on our house in Granbury...sigh! Great post JASON!!!

SHANNON - Glad you liked it. I also like the Austin stone. It's funny - in other parts of Texas, they call it "Austin stone", but here we just call it "stone". You could always live vicariously through some friends or acquaintances by sending me referrals! Why not?

Great pictures, Texas is a great state, its so big how can it not have all this great stuff. Thanks for sharing...and.....GO COWBOYS :)

STEPHEN - Thanks for your comments. And GO COWBOYS indeed! This article came out a couple of days ago:

Dallas most popular NFL team, Jags least

Tuesday, Oct 2, 2007 11:23 am EDT

The Dallas Cowboys may be a few years from their last Super Bowl, but they are the favorite football team among adults who follow professional football, rising one spot since last year. Since this survey began in 1998, the Cowboys have always been in one of the top four positions, usually in the top two.

The Indianapolis Colts have continued their steady rise in the rankings and move up one spot, from No. 3 last year to No 2 this year. In 1999, the Colts were tied for No. 27 and have moved up each year since. Rounding out the top five are the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 3, dropping from No. 1 last year), the Green Bay Packers (remaining at No. 4) and the Chicago Bears (No. 5, moving up one spot). Jacksonville was the least popular NFL franchise for the third straight year.

What a terrific marketing piece about the great state of Texas, Jason! I have nothing but fond memories of my time in DFW. Well, I do have one or two non-fond memories, but they were of my own doing. Like missing my freeway exit that would have had me westbound through north Texas on my way back to Arizona. I didn't notice until I hit Oklahoma.

Crouch - Never been to Texas but I hope to change that someday:-)

How beautiful! It makes me want to move to Austin because Dallas definitely doesn't look like that!

Jason, Great pictures and I love to show off our great state as well. It has so much to offer.

PAUL - I thought this was something a little different - glad you think it was good. Wow - that sounds like a major amount of time lost on the highway. Thanks for supporting my Localism post, buddy!

SARDI - I am sure you would like it. Let me know if you ever make it down here.

LINDA - Come on down! As I mentioned, I was born and raised in Dallas, so I know it is really scenic here.

RICKI - Thanks for stopping by to comment. Keep up the good work!

Beautiful pictures that tell the story and give your presentation a colorful eye catching article. Wonderful!

SALLY - I appreciate your compliment, especially since you write some of the best local posts that I have seen! Thanks!

Most visitors probably are keeping an eye out for tumbleweeds.... since they have never seen a 'real' one.

LOL

TOM - You're probably right. I think I may have seen a tumbleweed, but I don't think I was in Texas when it happened.

OCT

2007

KATERINA - I am glad you liked it. Yes, Austin is VERY different from Houston. I have actually never had anyone willingly move away from Austin to Houston. My wife is from San Antonio, and it is a pretty nice town. Dallas is my hometown, but I love Austin and I don't want to ever return there.

Jason: I was born in Dallas, grew up in Grand Prairie, moved back to Dallas for a few years and then moved to Houston and I call Houston home. I, of course, say most Texans would live in the Hill Country if we could because it is truly God's Country! I moved from Texas in 1995 when I re-married but I am of Texas and will always be. My ashes will be scattered in Texas. Most of my family is still there.

I always said what is good for Texas is good for the country. I have been scoffed at a few times but I believe Texas is such a diverse state it is the best of us.

I love Texas and I am so proud to be a Texan! We have many "famous" and "infamous" Texans. I heard once and not sure if it is still true that if we were a country we would be the fifth largest oil producing country.

Texas has so much history. I am only a 4th generation Texan. I am so proud of my heritage. My husband is from NY and is technically 2nd generation American. He is of Italian decent. His father wanted to be American so badly, he never spoke Italian in the home. He calls himself Italian and I tell him, "no you are an American, which he agrees, of Italian decent. I have been an American for so many years I have no association with European heritage. I am an American and a Texan and of that I am very proud.

Your photos are beautiful. I love Austin and have been there many times to watch UT whip their opponents. Go Horns!

BONNIE- Thanks for your story. I have always lived in Texas, and I never really wanted to live anywhere else. You should consider writing your own post about your heritage sometime soon. I appreciate your compliments!

Beautiful pictures, Jason. Did you add over in localism ?

JASON: Where are the cowboys, and saloons with horses tied up to the post outside? Why are there cars, and what's with all of the ceeement? The images that I held of Texas in my mind's eye for all these years has been ruined. And you, Jason Crouch, are to blame. I'm going to go think about Montana now to wash away the images that you've forced upon us. (LOL)

MISSY - Yes, this is primarily for Localism. Thanks for checking it out.

ADAM - That is the best comment I have seen all day. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the laugh -

Jason, a great group of photo's of your local area! The lake looks great, and I'm sure year round fun is to to be had!

Jason....my buddy....my pal....help me with something. I have been a little all over the road this week because of all the balls I have in the air...and some that I don't...but right before my husband picked me up I was reading your music post and when I just got home I finished it...went to log into AR to post a comment cuz it was AWESOME and now I can't find it. Have you been such a blogging maniac that it is that deep in your pages or have I truly lost my mind???

SHANNON - It was somehow deleted and the points removed. I was trying something in draft mode for a new post, then I deleted my draft. I then noticed that the music post was gone, and I was upset. Thank God that I saved it in Word last night (I didn't think I had), so it is back up now. There may be very minor differences at the end of the post. PLEASE come back and comment on it. I lost about 35 comments when it went away. I am SO glad that I had access to it.

DIANE - I am glad you liked this one. Thanks for your comments and compliment. Yes, year round fun can be had in Austin!

OCT

2007

Jason: Thanks for the great pictures of Austin. I have been to Austin perhaps five times. I have yet to make sense of the layout of the streets. MOPAC might just as well be spelled backwards, as far as it making sense to me. I have been to a Brian Buffini seminar at the Hyatt in North Austin, and been shopping at a few of the malls, and even strolled down... what is it... 12th Street... shopping at a store called Bookwoman. I went to a musical show about the "fifties girl groups" at a venue near the downtown Embassy Suites perhaps ten years ago. But... I have not seen such pretty sights as you have shared in this post. Perhaps some reeeeeeally slow day, you could give me a personal tour ? Someday I will tell you an incredible story about my ordering room service, and a bottle of Chenin Blanc, while I stayed at the Embassy Suites downtown. It is totally hilarious. You will honestly be rolling on the floor.

KAREN ANNE - You have seen quite a bit of the area, but I would love to show you around a bit if you come to town. My office is near most of the locations in these photos. Bookwoman is at 6th and Lamar downtown. I would be interested in hearing your funny story. Maybe you could even blog about it. If you do, make sure you give me some credit in the post (HA!).

One blog post... coming up. Let's see if I can hook the electrodes up to my brain, and bring that memory back clearly enough to write about it.

KAREN ANNE - I am looking forward to it. I got exhausted last night so I had to hit the hay.

Hi Jason: The post I mentioned... is now up. It's title is "Room Service... Could You Send Up a Bottle of Chenin Blanc, Please... . I must admit, after re-living the memory... it is kinda funny. It was nice to connect with you again tonight. Take care... Karen Anne

KAREN ANNE - Ditto. I will go read your post very soon (we are expecting guests any minute so I'll try to get to it before they arrive).

OCT

2007

Jason-Those pictures are impressive. Truthfully the tumbleweed picture and the thought of big spiders and snakes is what I've always envisioned Texas to be like. This is completely different than I expected. Lake Austin is absolutely beautiful.

JULIE - Thanks for taking time to check out this Localism post. That's funny to me - I have never seen a tumbleweed in person that I can remember. Occasionally, I have seen spiders and VERY rarely I have seen small grass snakes. West Texas is different, though. I think they may have more of those items out there. I may try to call you tomorrow.

OCT

2007

Hi Jason: Before I moved to Texas (DFW)... all I had to go on was the TV Show Dallas. I expected wide open spaces, no trees whatsoever, parched land, cattle and oil derricks everywhere, and very, very hot temperatures. Texas has such a "mystique" to it... that once you get here... you almost cannot believe it.

KAREN ANNE - As a native, life-long Texan, I can say that this is all I have ever known. However, I am not surprised that "Dallas" was where you picked up your expectations. It really is a great place to live, though, huh? Speaking of "Dallas", how about the Cowboys? 6-1 record with a bye week to rest. Looks good to me! I knew you would appreciate the Cowboys reference. :)

Hi Jason, Actually, I used the "Cowboys" again in a post I just wrote on helping children during a relocation when they are having problems resulting from changing schools. Again, great post... thanks for sharing.

NOV

Jason,

The last shot is Marshall Ford Marina. If you were a little closer you could see my sailboat in slip #2. We have been keeping our boat there for about 18 years. Its a great marina.

Betina

BETINA - Thanks for the info. I didn't even think about which marina it was when I stopped to take that picture! I hope you're doing well!

I was reading some of the newer posts and it struck me that people do have this impression if they have never been to Texas. I met a very nice lady in San Francisco many years ago and she was afraid to ever come there because we shot the President.

I met a man while I worked at Braniff (that tells how long ago that was) and he expected to find us riding horses!

I love Texas and I will always be a part of it even though I don't live there. I envy everyone still living there but for those of us who are displaced Texans - Texas will always be in our hearts.

AUG

Hello everyone. Do something every day that you don't want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain. I am from Zambia and also now'm speaking English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "When, what, and how to begin teaching your preschooler." With love 8), Kimball.

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?