Relocating To Georgetown, Round Rock Or Liberty Hill, Texas? What To Know Before You Choose

Buyers moving to Williamson County usually face the same early decision: Georgetown, Round Rock or Liberty Hill? Realtor Tanya Kerr of T Kerr Property Group in Georgetown, Texas, says Houston is currently the largest source of in-state relocation buyers to the area, while California leads among out-of-state buyers.

Their reasons differ. Houston buyers are mostly relocating for work. California buyers are moving for a mix of job transfers, a lower cost of living, and differences in state taxes and laws. Wherever they come from, Kerr says the right choice depends less on the map and more on what each household needs day to day.

Start With What Matters Most To You

Before recommending an area, Kerr asks buyers what matters most to them. That could be the home itself, the size of the lot, schools, shopping, neighborhood amenities or the drive to work. Traffic congestion is a real factor here, so she also looks at the route a buyer will take each morning.

“The best way to help someone choose is to learn what matters most to them,” Kerr says. “Is it the home, the lot, the schools, the amenities or the drive to work? Once we understand their priorities, we can point them to the areas that fit.”

One recent client told Kerr she wanted the best neighborhood amenities she could find, including splash pads, pools and a gym. She worked from home, and prices were similar in every area she was considering, so the commute and budget didn’t narrow things down.

Kerr suggested Wolf Ranch in Georgetown. After one visit, the buyer knew it was the right neighborhood: a community where she could get to know her neighbors and her child could build lasting friendships through school.

How Georgetown, Round Rock And Liberty Hill Compare

Kerr says buyers can usually find a comparable home in all three areas, but each one has its own strengths.

• Round Rock offers a shorter commute to North Austin, established master-planned communities, easier road access and a well-established school system. Homes there recently sold the fastest of the three, at a median of 38 days on market.
• Georgetown is known for homesites of one acre or more and more varied topography, though it also has master-planned communities such as Wolf Ranch. Its median days on market was recently 51.
• Liberty Hill also appeals to buyers who want land and topography. Its median sales price is currently higher than Round Rock’s and Georgetown’s because so much of what is selling there is new construction, and its median days on market was recently 89.

“Buyers who want a quicker commute to Austin usually focus on Round Rock,” Kerr says. “Buyers who want more topography or an acre or more tend to look at Georgetown or Liberty Hill.”

Run The Real Monthly Cost Before You Pick A Neighborhood

Property taxes catch more relocating buyers off guard than anything else, Kerr says. Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes carry more weight, and rates vary widely. A neighborhood with a 1.5% rate can sit right next to one at 3% or higher, often because of special taxing districts such as a MUD (municipal utility district) or PID (public improvement district).

“Property taxes can make a significant difference in a buyer’s monthly payment,” Kerr says. “Depending on the neighborhood, that can mean hundreds of dollars to $1,000 more each month.”

Homeowners insurance is the other number to watch. Premiums in the area have risen substantially over the past five years, largely because of hail. Kerr recently met a homeowner at a closing whose insurance had roughly tripled since they bought six years earlier.

Her advice is to do the math early. Talk with a lender before making an offer to understand the monthly payment and the cash needed to close. Then get insurance quotes before or during the option period, the window in a Texas contract when a buyer can still walk away, to confirm the home is insurable and what coverage will cost.

Buying From Out Of State Or On Military Orders

Kerr’s team regularly helps relocating buyers purchase homes they haven’t seen in person, including a buyer who was stationed in Korea. The team records detailed video walkthroughs and talks through what a listing photo can’t show, such as road noise or pet odors. Buyers can rewatch the videos as often as they need, and the team also walks them through the surrounding neighborhood and amenities.

“Our role is to be their boots on the ground,” Kerr says, “so that if they need to buy sight unseen, they can feel confident in the purchase.”

For new construction, the team can also attend walkthroughs and construction appointments on the buyer’s behalf. For military families using a VA loan, Kerr says closings that once took about 45 days are now often wrapping up in about 30 because the market is less busy. She still builds in a little extra time for the VA appraisal, which checks both the home’s value and issues such as wood rot or termites.

Should relocating buyers rent first? Kerr says there’s no wrong answer. Some buyers want to live in an area before committing, while others would rather not spend money on rent. In her experience, buyers who rent first usually end up buying in the same area.

About T Kerr Property Group

T Kerr Property Group is a real estate team founded by Tanya Kerr, serving Georgetown, Round Rock, Liberty Hill, and the greater Williamson County and Central Texas market. The team focuses on luxury homes, 1+ acre homesites, and buyers relocating to the area, and is affiliated with Keller Williams Realty Lone Star.

This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.