Why Washington's Tech Families Are Choosing Austin

This fall, a fellow Sotheby's International Realty brokerage in Washington asked top brokers in tax-friendly markets a simple question: are wealthy Washington families actually moving, or just looking?

From where I sit in Austin, the answer is clear. They are moving, and they are planning it carefully.

Before 2022, a call from Seattle or Bellevue was rare for me. Most of my relocation inquiries came from California. Today, I work with Washington referral clients, many of them in tech, and the conversations sound completely different than they did a few years ago.

Tax starts the conversation. Lifestyle closes it.

My Washington clients are direct about taxes. Washington now taxes capital gains at up to 9.9%, has an estate tax, and plans a 9.9% income tax on income over $1 million starting in 2028. For tech professionals holding stock or founders planning a sale, those numbers matter.

Texas has no state income tax and no state estate tax. But I always tell clients the truth: Texas is not free. Property taxes are meaningful, and I walk every family through what they look like on a real home before they fall in love with it.

Once the numbers make sense, the conversation shifts to how they want to live. More land and privacy. Sunshine most of the year. Strong schools in Eanes ISD and Lake Travis ISD. And a tech community where they can keep building.

No one moves across the country for a tax rate alone. They move when the math and the life they want finally line up.

Curiosity or capital?

The clearest sign a family is serious is who joins the call. Curious buyers ask about neighborhoods. Committed buyers bring their CPA or wealth advisor and ask about timing.

More of my Washington clients are in that second group. Here is what I see them doing:

• Buying before selling. Many purchase in Austin first, then sell or lease their Washington home on their own schedule.
• Establishing Texas residency deliberately. Driver's license, voter registration, homestead exemption, and moving their daily life here.
• Timing around a big event. Founders and executives want residency settled well before a company sale, IPO, or vesting event, not after.

When advisors are setting the calendar, it is capital, not curiosity.

Austin or Florida?

Florida is the market I compete with most for Washington families. Both have no state income tax, so the decision comes down to life stage.

Families who are winding down often lean toward Florida and the ocean. Families who are still building companies, raising kids, and want land and community tend to choose Austin. Florida's hurricane risk and insurance costs come up in almost every comparison, and Austin's deep tech community is often the deciding factor for my clients.

The tradeoffs are real on both sides. Texas summers are hot, and Florida has the beach. I help clients compare honestly so the move fits the life they want.

What comes next

I expect Washington families moving to Austin to keep growing over the next two to three years, especially as the 2028 income tax approaches. Every family that lands well here becomes a story their friends back home hear about, and that is how this trend builds.

I've lived in Austin for almost 20 years, and I made my own big move six years ago, from South Austin to West Austin. It was one of the best decisions I've made for my family, and I love helping other families find that same feeling.

If you're in Washington and thinking about Austin, start with my Seattle to Austin relocation guide. It covers Texas taxes, neighborhoods, schools, and how to time your move.

Then let's talk. Call or text me at 512-940-5293 or email [email protected].

Cynthia Mattiza is an Associate Broker and REALTOR® with Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, specializing in West Austin, Bee Cave, Lake Travis, and the Texas Hill Country. This post is general information, not tax or legal advice.