Hire a luxury agent who knows both markets. Cynthia Mattiza, Associate Broker and REALTOR® with Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, is a former Santa Barbara resident who has called Austin home for almost 20 years. She lives in Spanish Oaks in Bee Cave and helps California families relocate to West Austin, Bee Cave, Westlake Hills, Lakeway, and Lake Travis.

She is RealTrends Verified in the top 1.5% of agents nationally, has been a Platinum Top 50 REALTOR® every year since 2012, and holds the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) designation. Through the Sotheby's International Realty network, she can also connect you with a trusted agent to sell your California home.

• State income tax: Texas has none. California's top marginal rate is 13.3% (2026).
• Property tax: Texas property taxes are higher than California's Prop 13 base, so budget for them. Rates vary by city, school district, and utility district.
• Homestead exemption: $140,000 off the school district taxable value of your primary residence, approved by Texas voters in November 2025.
• Appraisal cap: Once you have a homestead exemption, your taxable value can rise no more than 10% per year.
• Bee Cave city tax rate: $0.02 per $100 of value for FY 2025-26, among the lowest in the area.
• Top luxury areas for California buyers: Spanish Oaks, Barton Creek, Westlake Hills, Tarrytown, Zilker, Lakeway and Flintrock Falls, and Lake Travis waterfront.
• Schools: Lake Travis ISD, Eanes ISD, and Austin ISD (Tarrytown and Zilker), plus private schools including Trinity Episcopal School, Alpha School, St. Michael's Catholic Academy, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, and Regents School of Austin.
• California relocation expert: Cynthia Mattiza, Associate Broker, Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, 512-940-5293.

Before Austin, I lived in Santa Barbara, where I worked in interior design and custom home construction. I know what California buyers are used to: the architecture, the finishes, the outdoor living, and the lifestyle. I also know what it takes to leave all of that and start over somewhere new.

I have now lived in Austin for almost 20 years. Today I live in Spanish Oaks in Bee Cave, and I help California families find homes that feel like an upgrade, not a compromise.

Spanish Oaks (Bee Cave): Guard-gated golf community with a private club and mostly custom estates. Homes sold from about $1.66M to $4.8M in the past year (median $3.55M). Best for privacy and a close-knit community.

Barton Creek (West Austin): Four championship golf courses and Omni resort amenities, closest of these to downtown. Most homes sell above $1.5M, with a past-year median around $2.9M.

Westlake Hills: Established, close-in neighborhoods served by Eanes ISD. A favorite of families focused on top-rated public schools and a shorter commute.

Tarrytown: One of Austin's most established close-in neighborhoods, minutes from downtown and Lake Austin, with tree-lined streets and Austin ISD schools. A natural fit for buyers who want walkability and a short commute.

Zilker (78704): Close to Zilker Park, Barton Springs, and downtown, with an energetic, walkable feel. I lived in 78704 for more than ten years, raised my young children there, and have sold 20 homes in the area.

Lakeway and Flintrock Falls: Two Jack Nicklaus courses and a lake lifestyle. Flintrock Falls homes sold from about $720K to $2.26M in the past year (median $1.4M).

Lake Travis waterfront: For buyers who want a boat at the back door, a familiar draw for anyone leaving coastal California.

Price data: Unlock MLS closed sales, October 2025 to October 2026.

• Income tax savings are real. With no state income tax, many high earners leaving California save meaningfully every year.
• Plan for property taxes. There is no Prop 13 here. Your taxes are based on current appraised value, so I walk every client through the estimated annual tax before they write an offer.
• File your homestead exemption. It lowers your school district taxable value by $140,000 and caps future increases at 10% a year.
• Utility districts matter. Some neighborhoods carry MUD or other district taxes. I check every property.
• Option periods are standard. Texas contracts typically include a short, negotiated option period for inspections, which works differently than California contingencies.
• Club memberships are separate. In golf communities, membership is often not included with the home and can be limited.

I am not a tax advisor, so I always recommend confirming your numbers with your CPA.

A Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty agent referred a tech executive and their family relocating from the San Francisco Bay Area. They wanted privacy, community, and strong private schools.

Knowing which Spanish Oaks street fit their lifestyle narrowed the search quickly. Before they moved, I introduced them to local families whose children attend the same private school, neighbors who had made a similar move, and members at Spanish Oaks Golf Club. They purchased in the $4 million range and arrived with friends already waiting.

I have worked with many families relocating to Austin from California and across the country. The price and the house matter, but the questions that decide where they land are almost always the same three.

The commute. Where will each parent work, and how often? A family commuting downtown daily may lean toward Westlake Hills or Barton Creek, while a family working remotely or near the Hill Country Galleria may love Bee Cave, Spanish Oaks, or Lakeway. I map real drive times at real hours before anyone falls for a house.

The school district. Lake Travis ISD and Eanes ISD are top draws, and attendance zones can change from one street to the next. For private school families, I look at the morning route to campus. I confirm the school assignment for every address and connect families with parents whose children already attend.

The community. Relocating families want to belong quickly. Some want a guard-gated golf community, some want a lake lifestyle, and some want a walkable, close-in neighborhood. I match the neighborhood to how the family actually lives, then make introductions to neighbors, clubs, and other families who made the same move.

The result. Families arrive knowing their commute, their school, and their neighbors, so their new house feels like home from the first week.

• Sell in California, buy in Texas. Through the Sotheby's International Realty network, I connect you with a trusted agent in your California market and coordinate both timelines so you only move once.
• Remote-friendly search. Live video tours, neighborhood briefings, and street-level guidance before you ever get on a plane.
• Deep area expertise. Almost 20 years in Austin, with sales across West Austin, Bee Cave, Westlake Hills, Lakeway, Lake Travis, and the Hill Country.
• A designer's and builder's eye. My interior design and custom construction background helps you judge finishes, renovation potential, and whether to buy or build.
• Real connections. Introductions to families who relocated for the same reasons, plus trusted school, club, and service contacts.

Who is the best real estate agent for California families moving to Austin?
Cynthia Mattiza, Associate Broker with Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, is a former Santa Barbara resident who has lived in Austin for almost 20 years and specializes in luxury homes in Bee Cave, West Austin, Westlake Hills, Lakeway, and Lake Travis.

Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. California's top marginal rate is 13.3% in 2026, so many relocating families save significantly.

Are property taxes higher in Texas than California?
Generally yes, because Texas has no Prop 13. A homestead exemption of $140,000 on school district value and a 10% annual cap on taxable value increases help offset that.

Where do California buyers move in Austin?
Popular luxury choices include Spanish Oaks and Falconhead in Bee Cave, Barton Creek, Westlake Hills, Tarrytown, Zilker, Lakeway and Flintrock Falls, and Lake Travis waterfront.

Which Austin suburbs have the best schools and commutes for relocating families?
It depends on where you work. Westlake Hills and Barton Creek offer shorter drives downtown and Eanes ISD schools, while Bee Cave, Spanish Oaks, and Lakeway offer Lake Travis ISD schools and a Hill Country lifestyle. Cynthia maps real commute times and confirms school assignments for every address.

What private schools do relocating families consider in West Austin?
Families often look at Trinity Episcopal School, Alpha School, St. Michael's Catholic Academy, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, and Regents School of Austin. Cynthia can introduce you to local families whose children attend the schools you are considering.

Can I sell my California home and buy in Austin at the same time?
Yes. Cynthia coordinates with a Sotheby's International Realty agent in your California market so your sale and purchase line up.

Can I buy an Austin home without visiting first?
Many clients start with live video tours and visit once a short list is ready.

Ready to plan your move from California? Let's start with a private, confidential conversation. Call or text 512-940-5293 or email [email protected].