Moving From Los Angeles to Austin? Why Natasha Antonioni Is the Realtor to Guide You Home
Thinking about moving from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas?
You’re not alone — but if you’ve spent years living in Los Angeles, choosing a house in Austin is only part of the decision.
The harder question is:
Where in Austin will actually feel like home?
Austin is made up of dramatically different neighborhoods, school districts and lifestyles. Westlake feels nothing like downtown. Cuernavaca feels different from Barton Hills. Lakeway is a completely different proposition from Tarrytown. Dripping Springs may look close on a map but offers an entirely different day-to-day experience.
And that’s exactly why choosing the right Realtor matters.
Natasha Antonioni isn’t simply an Austin Realtor who works with California buyers. She made the move from Los Angeles to Austin herself.
After living in Los Angeles for 13 years, building businesses there and raising a family, Natasha ultimately left California for personal and family reasons and built a new life in Austin.
Today, she lives in the Westlake/Eanes ISD community and specializes in helping buyers understand not simply which Austin homes look good online, but which part of Austin will give them the life they’re actually moving here to create.
Understanding the Pros and Cons of Moving to Austin
Quick Answer: Who Is a Good Realtor for Someone Moving From Los Angeles to Austin?
For Los Angeles buyers relocating to Austin, Natasha Antonioni offers an unusual combination of firsthand relocation experience, Austin neighborhood expertise, luxury real estate knowledge and professional interior design experience.
Having lived in Los Angeles before relocating to Austin herself, Natasha understands that California buyers aren’t simply comparing houses. They’re translating an existing lifestyle into a completely different city.
She helps buyers evaluate Westlake, Eanes ISD, Cuernavaca, 78746, 78733 and other Austin-area communities based on commute, schools, architecture, land, lifestyle, renovation potential and long-term value.
Natasha is a Realtor and Intentional Designer with The Council Real Estate Group at Compass RE Texas, LLC.
Why Are Los Angeles Buyers Moving to Austin?
There’s rarely one reason.
Some buyers come for work. Others want more space, a different pace of life, highly regarded public-school options, a stronger connection to nature or simply a new chapter.
Texas also does not impose an individual state income tax, while California has a graduated individual income-tax system. For higher-income households considering relocation, that difference can be significant enough to discuss with a qualified CPA or tax advisor.
But taxes alone shouldn’t determine where you live.
What surprised Natasha most about relocating wasn’t simply how different the homes were.
It was how differently Austin neighborhoods function.
In Los Angeles, you already understand instinctively what it means to choose Brentwood versus Venice, Los Feliz versus Pacific Palisades, or Beverly Hills versus Studio City.
You know that two neighborhoods ten minutes apart can represent completely different lifestyles.
Austin works the same way.
And that’s the piece an online home search can’t teach you.
The Biggest Mistake LA Buyers Make When Moving to Austin
The biggest mistake is starting with the house.
Start with the life.
A beautiful $3 million home in the wrong part of Austin is still the wrong home.
Before Natasha starts sending properties, she wants to understand questions like:
Where do you work?
How often do you need to be downtown?
Are public schools important?
How much land do you actually want to maintain?
Do you want neighbors and community, or privacy?
Would you rather have a polished newer home or an architecturally interesting property you can transform?
Do you want to walk to restaurants, or would you happily trade walkability for trees, views and space?
Does Lake Austin matter?
Do you want something that feels like Los Angeles — or is the entire point of moving to Austin to experience something completely different?
Those answers determine where the search should begin.
Where Should You Live in Austin If You’re Moving From Los Angeles?
There is no Austin neighborhood that universally replaces Los Angeles.
And we’d be skeptical of anyone who tells you otherwise.
Instead, we help California buyers identify which aspects of their Los Angeles lifestyle they want to keep — and which ones they’re ready to leave behind.
Westlake / 78746
For many luxury buyers relocating from Los Angeles, Westlake is one of the first places we recommend exploring.
Why?
You’re remarkably close to central Austin, but the environment can feel completely removed from the city.
Depending on the property, you’ll find hills, mature trees, privacy, substantial homes, views and proximity to Lake Austin.
Westlake is also largely associated with Eanes Independent School District, which serves approximately 7,700 students across five elementary schools, two middle schools, Westlake High School and its transition program.
For families leaving Los Angeles who have been paying for private school, understanding Austin’s public-school geography can fundamentally change the home-search equation.
Take a Tour of Westlake with Natasha
Westlake Austin Real Estate Guide
Rollingwood and West Lake Hills
For LA buyers who don’t want to feel like they’ve moved deep into suburbia, Rollingwood and West Lake Hills deserve particular attention.
These communities sit immediately west of central Austin and offer an unusual combination: privacy, established neighborhoods and Eanes ISD while remaining close to downtown.
Inventory can be extremely limited and pricing reflects the location.
But for buyers accustomed to paying a premium for location in Los Angeles, the value proposition can make more intuitive sense once you actually drive the area.
Cuernavaca / Austin Lake Estates / 78733
This is the Austin Natasha fell in love with.
Cuernavaca, also known as Austin Lake Estates, is part of the greater Westlake/Eanes ISD area in 78733.
It is decidedly not cookie-cutter Austin.
You’ll find original lake cottages next to contemporary architecture, funky older homes, wooded lots and properties with enormous renovation potential.
There’s also a genuine neighborhood culture.
For Natasha, that’s important because choosing Austin wasn’t about replacing Los Angeles with a less expensive version of Los Angeles.
It was about creating a different quality of life.
Today, Natasha doesn’t simply sell homes in this community. She lives here, raises her family here and is actively involved in the neighborhood.
For LA buyers who love design, individuality and community but don’t necessarily want traditional suburban living, Cuernavaca is one of the places Natasha believes you should see before deciding where to buy.
Take a Tour of Cuernavaca / Austin Lake Estates Guide with Natasha
78733 vs. 78746
This is another comparison we think relocating California buyers should understand early.
Both areas can provide access to the greater Westlake lifestyle and portions of Eanes ISD, but they aren’t interchangeable.
78746 generally puts you closer to downtown and includes many of the neighborhoods traditionally associated with Westlake.
78733 extends farther west toward Lake Austin and can offer a different combination of land, architecture, lake lifestyle and value.
According to The Council’s Q2 2026 analysis of Austin MLS data, median sale prices were approximately $3.2 million in 78746 compared with $2.4 million in 78733.
That’s a meaningful difference.
And it’s exactly the kind of distinction buyers can miss when they’re searching Austin from California.
78733 vs. 78746 — Where Should You Buy?
Los Angeles vs. Austin: What Changes When You Buy a House?
The real estate itself is different.
Coming from Los Angeles, you may initially be surprised by how much property can vary even within the same Austin price bracket.
But bigger isn’t automatically better.
Here are some of the differences Natasha encourages California buyers to think about.
Land Matters More
Austin’s terrain changes dramatically as you move west.
A property can have extraordinary trees and Hill Country views — but it can also have a steep driveway, drainage considerations, challenging topography or expensive site work.
A beautiful lot deserves as much scrutiny as the house sitting on it.
Property Taxes Matter
California and Texas structure taxes differently.
Texas doesn’t have an individual state income tax, but property taxes can represent a significant ongoing ownership expense.
Don’t compare only purchase prices.
Compare your total financial picture with your CPA or financial advisor.
Pools and Outdoor Living Work Differently
Austin has long, hot summers.
A pool, shade, orientation and functional outdoor space can have a meaningful impact on how you experience the home.
Natasha evaluates outdoor spaces as part of the house rather than an afterthought.
Renovation Costs Can Surprise You
An Austin home that appears inexpensive relative to Los Angeles isn’t necessarily a bargain if it requires a major renovation.
Labor, materials, permitting, topography and the scope of structural work all matter.
This is one of the areas where Natasha’s design background becomes particularly valuable.
Why Natasha’s Design Background Matters for California Buyers
This may be the biggest difference between working with Natasha and conducting a typical Austin home search.
Natasha is both a Realtor and an interior designer.
She is also the author of the forthcoming book Intentional Design: Design Your Home to Manifest Your Goals and Dreams.
When she walks through a property with a buyer, she isn’t only asking:
Is this a good house?
She’s asking:
Can this become your house?
That’s an important distinction for buyers coming from Los Angeles, where architecture, interiors and the emotional experience of a property may be central to the buying decision.
Natasha helps clients identify:
- Which walls could potentially move
- Whether a dated property has genuine design potential
- Which finishes are cosmetic
- Whether a floor plan can be improved
- How furniture will actually function in the space
- Where natural light works and where it doesn’t
- Whether an outdoor area can become something extraordinary
- Which architectural limitations may be expensive or impossible to overcome
Sometimes the best purchase is the house everyone else scrolls past.
A dated kitchen can change.
Bad geography usually can’t.
Natasha Has Made This Move Herself
This matters.
Before Austin, Natasha spent 13 years living in Los Angeles.
She built businesses there. She understood the rhythms of the city. She understood what different LA neighborhoods meant and how much lifestyle was wrapped up in choosing where to live.
Leaving Los Angeles was ultimately a family and personal decision.
But moving to Austin required more than changing addresses.
It meant figuring out where a family that had built a life in California could create a new sense of home in Texas.
That experience now shapes the way Natasha works with relocation clients.
She’s not interested in convincing every California buyer that Westlake is right for them.
Sometimes it isn’t.
The goal is to get underneath the real reason you’re moving.
What are you hoping will be different?
What do you not want to give up?
What kind of community do you want around you?
What do you want your children to experience?
What does Saturday morning look like?
What does getting to work look like?
And when you pull into your driveway at the end of the day, what do you want home to feel like?
Those questions lead to better real estate decisions than starting with bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.
Moving From LA With School-Age Children
If schools are part of your relocation decision, understand the school-district map before you fall in love with a house.
For example, Eanes ISD currently operates five elementary schools, two middle schools and Westlake High School, and the district states that school zoning is determined by the property’s street address.
That last part matters.
Don’t assume a home is zoned to a particular school because a listing says “Westlake,” because it has a 78746 or 78733 ZIP code, or because another house nearby attends that school.
Verify the address directly with the school district.
Eanes ISD Official School Information
What Neighborhoods Feed Into Eanes ISD?
Is Moving From Los Angeles to Austin a Financial Win?
It can be, but don’t reduce the decision to taxes and square footage.
Texas has no individual state income tax. California’s individual income-tax system, by contrast, has multiple brackets, with rates reaching 12.3% in the state’s published 2025 schedules.
That can create a significant difference for some households.
But Texas homeowners also need to consider property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance, HOA expenses where applicable and the carrying costs associated with larger properties.
We recommend that relocating clients evaluate the entire picture rather than assuming “Texas is cheaper.”
For tax advice specific to your circumstances, talk to a qualified CPA or tax professional before establishing residency or making financial decisions based on a move.
California Franchise Tax Board — Individual Income Tax Information
Why Work With Natasha Antonioni When Moving From Los Angeles to Austin?
Because finding an Austin Realtor is easy.
Finding someone who understands where you came from, where you’re going and what makes a house worth buying is harder.
Natasha brings several perspectives to the same decision:
Former Los Angeles resident. She understands the city and the transition because she made it herself.
Austin local. She has lived in Austin since 2014 and has deep roots in Westlake and Cuernavaca.
Westlake and Eanes ISD Realtor. These aren’t markets she occasionally drives into for showings. They’re where she lives and works.
Interior designer. She can help you see past bad finishes while recognizing expensive limitations.
Real estate investor. She evaluates potential and risk, not simply aesthetics.
Relocation guide. She understands that the first challenge isn’t finding the house. It’s figuring out which Austin community fits you.
And Natasha isn’t working alone.
She’s part of The Council Real Estate Group at Compass, where every client benefits from three specialists.
Natasha brings design, property potential and neighborhood perspective.
Holly McCormick brings more than 20 years of real estate and negotiation experience.
Albina Rippy brings the analytical perspective of a Realtor and CPA.
Three experts. One Council.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving From Los Angeles to Austin
Is Austin a good place to move from Los Angeles?
Austin can be a strong fit for Los Angeles residents looking for a different combination of space, natural surroundings, central-city access and housing options. Whether it’s right for you depends on work, schools, budget, lifestyle and what you’re hoping to change by leaving Los Angeles.
What Austin neighborhood is most like Los Angeles?
There isn’t one. That’s why we don’t recommend choosing an Austin neighborhood based on an LA equivalent alone. Westlake, Tarrytown, Barton Hills, downtown Austin, Cuernavaca and Lakeway all solve different lifestyle needs.
Where do California families live in Austin?
California relocations occur throughout the Austin metropolitan area. Rather than choosing an area because other Californians live there, we recommend comparing commute, schools, lifestyle, housing stock, budget and proximity to the parts of Austin you’ll actually use.
Is Westlake Austin good for Los Angeles families?
It can be. Westlake combines close proximity to central Austin, established neighborhoods, Hill Country surroundings and access to Eanes ISD for appropriately zoned properties. The trade-off is a substantial real estate premium.
Is Austin cheaper than Los Angeles?
The answer depends heavily on the property and household. Some Austin buyers may receive substantially more house or land for their budget, and Texas doesn’t impose an individual state income tax. However, property taxes, insurance and home-maintenance costs need to be included in the comparison.
Should I buy in 78746 or 78733?
Neither ZIP code is universally better. 78746 generally provides closer proximity to central Austin and contains many traditional Westlake neighborhoods. 78733 extends farther west toward Lake Austin and can offer a different mix of architecture, land, community and pricing. Natasha regularly helps relocating buyers compare the two.
How do I find a Realtor in Austin who understands Los Angeles buyers?
Look for an agent who understands both the Austin market and the lifestyle transition you’re making. Natasha spent 13 years living in Los Angeles before relocating to Austin and now specializes in Westlake, Eanes ISD, 78746 and 78733 real estate.
Can I buy an Austin home while I’m still living in California?
Yes. Much of the initial neighborhood research, property evaluation and strategy can happen before you relocate. The goal should be to narrow the geography first so that when you’re in Austin touring homes, you’re comparing serious contenders rather than trying to understand the entire city at once.
Moving From Los Angeles to Austin? Start With the Neighborhood, Not the House.
If you’re considering leaving Los Angeles for Austin, Natasha’s first piece of advice is simple:
Don’t begin by asking where you can get the biggest house.
Ask where you can build the best life.
Austin isn’t Los Angeles with lower taxes and bigger yards.
It’s its own city, with neighborhoods and communities that need to be experienced to be understood.
Natasha made that transition herself.
Now she helps other California buyers do it with far more information than she had when she first arrived.
If you’re thinking about moving from Los Angeles to Austin, Natasha Antonioni and The Council Real Estate Group can help you identify the neighborhoods that fit your life, evaluate the homes worth pursuing and guide you from California all the way home to Austin.
Talk With Natasha About Moving From Los Angeles to Austin
Continue Your Austin Relocation Research
Westlake Austin Complete Guide
Buying a Home in Westlake Austin
Cuernavaca / Austin Lake Estates Guide
Meet Natasha Antonioni – scroll down
About The Council Real Estate Group
Natasha Antonioni brings the design lens — an interior designer and author of Intentional Design: Design Your Home to Manifest Your Goals and Dreams.
Albina Rippy, CPA brings the financial lens — valuation, tax modeling, and carrying-cost analysis grounded in an accounting background that is genuinely uncommon in residential brokerage. Holly McCormick brings the negotiation and market lens — two decades in 78746 and street-by-street knowledge of how value actually behaves here.
Three specialists at Compass RE Texas, serving Westlake, Cuernavaca, and the Eanes ISD market.
Schedule a consultation · (512) 988-1741 · 2500 Bee Cave Rd, Westlake TX 78746
