Nicole Perry
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Before you fall in love with a house, fall in love with the lifestyle first.
One of the biggest mistakes I see buyers make is focusing on the home before thinking about how they actually want to live. Your commute, favorite coffee shop, parks, trails, restaurants, and even future development all play a role in whether a house truly feels like home.
The best home isn't always the biggest or the newest....it’s the one that supports the life you want to live.
Choose a version of Austin that fits you.
Follow for more through a local's lens.
06/26/2026
Yesterday's walk around Town Lake started with an unexpected new friend.
His name was Butt Butt.
I spotted him perched on someone's shoulder, looking completely at home. His owner smiled and told me to hold out my finger. I did....and Butt Butt flew right over and perched on my hand like we'd known each other forever.
It was the perfect way to start one of those glorious Austin evenings.
For my Austin people who love Town Lake as much as I do, this time of year is all about timing. I started my walk around 7:30 p.m., and there was still enough breeze coming off the water to make it feel worth it.
I kept stopping.
Not because of the skyline.
Not because of the sunset.
Because of the plants.
The wildflowers, the grasses, the tiny blooms tucked beneath the trees....all of them somehow thriving through a Texas summer. Most people walk right past them.
One of my favorites was the Texas sage.
My grandmother always used to say that when the Texas sage turned purple, it meant rain was coming. After a lifetime in Austin, I've found there's a lot of truth to that. Sometimes it rains right where you are, and sometimes the storm passes a few miles away but those beautiful purple blooms always seem to now when moisture is in the air.
That's what I love about Austin.
The skyline is beautiful. The water is beautiful. But sometimes it's the little things an unexpected bird named Butt Butt, the breeze off the lake, a vibrant crepe myrtle framing the Texas Capitol, and flowers blooming through the summer heat that remind you why this city feels so special.
As a Realtor, people often ask me about neighborhoods, schools, or home prices. Those things matter.
But so does this.
Finding the right home isn't just about bedrooms and square footage. It's about finding a place where your everyday walk makes you slow down, look around, and think, "I'm really glad I live here."
Choose a version of Austin that fits you.
Follow along for more through a local's lens.
🌿 Yesterday's discoveries in the comments
We bought this house twice.
Back when Guy and I were building a home in Lake Pointe, we spent months selecting every detail....from the stone on the exterior to the finishes inside.
Then reality hit.
It felt expensive. It felt overwhelming. And honestly, it felt a little scary.
So we backed out.
The builder even returned our deposit.
A few weeks later, we drove by the house again. We talked through all of our fears, sat down with the sales representative, and realized something important:
Sometimes being nervous doesn't mean you're making the wrong decision.
It means you're making a big one.
We ended up buying the house, and years later it's one of my favorite real estate memories.
If you're buying your first home, building a home, or moving across the country to a place you've never lived before, I promise those feelings are normal.
I've been there too.
Thinking about a move to Austin? Send me a message or comment GUIDE and I'll send over my Austin Move Guide.
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Address
9600 Great Hills Trail #150W
Austin, TX
78759
Opening Hours
| Monday | 9am - 7:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 7:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 7:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 7:30pm |
| Friday | 9am - 7:30pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 7:30pm |