New Braunfels has grown from roughly 52,000 residents in 2010 to close to 130,000 today, and that kind of growth usually comes with a catch. So is the small Hill Country city between Austin and San Antonio still worth the move, or has it lost what made it appealing in the first place? Yitzchak Pierson, a broker associate with eXp Realty who has spent years relocating buyers into the New Braunfels area, breaks down what people actually need to know before deciding.
Pierson works the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio, and a large share of his clients find him through his YouTube channel, Living in New Braunfels, before they ever reach out. He has helped families relocate from as far as Arizona, Canada, and Israel, and much of what follows comes directly from the questions those buyers ask him first.
Where It Sits, and Why That Matters
New Braunfels sits almost exactly between Austin, about 48 miles and 45 to 60 minutes north, and San Antonio, about 32 miles and 45 to 60 minutes south. San Marcos and Seguin are both under 30 minutes away, and Canyon Lake is about 20 minutes out. Both Austin-Bergstrom and San Antonio International airports are within an hour’s drive.
That location is the core of the pitch: close enough to two major job markets for a commute or a remote-work day trip, far enough away to keep a smaller-town feel and a lower cost of living than either city.
What It Actually Costs to Live There
Entry-level homes in New Braunfels start around $200,000, whether new construction or resale, and prices climb from there into the million-dollar range depending on the neighborhood and whether the property has lake or river access. Property tax rates in the area typically run between 1.4% and 2.5%, which puts an entry-level home’s annual tax bill somewhere between $7,000 and $13,000 depending on price point.
Homeowners who live in the property full time can apply a homestead exemption to reduce that bill, and there are additional exemptions for residents over 65 and for veterans, including a full property tax exemption for veterans with a 100% disability rating. Buyers should also ask whether a specific neighborhood sits inside a Municipal Utility District or Public Improvement District, since both can raise the effective tax rate beyond the city average.
The Lifestyle Draw
Two rivers, the Comal and the Guadalupe, run through the area and are the reason a lot of buyers move here in the first place. Landa Park alone covers about 51 acres of main parkland with hiking trails, paddle boats, and a miniature train, and both rivers support tubing, kayaking, and even boating on stretches like Lake Dunlap. Downtown New Braunfels and the historic Gruene district add live music, wineries, and restaurants, and the city hosts events nearly every month, including Wurstfest, a 10-day annual celebration that runs from the first Friday in November through the following second Sunday, which draws about 200,000 visitors and channels its food sales back into local nonprofits.
Who’s Actually Moving There, and What to Watch For
Pierson sees a wide mix of buyers: families looking for better schools and river access, retirees, remote workers, military and medical professionals, and investors drawn to the area’s growth. The honest tradeoffs are worth naming too. Rapid growth means more traffic on I-35 and ongoing construction, summers run hot, and the city sees a seasonal tourist bump that changes the pace of downtown for part of the year. None of that has slowed the number of people choosing to move there, but it’s the kind of detail an out-of-area buyer won’t know to ask about until they’re already living with it.
For buyers weighing whether New Braunfels fits their next move, Yitzchak Pierson works directly with relocation buyers across the I-35 corridor and shares neighborhood-level breakdowns on his YouTube channel, Living in New Braunfels. More on how he works with buyers moving into the area is available on his buyer’s page.
About Yitzchak Pierson: Yitzchak Pierson is a licensed real estate broker in Texas, serving buyers and sellers across New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, San Marcos, and Seguin. He has been named Best Real Estate Agent in New Braunfels for two consecutive years and was ranked in the Top 100 agents by the San Antonio Business Journal.
Disclaimer: 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.
