Hi, I’m Julie, and I moved here from Austin, Texas. Every day I wake up, I feel like I’m in a Hallmark movie. Today, I want to tell you my story.
I’m from southern Missouri, but I moved to Austin, Texas, 15 years ago. Because my family is still in Missouri, I wanted to come back to the area. I enjoyed my community in Texas, but Northwest Arkansas had all the essentials on my list.
If you want to hear my story and find out what it took to move here, stick around. I’ll tell you why I chose this area and give you some advice about how to make the move work smoothly.
Video:
I Live In a Hallmark Movie
As I said, I feel like I live in a Hallmark movie because every day, when I get up and go outside to walk my dog, it just feels magical. The beautiful streets and homes make me feel like I live in a dream world.
I’m originally from Southwest Missouri, but I moved to Austin, Texas, 15 years ago. I had a great time there, I was in a wonderful community, but there was something missing. My family still lives in Missouri, and I wanted to be closer to them.
I looked for properties around Austin, but I just couldn’t get everything on my checklist and still see my family on a regular basis. That’s why I chose Northwest Arkansas.
Why Northwest Arkansas
As someone that works from home and travels for work, I wanted to land somewhere that had all the essentials on my list that I loved doing on a daily basis, including:
- Beautiful dog parks
- Standup paddle boating
- Great hiking trails
- Great food and restaurants
Northwest Arkansas thrives in all things outdoors, and they have a great food and art scene.
The house I ended up buying in Northwest Arkansas is a 10-min walk from downtown, and I have a nice yard for my dog. I found a great 3 bedroom, 2 ½ bath home that’s almost brand new. In Austin, I wouldn’t have been able to find something within walking distance of the amenities, nor would I have a nice yard for my dog.
NWA is like Austin when I moved there 15 years ago. It’s quirky, with pockets of anything you could want. When I grew up around here, there weren’t as many thriving businesses or quirky restaurants. The current music and art scene was non-existent at that time, and it was something I craved back then.
Even the job opportunities are just incredible now compared to then!
Now that I’ve come back 15 years later, it’s just amazing that this is all here and available to everyone. Having gone from Austin and having a great community, both personally and professionally, I was surprised that I could find that here as well.
I found the following immediately:
- Dog care and boarding facilities
- Home maintenance
- A great gym
- Church
- Farmer’s market
It’s been super easy to find all that through social media or from just talking with people. I absolutely love the community here.
The Future
My future in Northwest Arkansas will include more time with my family, who lives about an hour and a half from here. I have two wonderful nieces, so it will be nice to be able to spend time with them, go to their games or school functions, and be a part of their daily activities, which I missed when I lived in Austin.
The future I want here in Northwest Arkansas will be the same as when I moved to Austin and might include the following:
- Meet new people with the same interests I have
- Explore the outdoors more
- Partake in more outdoor activities
- Find new hobbies
- Watch new and interesting restaurants pop up
The area is already showing signs of new music and food venues, and it’s so exciting to see.
Tips and Advice
If your heart is set on moving to Northwest Arkansas, my first piece of advice is to find a great realtor, which means that you must do your research.
A great realtor will show you options in not only the town you want to move to, but also surrounding areas that might have properties containing your wish list items. When I first thought about relocating here, I had my heart set on Bella Vista.
But my realtor showed me properties in Rogers, and I fell in love with this town.
Having a realtor that showed me different properties in various areas opened my eyes to different areas that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Hiring someone who’s an expert in the area and knows several things outside of the tourist areas can mean the difference between living in a place that you love or just tolerate.
Another piece of advice I would give is to make a pros and cons list, as this gives you a starting point of what to look for.
At the top of my list was the walkability factor. I wanted to leave my house, walk in a wonderful neighborhood with my dog, and be downtown within 10 minutes. Each town I explored also needed to have a great town square and plenty of walkable options.
You want to think outside the box and hire someone who knows the area inside and out, or you might end up in an area you don’t love.
Conclusion
Moving from Austin, Texas, to Northwest Arkansas was a big adjustment, but because I had family nearby, it was a bit easier to adjust quickly. And since I knew exactly what I was looking for, it made my move simpler.
Here’s what you should do if you’re considering relocating here:
- Make a list of your needs and wants for the area you live in.
- Create a pros and cons list of certain areas that you’re considering.
- Research the realtors in the area and choose the one who you think will assist you in reaching your goals.