Relocation guide · New York to Austin
Transfer taxes on the way out, a first car on the way in, and which north Austin suburbs have rail or park-and-ride options.
Short answer
A New York sale can carry transfer taxes: the state charges $2 per $500 of the price, plus a 1 percent mansion tax on homes of $1 million or more, and New York City adds 1 or 1.425 percent. Texas has no personal income tax. Most north Austin suburbs are car-first; Leander is the north end of CapMetro's Red Line.
Sources: NYS Tax Department; NYC Department of Finance; Texas Constitution. As of October 14, 2026.
Key facts
New York State real estate transfer tax: $2 for each $500 of consideration.
Source: NYS Tax Department, retrieved October 14, 2026.
Mansion tax: an extra 1 percent on residences sold for $1 million or more.
Source: NYS Tax Department, retrieved October 14, 2026.
NYC Real Property Transfer Tax on a home: 1 percent at $500,000 or less, 1.425 percent above.
Source: NYC Department of Finance, retrieved October 14, 2026.
New Texas residents: register a vehicle within 30 days and get a Texas driver license within 90.
Source: TxDMV, retrieved October 14, 2026.
Selling in New York
Worked examples using the published rates. Who pays which tax is set by law and by your contract, so confirm with your New York attorney. In New York City, homes sold for $2 million or more also owe a supplemental state tax of 0.25 to 2.9 percent, not shown here.
Your first car in years?
New residents have 30 days to register a vehicle (TxDMV). In Travis and Williamson counties, the order is: pass an emissions inspection, get Texas liability insurance (at least $30,000 per injured person), then register at the county tax office with your insurance card and proof of ownership. First-time registrants also fill out Form 130-U.
Plan for tolls. SH 45 North and SH 130 are tolled electronically with no cash booths, and Toll 183A runs through Leander and Cedar Park (TxDOT, Mobility Authority).
Car-light options
CapMetro's Red Line runs 10 stations from Downtown to Leander. Leander Station is at 800 N US Highway 183; Lakeline Station is just south of Cedar Park.
CapMetro Routes 50, 152 and 980, plus the city's Round Rock Rides on-demand shared rides.
Pflugerville runs Pfetch a Ride, Georgetown runs rideGTX, and CARTS serves rural Williamson County, including Hutto.
Sources: CapMetro rail, retrieved October 14, 2026; city transit pages linked on each area guide. Check current schedules before you rely on them.
Home type
Coming from a co-op or condo, a Texas condo will feel familiar in one way: an association, its rules and its budget. The difference is what you read before you buy. In Texas you ask for the association's resale certificate and documents during the contract, and Ken reads them with you.
Every north suburb has houses. Townhomes and condos are listed in Leander, Cedar Park and Round Rock in the area guides; Pflugerville and Hutto lean toward houses, townhomes and new builds. Compare in the house or condo guide and the Texas condo buyer guide.
Town fit
Town | County | Straight line to the Capitol | Main roads and tolls | Transit | Home types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Williamson, part Travis | About 22 miles | Toll 183A (Mobility Authority); US 183 is not tolled | CapMetro Red Line, Leander Station (north end of the line) | Houses, townhomes, condos; larger lots toward the edges | |
Williamson, part Travis | About 17 miles | Toll 183A; US 183 and RM 1431 are not tolled | Red Line at Lakeline Station, just south in Austin | Houses, townhomes, condos; golf-course and greenbelt lots | |
Williamson, part Travis | About 17 miles | SH 45 North and SH 130, electronic tolling only; I-35 and US 79 are not tolled | CapMetro Routes 50, 152 and 980; Round Rock Rides on-demand service | Houses, townhomes, condos, new builds; older homes near downtown | |
Travis, part Williamson | About 14 miles | SH 45 North and SH 130, electronic tolling only; FM 1825 and I-35 are not tolled | Pfetch a Ride, a city rideshare voucher program | Houses, townhomes, new builds; older homes near Old Town | |
Williamson | About 22 miles | SH 130 is a toll road; US 79 and FM 685 are not tolled | CARTS rural service (check current routes) | Houses, townhomes, new builds; acreage on the edges | |
Williamson | About 25 miles | SH 130 is a toll road; I-35, SH 29 and Williams Drive are not tolled | rideGTX, a city discounted-ride program (launched April 2025) | Houses, townhomes, acreage; historic homes near downtown |
Distances are straight-line from each city center to the Texas Capitol, from the area guides (checked October 13, 2026). They are map measurements, not drive times. Toll and transit details come from TxDOT, the Mobility Authority, CapMetro and each city site, linked on each area guide.
LeanderCapMetro Red Line, Leander Station (north end of the line).
Cedar ParkRed Line at Lakeline Station, just south in Austin.
Round RockCapMetro Routes 50, 152 and 980; Round Rock Rides on-demand service.
PflugervillePfetch a Ride, a city rideshare voucher program.
HuttoCARTS rural service (check current routes).
GeorgetownrideGTX, a city discounted-ride program (launched April 2025).Drive times by town. Weekday drive times from all six towns to downtown, the Domain, Apple, Dell, Samsung, Tesla and the airport, with the method and date, are on the north Austin commute table. Property tax rates by town are on the suburb tax rate table.
FAQ
Two dollars for each $500 of consideration, plus an additional 1 percent mansion tax on residences where the consideration is $1 million or more. Source: NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.
For one to three family houses, condo units and co-op apartments: 1 percent if the price is $500,000 or less, and 1.425 percent above $500,000. Source: NYC Department of Finance.
No. The Texas Constitution, Article 8, Section 24-a, bars a tax on the net incomes of individuals. Source: Texas Constitution.
30 days. In Travis and Williamson counties, pass an emissions test first, then register at the county tax office. Source: TxDMV.
It is hard in most of the north suburbs. The Red Line from Leander and Lakeline, CapMetro routes in Round Rock and city ride programs help, but most errands assume a car.
Yes. Buyers often make offers before they arrive and use the option period for inspections and document review. See buying from out of state and the relocation timeline.
Sources
Town facts come from Ken's area guides, checked October 13, 2026. Nothing on this page is tax or legal advice.
Keep reading
Talk to Ken
Call Ken at (737) 307-4848 or send a message, and he can start the search before you arrive.
Ken Jackson, REALTOR, Spyglass Realty. General information, not legal, tax or lending advice.
SPYGLASS REALTY 8501 N MOPAC EXPY STE 110 AUSTIN TX 78759
SPYGLASS REALTY 8501 N MOPAC EXPY STE 110 AUSTIN TX 78759