Cynthia Mattiza Associate Broker · Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty
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Guide

West Austin monthly housing costs: the inputs, where to get each one and a worksheet

I’m Cynthia Mattiza, an Associate Broker with Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty. A community does not have a monthly cost; a specific home does. This guide lists every input you need, where to get each number, what to record about it, and a worksheet that adds your own figures, with no market averages or defaults.

By Cynthia Mattiza, Associate Broker Last updated

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Educational, not tax, legal or lending advice — confirm with your CPA and lender.

Why does this guide give no average monthly cost?

Because an average is not your home. The same community has homes on different lot sizes, tax units, districts and insurance profiles, and I would rather you price the real thing. Every input below has a source, and you should write down the date you got it, because quotes expire and rates change.

What are the inputs and where do I get each one?

Collect these for each home on your short list.

  • Mortgage principal and interest (monthly): A written quote from your lender for the specific loan amount, rate, term and date.
  • Mortgage insurance, if any (monthly): The same lender quote.
  • Property tax for this specific property (annual): The county appraisal district record for the property (tax units, rates and exemptions), or the seller’s tax bill, then adjust for your homestead exemption.
  • MUD, PID or other district assessments, if any (annual): The property tax bill and the seller’s disclosure; ask whether the home is in a district.
  • Homeowners insurance (annual): Quotes from insurers for this address.
  • Flood insurance, if the home needs it (annual): A quote from your insurer or an NFIP agent, after checking the flood map for the address.
  • HOA dues and any recurring assessments (monthly): The community’s documents and the seller’s HOA statement.
  • Utilities (monthly): The seller’s recent bills for the same house, with the dates.
  • Internet and phone for the home office (monthly): The provider’s written quote for the exact address.
  • Maintenance and repairs (annual): Your own estimate, informed by the inspection report. Write down how you got it.
  • Septic service, if the home is not on sewer (annual): The maintenance contract or a provider quote.
  • Commute costs (fuel, tolls, vehicle wear) (monthly): Your own tested route from the commute worksheet, multiplied by weekly trips.

How does Texas property tax work for a new homeowner?

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Property taxes are set locally, and the Texas Comptroller says most questions about your appraisal or tax should go to your local appraisal district. Check which county the property is in: most Bee Cave and Lakeway addresses are in Travis County, but parts of the Lakeway and Rough Hollow area and Spicewood addresses in Burnet County are not, so confirm the county and its appraisal district per property.

Homestead exemption. The Comptroller says Tax Code section 11.13(b) requires school districts to provide a $140,000 exemption on a residence homestead. Other taxing units have their own, separate exemptions, so I do not state a combined saving. You apply with the county appraisal district; the Comptroller says the general deadline for filing is before May 1, and Travis CAD says owners who bought in 2025 should apply as soon as they qualify. Travis CAD requires a copy of a Texas driver’s license or ID showing the property address.

The 10 percent cap. After a homestead exemption is in place, the Comptroller says the appraised value may not increase more than 10 percent per year. As general information, this limits growth in appraised value, not changes to tax rates or new improvements.

Protests. Travis CAD says the deadline to protest is May 15 or 30 days after the notice is mailed, whichever is later. The Comptroller’s page words it differently in places (delivered versus mailed), so use the date printed on your notice.

What about MUD taxes and HOA dues?

Ask about both for every home. Some Bee Cave neighborhoods sit in a municipal utility district whose tax adds to the monthly cost, and others do not; in a case study I noted the MUD tax difference between areas such as Bella Colinas and non-MUD areas such as The Uplands. HOA dues, amenity dues and assessments come from the community’s documents, not from a listing.

What about homeowners and flood insurance?

Get quotes for the address. The Texas Department of Insurance says most home insurance policies do not cover flood damage, so check the flood map and get a flood quote early, remembering the typical waiting period. My waterfront guide has the sources for flood zones and lake-area insurance.

How do I use the worksheet?

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Enter each number you collected. The worksheet converts annual figures to monthly and adds everything. It starts empty and uses only your inputs, so the total is exactly as good as your sources. Keep the dates with the numbers, and rerun it when a quote changes.

What should I do with the total?

Compare it with your plan, not with a stranger’s average. If equity compensation funds part of the purchase, read buying with RSUs next, and then ask for a shortlist that matches your number.

Get my West Austin community shortlist

Monthly housing-cost worksheet

Enter your own quotes and bills. Nothing is pre-filled, no figure on this page is a market estimate, and nothing you type leaves your device.

CostYour amountHow oftenSource and date
Mortgage principal and interestWritten quote from your lender for the loan, rate and date
Property taxTravis CAD or the county appraisal district for the exact address, after exemptions
Homeowners insuranceQuote for the exact address
Flood insuranceQuote if the address is in or near a flood zone
HOA dues and assessmentsThe community’s documents
MUD, PID or other district taxesThe tax bill or seller’s disclosure
Maintenance and repairsYour own estimate
Utilities and internetProvider quotes for the address
Commute costs (fuel, tolls, parking)Your commute test results
Your monthly total$0

Quarterly amounts are divided by 3 and yearly amounts by 12. This is the sum of the figures you entered, nothing more.

Educational, not tax, legal or lending advice — confirm with your CPA and lender.

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost per month to own a home in West Austin?

It depends on the specific home. This guide lists the inputs (mortgage, property tax, insurance, HOA, district assessments, maintenance, utilities and commute) and where to get each, instead of quoting an average that may not match yours.

What is the Texas homestead exemption for school taxes?

The Texas Comptroller says Tax Code section 11.13(b) requires school districts to provide a $140,000 exemption on a residence homestead. You apply with your county appraisal district, generally before May 1. Other taxing units have separate exemptions.

What is the 10 percent homestead cap?

After a homestead exemption is in place, the Comptroller says appraised value may not increase more than 10 percent per year. It limits growth in appraised value, not tax rates or new improvements. Educational, not tax advice; confirm with your CPA.

When is the property tax protest deadline in Texas?

Travis CAD says May 15 or 30 days after your notice is mailed, whichever is later. The Comptroller’s wording differs on mailed versus delivered, so use the date printed on your notice and confirm with your appraisal district.

What is a MUD, and do I need to ask about it?

A municipal utility district can add a tax to a home’s monthly cost. Some Bee Cave neighborhoods have one and others do not, so ask for every home, and confirm on the tax bill and in the seller’s disclosure.

Keep going

Cynthia Mattiza

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