relocating from Coral Gables FL to Austin...help us make the right choice, please! (Spring: lease)

[ezcoralgables]

We are thinking about moving to Austin and are looking for advice on areas to live that have top notch daycares/preschools/elementary schools and highschools. We haven't bought a home, we plan to rent for the first year and would like to make sure that wherever we move, we are in a great location for our little peanuts (2, 3, 7, and 13 ). We are looking to live in a community filled with young families like ourselves that has easy access to desired amenities.

Thanks in advance for your help/insight!

[TexasHorseLady]

Price range? (For renting and for purchasing.) What other interests do you have? Where are you likely to be commuting to?

[ezcoralgables]

Sorry I forgot to include some more crucial info, we want a really safe area with good parks, trails, community activities (especially for kids), great schools, and a sprouts/whole foods/other organic style market within 15 minutes.

Our ideal place to live would have excellent schools (most important) unique restaurants and boutiques that are all very close by. Concerts and movies at the park, trails to walk/bike on, etc.

We would like to rent a 3/4 bedroom house under $2k.

Thanks in advance!

[ezcoralgables]

I've read about the Eanes Indep. School District and how great it is. What neighboorhood could we live in to have our kids go to these schools?

[TexasHorseLady]

There are, on the MLS, a handful of houses with 3 bedrooms for lease (today) for $2,000 or slightly under in the Eanes ISD. Those are in Westlake Park, Barton Springs Estates, Westlake Highlands, and Woodhaven. All of those are in zip code 78746. They range from 1200 to a hair over 2,000 sq. ft.

To check out the schools, you can look at the ratings, and then check with Great Schools for some parental feedback, keeping in mind that a school that is great for one child can be a disaster for another and vice versa, and test scores don't tell the whole story by a long shot, so keeping your own children and their individual needs in mind.

[third on the way]

You may want to look into the Circle C area or Legend Oaks....great schools, young families, walking trails, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes, and somewhat "newer" houses. You will be close to many things. Whole Foods would be about 15 to 20 minutes to the larger store in downtown Austin. (their "flagship" store with an ice skating rink on the top floor). BUT rent will be in the 2k mark if not higher. Also there are many little boutique-ish stores aroung the Hill Country area and I believe a spa or two.