Never been to Austin, TX: Please describe it

[Paulmmm]

Originally Posted by eepstein

Highest housing costs of any major city in the south, high amount of property crimes, and horrible traffic. And Austin is overrated??? It shows your tax dollars hard at work with the citys multi million dollar media campaigns!!

Round Rock, leander and Cedar Park have gotta love it! Free false advertising when probably 90% of the "foolish people" coming to this area end up living in the burbs anyway.

Since two people have now stated it as a fact, could one of you two please post where you got the info proving that Austin has "the highest housing costs of any major city in the South"? I'd be curious to see where other cities are on that list. Thanks!

[jobert]

Originally Posted by Paulmmm

Since two people have now stated it as a fact, could one of you two please post where you got the info proving that Austin has "the highest housing costs of any major city in the South"? I'd be curious to see where other cities are on that list. Thanks!

The ratio of median property value to median household income in Austin sits at 3.3, compared to 3.0 for the national average. Some cities are much lower, such as Saginaw MI, at 1.7, but areas such as SF are still high at 7.1, and places overseas are even worse - especially China and Australia.

[Bo]

Some posts above were deleted. This is a relocation thread. It's not a contest where posters compete and argue until the thread settles upon which answer is correct. Offer your opinion and do not take it upon yourself to correct opinions that conflict with your opinion. Leave it to the OP to ask clarifying questions if s/he feels a need to untangle conflicting information.

[Cinnella]

Originally Posted by sinking

I can't agree with there being no mosquito problem. I have lived in south Austin and now in Cedar Park and both areas have had very bad mosquito problems. They don't bother me too much but they really like to devour my girlfriend so I am always spraying different chemicals or using different devices to try to make her more comfortable.

You are right about one thing, though. As someone from the NE it has been very difficult to get used to the roaches and scorpions.

Roaches and scorpions? (Born in Houston, but grew up in the NE. I'm moving back to TX in a couple years, hopefully Austin or San Antonio) Does anyone mind elaborating on the roaches and scorpions? Are they a common sight in houses or on the street??

[rickc007]

Originally Posted by Cinnella

Roaches and scorpions? (Born in Houston, but grew up in the NE. I'm moving back to TX in a couple years, hopefully Austin or San Antonio) Does anyone mind elaborating on the roaches and scorpions? Are they a common sight in houses or on the street??

I have never seen either in Austin.

But I grew up in New York, Roaches were a given.

[Cinnella]

Originally Posted by rickc007

I have never seen either in Austin.

But I grew up in New York, Roaches were a given.

Good to know Rickc007! I admit I would be a wee bit alarmed if Austin had a significant amount of roaches over other parts of America.

My parents are from Houston and my uncle and cousins in Dallas but they've never mentioned roaches being a bigger problem in Texas than anywhere else, or that they are a problem at all for that matter. I've seen a few every couple of years and their sightings are always followed by my scramble to the top of a table or higher surface no matter the situation. Never met a scorpion but I imagine I'd do the same. Give me a thousand mosquitos anyday over one roach or scorpion...

[sinking]

Originally Posted by Cinnella

Good to know Rickc007! I admit I would be a wee bit alarmed if Austin had a significant amount of roaches over other parts of America.

My parents are from Houston and my uncle and cousins in Dallas but they've never mentioned roaches being a bigger problem in Texas than anywhere else, or that they are a problem at all for that matter. I've seen a few every couple of years and their sightings are always followed by my scramble to the top of a table or higher surface no matter the situation. Never met a scorpion but I imagine I'd do the same. Give me a thousand mosquitos anyday over one roach or scorpion...

In the 10 months I was at my house in south Austin I had 5 scorpions in the house and maybe 3 roaches. In the 6 months I have been in Cedar Park I have had zero scorpions and maybe 3 roaches.

[rickc007]

Originally Posted by Cinnella

Good to know Rickc007! I admit I would be a wee bit alarmed if Austin had a significant amount of roaches over other parts of America.

My parents are from Houston and my uncle and cousins in Dallas but they've never mentioned roaches being a bigger problem in Texas than anywhere else, or that they are a problem at all for that matter. I've seen a few every couple of years and their sightings are always followed by my scramble to the top of a table or higher surface no matter the situation. Never met a scorpion but I imagine I'd do the same. Give me a thousand mosquitos anyday over one roach or scorpion...

Roaches don't bother me at all, cuz again I grew up them, way of life.
I've lived in 2 places here, newer places, have not seen one.

Scorpions would scare me cuz of all the old westerns I used to watch.
But they say the Scorpions here are no poisonous, or deadly, in
which case I have no concern about them. Since they don't fly
they are less threating to me than a wasp

To the person that says he has only seen 3 roaches, that is not
how they roll. If you have 1, you have many.
But they are controllable if you have your own home.

[Catherine SW]

Whoever said they were with "vegetarians" who were eating sushi and sashimi like they were going out of style was not with vegetarians. Sorry, but if it has a face - and a fish definitely does - it ain't a vegetable. I cringe when I hear someone say, "I'm vegetarian, but sometimes I eat fish." That's as ridiculous as saying "I'm Catholic, but on some days I'm Jewish." But the more important point is, Austin has a tremendous variety of restaurants that cater to vegetarians or have vegetarian items on their menus. Try being a vegetarian in Pennsylvania. That will give you a new respect for the restaurants in Austin.

[JudyBlue]

Austin loves diversity, as you will see with all the panhandlers on just about every major street intersection.