101 Austinism You wish Someone Had Told before You Moved There (Round Rock: rental, home)

[cBach]

Originally Posted by spelrod

Here's a copy of my electricity use for my 2 bedroom townhouse. Older buildings, air running, electronics up the wazoo, all electric appliances with 2 people. I'd say $200/month for a 1 bedroom is going to be on the high side unless you're a polar bear.



Also, make sure you learn the multiple names for the same street, which name is actually used and also how to pronounce them.

Agree - my bill rarely exceeds $200 for a 4 bedroom house so an apartment should rarely even get close, unless you have your thermostat set at a non efficient temperature (read cold).

[sinking]

Water/trash, and electricity are definitely more expensive for me in Cedar Park than they were in Austin. I never had a electric bill over $130 in Austin even in August but my bill has been over $180 in the winter in CP for a smaller house.

[ScoPro]

During 100 degree weather, our electric bill has consistently run over $200/month to cool 2,100 square feet (with 10' ceilings throughout) since we moved to the Round Rock area in 1995. Our new home was fully insulated and has the double pane windows and a well-ventilated attic, but no shade trees next to the house.
Last June - $217
July - $231
August - $270
Sept. - $260.

We're on TXU Electric.

It ran more (almost $400 in August) when we lived in Austin for a similar sized house, but that was 1970s construction with single pane windows (but we blew in lots of attic insulation) and three boys living at home.

[cBach]

I guess the shade trees really makes a difference then and being in Austin is much cheaper too.

[sinking]

Originally Posted by cBach

I guess the shade trees really makes a difference then and being in Austin is much cheaper too.

My take has been the houses are more expensive in Austin but the taxes and utilities are less than Williamson County where the houses are cheaper but the utilities and taxes are high.

Lenders do not take into account utility costs so because of what they restrict you to you may end up paying more in the end.

[sxrckr]

Originally Posted by sinking

My take has been the houses are more expensive in Austin but the taxes and utilities are less than Williamson County where the houses are cheaper but the utilities and taxes are high.

The taxes in most parts of Austin are still not low by any stretch of the imagination.

[sinking]

Originally Posted by sxrckr

The taxes in most parts of Austin are still not low by any stretch of the imagination.

Hell no...just lower than WilCo.

[ScoPro]

My Wilco taxes were $4200 last year, but that included the high Brushy Creek MUD tax too.

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by die Eichkatze

East-West streets in downtown are in order numerically going north...4th, 5th, 6th, ect...

But in true Austin fashion, there are also numbered streets that run north-south, south of the river.

[sinking]

Expect to unexpectedly end up sitting at a light in a turn only lane that had been a straight traffic lane for miles.