Eggers Acres/E. Round Rock?? (Austin, Leander: home equity loan, houses, neighborhood)

[aresgee]

I just found this forum a few days ago and have been reading it voraciously!

We currently live in Balcones Woods (I've lived in Austin since 1980 and have owned houses in Crestview, Brentwood, and Hyde Park) and are looking to take the equity gained in our house (owned it nearly 5 years) and use it to allow my partner to attend nursing school. We've considered a home equity loan, but we want to have less debt, so we want to pay off bills and buy a less expensive house. So, we've been looking at houses. And looking. And we are driving ourselves nuts with the hunt.

Yesterday, we saw a house that we fell in LOVE with...in Eggers Acres, east of I35, just north of Palm Valley (Hwy 79). Built in 1963...it has everything we need and a creek behind it!

The house is perfect for our family of 4 (2 small boys, ages 5 and 2)...but I've researched the schools that this house goes to (Robertson, Hopewell, Stony Point)...and they just don't seem to compare to others in RRISD.

We also drove the neighborhood...and it seems that the street that this house is on, West Oak...must be the star of the neighborhood.

My question is this: does anyone know if this area, Eggers Acres, or the area around it...are trending up or down? It seems with all of the new housing stock in RR...that these houses may just decline further. But that's just my guess. My hope is that someone would advise me that with all of the development further up I35 (IKEA etc)...that this area will pick up.

We don't want to buy one of the nicest houses in a declining neighborhood.

any help would be greatly appreciated!

[jwb123]

I am not familiar specifically with Egger's Acres.

Stony Point has long been the "brunt" of negativity for Round Rock schools. While, in the past, I think that it was deserving - the school district has done a lot to change the perception, and the reality of the school - and knowing kids and families IN that school - I would say they have done a good job at it.

There is only one recognized rated highschool, the rest on par with Stoney Point rated as "Acceptable" - the problem is that Stony Point is older, and to some level, still carries the perceived reputation as being the "bad" school in the district.

Round Rock Independent School District - TEA Ratings

Plus, there is a new highschool going in within the next couple of years, as well as boundary changes for some of the elems... so that will change things.

I think all of Round Rock is in a constant flux of growth and appreciation. While it may not see the appreciation levels that Hyde Park, etc sees right now - I don't think you will see that neighborhood DECLINING ... however, with the NATIONAL home market as it is today, I guess anything is possible.

Of course, now you will get the prerequisite & inaccurate answers following mine to "not buy anything east of 35"....

[aresgee]

thanks so much for your response. I figure that Stony Point is YEARS away for us...and so much can change.

I have a very good friend who is a teacher in RRISD at Forest North who is going to poll her co-workers on Vic Robertston Elementary, since that is the one that we will potentially be attending one year from today. It is academically acceptable...so, that is a good thing. And I do like that it's very multi-cultural. Our sons have two moms...so, the more diverse...the better, we think!

[jwb123]

I figure that Stony Point is YEARS away for us...and so much can change.

Absolutely. Check the RRISD website for boundary changes with the elementary schools for the 08-09 school year. They just voted on it last spring.

Coming from another state, I have a different perception I think, on the schools here than other families. In my opinion, across the board, with RRISD (and Leander ISD) - you can't go wrong... period.

We are from WA and even the school districts that are thought of as "excellent" pale in comparison to RR.