Moving to Austin-safe neighborhood & affordable? (San Antonio, San Angelo: work, house, subdivision)

[rekab]

Hello all,

My wife and I are moving to Austin, as is my son, his wife and his 3 children. His price range for a house I suspect is from about $120,000-$160,000. Our house price can be higher but we would like to live in the same neighborhood.

Our main concern (beside something we can afford) is a safe, peaceful neighborhood.

Additional issues but of less importance is avoiding a long commute for my son, and that my wife and I are in the process of internationally adopting a Vietnamese child so living in or around a part of town with an Asian influence would be a plus.

Thank you for any help you can give. Our projected move is in 6-12 months.

[neddy]

Where is he commuting to?

[rekab]

Hi Neddy, I worded that poorly. My son is an electrician who does a lot of commercial work so he would be working in and all around Austin a lot I think, so living in a place too far on the outskirts of Austin wouldn't be as good, I don't think. My son's family and then my wife and I are both moving there at the same time, basically.

[llkltk]

Try Pflugerville, Kyle or Hutto. Those towns would be in your price range.

[texastea]

Check into Anderson Mill...its convenient, in a nicer area of town, lots of parks, Round Rock ISD schools, and there are homes in all price ranges. Its an older neighborhood though so some of the homes are fixer-uppers.

If you go to austinhomesearch.com and put "Anderson Mill" in the property search...you'll see what I mean about price ranges

[dds]

We live in Scofield Farms - many Asian families here as well as proximity to many Asian-related businesses on North Lamar, within a 5-10 minute drive. Homes would probably fit your price range, although they may be a little expensive for your son. He should be able to find an affordable home nearby, however.

I also agree with the poster who recommended Anderson Mill - I have several friends that live there and it seems to be a well-planned and well-located neighborhood.

[graygriffin]

do you have a house/area picked out for yourself yet?

[rekab]

Thanks for the great responses so far. No, we don't have a home picked out yet (edit: or a particular area either). We want to get in the same neighborhood as our son, or at least very close by, so we'll probably let him pick first to make sure he can afford where we are. (We are moving from San Angelo, he's moving from San Antonio).

DDS, I have been looking at Scofield Farms (nice neighborhood but as you say, it may be a bit out of my son's range; looks like Milwood, Lamplight, and Northwood subdivisions are in the same zip and maybe not quite as expensive?

[dds]

I have known people who lived in Northwood and Milwood and they were both very happy with the neighborhoods. Lamplight Village, at least in my experience (driving through), seems a little more run down but others may have more information than I do. Also, because of the way school district lines were drawn, Scofield & Lamplight are in Pflugerville ISD and the other 2 neighborhoods are in Austin ISD. Our child is not in school yet, so I can't comment on schools at this point though - but thought I would point this out.

[satanoid]

Neighborhoods near south lamar have a *huge* number of vietnamese people in them. Awesome food, too!