Just got back from Austin~My Opinion (Houston, San Antonio: real estate market, crime)

[redrockglass]

OK I want to say I have traveled extensively in the west and south.I have lived in many areas and so I have many places to compare Texas to and I am picky!

Austin is beautiful, clean, no graffiti, people are so friendly, and the surrounding areas are the same. It is not like you step out of Austin and you are in the Ghetto. The entire area is awesome.

The people are progressive, they have plently of great places to buy organic food and San Marco (right by Austin) has a upscale outlet mall that is 1.2 miles long. It has Bebe, Coach, Tumi, Etc.

Anyway, it is green, lush and views that will make you think you are in Southern California.

What a great place.

For those of you that are lucky enough to live there, enjoy your beautiful city!

[musicman107]

place to live if you're going to live in Texas, in my own opinion of 54 yrs worth of being a Texan who's seen a great part of this vast state.
Good and bad:
Gazillions of others are flocking here for many reasons.
The real estate market around here is setting records, while most of the rest of the nation is in a big slump.

[Baltic_Celt]

Hello RedRock -

Glad you liked your trip. You make the area sound very appealing. Any chance you're moving there, or were you just vacationing? Nice to hear good feedback on any city/state. It keeps the spirits up of those of us looking to find a new, safe & friendly nest.


Hello MusicMan -

Have the Austin/San Antonio areas had alot of folks who lost their homes in Katrina move in? I know the Huston area has had alot, but I was wondering about other TX areas that have experienced the same & how it's influenced/affected those areas? I have an opportunity to attend schools in either Austin & San Antonio & am just beginning TX research. Thank you for any feedback you can offer.

Cheers, then... Baltic_Celt

[Trainwreck20]

I would not say that there are a lot of former N.O. residents that moved up here (Austin), but there are some. I think the 'absorption' happen much more painlessly here than Houston, due to the smaller numbers relative to the area population. Many were given very good 'start-over' situations (lots of clothing, furniture, housing, etc). I am sure have returned home, too, but there are several new chefs and musicians that have apparently decided to stay

Anyway, if you are wondering how it is compared to what is in the press re: Houston, I don't think there has been a noticeable blip in the crime stats. I am not sure about SA, since they probably got a larger influx, but I don't think it is a significant issue (at least not in the papers).

[deeptrance]

I LOVE AUSTIN!!! I'm in California now, in the wine country (Sonoma County) and I just want to go back to Austin as fast as I can. It's warped to want to live in Texas but I've been in love with Austin since I first visited in 1980 and I moved there in 1990.

It sucks that so many people are moving there that it's driving prices through the roof and traffic is horrible. Used to be able to get out to the 'country' in 20 minutes, now it takes that long just to get to the first ring of suburban sprawl. And they're actually PLANNING for another MILLION PEOPLE in the next 20 years --- goodbye Austin, hello Houston.

Katrina sent Austin's music scene a gift --- we finally got some good Black musicians. One of the Neville Brothers has settled in Austin and many other musicians likewise, and they've helped round out what had previously been an almost all-white music scene. It has always been a great music city but it has had a serious lack of quality jazz and other African-American rooted music. Except blues, always been a great blues city!