Rural north of Austin, HELP!?!~ (Georgetown, Cedar Park: sales, rental, mover)

[love roses]

One of our friends lives out past Sun City. It's still pretty undeveloped out that way. Those are the ones that live close to the Lake. If you went further North to Salado, which is NE of Georgetown, it's actually pretty hilly out there. But it would be a very long commute to Braker for you. Probably not near as bad for your wife. But people actually do commute that far.

[brucemc777]

Can I ask some paranoia questions? How much should I worry about some of the television publicized critters that we don't have up north, like scorpions, rattle snakes, killer bees, fiddle-back spiders...? With four young daughters, I worry...

Also, my wife mentioned that basements are far less found around there, where most homes up here have them. Is that a freak of her limited exposure, or is that true, and if so, why?

One last mention: I will miss snow between Thanksgiving and New Year's (otherwise, good riddance!) but I think with neighbors like you folks I will be very happy.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by brucemc777

Can I ask some paranoia questions? How much should I worry about some of the television publicized critters that we don't have up north, like scorpions, rattle snakes, killer bees, fiddle-back spiders...? With four young daughters, I worry...

Also, my wife mentioned that basements are far less found around there, where most homes up here have them. Is that a freak of her limited exposure, or is that true, and if so, why?

One last mention: I will miss snow between Thanksgiving and New Year's (otherwise, good riddance!) but I think with neighbors like you folks I will be very happy.

There are tons of posts about critters. They are here but very very rare. In 10 years in austin I have seen 4 scorpions. I get fireant bites every other month or so, but I am outside a lot. They dont hurt much, but they itch like crazy.

I have heard of rattlesnakes, but havent seen one myself.

There pretty much are no basements here. One of the reasons for basements up north is that a slab foundation doesnt do so good at the frost layer so they dig a deep hole instead. Also, in the hill country it is solid limestone so you cant dig, out east they just arent needed I guess.

[mrsengle]

Originally Posted by brucemc777

Can I ask some paranoia questions? How much should I worry about some of the television publicized critters that we don't have up north, like scorpions, rattle snakes, killer bees, fiddle-back spiders...? With four young daughters, I worry...

Also, my wife mentioned that basements are far less found around there, where most homes up here have them. Is that a freak of her limited exposure, or is that true, and if so, why?

One last mention: I will miss snow between Thanksgiving and New Year's (otherwise, good riddance!) but I think with neighbors like you folks I will be very happy.

I've heard lots of people mention the scorpions, but in the 5 years that I've been here, I've never seen one. The rattlesnakes are mostly a worry in more rural areas, and a heavy rain will draw them out (along with water moccasins and the occassional coral snake).

As for the basements, we don't have them. Part of the reason is the shallow soil, then solid bedrock. We also have lots of clay.

[texastea]

Originally Posted by brucemc777

Can I ask some paranoia questions? How much should I worry about some of the television publicized critters that we don't have up north, like scorpions, rattle snakes, killer bees, fiddle-back spiders...? With four young daughters, I worry...

Also, my wife mentioned that basements are far less found around there, where most homes up here have them. Is that a freak of her limited exposure, or is that true, and if so, why?

One last mention: I will miss snow between Thanksgiving and New Year's (otherwise, good riddance!) but I think with neighbors like you folks I will be very happy.

I've lived here for many years and I've never seen a snake in my yard...I have seen snakes (not rattlers, though) a couple times crossing a road in rural areas. I've only seen a scorpion once when we were camping. We don't have killer bees, but when it warms up in the spring, we get yellow jackets that sting. You have to be vigilant about wasp nests and fireant beds around your home.

About basements...I've seen homes that have "Texas Basements" and it can mean a couple of things. First, if the home is on a hill, playrooms/bonus rooms are sometimes built on a bottom floor that's visible from the back but not the front of the home...maybe called "walk-out basements" in other parts of the country? Second, some bulders call finished-out attic/storage space on the second floor a "Texas Basement."

Have fun looking!

[love roses]

Actually, we do have africanized bees here. There was a story about a family I believe in Buda or Kyle who were out looking at their home as it was being built and something, I think a motorcycle, backfired and they got set off, and the family were swarmed. So you do have to be careful. But contrary to Hollywood lore, they don't swarm unless something disturbs them. I live NorthEast of Austin and have heard of no encounters up here so far. There is information available about how to deal with them if they are ever encountered.

[brucemc777]

OK. Killer bees, but no land sharks.

[texastea]

Originally Posted by brucemc777

OK. Killer bees, but no land sharks.

Mmmmm. maybe. Beware of candy grams.

[brucemc777]

I have for ridiculous reasons (it is closer to the Gulf of Mexico) been highly biased to locating in the Austin area (quit laughing), but as the firm my wife is working with also has locations in the Dallas area, I should ask - Is there any reason (better than the one I have) to prefer locating in one area than the other?

@texastea - omg, someone as old as I am!... :-)

[Trainwreck20]

re: bugs. If you live in a rural area, such as western G'town, you will have scorpions. I grew up in the area, and was stung many times. Very similar sting to wasps, so unless you are allergic - painful bu not dangerous.

Basements - solid rock (or close to it) so very expensive. There are a very few, but not many.

As for Dallas vs. Austin, it is more personal perference. You can probably get a better deal on house/land up in Dallas, but commute is probably better (million variables, though). Dallas is a bigger city, both in reality and personality. It is a matter of personal preference.