a LOT of questions (Houston, San Antonio: fit in, foreclosure, mortgage)

[Newbie2SanAntonio]

After 3-years deployed to Iraq I decided to move to TX (although I've never been there). I need the warmth, not only from the sun but from what I've heard of the friendly folks in and around the Austin area.

From viewing online, I've discovered Georgetown, Pfugerville, and Round Rock are more towards my liking; however, I don't have that much money to spend ($1-130,000). My milk-money can't seem to keep up with my caviar taste.

To make matters wose (or better), this will be my first home I'm purchasing. Remember back to those days and how overwhelming it was for you. Yeah, my head's spinning and I haven't even stepped foot in the state. I am planning a recon mission of sorts towards the end of this month to determine whether the aforementioned towns look as good in person as they did on line.

Other than reading online, asking the advice of family and friends (which all tends to differ) and researching from you, what would you recommend I do?

Also, I heard that I need to be careful taking "sweetheart foreclosure" deals. Is there a particular law in TX which allows somebody to take back their house after all of the paperwork has been signed? I also heard that HUD homes are bad...any comments?

[love roses]

We live in Hutto and paid 150K for ours. Hutto is between RR and Georgetown. Pflugerville is closest to Austin proper. You can find homes in that range in either of the towns listed. Staying East of 35 will probably be easier to find something in that range as opposed to West. I know nothing about foreclosure law, but I do have some friends in town who purchased a foreclosure and another 2 in RR who did, and had no problems at all with the purchase. The only fixes they had to do were cosmetic.

[HappyTexan]

Plenty of homes in Pflugerville in your price range if you stay in the older neighborhoods. Homes there are late 80's early 90's built, about 1600-1800 sq feet on nice lots with mature trees. Pflugerville schools are good and that helps with resale value down the road.

Personally I'd stay away from HUD homes as they are usually sold "as is" and are not exactly in the best areas of town.

[austin-steve]

After 3-years deployed to Iraq I decided to move to TX

Thank you for your service, and welcome to Texas.

If you stay in the outlying suburbs of Austin, you can find homes in your range. Hutto, Manor, Kyle, Georgetown, Plugerville all have homes available in your range. Even south Austin has homes available for $125K if you don't mind a smaller older place.

Steve

[jamestown1]

Originally Posted by Newbie2Austin

After 3-years deployed to Iraq I decided to move to TX (although I've never been there). I need the warmth, not only from the sun but from what I've heard of the friendly folks in and around the Austin area.

From viewing online, I've discovered Georgetown, Pfugerville, and Round Rock are more towards my liking; however, I don't have that much money to spend ($1-130,000). My milk-money can't seem to keep up with my caviar taste.

To make matters wose (or better), this will be my first home I'm purchasing. Remember back to those days and how overwhelming it was for you. Yeah, my head's spinning and I haven't even stepped foot in the state. I am planning a recon mission of sorts towards the end of this month to determine whether the aforementioned towns look as good in person as they did on line.

Other than reading online, asking the advice of family and friends (which all tends to differ) and researching from you, what would you recommend I do?

Also, I heard that I need to be careful taking "sweetheart foreclosure" deals. Is there a particular law in TX which allows somebody to take back their house after all of the paperwork has been signed? I also heard that HUD homes are bad...any comments?

I would chill on the homebuying thing until you at least see Texas for yourself. It is nice, but it doesn't suit everyone, even so. That wouldn't say much for a city if it did. People in Austin are not quite what we imagine they would be like when we conjure images in our heads. Its as friendly as any other place, with just as much if not more traffic, big-box stores, and all that. Also, one of the highest ratios of men to women, I believe highest of any large city. Most of the available women are college-age, so if you are looking for anyone unattached over 24 you might have problems. Also, many of the jobs are low-paying service and retail-orientated, much of it because of all the retail and such that popped up with all the growth. A multitude of bars and clubs and restaurants adds a lot of the job growth as well. Just make sure you live out here for awhile before you decide you like it enough to make a mortgage committment. That's a hell of a step for someone who's never been to an area, just going by top 10 lists on the web!

[austifornian]

While you're here you should also swing by Houston and San Antonio as two other good affordable options with healthy job markets.

As far as foreclosure deals, there are sweetheart deals but in large markets there are a lot of sharks that swim in that pond. If there is meat left on the table for a novice it is generally because it is meat that the sharks don't want to eat. Anybody can do it but it takes a lot of work and knowledge to make a profit in line with the risks involved.