Really Torn About Moving to Austin (Reno, Howe: real estate market, hotel, houses)

[robertsacamano]

Originally Posted by blakely

The volume of rain we've had recently is very unusual and not typical weather (although we do get some rain storms in the summer).

The bigger issue is your housing budget and desire to live central with a yard.

And as others have pointed out, our public transit is seriously lacking, so that's not an easy solution either.

An old Texan once told me, "When it rains, it never stops. When it stops, it never rains."

[robertsacamano]

Originally Posted by Topaz

This. I made the ridiculous mistake of thinking these ratings mattered when I last bought a house. The only reason I was able to dump the house after a few years is that so many other parents believe this matters, too. High rankings really, really, really don't mean a school will be high quality for YOUR individual child.

Perhaps, but low rankings pretty much mean that a school won't be right for any child. The chances that it will be right for your child are better the better the school is.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by robertsacamano

Perhaps, but low rankings pretty much mean that a school won't be right for any child. The chances that it will be right for your child are better the better the school is.

Nah, low rankings usually just indicate low test scores. It is a huge assumption that the test is measuring something I care about. If you've looked at the test questions, you might see why I don't value them much.

[llkltk]

Austin has like 300 days of sunshine per year. If you can't stand a little El Nino then move somewhere else.

[Aprilsc]

We moved here from Atlanta 8 months ago, and I would say do not come if you don't have to. It's super expensive compared to Atl. We spent $200 just on toll roads last month--no I'm not kidding. The traffic is awful and you will miss all the green trees and mountains of north Georgia as well as decent drive to beautiful beaches. Housing is expensive and property taxes are outrageous. There's no state income tax but we pay $4,500 MORE a year in property tax than we did in Georgia. It might be a cool city for young professionals who live downtown and love the music scene, but raising a family here--no thanks. We are looking for a way to get out of this mess. Good luck.

[theone33]

^so you blindly moved without researching and visiting?

[Aquitaine]

We spent $200 just on toll roads last month

...which you knew you would do when you moved somewhere that needed toll roads to get where you were going.

There's no state income tax but we pay $4,500 MORE a year in property tax than we did in Georgia

Which you also knew you would be doing when you bought a house and the real estate taxes were on the HUD-1 form.

How are these entirely predictable 'features' of living in central Texas able to catch you off guard so much so that you would leave town over them?

[Meadowsketch]

Try southeast austin. (Eg 78744- the subdivision built 2000+). Onion Creek Crossing subdivision was nice

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Topaz

Nah, low rankings usually just indicate low test scores. It is a huge assumption that the test is measuring something I care about. If you've looked at the test questions, you might see why I don't value them much.

I havent looked at the star questions, but I did look at the taks. They seemed fine and were basic math and reading. If a school is not able to get their kids to do basic math and reading I dont want my kids to go there.

[Aprilsc]

Originally Posted by theone33

^so you blindly moved without researching and visiting?

Originally Posted by Aquitaine

...which you knew you would do when you moved somewhere that needed toll roads to get where you were going

Of course we visited and researched. And we try to take non toll roads as often as possible, however they charge exorbitant rates. Much more than any other city I have been in.

Which you also knew you would be doing when you bought a house and the real estate taxes were on the HUD-1 form.

How are these entirely predictable 'features' of living in central Texas able to catch you off guard so much so that you would leave town over them?

My point is that property taxes are much higher than where they are coming from. It's not that we didn't know that in the home buying process. Simply that you can get much more home for your money someplace where taxes are $1400 rather than $5000 a year. But hey thanks for criticizing my opinion. Everyone's entitled to one even if it looks unfavorably on your precious Austin.