3bed 2 bath home within 40 minutes drive from DT ATX for $200k? (Austin: for sale, real estate)

[things and stuff]

Seems housing prices in ATX have reached non-coastal California levels in pricing. It used to be possible for a regular white collar family with one income to move there and do well but now I'm not so sure.

Where can one get a decent 3b/2ba home in the ATX metro area that is within a 40 minute drive of downtown Austin (on average)? Preferably a 1700+ sq ft home with a nice master bathroom that is in a neighborhood that has a park or pedestrian trail within walking/biking distance. We telecommute and can live anywhere so rush hour traffic is not a big issue.

Or should I scratch ATX off the list.

[Trainwreck20]

40 minutes in non-peak hours will get you pretty far, as long as you aren't counting driving around looking for a parking spot as part of those 40 minutes. Georgetown over to Taylor, back down the east side past Taylor, down past Bastrop (which is pushing it), and circle back around through San Marcos, then up the west side through Driftwood, Henley, Lakeway, and Liberty Hill. Peak hours add on quite a bit, though THAT will vary a lot more by specific location.

Georgetown shows 7 properties for <200k with >1,700 sf (some a lot more). There is a 2,700 sf house (2003 build) for 180k, although Google maps says 43 minutes. Doubt there is a park close by, but you get a 1/2 acre for that money:
100 N Prairie Ln, Georgetown, TX 78633 | MLS# 3747295 | Listing Information | Austin real estate | Homes for Sale Austin | Austin Homes

7 properties in Buda, as well, with the same criteria, but I am not familiar enough with the addresses to know if there are parks/etc. close by.

[Austin97]

if you go east it is easily doable. There are also some south of parmer north of 183 by harris branch parkway

There are plenty that are 12 miles east of downtown. About 27 minutes

using austinhomesearch.com map function and you will find 20-30 properties within the city limits of austin alone.

[sojourner77]

5 years ago, Far South Austin would have checked those boxes. 10 years ago Far SW Austin could have. Now that price point has moved to SE Travis county.

[creepy]

78747, 78741, 78744, 78724
78724 Real Estate - 39 Homes For Sale | Zillow
Also a few homes in Oak Hill fit the bill.

The problem is the cash investors/flippers will fly in like a vulture and pick em' up cash.

They should probably ban investors for a couple years at the rate in which the market is rising and they are part of the problem. Then again for a seller to be able to sell a home with foundation issues for cash is a good deal. So some kind of balance would be nice.

I personally think Taylor is too far for a commute. Manor yes, Elgin maybe.

All the neighborhoods I mentioned have bikeable areas near parks but maybe some not large parks. Also many are in not the most desirable areas to many but affordable and many, many families do well there. Oak Hill is the one least bikeable probably except within some small subdivisions you would find.

[FalconheadWest]

I have 3 clients I have under contract about $200k with new builds. One is in Georgetown, one is in Buda, and one is in Austin feeding to Del Valle ISD. Austin's Colony has several builders under $200k. It's doable, but your agents needs to know where to look as they aren't in the MLS.

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by creepy

They should probably ban investors for a couple years

Uh you realize this is the United States right?

[ScoPro]

Don't forget Hutto.

[TejasGirl]

You might find something in Ryan's Crossing (my house is going up in a few days) in East Round Rock. Ryan's Crossing is right next to Old Settler's Park (walking distance) and has quick access to the toll.

[sojourner77]

Originally Posted by creepy

78747, 78741, 78744, 78724
78724 Real Estate - 39 Homes For Sale | Zillow
Also a few homes in Oak Hill fit the bill.

The problem is the cash investors/flippers will fly in like a vulture and pick em' up cash.

They should probably ban investors for a couple years at the rate in which the market is rising and they are part of the problem. Then again for a seller to be able to sell a home with foundation issues for cash is a good deal. So some kind of balance would be nice.

I personally think Taylor is too far for a commute. Manor yes, Elgin maybe.

All the neighborhoods I mentioned have bikeable areas near parks but maybe some not large parks. Also many are in not the most desirable areas to many but affordable and many, many families do well there. Oak Hill is the one least bikeable probably except within some small subdivisions you would find.

According to R*df*n (MLS), the amount of available homes under 200K:


78747: 2 homes
78741: 3 homes
78744: 3 homes
78724: 11 homes
78749: 0 homes