Recommendations for communities that might meet our needs (Austin, West: houses, rent)

[deeptrance]

Hey, locals, what about Wimberley? Wouldn't that offer a balance of qualities that Sampaguita is looking for? And you can definitely find a nice place there for under 400K still. Also, I think Blanco is a fantastic little town and it's only 45 minutes to either Austin or San Antonio. Schools? I don't know ANYTHING about schools in these towns.

AustinTraveller is right about the pricing problem with central Austin. But one option there is to accept a smaller place. I've been downsizing with each of my last 3 moves and am now in only 400 square feet. I love it! Sure, I'm single with nobody but a dog sharing my space, but I have friends who are married with children who have also downsized and they feel exactly the same way about space. Go for quality, not quantity, and don't keep so much stuff. Life is simpler and more manageable that way, then you can focus your energy on something other than keeping all that space clean, furnished, and decorated. Like, spending time with the family just talking or watching a movie together --- smaller spaces bring the family closer together.

[Sampaguita]

Wow! I don't check in for a couple of days and look at the wealth of info!

We currently live in what is considered a semi-urban environment right now. I guess urban would describe living in down-town San Diego.

I realize that there is a trade-off to living more centrally (like Hyde Park - thanks for the suggestion...anyone know the zip there?) - smaller house. We live in a 1300 sf Spanish Revival now so even if we got to 1800 sf or so, we'd be happy. We basically need 3 bdrms/2baths and office space.

We do need a little more space though because we have disabled apparatus that takes up room and no telling what the future will bring with MS. Right now, DH's wheelchair has just about taken out all our doorways and I have a nice dark line on all my kitchen cabinets from DH trying to maneuver around our tiny kitchen. We simply need more space for him to maneuver without gouging all the furnishings, walls & doorways.

These neighborhoods have more of a neighborhood feel to them than any suburb I've ever lived in. They might be expensive and the houses may be older and smaller but to me the lifestyle more than makes up for it.

...couldn't agree with you more AustinTraveler! That's one of the reasons we love our neighborhood.

Here's a question: our 1300 sf house is estimated to be around 525k (crazy, right?) - 2bd/1bath on 4k sf property. Would prices in the areas you're all describing be comparable/more/less?

I really appreciate all your feedback. When it comes time to make this move, I'll know where to start.

[deeptrance]

Originally Posted by Sampaguita

...Hyde Park - thanks for the suggestion... anyone know the zip there?

78751. Also check out the 78722 zip code. 78704 is great but kind of over-hyped and thus over-priced but you might be able to find a good deal there if you put some work into it.

Originally Posted by Sampaguita

Here's a question: our 1300 sf house is estimated to be around 525k (crazy, right?) - 2bd/1bath on 4k sf property. Would prices in the areas you're all describing be comparable/more/less?

It's very likely to be less expensive here, but it depends on neighborhoods. Almost all areas around Austin are much less expensive than anywhere in San Diego, but central Austin has some extremely pricey places such as Pemberton Heights. You couldn't TOUCH anything there for less than 800K and you'd be getting a tear-down or a cute bungalow with 1500 sq ft. Other than that, you'll find things to be more reasonable here but don't dawdle, prices are continuing to rise because there are so many of us ex-Californians moving here and driving up the prices!

[AustinTraveler]

Check out AustinHomeSearch.dot and then search under zones 1B and 4. This will give you an idea of home prices in Central Austin.

In my neighborhood (in 1B), you could get a house like yours for about $350. For a 3/2 plus an office you will pay at least $500K, especially if it has been updated. There are some nice larger homes for sale now that I have seen but all of them are two story homes (due to small lots).

There are some nice neighborhoods close to Central Austin also like Northwest Hills, Cat Mountain, Mt. Bonnell, Balcones, and Highland Hills. These areas aren't walking distance to stores, restaurants, etc. but very convenient to everything. The homes are older but more like 70's and 80's. I think you could find a one story larger home in one of those neighborhoods for around $400K. For those areas, search 1B for Highland, Bonnell and Balcones, and 1N for the others.

I realize I probably sound like a real estate agent (and I probably should be one!) but I'm not; just very interested in it.

[deeptrance]

Originally Posted by AustinTraveler

Check out AustinHomeSearch.dot and then search under zones 1B and 4.

What about 1A, 3, and 5

Your preferences are heavily weighted!

Just messing with you, I think we're giving Sampa a very good balance of feedback that is actually USEFUL (props to us for being so helpful, and we're not even agents!)

Speaking of not being agents, I could parrot what you said. I love property, geography, demographics, trends, housing, ALL of it! That's why this is my new home for random Web chat, I don't even go to any other forums now. But there are too many agents and most of their work has little to do with the things we're talking about, the stuff we enjoy. Maybe we should meet up and start a location consulting business so we can channel our analytical expertise into a useful occupation!

[AustinTraveler]

A useful occupation...now that would be a new one for me!!!

[deeptrance]

AustinTraveler has just provided a demo of what it means to be a TRUE Austinite: A Slacker! By the way, AT, which one were you in the movie?

[AustinTraveler]

I was the good looking, classy one.

SNORK

[deeptrance]

Hey, I knew people who worked with Linklater on that flick and they assured me nobody involved in any aspect of the project had any class. Good looks? I'll give you that one since I don't specifically recall only seeing pathetic-looking losers (including a close friend of mine who shall go unnamed )

If any non-Austinites or newcomers are reading this, see the movie Slacker (NOT the rip-off called "Slackers" with an s) and you'll get a good taste of what Austin was like before the tech boom and the transformation of a city when a couple thousand people with Dell stock became millionaires overnight. Man, how things have changed... I kinda miss the old funky Austin, but I like the new one so I think I'll just roll with it. What the heck, I'm a slacker and I just can't be bothered to care. *snore*

[Trainwreck20]

I was going to college in Austin during the movie, and I can certainly relate . I got my engineering degree and then waited tables in town for several years until I could find a 'proper' slacker job...working at the state! The biggest perk was the 40 hour work week - you could get in trouble if you worked more :P