Thinking of purchasing a home in Austin, but unsure if it's the right fit

[G'anne]

I have friends lucky enough to live in the Crestview neighborhood. They love it. But the houses are not new. Alot of remodeling and restoration going on. Very charming mid-century neighborhood. Close to transit, shopping and unique eateries. Convenient to downtown. Whenever I visit there are people out walking dogs, jogging or strolling. Quiet, peaceful, friendly in sections south of Anderson Lane.

Another great neighborhood and much less expensive is Wells Branch in North Austin. Too many positives to list, but pretty far from downtown.

IMO Austin beats out Houston any day as long as you enjoy diversity!

[Water4Life]

Originally Posted by DashRiprock

I'd have to agree. In addition to churches and Christians, we have a lot of people who own guns and pickups down here, which can be quite a cultural shock to folks coming from the Northeast. I think California is the place the OP wants to be.

I own a gun as well, therefore I should fit right in.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by Water4Life

I own a gun as well, therefore I should fit right in.

Nice.....for some reason I can't get this mental image of Pam Grier out of my head.

[Dynamoo]

Austin is fine. Move here.

[eirenecat]

Austin is and has been historically more segregated than other big cities in Texas. I've lived in Houston and visited Dallas often and both are more diverse.

It has been my experience that Texas in general is more religious than the northeast. Church is still important socially here in a lot of places even though Austin is probably the most atheist-friendly of the big Texas cities.

One of my closer friends is a single black woman who moved here from Chicago. A great job lured her here, but the culture shock was significant. She has struggled with finding a vibrant, upper middle class black community similar to the one she was a part of in Chicago. She is struggling with finding black men to date here, as that is something that is important to her. She was pretty shell-shocked and depressed for quite a while after she got here. She still flies home to Chicago to get her hair done, and has mentioned several times to me that she hasn't been able to find a really top notch black salon to get her (natural) hair done.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by Water4Life

....I'm seriously however thinking about relocating to L.A. and renting, in lieu of buying in a state like TX, but only time will tell. I plan to visit in early May.

I think that LA will be a better fit.

Anyone who asks a several questions, receives many informed answers and then finds faults (or worse, jumps to inaccurate conclusions) from the informed answers.....shows a level of rudeness that doesn't go over well in Austin (or Texas).

[Ibginnie]

Since the OP has been answered and, the thread has gone way off topic, it is now closed.