Need advise (relocating to Austin) (Round Rock, Cedar Park: property taxes, housing, rent)

[garlic]

Hello,

I am a IT manager and my wife is in Biotech (Quality Control) and are currently based out of Boston.

We have heard great things about Austin and are interested in relocating. Can you guys give us some idea on the type of job market that exists in Austin. Is there a healthy job market for IT professionals and also for biotechnology professionals.

What is a good area to live in? How do I go about researching in Austin?

Any advise would help!

Thanks

[Jezer]

Hello garlic.

Can't help you on any of your questions!

Just to say, it's a lovely place with great places to visit both in the city and out.

Lake Travis is wonderful.

[TexasHorseLady]

How about more information than what you do for a living as far as what's a good area to live in? What are your other interests, what do you like to do, do you have kids and thus are school districts important, and all that jazz.

Know lots of IT professionals who live here who appear to be doing well, FWIW. Don't know about biotechnology professionals, but I'll bet I can find some information for you on the job market in general.

[garlic]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

How about more information than what you do for a living as far as what's a good area to live in? What are your other interests, what do you like to do, do you have kids and thus are school districts important, and all that jazz.

Know lots of IT professionals who live here who appear to be doing well, FWIW. Don't know about biotechnology professionals, but I'll bet I can find some information for you on the job market in general.

Hey TexasHorseLady,

I work in digital marketing company and make websites for fortune 100 companies. Have good experience in semi conductor industry as well. My wife is in biotech space with experience in pharamceutical and research companies.
We live in boston and want to relocate. we would be looking for a good school district and jobs for us. The general texan aura attracts us as well as small government and low taxes.

We would be moving from Boston MA where cost of living is generally high. Any advise

[austin-steve]

You'll need to decide your primary three criteria, then you'll get a lot of opinion and information. If the highest rated public schools within a certain budget are your top two, that will narrow things down considerably.

The other big factor though should be your commute. Since you don't know where you'll be working, it's hard to choose an area. You can research where you'd want to be if you worked north vs. south, but I'd wait on making final decisions about housing until you know where you'll be working.

If you end up South, most newcomers end up agreeing that the SW Austin neighborhoods that feed into Bowie or Austin High are the top candidates. That's the 78749 and 78739 neighborhoods.

If you end up north, you have a wider scope of possibilities with all the toll roads. Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, NW Austin have many neighborhoods with good schools.

So, what's your price range and how important are schools? How far/long do you commute at present and is that time and distance acceptable to you? Some Californians tell us "anything under an hour is fine", but my experience is most people, once in Austin, have about a 30 minute threshhold on commute time.

Steve

[austin-steve]

One other thing, when figuring your price range, don't forget to factor in Property Taxes, which will range roughly from 2.2% to 2.7% annually of the market value of your home.

Steve

[garlic]

Thanks Austin-steve

How about job possibilities? how is the biotech industry and the IT industry in austin?

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by garlic

Thanks Austin-steve

How about job possibilities? how is the biotech industry and the IT industry in austin?

From what I hear, they are doing well. Others may know more. Also, the Austin Chamber of Commerce has a wealth of that sort of info. Check this page:
Business & Industry | The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce :: Austin, Texas

Steve

[TexasHorseLady]

Sorry - went to a meeting and ended up showing 95 acres trying to miss the rain! Pretty much what Steve said. Other than work, what are your interests? What do you like to do when you're not at work? That'll help us give pointers to shorten your research time.

[rhino85]

There is a healthy combination of IT and Biotech companies in Austin. The IT industry in Austin is one of the best. I would say NW Austin has the most companies if location to work is a top concern. Not to mention, very good schools. 78759 is really good, Westwood and Round Rock ISD, even though you are still IN Austin, which I would recommend. If you are wanting new construction, you will have to move north and take tolls in. There are many really nice established neighborhoods in NW and SW Austin, both have excelent schools.