Where to live in North Austin? (Round Rock, Georgetown: apartment complexes, rent, mortgage)

[JaredSD]

I posted on here a couple weeks back about moving to Austin in general, and you were certainly quite helpful. I am looking to perhaps purchase in the $250-350k price range. I will be working at The Domain and would like to not have a terrible commute. This pretty much rules out anything south of the city. I have a mortgage lender I am working with and she says that housing around Parmer, Scoffield, and Howard would be a good bet due to the future Apple campus. She also mentioned areas like Round Rock, and someone else mentioned East Round Rock being good but she said that is not good and that is West RR is better.

Unfortunately the value is much better living outside just a little bit, and I would be cool with that. Anyway, thoughts on those areas above? I remember Wells Branch and Tech Ridge being mentioned in my previous post.

Me: 40, single, no kids, like to go out, keep it tame during the week.

[ashbeeigh]

I think others have recommended, and if not, I’m going to say it. Rent for a while before buying. You may come to find out you hate thecarwa you bought in. Unless your income is so that you can carry two mortgages.

[CalTex Ranger]

I’d take a long look at Parmer Village and the areas from there south to Mopac (Millwood, etc)

There are a ton of apartment complexes along that route that you can rent for the first year or so and see if that neighborhood meets what you’re looking for.

[Austin-HomeGirl]

Jared, I think any of the areas you mentioned would work well and be within your budget. Maybe add Pflugerville into the mix for consideration. I think there are nice neighborhoods on either side of Round Rock and that East/West difference is less prevalent with all the new neighborhoods. Round Rock has a thriving downtown these days. I happen to also love Georgetown though it may be more of a commute than you want. It is only 30 minutes from the Domain but during rush hour would be longer.

You do get more bang for your buck the further you get from Downtown Austin. It is really going to boil down to what you like. Come visit and check out the various areas and see which one feels right to you,

[riaelise]

Lawd, please don't tell me this east/west thing keeps on rearings its ugly head. There are great places to live in East and West Round Rock, you have to go on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis. I live in East Round Rock, and until I retire, I intend to live nowhere else. I'd also definitely check out Pflugerville, but due to location I think RRW, close to the Austin border would work better for you. Brushy Creek area, is where I'm thinking.

The places around the Domain in that price range are "meh" IMHO.