Moving to Austin, family, schools, larger lots (Spring, San Marcos: HOA, low crime)

[WhiskeyMike]

Hi all, my family and I are relocating to Austin in the next month for a job opportunity. I'm familiar with Austin from a lot of travel there, but have no insight to the neighborhoods and school systems. I've read through similar threads, but haven't found a similar scenario with the same likes and dislikes my family has.

These are the things that are important to us. If you can take that into account and recommend areas for us to look into further, we'd appreciate it.

Family of four, one child in high school (10th), one in middle school (7th). The one in high school is leaving a medical magnet program here in Florida and would love to continue in a similar program if it exists. The one in middle school is a tech kid and would like something similar if there's a school specializing in technology. Regardless, we are looking for good strong schools.

My new employment is just south of downtown near I-35. A 30 minute commute, 45 max would be ideal.

We would love some land with out buildings. We spent the last 10 years in a near zero lot line home and would love some space. Minimum would be 1/2 acre, but really hoping for 1-5 acres if it's possible. The outbuilding I'm looking for is a garage/shop for working on jeeps (for fun, not commercially), but clearly want to avoid ordinance/HOA issues that would prohibit having a shop.

Would love water access or views.

Low crime, good shopping for groceries, standard retail.

Budget is 250-400k, but looking for good value/investment. I don't want to go to the latest trend that has a high premium that may not last.

Thanks! The whole family is really excited about moving to Austin.

[CarnivalGal]

You can check out Dripping Springs / Driftwood, but you will be hard pressed to find anything with that lot size for under $400K

[neddy]

You might try looking in the Leander, Liberty Hill area for land but in Liberty Hill area you are going to find fewer school program options than you mignt find in Leander schools due to it being a larger school district.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by neddy

You might try looking in the Leander, Liberty Hill area for land but in Liberty Hill area you are going to find fewer school program options than you mignt find in Leander schools due to it being a larger school district.

But if he's working south of Downtown near 35, there's no way that's going to be less than the 45 minute commute max he desires.

[ImOnFiya]

Northwest or Southwest Austin would be best for shopping and schools.

[centralaustinite]

You can't get what you want at your price range. What are your priorities?

You can get the land but not the commute or schools.

You can get the schools and the commute but most likely in a master-planned HOA community in SW Austin. Or something even closer in (on a small lot) and send the kids to probably the best schools in the area (AISD Kealing Academic Magnet MS and Liberal Arts and Science Academy LASA magnet) and have very little commute.

But you will give up the acreage.

If it helps, the total package of what you want (acreage, close-in, strong schools, good shopping) is hard to find in Austin at any price range!

[WhiskeyMike]

Thanks for the recomendations. So far, we've been looking at dripping springs and to the south east, such as Cedar Creek, Bastrop through San Marcos. How would the commutes be from those areas? How would you characterize those areas?

[WhiskeyMike]

Liberty Hill and Leander look nice, but I'd hate to drive through downtown to get to work everyday. I'd prefer a 30 min commute on streets that are an interesting drive as opposed to rush hour traffic on expressway(if Austin has a lot of that)

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyMike

Thanks for the recomendations. So far, we've been looking at dripping springs and to the south east, such as Cedar Creek, Bastrop through San Marcos. How would the commutes be from those areas? How would you characterize those areas?

It tells me that you are prioritizing land over schools. (Dripping Springs would have the best schools out of the lot). And most likely if you commute at typical times, you are stretching beyond 30 minutes -- especially during the fall and winter.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyMike

Thanks for the recomendations. So far, we've been looking at dripping springs and to the south east, such as Cedar Creek, Bastrop through San Marcos. How would the commutes be from those areas? How would you characterize those areas?

With the exception of Dripping Springs, your commute will be hell and frankly, those schools are not the best.