Retiring to Austin - real estate tips (San Antonio, Round Rock: new home, theater)

[Need4Camaro]

Under $350k? Retirement?... ...Sun City...

I'm kidding but realistically you're not getting all the amenities you're requesting for under $350k.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by auntbeebe

Thanks for your positive post.
We would probably do the same thing - Stay in Austin for a few years - and then move back to Cali
What zip code did you live in?

Stay well!!

You are not going to find anything anywhere remotely close to UT for $350K. For that price, you are probably going to be in the suburbs.

[sanmiguel]

Originally Posted by auntbeebe

Thanks for your positive post.
We would probably do the same thing - Stay in Austin for a few years - and then move back to Cali
What zip code did you live in?

Stay well!!

78751. Hancock neighborhood bordering Hyde Park.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by sanmiguel

78751. Hancock neighborhood bordering Hyde Park.

That would be good if she's OK with a small 1-2 bedroom condo. The median home price in that zip code is over $500K. Just checked listings for that zip and there are only 9 properties for sale under $350K, all condos except for one 946 square foot single family home for $349,650 that needs a substantial amount of work and is being sold as-is.

[TexasHorseLady]

If you want to be in/near Austin, in your price range I would second the recommendation of San Marcos and also suggest Georgetown in the area around Southwestern University. Both are a relatively easy commute to Austin assuming you aren't going during rush hour, and you'd still get the kind of generationally mixed neighborhood that you're looking for, and both are active communities. (You might find in Georgetown that a large proportion of the older people are as active as, if not more active than, the youngsters, though.)

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

If you want to be in/near Austin, in your price range I would second the recommendation of San Marcos and also suggest Georgetown in the area around Southwestern University. Both are a relatively easy commute to Austin assuming you aren't going during rush hour, and you'd still get the kind of generationally mixed neighborhood that you're looking for, and both are active communities. (You might find in Georgetown that a large proportion of the older people are as active as, if not more active than, the youngsters, though.)

You perfectly summed up what I was going to suggest. Georgetown is the closest thing to checking off all the items on your list. You will find that Austin has changed significantly since you had your home here. It's far more crowded, expensive, and the population skews very young.

A few other Texas cities you might look into include San Marcos, Denton, College Station, Granbury, and even Fort Worth.

[auntbeebe]

Thanks so much. We are realizing we need to consider the suburbs -
Upside is houses are not so close together -
Like I said - this is an evolving idea - we are going to be driving thru in the end of June (hopefully)
and that should give us a better idea

[auntbeebe]

Thanks - this was so helpful!!

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by auntbeebe

Thanks so much. We are realizing we need to consider the suburbs -
Upside is houses are not so close together -
Like I said - this is an evolving idea - we are going to be driving thru in the end of June (hopefully)
and that should give us a better idea

I guess it depends on what you call "close together"; but most newish builds are on minimum distance between houses if they can get built that way. Anything over about 1/5 acre is considered a "premium" lot.

[texan2yankee]

Originally Posted by auntbeebe

Looking to relocate to Austin for retirement - want a house under $350K
Would like a house in a neighborhood close to music and restaurants -
Also hear the traffic is bad - so would like an area that avoids that as much as possible since
we won't be commuting to work and such.
So neighborhood or zip code suggestions would be appreciated.
We are young spirited and active - so we would like a mixed community - not a retirement community per se.
thanks!!

if you want to live near downtown austin, which is your your criteria if near music and restaurants, your house budget will have to probably be closer to $1m.