Anyone want to vent about Austin? (Round Rock, Georgetown: houses, neighborhoods, living)

[austin_or_sd]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

The property taxes are sky high. Don't think you're getting that great of a deal. The monthly mortgage payment, taxes, & insurance on a $250K house in Austin is equivalent to a $500-600K house in CA.

In CA, for a $500 - $600K house, the annual property tax rate is about 1.1% of house value. If the property is a newer house, it will most likely add Melo-Ross tax on top of it which varies from area to area. My friend recently bought a new home in San Diego. The rax rate is about 1.4%. With this rate, the tax will be $7000 - $8400.

For a $250K house in austin, the tax is about $7500 (with avreage 3% tax rate). So the tax part is about the same. But the mortgage will be so much different for a $250K in Austin comparing to a $600K house in CA. Besides, yuo will likely get a lot more for a $250K house in Austin than a $600K house in CA, at least in San Diego.

[AustinGuy]

Originally Posted by austin_or_sd

Besides, yuo will likely get a lot more for a $250K house in Austin than a $600K house in CA, at least in San Diego.

This is definitely true in the outskirts and suburbs of Austin, but 250k in central Austin won't buy you much.

[mrsengle]

Or sometimes I enjot taking the gloves off and duking it out over lunch at Magnolia cafe. One day, the people in the booth next to us overheard and joined in and we had a real fun convesration (but never ended up agreeing on anything).

Now see, that's cool! I appreciate that sort of interaction, and it's always nice to meet new people like that.

The Seattle area really really is not the place for conservatives. People DO care where your politics lay, there. And make judgements based on it.

That was my thought before I made the trip, and I think you're right about spending more time there to get a 'feel' for the social environment. I was wondering also about areas like Bellvue that are close to Microsoft. Is Microsoft considered the Devil in Seattle? I hear conflicting things.

I think if most of us, if we truly examine our beliefs, cross over on several topics. I actually think there are way more Liberatarians among us than we even know. Many people are Liberatarians and don't know it.

I think that's probably true. Kind of like the 'silent majority.'

Raised with conservative family that didn't allow for different opinions. I, of course, was attracted to the liberal side, especially in college. But, I have gradually noticed the bs inconsistencies of lefties also. Of course, we all are human and subject to being creatures of contradiction.

I was raised this way also, but I didn't pay much attention to politics until I was older and had a better understanding of how public policy affected me. It's one thing to debate the virtues of a political philosophy, and quite another to argue the real-life effects they have.

I hope you all have a fun and safe Super Bowl Sunday!

[austin-steve]

The monthly mortgage payment, taxes, & insurance on a $250K house in Austin is equivalent to a $500-600K house in CA.

This is NOT true. If you want to make a claim like that, post your numbers.

The tax rate in the city of Austin is about 2.75%. Also, from what our California buyers tell us, your HOA fees are WAY higher in CA for comparable amenities in Austin. A home in a planned community here, with pools, parks, open space, hike and bike trails, good schools, etc. will have HOA fees of about $350 to $550 per year. From what I've been told, you're looking at $200+ per month for that in CA. You have to factor that in to your Property Tax equation.

Also, if you really want to compare true cost of ownership, don't forget to factor the amount of income tax confiscated from your paycheck by the State of CA. In Texas, we pay no income tax. Our gas and food are way cheaper too. And so on and so on ...

A family of 4 can live very, very well in Austin on a $100,000 income. Can that happen in California?

OK, a bit of a rant, but I get steamed when people want to pull the Property Tax card and ignore the rest of the cost of owning/living equation.

Steve

[jwb123]

Is Microsoft considered the Devil in Seattle? I hear conflicting things.

*some* people consider it the devil - generally, those people are burned up because they had a bad experience there, or MS used them as contractors forever, never making them a "blue badge" so they could get benefits.

*some* people also consider Starbucks the devil - there is a popular shirt and and bumper sticker that says "Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks."

Of course, people still drink Starbucks (though there a million different better options) and people still work at Microsoft and they are fine with it. My husband did.

People in Seattle think a lot of things are the devil.... Republicans, Minivans and SUV's, people not recycling, some people think those who have kids are the devil, eating meat, Big Box stores, and any store or restaurant that is not NW based, or is a chain. Most anything consumeristic and mainstream can be considered the devil by some group of Seattlites somewhere...

That was my thought before I made the trip

And it's true.

However, if you aren't living IN seattle - but more on the eastside suburbs, people are less in your face about it.

Bellevue, most parts, are very nice. It has some less desirable areas.

[austin_or_sd]

Originally Posted by AustinGuy

This is definitely true in the outskirts and suburbs of Austin, but 250k in central Austin won't buy you much.

Hi Austin Guy,

In a typical neighborhood of central Austin, how much would it cost for a basic 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage and 2000 sqft house?

Can you give me the zip codes so that I can check it out myself?

[AustinGuy]

Originally Posted by austin_or_sd

Hi Austin Guy,

In a typical neighborhood of central Austin, how much would it cost for a basic 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage and 2000 sqft house?

Can you give me the zip codes so that I can check it out myself?

It really depends on how "central" we are talking about. Take a look at 78703 for very central properties in nice neighborhoods like Tarrytown, Bryker Woods, Old Enfield, and Clarksville. I would say you are looking at 450k+ to get a decent 2000 sq ft house in that zip with many going much higher depending on the exact area.

You can also look south of the river in 78704 (a bit more funky) or up a bit more north to the Hyde Park area (78751). Than there is Rosedale (78756) and Crestview (78757) -- these will be a bit cheaper.

The statesman has a nice rundown of the neighborhoods here:

http://www.statesman.com/classifieds...ods/index.html

[austin_or_sd]

Wow, these houses look just like CA but with higher property taxes. For example, the house at 2902 Clearview Dr, Austin, TX 78703. It has only 1720 SQFT and it is built in 1945. It has no view or big yard The listing price is $539K. Unbeliveable, the house price would vary so much from place to place.

[AustinGuy]

Originally Posted by austin_or_sd

Wow, these houses look just like CA but with higher property taxes. For example, the house at 2902 Clearview Dr, Austin, TX 78703. It has only 1720 SQFT and it is built in 1945. It has no view or big yard The listing price is $539K. Unbeliveable, the house price would vary so much from place to place.

Yes, it doesn't make much sense to me. It seems like the price drop off for a 15 minute drive outside of the primest neighborhoods in Austin is much greater than the similar price dropoff in San Diego/Los Angeles/etc. That house on Clearview is in Tarrytown which is probably our most expensive older neighborhood.

Tarrytown is nice and all, but IMHO is not worth the current price & property tax bills that go along with them. Renting a house is a much better deal in that neighborhood at the current time.

[austin-steve]

In a typical neighborhood of central Austin, how much would it cost for a basic 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage and 2000 sqft house?

Do you define "Central" by proximity (drive time) to downtown or is it more of a look and feel, age of homes matter for you?

What we call "Central" keeps expanding outward as people's perceptions change. To me, anything within a 20 minute drive of downtown is "close in", maybe not "central" per se, but just about. This would include the 78745 zipcode in South Austin.

To answer your question, you can find good 2000 sqft homes "close in" for less than $200K.

The core Central neighborhoods are going to run $400K and up for 2000 sqft, but there are not many homes that big in the Central areas. Living "Central", in the very close in areas means trading square footage for location.

Steve