Need advice about Austin. (Spring, Leander: real estate, HOA, appliances) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

MexGirl · 02-23-2009, 08:42 AM

Hi ,I currently live in Long Beach,Ca. Am 37yrs old a single mother to a one year old boy. Due to the recent housing market I think I better move and try to find a good solid place to raise my son.I have been in Real Estate over 18 yrs. Also did I say Im Hispanic.But look white.
I have been to Austin and I liked what I saw.But I heard different things . one being that the schools are no good. the other that people still discriminate towards Hispanics.
I'm looking in to the Circle C area and Stainer Ranch. Are the schools there good? Or what area do you suggest.Alao what is this about propane gas in Berletta?
I would like my son to raise in a GOOD neighborhood, a place that I can walk him to school and do lots of outdoor things.I plan to keep teaching my son spanish and to teach him about our culture and to be proud of being hispanic, and to respect all cultures. I don't want to loose this by moving.
Thank you for your advice.

Trainwreck20 · 02-23-2009, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Also did I say Im Hispanic.But look white.

Very few people will care, really, and odd as it may seem, probably less so in the nicer areas.

Quote:

I'm looking in to the Circle C area and Stainer Ranch. Are the schools there good?

Very nice neighborhoods, very good schools. You will have to pick your house site based on your desire to walk to school, but it is quite possible. (Steiner Ranch).

iceshots · 02-23-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MexGirl

[i].Alao what is this about propane gas in Berletta?

I assume you mean Belterra in Dripping Springs.

Belterra is a master planned community where you could definitely walk your son to school for elementary, though depending on which part of Belterra you are living in, it could be a longer walk. I am pretty sure you will have to bus to the middle school.

The propane issue relates to the fact that Belterra has been built with primarily gas appliances, and has a community central propane system. That means each house is hooked up to a pipeline just like natural gas, instead of having individual propane tanks on the property. So everything looks nice and neat and you do not have ugly above ground propane tanks or buried units, with ugly propane delivery trucks running up an down the road. Sounds good.

The downside to this is that you are contracted with one propane company to deliver you propane and they decide what price you are paying. If you don't like the price, don't use any propane. You cannot get delivery from someone else since it is all in the central system. Some residents have reported paying higher than market value prices since there is no competition in the area. The Belterra developer still controls the HOA which controls the contract, so he decides who is delivering your propane and at what price.

This does not mean you should rule Belterra out, just be aware of the good points and bad points of an area.

Many other developments out there also have these community propane systems, so do your research when you buy. If the house uses gas heat, find out if it is natural gas or propane, and if propane, is it a central system or a private tank?

Most people I have met that live in Belterra like it very much. The good outweighs the bad.

Good Luck.

MexGirl · 02-23-2009, 12:20 PM

Thank you for your advice.

iceshots · 02-23-2009, 07:21 PM

Can some of the Steiner Ranch and Circle C residents chime in here?

I know you're out there.

Jennibc · 02-23-2009, 07:43 PM

All the schools in Circle C are rated Exceptional and parents really seem to love them. My son is having some challenges but that may have to do with his difficulty regarding transitions. We've only been here a few weeks so I cannot go into more detail than that in terms of schooling.

I prefer Circle C to Steiner Ranch because it is closer to downtown, and for me, moving to Austin means being close enough in that I can take advantage of what the city has to offer. We can get to town lake in less than 15 minutes on the weekend. If we were up in Steiner, I doubt we'd ever get down there.

artsyguy · 02-23-2009, 08:06 PM

I don't know about the public school for kids; however, there is absolutely no Hispanic culture in Austin.

10scoachrick · 02-23-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artsyguy

I don't know about the public school for kids; however, there is absolutely no Hispanic culture in Austin.

Now there's a helpful response!

LookingtoLeave · 02-23-2009, 11:02 PM

I think you will find that Austinites are welcoming of different cultures, so you should hopefully fit right in here. I don't know who told you the schools are no good, b/c that's not entirely true. Some are, some aren't--as is the case in most cities. Once you get out towards the suburbs, you may be in schools that better suit you. Steiner Ranch is supposed to have a wonderful school. My son is in the Leander district and I can tell you first hand it's wonderful. Just keep doing your research and it will come together. Best of luck.

LookingtoLeave · 02-23-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artsyguy

I don't know about the public school for kids; however, there is absolutely no Hispanic culture in Austin.

That's a blanket statement and considering our distance from Mexico, I can tell you that's not true. It may not be prevelant in Steiner Ranch or up north, but to say Austin is a bunch of bs and you know it.