School's out FOREVER! Leaving Chicago for Austin with college bound children! (Cedar Park: sales, real estate)

[jenkinsb]

June of 2009 our last child will graduate high school We have discussed leaving Chicago and heading to Austin and I was wondering the best areas to live that will be close to Austin Community college.
We will be looking for homes in the $250,000 - $300,000 range.
Additionally, my husband is in sales ( Lift Trucks) and I am an aide in Special Education. Any info on the job market in these fields?
Finally, anyone have a good friend who is in real estate?

[texastrigirl]

ACC has several campuses so it depends which discipline I think the focus is in. There is however a campus in Southwest Austin (the Pinnacle Campus), right near Circle C, Villages of Western Oaks, etc. Great area. I lived in Circle C for 7 years and wold go back in a heartbeat. As far as being an aide in Special Education, you could check out the Circle C Child Development Center (an NAEYC childcare center with FT and PT care). The elementary schools in that area are all excellent and have inclusion classes. CCDC oversees several preschool inclusion programs as well where they partner with AISD in the classrooms at both the CCDC and the schools.

[neddy]

Since ACC is all over I would try to see where work is since you don't want to drive cross country every day (trust me you can to get to work) and then go from there.

[TexasHorseLady]

There is also an ACC campus in Cedar Park in a nice area where you could easily find a house in that range. There's information on the ACC site about campuses, CapMetro (if you don't want to drive), etc.

I agree that where you work will be a factor. Those two campuses are in almost opposite parts of the city.

[texastrigirl]

Go to Quick Links in the tool bar and select Direct Messages under Misc. A tool bar will then appear on the left hand side where you can Send a Direct Message.

[Jennibc]

Also consider if your children want to transfer to a state school, I think you need to live in the state at least 12 months before they start ACC. Otherwise, the state will deemthem to have moved here for educational purposes and they will be paying out of state tuition throughout their higher education. At least that's how it was 10 years ago when I wanted to sign up for some classes at ACC. It might be different because they have moved with their parents, but since they are all over 18 at the time of the move, it might be a problem. Call ACC to get the details. My husband had a job here, we owned a house here, and I still had to wait a year to sign up for some night classes.