Possible relocation to Austin from Dallas (Round Rock, Frisco: renting, home, best school districts)

[kymee]

Hello my fellow Texans! My family is entertaining a possible relo to Austin. We have lived in Dallas for about 10 yrs now, and are quite bored here.

We have only visited Austin twice, but absolutely love the outdoor activities and entertainment that Austin has to offer and appreciate the beauty and weirdness and need some advice/feedback on several things:

1. Housing: We prefer to "NOT" be in the burbs - we are so done with Burbs we can't take another moment of it. We would be renting for now.

2. Schools: Looking for Blue Ribbon Middle/High Schools bordering Austin Proper/Burb? Preferably with a great music program (Orchestra, Piano)

3. Area near Downtown, High-Tech Companies, outdoor recreation/activities, things for kids/family to do and pet friendly.

4. What areas are diverse? With Culture, Arts, Music (Jazz), Food. (Besides 6th St)

Thanks!
Kymee

[ritterbride]

I'm from D and let me relay my advice- don't move to the 'burbs. Being from D, it is easy to get sucked in to getting more for less but learn to live with less and enjoy the amenities the city has to offer.

[llkltk]

I live in SW Austin and still enjoy the ammenities the city has to offer. We aren't aliens, ya know? Just be prepared to pay plenty if you want to live Central.

[kymee]

I've heard that SW Austin is a great area to raise a family. Can anyone help me with my first post on other questions that I have regarding Austin?

Thanks!
Kymee

[TexasHorseLady]

If you don't want to be in the suburbs (and some people don't, and the very first thing on your list says you don't) and want to be close in, you won't want Southwest Austin. Question is, what are you "done with" as far as suburbs are concerned, so that you don't end up with the same thing closer in.

One crucial thing to know is what your price range is. There are several possibilities, but that one fact would determine which ones to recommend.

[ritterbride]

Ok, I'm editing part of my response-- SW Austin is a possible consideration. I live way West and love it but would like to be closer to things downtown and central. Just don't go north of the arboretum.

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

If you don't want to be in the suburbs (and some people don't, and the very first thing on your list says you don't) and want to be close in, you won't want Southwest Austin. Question is, what are you "done with" as far as suburbs are concerned, so that you don't end up with the same thing closer in.

One crucial thing to know is what your price range is. There are several possibilities, but that one fact would determine which ones to recommend.

I wouldn't listen to this post. SW Austin is very close in to Austin. It takes less than 15 minutes to reach the city with no traffic. Living in Round Rock is much further out. SW Austin has one of the best school districts and still has that Austin vibe. There are plenty of realtors on here and other posters who loathe SW Austin. I don't know why, this is a very exclusive area and a home would be a good investment for you. Don't let people mislead you, SW Austin is VERY close to the city and close to the parks and lake also.

[jobert]

Originally Posted by llkltk

I wouldn't listen to this post. SW Austin is very close in to Austin. It takes less than 15 minutes to reach the city with no traffic. Living in Round Rock is much further out. SW Austin has one of the best school districts and still has that Austin vibe. There are plenty of realtors on here and other posters who loathe SW Austin. I don't know why, this is a very exclusive area and a home would be a good investment for you. Don't let people mislead you, SW Austin is VERY close to the city and close to the parks and lake also.

I agree completely. SW is relatively untapped with the terrain people look for when they move here. The developments are new, and you won't find large swathes of pre-fab metal storage/distribution facilities like you would up north. There is a profound lack of "eyesore" in SW . Beautiful country. No offense, Round Rock is a nice place, but it seems to be a knee-jerk decision for new people moving here when they don't know where to live.

Dallas has an equivalent: Frisco
Minor League club? check
IKEA? check
Republican? check
25 miles out? check

they are interchangeable. Austin is not

[TexasHorseLady]

For the record, I don't "loathe" Southwest Austin. I think it's lovely, and I show it regularly to people who are interested in living there. I just read the post and didn't throw out my favorite part of town even if it didn't qualify based on the very first criteria in the OP's post. (I actually mentally eliminated some of my favorites simply because they didn't fit the OP's criteria, what a concept.) Thus my question regarding WHY the OP is "done with" the suburbs (a pretty strong feeling, you've got to acknowledge, from someone who has apparently lived in suburbs before), to try to find out what the real issue is and what areas would fit based on their preferences, not mine.

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

For the record, I don't "loathe" Southwest Austin. I think it's lovely, and I show it regularly to people who are interested in living there. I just read the post and didn't throw out my favorite part of town even if it didn't qualify based on the very first criteria in the OP's post. (I actually mentally eliminated some of my favorites simply because they didn't fit the OP's criteria, what a concept.) Thus my question regarding WHY the OP is "done with" the suburbs (a pretty strong feeling, you've got to acknowledge, from someone who has apparently lived in suburbs before), to try to find out what the real issue is and what areas would fit based on their preferences, not mine.

I would hardly call SW Austin the suburbs.