Relocating to Austin before the coming school year (Cedar Park, Canyon: house, neighborhood)

[april07]

We are possibly relocating to Austin before the school year starts. I am trying to remain calm about finding the right house and neighborhood within budget. We have a 4 yr old and a 6 yr old. My husband will most likely be working around the 183 and Mopac warehouse district. I think I have that right. I had thought our highest price pt was at $350 but now that I understand the property taxes better I am thinking that I would prefer to stay in the $250 -$ 300 range. I see that RRISD and Leander are good. I would like a 3bed/2bath home. I don't mind an older home. I would prefer a lot that is .25 acres or at least is not a built to the lot line. I don't want to be in a huge house on a small lot with no yard. I would love a neighorhood with great schools and a good community pool and lots of kids. Originally SW Austin was looking really good to me until I read posts about the traffic and realized that would mean my husband commute would be awful. We are coming from NC where we have been for the past few years but before that we were in Los Angeles Venice Beach and Santa Monica. I like urban living but with kids the priority is schools and having a little space and not spending an hour each way commuting. I prefer a community that is mixed. Meaning a range of ages, races, politics and all. Through a target and costco in there and I am in good shape. This forum is great thanks for all the helpful information. Are Cedar Park, Canyon Creek, and whatever the name of the area mentioned by Austin97 in another post “Ok, so looking at properties to help people out, I remembered that one of my favorite areas is north of mcneil, east of 183 and west of parmer.” all good places to start?

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

Originally Posted by april07

We are possibly relocating to Austin before the school year starts. I am trying to remain calm about finding the right house and neighborhood within budget. We have a 4 yr old and a 6 yr old. My husband will most likely be working around the 183 and Mopac warehouse district. I think I have that right. I had thought our highest price pt was at $350 but now that I understand the property taxes better I am thinking that I would prefer to stay in the $250 -$ 300 range. I see that RRISD and Leander are good. I would like a 3bed/2bath home. I don't mind an older home. I would prefer a lot that is .25 acres or at least is not a built to the lot line. I don't want to be in a huge house on a small lot with no yard. I would love a neighorhood with great schools and a good community pool and lots of kids. Originally SW Austin was looking really good to me until I read posts about the traffic and realized that would mean my husband commute would be awful. We are coming from NC where we have been for the past few years but before that we were in Los Angeles Venice Beach and Santa Monica. I like urban living but with kids the priority is schools and having a little space and not spending an hour each way commuting. I prefer a community that is mixed. Meaning a range of ages, races, politics and all. Through a target and costco in there and I am in good shape. This forum is great thanks for all the helpful information. Are Cedar Park, Canyon Creek, and whatever the name of the area mentioned by Austin97 in another post “Ok, so looking at properties to help people out, I remembered that one of my favorite areas is north of mcneil, east of 183 and west of parmer.” all good places to start?

Canyon Creek is 78726 zipcode. The Austin Board of Realtors site, which can be searched for MLS properites, shows 8 3BD, 2BA homes $300K and under, 2 are Pending status. It you go up to $400K, it jumps to 23 homes, and 6 in pending status.

One thing, if you do look in Canyon creek, it straddles two ISD's, so make sure whichever ISD you choose, the house you are looking at is in that ISD.

[categ]

The school year finishes here in RR ISD on May 23rd & does'nt start till the end of August. And the summer camps are filling up fast. I would strongly recommend waiting til the start of the next school year before moving to Austin.

With hindsight, we would have delayed our move here from March till mid-August. And that would have meant me & the kids staying in the UK, whilst my husband started work in Austin. Other ex-pat Mums of school-aged kids here agree with this view.

Hope this helps! good luck!

[jwb123]

The Austin Board of Realtors site, which can be searched for MLS properites

I tried to search this site and it said I needed a log in?? It appeared to me that it was just for realtors?

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

I tried to search this site and it said I needed a log in?? It appeared to me that it was just for realtors?

Sorry, but I can't post the link because it would be advertising. I will PM you the link.

[april07]

Originally Posted by categ

The school year finishes here in RR ISD on May 23rd & does'nt start till the end of August. And the summer camps are filling up fast. I would strongly recommend waiting til the start of the next school year before moving to Austin.

With hindsight, we would have delayed our move here from March till mid-August. And that would have meant me & the kids staying in the UK, whilst my husband started work in Austin. Other ex-pat Mums of school-aged kids here agree with this view.

Hope this helps! good luck!

Hi Categ, Thanks for your message. I think my message was confusing. We are thinking of moving to Austin in August. That would mean attending Austin schools at the start of the 2007/08 year. That still seems fast to me, but obviously people do it. I just worry about getting to know Austin enough to know the area and school we want to be in. I don't want to have to change areas/schools again.