Tell me about Hutto (Austin, Round Rock: real estate, house, employment)

[kittymama]

Is it that ridiculous of a drive into Austin? Is there shopping/restaurants, etc...? Would you live there? Why or why not?

[verybadgnome]

It's okay to drive into Austin if you don't mind using the toll roads as they will get you most of the way. Still I would advise against investing in real estate in Hutto which has a very poor return on investment compared to communities closer to Austin and/or major employment centers, e.g.TSU in San Marcos, Dell in Round Rock. Hutto is basically a bedroom community (I say this realizing some people will get upset at me whilst at the same time ignoring demographic data like population to jobs ratios) where you can get a lot of house for a little money since the land is such a tiny fraction of the total home value. At least in outlying places like Leander will have metrorail but in Hutto you will be 100% car dependent. I think Hutto is developing its own retail segment, e.g. Wal-Mart is there, but it will always be light years behind the more established areas in C. Texas.

Where will you be working is the first question I would ask. As an investment and a time saver I would advise buying closer in and avoiding leapfrog developments.

[kittymama]

The only reason we are considering moving to Hutto is if my hubby gets a job offer at the high school. They called him today for an interview. We were going to live in town in South Austin. But a real job as opposed to having to sub for awhile like we figure would happen in Austin makes living in Hutto sound real appealing, even though we would prefer a more "urban" area. We probably won't buy a house until next year because we want to see if we actually like living in the area first.

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by kittymama

The only reason we are considering moving to Hutto is if my hubby gets a job offer at the high school. They called him today for an interview. We were going to live in town in South Austin. But a real job as opposed to having to sub for awhile like we figure would happen in Austin makes living in Hutto sound real appealing, even though we would prefer a more "urban" area. We probably won't buy a house until next year because we want to see if we actually like living in the area first.

I would live in N. Austin or Pflugerville/Round Rock if things are up in the air as you say. Hutto does have a historic district but I don't think it would qualify as urban in the normal sense of the word.

I had a friend who did sub work for AISD. It is a hectic, crazy life having to call in for work at 4:45 in the morning (this was 5 years ago so things may have changed).

[jread]

It's a bit heehaw out in "hippo" territory. Definitely not the place I'd choose to live if you can help it.

[TexasHorseLady]

I'm sure love roses will be by shortly, but until then, of the folks who have responded, how many live or have lived in Hutto?

[jread]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I'm sure love roses will be by shortly, but until then, of the folks who have responded, how many live or have lived in Hutto?

I have not lived there, but I've been there and that was enough for me.

[kittymama]

Don't worry, you're not scaring me off yet. Your attitude might be what makes them willing to even call someone living in Fairbanks, Alaska about a job. I figure that compared to Fairbanks, it will seem like paradise.

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I'm sure love roses will be by shortly, but until then, of the folks who have responded, how many live or have lived in Hutto?

I haven't lived there either but Hutto isn't some enigma that can only be fathomed by folks who have lived their entire lives there. A growth rate of 880% over the course of 5 years (2000-05) basically means it was a low growth historic town mostly independent of Austin that got steamrolled by developers that put up rickety, foundation-cracked housing in short order in order to serve the Austin-Round Rock MSA's incredible propensity for job growth.

I do remember a similar small town, Manor, before the developers came and I have to say I prefer the old version.

[TexasHorseLady]

My point was that there are a lot of people out there who really, really need a "wrong side of the tracks" for their own choices to lean on, and sometimes they pick on Hutto (being on the "wrong" side of IH35) or Manor, for that matter, with nothing actually factual to prop up their position. So, do you have something factual to prop up your position?