Possibly Moving To Austin (leander) From O.c. (Orange, Lockhart: real estate, 2011)

[mvnandshkn]

Hi All,


I need some feedback please. We are thinking of moving to Leander (Crystal Falls), Texas from Orange County, California. Just wanted to know what it's like to get adjusted to everything i.e. schools for kids (elementary and preschool), weather, commute time into Austin (traffic) seems like everyone drives about 80+ mph on the freeeways. Anything else that you can help us would be extremely helpful. Visited a few times so far and just like anything it has it's good and bad points. How far along has it taken to get adjusted (culture shock?) and would you do it again if you had to. We would have only a couple of friends there but it seems like everyone is genuinely nice. Leander seems like it's going to be the new growth spot with the commuter rail coming in next year, toll road complete, and a planned community of about 10,000+ more homes over the next ten years. Just how bad are the summers in terms of humidity/heat?

Thanks y'all

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

Originally Posted by mvnandshkn

Hi All,


I need some feedback please. We are thinking of moving to Leander (Crystal Falls), Texas from Orange County, California. Just wanted to know what it's like to get adjusted to everything i.e. schools for kids (elementary and preschool), weather, commute time into Austin (traffic) seems like everyone drives about 80+ mph on the freeeways. Anything else that you can help us would be extremely helpful. Visited a few times so far and just like anything it has it's good and bad points. How far along has it taken to get adjusted (culture shock?) and would you do it again if you had to. We would have only a couple of friends there but it seems like everyone is genuinely nice. Leander seems like it's going to be the new growth spot with the commuter rail coming in next year, toll road complete, and a planned community of about 10,000+ more homes over the next ten years. Just how bad are the summers in terms of humidity/heat?

Thanks y'all

We came from RSM, and I grew up in H.B. What part are you coming from? Also, what is your lot size in Crystal Falls?

[o-state]

We are coming from RSM too. We are moving to Steiner (Summer Vista) in Ausgust.

[mvnandshkn]

Hey O-State,


I think I've met you before. You don't know Eric and Suzanna by chance do you? It's a long shot.

[gigi927]

Funny you all are from RSM....we lived in Ladera Ranch in 2002!

[jennyb315]

we live in the Highlands at Crystal Falls--- (love the lots of Grand Mesa but hate the taxes ) and so far it's been great. The new pool is going in right across the street from us and my kids can't wait.

My 1st and 4th grader go to Winkley and they are really enjoying it. My 6th grader goes to Running Brushy and then she will (as of now) go to Leander HS. I really like the staff at the middle school-- they've been great! I've heard no complaints from my kids and they would definitely speak up if something were going on that they didn't like!
I know some people think Leander is the end of the earth but it really isn't My husband works in SW Austin and it takes him 32-35 minutes to get to work at 5:30 am. Rush hour, of course, will take longer.
Lakeline Mall is nice enough-- about 10-ish minutes away but we just went to Barton Creek yesterday and I think that is where I will go to do any serious shopping since they have the only Nordstrom in Austin
No culture shock for us -- but we're originally from small town America so we're used to it. 99% of the people are nice as can be and you can pretty well start a conversation with anyone.
We haven't gone through a summer yet but with a pool and numerous water parks and 2 big AC units, we will be fine
And no, so far, I haven't seen any snakes, trantulas or scorpions but I'm sure my day is coming!!

[Daisey31]

Originally Posted by gigi927

Funny you all are from RSM....we lived in Ladera Ranch in 2002!

I lived in Irvine and RSM for 15 years. We are moving to Austin from Corona now. That is if I can sell my house....

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by jennyb315

we live in the Highlands at Crystal Falls--- (love the lots of Grand Mesa but hate the taxes ) and so far it's been great. The new pool is going in right across the street from us and my kids can't wait.

My 1st and 4th grader go to Winkley and they are really enjoying it. My 6th grader goes to Running Brushy and then she will (as of now) go to Leander HS. I really like the staff at the middle school-- they've been great! I've heard no complaints from my kids and they would definitely speak up if something were going on that they didn't like!
I know some people think Leander is the end of the earth but it really isn't My husband works in SW Austin and it takes him 32-35 minutes to get to work at 5:30 am. Rush hour, of course, will take longer.
Lakeline Mall is nice enough-- about 10-ish minutes away but we just went to Barton Creek yesterday and I think that is where I will go to do any serious shopping since they have the only Nordstrom in Austin
No culture shock for us -- but we're originally from small town America so we're used to it. 99% of the people are nice as can be and you can pretty well start a conversation with anyone.
We haven't gone through a summer yet but with a pool and numerous water parks and 2 big AC units, we will be fine
And no, so far, I haven't seen any snakes, trantulas or scorpions but I'm sure my day is coming!!

Leander really isnt that far out. Because of the toll road I think it is faster to get to downtown from leander than from steiner ranch.

Nordstrom is opening a second store at the domain in 2 years, so that should be a lot closer. My wife is from OC too and she doesnt like the Austin Nordstrom compared to the south coast plaza one (worse service, less selection).

My wife cried for the first 3 or 4 months that she lived here. Now she loves it and would never go back. Everytime we go to OC (about every 3 months) she complains how it is crowded and the people are rude.

One thing I do like about OC is everyone drives fast. You can be on a 70mph road in texas and everyone is driving 60. In OC everyone is driving 80.

The summer is hot and it is much more humid. You can adjust though. These days I get cold below 75

[TheHarvester]

I think Crystal Falls and Leander are good choices, especially for safe investing purposes. If you don't like it, you WILL be able to sell.

Crystal Falls is in a beautiful area. Leander has a brilliant rail- and pedestrian-centered master plan for downtown and I've thought about investing out there myself. I predict it will be quite a nice exurb of Austin within 10 years and anyone who owns property there now should hang on to it because it's a lock to go up in value, unlike my idiot investments near Bastrop and Lockhart. *sigh* I like the taller trees and greenery of areas east of I-35 but apparently I'm in the minority.

One thing to consider for anyone interested in the film industry is that there is a $1.5 Billion project that will be built soon, including the largest sound stage in North America and housing for 8,500 people, in southeast Travis County, a very beautiful area. There's a lot of poverty in that region and the schools are poor, so it's not good for people with kids unless you homeschool. But the future of that area looks bright as this major film production village will drive quality creative development all around it and provide thousands of new jobs.

[jennyb315]

sadly Nordstrom at the Domain won't open until 2001
183A rocks The new HEB in Leander is quite nice too with lots of commercial space available now for growth and it's right next to the rail line. And the new Leander Library is quite nice -- not a huge selection of books as of yet but I'm sure that will change as the tax base grows. I quite like it out here--- even with construction equipment beeping all day long Oh-- and the new hospital, SuperTarget and other retailers are going in off 183A and 1431-- yeah!



Nordstrom Inc. plans to open a second store in Austin inside the next phase of The Domain.

Seattle-based Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) has signed a letter of intent with Austin's Endeavor Real Estate Group to open a new two-story, 149,000-square-foot store by fall 2011.