Lago Vista/Dripping Springs (Austin, Round Rock: rent, HOA, hotel)

[adioscalifornia]

First let me say, I'm a true blue lurker and have found this forum to be VERY helpful.

Our family has been visiting in Austin this past week, spying out the land for a potential move next July. Since we are from the Sierra Nevada, California foothills, the Dripping Springs and Lago Vista areas have felt most like home to us.

My questions are this: Why is Lago Vista so much cheaper than say Marble Falls when they are so close to one another and Lago Vista is so close to Leander?

Also, if you had to pick a place to live between Dripping Springs and Lago Vista, which would you choose and why? (We have four children ages 8-18yrs old)

It has been so hard getting a feel for the area in just a week. We were out here three years ago and loved it then, but one week is still hard to make such life changing decisions. My husband is an attorney (self-employed) not the rich kind, but the small town Aticus Finch 'To Kill a Mockingbird' kind. He is also a professor at our local junior college and will be looking for any type of teaching jobs in the college level here in Austin. Bottom line, if we have no job, we won't be moving here.

I just wish we could have had an opportunity to really talk to some Texans who know the areas and could give their honest opinions. So, instead I am at our hotel and am asking all of you.

Thank you all so very much for being such a help to me in the past. Any help or suggestions would be so greatly appreciated.

Warmly,

Joanne *Another California Refugee*

[iceshots]

I cannot give you any feedback concerning Lago Vista, but Dripping Springs is a very nice area to live in if country type living is what you are looking for. I cannot give you any comparison between DS and Lago Vista.

Here is a link to a post I made yesterday in response to a Dripping Springs enquiry.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/9731657-post5.html

This thread also discusses the Belterra subdivision in DS and includes a post with links to other threads about the same subject. I am not sure exactly what questions you have, but these may answer most of them.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...formation.html

What type of neighborhood are you looking for? Master Planned community, larger lots ( 1 - 2 acres) or gentleman's ranch (5 - 10 acres). The nice thing about Dripping Springs is that there are a lot of choices of type of housing.

Also, what price range are you looking at for what? Dripping Springs does tend to be a little higher priced that the northern parts of Austin.

If you have specific questions that are not answered in the above posts, let me know and I will do my best to fill you in.

Good Luck.

[TexasHorseLady]

Lago Vista is perceived as being a long way out because there's no direct way to get into Austin from there other than driving into Leander and then heading in to Austin. Thus, it's considered a bit more undesirable.

Marble Falls, on the other hand, is clearly a different town entirely with no real relation to Austin, and while some people there might work in Austin, it's not considered a part of Austin.

Thus the difference. If your husband is an attorney and more interested in working in a small town atmosphere, that commute wouldn't really be an issue for you except for the teaching options.

If I had to choose between Dripping Springs and Lago Vista, I'd likely choose Drippin', simply because it's my kind of place and it's a straight shoot into Austin. However, if he were to be teaching at Southwestern, say, and you didn't want to live in Georgetown, or in Round Rock, Lago Vista would be an option as it would be a relatively straight shoot across 1431 to IH35.

[hoffdano]

I agree with the above post. Lago Vista is a good choice if you want to live near Lake Travis at less cost AND you don't need to get to Austin very often. But if travel to Austin is required it is a LONG drive.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Lago Vista is perceived as being a long way out because there's no direct way to get into Austin from there other than driving into Leander and then heading in to Austin. Thus, it's considered a bit more undesirable.

I recall one of the first maps I acquired of Lake Travis, back when I started boating there often, showed a ferry boat route crossing from the Lago Vista side of the lake over to Lakeway. I never saw it operate, but it must have been in existence at one time or it never would have been put on the map. I expect it was probably a land developer's ploy to sell subdivisions on the North side of the lake, then they discontinued the operation after selling off all they could.

I often thought it might be fun to live on the North side of the lake, boating across the lake to a boat slip you rent at a marina there, where you could keep a car for going into town.

[Schnaiy]

Captain, there was a ferry/taxi going from Lakeway on the south shore of Lake Travis to Point Venture (a small lakeside community development) on the north shore - which is right next to Lago Vista. It was Lakeway's new owners which would not allow the ferry to continue operating because they said it created too much traffic on the Lakeway side.

I can give direct comment about Lago Vista because my husband and I chose to buy a lot here and finished building our custom home at the end of 2008. I'm a teacher and he's a mailman. Contrary to statements made by people who don't live here, the demographic of Lago Vista has changed dramatically since its inception. Originally it was a planned vision for a resort and retirement community in the 1960s. Most of the old rundown resorts have been demolished and now there are exciting new custom homes. The new homes being built are attracting younger people - professionals and young families probably who are drawn to the lake lifestyle (10 community owned gated and patrolled lakeside parks, boat ramps, 2 golf courses (membership fee payable), beautiful hillside/lakeside/golf views, an amazing recreational facility K Oaks complete with full stage; state of the art audio/visual; holds 150 people - which hosts many of the clubs, weddings, events; free fitness center - we use it daily; a fishing shack for covered fishing out of the heat; swimming pool and pavillions; all of the aforementioned are free to use and you only pay $125 HOA per year! excellent schools (see Lago Vista ISD website for stats.)
Why did we choose to live here? The recreational ammenities are great and well maintained by the HOA. Endless walks to the lake, swimming, fishing, kayaking; hardly any traffic; lots of wildlife to enjoy - there's blue herons that nest in the cliffs by the lake; deer galore; the serenity; the number of clubs we can join - community; dance; fitness; playgroup (North Shore playgroup has more than 200 young mothers); bunko; bridge etc. The 1431 has been improved for easy connect to the new Toll Roads on 183A, 45 and 130. A new railcar service into Austin costs $1. There is a community bus. Community Library with latest technology. Fire service. The nearest emergency room is only 20 minutes away in Cedar Park now with a new hospital and numerous medical center within 30 minutes drive. There is a new town shopping center in Lago Vista with 24hr CVS; supermarket; dentists; doctor; visioncare; pizza; eateries. A couple of garden centers and the latest business to open is a car maintenance service/repair.
The street we live on is surrounded by other custom homes which are spaced apart so you don't feel like you're in "suburbia" but truly are at home by the lake able to enjoy the hill country.