wanting ot move to austin - looking for info (Dallas: transplants, home)

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by 3cherrys

Thanks for the info -
Price range will prob be from 250k-300k. I don't mind being on the outskirts of the city - just don't want to be too far since we both plan on working in austin. Want high rated schools where past performance shows - like good test scores - good teacher ratio ect..

as far as what we want to do there and why we want to move - first i was a military brat and like to move around, spent time in CO and ready for something else - Hubby wants to be somewhere to a good music scene as he plays guitar and likes being in a band ect..
we are outdoorsy people and like doing really anything.. plus the theme parks suck in colorado and no good water parks
Also the only negative i've really heard is the heat - but hey, we moved from FL to CO, so can't be any worse than FL on the heat..

After reading more and some that hijacked your thread. Here is my input on your home search.

Due to the higher property taxes here vs. Colorado. IMHO, a 250K home in Colorado is about $175K home here with the same payments.
Also homes here do-not have basements. So if you were comfortable w/ a 250K home price over in CO, then look around 175k - 200K. Even though we don't have State income tax, this is why property taxes comes into play. Owning home here is not cheap.

As for areas to live. I like anything on the west side of Loop one. I favor Cedar Park. I used to like Round Rock, but it was so congested and IMHO over crowded. Plus I35 just sucks!

I too was a military brat. My father retired out of Ft. Carson. I say your move from Colo Spgs to Austin is well worth it if you hate winters, 4-seasons and snow. It gets cold here and it does freeze and when it does freeze, the city does shut down. Unlike living in CO. Even in 1' of snow, I still remember having to scrape my windshield and going to work making new tire tracks in the new powder of snow.
FYI - if it rains here when getting off from work. Get ready for slow traffic to even grid lockdown traffic. So, if it is not clear skies or sunny, people here suck at driving.

NOTE
Oh..... I just got back from a July trip from Orlando. It is much humid n hot there then in Austin. People in FL that I mostly meet and saw were pretty rude, unlike here in Austin.

I

[3cherrys]

thanks for the info mike! cedar park does seem nice..
also if it helps *if* i were to stay in the springs, i want to be even more north than we are, like northgate/monument area - plus lp district 38 has great schools..
would you say cedar park somewhat compares? plan on working in the city, not sure how far the commute is.. that will just come into play when we actually make the move i suppose..

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by 3cherrys

thanks for the info mike! cedar park does seem nice..
also if it helps *if* i were to stay in the springs, i want to be even more north than we are, like northgate/monument area - plus lp district 38 has great schools..
would you say cedar park somewhat compares? plan on working in the city, not sure how far the commute is.. that will just come into play when we actually make the move i suppose..

When I left CS back in 1996, the new upcoming area around Chapel Hills Mall / Briargate (area) was the nice / sweet side to live at (area).

When I visit back in 2008, I think it feels like Cedar Park, minus the mountains.

I can tell you living in Cedar Park, you will be very close access to Lake Travis (access in Jonestown, Volente, Sandy Creek) all about 10-20 min away depending where you want to live.

I will promise for the house you get here, you well get much more home. Also lot of the homes in CO are built w/ siding. Here most homes are at least 2 & 3 sided brick.

If you want to check out some neighborhoods, check out: Forest Oaks, Twin Creeks, Bella Vista and if you can live little further out from Austin, take a look at the wonderful property out in Crystal Falls neighborhood. Closed access gate with a wonderfull hill country community!


Towns like Monument to Castle Rock, there was nothing out there really when I was there. Then in 2008 I took a cruise South I-25 to Denver and was stunned to see how congested it was. It really felt like I never left Colorado Springs. LOL

[3cherrys]

hahaha, yea it prob has changed a lot since then. thanks again for the info! i will check into it.. and they def seem a lot bigger for the money!

[Pvt. Parts]

Lovely......

[quote=austinite45;10992280]Austin has been over-hyped in the media. Most of the info about Austin is false or misleading.

Austin has high property taxes, high unemployment, inflated property/rental prices, rising crimes, worsening traffic jams, ... among others.

[Pvt. Parts]

Originally Posted by austinite45

For those who want to move to Austin without securing a job first, think again.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Mass Layoffs

September 25, 2009
In August, employers took 2,690 mass layoff actions involving 259,307 workers. Mass layoff events increased by 533 and associated initial claims by 52,516 from July. Over the year, events increased by 803 and initial claims by 70,356. Year-to-date events and initial claims reached new program highs.

Unemployment continue to increase across all metropolitan areas

October 01, 2009
For the eighth consecutive month, all of the nation's 372 metropolitan areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases. The largest jobless rate increase from August 2008 to August 2009 was reported in Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Michigan (+7.9 percentage points), followed by Muskegon-Norton Shores, Michigan (+7.0 points).

Great, there goes my job hopes to live in Austin.....

[3cherrys]

Originally Posted by Pvt. Parts

Great, there goes my job hopes to live in Austin.....

Don't let them bring you down! While I am not planning on moving for a year or so, a lot of people have good info - and a lot just want to discourage... I believe if you stick your mind to something you can do it!

[austinite45]

Originally Posted by Pvt. Parts

Great, there goes my job hopes to live in Austin.....

well, it may be disappointing but it's better than finding out the truth after moving here. the only ones benefited then would be the real estate agents and/or greedy local apt operators.

[artsyguy]

One thing I like about Austinite45 is his willingness to be kind and caring enough to give people the straight up answers before they make a huge life-altering mistake.

Originally Posted by austinite45

well, it may be disappointing but it's better than finding out the truth after moving here. the only ones benefited then would be the real estate agents and/or greedy local apt operators.

[austinite45]

Originally Posted by artsyguy

One thing I like about Austinite45 is his willingness to be kind and caring enough to give people the straight up answers before they make a huge life-altering mistake.

thanks. you too.