David Weekly / Lakewood Hills / Schools in Steiner (Austin, Cedar Park: house, rent)

[orionid]

Hi everyone,

Those of you who know me on this forum, know I've been bouncing around in a decision between staying in San Diego or moving to Austin (with family: wife and two boys ages 12 and 9). We had a hold on a house in River Heights Overlook in Steiner (built by Taylor Woodrow) last time we were out there but decided to let it go for many reasons. Now another opportunity has come up where the house looks like a better fit for what we are looking for, but of course we didn't check out either this area nor the builder when we were actually in Austin. So, once again I am dependent on the fine posters on this forum for guidance on ...

David Weekly Homes: Any input (positive or negative) on quality, customer service, etc.?

Lakewood Hills in Steiner: I know it's farther into the community, but any other details would be great: Is it a nice/scenic area? Is there any shopping or restaurants planned close by? Benefits vs drawbacks?

For those of you with kids in Steiner Ranch, how do you like the schools? The HS (Cedar Park) doesn't get as high of scores as Lake Travis, Westwood, or Westlake in the area, nor do the sports teams do as well. Why do you think this is?

One more Q about Steiner: It seems like there are a lot of families with younger kids in there ... are there also lots of families with older kids (pre-teen and HS age?). If so, what do they do together? Where do the HS kids "hang out" together?

Once again, many thanks in advance!!

[romesq]

Orionid, my partner & I looked at a 1 story Weekley home in Lakewood Hills in mid-March. It had been on the market for 90+ days when we saw it, and our agent was able to obtain additional concessions. So, of course, we became immediately suspicious. On paper, the plan looked great. However, the site backed up to the major road thru the area (Quinlan Park, I think) with very little buffer. What was advertised as backing to green belt turned out to be backing to a small patch of trees between the road and the back of the property. The lots were also smaller than we were looking for and we saw few mature trees. I think the area is a gated community with some attractive homes, but overall it felt crowded to us.

As for Weekley as a builder, no experience, altho we did like the design center on 183. Good ideas etc, but certainly primed to part you from a goodly portion of your $$ in upgrades!

My notes indicate commerical property back towards 620 on Quinlan Park but none in the immediate area. I think there is some sort of community center planned towards Lake Austin?? Lake Austin spa also down that way.

We ended up purchasing a resale in the Barton Creek area, on which we plan to close in late May. Ultimately, the limited access in/out of Steiner led us to eliminate it as an area. Even tho communting is not an issue for us, the development is just too far from where we likely will spend time (UT/downtown area, South Congress etc.) Not bad on the map as the crow flies, but our drives in/out gave us a really different perspective on time/distance.

Good luck in your search.

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

Sounds likes romesq made a decision that suits their circumstances. Again, if you have seen my posts, I have the usual laid back Cali attitude where you decide. Check out: http://www.steinerranch.com/maps/2006_conceptual_map.pdf (broken link) and you will see that Lakewood Hills is a little further in, but if you take a moment, you can see that it is about the same distance vs. how far down River Heights Overlook is on Country Trails Ln. Plus, you won't be passing two schools, and the speed limit on Quinlan where you get on is about 35 or 40mph. I see Lakewood Hills as probably less time to get out of the neighborhood. Of course, if you wanted to walk to the schools, then you would be further now.

Also, look at the lots, there are very few that are really close up against Quinlan Park Rd., so I guess, don't pick one of those. Or, as romesq said, get concessions that will allow a lower price vs. the other lots to compensate for a possible lower sales price in the future if you have to move.

I think Lakewood Hills is nice, and I recall that it did not have as many trees to begin with, so the lots are subject to what was there in the beginning in terms of mature oaks. It had a lot of Cedar trees though. If you want trees, then look near the golf course, or wait for the 80' section near the new community center just a little past Lakewood Hills.

In terms of retail, the closest would be past Parkside, about 1 mile up from Lakewood Hills. You would have Longhorn Village retirement community across the street, but if they are like my grandparents, they keep to the community boundries pretty much. I bet there would be at least one on-site restaurant, and it would be funny to bring kids there!!!

We love the schools for our 7 and 8 year old girls. My wife pretty much knows that our girls are getting a better education vs. our old friends in CA with the same age/grade kids. It is nice to have 3 Exemplary schools in the neighborhood, so you don't have to worry about trying to get your children in the "better" neighborhood school. When the HS on 2222 in Ribelin Ranch is completed, in time for my age, and your age kids, it will have a good set of parents insuring their children do well, or I can safely assume that based on the parents I have met from Steiner, and River Place, since their children still feed into schools here until 2007-08 school year. I am encouraged by the peer group my children are in.

I will try and take some photos of Lakewood Hills and put them up on Flickr for all to see, and for you orionid.

Also, search on David Weekly, and you will see they are just about level with Taylor Woodrow, but comments suggested some items would be upgrades vs. Taylor Woodrow. All the builders use the same crews, so you will have a sound home in terms of the basic structure. We are happy with our Newmark in terms of the things that really count, i.e. roof, straight walls, no cracked tiles in 2 years, but it was frustrating to watch it being built.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by orionid

Hi everyone,

Those of you who know me on this forum, know I've been bouncing around in a decision between staying in San Diego or moving to Austin (with family: wife and two boys ages 12 and 9). We had a hold on a house in River Heights Overlook in Steiner (built by Taylor Woodrow) last time we were out there but decided to let it go for many reasons. Now another opportunity has come up where the house looks like a better fit for what we are looking for, but of course we didn't check out either this area nor the builder when we were actually in Austin. So, once again I am dependent on the fine posters on this forum for guidance on ...

David Weekly Homes: Any input (positive or negative) on quality, customer service, etc.?

Lakewood Hills in Steiner: I know it's farther into the community, but any other details would be great: Is it a nice/scenic area? Is there any shopping or restaurants planned close by? Benefits vs drawbacks?

For those of you with kids in Steiner Ranch, how do you like the schools? The HS (Cedar Park) doesn't get as high of scores as Lake Travis, Westwood, or Westlake in the area, nor do the sports teams do as well. Why do you think this is?

One more Q about Steiner: It seems like there are a lot of families with younger kids in there ... are there also lots of families with older kids (pre-teen and HS age?). If so, what do they do together? Where do the HS kids "hang out" together?

Once again, many thanks in advance!!

I live in a david weekley home and it is really good. Of the tract home builders I think they are at the higher end, but I think they also develop at all levels.

They have a great standardized process etc. etc.

7 years later we have had zero problems with the home or the finish out

[orionid]

Thank you all for your responses and especially FCtSR for the offer of pictures.

The Lakewood Hills lot we are looking at faces the river so no worries about noise from Quinlan. Our biggest concern now is just the high prices (lot premiums again ... will likely bring the price to among the highest in the area me thinkst), and also the relative "remoteness" of being that deep into Steiner. We keep looking in Eanes ISD, not because of the schools really, but because of the closer stuff (namely, restaurants and sports programs), which is closer to what we're used to (closER, not close ... after all, less crowding is one of our primary reasons to move away from SoCal). Any comments of persuasion about how Steiner is not really THAT remote would be welcome ... but only if it's a belief firmly and unshakably held; in other words, counter-Steiner opinions are welcome too.

I'm probably heading out there again, maybe as early as this weekend, to check the lots out and see if I can make a decision for ^&%$ sake.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by orionid

Thank you all for your responses and especially FCtSR for the offer of pictures.

The Lakewood Hills lot we are looking at faces the river so no worries about noise from Quinlan. Our biggest concern now is just the high prices (lot premiums again ... will likely bring the price to among the highest in the area me thinkst), and also the relative "remoteness" of being that deep into Steiner. We keep looking in Eanes ISD, not because of the schools really, but because of the closer stuff (namely, restaurants and sports programs), which is closer to what we're used to (closER, not close ... after all, less crowding is one of our primary reasons to move away from SoCal). Any comments of persuasion about how Steiner is not really THAT remote would be welcome ... but only if it's a belief firmly and unshakably held; in other words, counter-Steiner opinions are welcome too.

I'm probably heading out there again, maybe as early as this weekend, to check the lots out and see if I can make a decision for ^&%$ sake.

Steiner is really really remote. I couldnt live out there. My personal feeling is that originally people moved out there because it was very inexpensive. Now I cant see why anyone would move out there. You didnt say what your budget was, but I have to think that you could find a place closer in.

2222 is slow and Im not sure it can ever be made fast.

[orionid]

Budget is in the $750-$850K range. We like new, but it doesn't have to be a build in process. We also would like a large house (>4000 sq ft) and larger lot (for CA that is ... between 0.4 and 1.0 acre ideal).

[atxcio]

At the price range you are looking for, I think you could get much closer in. In fact, you can get into pretty much any neighborhood in Austin at that level, so if location is at all important to you I would recommend looking around. You would be on the higher end of the overall Stiener Ranch community way above the median (not optimal for resale security). I know they are building million+ dollar homes there, but that is relatively recent. If I were looking in the $380-$500K range, I'd buy there. It is very scenic and great proximity to the lake. I don't think I would spend $1M there, though.

Have you looked at any of the neighborhoods right off 360? I'm thinking Davenport Ranch, Rob Roy, Lost Creek, Courtyard, Jester, Long Canyon, Westminster Glen.

Even closer in, the Westlake Hills neighborhood and Northwest hills have nice sized lots and many large, remodeled (or recent teardown/construction) homes. All these neighborhoods are scenic (hills & trees).

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

I do respect everyones' opinions, and I hope I get the same. To say "really, really far" does require a starting, or end point. What follows are some of the places we go as a family. The times we are on the 2222 as a family, traffic is a non issue. Now CA, that is a different story, there is traffic all the time, then there is traffic that just as well should cause suicides.

Local IMAX, and Bob Bullock Museum:http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en...UTF8&z=13&om=1

6th and Congress: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...UTF8&z=12&om=1

Select Hybrid Mode, so you can see the topography that you would live around, and drive through to get to Austin. You will also be able to see some of the other areas suggested as well.

I could give more examples, but again, if you work downtown, and want to live in Steiner, make sure you have flex time, or like I do, work from home one day a week. Or, for those who dealt with daily L.A. traffic, it will be just like "home."

[moolin]

Orion...we also looked at few homes in steiner. We liked the community...but we had the same feeling...that it is remote....There is not much retail development around it....There are lot of retail places but looks vacant and none looked owned or planned...You have to go to 45-183 intersection to get to restaurants, shopping ,movie theatre which is atleast 20-25 minutes from Steiner....so at times it is little inconvenient...

So we have been thinking about it.....I think many people in austin are buying more expensive house in around cedar park than steiner even though steiner is nice....

Also I think there are very few austinites living there...most of the people over there have relocated from other places....

Good luck on ur trip....