Cali to Austin Perspective: My two cents (San Antonio, San Marcos: transplants, rent)

[Jazzedforhim]

We visited Austin all last week and we absolutely loved the area. We currently live in Nor Cal but we relocated five years ago from So Cal so we have lived in both areas.

I had to laugh about the traffic concerns. I guess if you are used to light traffic and it's gotton worse Austin has bad traffic but try driving in downtown LA or San Francisco and then tell me Austin has bad traffic. It's a city...you will be driving slow to get around during business hours but you are MOVING. Not only that...but getting into town is not bad either. Coming from the South the backup during "rush hour" is small...you are jamming North towards town until maybe the last five miles or so. And then...there are the frontage roads so if you are only a few exits from your offramp you have the option to go the frontage road. Here in Cali...no such option is available...or if it does exist, it's just as backed up with cars. I find getting around to be quite easy.

The weather...it's hot, no way around that. The humidity is there...but not nearly as bad as I expected. We just got in last night and I woke up to put on the usual pair of shorts here in Cali and found myself to be cold in the morning...and we are having a heat wave right now so it was warmer the usual. I guess my body adjusted to it pretty quick to Texas heat/humidity since we were only there a week.

Homes: I love California weather but no weather is worth paying the kinds of prices they are asking out here. The way I look at it is Austin has a little something for everyone. I personally have always been a country girl stuck in the city...I love the suburbs! We can get a three year old three bedroom home with a two car garage with a HUGE yard for $124,000!!!! Ummm...excuse me but we recently sold our two year old mobile home up here without the land (which means you have to pay space rent for the land on top of your mortgage) for $136,000 here in Cali!! No comparision! The housing is a HUGE plus in my opinion.

Property taxes: We figured we'd pay about 300 a month for property taxes BUT we are also saving about 200 a month on state taxes because there are none in Texas. So, actually we are only spending another 100 a month...and let's face it the mortgage is alreay very low in comparison to what we pay now.

The people: Definately a melting pot...we met New Yorkers and locals, all very kind...there is something to be said about that southern hospitailty. Even the kids appear to be kinder as they played with our kids at the parks or local fast food play structures. Oh yeah...I can see that getting busy in the heat of the day. Anyway I could give example upon example of people going OUT OF THEIR WAY to get up from what they were doing to help us with whatever we needed help with. That is the first time I've ever experienced that kind of kindness...but I have lived in California my whole life so it's not like I've traveled the world. I'm sure it's in other places as well.

I'm so sold on the Austin area in comparison to California. We are shooting to get out there by September 15th...so we have a home to get ready to sell! Can't get there fast enough!

T

[mark311]

Those are all great observations. I moved to Austin a little over a year ago from Northern California and I run into other California transplants on a weekly basis. You will definitely be happy about your decision to move here.

Although, I'm not sure where you can find a house for $124,000 with a huge yard in Austin? Were you looking in an area a bit on the outskirts like Manor?

[jread]

"Southern Hospitality"? Well, I don't consider Austin "Southern" in culture at all, but I'm glad you enjoyed it Austin is really more Southwestern. When I think of Southern, I think of iced tea, drawling accents, biscuits and gravy... you know, Steel Magnolias type stuff.

[AustinTraveler]

Originally Posted by jread

"Southern Hospitality"? Well, I don't consider Austin "Southern" in culture at all, but I'm glad you enjoyed it Austin is really more Southwestern. When I think of Southern, I think of iced tea, drawling accents, biscuits and gravy... you know, Steel Magnolias type stuff.

Definitely agree with this. I grew up in North Florida....believe me, Austin is not Southern.

[love roses]

I agree as well. Where I grew up, Brazoria, that is Southern as well. As for finding a house for 124,000 There are places out this way that you can get a house on a relatively good size lot for that amount. Ours was only 150,000 with 75% masonry (stone), large front and back yard and upgrades they added to get us in here, plus it was a model so whatever upgrades they put in because of that. But it's not a large house either, so that makes a difference too.

[Jazzedforhim]

We were looking South in Kyle. It's not a huge house, but it has everything we need. I'm really excited to get moved...praying like crazy that our house sells FAST!

Not sure about the "southern hospitality" thing, because like I said I've only lived in California...maybe that wasn't the right phrase. I guess what I mean by "southern hospitality" is the fact that people are actually kind to you, and willing to help you because they want to and not because they are being nosey or judgemental.

The pro's in my opinion far outweigh the cons. It's hot...oh yeah, but it get's up to 104 here in the far east bay of San Francisco so I can get used to a little humidity. The quality of life far surpasses dealing with a little heat. And, I can see that you do aclimate to the weather. We went swimming today and I felt cold in the water. Missing Texas already!!

T

[austin-steve]

Although, I'm not sure where you can find a house for $124,000 with a huge yard in Austin? Were you looking in an area a bit on the outskirts like Manor?

There are still a few older places for less than $135K in south and north Austin, that are still in Austin proper. They will be older 60's and 70's homes, but if you want to remain in Austin proper, that's all that's left.

Kyle is, in my opinion, a much better outskirt area to go to than the eastern edges of Travis County. What I like about Buda/Kyle is that the further you go away from Austin in that direction, the closer you are getting to other established areas such as San Marcos and San Antonio. And NO TOLL Roads coming north on IH35 (though eventually the 45 connection to South Mopac may be tolled)

[Jazzedforhim]

We fell in love with the Kyle/Buda area for a lot of reasons one of them being what you mentioned...close to Austin/San Marcos...and only about 60 miles from San Antonio...kind of like being in the middle of it all in a way. We like being in the suburbs too.

T

p.s. Besides the Salt Lick is just a skip and a jump from home too.