Progressive, affordable neighborhood for small family? (Austin, Fort Worth: apartment, leasing, insurance)

[fallof09]

My husband and I are seriously thinking of moving to the FW area with our toddler son. We currently live in Austin. My husband is a teacher, and the pay and benefits ($841 a months for family insurance) are especially bad here considering the cost of living. We are sinking! We will be living off his income for 3 more years until my son starts pre-k and I go back to teaching full time. FW will put us much closer to our families and we will be closer to UNT for grad school.

We like supporting local business, farmer's markets, hate chain restaurants and strip mall infested development. We would also like to live in an SAFE, older, established neighborhood, but will need to rent for no more than 1000 per month. Is that possible, or are we destined for leasing a house that won't sell in a subdivision. (We really want to stay out of apartment because we are both musicians.)

[drjones96]

Well I certainly know where you're coming from. I'm an Engineer and make ~$70k/yr but I have to support my family of 5 for the time being until my wife can get back to work when our daughter goes to school.

It's tough. Sometimes I don't know how I hold it together.

About Pre-K? It's my understanding that it's SUPER tough to get into the Pre-K programs around here because your income has to be low or you have to be a hardship case to be considered first. And the class sizes are small so they fill up fast. That's what I just heard a few days ago. Can anybody confirm or deny this?

[rogramjet]

I'm a native Fort Worthian, now living in Austin, and dying to return to Cowtown. Great quality of life there I think. Try the Arlington Heights area - particularly the area bounded by Camp Bowie on the north, Montgomery on the east, and I30 on the south. It's a really charming older neighborhood close to downtown and the museum district with many bungalows for rent at affordable prices. I would also suggest the area around TCU, although you'll be sharing your 'hood with lots of students. You might also look in the Fairmount neighborhood on the near South Side. It's currently experiencing some rapid gentrification, but I've noticed many older homes that have been rehabbed and are for rent at reasonable prices. I'm not sure of a good website for rentals in FW, but Craigslist is sometimes good. For example:

House for Rent close to Central Market! (broken link)

Good luck and I'm envious... I'm about to hit I35 for the insufferable traffic and journey home...

[fallof09]

Yeah, we have been through a little bit of Arlington Heights when my husband's dad was in the hospital. It was really nice, but I was afraid of the cost. Similar areas of Austin run at a minimum of 1500 for a 2/1 house, 2500-3000 is closer to reality for a 3/1! We are kind of getting disgusted with the attitudes/cost of living here. Prices keep getting driven up. I just can't fathom how people afford to live here unless they are making 70k+ At least we will make a 7-10k profit (after commission) on our house that we bought in April of 06.

On the pre-k note, we will be able to get our son in b/c my husband is a teacher. More than likely he will go where my husband works. But yes, you are right that you have to qualify based on income/disability.

I just got offered an adjunct teaching position in the N.Texas area (once I finish my masters at UNT), so I think we will find a way to make the move work I am getting my behind back in school in the fall.

[loves2read]

what about your husband--has he found teaching job in this area--some of the ISDs pay good money for starting pay but that upward trend does not continue after the first year--maybe 1000 a year raise unless the state kicks in money for a raise like happened this year...
insurance costs for families are expensive as well...I know because I am retired hs teacher

[fallof09]

He will make 5-7k more a year, won't have to pay into SS, and insurance will be about $400 a month less expensive. We know the pay doesn'y rise much, but it is still better than Austin, plus cheaper housing.

[loves2read]

where did you get your info on insurance....does your husband have a job with a district in this area then?