Indianapolis possibly the "new Austin"? (Lafayette, Columbus: insurance, house)

[Toxic Toast]

The video doesn't seem to really be presenting Indianapolis, or any city really, as a literal future clone to Austin. The video is focused almost solely on real estate investing, using Austin's real estate returns as a barometer for success.

With that in mind, including Indy on this list doesn't seem unreasonable. I've lived on the near Eastside for a decade, and my house is worth double what I paid for it. Houses just west of me have increased even more than that. I forget the link, but there was an empirical study stating Indy as one of the most "aggressively gentrifying" metro areas in the country. Even this year, realtor.com cited Indy as a top 5 real estate market. Columbus OH, mentioned in this video, was also in the top 5.

Do I think Indy is going to be a live music mecca like Austin in the next 10 years? No, I do not. Do I think my house will continue to increase in value and my neighborhood in general to feel more "gentrified"? Yes, yes I do.

[Seguinite]

If I was in Indianapolis, about the last thing I'd want would be for it to become the 'new Austin'. But that's probably just the recent Texas escapee coming out...

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Indy is close by many major unis. Purdue, IU, Notre Dame, Illinois, UCincy, Louisville to name a few. There is more Unis around Indy, than Austin has around or within. If anything, Indy can be like a Dallas.

[curiousgeorge5]

Originally Posted by Seguinite

If I was in Indianapolis, about the last thing I'd want would be for it to become the 'new Austin'. But that's probably just the recent Texas escapee coming out...

I wonder what you didn't like about Austin or TX.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by NJ Brazen_3133

Indy is close by many major unis. Purdue, IU, Notre Dame, Illinois, UCincy, Louisville to name a few. There is more Unis around Indy, than Austin has around or within. If anything, Indy can be like a Dallas.

I don't know about that. Austin the city has at 4 least universities and a community college of about of about 100,000 students. UT has about 50,000 students. In the Austin metro, there's Texas State University in San Marcos and it has close to 40,000 students. The Austin metro has probably has close to 200,000 students including Austin Community College.

Austin is also within about a 75 minute to 3.5 hour drive to major nationally ranked universitys in San Antonio, Waco, Dallas, Ft Worth, Arlington, Houston and College Station.

I don't believe there are more universitys and students within and around Indianapolis than there are Austin.

[Kluch]

Originally Posted by curiousgeorge5

I wonder what you didn't like about Austin or TX.

Also curious. Seems like everyone and their mother is moving to Texas (or Florida) these days. We've been entertaining the idea as well.

[Seguinite]

Originally Posted by curiousgeorge5

I wonder what you didn't like about Austin or TX.

Traffic
Housing prices
Taxes (and what they spend the money on)
Policing

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Kluch

Also curious. Seems like everyone and their mother is moving to Texas (or Florida) these days. We've been entertaining the idea as well.

Unless you really enjoy crowds and non-stop development I would avoid any heavily populated area of Texas and Florida. The cost of living in both states will dramatically increase as more people demand more services, (roads, schools, infrastructure), and home owners insurance in Florida is extremely high. It's all about quantity over quality in large areas of both states.

[Kluch]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Unless you really enjoy crowds and non-stop development I would avoid any heavily populated area of Texas and Florida. The cost of living in both states will dramatically increase as more people demand more services, (roads, schools, infrastructure), and home owners insurance in Florida is extremely high. It's all about quantity over quality in large areas of both states.

Yep, this is a major downside we've factored into our consideration.

[popcorn247]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Unless you really enjoy crowds and non-stop development I would avoid any heavily populated area of Texas and Florida. The cost of living in both states will dramatically increase as more people demand more services, (roads, schools, infrastructure), and home owners insurance in Florida is extremely high. It's all about quantity over quality in large areas of both states.

I totally agree with you. I lived in the Miami area for 43 years. Shortly after I retired, I moved back home to Indiana. The cost of homeowner's insurance ($4000.00+ / year) and auto insurance ($2000.00) with a totally clean record, was killing me. I live in and am a huge fan of Lafayette, Indiana. It is a vibrant, growing community with Purdue, a major university. Indy is just an hour away.