Dallas, Fort Worth or Austin? (Houston, San Antonio: to rent, houses, schools)
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So I probably need to up the budget, I didn't really want to do that, but I can if I have to, I do have the money, just wanted to have some money in the bank (selling our property in Southern California ).
I was looking for a 3 & 2 approximately 1400-1700 sq ft in a neighborhood that is well kept, with that I mean people keep their homes looking nice, cut their grass, don't have cars all over the lawn. I am not that picky, don't need granite counters etc, but at the price I am looking at, I don't want to buy new carpet, I don't mind doing some painting inside if I don't like the paint color.
I am also looking at Dallas/Fort Worth or San Antonio, but Austin was my first choice.Finding a place to live is very, very difficult, I eliminated 99.9% of the U.S., I don't like to live in a cold area, or one that is too hot, but I do know Texas gets hot in summer, then I will take the motor home up to Wyoming or so. That is why I need extra money, I don't want to have a super nice house, but have absolutely nothing left over to do things with. I better tell my husband the bad news and rethink again.
I am also looking at Dallas/Fort Worth or San Antonio, but Austin was my first choice.Finding a place to live is very, very difficult, I eliminated 99.9% of the U.S., I don't like to live in a cold area, or one that is too hot, but I do know Texas gets hot in summer, then I will take the motor home up to Wyoming or so. That is why I need extra money, I don't want to have a super nice house, but have absolutely nothing left over to do things with. I better tell my husband the bad news and rethink again.
San Antonio might be a good choice, actually. If you aren't particular about some things, it has similar topography and climate to Austin but at a much lower price. Plus it's a great city in its own right, a true US gateway to Mexico (not all in a bad way) and historic city. There aren't really any big lakes close by other than Canyon Lake. I'm pretty sure as Austin and San Antonio continue to boom, eventually the high prices that we see in Austin will creep into the SA market. So your chance to get something nice and still cheap is probably limited.
For Austin, you might try looking into Lago Vista. Cheapest area around the lakes in Austin, primarily because of the difficult road access and ISD. Effectively rural.
DFW and the Houston metro are good options too, if you prefer a more standard suburban big city experience with things like pro sports, big roads, amenities everywhere (mostly chains), and large international airports within the metro. In Houston you can get some scenery, too -- either tall pine trees or easy access to huge lakes or the beach (Galveston). I suppose Houston would be my preference of the two.
Ok wait, I didn't help you at all I guess what I'm saying is - Austin is out because of the $$$, San Antonio might be the next closest thing, and Houston would be a great option for a different feel.
Like i said, I'm not saying Austin is completely out of the question, but you will have to search slightly harder. Try looking in 78748, 78745 and around south Austin. You may just find something you like.
I think the average home price in Austin last time I checked (July) was just over $360k. Rent was about $1000 for a one bedroom, and up from there. But you will find something if you really want to.
DFW and the Houston metro are good options too, if you prefer a more standard suburban big city experience with things like pro sports, big roads, amenities everywhere (mostly chains), and large international airports within the metro. In Houston you can get some scenery, too -- either tall pine trees or easy access to huge lakes or the beach (Galveston). I suppose Houston would be my preference of the two.
Ok wait, I didn't help you at all I guess what I'm saying is - Austin is out because of the $$$, San Antonio might be the next closest thing, and Houston would be a great option for a different feel.
OK, I am totally not into sports. Sorry, no offense. I have no children, so don't care about how good the schools are. What is important to me is that I don't get bored. Entertainment, restaurants, good weather and things to do are high on my list, also access to an international airport, since I visit my sister in Holland once a year.
I defenitely will miss the beach, that is why I thought Austin would be nice, seems like it at least has lakes and trees and little hills. I was told Houston was very hot and humid, but I do like the houses there of what I can see on the web. I am having a heck of a time finding a place to live, I understand my budget is very limited, I did not want to take out a mortgage and thought that for 125k I could get at least a basic house somewhere. I have to go back to the drawing board, but I do thank all of you for the valuable information.
Like i said, I'm not saying Austin is completely out of the question, but you will have to search slightly harder. Try looking in 78748, 78745 and around south Austin. You may just find something you like.
Thank you Austinite, I will look at those zip codes and see what I can come up with. I am just going for it and sell our property, I have some fall back positions, not my first choice, but that is life. San Antonio may also be a possible. I hate to leave where I live but cost of living has become just way too high, I just paid my $400 water bill.
I defenitely will miss the beach, that is why I thought Austin would be nice, seems like it at least has lakes and trees and little hills. I was told Houston was very hot and humid, but I do like the houses there of what I can see on the web. I am having a heck of a time finding a place to live, I understand my budget is very limited, I did not want to take out a mortgage and thought that for 125k I could get at least a basic house somewhere. I have to go back to the drawing board, but I do thank all of you for the valuable information.
Austin is very nice for not being bored! But for $125K you can get something in a far flung suburb.. and then you'd be bored. If not being bored is the primary goal and schools aren't an issue, I'd get a condo on South Congress or East Austin close to downtown for that budget.
Another option is to look for duplexes, and rent out the other side. There are duplexes in the central part of Austin, so you can be close to the action and still have a house with a yard and maybe a garage. Duplexes in those areas will definitely be much higher than $125K, but rents are also quite high and so you could offset a significant part of a mortgage payment if you wanted to get one.
Speaking of which, why not get a mortgage? With rates the way they are now, and the ability to deduct mortgage interest, I don't think it makes any sense to tie up a huge sum of cash into a house.
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also access to an international airport, since I visit my sister in Holland once a year.
Houston would be perfect since there are flights to London and Paris and then connect to Amsterdam. Starting out in Houston cuts down on time wasted connecting from somewhere else.
The Houston area is where Texas started. Pick up a Texas history book and start reading. Most of those places in Texas history are around what is now Houston and along the Gulf Coast as far to the west as San Antonio and north to the northeast corner of the state.
In Houston you can have the best of both worlds, the Texas experience and the amenities of a cosmopolitan city at the same time.
Speaking of which, why not get a mortgage? With rates the way they are now, and the ability to deduct mortgage interest, I don't think it makes any sense to tie up a huge sum of cash into a house.
Yes that makes a lot of sense. Only one problem, and a very big one that I need to work on. My expenses every month are very high. My grocery bill for 2 is 1k a month, and that is trying very hard to keep it down, it usually runs way over, but that does include chickens for my 3 little chihuahuas and cat food for one cat ( don't ask, I know it is insane ). Circumstances are forcing me to change, that is why I am thinking of relocating and hopefully to a less expensive area. But it is a huge challenge, I am reading these sites, now I see that there are fire ants in Texas and snakes can come in your house, or perhaps it is because the person lives next to a lake ?
I need to have my 3 dogs and cat outside during the day or they will drive me insane. But they can sleep inside at night, I usually bring them in at 6 for dinner and then they go to sleep.
Houston would be perfect since there are flights to London and Paris and then connect to Amsterdam. Starting out in Houston cuts down on time wasted connecting from somewhere else.
In Houston you can have the best of both worlds, the Texas experience and the amenities of a cosmopolitan city at the same time.
Thats available in Dallas as well. I only mention that because Dallas (and DFW) were in the OP's original question.
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I guess what I'm saying is - Austin is out because of the $$$, San Antonio might be the next closest thing, and Houston would be a great option for a different feel.
