Please help my family find our home in the Texas Hill Country? Where should we live? (Dallas: real estate, new house)

[jtrichel]

We are a married couple in our mid-30s with two boys, ages 4 and 1.5

We are both from the Austin/San Antonio area, and after a period of time in Dallas for work, we are ready to get back to Central Texas. However, we don't necessarily need to live in metropolitan Austin or San Antonio. In fact, if we can find what we are looking for in a more rural area, that would actually be preferred...I am just not sure that we can find it.

- Must have great public schools (ideally small vs. large) or great private school options
- Must be within 1 hour or less drive of Austin or San Antonio airport
- Must have a "community" feel...ideally a master-planned community neighborhood
- Must be set in a true hill country setting...if we are going to move to central TX, we really want to experience the fully beauty of the area
- Must have access to good medical care
- Looking for a brand new home... budget is $500k-$1MM

Initial thoughts -- something in the Boerne ISD? Bee Cave area west of Austin? Dripping Springs?

Thank you!

[FalconheadWest]

I vote Bee Cave's Falconhead West! They've just opened a new phase with some awesome views. I'm moving into my new house in less than 2 weeks. I've already met several of the neighbors, and even though it's a new section of Falconhead, they've already had Social Committee meetings and outings that I'm excited to join.

Besides Eanes, it's the highest rated school district in the area! New 100 acre park is going in on the other side of the community... lots to offer.

[jtrichel]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

I vote Bee Cave's Falconhead West! They've just opened a new phase with some awesome views. I'm moving into my new house in less than 2 weeks. I've already met several of the neighbors, and even though it's a new section of Falconhead, they've already had Social Committee meetings and outings that I'm excited to join.

Besides Eanes, it's the highest rated school district in the area! New 100 acre park is going in on the other side of the community... lots to offer.

Thanks, familiar with that area, beautiful. However, how is the traffic out there? And congestion near hill country galleria, etc.? thanks again!

[Bowie]

Boerne sounds like a good fit with the items on your list. Since it's so close to SA, you'll probably get the best answers to your questions about Boerne in the San Antonio forum here.

[TexasHorseLady]

Dripping Springs would fit, perhaps Belterra or Polo Club, and it would be, according to Mapquest, the exact same distance in time from the entrance to those as from the entrance to Falconhead West. Depending on traffic at either location, of course. From Dripping Springs, you wouldn't have the 620/71 gridlock issue, but from Falconhead, you wouldn't have the Y in Oak Hill gridlock issue (though you can avoid that by going a couple of back ways).

So it would come down to a matter of personal taste, I'd think.

[FalconheadWest]

Originally Posted by jtrichel

Thanks, familiar with that area, beautiful. However, how is the traffic out there? And congestion near hill country galleria, etc.? thanks again!

It's still a newer area, so less people, so I haven't had any congestion issues at 620/71. Two lanes turn and the others go straight in all directions, so traffic has a nice flow. As more people move out there and more stores move in, I'm sure it might be a different story, but that's going to be the same in all newer areas.

That Y in Oak Hill is horrible no matter what time of day it is! I plan shortcut, but always have my mind on other things when it comes time to exit.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

It's still a newer area, so less people, so I haven't had any congestion issues at 620/71. Two lanes turn and the others go straight in all directions, so traffic has a nice flow. As more people move out there and more stores move in, I'm sure it might be a different story, but that's going to be the same in all newer areas.

That Y in Oak Hill is horrible no matter what time of day it is! I plan shortcut, but always have my mind on other things when it comes time to exit.

Really? You haven't had any congestion issues at 620/71? My daughter lived in Lakeway for several years, and so I was in the area quite a bit, and she commuted into Austin, as did her SO, and we all had issues at that particular intersection often. Mostly around rush hour, granted, but we could sit through several changes of the light just to get up to where we could turn north onto 620, or east onto 71.

Actually, it was comparable to the Y in Oak Hill situation, with which I'm also quite familiar.

[FalconheadWest]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Really? You haven't had any congestion issues at 620/71?

Nope, no issues, but I'm not sure how long it's had 2 right turn lanes to make traffic go quickly (quicker). I've never sat there more than 1 light change.

[TexasHorseLady]

It's had two right turn lanes for a while (heading west - is that what you're talking about)? She hasn't lived there since last August (was in the Caymans and now Canada), but we visited her former SO weekly for some months after that. (Friendly breakup and he's still a friend.) Plus I've shown property in that area recently, as well.

Maybe it's time of day. There are times when the Y in Oak Hill is a breeze, as well, just looking at the worse possible scenario for both of them and they pretty much balance out. Those two intersections are on the news more than most with accidents and slowdowns during "traffic hour".

[TriumphOfTheSprint]

I would check out Cordillera Ranch outside of Boerne - Cordillera Ranch – Hill Country Private Community in Boerne, TX Real Estate