Slight change in my housing search - please help (Austin: rentals, HOA)

[gcrissman]

So we are T - 7 days before our visit to Austin to scope out commutes and neighborhoods. We have all the addresses and such programmed into the Garmin (so I over prepare a little). As many here remember I am looking at taking a job with the IRS (35 and Ben White) but my wife is in the IT field and figures she will get a job in North Austin.

Well today I get an email from the guy who was hiring me at IRS and had moved on to a higher position at another govt agency. He wants to bring me on there and I will get to work from anywhere in the country I want from home. Probally for more $$ as well

So we are still thinking Austin but now we have 6 days to figure out what parts of Austin to live if I didn't have to worry about driving south and my wife only has to drive north. She only plans on working till the mortgage is paid off (8~10 year max) and I have another 20 to go before I plan on retiring at 62. Wife won't start looking for a job till we have a move date (looking to be at the end of summer now at the earliest) but is fine with a 30/45 minute commute

No kids but 2 dogs, active so we want walking trails/biking paths

Requirements - newer house or one that has be renovated, stay under 300k (lower the better but have lots of upward flexibilty), 3 car garage or an HOA that won't complain about 4 cars, and she wants to be near the lake.

We have thought about buying a smaller house and then a condo by the lake for weekends/retirement

[llkltk]

4 cars, why? Probably hard to find 300K with a 3 car garage unless you go to Round Rock or Pflugerville. You won't find that in Austin proper.

[gcrissman]

Originally Posted by llkltk

4 cars, why? Probably hard to find 300K with a 3 car garage unless you go to Round Rock or Pflugerville. You won't find that in Austin proper.

We have a car and an older SUV, plus we have a Jeep for cruising and slight off-roading. I want to add a 2nd older Jeep to build as more of an off-road only buggy. I am OK with 2 cars garage as long as they fit 2 cars and the HOA doesn't have an issue with a cars on the street.

[sliverbox]

My advice is to not immediately buy a house the second you get to Austin. Doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. Rent for awhile and get familiar with the area. Swooping down and trying to find a place to permanently live in 6 days isn't realistic. Besides- it sounds like this will be a permanent house to live in. Take your time. Its "only" the single largest financial decision you'll ever make...

[sinking]

Originally Posted by llkltk

4 cars, why?

Why not? I have owned 3 cars at a time on a few occasions. Only two right now. I could see myself having six or more in the future if I am ever able to build the facilities for them.

[hound 109]

gcrissman.....since IRS is off the table & the wife would likely work near RR (& schools aren't an issue).....then i would:

- Definitely rent for 6 mos. to a year.
- Look for rentals within a 15 - 20 min. commute of RR.
- I would use the Toll Road 45/RR620 as your east west commute & look on either side of this artery all the way from RM 2222 as your western boundary all the way to Toll 130 on the east.
- Towns would include P'ville, Hutto, RR, CP, N Austin & NW Austin....even Gtown (10 miles north of RR) would be in the mix. Schools don't matter....just find an area, house & neighborhood that fits your short term needs.

A huge swath of land & neighborhoods to look at....with i'm sure dozens (hundreds?) of rentals to choose from that might meet your criteria. Then spend 6 mos. looking at all the areas (while your wife gets a job...then you'll know where she works).

Trust me.....your number one choce at the end of your 2 day visit next week probably wouldn't be your number one choice after looking for 6 mos. It wasn't for me.

Good luck.

[gcrissman]

We are going to rent for the first year at least. I don't think it's a good idea to move and buy right away, I don't want to have to sell again because I rushed to buy a house and then didn't like the location, city, or job.

[gcrissman]

Originally Posted by sinking

Why not? I have owned 3 cars at a time on a few occasions. Only two right now. I could see myself having six or more in the future if I am ever able to build the facilities for them.

4 is our limit, it think. I would like an ATV as well but the Jeeps will be fine. I'd like to be able to build a second garage with a lift, as I get older crawling under cars is not as fun. At least with the Jeeps they are lifted and have bigger tires so there is more clearance.

[LI2Texas]

Originally Posted by hound 109

gcrissman.....since IRS is off the table & the wife would likely work near RR (& schools aren't an issue).....then i would:

- Definitely rent for 6 mos. to a year.
- Look for rentals within a 15 - 20 min. commute of RR.
- I would use the Toll Road 45/RR620 as your east west commute & look on either side of this artery all the way from RM 2222 as your western boundary all the way to Toll 130 on the east.
- Towns would include P'ville, Hutto, RR, CP, N Austin & NW Austin....even Gtown (10 miles north of RR) would be in the mix. Schools don't matter....just find an area, house & neighborhood that fits your short term needs.

A huge swath of land & neighborhoods to look at....with i'm sure dozens (hundreds?) of rentals to choose from that might meet your criteria. Then spend 6 mos. looking at all the areas (while your wife gets a job...then you'll know where she works).

Trust me.....your number one choce at the end of your 2 day visit next week probably wouldn't be your number one choice after looking for 6 mos. It wasn't for me.

Good luck.

Could not have said it better myself. I chose northwest when we came to visit. Now that we have lived here for almost 2 years we know that south west is right for us. Had we bought before we moved here we would have bought in Steiner and I would have been miserable with my commute.