Orange County, CA compare with Austin, TX (Round Rock, Mission: apartment, condos)

[occa]

Hello everyone, First of all let me introduce my self to all you guys and girls. I am Vietnamese American around mid 30, married with 2 children, 8 and 4 years old and another one is on the way (all girls). I am a Cad Engineering (PCB industrial) and my wife is hair stylist. We are considering moving to Austin, TX (Round Rock area) to do American dream (buy house , raise my kids).


If there is anyone has been moved there can give me some suggestions appreciate.

I know the weather is going to be different but beside that School systems, Housing, Jobs market, Crime, .etc.
Thanks,

[TheHarvester]

Round Rock, Pflugerville and parts of North Austin would work well for you.

There is a concentrated Vietnamese neighborhood in north Austin, if that interests you at all. Round Rock is a nicer place to live, but it's not far from the restaurants, stores and other Vietnamese-owned businesses along 183 near Lamar Blvd. The reason I mention this is because you might have a desire to connect with people who can relate to your history, or you might need specific items for cooking, etc. Other than that, you will do well in Round Rock, and it's possible that the RR area has its own SE Asian stores that can supply any needs you might have.

I don't think you would have any problems with racism or cultural prejudice, mainly because that type of hostility is mostly absorbed by other minorities and immigrant groups. Unfortunately, every society has a hierarchy of social status and a set of prejudices, but fortunately for you, there isn't a problem here directed toward SE Asians, at least not that I'm aware of.

[Phisch]

Hi OCCA. We just moved here from OC,CA three weeks ago.

Regarding weather, you already know it's different from over there. Right now, there's an unusual amount of rain but it's my understanding it's supposed to be getting hot by now. Definitely more humid, but it sounds like (from other posts on this board) it's a lot less humid than places back east or even south Texas.

Schools: I was told by a realtor that kids from CA have a hard time the first year of school but then they catch up. We don't know yet, school starts in a month. There are web sites (greatschools.net is one) where you can look things up.

Crime: there is some but by and large the exception.

Housing is much cheaper initially. Property tax is much higher though. If you own a home over there that gained a good bit of equity, you'll do ok over here especially in the areas Harvester mentioned.

However, it might be a good idea to come out and visit Austin for a few days if you haven't already so you can get a good feel for the area.

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by Phisch

...it's my understanding it's supposed to be getting hot by now.

Yeah, I think your understanding is accurate, if not understated.

This is the coolest, wettest summer in recorded history. And last summer was one of the hottest and driest. But even So Cal has that type of variation. Last year was wet, this year is record-breaking dry in the LA region. Trust me, even if you are annoyed by the rain, you'll look back on this summer with fondness when you experience a "normal" summer here.

[Txstar]

Don't forget that August, September, and part of October can be brutally hot as well. I hope the newcomers don't get a false sense of security about our summers, becuase we are running about 10-15 degrees below normal for this time of year(temp. wise).

I've heard that Stiener Ranch has a similar look to the OC, is that true?

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by Txstar

Don't forget that August, September, and part of October can be brutally hot as well.

I sure haven't forgotten. I'm just thankful every time they have to extend the forecast for more rain and below-average temps, cuz I've been through 16 summers here already.

Originally Posted by Txstar

I've heard that Stiener Ranch has a similar look to the OC, is that true?

The similarity would be in the style of development and, on a crude level, the type of vegetation. Parts of the Hill Country look like So Cal chapparel to the untrained eye. The developments in the southern OC hills have a similar vibe to Steiner. Sociologically they're probably very similar, with a comparable demographic, economic profile, etc.

[Phisch]

No, I have no illusions about the weather All the same, I'm glad it's like this because everything's getting even greener. Even the apartment patio is green. They didn't clean out the gutters so rain water keeps pooling on it and won't dry out.

Regarding Steiner, yes, the vibe is very much like So. OC and in particular, Ladera Ranch/Wagon Wheel Canyon. As Harvester said, the vegetation is vaguely similar. There's lots of what I think they call scrub oak. But chaparral in the desert doesn't really look the same as out in Steiner. It's nowhere near as dense (and in Steiner, it doesn't seem that dense to begin with).

The one big difference is that in those areas of OC, you will tend to find more very large homes and very small ones (condos/townhouses). Austin doesn't seem to have very many condos, at least in comparison with OC. I get the impression that people would much rather have their own home and land, even if it's a small bit of property.

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by Phisch

The one big difference is that in those areas of OC, you will tend to find more very large homes and very small ones (condos/townhouses). Austin doesn't seem to have very many condos, at least in comparison with OC. I get the impression that people would much rather have their own home and land, even if it's a small bit of property.

I think that has a lot to do with two factors:

1. the OC is part of a megalopolis, and the more ginormous a city becomes, the more practical it is to live in a condo. Austin is reaching a point now where most of the downtown development consists of highrise condos. But the outlying areas have no real reason to go to condos because:

2. there is so much land here, why not have your own house and yard? The only places where it makes sense to live in a condo are in places with high population density. Outside of downtown Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock and the other main cities of the area, there's really no point in building up or clustering housing because we're in the middle of Texas and every direction you drive is wide open land ready to be developed.

So Cal is built up to the point where they have to squeeze people into smaller spaces and there are a lot of environmental and topographical restrictions on expansion. Can't build on the ocean, can't build in steep rugged mountains. We have no mountains nor ocean, so we can just keep expanding with sprawl for many more decades. Unfortunately.

[gigi927]

Originally Posted by Phisch

No, I have no illusions about the weather All the same, I'm glad it's like this because everything's getting even greener. Even the apartment patio is green. They didn't clean out the gutters so rain water keeps pooling on it and won't dry out.

Regarding Steiner, yes, the vibe is very much like So. OC and in particular, Ladera Ranch/Wagon Wheel Canyon. As Harvester said, the vegetation is vaguely similar. There's lots of what I think they call scrub oak. But chaparral in the desert doesn't really look the same as out in Steiner. It's nowhere near as dense (and in Steiner, it doesn't seem that dense to begin with).

The one big difference is that in those areas of OC, you will tend to find more very large homes and very small ones (condos/townhouses). Austin doesn't seem to have very many condos, at least in comparison with OC. I get the impression that people would much rather have their own home and land, even if it's a small bit of property.

Having lived in Ladera Ranch myself for a year, and now live in the community next to Steiner, I'd agree that Steiner definitely has a similar vibe to Ladera Ranch in terms of rolling hills, demographic, etc. However, IMO, Ladera feels much closer in to things than this area of Austin. For example in Ladera you're 5 minutes from the Shops at Mission Viejo, 30 minutes from Disneyland, freeways and tollways are 5-10 minutes. Here, you're 15-20 minutes from a mall, nowhere Disney and a 15-20 minutes to the major highways or tollroads.

I think if you like areas such as Ladera, you will like Steiner, but you will need to get used to the longer drives to places. Good luck!

[love roses]

That's why I'm glad I'm in 'Austin. I'd feel claustrophobic living right next to too much stuff.