High Pointe and Belterra: An Updated Thread (Austin, Spring: HOA fees, houses)

[ks.ca]

Hi everyone,

I've been reading some threads about High Pointe and Belterra recently. Common to many of them were the following:

* High Taxes (greater than 3%)
* High Utility Costs, specifically water and propane (in Belterra)
* High HOA fees (in HP)
* Commute through the Y which was predicted to get either much better or much worse over the next few years.


Most of these threads were going back to 2007/2008. Does anyone in either of these neighborhoods have any new information to contribute. Have any of these issues been resolved, become worse, stayed the same?

Did the entrance of multiple builders into HP make any difference to the area? Are these the best choices for a new housing development in the SW with good access to 71 or Mopac?

Also, if anyone has any ballpark figures of what a 2500 sqft home out there costs to maintain per month compared to the south-west side of Austin (within the city limits).


Thanks in advance!

Kevin

[CarnivalGal]

Taxes have not gone down, utility companies have not lowered their rates, and traffic has gotten worse. They keep talking about improving the Y, but nothing has been done.

[ks.ca]

Originally Posted by mm57553

Taxes have not gone down, utility companies have not lowered their rates, and traffic has gotten worse. They keep talking about improving the Y, but nothing has been done.

Thanks, that's good to know.


Does anyone have any thoughts on how the commute would be from Belterra/Highpointe out to the airport between 8-8:30am? I know along 71 starting at 360 it's a breeze, but how about from BT/HP to 71 & 360?

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by ks.ca

Hi everyone,

I've been reading some threads about High Pointe and Belterra recently. Common to many of them were the following:

* High Taxes (greater than 3%)
* High Utility Costs, specifically water and propane (in Belterra)
* High HOA fees (in HP)
* Commute through the Y which was predicted to get either much better or much worse over the next few years.


Most of these threads were going back to 2007/2008. Does anyone in either of these neighborhoods have any new information to contribute. Have any of these issues been resolved, become worse, stayed the same?

Did the entrance of multiple builders into HP make any difference to the area? Are these the best choices for a new housing development in the SW with good access to 71 or Mopac?

Also, if anyone has any ballpark figures of what a 2500 sqft home out there costs to maintain per month compared to the south-west side of Austin (within the city limits).


Thanks in advance!

Kevin

Circle C or Meridian would be your best choices for good access to Mopac. Dripping Springs is much further out, and the traffic is a headache. It's only around 2.25 in SW Austin versus 3%.

[pwherman512]

Circle C and Meridian are nice but they do not hold a candle to Highpointe or Belterra. And the traffic is not that bad. It is a few more miles past CC and Meridian. The schools are much better, nicer people and a somewhat 'living in the country feel'.

[ks.ca]

Thanks pwherman. When you say its not that bad, do you have an idea of how long it takes to get to from HP to the intersection of 71 and 360? Assuming 7:45/8am traffic?

Our main concerns there are the monthly costs of water, eletricity and propane in BT. Are there "normal" costs people use when budgeting for a $2500 sqft home?

Originally Posted by pwherman512

Circle C and Meridian are nice but they do not hold a candle to Highpointe or Belterra. And the traffic is not that bad. It is a few more miles past CC and Meridian. The schools are much better, nicer people and a somewhat 'living in the country feel'.

[pwherman512]

I live in Highpointe so I cannot speak about the propane costs in BT. As for traffic, I take the back way - 1826 to Mopac.

[lemonegg]

The traffic does slow down when approaching the Y but I never thought it was that bad, but I usually get to the Y around 6:45. Coming home the traffic crawls but moves very nicely once you get past it. Although it will just get worse because they are still building west of the Y, it would not stop me from buying out there.

I wouldn't take the 1826 backroad in the morning since its one lane until rte 45. The houses are nicer, newer and cheaper in HP than in Circle C but Circle C has a superior location IMO. Also the HOA in HP really gets on people about their lawns. They insist on weed free bright green lawns, drought or no drought That could be good or bad considering how good you are in keeping up your lawn.

[tfresca]

That time of day Mopac can be a parking lot. Leave earlier or later. 7:30 to 8:30 is death on any major road in Austin if going a great distance.

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by pwherman512

Circle C and Meridian are nice but they do not hold a candle to Highpointe or Belterra. And the traffic is not that bad. It is a few more miles past CC and Meridian. The schools are much better, nicer people and a somewhat 'living in the country feel'.

Schools are not necessarily better or nicer. Meridian has a brand new elementary. Circle C has several highly acclaimed schools. Many people would disagree about Dripping Springs and those subs being better than SW Austin. It is Dripping Springs, ya know? And there is nothing out there!