Round Rock vs. Steiner Ranch

[mark311]

Originally Posted by h886

Her husband is transferring with Google, so up in North Austin at 183/Mopac.

Ahhh. Then it sounds like Avery Ranch would be the safe option until they get their bearings for the area. It's pretty much a straight shot down Parmer to Mopac or to 183 using Avery Ranch Blvd. (Affordable, newer, good schools, close proximity to Brushy Creek Park and shopping.)

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by GirlsRUs

Austin

That I got! I meant, where in Austin will your job(s) be? North Austin? South? Central? West? East? Any advice, to be useful, needs to take that into consideration.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by h886

Her husband is transferring with Google, so up in North Austin at 183/Mopac.

Ah, okay, that helps.

You might want to consider Georgetown, west of I35. Lake Georgetown is right there, not too bad a commute (we live about 15-20 minutes north of Georgetown and until he retired, my husband commuted to that area every day and it took him 40-45 minutes), wooded, green. There's a few 4-bedroom houses in your price range or less for lease right now, a couple in Georgetown Village, another on almost an acre.

[GirlsRUs]

Originally Posted by mark311

Where in Austin? You wouldn't want to live in Cedar Park if you work South of downtown. The commute would be an hour each way on average.

I don't know where in Austin (because I'm not familiar w/ the area), but you might - it's the Google company in Austin. So, I'm assuming it's just in Austin. I don't know the exact location, sorry!

[GirlsRUs]

Originally Posted by h886

If you're looking for a 3-4 bedroom house at $1,500, that's probably going to put you out in the suburbs (Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock), or in a less swanky area close in to town. Be sure to figure in utilities, which won't be included and may run you $200 some months for electricity alone if you get an older house that's expensive to cool. Austin in general is more affordable than CA. As in, you can find areas within an hour of town for a decent price, which you can't in many areas of CA, but the affluent areas (like Steiner) are still going to be quite pricey. In many areas, you have a mix of really nice houses, modest houses and apartment complexes. So you're going to have some families of modest income in your general area just about everywhere (again, except for the most affluent places, where--as you're observing as being one in the "priced out" category--even the rentals and apartments are in high demand.) But, Austin is very safe.

Helpful info, thank you