Affordable, safe, kid-friendly, & close to UT?

[Trainwreck20]

Near Doss, you could also use the UT shuttle buses. Not sure on the rental prices in the area, though they will be cheaper than Hyde Park. IF they aren't, it is probably because they are much nicer.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by deintexas

No I have not even applied yet. I'm looking to begin there next fall. So I'd be moving in the summer. Student housing? Is that something that is paid for by a scholarship? I was just planning on taking out mega student loans. And I'm not married, does that change anything?

How confident are you that you will be admitted? Undergrad admissions are mainly the top 8% of high school grads, graduate admissions vary by department but most are quite competitive.

Married Student Housing is primarily "Family Housing," you probably qualify if you are a single parent. Investigate via the UT web site, tons of information on there. It is not free but rent is lower than market rates.

You will have to live far away from UT and central Austin to find a 3/2 for less than $1000 a month. Not sure it can be in done even in the greater Austin area (including Cedar Park, Round Rock, Kyle, Buda, etc)

[1mintjulep]

Originally Posted by riaelise

You'd probably need at least a 2-2. For that, I'd think it would be more than 1K/month in the areas you are seeking. (These areas close to UT tend to be trendy/pricey) My friend rented a duplex in the Hyde Park area and it cost them 1100. Might i suggest this alternative -- move even farther in north Austin or to maybe or to a suburb like Round Rock, Pflugerville, or Cedar Park. And then be willing to take public transportation and save the wear and tear on your car. If you want good schools and a good price, then you either a) pay more or b) move farther out.

Public transportation from Round Rock/P-ville/Cedar Park to UT? Surely you jest.

[feesha]

We were looking for the same thing when we moved to the Austin area a year ago. We ended up living in Pflugerville, though at the time we thought it was Austin. We are now relocating to Round Rock. A 3 bedroom is difficult to find for that price here (Round Rock, Leander, Austin) also by a good school. I recommend Austinhomesearch.com and greatschools.org. Each ISD has an automated boundary map so you can find info on the school you are zoned for.

It's a lot of work doing it that way and from my experience I'd just look in Round Rock. You might find a 2 bedroom, 700 square foot by a good school in Austin during this time (off-season) but anything more than a duplex with multiple levels makes me nervous, especially with kids.

[df175]

$1000 for a 2/2 is barely possible in Hyde Park but it'll be a small 2/2 in a 40+ year old building. Most of these places were built for students on the cheap (e.g., tiny windows) decades ago, and while many students do still live in Hyde Park, there are lot more non-students these days renting there since it's such a hip central area. Hyde Park is safe except that there's a fairly high level of day time burglary- but this is a problem in most areas with a lot of apartments.

If you live in HP, it'll make little sense to drive to campus given the good bus service available. Realize that to drive to campus you must either pay for parking by day ($8+) or rent a dedicated spot for $100+/mo. The bus is free with a UT ID.

Check Alori Properties (search)- they actually own (not merely manage) a lot of older buildings in the area, and they have a rare good reputation. There are also a fair number of small investor 4 plex type buildings around as well that are owned by people who've lived in the neighborhood for a long time. Often they are not advertised online but rented by word of mouth or by a for lease sign put in the yard.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by 1mintjulep

Public transportation from Round Rock/P-ville/Cedar Park to UT? Surely you jest.

No, I do not jest. I live in Northern Pflugerville, and I regularly take Metrorail to work. The drive to the park and ride is only 10 minutes.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by feesha

We were looking for the same thing when we moved to the Austin area a year ago. We ended up living in Pflugerville, though at the time we thought it was Austin. We are now relocating to Round Rock. A 3 bedroom is difficult to find for that price here (Round Rock, Leander, Austin) also by a good school. I recommend Austinhomesearch.com and greatschools.org. Each ISD has an automated boundary map so you can find info on the school you are zoned for.

It's a lot of work doing it that way and from my experience I'd just look in Round Rock. You might find a 2 bedroom, 700 square foot by a good school in Austin during this time (off-season) but anything more than a duplex with multiple levels makes me nervous, especially with kids.

If she is looking in Round Rock, she mind as well look at Pflugerville too. I'm sorry but unless she is looking at some of the premier RR neighborhoods, I don't think it is that much better. Good schools are to be found in PF too, though having looked on the MLS there doesn't appear to be much housing stock that is less than 1000.

[feesha]

If she is looking in Round Rock, she mind as well look at Pflugerville too. I'm sorry but unless she is looking at some of the premier RR neighborhoods, I don't think it is that much better. Good schools are to be found in PF too, though having looked on the MLS there doesn't appear to be much housing stock that is less than 1000.

There's a lot to like about Pflugerville. Lake pflugerville is nice and it is quiet here. The people are nice. We pay $1000 for a duplex zoned for an academically acceptable school . I go to ACC and am considered out of district. My tuition is so much higher than if I lived in elsewhere..

Then there are Pf's water rates. We are in a MUD district and I've heard that west Pf's rates are skyrocketing. I assume they might have the good schools since we are not by them.