Travis Heights? (Dallas, Austin, West: middle-class, best neighborhood, cheap apartments)

[GM1]

I have been considering a move and have been looking at different neighborhoods in the Austin area. I'm very interested in Travis Heights. Was wondering if I can get some thoughts on the neighborhood, such as the general property tax rate, and also how do the schools rate?

[TheHarvester]

You asked about the things I can't answer. Tax rates and schools don't affect my decisions much. All I can say is that Travis Heights is a gorgeous, expensive area with a wide variety of housing, a phenomenally convenient location, and a lot of hype that might inflate housing prices above what is sustainable. That's a question nobody can answer, but it's one of the most expensive places in Austin because of its unique beauty, older homes, location, amenities, etc.

When considering schools, one thing I'd suggest is that you look into Austin's fantastic home-schooling network. It allows you to give your children a huge variety of experiences that they could never have in the prisons we call public schools. I'm sure I'll get bashed by public school supporters, but I see those institutions as dinosaurs in need of an asteroid. Anarchistic schooling is a rapidly growing movement that is flourishing in Austin, but it does require some flexibility and anarchy in your own personal schedule and lifestyle.

Taxes in Travis Heights will reflect the high valuations of property there, so they'll be high. But you might feel that it's worth the price if you really love that neighborhood. Loving where you live is worth a high price, IMHO.

[achtungpv]

If you can afford Travis Heights, you can afford private school.

Best neighborhood in Austin IMHO.

[kt2le]

I live in Dallas but my grandparents lived in Travis Heights for over 50 years from the 1930's to 1980's. It's a beautiful area. They lived in one house until 1949, which is when they built the one they lived in the rest of their lives. I wish we still had their house but I don't think we could afford the taxes! The 1,300 sq. ft. house they built for $11,000 is on the tax rolls at $410,000! They would never have believed it. Of course, now it has central air and probably looks better than it did when it was brand new - lol! My grandparents were middle-class people living in a middle-class neighborhood back then. My how times have changed!

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

If you can afford Travis Heights, you can afford private school.

Best neighborhood in Austin IMHO.

I could have just what you said instead of my long-winded reply.

Nice summary of the topic, achtung.

[jread]

I honestly don't know anyone in the Austin area who wouldn't want to live in Travis Heights. It is absolutely perfect in every way except that it's too expensive for the average person. Be warned... Travis Heights is reserved for the wealthy (just like every other desirable, central-city location in Austin).

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by jread

I honestly don't know anyone in the Austin area who wouldn't want to live in Travis Heights. It is absolutely perfect in every way except that it's too expensive...

I'll give you some other reasons why it's not ideal for everyone:
1. not the best public schools
2. very close to I-35, Riverside and Congress, making it ideal for burglars (as I experienced)
3. few sidewalks or other urban amenities in a neighborhood that is used by many people as a commuting short-cut (this is mainly important for off-leash dogs and children)

Those are fairly minor complaints. I don't know of any other city in the USA that has a neighborhood so beautiful, with a free spring-fed swimming pool and a long creekside park and interesting topography and wonderful people and diverse architecture, all within walking distance of the downtown of a metro area that is now at 1.6 million and will soon reach the 2 million mark.

Yeah, Travis Heights is pretty amazing. But the diversity of human needs and preferences is also pretty amazing. It's not for everyone, but for those who love it and can afford it, there's not much that can top it.

[GM1]

Anyone have the zip code for Travis Heights?

[TheHarvester]

Travis Heights zip is 78704

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by jread

I honestly don't know anyone in the Austin area who wouldn't want to live in Travis Heights. It is absolutely perfect in every way except that it's too expensive for the average person. Be warned... Travis Heights is reserved for the wealthy (just like every other desirable, central-city location in Austin).

If you are a Republican and want to place political signs in your yard, be prepared for vandalism.

It's not reserved for the wealthy, there are many rentals for less than $1500, but it will be a small house. There are also some older, cheap apartments.

I lived there on Newning Street for 5 years in the early 1990's. You could hear IH35 clearly at night.

S. Congress (soco) has become what I call "being cool on purpose" instead of what it use to be, which was a gritty, funky stretch of cool and unique shops.

Schools are not good. Tax rate is the same as everywhere else in City of Austin. The rate is simply multiplied against a higher value, thus higher taxes.

That said, it would still be my choice of places to live if I needed a close-in, very central location and wanted the older home ambience of the neighborhood. We loved Travis Heights when we lived there. I've always wanted to return, but it's not prudent at this stage in our kid's lives and school. In other words, it would be a great neighborhood for us, but there are much better areas to raise a kid.

When you consider the cost per square foot of the home you purchase in TH compared to what you can find 10 minutes further south past Ben White in 78745 for the same amount of money. $300K gets you junker in Travis Heights. $180K to $250K gets you a bigger, decent 1960s or 1970s home in the northern section of Area 10N, such as behind Central Market in the Western Trails neighborhoods.

Steve