Circle C vs Steiner Ranch vs Cedar Park (Dallas, Austin: real estate, low crime)

[Prius732]

Hi Austin forum We live in the Dallas area and are somewhat familiar with the Austin area.We have visited numerous times,explored and loved it.I am 33 my husband is 36, we have a one year old.My husband has the opportunity to transfer to Austin from the Dallas area.I am very curious to see if there would be an area in Austin or a suburb that would fit our needs as much as where we are now,before we even consider it.Husbands work commute will be central Austin,I work from home part time.We have friends in Circle C and have visited them a few times since they moved there.We really like Circle C,but have never been to the Steiner Ranch area or the suburb of Cedar Park.I am aware that Cedar Park is a city and Circle C/Steiner Ranch are areas of Austin.From what I have read on here,we should consider those areas as well.

- Work commute to central Austin,looking for 35 minutes or less
- Budget is under $300,000
- Low crime area/ Great schools
- Decent size yard,neighborhood where houses are not on top of each other
- Close to places we frequently go to(within a 15 minute drive)....WholeFoods,Trader Joes,Central Market,Starbucks,Sprouts,Costco
- Neighborhood with other Professionals/families in the neighborhood
- Neighborhood with amenities...jogging trails,pool,tennis courts
- Newest construction possible

A few specific questions....

- What are the property tax rates in Circle C,Steiner Ranch and Cedar Park?
- Is there any major difference in water rates?

Your feedback is greatly appreciated,thank you in advance !

[10scoachrick]

Coupla things to point out:
A) You lost a lot of people with 'Trader Joe's'. Not me...I would help them open one in our area! BUT, there are rumors of two coming eventually, not on the north side, unfortunately.

2) Cedar Park is a city, while CC and Steiner are master planned neighborhoods/subdivisions. While the homes within the developments will vary in size, price, finishes; Cedar Park has trailer homes in some areas and very nice SFHs in others with darned near anything in between.

[Prius732]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Coupla things to point out:
A) You lost a lot of people with 'Trader Joe's'. Not me...I would help them open one in our area! BUT, there are rumors of two coming eventually, not on the north side, unfortunately.

2) Cedar Park is a city, while CC and Steiner are master planned neighborhoods/subdivisions. While the homes within the developments will vary in size, price, finishes; Cedar Park has trailer homes in some areas and very nice SFHs in others with darned near anything in between.

Thanks for the input,we just got Trader Joes here in the Dallas area.I was not sure if any opened in Austin yet.We moved to the Dallas area 6 years ago,originally form the northeast.We LOVE Trader Joes just as much as we love Whole Foods.

[centralaustinite]

The only place on your list with a reliable commute to central Austin of 35 minutes would be Circle C. FWIW, the first TJ's to open will be in Rollingwood, just west of downtown, south of the river.

Real estate is HOT right now Austin, you will have to be quick and savvy to get in anywhere (except CP) for under $300K

good luck!

[LakeTravisAlum]

Steiner Ranch is my favorite out of the three areas that you listed. However, the commute will NOT be under 35 minutes. Try 45 min to an hour! If the commute time is a big factor, then Circle C will be the best option.

All three areas are zoned to good schools. Welcome!

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Prius732

- Close to places we frequently go to(within a 15 minute drive)....WholeFoods,Trader Joes,Central Market,Starbucks,Sprouts,Costco

- Is there any major difference in water rates?

I think the rest are about a wash. Let me focus on these two. Circle C is the only one of the three with all of these - less TJ's - within fifteen minutes. There is a Starbucks and a Coffee Bean right in the center. The rest are right up Mopac or 71. For instance, Cedar Park to CM is 25 min and Steiner is 35. When TJ's opens in Rollingwood the end of the summer, it will be 20 min from Circle C, 30 from Steiner and 25 from Cedar Park.

Water rates are SUBSTANTIALLY higher in Circle C. Start at $2/gallon up to 2000 and go as high as $12.55 starting at 11,000. Steiner (WCID 17) is $1.70/gallon up to 10,000. You can use 100,000 gallons a month there and not pay as high a rate as in Circle C. Cedar Park is $3.63 up to 10,000 and then goes to $4.36 - which is less than Circle C's rate starting at 2,001 gallons.

[Prius732]

Thanks for the info....upon further research, it seems like the Circle C area might make the most sense in our price range with our wants.Ideally we would want eanes ISD but realize our budget will not get us that.We have been to the Barton Creek area and thought it was gorgeous.I remember going to a mall near the Barton Creek Golf Resort.Lost creek was nice as well but way above our range.

Are there any other neighborhoods we should look into other than Circle C in the South west area near the new Whole foods? What is the general opinion of the Western oaks and Legend oaks neighborhoods?Prices are a bit lower there than Circle C.I am guessing Circle C s considered a bit more desirable with better amenities?I just looked up where Costco is,the new Trader Joes and a bunch of other places.I think we would like being in tht area of South West Austin.

It seems like Steiner could be an option but it is a bit farther away from places we would utilize frequently. Cedar park seems nice ,but is located farthest from the places we want to have easy access to.Can anyone elaborate on what Cedar Park is like?

[centralaustinite]

Any of the SW neighborhood would suit, Village of Western Oaks is great! Legends Oaks too.

[Raskolnikov]

Emphatically recommend Western Oaks and Villages of Western Oaks. Western Oaks is older, houses built in the late 70's and early '80's. The section closest to Whole Foods are very nice older custom homes with huge yards and big mature trees. Park, swimming pool and all the shopping close to me make it as attractive as Circle C. The newer part of Villges of Western Oaks is down off Davis Lane and houses built in early 2000's. Amenities include Dick Nichols Park, hiking trails, there's a city pool, and then it's within walking and biking to Whole Foods to the north, HEB to the south, Alamo Drafthouse, restaurants like Chuy's... Schools are really good

I think it depends on what you like. For us, we liked Circle C but wanted to feel closer into town and have restaurants and shopping and movies within walking/ bike riding distance. Some places in Circle C are walk able to amenities but many are buried 10 or more extra minutes down into the neighborhoods and it takes awhile to get out, so you'd end up driving all
The time to go anywhere.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Prius732

Thanks for the info....upon further research, it seems like the Circle C area might make the most sense in our price range with our wants.Ideally we would want eanes ISD but realize our budget will not get us that.We have been to the Barton Creek area and thought it was gorgeous.I remember going to a mall near the Barton Creek Golf Resort.Lost creek was nice as well but way above our range.

Are there any other neighborhoods we should look into other than Circle C in the South west area near the new Whole foods? What is the general opinion of the Western oaks and Legend oaks neighborhoods?Prices are a bit lower there than Circle C.I am guessing Circle C s considered a bit more desirable with better amenities?I just looked up where Costco is,the new Trader Joes and a bunch of other places.I think we would like being in tht area of South West Austin.

It seems like Steiner could be an option but it is a bit farther away from places we would utilize frequently. Cedar park seems nice ,but is located farthest from the places we want to have easy access to.Can anyone elaborate on what Cedar Park is like?

cedar park is an affordably priced city that is close to all the north austin tech employers. It is a pretty generic strip mall type bedroom community. In the past the housing has been 100-200k so the population reflects that.

based on your criteria I think circle c is your best bet. Circle C is about as far from downtown as great hills. Great hills is about 100K more than circle C.