What area has great schools, rent for 1500 or less (3 or 2 bedroom) and not horrible commute into town??? (Austin: sale, apartment)

[smileyface123]

We are looking to relocate to Austin fairly soon. We don't have jobs lined up yet so can't give an exact idea of that location but I assume someplace in town (vague I know but that is all I know at this point)... We have 2 children so want to be in the best school area and super safe and not pay more than $1500 a month. We are looking to rent until we get an idea of the area and we prefer a house over an apartment. Is there such an area? No clue where to look, thanks for any advice!!!

[ericsami]

Well It seems like farwest and Steck would be a good fit for you.

Their schools are not the best. for instance the high school Anderson is not as good WestWood but it is still pretty good. at peak traffic It should take you no more than 25 minutes in the morning to go from Farwest.

I think 1500 / 1600 for Three Bedroom should be possible. but the homes are older Generally 60s-70s or early 80s

[mark311]

Originally Posted by ericsami

Well It seems like farwest and Steck would be a good fit for you.

They could get into one of those FarWest duplexes at that price, which would actually be a pretty good option. Those places go really quickly though, but there is one 3br available now for exactly $1500 per month. I don't think a detached single family 3br in that area would be possible in this market.

The problem with getting into an area like FarWest is that unless your budget to buy is a lot more than your budget to rent, you'll end up having to move out into the suburbs anyway to buy what you want when you're ready. You should check out actual home sale prices as well even if you're planning to rent first unless you're alright with the kids having to change schools when you most likely will have to move out into the suburbs (or further away from Central Austin) to buy.

[smileyface123]

Is Cedar Park, Pflugerville or Round Rock better as far as schools? What is the commute like? Or is there a decent area south of downtown with good schools or is everything north and west?

[hound 109]

Will a a landlord even offer a lease without a job lined up? (I wouldn't.) Or are you pre-paying the lease?

What is your definition of "a great school"?

What do you mean by "into town"? (If you are referring to downtown....will your job for sure be downtown....or are you referring to another part of "town"?)


FWIW, CP, Pville & RR all have good to very good schools....& all have crap commutes into downtown.

Why are you coming to Austin with two schoolchildren without a job lined up? Why not (pick 3 or 4 other cities in Texas) instead of more expensive / tighter job market city like Austin?

[smileyface123]

We wouldn't move out there without a job first of course but we like Austin. We just don't have those specifics yet. To me a great school is well, just that, a safe school with high standards of education. Where the focus is on education and not just babysitting as it is where we are now. I assume my job at least will be downtown Austin but like I said I don't know for sure. Where the kids go to school and a nice and safe place to live takes priority to us over the commute but that does still matter.

[Trainwreck20]

Well, some people want 'the best' school(s), whereas there are a lot of good or really good schools. Anderson is a good school, but not generally thought of as highly as Westlake or Westwood or a few others. Your description would fit more for a 'bad' or subpar school, and it may be easier to avoid those rather than try to afford (money and time-wise) a location that feeds the 'best' school.

[ericsami]

Originally Posted by smileyface123

Is Cedar Park, Pflugerville or Round Rock better as far as schools? What is the commute like? Or is there a decent area south of downtown with good schools or is everything north and west?

Pflugerville has ok schools (not the best not the worst).
houses are generally pretty new there (post 1990s)
But the downside if you get job in South Austin it will take you at least an hour to get to South Austin.
also it is the defenition of non-urban living place.

RoundRock High and StonyPoint would not be described as exactly best schools.

Mcneil High School is Average.

Westwood aside from WestLake (super expensive area) is considered one of best public high schools in Austing Metro.

CedarPark School aare pretty acceptable and rent prices would be very reasonable. but from cedar Park it will take you atleast 60-70 minutes to get to downtown in peak traffic hours.

where I live Oaknoll (Part of Westwood/Canyon Vista Middle school) is very safe and semi Urban and very good school. but it will take you somewhere between 40-50 minutes to get to downtown.

the closer you get to downtown it generally gets more expensive. south Austin (south of river) has been generally pretty hot so i think it would be more expensive.

[ericsami]

Originally Posted by hound 109

Will a a landlord even offer a lease without a job lined up? (I wouldn't.) Or are you pre-paying the lease?

should not be problem with credit score and larger deposit.

[ericsami]

if I were you guys I would wait to see where I can get the best paying job and then pick where I want to live.