Need advice on moving to Austin (San Antonio, Round Rock: fit in, for sale, big home)

[agumuc2]

We are a family of 6 looking to move to Austin. My husband will be working at the Austin- Bergstrom Airport. We homeschool and are looking for a very family friendly neighborhood. Ideally we would like a neighborhood pool too. It appears that Cedar Park and Round Rock are very family friendly and there is also a big homeschool community. We are hoping to spend less than $200,000 and a small home is perfect for us (around 1,500 square feet) with a large(ish) backyard (5,000 square feet or more). I found a house in Settler's Overlook that seems to fit the bill but other than that I don't know where else to look.

I wonder if we should look South of the city since the airport is south but I haven't found anywhere that seems to fit our needs. My husband does commute at off peak times so hopefully if we are on off hours it wouldn't be too bad.

We are hoping to come down in December to look around but my husband could get the call at any time and we have 2 weeks to report. Can anyone provide any advice or direction?

Thanks!

[TexasHorseLady]

His commute would either be very long or he would have to take the toll road every day from those communities, and with Cedar Park it would likely be both. Have you considered Dripping Springs? I know that there is a homeschool community down that way - have a friend who was involved in it until her kids grew up, and it was very active.

[agumuc2]

Okay ! I will look there. I was just looking at Circle C which is near the airport and that looks like a nice place. Would Kyle, TX be too far from the airport? He would like to drive about 30 mins.

I had never even heard of Dripping Springs. I think that is why it seems so overwhelming, there are just so many towns! I will look into Dripping Springs Thank you!

[RooCeleste]

We live in Cedar Park and my husband works at the airport. The commute is horrendous unless you take the toll-road (which he's able to do because he's in a state law enforcement vehicle that can travel the toll-roads without a fee), which will then cost you significant money. I would not look north and instead would look south.

[agumuc2]

Thank you for the advice! Do you know of any good areas South of Austin? Whenever I look up good places to live with families near Austin only Cedar Park and Round Rock seem to come up!

[centralaustinite]

Everywhere is good! Sheesh. And homeschooling happens all over central Texas, there is a robust homeschooling community within Austin proper. Just regular ol south Austin will be fine, as well as Circle C, Village of Western Oaks, Oak Hill, etc. I would start working with a realtor. Look at Kyle and Buda too.

[FalconheadWest]

I really hate it when people don't pay attention to the OPs original criteria. Where in Circle C, Legend Oaks, or Western Oaks or anywhere there can you buy something under $200k? There isn't a single property for sale in all of 78739 or 78749 that is under $200k. The first house is at $235k.

If you venture into 78748, you get 6 houses, all but 1 are right off the railroad tracks. Do railroad tracks bother you? I used to live 1/4 mile from tracks and they never bothered me, and I even worked from home. Others think railroad tracks are the end of all life as we know it because they go by their house 2-3 times a day.

Kyle is starting to get further south than you might want. But Buda might be a better starting point for you.

There are lots of home schooling groups no matter where you are in Austin.

[AMJ27]

Circle C is going to be way over your budget and the house are bigger than what you have indicated that you are looking for. The yards are also not very large.

I would stay south for the airport access. Maybe look a little more south-central? I would also look out towards Dripping Springs, Buda, and Kyle. Maybe even Wimberly?

[TexasHorseLady]

Buda would be good. I was driving up from San Antonio yesterday and drove through Kyle and Buda and stopped in both, and, frankly, they are very close together these days - in fact, pretty much one exit apart. Circle C, as said, is not going to fit into your budget. You can get to the airport from either via the toll road (the south entrance is in Buda and maybe 5-10 minutes minutes from Kyle depending on where in Kyle you are) or you can take I35 to 71 and over if you don't want to use the toll road. Manchaca is another possibility.

[agumuc2]

Thank you for the advice! Do you know of any good areas South of Austin? Whenever I look up good places to live with families near Austin only Cedar Park and Round Rock seem to come up!