Where to live if job is in downtown? (Austin, Clarksville: rent, new home)

[TheTerminator]

We're a family of 4 with two kids (3 years old and 5 years old), so we're looking for good schools. We prefer to buy rather than rent and our price limit for a home is <$600,000. Any recommendations?

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by TheTerminator

We're a family of 4 with two kids (3 years old and 5 years old), so we're looking for good schools. We prefer to buy rather than rent and our price limit for a home is <$600,000. Any recommendations?

Near a train station, and take the train into downtown.

[atxcio]

Need to know more about what kind of house you want. $600K is enough to get you into most close-in neighborhoods, where getting to downtown can be done on regular streets. You'll be looking at older, smaller houses though. Close in Eanes ISD would be good, NW and SW Austin have some good schools within the AISD or RRISD. Lake Travis ISD is good but a bit far out from downtown.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by TheTerminator

We're a family of 4 with two kids (3 years old and 5 years old), so we're looking for good schools. We prefer to buy rather than rent and our price limit for a home is <$600,000. Any recommendations?

I would look in Eanes (78746 zip), though sub-$600K homes are drying up there.

SW Austin 78749 or 78739 is another place to look. You won't need a $600K budget there, and the homes are nice, location good, schools good.

But more info is needed, and you'll get some good advice the more detail you provide about your lifestyle and what you like, where you're from, etc.

Steve

[LiveUrban]

Northwest Austin near a MetroRail station so you can use it to commute downtown. Traffic going into and out of downtown is horrendous and your employer may not provide free parking. http://www.capmetro.org/metrorail/

Look around Lakeline Station, lots of new homes.

[bmantx512]

Circle C. is only 10 miles south of DT, and has plenty of homes in your price range with excellent school ratings and very safe neighborhoods. It is suburban, if that is a turn off, but it was done right with a lot of quality houses and shopping areas.

Now the disclaimer. I last lived in Austin 5 years ago and it sounds like the congestion is reaching a whole different level.

Right now, Friday evening traffic has the 11.5 miles I mapped from CC to downtown at 18 minutes. So maybe 30-45 minutes at rush hour? Just a guess though. Google Map a route and check it during rush hour and see what it looks like over time. Good Luck!

[austinliving]

Clarksville

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by austinliving

Clarksville

Not much in that price range at all there, especially big enough for a family with two kids.

[austinliving]

Originally Posted by A-Tex

Not much in that price range at all there, especially big enough for a family with two kids.

I know, it's hard to find more affordable housing there. But the location is perfect for downtown.

[usernamenottaken]

Look at Spicewood/Balcones/Great Hills area too.