middle aged crazy (Houston, Austin, Round Rock: apartment, home, neighborhoods)

[newtotownatx]

we are relocating to the ATX area in the next month or two, from houston

we are looking around but without driving up there, how can we know what the different neighborhoods are like? ARGH

will be working from home so commute isn't too large of an issue.. but we don't want to be so far away from the city that we go insane

we live in montrose/heights area of houston - does anyone know the comparable area in austin?
are there areas where a single woman would not feel safe walking alone? want to avoid that if possible.

totally open to the outlying cities, if anyone can recommend some!

also, we are Sober... so if it's more "not on 6th street" that's better.. thanks in advance!

[A-Tex]

Really, you need to make that huge drive to Austin and familiarize yourself with it beforehand.

As far as neighborhoods go, your budget will be a big factor. Some of the areas that are most like where you live now are also among the most expensive. Are you looking to buy or rent? House, high rise, apartment, town home? Big or small complex? Old or newer building?

Depending on your budget and answers above, some areas are Hyde Park, North Loop, Brentwood/Crestview, SoCo, Bouldin, Travis Heights, East Austin near downtown, French Place/Cherrywood.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by newtotownatx

we are relocating to the ATX area in the next month or two, from houston

we are looking around but without driving up there, how can we know what the different neighborhoods are like? ARGH

will be working from home so commute isn't too large of an issue.. but we don't want to be so far away from the city that we go insane

we live in montrose/heights area of houston - does anyone know the comparable area in austin?
are there areas where a single woman would not feel safe walking alone? want to avoid that if possible.

totally open to the outlying cities, if anyone can recommend some!

also, we are Sober... so if it's more "not on 6th street" that's better.. thanks in advance!

do a search for montrose the comparisons have come up before.

Also you can do google street view to see what the areas look like.

What kind of budget etc? Read the sticky at the top of the forum for the info that is most helpful to us.

[Pinkribbonaustin]

Do some homework on Georgetown. I'm single senior citizen and used to live in Austin. This is, to me, like a little village. It is unbelievable the growth and all the new shops and restaurants. Our downtown square was voted most beautiful. Down the road to North is Salado for fun getaway/shopping. We neighbor with Round Rock where growth is also popping. What you can't find in GT is always down the road in RR. I hardly every have to go to Austin except for Whole Foods, Central Market and additional cultural events.

Be sure and look at Google Images and YouTube videos. One search in GI would be Old Town Georgetown, Tx.

I grew up in Houston and know Montrose area. Think you might like it here!

[eirenecat]

OP, just want to mention that if one reason you like the Montrose district is the LGBT-friendly aspect of it, Austin doesn't really have a neighborhood that is as Castro-like as Montrose is. All of Austin proper is pretty gay friendly, but there isn't any one neighborhood as vibrantly concentrated as Montrose is. I lived there during college at Rice and loved it! I second the suggestion of French Place and Cherrywood--it reminds me a bit of the Heights.

[atxcio]

Strange post. Most people who have lived in Houston for any period of time have already made the drive to Austin -- maybe a few times. Plus they are used to long drives. I'd expect them to just automatically drive up here to check out the neighborhoods.

Second, Montrose and the Heights are distinct areas. Saying you live in the "Montrose/Heights" area makes no sense. You either live in one or the other. It's like an Austinite saying they live in the SoCo/East Austin area.

Now, maybe the OP has just been in Houston for a very short time... which could explain the above. If that's the case, my advice echos the others: make the drive up here.

[rocknrollinhoneybadger]

The wife and I moved down here from Minnesota and it was done in a two week span. In hindsight I wish we had more time to explore the area before moving.

[Eastcoasting]

Originally Posted by rocknrollinhoneybadger

The wife and I moved down here from Minnesota and it was done in a two week span. In hindsight I wish we had more time to explore the area before moving.

What would you have done differently if you had more time?

Just curious, we rented for over a year and felt that we could have pulled the trigger about 6 months quicker on purchasing.

[texan2yankee]

Originally Posted by atxcio

Strange post. Most people who have lived in Houston for any period of time have already made the drive to Austin -- maybe a few times. Plus they are used to long drives. I'd expect them to just automatically drive up here to check out the neighborhoods.

Second, Montrose and the Heights are distinct areas. Saying you live in the "Montrose/Heights" area makes no sense. You either live in one or the other. It's like an Austinite saying they live in the SoCo/East Austin area.

Now, maybe the OP has just been in Houston for a very short time... which could explain the above. If that's the case, my advice echos the others: make the drive up here.

Agree. It is a 2 hour drive....

East Austin would probably be most like the Heights.

[10scoachrick]

Were they serious about the rule that no one over 30 and living outside a 10 block area of downtown can call Austin... A T X