Cedar Park to Downtown Commute: Am I Die? (Austin, McKinney: apartment complex, condo)

[Bucky Badger]

Thanks everyone for the variety of responses so far, i'll try to digest it all this evening and may have some additional questions. Really, really appreciate the opinions/thoughts.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by riaelise

FWIW, I live in far eastern Round Rock, close to Hutto. My job is on 6th and Congress. I like my job and I love my house very much, so neither is negotiable. You won't die commuting from the northern areas. I take Metrorail. If you're not driving, commuting is really no big deal to me. I'm a New Yorker. You're born commuting.

Do you ever need to stay late past service hours of Metrorail? If so, what do you do?

[sojourner77]

Originally Posted by Dabroncos1

I don't understand why people like south Austin- if I had visited south Austin first I don't know if we'd even be here. But hey to each their own.

Thanks for the sleight. Why South Austin? Because it's the land of parks and greenbelts, and it's closer to downtown. North Austin is paved over and the ghetto areas are much larger, and you have to drive 2X as far north (like Round Rock) before you reach nice/new neighborhoods.

South: Better access to rural/hill country, Wineries, more Bohemian, Touristy spots like Gruene, New Braunfels, Wimberly, spring-fed swimming holes, rivers, San Antonio, the Airport, F1 racetrack, generally wealthier zip codes, etc. but to each their own, right?

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by cBach

Do you ever need to stay late past service hours of Metrorail? If so, what do you do?

Yes. Unfortunately then, my option is Metrorapid. Talk about epic fail. One hour to get to Tech Ridge.

[petro]

The Metrorail station is a couple blocks from the Frost Tower. It runs from Cedar Park through NW Austin to downtown. This is your best option to avoid the traffic of downtown.

[JT-3]

Maybe rent first and understand the lay of the land. Buying a home is a major decision.

Likely tough with the kids, but worth exploring.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Originally Posted by AustinDude360

. You cannot underestimate being stuck in traffic just doing something menial like getting stuff from HD or HEB.

I related to that! The other day I went down there to St. David's and got lost....for over two hours. What I found most frustrating was having to turn at a light into a subdivision and having to wait a very long time to turn. I couldn't believe the traffic. Of course I left Hutto around 4:30 and didn't get to St. David's until after 6:30. I had quite the experience. Yes, I did ask for directions but it seems I couldn't get the "just turn left and then left to get over Mopac and then come back....".

Someone told me it was on Parmer and Mopac but it seems every time I tried to follow Parmer I wound up lost again. I dunno...maybe Parmer had a few names I'm not familiar with that include the word "Parmer".

Plus, I get it Austinites!! Some of you know the roads really darned good and go flying past everyone in and out of traffic!! Austin is no place for a pokey, old driver like me. That much I know. However, once I could get really mad and start driving like an ******* I seemed to fit in better. Either that or get run off the road.

I'll stay in Hutto thank you. We still have our share of people that honk if you're not stepping on the gas quick enough at a light but it's rare.

And yes, I did have a Tom-Tom but forgot to get an address. Our Tom-Tom doesn't recognize the name St. David's Hospital. I was thinking those gadgets should have a pre-programmed thing where if someone is looking for a hospital it would show up quickly. Maybe there is such a feature but I couldn't find it. I was ready to throw the damn thing out the window. The kids programmed it to MOO every time it went past a church and it scared the hell out of me every time I heard it. Plus, I was very tired of being told to "make a U-turn". I unplugged it.

This is embarrassing to admit but I finally wound up getting on some road that winds around Brushy Creek and exits out at the end of 79. I went back to Hutto and then started over on 130 and then followed directions on my print out. I got into trouble because originally I didn't want to take the toll road...I wanted to go the "back way".

I'm ready for Googles self driving car. (as long as I have access to the brake) http://www.kvue.com/story/tech/2015/...stin/29809487/

[Bucky Badger]

Thanks everyone. Yes, the plan is to get an apartment first and then purchase a home within 6-12 months or sooner if possible. That being said I don't want to move schools 2x, so we need to a) find schools we are comfortable with; b) make sure there are enough homes in our budget that feed into those schools, then c) find a rental that also feeds into these schools so we don't have to switch schools when we purchase a home.

If there are any good resources related to home/apartment rental searches other than the standard ones i might find on google, I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks again!

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

Thanks for the sleight. Why South Austin? Because it's the land of parks and greenbelts, and it's closer to downtown. North Austin is paved over and the ghetto areas are much larger, and you have to drive 2X as far north (like Round Rock) before you reach nice/new neighborhoods.

South: Better access to rural/hill country, Wineries, more Bohemian, Touristy spots like Gruene, New Braunfels, Wimberly, spring-fed swimming holes, rivers, San Antonio, the Airport, F1 racetrack, generally wealthier zip codes, etc. but to each their own, right?

And....eventually...they may build the necessary highways and connectors so folks can actually navigate the area.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

I related to that! The other day I went down there to St. David's and got lost....for over two hours. What I found most frustrating was having to turn at a light into a subdivision and having to wait a very long time to turn. I couldn't believe the traffic. Of course I left Hutto around 4:30 and didn't get to St. David's until after 6:30. I had quite the experience. Yes, I did ask for directions but it seems I couldn't get the "just turn left and then left to get over Mopac and then come back....".

Someone told me it was on Parmer and Mopac but it seems every time I tried to follow Parmer I wound up lost again. I dunno...maybe Parmer had a few names I'm not familiar with that include the word "Parmer".

/

I visit that medical complex from time to time...not the easiest to navigate. It's a WHOLE lot better once you've done it a time or two, especially coming from north/west on Parmer and dealing with the low water roads that lead under MoPac(great cut-through). Sorry for your troubles; but don't give up on the area just yet! It really IS at Parmer/MoPac...kinda, sorta.