Moving back to Austin/Renting a house (Round Rock, Pflugerville: for sale, real estate)

[mzoo]

I lived in Austin for about 6 years(approximately 1994-2000, aka Austin's Golden Era
I LOVED living there, even as some changes had started taking place already- my rent, for the upstairs of a nice house (2 bedrooms) near 32nd and Red River- went from $600 to $900 per month in the space of two years.

I have many friends still in Austin and have visited many times over the years. I've always vowed to return to the city I consider my other "home" (I'm originally from and am currently living in Upstate NY). My GF and I are childless and due to issues of flexibility, cost, etc. are looking to rent a place.

My question: is it still possible to rent a halfway decent/nice within 20 minutes or so of "downtown" Austin affordably? I have a personal home music studio that requires space. We have 5 cats. We aren't wealthy. I make between $40-50,000 annually. My GF is younger and makes half that. I'm 45 and have one or two major moves left in me so its a big one.

My best friend was living in Tucson and I visited him for a month a few years ago and really liked the place...but didn't love it. It too has a good music scene, good vibe, good mexican food, nice natural beauty, warm(hot!)weather--but lacked the extra magic that is Austin for me, whatever that means. I like the desert and the mountains but really love the greenbelt and swimming holes around Austin. Even mid- 90's Austin was a little more happening than Tucson of a few years ago. Tucson is sorta... sleepy. Austin has great food, great music scene, Austin film society and Alamo Drafthouse. Just more going on in general.

I recently went on a site that compared cost of living and the differences between Austin and Tucson were eye-opening! Figures that stood out: you would need $4,673 to maintain the same standard of living that you can have on $3,200 in Tucson. Median 3 bedroom place in Tucson city centre $1,074/Austin $2,825. Outside of city centre Tucson $1,033/Austin $1,857.

I realize a lot of this is contingent upon jobs as the traffic and commute in Austin can be truly terrifying. Is it possible to find a decent one family house to rent in Austin anymore? Which areas? Would I need to look as far away as Pflugerville? Is there anything on the far East Side or far East Riverside around 183? Down south near Slaughter? Can one find a nice single family house, around 1500-2000sq feet for around $1,500 per month?

Sorry for the lengthy post. Thanks in advance!

[centralaustinite]

Look on Austin Home Search, residential rentals with a max price of $1500: you will see option in Round Rock, Kyle, East Austin, Del Valle.

Found an "as is" rental that claims all repairs after move in the tenants responsibility (which is super weird and possibly not legal, so the warning signs are flashing red) 2 blocks from 35 in central East Austin for $1500.
1208 Garden Street, Austin, TX 78702 | MLS# 4989518 | Listing Information | Austin real estate | Homes for Sale Austin | Austin Homes

You should be able to find something like that, either further out or closer in but with some funky aspect to it.

[eirenecat]

I think you could also find homes for rent in that price range in the Quail Creek/78758 area, particularly if you were cool with smaller square footage (12-1400 sq ft) OR going up to as much as $1700/month in rent for the larger square footage. Some pockets of this neighborhood could be higher crime, but nothing really terrible. I lived in this area for 8 years and it is rapidly gentrifying. It's also reasonably close to central Austin (short drive down Burnet) and very close to the Domain.

Here is a pet-friendly example of what I am talking about: https://www.trulia.com/rental/402716...ustin-TX-78758

[mzoo]

Thanks to you both! Much appreciated. Burnet area is great. Would be tough to downsize for a place below 1500 sq feet. But then $1,700 for rent gets pricey if you factor in utilities, etc.

[Aquitaine]

Can one find a nice single family house, around 1500-2000sq feet for around $1,500 per month?

As a frame of reference, we have an 1,150 3BR sq ft house off Manchaca South of Slaughter (so well South of the more central areas you're talking about) that rents for $1,500. It's a nice neighborhood and has a good yard but is otherwise pretty unremarkable.

[sua2017]

My parents pay $2,000 a month for a 3 bedroom town home in a neighborhood called courtyard at 2222 and 360. So if something in as desirable place like that is $2,000, you should be able to find stuff in southeast Austin considerably cheaper.

[hitpausebutton2]

Originally Posted by mzoo

Thanks to you both! Much appreciated. Burnet area is great. Would be tough to downsize for a place below 1500 sq feet. But then $1,700 for rent gets pricey if you factor in utilities, etc.

Yep, only getting worst.. not better as far as renting goes.