Better investment: near shoal creek or Lake Travis school district? (Austin: rental car, for sale)

[Tacolicious]

We are moving into Austin and are here now (in hotel). We’ve been looking at homes in the Anderson High School school district. Range up to about 500,000. The selection is terrible! There’s almost nothing livable. We found one we might offer on at 330 but it would probably take another 20-50 to get it decent and its sooo small. Meantime, I’m looking into going far away to the Lake Travis school district. Houses are MUCH nicer and in price range, etc. we plan to let our kids go to school here and finish (they are in 10th and 11th grade) then rent out the house and keep as an investment. I don’t REALLY want to drive all the time to work etc, but....... Anybody have any thoughts? We’ve only been her three days but already driving our real estate agent crazy! ��

[centralaustinite]

Yes, I was looking in NW Austin 10 years ago and there wasn't much in that price range then! Don't know what to advise, problem with houses further out is that there is always a newer development just a bit down the road that your rental will compete with. It will also hold down appreciation. For rental location trumps all. Have you run the numbers carefully? I'd look at renting something yourself for two years and then just move on! Real estate is such an inflexible investment, really hard to make it cash flow in Austin.

[Trainwreck20]

SW Austin and Bowie HS is a possibility or Dripping Springs/DSHS. Both will get you more in your price range. How big are you looking (or how small is your smallest) for a house?

I don't remember all the original location criteria or how set you are on Anderson, though.

[Austin97]

thats why she should keep using her original thread.

I would have responded, but dont feel like doing the work to find the criteria in the original thread.

[A-Tex]

I would never buy as far out as that under the circumstances you've described. Central location trumps everything.

Your surprise over the Austin real estate market is pretty boggling since people tried to warn you in the multiple threads you've started.

[Tacolicious]

A-Tex, Austin97:

My apologies for clogging up your forum with my three threads. As I am new I did not realize there were such rules. It’s no fun living in a crappy hotel with teenagers and two dogs while looking for a house/job/car without the Hubs. Spent all day dragging the kids around to car dealerships trying not to get screwed on a used car. I just came here for a little support and hopefully some useful information.

The fixer-upper house we are looking at is near Balcones Park, so fairly central. It feeds into Anderson High. It’s a little less than 1700 sqft. 3 beds and “big enough” I guess. I “think” its a nice location.

Also, does anyone know where to look for cars for sale from a private seller?

Thanks for your responses.

[C24L]

Originally Posted by Tacolicious

A-Tex, Austin97:

My apologies for clogging up your forum with my three threads. As I am new I did not realize there were such rules. It’s no fun living in a crappy hotel with teenagers and two dogs while looking for a house/job/car without the Hubs. Spent all day dragging the kids around to car dealerships trying not to get screwed on a used car. I just came here for a little support and hopefully some useful information.

The fixer-upper house we are looking at is near Balcones Park, so fairly central. It feeds into Anderson High. It’s a little less than 1700 sqft. 3 beds and “big enough” I guess. I “think” its a nice location.

Also, does anyone know where to look for cars for sale from a private seller?

Thanks for your responses.

craigslist

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Tacolicious

A-Tex, Austin97:

My apologies for clogging up your forum with my three threads. As I am new I did not realize there were such rules. It’s no fun living in a crappy hotel with teenagers and two dogs while looking for a house/job/car without the Hubs. Spent all day dragging the kids around to car dealerships trying not to get screwed on a used car. I just came here for a little support and hopefully some useful information.

The fixer-upper house we are looking at is near Balcones Park, so fairly central. It feeds into Anderson High. It’s a little less than 1700 sqft. 3 beds and “big enough” I guess. I “think” its a nice location.

Also, does anyone know where to look for cars for sale from a private seller?

Thanks for your responses.

It isnt clogging. It is just that there is info that you have given us on the old threads that we can revisit to tailor advice better. When you post at a new thread we are missing that information and it is a pain to go find the old threads and look for it.

are you using austinhomesearch.com and putting anderson high school in the search to filter for homes that feed into it?

If so there is one at 2600 sq ft for 492K in great hills

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by Tacolicious

Also, does anyone know where to look for cars for sale from a private seller?

Thanks for your responses.

IF you have a vehicle in mind, check CarGurus for local private sales as well as dealer inventory.
There is no tax advantage to buying from an individual here in Texas(unlike some other states); but hopefully you can find a good deal. I had success with one vehicle transaction on Craigslist a few years ago.

[Tacolicious]

Thanks guys! I did purchase a car today! Very happy with it. It took basically all day! Now just have to figure out how to return the rental car to the airport and somehow get myself to the dealer to pick it up. Should I take a taxi/Uber? Do they have Uber here?

Now focusing on house.