Does Anyone Work in the Town that they Live In? (Austin: sales, real estate)

[vtcowgirl]

Hi all,

I'm curious as to whether anyone DOESN'T commute into "the city." I'm not referring to telecommuting, or having a home business, I'm talking about employment in the outlying towns that you may live in such as Dripping Springs, Bastrop, Liberty Hill, Hutto, Elgin, Taylor. The towns that are within a 20-30 mile or so radius of Austin. Does anyone actually work IN the town that they live in? Are there any good employers in the outlying areas?

I keep hearing about the hellacious traffic and commute times and it's a bit daunting for someone who is coming from no traffic at all. Most people in my neck of the woods routinely drive 30 minutes minimum and up to TWO HOURS to work just to find gainful employment. Driving alot goes along with living in Vermont, but the only traffic is cows crossing the roads.

[neddy]

Live in Leander work for the Leander school system.

[vtcowgirl]

Yes, I can see where schools or hospitals would be a good choice. Makes me consider going back to school and getting a degree that is needed in those two options because as well as relocating, I'm also considering a change of career!

I'm hoping to find a fairly inexpensive home in one of the outlying areas that I can put a large down payment on so that I won't be house poor. I was thinking that if I'm not struggling to make the mortgage every month, it could be an option to stay "local" even if for less pay.

[TexasHorseLady]

Most of the towns have businesses in them that serve the needs of the people who live there. They're not "bedroom communities", in other words - all of the towns named were towns in their own right long before Austin grew out their way - but towns in their own right. So, yes, there should be employment available in them for someone who doesn't want to drive into Austin - the question is, what kind of work do you do?

[vtcowgirl]

Hi there Texas Horse Lady!

I'm a graphic designer and pre-press and production manager in the publishing field. I have worked in publishing my whole life, from books, to magazines, to art, to newspapers. I'm just a little burned out on it. Everything is on an "I NEEDED IT YESTERDAY!" basis It can be stressful.

I have lots of skills other than design skills pertaining to all those years (as far as management and administrative) so I know I can apply those skills to other career paths.

I don't foresee a problem finding work in my field as there are quite a few job postings for the different areas of publishing that I have worked in and I have a pretty strong resumé.

I'm justing considering my other options that don't involve a whole lot of traffic.! One possibility is finding an employer who will let me do design from home. It's often difficult to find that kind of work. And I've done the freelance route up here, it's a bit uneven. You're always chasing jobs, which is a full time job in itself.

[TexasHorseLady]

You've got something that you could do from home, then. (I know several folks who do that kind of thing and, in fact, for 8 years now Simply Morgan, the publication that I'm a volunteer editor/MagMom for, has been done in that fashion.) I suspect, with fuel prices being what they are, employers are going to become more amenable to it, as well. But you might also be able to find something actually in one of those towns.

You might want to check out Meetup and see if there's a group of folks doing what you do that has a meetup (there seems to be one for just about everything) in this area. They might be able to better advise you.

[vtcowgirl]

That's a great tip, the Meetup. Austin does seem to be more amenable to telecommuting than here where I am. Employers want you on-site up here, like they don't trust you.

But I actually work really well from home, I get alot done as I like to start work at 6 in the morning or so (in my robe, with my coffee) take a break and go back to it in the evening.

I'm so looking forward to my eventual move, I just hope my house sells fairly quickly in this market up here. It's not great in a "great" year. But having lead-time to do research is a bit of a blessing.

thanks again. this is a truly helpful forum.

[schoenfraun]

I am a state employee and commute daily from Taylor to the Capitol area dowtown, 32 miles each way. I do not use the toll roads and it takes me, at worst, an hour, but sometimes takes me as little as 35 minutes. I grew up in the Chicago area and a commute time of over an hour, just to go twenty miles, was pretty typical, so this Austin metro area commute doesn't faze me at all.

If you are interested in these small towns outside of Austin, look at www.impactnews.com to read the Community Impact Newspaper. It appears in residents' mailboxes every month. The issue that arrived yesterday states:
Almost 90% of Hutto residents commute outside of Hutto city limits to work
About 60% of Taylor residents commute outside of Taylor to work
About 60% of Georgetown residents commute outside of Georgetown.

There's also information in this newspaper about real estate sales in these three towns over the last few months, average home prices monthly, and then information (ads disguised as articles) about local businesses opening up. Who knew that here in Taylor is a business that sells exotic corals to aquarium retailers and enthusiasts?

Right now it seems as though creating travel options, such as increased bus service, light rail, is focused on Travis Co and WEST Williamson Co. I haven't heard much about creating these options for folks in Taylor, for example. They're supposed to be building an intermodal transportation center in Taylor, but that's just a building. What buses or trains will take me from there to work? I've heard nothing on that front....

Traffic in Austin will be worse than Vermont, for sure, but I don't think folks like me, who have come here from other big cities, have much to complain about. I giggle all the way to work each morning because the traffic seems light to me. But I am sure that, for folks who have always called this area home, the increased traffic is a big headache.

[vtcowgirl]

Hi Schoenfraun,

Interesting statistic on Georgetown and Taylor. There's not a huge difference between commuting and not commuting.

Ya know, I've been recently eyeing Taylor as a huge possibility for me. It's seems to be my "style." I like the older homes and the fact that it's a fairly decent sized town. As TexasHorseLady knows, I have two horses also. They are a big consideration. I don't want several acres of limestone. The agricultural land around Taylor is nice. I like the relatively short distance into the "city." I drive 27 miles to work now (but like I said, no traffic to speak of, although it can take me an hour in the winter with snow and ice and white knuckle driving).

I've stated in other threads that friends of mine down there are in the "stay WEST of I35" mindset, so Dripping Springs remains my other strong possibility (at least I have it down to TWO now!) until I can look at Taylor in person. I've been to Drippin and liked it but would have to find a piece of property that is horse friendly. I have been everywhere else it seems but Taylor. Even as far out as Blanco, Johnson City, Kerrville, and Fredericksburg. All of them really nice but a good ways if I find I MUST work in Austin. Hence, my question about working where one lives!

Cheers.

[TexasHorseLady]

You're going to pay more for the right horse-friendly property in Dripping Springs than in the Taylor area (or anywhere else east of IH35, pretty much). While there are horses in that area, quite a few of them, the rock to soil ratio is considerably higher. You might also look west of IH35 but east of Dripping Springs - the soil gradually changes through there.