what does it REALLY cost to live in a 3,500SF House in lakeway, Texas (Austin: living in, prices)

[usc619]

Originally Posted by AustinTexan

The number of Californians moving to Texas....is RIDICULOUS!! Can't you find some other state to pick on?

Can't you find some other thread to be an a$$ on?

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by Austin97

3 acres is a lot to water, I suspect you would prob need that much $ to keep 3 acres watered here as well. Electricity is 200 this past month for 2800 sq ft, but typically runs 100 or less in the winter.

Gas runs around $20.

I cannot believe anyone without sports fields will want grass on 3 acres. In Texas you will be watering constantly, spending tons of money. When water gets more precious than it is now - the water bill will hurt even more. And the grass will probably die when water rationing is required.

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

I cannot believe anyone without sports fields will want grass on 3 acres. In Texas you will be watering constantly, spending tons of money. When water gets more precious than it is now - the water bill will hurt even more. And the grass will probably die when water rationing is required.

Agreed. Maybe they should start doing some sliding scale pricing to deter people from such wasteful practices. I don't think people realize that most of the grasses in the residential areas of Central Texas are not native and thus need a lot more water. If I'm reading this right Bermuda needs 60% and St. Augustine 100% more water than native Buffalo grass:

Steve Dejka

[cls88]

We have Bermuda and don't water it at all. It turns to brown in the hot summer and always come back in the fall. Actually it speads everywhere that I don't want it to be.

[In2Deep2]

Electricity will be more expensive in an older home -- and there are plenty of those in Lakeway.
Also depends on square footage.

Propane in Lakeway, in most areas, I believe.

Water can be expensive. Go with low water landscape.,

[FalconheadWest]

How many gallons is $800 for water?? I got a water bill for 62,000 gallons (it was a typo by the way) and it was for $123. 62k can fill 3 swimming pools!! What do you get for $800??

[jobert]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

How many gallons is $800 for water?? I got a water bill for 62,000 gallons (it was a typo by the way) and it was for $123. 62k can fill 3 swimming pools!! What do you get for $800??

um, stage 3 water restrictions?

Go ahead you selfish bastard, you deserve 3 acres of green lawn.

[Ronang26]

I guess I should have been more specific, I do not water all 3 acres, I only water about 1 acre of that.10,000 sf of it is grass and the rest are slopes with groundcover ...a lot of our property is terraced, and the county REQUIRES you to plant groundcover on all of it for slope protection. all of the landscaping including the grass is drought tollerant, we are very careful about our water usage..we use timers and only water at night.I would never "waste" water..we also have a very large pool (approx.26,000 gal) that also includes a waterfall and slide. I am sure that the pool is a big reason for the large water bill as well.

[G Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by ATXIronHorse

You'd probably have a huge financial hit if you sell now. Probably best to just stay put out there in California.

The markets are different in different parts of California. If you don't actually know the situation in the OP's location, this advice may be completely in error. Some areas have lost very little value, some have taken huge hits, and many are somewhere in between.

[JayBrown80]

Originally Posted by Ronang26

I guess I should have been more specific, I do not water all 3 acres, I only water about 1 acre of that.10,000 sf of it is grass and the rest are slopes with groundcover ...a lot of our property is terraced, and the county REQUIRES you to plant groundcover on all of it for slope protection. all of the landscaping including the grass is drought tollerant, we are very careful about our water usage..we use timers and only water at night.I would never "waste" water..we also have a very large pool (approx.26,000 gal) that also includes a waterfall and slide. I am sure that the pool is a big reason for the large water bill as well.

This is neither here nor there, but it is a topic that interests me.

Why do you need a 3500 sq ft house? Do you have a large family?

I am not bashing you in anyway, this is an honest interest of mine that I have been pondering for some time. Many thread on city-data allude to people needing 3500 to 4000 sq ft of space to live in. I just can't imagine wanting a house that big. How do you keep in clean? What is the need for so much room?