New Home in Steiner Ranch (Austin, West: first time home buyer, buying, good schools) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

Mikey0915 · 07-09-2009, 02:11 PM

I am getting a price for a new home in Steiner ranch that will cost $107/square feet. is that considered a good deal? The lot is not a view lot but it is 80' wide and has good depth. The house will be around 4000 sq. feet. I would like ask the builder to pay for closing cost and also provide 30K in decoration.

It seems that the house will be ready in November 2009. Does this mean that I will have to pay the property tax in January 2010? I am not sure how this works.

Any ideas on negotiation will be great.

FalconheadWest · 07-09-2009, 02:17 PM

You need to get a Realtor to help you out as it sounds like you're a first time home buyer with lots of questions. We can't tell you if you're getting a "good" deal because we know nothing about which section of Steiner you're talking about, which builder, which floorplan, which lot.... or anything.

Is there a reason you're not working with someone who would work for you?

Mikey0915 · 07-09-2009, 02:25 PM

I am going to get a realtor. I am just trying to get a better understanding for now.

FalconheadWest · 07-09-2009, 02:29 PM

Just keep in mind that you don't buy a house "dollar per sqft" in areas like these. You're buying the location, the proximity to the amenities, and the bells & whistles.

dburatti · 07-09-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

You're buying the location, the proximity to the amenities, and the bells & whistles.

One of the amenities that could get me to move to SR if it was in my budget is the 18 miles or so of natural surface singletrack trails that run in the limestone canyons behind the houses and along the river.

D

FalconheadWest · 07-09-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dburatti

One of the amenities that could get me to move to SR if it was in my budget is the 18 miles or so of natural surface singletrack trails that run in the limestone canyons behind the houses and along the river.

And you would probably then pay more for a house located just a hop, skip, and jump from the trails rather than a house where you had to drive 15 minutes just to get to the trails, right?

The frustrating part of Steiner is that living in some of the communities means a 10-15 minute drive just to get out to 620 to get anywhere else. I have friends in the very first section. They call it the "cheap" section and I call it the "smart" section.

dburatti · 07-09-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

And you would probably then pay more for a house located just a hop, skip, and jump from the trails rather than a house where you had to drive 15 minutes just to get to the trails, right?

The frustrating part of Steiner is that living in some of the communities means a 10-15 minute drive just to get out to 620 to get anywhere else. I have friends in the very first section. They call it the "cheap" section and I call it the "smart" section.

No house within SR is more than a five minute walk or one or two minute bike ride to a trail head. There are dozens of trail entrances. One doesn't have to have a house that backs up to the greenbelt or be too close to an entrance to enjoy that amenity. Stop by the visitor's center on SR Blvd. and ask for a trail map. They've been updated in the past year.

And I agree with the sucky part about having to drive 15 minutes just to get out of the subdivision and another five to get to a decent grocery store.

D

Joe0109 · 07-09-2009, 07:32 PM

I like the trails and the fact that it is a bit away from Austin. Although I am not a big fan of 620. The Steiner Ranch has good schools.

TexasHorseLady · 07-09-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe0109

I like the trails and the fact that it is a bit away from Austin. Although I am not a big fan of 620. The Steiner Ranch has good schools.

No, no, no. "The" Steiner Ranch had NO schools - it was a working ranch that was there before all the houses mushroomed up (up into the 1980's). Steiner Ranch subdivision, on the other hand, has good schools.

CATXTransplant · 07-09-2009, 08:19 PM

You do realize that asking the builder (or any seller) to pay your closing costs is just another way of you financing them, right? There's technically no such thing as "seller paid closing costs."