Chicago family seriously considering move to Austin

[Exiled Texan]

I watch the Highland Park neighborhood pretty closely. Highland Park houses will be much smaller. She'll get around 2000 square feet for $500K. Some bigger homes, but they either have no yard and/or need tons of work. While you can walk to coffee shop from some streets, I wouldn't characterize it as walkable.

Parts of Rosedale is walkable to Burnet shops, but houses she wants are closer to $700K, and tend to be on smaller lots. Plus, Lamar Junior High is a problem.

In more central austin, you can get a 1200- 1800 sf home for $500K that may be walkable to something, but, unfortunately this is a very car centric city.

NW Hills (1970s homes) is a decent generally non-walkable option. Great Hills is a better value, and tend to be 1980s/1990s stock homes. Watch school district lines in Great Hills closely.

Why are you leaving Chicago? Weather? Jobs? Your current house situation sounds enviable.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by Exiled Texan

NW Hills (1970s homes) is a decent generally non-walkable option. Great Hills is a better value, and tend to be 1980s/1990s stock homes. Watch school district lines in Great Hills closely.

Disagree about the walkability of NW Hills. It's much more walkable than both Great Hills and Highland Park. You've got 3 city bus lines plus the UT Shuttle running through the neighborhood (shuttle/bus routes along Far West, Hart, North Hills Drive, Mesa, Steck and Spicewood Springs)... banks, post office, library (Chimney Corners), grocery stores, restaurants, medical, hardware, retail, etc all located along the major streets in NW Hills. Sidewalks and crosswalks are good. You can walk to parks and get on the Bull Creek Greenbelt. Walk/Ride over Mopac on Far West and you get a pedestrian/bike only connection to the Shoal Creek Greenbelt -- which will take you all the way to downtown/Ladybird lake without having to drive.

Outside the traditional very close-in neighborhoods, NW Hills is the most walkable.

[Exiled Texan]

On NW Hills. OK. If you live close to the Far West strip with the HEB, post office, etc, I agree. Maybe even if you live close to the Mesa/Spicewood intersection. But, with walkability, you sometimes take a hit with increased traffic.

[capcat]

Originally Posted by Exiled Texan

I watch the Highland Park neighborhood pretty closely. Highland Park houses will be much smaller. She'll get around 2000 square feet for $500K. Some bigger homes, but they either have no yard and/or need tons of work. While you can walk to coffee shop from some streets, I wouldn't characterize it as walkable.

Well, don't dismiss the idea too easily. Also important to note that I didn't limit it just to Highland Park. We got more than that for less, but you do have to be patient. This is a varied area.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by Exiled Texan

On NW Hills. OK. If you live close to the Far West strip with the HEB, post office, etc, I agree. Maybe even if you live close to the Mesa/Spicewood intersection. But, with walkability, you sometimes take a hit with increased traffic.

That is true. Great Hills would be quieter, since it was built out later in the cul-de-sac era. But NW Hills through traffic is somewhat mitigated by the highway borders of 183, Mopac, and 360 to the north/west/east. Also the fact that Far West terminates east at Mopac (not a coincidence) and ends without connecting to 360 on the west.

[Exiled Texan]

To answer the OP's question on where to stay, I would suggest the Renaissance Hotel literally at the Aboretum. You and DH could walk to Z-tejas (the one with the nice view), have some Tex Mex and a few margaritas.

[dce_irish]

I agree about Red Oaks in Cedar Park; very convenient; large homes (some, in the 80' wide section, on 1/4+ acre lots w/ oaks), prices from the mid-300's to low-400's. What's especially going to be nice is that 100+ acre park that Cedar Park is going to be putting in at the southern boundary of the community - hike & bike trails, a lake, etc. (city website has great info on it). Also, there's Cypress Creek Montessori School just down the street. I might be biased (work for David Weekley Homes out there), but really feel it's a great community. Good luck - you'll love Austin!

[AMJ27]

Wow!!!! Thank you all for so much information. I'm working my way through it. My husband is just beginning his job search (and is thankfully currently employed, so he is certainly going to wait for a good fit) so we are not in a crunch time situation.

I get it now that Austin isn't a walkable town unless I want to live central, pay a lot more, and get much less square footage. Ten years ago, that situation would have been doable for us, but our family has grown (kid and pet wise) and we have become acustomed to a larger house, I just can't see that working for us.

That said, I would still like downtown to be easily accessible. On the weekend or during non-rush hour, how long does it take to get to Canyon Creek, Twin Creek, Avery Ranch, Red Oak, etc from both downtown and the Arboretum area? Is there much going on out in that area or is it pretty quiet? The houses and the prices look great out there, but I don't want to be 45-60 minutes out of the city.

I guess my other immediate question is what is the inside scoop on the Austin Independent School District, specifically the Doss-Murchison-Anderson track and in some of the areas in SW Austin (in case we do need to look in that area as the job search progresses)? It seems like the ratings for a lot of the elementary schools are good, but ratings start dropping in middle school and high school. We don't want to create a situation where we would feel forced to move as our kids get closer to middle school age or need to commit to private schools.

Thanks again!!!!

[TexasHorseLady]

As far as schools are concerned, you might also want to check out Great Schools for information, including feedback from parents, on specific schools.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by AMJ27

....That said, I would still like downtown to be easily accessible. On the weekend or during non-rush hour, how long does it take to get to Canyon Creek, Twin Creek, Avery Ranch, Red Oak, etc from both downtown and the Arboretum area? Is there much going on out in that area or is it pretty quiet? The houses and the prices look great out there, but I don't want to be 45-60 minutes out of the city.
....

I lived in Canyon Creek & now live near Balcones CC. I also have been up & down roads to Twin Creek & Avery on many many weekends. On weekends it takes about 16-18 min. to get to the Arboretum & about 30 min. to get downtown from all of the neighborhoods mentioned.

From CC we almost always took 2222 (to downtown, westlake or south of town) because the drive is fantastic. We often eat within a couple of miles from "the bridge" just so we can take that drive.

Stuff "going on" kind of depends on your interests. LOTS of kids sports in NW Austin & Cedar Park (soccer, tennis, baseball etc.). The lake is 8-12 min. down 620. We go "downtown" about once a month on weekends (some go more often, some never go)....but also to UT once a month to museums & also to watch free tennis (& always have a meal). Georgetown is 20-25 min. (via the toll) & the new Schlitterbahn will be going in on 1420. Also many parks in any direction.

The streets in the neighborhoods are typically quiet, but a short drive takes you to whatever activity floats your family's boat. (note - i don't consider shopping or malls recreational activities so i'll let others comment on that ).


Regarding the Anderson HS track. I don't have direct knowledge, but my kid plays tennis with several Murchison & Anderson students & I know their parents like the schools....more important to me is that virtually every kid is a really good kid...polite, smart, happy etc.