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First, a little background about us: I am finishing a degree in Computer Science, and have about 10 years experience working as a System Administrator (UNIX). My wife is finishing a Bachelors degree in Nursing. We are in our mid-20s and have a son who is 14 months old. We currently live in Portland, Oregon.
What we're looking for:
Race - We want an area that has respectable minorities. What I mean by this is that we don't want to live in an area with a bunch of gang bangers. We currently live in Portland, and there are very few blacks. However, what blacks we do have are for the most part rather tame, respectable, educated, and so on. Yes, there are some gang banging types, but very few. We lived in Phoenix for two years and no matter where you lived you were close to Mexican ghetto territory. Blacks were also rather uncommon in Phoenix; but the blacks we did see were the ghetto ones with something to prove. We want a safe area where we don't have to see a bunch of ghetto type people (White, Black, Asian, Hispanic).
Music - Portland has a great music scene, but something tells me Austin's is better. We love Daniel Johnston, DJ Shadow, Tom Waits, Tragic Mulatto, Leonard Cohen, Amon Tobin, Miles Davis, Wilco, and so on. We'd love to keep our good music scene, but would also like to escape the plethora of hipsters.
Cheap - We'd love to buy a house, but want to get into something nice for under $200,000. I know in Dallas this is possible, but we don't want to live in Dallas.
Weather - We are both sick of the rain and the constant clouds. It would be nice to have some sun and some warmth. I'm hoping Austin is sunny most the time.
Politics - Liberal, volunteer a lot, borderline socialists. That is the norm here in Portland. I know Austin is liberal, but how much? Liberal as in a lot of democrats, or liberal as in a lot of socialists?
Good Schools - We want to raise our son in a good neighborhood with good schools. An area where we don't have to worry about him going outside to play with friends.
Food - We like Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and so on. We'd like an area with access to a lot of different authentic foods.
Urban - We want an area with an urban feel. Portland is not very big, but downtown feels urban. Phoenix is huge, and yet downtown does not feel urban at all. Currently we live in downtown Portland, so something similar would be nice.
Friendly People - Portland has a lot of people that would not be considered friendly. It's a lot like the Seattle Freeze.
Neighborhood - We'd like a neighborhood that is walkable, older/nice, and considered somewhat hip (e.g., bohemian little shops, ethnic foods, you get the picture). Some good examples would be NW 23rd, Belmont, or Hawthorne (all in Portland).
Hm, at the moment that is all I can think of... Any questions or suggestions would be appreciated!
First, a little background about us: I am finishing a degree in Computer Science, and have about 10 years experience working as a System Administrator (UNIX). My wife is finishing a Bachelors degree in Nursing. We are in our mid-20s and have a son who is 14 months old. We currently live in Portland, Oregon.
What we're looking for:
Race - We want an area that has respectable minorities. What I mean by this is that we don't want to live in an area with a bunch of gang bangers. We currently live in Portland, and there are very few blacks. However, what blacks we do have are for the most part rather tame, respectable, educated, and so on. Yes, there are some gang banging types, but very few. We lived in Phoenix for two years and no matter where you lived you were close to Mexican ghetto territory. Blacks were also rather uncommon in Phoenix; but the blacks we did see were the ghetto ones with something to prove. We want a safe area where we don't have to see a bunch of ghetto type people (White, Black, Asian, Hispanic).
Music - Portland has a great music scene, but something tells me Austin's is better. We love Daniel Johnston, DJ Shadow, Tom Waits, Tragic Mulatto, Leonard Cohen, Amon Tobin, Miles Davis, Wilco, and so on. We'd love to keep our good music scene, but would also like to escape the plethora of hipsters.
Cheap - We'd love to buy a house, but want to get into something nice for under $200,000. I know in Dallas this is possible, but we don't want to live in Dallas.
Weather - We are both sick of the rain and the constant clouds. It would be nice to have some sun and some warmth. I'm hoping Austin is sunny most the time.
Politics - Liberal, volunteer a lot, borderline socialists. That is the norm here in Portland. I know Austin is liberal, but how much? Liberal as in a lot of democrats, or liberal as in a lot of socialists?
Good Schools - We want to raise our son in a good neighborhood with good schools. An area where we don't have to worry about him going outside to play with friends.
Food - We like Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and so on. We'd like an area with access to a lot of different authentic foods.
Urban - We want an area with an urban feel. Portland is not very big, but downtown feels urban. Phoenix is huge, and yet downtown does not feel urban at all. Currently we live in downtown Portland, so something similar would be nice.
Friendly People - Portland has a lot of people that would not be considered friendly. It's a lot like the Seattle Freeze.
Neighborhood - We'd like a neighborhood that is walkable, older/nice, and considered somewhat hip (e.g., bohemian little shops, ethnic foods, you get the picture). Some good examples would be NW 23rd, Belmont, or Hawthorne (all in Portland).
Hm, at the moment that is all I can think of... Any questions or suggestions would be appreciated!
You wont get the urban feel for under 200K.
Food - we dont have a large variety of ethnic food. For example there are 2-3 good chinese restaurants. There are a lot of chinese restaurants though.
Politics - liberal as in democrats, not socialists. Austin is more libertarian which is not about forcing other people to pay for you to live.
Good schools - urban, good schools and under 200K dont mix. For under 200K you will definitely be in the suburbs. There are some schools though in those areas.
Music - we have some hipsters, but it isnt overwhelming.
under 200K? that will get you either ghetto, or exurban (or both). I would recommend renting. You want an area with respectable minorities? awwww.. at least you don't mince words. You have to understand that Austin is only 50% anglo though, and the avg. home price here flirts with the 200K mark. For an anglo area, you really would have to live out somewhere in the the equivalent of Gresham for that price - we have places like that: Liberty Hill, Leander, Kyle. Quasi-socialist area? I have no idea. Marble Falls or Wimberley maybe? There are no real areas that are racked with violent crime like other major cities, but whenever there is a murder here, it will occur in NE Austin more than any other area.
My recommendation would be south Austin/ Zilker area, and either rent, or buy a condo/fixer upper. You will get the urban feel and the left-leaning culture of Austin.
Check out the local music scene, it's very good. (aren't you guys a little young to be listening to Wilco, Tom Waits, and DJ Shadow anyways?)
Quick follow-up: If renting we can probably afford $2,000 - $3,000 monthly. If purchasing I was trying to stay in the lower ballpark, but if we wanted a good neighborhood like what I have described above, what would that neighborhood be? Also, we're both Mexican, not Anglo, but would rather live in a mostly Anglo area.
Why would we be too young to listen to Tom Waits, DJ Shadow and Wilco? I don't get it...
You don't want to live in Dallas? Why? It has 10x more than Austin.
Oh well. Your loss. Here is why:
-Ethnic and racial minorities are extremely segregated in Austin. You won't notice them. And they won't notice you.
-Music scene is average at best.
-It is true that Austin is sunny. But Texas in general is very sunny.
-Austin is not cheap.
-Austin is not liberal in the fashion of Bill Maher or Michael Moore. You will not see those types of "liberals" in Austin. Sorry
-There is not a variety of ethnic restaurants in Austin.
-IMHO there isn't a place in Austin that has an Urban feel to it.
-The bohemian neighborhoods in Austin are the Ghettos in south Austin.
-The people aren't very friendly in Austin. I felt that I was frozen out when I lived there.
It boggles my mind that you don't want to move to Dallas. They have four arts districts. A variety of bohemian and liberal neighborhoods. Ethnic restaurants are plentiful. Ethnic parades are plentiful. Southern hospitality is the norm.
Oh well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TeaAndOranges
First, a little background about us: I am finishing a degree in Computer Science, and have about 10 years experience working as a System Administrator (UNIX). My wife is finishing a Bachelors degree in Nursing. We are in our mid-20s and have a son who is 14 months old. We currently live in Portland, Oregon.
What we're looking for:
Race - We want an area that has respectable minorities. What I mean by this is that we don't want to live in an area with a bunch of gang bangers. We currently live in Portland, and there are very few blacks. However, what blacks we do have are for the most part rather tame, respectable, educated, and so on. Yes, there are some gang banging types, but very few. We lived in Phoenix for two years and no matter where you lived you were close to Mexican ghetto territory. Blacks were also rather uncommon in Phoenix; but the blacks we did see were the ghetto ones with something to prove. We want a safe area where we don't have to see a bunch of ghetto type people (White, Black, Asian, Hispanic).
Music - Portland has a great music scene, but something tells me Austin's is better. We love Daniel Johnston, DJ Shadow, Tom Waits, Tragic Mulatto, Leonard Cohen, Amon Tobin, Miles Davis, Wilco, and so on. We'd love to keep our good music scene, but would also like to escape the plethora of hipsters.
Cheap - We'd love to buy a house, but want to get into something nice for under $200,000. I know in Dallas this is possible, but we don't want to live in Dallas.
Weather - We are both sick of the rain and the constant clouds. It would be nice to have some sun and some warmth. I'm hoping Austin is sunny most the time.
Politics - Liberal, volunteer a lot, borderline socialists. That is the norm here in Portland. I know Austin is liberal, but how much? Liberal as in a lot of democrats, or liberal as in a lot of socialists?
Good Schools - We want to raise our son in a good neighborhood with good schools. An area where we don't have to worry about him going outside to play with friends.
Food - We like Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and so on. We'd like an area with access to a lot of different authentic foods.
Urban - We want an area with an urban feel. Portland is not very big, but downtown feels urban. Phoenix is huge, and yet downtown does not feel urban at all. Currently we live in downtown Portland, so something similar would be nice.
Friendly People - Portland has a lot of people that would not be considered friendly. It's a lot like the Seattle Freeze.
Neighborhood - We'd like a neighborhood that is walkable, older/nice, and considered somewhat hip (e.g., bohemian little shops, ethnic foods, you get the picture). Some good examples would be NW 23rd, Belmont, or Hawthorne (all in Portland).
Hm, at the moment that is all I can think of... Any questions or suggestions would be appreciated!
Quick follow-up: If renting we can probably afford $2,000 - $3,000 monthly. If purchasing I was trying to stay in the lower ballpark, but if we wanted a good neighborhood like what I have described above, what would that neighborhood be? Also, we're both Mexican, not Anglo, but would rather live in a mostly Anglo area.
Why would we be too young to listen to Tom Waits, DJ Shadow and Wilco? I don't get it...
I equate them to be from the 90's or earlier, Leonard Cohen is from the 80's. I listened to them from time to time - just humoring you.
Austin is not more libertarian. You have no clue what you are speaking about.
And The Texas Democrat Party do not follow the likes of Michael Moore or Bill Maher. They still think in a conservative Texas mind-set. And that is pretty backward. For the most part people don't go around and say "Hey do you vote democrat? Okay lets be friends now." When you are new to a city. You pay attention to how people respond to you upon first instance.
For example I used to look stereotypically liberal. And I didn't get a good reception in Austin. I got glared at and cold shoulder a lot. I thought I was the black guy in the movie Blazing Saddles. lol
Limousine liberalism is Austin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limousine_liberal
"Central Austin became a stronghold of the Democratic Party, while the suburbs tend to vote Republican."
Food - we dont have a large variety of ethnic food. For example there are 2-3 good chinese restaurants. There are a lot of chinese restaurants though.
Politics - liberal as in democrats, not socialists. Austin is more libertarian which is not about forcing other people to pay for you to live.
Good schools - urban, good schools and under 200K dont mix. For under 200K you will definitely be in the suburbs. There are some schools though in those areas.
Music - we have some hipsters, but it isnt overwhelming.
You don't want to live in Dallas? Why? It has 10x more than Austin.
Oh well. Your loss. Here is why:
-Ethnic and racial minorities are extremely segregated in Austin. You won't notice them. And they won't notice you.
-Music scene is average at best.
-It is true that Austin is sunny. But Texas in general is very sunny.
-Austin is not cheap.
-Austin is not liberal in the fashion of Bill Maher or Michael Moore. You will not see those types of "liberals" in Austin. Sorry
-There is not a variety of ethnic restaurants in Austin.
-IMHO there isn't a place in Austin that has an Urban feel to it.
-The bohemian neighborhoods in Austin are the Ghettos in south Austin.
-The people aren't very friendly in Austin. I felt that I was frozen out when I lived there.
It boggles my mind that you don't want to move to Dallas. They have four arts districts. A variety of bohemian and liberal neighborhoods. Ethnic restaurants are plentiful. Ethnic parades are plentiful. Southern hospitality is the norm.
Oh well.
Not everyone wants to live in Dallas personaly if I was going to move out of Austin it would be to Houston or san Antonio over Dallas
Artsyguy, you should put this to rest with a simple test:
create a poll in the Austin and Dallas forums that asks the following:
"where in Texas would you like to live most"
and list SA, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas and Austin. This will put the question to rest. Let the public speak for themselves.
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Only a fool listens to his own echo
