Please give me 10 reasons why NOT to move to the Austin area. (Georgetown: affordable house, earthquakes)

[marylee54]

Ok, you want a reason not to move to Austin? Don't move to North Austin, RR area unless you love trains---and hearing them all night long!

Seriously, I can't stand that train! We try to sleep with the windows open to save on ac bills but find the noise from the train to be intrusive.

Also, don't move to Austin unless you just love high electric bills! The electric rate here is one of the highest in the country, and there's only so much you can do to keep electric bills down. Its hot here in the summer, which lasts from about April 'till October, you do need ac during those months, its not an option, and your electric bill can be more than your car payment!

Otherwise, I'd say I love Austin! Hey, no place is perfect, you asked for reasons not to move here, so, if I had to come up with something, that's it!

Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives. If you're thinking about moving to Austin you've made an excellent choice!

[centralaustinite]

Marylee,
if you electric bills are that high, there are things you can do -- radiant barrier in the attic, clean and seal your ducts, insulate the attic, clean your unit, and maybe replace it. Lots of 0% interest loans for those types of things.

[Foreverking]

Originally Posted by marylee54

Ok, you want a reason not to move to Austin? Don't move to North Austin, RR area unless you love trains---and hearing them all night long!

Seriously, I can't stand that train! We try to sleep with the windows open to save on ac bills but find the noise from the train to be intrusive.

Also, don't move to Austin unless you just love high electric bills! The electric rate here is one of the highest in the country, and there's only so much you can do to keep electric bills down. Its hot here in the summer, which lasts from about April 'till October, you do need ac during those months, its not an option, and your electric bill can be more than your car payment!

Otherwise, I'd say I love Austin! Hey, no place is perfect, you asked for reasons not to move here, so, if I had to come up with something, that's it!

Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives. If you're thinking about moving to Austin you've made an excellent choice!

I think, if I remember right, Austin had a choice of like 4 electric companys. I had 1000 sq ft apt, and my electric, which I ran 24/7 never ran over 140 a month. I was a real whimp too, it had to be 72 or below for my comfort. Now I live in Phoenix, and its never less than 140 a month for a smaller apt. I keep it off at night and use a fan because there is no humidity to speak of after the monsoon season.

I loved RR. Sorry about the trains.

I never made it to october in Austin, is it still hot and humid? The Humidity made me grouchy

[marylee54]

Right now the humidity is low, about 25%, which is low for this area. We haven't had rain for a long time, Ike went right past us, not even a drop to spare! Seriously, I'm glad we were spared.

Perhaps the low humidity is responsible for the train sounding louder? Maybe the higher humidity dampens or muffles the sound? Whatever...............

[marylee54]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Marylee,
if you electric bills are that high, there are things you can do -- radiant barrier in the attic, clean and seal your ducts, insulate the attic, clean your unit, and maybe replace it. Lots of 0% interest loans for those types of things.

Yes, we definitely need to do something about the high cost of electric & ac. We are looking into switching companies and insulation, etc. Our last electric bill was $400!

[jread]

I've never had an electric bill that high. Our house is 1400 sq.ft. and we never let the temp get over 75 (crank it down to 68 at night). I think the highest bill we've ever had was $200-ish.

[Huckleberry3911948]

give me a one reason to stay here and ill turn right back around --tracy chapman - sing it.

[Foreverking]

Originally Posted by marylee54

Yes, we definitely need to do something about the high cost of electric & ac. We are looking into switching companies and insulation, etc. Our last electric bill was $400!

maybe someone else is using your electric

[AustinTraveler]

Originally Posted by marylee54

Yes, we definitely need to do something about the high cost of electric & ac. We are looking into switching companies and insulation, etc. Our last electric bill was $400!

Who is your provider? I have a 2,000 sf house and the highest bill we've ever had was this past August ($170). Last summer our highest was $130 because it was a much cooler summer.

The rest of the year our electric bill is about $40-60.

[TexasHorseLady]

I have a friend who lives out by the lake in a 2/2 house up on stilts, with a loft and VERY high ceilings and an all-electric house. I checked with him figuring his electric bill would be on the high side. He says his electric bill runs about $200/month in the summer, $150/170 in the winter, $100 in spring and fall.

We don't have central air - just live in a house old enough to have been designed for comfort before central air, or air conditioning of any kind, existed, and have window units for "zoned" AC - and our electric bills run about $115 in the summer.

$400/month would seem to be excessively high.