Good housing areas close to downtown (Houston, Austin: renting, homes, buying)

[crumik]

I came back from Austin few days ago, which was my first visit there. Was able to visit / drive through: Manchaca, Buda, Kyle, Manor, Pflugerville, Hutto, Round Rock, Leander. And, to be honest, I didn't like it I wasn't expecting such horrible roads (I35 towards south Austin), so many poor areas (parts of Manchaca / Buda) and seeing 15 homeless people during 1.5h walk in Downtown. Florida seems like a much better / nicer place to live, unless I was very unlucky.

Out of the areas I visited, probably Leander was the nicest. Hutto was not bad ($459K for new 4bdr home), but commute would probably kill me. Thinking more and more about just renting there instead of buying.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by crumik

I came back from Austin few days ago, which was my first visit there. Was able to visit / drive through: Manchaca, Buda, Kyle, Manor, Pflugerville, Hutto, Round Rock, Leander. And, to be honest, I didn't like it I wasn't expecting such horrible roads (I35 towards south Austin), so many poor areas (parts of Manchaca / Buda) and seeing 15 homeless people during 1.5h walk in Downtown. Florida seems like a much better / nicer place to live, unless I was very unlucky.

Out of the areas I visited, probably Leander was the nicest. Hutto was not bad ($459K for new 4bdr home), but commute would probably kill me. Thinking more and more about just renting there instead of buying.

We're glad you enjoyed America's #1 city to live in!

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by crumik

I came back from Austin few days ago, which was my first visit there. Was able to visit / drive through: Manchaca, Buda, Kyle, Manor, Pflugerville, Hutto, Round Rock, Leander. And, to be honest, I didn't like it I wasn't expecting such horrible roads (I35 towards south Austin), so many poor areas (parts of Manchaca / Buda) and seeing 15 homeless people during 1.5h walk in Downtown. Florida seems like a much better / nicer place to live, unless I was very unlucky.

Out of the areas I visited, probably Leander was the nicest. Hutto was not bad ($459K for new 4bdr home), but commute would probably kill me. Thinking more and more about just renting there instead of buying.

That should be the rule of thumb when relocating - rent before you make a half million dollar decision.

Leander is nice but unless you live where the views are, there isn’t much to differentiate it from the other suburban cities tbh. Same type of cookie cutter housing and the commute can be just as longish. It does have transit options though.

So much for that homeless camping ban eh? Maybe they can’t camp on the street but they’re free to loiter and squat on the street, lol.

Florida can be a mixed bag just like Texas.

[ashbeeigh]

Glad you visited before relocating and realized what I said in my very first post, that the suburbs are further than a 30 minute commute.

[kitkatbar]

Crumik, just based on your posts, I'm not convinced you would be happy in Austin. I think you would be happy if you could get in a time machine and travel back to a cheaper version of Austin that existed 15-20 years ago... but the reality is, for what you are willing to pay, you would be looking at a perfectly safe but blue-collar neighborhood, and a long commute to downtown.

You keep talking wistfully about how where you currently are in Florida you can get a huge 5Bdrm with a deck and a pool for the same price in a nice neighborhood, so I guess I'm just not understanding why you're so eager to move.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by kitkatbar

Crumik, just based on your posts, I'm not convinced you would be happy in Austin. I think you would be happy if you could get in a time machine and travel back to a cheaper version of Austin that existed 15-20 years ago... but the reality is, for what you are willing to pay, you would be looking at a perfectly safe but blue-collar neighborhood, and a long commute to downtown.

You keep talking wistfully about how where you currently are in Florida you can get a huge 5Bdrm with a deck and a pool for the same price in a nice neighborhood, so I guess I'm just not understanding why you're so eager to move.

These were my thoughts as well. The OP has only just visited the place and there's already stuff he doesn't agree with. I personally would just stay put given the OP's opinion of the place. He doesn't 'have' to move from the sounds of it. If you don't 'have' to move for a job or something I just don't feel your impression of the place will improve over time.

Originally Posted by riaelise

That should be the rule of thumb when relocating - rent before you make a half million dollar decision.

Leander is nice but unless you live where the views are, there isn’t much to differentiate it from the other suburban cities tbh. Same type of cookie cutter housing and the commute can be just as longish. It does have transit options though.

So much for that homeless camping ban eh? Maybe they can’t camp on the street but they’re free to loiter and squat on the street, lol.

Florida can be a mixed bag just like Texas.

I personally chose Leander due to Cap Metro Rail but I think we're going to end up losing it as the city council is polling a vote to keep or remove it.

The Toll Road isn't too bad but can cost about $200 a month to use consistently.

[crumik]

Originally Posted by kitkatbar

Crumik, just based on your posts, I'm not convinced you would be happy in Austin. I think you would be happy if you could get in a time machine and travel back to a cheaper version of Austin that existed 15-20 years ago... but the reality is, for what you are willing to pay, you would be looking at a perfectly safe but blue-collar neighborhood, and a long commute to downtown.

You keep talking wistfully about how where you currently are in Florida you can get a huge 5Bdrm with a deck and a pool for the same price in a nice neighborhood, so I guess I'm just not understanding why you're so eager to move.

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

These were my thoughts as well. The OP has only just visited the place and there's already stuff he doesn't agree with. I personally would just stay put given the OP's opinion of the place. He doesn't 'have' to move from the sounds of it. If you don't 'have' to move for a job or something I just don't feel your impression of the place will improve over time.

I personally chose Leander due to Cap Metro Rail but I think we're going to end up losing it as the city council is polling a vote to keep or remove it.

The Toll Road isn't too bad but can cost about $200 a month to use consistently.

You are both right. It does feel like my first impressions are far from great. The only problem is that I will, unfortunately, NEED to move - I accepted the job offer. There were few places to pick from for work location (Sunnyvale, Seattle, Atlanta, Austin) - I decided on Austin, mainly because of the weather.

And, to be fair, Florida prices are not so great right now as well - I was just lucky to buy the house in 2016, before the prices started to rise. Bought the house for $300K, worth $430K now. My current salary in Florida was $140K, my new salary in Austin will be $190K - I think it's worth it. What also helps is that I really didn't like my current job here.

And, I don't mind blue-collar neighborhoods at all. But really afraid to be stuck in 50min commute, when everybody is back in the office in September. Leaning more and more towards renting for some time and asking for permission to work remote after 2 years. I would be able to go back to my current Florida home, if all of this works out.

[Need4Camaro]

To be fair, Atlanta has better weather than we do. I’ve lived in ATL. It doesn’t get as hot in the summer and they don’t get as frequent violent storms as we do. It does get more humid during the summer though.

I lived in Seattle and the dreary overcast never bothered me but I guess I can see why some people have a distaste for it. I’m guessing you’re writing Sunnyvale CA off due to the costs.

In none of the cities you mentioned however will you have a commute 30 mins or less while obtaining an affordable house, unless you choose to rent, even that will nix Seattle and Sunnyvale.

[ashbeeigh]

I have a friend in her late 20s from the Orlando area. She’s in tech sales and moved here to start her career at Oracle. She is a triathlete and complains every time I workout with her about our weather. Not sure how our Esther is better. I guess you’re stuck. Find some good podcasts and see if you might be able to have a later/earlier schedule.

Another area that perhaps might be an option is Easton Park. It’s 78744. It’s in Austin proper and a bit “out there” Anne iTunes wise. You’d wa t to stay in Easton Park or very nearby because it’s an area in transition. I have another friend, with two kids, who I visit regularly in the area. I may get some feedback from locals about it being a trash area (it’s in transition for sure), but it might be an easier commute.

[riaelise]

To be honest with you, I don't think you really got an indepth look at the areas you've been visiting - just cursory drive throughs because there are a lot more 'nice' areas....

Also not sure how you'd prefer the weather here over Florida's, considering it's both muggy and hot here...they're a wash as far as I'm concerned... you visited during an anomaly..because normally we'd be hitting 100 right about now, but instead it's in the 90s and high humidity. Pick your poison.

In your case, renting is 100% the way to go. You may consider southern round rock area next to the 45 toll road. It is closer in and easy access to Mopac. There's the train at Howard Lane.

The train ride from leander is an hour and as popular as it is nowadays, you may not get a seat even if it's the first stop.
I ditched the train for the bus