Buying a house, looking to find a place for appreciation. (Austin: neighborhoods, good schools)

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by orbius

These are the same people who said Austin real estate wouldnt depreciate because it never appreciated, was that correct? Believe these self-interested liars at your own peril.
The budget cuts are going to kill thousands of high paying jobs in Austin either tell me where the jobs to replace these are going to come from or reevaluate your thesis.

Nope, you are living in your own strange world. Talk to any realtor in Austin and they will tell you the same thing!

[orbius]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Nope, you are living in your own strange world. Talk to any realtor in Austin and they will tell you the same thing!

Yeah of course realtors will tell you the same thing thats the point! The vast majority of them in the fog of their own self interest flat out misled people during the decline of real estate in Austin. This is a documented fact that cannot be argued.
Your argument that now they're going to get it right and not base their appraisal on self interest needs proof.
At the very least you should demand they step up and explain to everyone how the budget cuts, which will be especially deep in Austin, factor into their 'shortage' thesis. Because I have not heard one blue word from them even acknowledging the impact of all this.

Just the usual attempt to drum up fear, oooohhhhhhhh buy now theres going to be a shortage. Its a bad joke and frankly you dont expect people to turn over a new leaf but the fact that they're not more measured now after leading many people to financial and personal ruin with their endless pumping is totally appalling.

[TexasHorseLady]

I have to second Allandale, Crestview and Brentwood. A combination of close in and also convenient to work for both of you.

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by orbius

Yeah of course realtors will tell you the same thing thats the point! The vast majority of them in the fog of their own self interest flat out misled people during the decline of real estate in Austin. This is a documented fact that cannot be argued.
Your argument that now they're going to get it right and not base their appraisal on self interest needs proof.
At the very least you should demand they step up and explain to everyone how the budget cuts, which will be especially deep in Austin, factor into their 'shortage' thesis. Because I have not heard one blue word from them even acknowledging the impact of all this.

Just the usual attempt to drum up fear, oooohhhhhhhh buy now theres going to be a shortage. Its a bad joke and frankly you dont expect people to turn over a new leaf but the fact that they're not more measured now after leading many people to financial and personal ruin with their endless pumping is totally appalling.

You obviously have nothing to back up your claims. No point in arguing with someone who knows nothing about the housing market.

[muti6000]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I have to second Allandale, Crestview and Brentwood. A combination of close in and also convenient to work for both of you.

I third that, all close-in and affordable areas (affordable for now, that is). Anything CENTRAL with the "it" factor is eventually going to appreciate...especially living in an "it" city (and the "it" is not going away, folks).

This is part (only one part of many, but...) of the reason I bought In Bryker Woods (that, and I love it here - and yes, I live in a very small house, most everything central is either A) small, or B) beat-to-hell, and/or really pricey for the square footage if NOT B, keep that in mind. Mine was and A) and restored = pricey). But I LOVE it here, family feel (have no children though, don't plan on it either, BUT, that said, I grew up in an 1100 sq. ft. home and turned out just fine), older homes with tons of character, lots of mom 'n' pop's, great food, just an overall great area, smack in the middle of everything/anything you'd ever really want to do in Austin (speaking for myself, naturally). They ain't lying when they say location, location, location.

I had to drive to Round Rock the other day to pick up a friend, felt like I was driving to Houston! My lord, how do people make that commute every day???

[austin-steve]

I agree with the others that a north central-ish neighborhood would be a good starting point. Of course that means you have to be willing to accept an older house and its downsides. But you'll really like the location and, as our definition of "central" keeps moving outward (toward the arboretum, domain areas), you're giving yourself a good chance for value appreciation in the next 5 years.

Of course there are no guarantees.

Steve

[AustinGuy]

Originally Posted by muti6000

I had to drive to Round Rock the other day to pick up a friend, felt like I was driving to Houston! My lord, how do people make that commute every day???

Most of them don't since a lot of people who live in Round Rock work in Round Rock or North Austin. I do know a number of friends who live in central and even South Austin who are commuting up to Round Rock for work everyday. Not sure how they handle it.

[ROY DUBOSE]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

I agree with the others that a north central-ish neighborhood would be a good starting point. Of course that means you have to be willing to accept an older house and its downsides. But you'll really like the location and, as our definition of "central" keeps moving outward (toward the arboretum, domain areas), you're giving yourself a good chance for value appreciation in the next 5 years.

Of course there are no guarantees.

Steve

re: the "older house" part of your comments -- imho doesn't apply if one picks one of the terrific remodels that dot Crestview/Brentwood -- many have been taken down to the studs, rewired, replumbed, and ''tightened-up" in general --

[sliverbox]

If you're buying a house for appreciation then in my opinion you're doing do for the wrong reasons. Its virtually impossible to say that such and such house or area will appreciate or fall in value. Its no different than the stock market- in that you invest with the full understanding that there are inherent risks. Besides- compared to stocks, real estate has been a lousy investment. Buy a house you like in an area you like with financing that makes you comfortable. If you want a place to stick your money, get yourself a 401k, some mutual funds, and so forth. Live in the house.

[grakk]

Originally Posted by sliverbox

If you're buying a house for appreciation then in my opinion you're doing do for the wrong reasons. Its virtually impossible to say that such and such house or area will appreciate or fall in value. Its no different than the stock market- in that you invest with the full understanding that there are inherent risks. Besides- compared to stocks, real estate has been a lousy investment. Buy a house you like in an area you like with financing that makes you comfortable. If you want a place to stick your money, get yourself a 401k, some mutual funds, and so forth. Live in the house.

We are already doing this, we each contribute for our maximum match in 401k then max out a Roth IRA - we want to own again, we are just worried since we owned a house before and had to sell it at a loss. We want to avoid that as much as possible.

Sounds like the Allandale/Crestview/Brentwood areas is where we may end up (as well as Great Hills).

Are there any busy streets to avoid in that area (Allandale, etc). I know Burnet is, any others (woodrow seems to be a decent size)