Steiner Ranch?

[S6Sputnik]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Traffic is not bad in Circle C, nothing like 2222. I would not agree that the schools are better in Steiner they are about the same. If you want to feel like you live in Austin, SW Austin is a better choice!

I would prefer the Steiner Ranch version over the Circle C version of Austin, The views and the felling of the place is just nicer in my biased opinion...(I like hill, nature and water around me)!..and as far as traffic in and out of town on MoPac ..well it is MoPacked than 2222 IMO.
Even with the current construction at 360 my commute from Four Points to Shoal Creek and Anderson Lane (10 Miles) is rarely more than 30 minutes and usually about 23 minutes leaving anytime 7:30- 8:30am.

[cBach]

I would recommend Steiner over Lakeway or River Place. River Place is more geared towards your price point, but it is not particularly child friendly IMO. Lakeway used to be a retirement resort area but has changed a lot since its former days, yet the small lots and lack of sidewalks is what turned me off to that area.

I would also second the suggestion to buy an older Steiner home on a larger lot, with full grown trees and close to the entrance to the ranch. You could spend max $400K on that and then upgrade the whole house (appliances, replace carpeting in living areas with tile/wood floors, upgrade the master suite, etc...) You could probably drop another $100K on those improvements easily, but you'd be living the good life in the shade with lots of land and probably on a greenbelt versus having 5 foot tall trees, no shade, and your neighbor breathing on you when you purchase the $750K homes, not to mention the construction debris (a friend of mine moved to a newer section and said his tire has been popped 5 times in the past year on construction debris). You could also do the custom homes in Steiner, which overlook the lake, but then again you won't get the close knit community and tons of kids on the street.

The facts are that the most vibrant communities in Steiner are the older ones. Be sure you're close to one of the community centers so your kids can go to the swimming pools, tennis courts, playscape areas, basketball courts, etc... where all the other kids hang out. Even though at your price point you can afford a pool, it seems you are seeking a community and the parks are where it's at in Steiner. You and your kids can make lots of friends in the parks here.

[ChristopherWatters]

Steiner Ranch is a beautiful community. It's close to Lake Austin & Lake Travis. If you like boating activities and don't mind the commute, you'll love it out there. There are several new shopping developments in the area. I've sold several homes in that particular area. Someone else mentioned southwest Austin (where I live now), which is a great fit if you want an easy commute into downtown Austin. It's close to Barton Creek Mall, Grey Rock Golf Course and you're just a few minutes away from Ben White, which will get you to the airport in 15-20 minutes (not counting rush hour).

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by S6Sputnik

I would prefer the Steiner Ranch version over the Circle C version of Austin, The views and the felling of the place is just nicer in my biased opinion...(I like hill, nature and water around me)!..and as far as traffic in and out of town on MoPac ..well it is MoPacked than 2222 IMO.
Even with the current construction at 360 my commute from Four Points to Shoal Creek and Anderson Lane (10 Miles) is rarely more than 30 minutes and usually about 23 minutes leaving anytime 7:30- 8:30am.

Yeah but it's not 23 minutes to the city. Why does everyone think SW Austin has bad traffic. It's basically non existent unless you venture over to Brodie.

[jobert]

Originally Posted by ChristopherWatters

Someone else mentioned southwest Austin (where I live now), which is a great fit if you want an easy commute into downtown Austin. It's close to Barton Creek Mall, Grey Rock Golf Course and you're just a few minutes away from Ben White, which will get you to the airport in 15-20 minutes (not counting rush hour).

How much is your rent in Circle C? Just curious.

[famof5onthemove]

Originally Posted by cBach

I would recommend Steiner over Lakeway or River Place. River Place is more geared towards your price point, but it is not particularly child friendly IMO. Lakeway used to be a retirement resort area but has changed a lot since its former days, yet the small lots and lack of sidewalks is what turned me off to that area.

I would also second the suggestion to buy an older Steiner home on a larger lot, with full grown trees and close to the entrance to the ranch. You could spend max $400K on that and then upgrade the whole house (appliances, replace carpeting in living areas with tile/wood floors, upgrade the master suite, etc...) You could probably drop another $100K on those improvements easily, but you'd be living the good life in the shade with lots of land and probably on a greenbelt versus having 5 foot tall trees, no shade, and your neighbor breathing on you when you purchase the $750K homes, not to mention the construction debris (a friend of mine moved to a newer section and said his tire has been popped 5 times in the past year on construction debris). You could also do the custom homes in Steiner, which overlook the lake, but then again you won't get the close knit community and tons of kids on the street.

The facts are that the most vibrant communities in Steiner are the older ones. Be sure you're close to one of the community centers so your kids can go to the swimming pools, tennis courts, playscape areas, basketball courts, etc... where all the other kids hang out. Even though at your price point you can afford a pool, it seems you are seeking a community and the parks are where it's at in Steiner. You and your kids can make lots of friends in the parks here.

I loved your post! You just justified why I chose Steiner after 5 months of research! Thanks for calming my nerves after reading a negative post earlier this morning! Looking forward to our move next month!