Is dripping springs a good or bad location to live ? (Austin: HOA fees, house) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

janejanejanejanejane · 09-04-2011, 05:26 AM

Job at Bee Caves and 360 basically. We want easy access to downtown, the north, etc. Our realtor picked that as one place. Good or bad?

TopSecretAdam · 09-04-2011, 06:05 AM

It's a good location if you don't want to be in the city. I live in DS. I like not being directly in the hustle of city life. It's an easy shot to Bee Caves. There is an HEB and Home Depot in DS. Schools are OK to Good. Sports programs in DS are on the low-end side. Lot's of small town "politickin" very old school and country way of dealing with things. Has it's pros and cons that way. Sometimes, decisions made in the ISD and City can be a bit backward and make you scratch your head. Just a few traffic lights. Close to the Salt Lick. Overall, very quiet and small town feeling. If you need to get to Austin, it's about 20 mins to downtown with no traffic. 40 mins to the airport in light traffic. Lots and lots of deer that will eat your landscapping if you keep it watered. Deer everywhere out that way.

cinnamon_toast · 09-04-2011, 06:13 AM

It's a bedroom community. Doesn't have a nice little Main Street like some of the other Hill Country towns. It's kind of a hybrid suburb/small town.

Adam, don't y'all have issues with your aquifer there? Is that a big concern?

janejanejanejanejane · 09-04-2011, 06:21 AM

THank you guys, answers my question very well. Not really for us, but we will look at it to confirm.

TopSecretAdam · 09-04-2011, 06:29 AM

The water is def mineral heavy. We use filters on everything and have to change them more then most do in other parts of the country. We have to use CLR on our shower heads and faucets a bit more as well. But it's not that bad in my opinion.

Def don't have that Hollywood main street haha. It's a country town. Not much to get excited about. Just very quiet. If you want more of a "bigger city" feel, maybe Bee Caves is best. It's got a california town feel if you ask me.

h886 · 09-04-2011, 07:31 AM

Could be a good place if you can't find what you want in any other. The commute to Bee Caves would be reasonable. I know others who do it. The schools are good. It is a small town. It isn't in Austin itself and you would have to drive into town. However, you wanted a lot of house and for not too much, and this might provide it if you can't find your requirements anywhere else.

janejanejanejanejane · 09-04-2011, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h886

Could be a good place if you can't find what you want in any other. The commute to Bee Caves would be reasonable. I know others who do it. The schools are good. It is a small town. It isn't in Austin itself and you would have to drive into town. However, you wanted a lot of house and for not too much, and this might provide it if you can't find your requirements anywhere else.

True.

However, I think to the average american, a 300k is a lot of money for a house. Sure, we want the space, but 300k isn't chump change. Perhaps for Lakeway, it is..

h886 · 09-04-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janejanejanejanejane

True.

However, I think to the average american, a 300k is a lot of money for a house. Sure, we want the space, but 300k isn't chump change. Perhaps for Lakeway, it is..

Well, I agree with you there. It is a lot of money. I was just responding since you mentioned in another thread you wanted something like 4 bedrooms and a big square footage, great schools, and a decent commute. Those things tend to come with a price tag. Since Bee Caves is fairly out of the way and not close to town anyway, Dripping Springs would be one area where you could get basically all of those things except being close to Austin.

But, you do need to pick something you'll be happy with. Some people like the more rural living. Others don't.

N. Olikee · 09-04-2011, 09:00 AM

Jane X 5,

What is your number one priority? Schools? Manicured lawns? Distance to job? I think you need to pick one to focus.

For us, it was schools. So, we looked only in the Eanes and Lake Travis ISDs. We flirted with Dripping Springs, but it was too rural for me. My kids would have hated it.

There may not be a lot in your price range right now, so be patient. Get to know the areas that "make sense" as far as a commute to Bee Cave.

kbchitown · 09-04-2011, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janejanejanejanejane

True.

However, I think to the average american, a 300k is a lot of money for a house. Sure, we want the space, but 300k isn't chump change. Perhaps for Lakeway, it is..

Make sure you "budget in" property taxes....they are high in the Austin area. And your electric/water. And HOA fees.