Austin TX relo considerations -- feedback request (Dallas, Round Rock: for sale, houses)

[CarnivalGal]

Unless you provide a budget, we really can't help you. You also offer a lot of areas that are exactly what you say you don't want. Steiner Ranch and River Place, for example, are golf course communities. 30 Minute commute rules out a lot of your list, unless maybe you are commuting at 3am. You also included a lot of areas that don't feed into any of the schools you listed. Circle C, Steiner, Avery Ranch - all master-planned communities that are pretty cookie cutter. And I don't think an "uncongested area of town" that is within 30 minutes of downtown exists.

[austinaggie]

Trust me whe I say “cookie cutter” means something much different to someone moving from California than to most of you posting. In California, there are many neighborhoods that after a couple of drinks you may come “home” and try to get into your neighbor’s home instead of your own because they are indistinguishable. And to claim Lost Creek is somewhat “cookie cutter” is laughable! Not that it is in the OP’s budget but still.

[centralaustinite]

So OP has come back (hooray) and budget is $500K-$450K, hum . . . that means Westlake is out, Rollingwood, Lost Creek, out. Allendale likely out (not much very comes up on the market) , Crestview, Brentwood, likely out. Northwest Hills, Barton Creek West out.



30 minute commute? Maybe Circle C. Otherwise, you will have to go further out.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by riaelise

No budget provided, so it's hard to respond to your post.

very few areas meet most of those qualifications.

on one hand, you want a relatively quick commute (closer in core areas), but on the other hand you want a "town center", large lot, greenbelt (mostly suburban), character house, great high school etc. etc.

austin and the suburbs have a lot of cookie cutter housing, there's no getting away from that. to find a home with "character" in Austin, chances are it won't be on a large lot or near a greenbelt, unless you're ponying up some coin. You can find character homes sprinkled throughout the suburbs, some with large lots and greenbelts, but in exchange you'll have a longer commute. (FWIW, I don't mind that, because we strongly preferred a large lot/house with character) When i think of town squares, I think of suburbs like Georgetown.

Yes, and the OP has a plethora or mutually exclusive criteria.

Start with the same old three things that matter to almost every buyer - Location, Price and Size/Condition.

From within that pool of candidate properties, start narrowing down with other "must have" criteria. Soon you'd be down to zero possibilities and will have to re-assess your priorities and wants.

You will experience congestion, period. Scratch "congestion avoidance" off your list. Ain't gonna happen in Austin with your other wants.

Good luck!!

Steve

[RefersHer Health]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

So OP has come back (hooray) and budget is $500K-$450K, hum . . . that means Westlake is out, Rollingwood, Lost Creek, out. Allendale likely out (not much very comes up on the market) , Crestview, Brentwood, likely out. Northwest Hills, Barton Creek West out.



30 minute commute? Maybe Circle C. Otherwise, you will have to go further out.

Budget is $450-550k...

Lakeway hasn't been mentioned...is it too cookie cutter?

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by RefersHer Health

Budget is $450-550k...

Lakeway hasn't been mentioned...is it too cookie cutter?

Where are you commuting to again? To get to anywhere central it will be far, far, away! People do it but it is a commitment and most that do it long term, have some angle (leave super early or have a connection to someone with a place in town for evening meals, then drive back) to lessen the commute.



I would stop thinking about cookie cutter, nearly all houses in Austin, especially anything less than 15 years old, is stacked close to its neighbor. Exceptions in your price range might be Village of Western Oaks and other older developments around Circle C.

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by RefersHer Health

WOW! Y'all have been super helpful! THANK YOU so much!

So I get that we need to prioritize.

Our budget is $450-550k.

POLITICAL orientation -- Haven't heard feedback about political values. I'm not a political activist or anything, and honestly don't even like to talk politics, but I see the impact they have on schools and community feel and relationships/ability to make friends, and of course taxes. Again, looking for liberal to moderate leanings or at least where conservative politics aren't loud and proud

COMMUNITY -- It sounds like Georgetown has a town center...what's that community like? Is the town full of restaurants, shopping, cafes, etc....? Is it 'cool and hip' or like a post office and diner type place? What's the vibe? What is that commute like?

HOMES/LOTS -- Following up on what Riaelise said: "You can find character homes sprinkled throughout the suburbs, some with large lots and greenbelts, but in exchange you'll have a longer commute." Where can I find that?!

COMMUTE -- Yes willing to pay tolls. I will look up the cost but thinking company will reimburse. Which communities will that be an issue with? Is that toll road less congested? It will be typical 8am-5pm most days. We don't need a "quick commute" but don't want to live in a community where sitting in traffic on a day to day is the norm. We'd rather have a longer commute coming from a great community / large lot home than do that. So of those that have been mentioned which should I keep on my short list to consider?? From what little I know, based on what I've read, NW suburbs = congested commute, is that right? South/SW less congested and closer access to airport, do I have that right??

SCHOOLS -- quality/ranking/rep won't be the only driver if we can go to better HS without living in that zone (does that happen in Austin?) My list of schools wasn't complete so adding: Bowie, McCallum, Crocket as per suggestion. I'd appreciate any feedback on those schools So some dispute about Brentwood and Allandale... Is the consensus that Leander High isn't so good, but the others in that ISD are ok/better...is that right?? I didn't say this before but my son will play soccer - either on HS team or comp league like LoneStar (which seems to be the top) or Wells Branch or PAYSL (Pflugerville). As I understand it, we don't have to live in a certain area to be in these leagues but don't want them to be practicing far away either. If anyone has any insight on any of these leagues, please share!

Ultimately, here's the poll: if we did decide that lot/home size is more important than character/established in community with good HS and 'feel' given our budget and commute considerations --- WHERE SHOULD WE LOOK and WHERE SHOULD WE DEF NOT LOOK ? TOP 5 would be great!


Thanks again y'all!

450-500k may get you into the city center, but you would be in a small home, not the type you are looking for. It may get you into the Bowie area, but again, I'm not sure if you'd get the big house, but maybe closer to 2000 sqft. Georgetown is FAR from the city center. People make the commute, but it's a heck of a trek. You may be able to get on the toll road on Mopac to hit 5th street (I know someone that does that and lives in Cedar Park) but, honestly, its an express lane and not a "toll road" per say. There is a toll attached, but if you work somewhere just north of downtown (say the Enfield/15th street area) instead of something right near 5th street you'll be unable to use the second half of the express lane because it dumps out at 5th street and you can't get off before. I put in the only thing I know in Georgetown proper, Southwestern University and the Facebook office in downtown and google maps says a 29 mile drive and 37 minutes right now on a Sunday afternoon. Switch that to a Thursday at 7am and it comes out to anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and fifteen minutes. Georgetown is trying to be more hip and Austin-y but it's much more of the latter that you described. People move to Georgetown to get away from the hipness of Austin. Northwest Austin and Southwest Austin are the same in their congestion. You'll hit congestion on Mopac if you're coming from the south and congestion on 35 if you're coming from northwest Austin.

Bowie is a LARGE school with 2000 plus students. It isn't very diverse and the school pushes for kids to graduate under the "Distinguished" plan of 4 years of English and Math. Many students go on to great colleges. They will be undergoing some construction next year with building a new "parking garage" because there are not enough space for faculty and staff. It'll be a mess. But, most high schools parking is a mess these days. Their football team is consistently "okay" by making it to the first round of the playoffs this last year and losing by a point in their last game of the season. Students and coaches blame it on injuries (and i've seen kids hobbling around so I can confirm those injuries). I think soccer is consistently good as well. If you live in that area you won't want to drive up to Wells Branch for soccer, you'll want to do Lonestar and they have practice at Circle C Park. Crockett, based on ranking and history, is more of a school that pushes kids to find their "career path" then to push themselves academically. It is an "Early College High School" and is Title I with Communities in Schools, an anger management program, a parent support specialist (parent trainings, community support), an on site counseling center and partnerships with other local non-profits to increase the success of their students. McCallum has a very active PTA that can help support the few (I say few but it's a big chunk) of lower income students by supporting them financially and by connecting them to their own community resources. Bowie has on site counseling and that's about it.

I think you've narrowed it down a lot since your original post. It will come down to what is best for your family at this point. We

[WhatTheFox]

OP,

You've done some good research compared to many other posters who post similar queries. However your budget is low for a 2700+ sqft, good/great schools, 45 min to the airport (why? do you travel a lot?) so you'll need to prioritize. Forget non master-planned/cookie-cutters as you'll need to go back in time for that one.

Eanes ISD is definitely out. I would think Westwood HS and Vandegrift HS feeders are out as well.

OR ... perhaps you could rent for a while? It looks like a recession is right around the corner.

[neddy]

If you can't handle being around loud and proud conservatives stay with the loud and proud democrats in Travis county I would say if it makes you that uncomfortable. With that being said the relationship between the conservatives and the schools seem fine. Wilco is becoming more moderate but def leaning on conservative side.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by RefersHer Health

Budget is $450-550k...

Lakeway hasn't been mentioned...is it too cookie cutter?

Depends. Lakeway is its own town and therefore there are very different areas within Lakeway. There are master planned communities that are very cookie cutter. There are several golf course communities. There are also trailer parks. But Lakeway is also very congested (and getting worse) and the commute downtown will be hellish. Certainly no where close to 30 minutes.