Commute, salaries, climate in Austin? (Round Rock, Georgetown: apartment complexes, leases, mortgage)

[CAtrans]

Hi, we are on the verge of relocating to Austin from Northern CA. I have a few very specific things I'm concerned about & looking for help on (commute times, approx. salaries, climate concerns, etc).

Neither of us have jobs lined up yet, so obviously this makes deciding where to live very difficult. We're pretty much looking at new developments in Georgetown / Round Rock / Cedar Park for something in the $250k range.

If, worst case scenario, we get jobs in Austin what is the commute time during rush hour - an hour each way? Any suggestions on specific neighborhoods/areas around here that would keep the commuting to a minimum are much appreciated!

Also, how bad is this humidity thing - as long as we have air-conditioning we'll be okay right? Most people we've talked to say it's excruciating a few days out of every summer but pretty bearable otherwise.

Also, the research I've been doing (salary.com, monster, craigslist) makes it look like salaries are about 1/4 lower than the Bay Area. Does this sound about right or completely off? I've had a lot of office mgmt/admin experience and have a degree in marketing. He was formerly a machinist and now does microscope repair. Neither of our jobs are terribly high tech (which is a way of saying although we live in the Bay Area we don't make those Bay Area salaries you hear about!)

Thanks so much! Really appreciate you taking the time to help us newcomers out

[AustinTraveler]

Since you don't know where you'll be working, and you are concerned (rightly so!) with the commute, I would definitely suggest renting first. Then when you know where both your jobs will be, and you're more familiar with the different areas, you can start house hunting. You don't have to sign a one-year lease. Lots of apartment complexes offer three, six and seven month leases.

[Trainwreck20]

And for about 10% a month more, many apartments do a month-to-month agreement, too.

[SoCal transplant]

Coming from NoCal, the weather will be a dramatic change. The months of July and August will seem unbearable, especially between Noon and 5PM (this is of course, if Austin is the same as SA (I believe it is)). The rest of the year will actually be decent.

I too did not have a job lined up when we moved, and it ended up taking me about 6 months to finally find a FT job w/ a law firm. I would recommend renting, that way you're money isn't tied up with a mortgage right away and you'll also be able to fully appreciate the areas to avoid and those you'll love to live in.

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

I took a quick trip to Salary.com and checked out their cost of living wizard.

If I got a job in San Francisco, I would need to make $172K to keep the same standard of living. Unfortunately, at my salary level, it says realistically I would only make about $95K per year. That is a huge gap!

Even so if I could get $172K/yr., I still don't think we could get a 3600+ sq. ft. house on 1/4 acre, near a lake (ocean?) that would have reasonable payments. I believe that salary is also at the 9.3% top tax table for CA inc. tax, then you also have Fed. inc. tax, so the take home is obviously not $172K.

I believe the subjectivity of "standard of living" is epitomized by knowing what we could get for about $350K in San Francisco! At $650 a sq. ft., that would get us about 538 sq. ft. of bliss, and space for all four of us, NOT. We could possibly go back down to about 1,800 sq. ft., but we will only do that if necessary.

Anyways, trying to make the point that the cost of living definitely can be lower out here.

[r2d2]

Hi

I am from San Francisco Bay Area too, does anyone know about the homes in Brushy Creek Area Sec 1. Older homes like from 1980s, is it a good area to be in?

[achtungpv]

payscale.com is the best and most accurate website for figuring out what a job pays.

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

payscale.com is the best and most accurate website for figuring out what a job pays.

Did the basic at payscale. I am not doing too bad here in Austin!

[CAtrans]

Thanks very much for all of your responses. I will definitely look into the renting thing. You guys just saved me months of headache I'm sure And I did check out payscale.com & it's in line with what I expected - good thing!