I've accepted a new job that requires me to relocate to the Austin area. I'm excited and looking forward to this great opportunity, but a little freaked out about everything I have to do in the next few weeks. My new job is with a very large software company, and the customer I'll be working with primarily is located in Round Rock (guess) so I am debating on whether or not that is where we are going to live. We will likely be looking to rent a house for at least the first year, because I have to sell my house here in Houston first. So I need your suggestions on which areas to look in, which sites to use for research, and anything else you can tell me about the area. My wife and I love Austin and are big live music fans, so we'll probably be looking to experience downtown, at least on the weekends. We're in our early 30's, no kids, but that may change in a few years. I'd love to live closer in to Austin, but I know I'd run into quite a bit a traffic, and the houses are significantly more expensive in Austin. Though I wouldn't rule out something in the North/Northwest area. Help me out Clutchfans!
Congrats! It's a fun area. Traffic sucks in Austin, and so do the drivers. But if you like the outdoors, it's my favorite area of TX. Don't know too much about north side, but on the west. We have a house in BeeCave, and I love that area. Pace Bend state park, Hamilton's pool etc.
I don't know your budget, but the Lake Travis area is absolutely beautiful. My uncle lives there and I take every chance I get to go visit him. I hope to live in the Austin area some day so congratulations to you. I hope everything works out for you.
"The weather was too good, the dope was too cheap, and the girls were too pretty, and there was no ****ing way I was going to get anything done in a place like that" - Steve Earle on Austin
As we'll be leasing a house initially, my budget is around $2,500/month. I'd really prefer to keep it closer to $2,000 if we can. I have dogs so I definitely need a house with a secured backyard - no apartments or townhouses. I love the Lake Travis area, but I think that's a bit out of my price range, and a bit too far from my job.
I think you should look to renting a house in the arobertum, far west, and allandale areas. Also Hyde Park if you really want to be close to UT. check this place out on far west area http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/7140-Chimney_Austin_TX_78731_M81361-38747
Thanks tinman, I will look into those areas. About how far are they from Round Rock? And that house looks nice, but it looks like it shares walls, which is another thing I'm trying to avoid. I have beagles that can be quite loud at times, so for neighbors sake I'd like to have a freestanding house.
Also, if you guys could tell me which areas you are talking about on this map. I was thinking we'd need to be in either Round Rock, Pflugerville, or NC or NW Austin in order to avoid a major commute. If that's not the case let me know. http://www.austinhomesearch.com/Search/Map1.aspx
None of the areas tinman mentioned are more than 20 mins. from Round Rock. You'd be going opposite of traffic, so it wouldn't be a big deal. Plus, you could take the tolls into Round Rock that almost no one uses. From 183/MOPAC, you could be in RR in 10 minutes. I live in Round Rock but I also have a family. For the budget you've mentioned, you'll get more for your money in Pflugerville and north. You'd also get a cool smaller house in Allendale and the Far West/Arboretum areas. Personally, if I didn't have kids, my wife and I would move back to the Arboretum. All the shopping you need is within walking distance and getting downtown is a breeze.
I know your commute. The best thing you should do is be close to MoPac , MoPac feeds into the toll way 45 which drops you off directly at that place in Round Rock. Check out this place in the alandale area, http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/912-Romeria-Unit-B_Austin_TX_78757_M77872-54993 It's close enough that you don't really need to take a highway to go to UT or downtown.
I moved to Austin in April, so wen through a lot of what you're thinking about. That said, I already have a young kid, so school district was ultra-important to me, and I work downtown. We ended up in the Westlake area on your map. It is a higher end area, but we got in at the lower end of the price range, fortunately. We were committed to finding something that worked for us in the Eanes school district... and success, our kids will be able to walk to elementary, middle and high school if that's what we want. Round Rock, Georgetown, etc. obviously have more of the suburban vibe. Some of the areas tinman noted were more in the NW section, and while residential, can be more mature and less suburban, which is our preference. We looked there as well, but again, ultimately decided the school district preference was enough of an issue for us that we bought smaller house but better school district. But if you want more of an "Austin" feel while being relatively close to Round Rock, try NW and NC areas. Hyde Park is really cool - there's a great little restaurant for vegetarians there called Mother's that we go to quite a bit. I couldn't tell you about the commute, but it is a very cool Austin neighborhood with a Heights-type vibe. And you may be able to make Northeast Lake Austin work (or close), though, again, not sure on commute.
Thanks. We live in The Heights now, so would love to be in a similar area. Do you guys have an easy way to search from these different areas you're talking about? Are you doing it by zip code? I visit Austin a few times a year, but am pretty clueless about the different parts of town.
Allandale is nice. Also pretty nice and convenient to both the city and Roundrock. NW Hills, Crestview, Rosedale, Brentwood, Hyde Park.
For 2K, you could probably live almost anywhere in town. I live in Cedar Park near Lake Travis. Its a nice place to live and with the new tollway, Round Rock is a breeze to get to. It takes 20-30 minutes to get to downtown when there is no traffic.
Congrats on getting out of Houston. Seems like everyone is jealous. Makes you wonder why so many people live in Houston.
Austin is great. Relocated here last year. I'm on 1431 past cedar park (real close to lake travis) and work in Round Rock. My commute is 25 mins if I take the toll way and 35 mins if I don't. People complain about traffic in Austin but it is no comparison to Houston. Sounds like we're going to need a Rockets viewing party in N. Austin next season (if there is a season)
