So it looks like I'm moving to Austin/Round Rock

I always thought that houses on enfield and around that area were nice and were pretty close to everything fun

 

i blame all the drivers from dallas and san antonio.

harrisment - yall have no kids, early 30's and you said you want to get out and do stuff.
YOU DO NOT BELONG IN ROUND ROCK!!!
YOU DO NOT BELONG IN ROUND ROCK!!!
YOU DO NOT BELONG IN ROUND ROCK!!!

yall are moving to austin so move to austin - dont move to round rock!

get a place in north/n. central austin - if you drive into round rock in the morning you dont have to deal w/ all the traffic coming into town and when you come home at night everyone else in returning to round rock. its perfect!

your budget of $2k/month will get you a really nice place in central austin - if i were you i would look in north loop area - or if you want a little closer to town look in french place - i lived there for about 5 years and loved it. my job takes me up to r.r. and georgetown and living around there was not too bad for traffic. the neighborhood b/t 38 1/2 and airport is cool too. and at 2K/month hyde park would be in your budget too.

actually, if you are interested i know a house that my friend was renting out on 45th and duval - 3 bed 2 bath. havent talked to him in a few weeks so i dont know if he rented it out yet, but i can check if you are interested.

 

Whatever you do, Harrisment, don't get a pad that requires a commute on I-35. Just don't do it. Austin's traffic really isn't that bad, especially once you know the shortcuts if things get really clogged up, but none of that applies to I-35. Just stay off of it.

OK, with that out of the way, I think the relatively close-in area of Northwest Austin would be nice. It's convenient to North Central and Central Austin via Mopac, or Burnet/ N. Lamar. There are tons of things to do around there, loads of shopping around the Arboretum area, which tinman mentioned, and the Domain. It's quite hilly, which is fun when you're from Houston (I'm a Houston native, who moved to Austin in 1980 because it was still a groovy place to be). Not that far from Lake Austin and Lake Travis. Some neighborhoods? Northwest Hills, Great Hills, Balcones Woods, Cat Mountain, Highland Hills are a few. Some of these can be pretty expensive, but you can find reasonable deals if you look. Also, you might consider these areas to look around, not just in. Highland Hills and Northwest Hills are a bit closer in and very, very nice. A plus with any of these? You don't have to mess with I-35 much at all to commute to Round Rock. Perhaps the last little bit of your drive, depending on where the job is.

Do some research. There are tons of neighborhoods in that general area with different price ranges that I didn't mention. I live in Southwest Austin, myself, and wouldn't live in Round Rock for the world (and I'd live in the areas I mentioned), but if that's where the job is, you have to do what you have to do. Good luck!

edit: what jo mama said was great advice. I was trying to think of areas a bit closer to Round Rock, but he has a good point about the traffic. North Central Austin has some great older neighborhoods, great places to eat and drink, and is close to the action. Relish your time sans kids. Once they appear, bless 'em, your life is over as you've known it.

 

If you like the Lake Travis area, I would recommend Cedar Park/Volente/Steiner Area. I live on the west edge of the Cedar Park area and I'm less than 10 minutes from the nearest boat ramp (when there is water in the Lake).

 

I agree with jo moma. With no kids I'd live in town if you want to be going out to bars and stuff. You can always move out to the burbs later when you have kids and aren't as concerned with the nightlife.

 

Don't miss out on the opportunity to live in Austin. Round Rock is like Katy, TX -- close, but no cigar.

 

i live in some apts. on great hills in the arboretum area across from a lexus dealership and target. it sounds like the area you may be looking for. Decent area, not that long of a commute, especially as someone mentioned if you use the toll. and its also a short drive to the downtown area. i would at least live in this general area for the first year so you can acutally live in austin. and next year when you buy a house, you can get something closer to round rock if you choose.

good luck

 

I do not know what is worst when you are on 35 at 5 going into the city. Made that mistake once and immediately wanted to get out and walk. Like the idea of having a N Austin viewing party though. Live at edge of North Austin and have only run into a couple of Rockets fans. Have always seen Spurs but now since Mavericks won have been seeing championship hats and shirts. Makes me sick.

 

Don't live in Round Rock unless you are raising a family (even then, try not to live in RR). Regarding commute, FWIW I live downtown and it takes me 20 minutes to get to "that place" on 35. Like others have mentioned you are going to be traveling opposite traffic.

Having said that, you still want to stay above the river if you are going to be hitting 35 that way you have opportunities to jump off into some side streets when traveling back down south in the afternoons.

Welcome to Austin!

 

Austin is a very small city. You can go from round rock to south austin in about the same time to go from sugar land to downtown houston.

 

Indeed.

 

My house is currently for rent in Central Austin...Brentwood subdivision to be more exact (bordered by Allendale and Crestview...around the intersection of 45th and Lamar). It's about a 10 minute drive downtown (no freeway) or about 20 minutes to Roundrock on 35-N. Walking distance to the Triangle and a number of wine bars/restaurants on Burnet. The commute would not be so bad b/c it would be against the flow of traffic both ways.

http://www.austinhomessale.com/mls-7102520-5111-woodrow/

Give a shout if interested.

 

Great neighborhood...I work at the high school right by there. I can vouch for the 20 minute drive to RR, since we just bought a house there a few months ago. Don't get the RR hate, after living in West Campus for 3 years it's a wonderful change of pace!

 

Welcome.

 

DD needs to organize one.

 

As said, don't worry too much about 35, you will be going against traffic for the most part.

You might also check out mueller, otherwise look in the areas already given. Especially Hyde park area

 

This is awesome ! You already got great advice. I live in circle c with deckard, great community and our own alamo drafthouse opening up. But, without kids you should look more central to expereience the nightlife.

Have fun and when the lockout is over we should have an austin viewing party.

DD

 

and this brings up another great thing about austin - we are very open to "alternative" lifestyles such as DD and deckards!

especially in circle c!

 

^ seems like a good way to do it.

City-data has a decent Austin neighborhood map.
http://www.city-data.com/nbmaps/neigh-Austin-Texas.html

Then zipmap can give you good zip code boundaries: http://www.zipmap.net/

Looks like the posting you found is in Brentwood, technically. I know nothing about it, but I'm sure it's fine. We looked breifly in central Austin but didn't explore Brentwood much. But did look at Rosedale, Allandale, Hyde Park, etc. and Brentwood seems to be right there by it all.

Also might as well check out videos. If you google video search for Brentwood Austin some things pop up. Not as good a feel as actually being there, but close.

I think you're best bet is to pick a few general locations (north-central austin, northwest hills, round rock, etc.) and plan to visit them all, and you'll definitely get a feel for what you like. We really looked all over the place, from south of the Y (great land and space, bigger, cheaper houses... way too far for us), to north Austin, to central Austin, etc. Given where you're working, the comments to stay north of town lake you should definitely follow. East Austin is gentrifying a bit, and if you want a littel cheaper and funkier you coudl try that, or Mueller (as someone mentioned) for a new East Austin development, but we ruled it out. You can always get to East Austin for restaurants, shops, bars, etc. real easily. So you're already more or less narrowed down to anything north of the lake, and west of I-35. You should be able to visit a ton of neighborhoods even in just one day of driving around, and then you can narrow down to a few you like.