Forbes Mag re: Austin - Are They On Crack?

All of them magazines say Austin is the best city to live in OVERALL.

Well good for Austin!

On crack?

Haha....well it must be better than other cities.

 

Channel 2 News isn't even worth the effort.....

unless of course Chris Ragge brought his wife onstage with him. I sat behind her on the Hou to Newark flight two weeks ago and HOLY SHAIT.

 

I definately prefer Austin life to Houston's but you are correct about the cost of living, Geebus it was a lot higher than it is here. A 2,2 apartment there cost me 1150 a month and that was cheap for Austin.

 

someone please post a pic of his wife. now.

 

That same 2/2 will run you around $880-$925 now. There are very few job openings, and a negative population growth currently. As a result, apt. rates have been dropping rapidly. I'll be moving into a 2/2 in Montevista (canyon view), off 360 by the bridge for only $900/mo.

 

Did they mention it's a college town? That's the primary reason. IMHO, it's the best large city I have been in Texas but I only visited San Antonio, El Paso, Dallas for short stretches.

 

What's your frame of reference?

Cheap cheap compared to the West Coast and the Northeast.

Still better job and real estate markets than most of the country.

Sounds like you assume Austin's 'growing pains' are due to its 'transitional phase' and not the global recession.

 

WTF?! "terrific job market?" I could say w/ great confidence that Austin's job market is the WORST in Texas right now.


CNN.com earlier had a breakdown of unemployment rates by city and Austin was lower than the Texas average and lower than Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth. Didn't check San Antonio, unfortunately, and I can't find the link anymore. It was also falling over the past month and year whereas the others were steady or increasing.

 

I sat behind her on the Newark to Houston flight back in April. Victoria is unbelievably hot.

As much as I dislike flying commercial, she made the trip worthwhile.

 

You must consider the "Salt Lick BB-Q" factor when rating Austin. If any of you guys have been there I think you would agree it is some of the best you've had.

 

maybe forbes can have a follow up issue going into further detail about this "terriffic job-market". id really like some insight on that. ehh... who did this research? living anywhere in austin is expensive unless you live way south, way north, or way east. i have a friend who lives off of weselyan in houston, 1 mile from the compaq center and he pays less than alot of student apartments in downtown austin. the traffic is getting pretty bad in austin as well.

i love austin, dont get me wrong, but the reasons i love it have nothing to do with the alleged "terriffic job-market" or alleged "low cost of living".

 

So bigtexxx, were you flying 1st class? She seemed to know the flight attendants there by name. She must fly the route often.

 

I have to agree with you guys. The "great job market" sent me to Houston after 3 LONG months of non-stop searching in Austin for a measley sales job. It was only by a LUCKY LUCKY break that I got transferred back here and things havent changed.

I definitely agree with growing pains too. I have to drive all over the place (outside sales) for my job. Let me tell you that 183, 360, 620, and 1431 will all have to be major freeways soon, otherwise there is going to be traffic hell for the next 10 years or so. Traffic will keep getting worse until city officals realize that they have the worst highway layout in the entire country. Hell even LUBBOCK of all places had a loop!!

I love Austin a lot, but there are definitely CONS to living here that most writers forget to mention when writing up their stupid little pieces.....

And as far as the singles scene goes.... Puh-lease. If you have graduated from college, you can pretty much count your prospects goodbye. I had better luck in Houston courting women in their mid-20's than here. The chicks in H-town are way more friendly and laid back too.....

 

I can vouch for that because the apartment I am in right now(1-1-den) would have easily run $1200-1300 about 2 years ago. Fortunately I'm only paying $850

 

translation - Drew didn't have to work quite as hard in getting the poon-tang in H-Town.



BTW, I won't be making the trip to Dallas this weekend, so I won't be able to hook up with you and Blake. Maybe next time.

 

Originally posted by Drewdog
I have to agree with you guys. The "great job market" sent me to Houston after 3 LONG months of non-stop searching in Austin for a measley sales job. It was only by a LUCKY LUCKY break that I got transferred back here and things havent changed.

Lucky lucky or not...the job is back here..eh?

I definitely agree with growing pains too. I have to drive all over the place (outside sales) for my job. Let me tell you that 183, 360, 620, and 1431 will all have to be major freeways soon, otherwise there is going to be traffic hell for the next 10 years or so. Traffic will keep getting worse until city officals realize that they have the worst highway layout in the entire country. Hell even LUBBOCK of all places had a loop!!

How is that different from any other decent-sized city?

Ever lived in LA?

I love Austin a lot, but there are definitely CONS to living here that most writers forget to mention when writing up their stupid little pieces.....

They're comparing it to the rest of the country, not a population sample of 3: Austin, Houston, Lubbock.

 

So where is that picture of Wragge's wife?