Thoughts on move to Austin area

Austin was a cool spot about 20 years ago…

 

There's still a lot of cool spots but it's just really, really hard to get to them and there's SO MANY PEOPLE.

You are right, though. It was better 20 years ago. Hell, I think everything was better 20 years ago.

 

Any guesses on commute time straight down 45/130 from the Pflugervile area?

 

On 130, from P’ville to the area around 45/130 and 71, you’re looking at 20 minutes or so. I take that stretch going into the new plant there all the time. It’s pricey but it’s free and clear 99% of the time.

 

<backing away>

I've seen where this goes....

 

New plant? Tesla?

What does the toll run for that stretch? Is it the same toll both ways?

 

When my wife and I moved here in 2014, we rented a house in Pflugerville. When we were ready to buy a house, we chose one in Georgetown (15-20 miles north of Austin). We got our home for about $268k in 2016 and now it is worth about $530k. The housing prices have gone up tremendously, however, the farther away from Austin you go, the less expensive they are. If you are looking north of Austin, I recommend Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, and Georgetown. In those areas, you might be able to find a small home in the $300k's, but realistically, they are going to be in the $400k's to $600k's. There are still tons of new construction in those areas. If you look in the more rural areas, you can find homes for less.

Do you work remote? If not, the commute from Bastrop to Austin is 90 minutes on a good day. There is a guy on my team who lives in Bastrop and he used to have to commute into downtown Austin. He hated it.

Good luck on this new job offer.

EDIT:
I saw that you are not working remote and that you want a 30 minute commute. Well, that puts you near Pflugerville. There is still a bunch of new home construction around the 45/130 area. I used to make it from Georgetown to downtown Austin in 30 minutes, but I had to leave at 5:30am.

 

Not remote work. Commute would be to the area southeast of Austin near where 45/130 meets 71. Hoping from Bastrop it would be a pretty quick trip.

 

Sorry. I live west, and stay the hell out of Austin as much as possible. I'm really closer to and prefer San Antonio.

Honestly, the only time I go anywhere near Austin is to pass through with my boat to fish for a week out of Galveston. And I always go through on a Sunday.

 

The commute from the 45 and 130 intersection to downtown Austin is about 30 minutes. There is still a bunch of new home construction in that area. I used to make it from Georgetown to downtown Austin in 30 minutes, but I had to leave at 5:30am. The commute from Bastrop into downtown Austin is not pleasant.

 

Bastrop is where I would start, look into Wyldwood that's west of Bastrop. You could also look into Buda.
Checkout Double Eagle Ranch, has 1 acres lots: https://www.scottfelderhomes.com/communities/austin-area/bastrop/double-eagle-ranch
or The Colony for more traditional subdivision: https://www.colonytx.com/

 

Native Texan here who lived in Austin at one point. No way would I ever move there again. As for the why:
* Taxes in Austin proper are outrageous, on par with California
* Housing prices, event to rent, are on par with California - outrageously high
* The number one reason, though, that I'd never move back is the TRAFFIC!!! It's the worst I've ever seen, even worse than Houston.

Now, as an alternative to Austin proper, you might consider one of the satellite cities like Round Rock, Hutto, etc. Marble Falls is beautiful, though a bit of a commute.

 

Isn't real estate pricing in the outlying areas inflated as well? I know the hill country outside of San Antone (Boerne) isn't cheap...

 

I think that's true, especially to the west. Hill Country real estate/acreage is super high. The Texas Hill Country has always been considered the prime real estate in Texas. It's where I live, and lately, it's absolutely nuts!!

If it weren't for my 70% VA disability property tax exemptions, I couldn't even afford to stay. Wouldn't be able to afford the dang taxes on my 20 acre homesite.

 

Yep, it's expensive everywhere.

I'm an idiot, I just realized that I don't ever travel into Austin from the Bastrop area during rush hour, but when I have, the airport was where traffic stopped. When Tesla opens, I have no idea what that'll do to the toll road intersection there at 71. It looks like Tesla built their own highway heading towards Austin that goes directly to the plant.

On average, it takes me about 45 minutes to get to the Costco on William Canon in Austin from Smithville. It's about the same amount of time if we go to the toll road and hit the Costco in Pflugerville. I never get on 35 unless I absolutely have to.

I would think your best bet would be going East. Just do your homework and check to make sure the city you are going to has a pretty good water system. It varies quite a bit around here.

As far as the whole Austin "Liberal" thing, I wouldn't worry about that too much if you think it might be an issue. They don't tend to bite or attack without provocation. My granddad used to say that "Religions and Politicians start wars." so I tend to not discuss either one. One of the reasons I love this forum.

Any chance they'll fly you down for a week so you can scout some locations and see if it's the place you want to be?

 

I used to live in California (now I am in Georgetown) and I disagree with 2 of your points.

1. Yes, the (property) taxes in Austin are outrageous. However, they are MORE than in California. My sister (in CA) and I have comparable homes and my property taxes are way more than hers. However, Texas does not have state income tax. So, between the state income tax and property taxes, I am paying way less than she is. Overall, it is still way less expensive to live in the Austin area than it is to live in California.
2. Yes, the housing prices and rent are high in the Austin area. However, they are nowhere near the prices in California. Many homes in southern California are approaching the $1 million mark. Hell, the childhood home that I grew up in cost my parents $72k when they bought it (in 1977) and now it is worth about $950k. When my wife and I lived there in 2010, we were paying $3k a month for a 2bd, 2bath apartment. I can't imagine how much that apartment is now.

 

I’d moving from the Portland OR area. Real estate here is crazy too. $600k+ for a 1960s era ranch that still has the original kitchen and popcorn ceiling. At least in the Austin area I could buy something for the same amount it will have been built in the last 10 years. Also, likely could get a garage that would fit the Tundra!

The commute is the big hurdle. I live three miles from my work now so it’s 20 minutes on surface streets on a bad day.

I want to take the job but trying to make sure the compensation is aligned with the changes in location, work life balance, etc. is the task at hand.

Politics are everywhere, no place is perfect so not going to worry too much about that.

I appreciate all the response and input! Lots to think about.

 

For $600k, you could easily get a new, 3000+ sq ft house. Also, remember that Texas does not have a state income tax. So that will be an additional raise for you. However, the lack of a state income tax is made up in property taxes. So, the property tax on a $600k home will be high. Depending on the city/county, it could be around $12k a year.

 

Best idea I know of to look into commute is find the areas you are interested in and get on google maps during rush hour times and run the route to your future employer to best estimate commute time.

 

Yes, the lack of income tax is nice. Is there literally nothing at the state level taken out (workers comp, etc.)?

 

I just looked at my last paystub and there is nothing on the state level that is taken out. It is all the federal level items; federal taxes, social security, and medicare.

 

nope, just federal income tax, Medicare and social security. Also buying outside Austin proper will reduce the property tax rate.

 

Texas has this "Robin Hood" property tax structure, whereas the richer per capita (real estate values) counties charge higher taxes than other counties, and a percentage of those higher taxes go to counties with lower per capita real estate assets. Property tax is how Texas funds its school systems. So say Harris County (Houston) has cheaper real estate, therefore here in Gillespie County, in the Hill Country, we end up sending tax money to Harris County for their school districts. That's not a hypothetical illustration. We only have 20000+ residents in Gillespie County and high real estate values, whereas Harris County population is likely in the millions. So I'm paying for their kids' schooling.

 

Excellent mountain biking and motorcycling just west of there.

 

We've got Rocky Hill Ranch just to the north of us. https://www.rockyhillranch.com

 

To be Honest, 20 yrs ago was no where near as cool as 40 ago. Then I could take the Hardie Cardie bus on a free trip with keg beer provided from UT dorms to far north austin night clubs. Plus I could take dives off the unfenced Quarry lake', good times. Its still fun, one just must go further to find it.

 

I believe it. Most good things, once discovered by everyone else, cease to be so good.

 

No, No, No!!! With all due respect you have it Backward also!

Now lets just think, Why is it called Robin Hood? Its not to have the poor give to the rich.

Now lets think Why did this law become law? Because all counties have equal voting rights in the Texas legislature, there are far more poorer districts than rich ones All Due to Population, more people equals more taxes collected. Plus many small districts on in agricultural rich counties so they are exempt from all or some of their taxes, another reason they are poor. So it was easy for the many small poorer counties to out vote the larger richer districts to take the money from them legally, by the $Billions annually since 1993, google it if you don't believe me.

So the rich districts like Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio who collect more school taxes because of 2 things, More people and far fewer agricultural exemptions. The rich districts don't like it yet cannot change the laws because they don't have enough votes against the many, many poorer districts who are in Love with the money.

 

Mrs. Bandito whole-heartedly agrees. She grew up in Austin in the 70's and 80's when the Austinites South of the River were "River Rats". She said it was amazing back then.