Thoughts on move to Austin area

Received a job offer from a company in Austin area last week. In the negotiation phase and trying to understand housing market down there since that will be a big factor in the move. Seems like lots of new construction but not clear if even those are going through bidding wars.

Anyone here in real estate or residential construction that can share some insight?

 

everything is expensive.

like stoopid expensive.

and lot of homeless in the city.

find a realtor that can put you in a home outside the city....bring your wallet.

good BBQ tho.

 

And get cat plates, unless you already have them.

 

Those are already in place. 1/4” aluminum courtesy of @Classy63!

 

Would not live in Austin proper. Likely Round Rock, Pflugerville, or further southeast. Been looking at Bastrop as a possible location.

 

Without getting my ass banned, I'll just say everyone I know from Austin would tell you, do it if you would like living in a big California city. There is very little "texas" left in Austin. If I was you I wouldn't. I'm trying to leave California too. Texas isn't as cheap as people say. Property tax is like 4 times California and that shit lasts forever. Plus houses aren't even cheap anymore.

If they offer remote work then take it and find a big ol slice of heaven in Wyoming or something. I'll see you there in a year.

 

I grew up in Bastrop ~ 18 years. Mom still lives there. It’s not a bad place, I liked it growing up but we had nothing to do. No movie theater or anything. Starting blowing up once I was 18 (04’) and moved to Corpus Christi.

lived in north Austin currently in round rock. Both great places but house prices have almost tripled the past two years. Old news but seems it has calmed down a bit.

 

THIS^^^ THIS^^^ THIS^^^.

 

A good solution to having to work in the Austin area. Check out the commute from different locales. Probably not any worse than the Portland area.

But like others said, stay away from the city itself. Lotta crime, lotta freeloaders. Panhandler on every corner, who hops in his Caddy at the end of the day and heads on home.

 

Look into Taylor, or as you stated Bastrop to the east.
If you go west, Marble Falls or Johnson City, you get into the Texas Hill country.
One of the pretty parts of the state, IMHO....

As others stated, get as far away from Austin proper as possible, without being too long of a commute..
I'd post more info, but can't get into the politics of Austin as a city.

Good luck and welcome to Texas....

 

Sorry - That is Not possible from Any direction. Ask me how I know.

 

Yep, bottlenecks everywhere.

 

I realize housing there is crazy but it seems every bit as crazy here in the Portland area of Oregon. Big difference is that there is more new housing stock in the Austin area than here. If I am going to spend crazy money on a house I want to go new this time and not have to spend money and time on a remodel. Been there, done that.

Want to keep the commute reasonable ~30 mins as I don’t want to spend my life on the road. I will have flexibility with the schedule so I might go in earlier, leave earlier to help avoid some traffic.

Deal is not 100% done but close. We’ll see what they come back with as far as final offer.

 

Unfortunately no remote work. If they did I’d take the job and likely just stay where I am.

 

Congrats! Bidding wars have simmered down even for existing housing, which btw went up in 'value' (read that as more taxes) by about 40-45% since early '20. I'm not sure they ever really existed for new construction and yes there is alot, not to mention even more apartments, expensive ones, say $2700-3500 for new 1-2 bedrm nearish downtown. So it all really matters on Where you need to go daily, then we can advise better.

But Leander is another hot, growing spot up 183 N from austin and many, many tiny towns all around.

 

I live in Smithville (about 13 miles east of Bastrop) - nice little town but the houses are getting snapped up like crazy. People are figuring out it's only a couple of stop lights and 35 miles to Austin. Bastrop is a nice town, hilly with trees. Let me know if you need any info, I'd be happy to help.

 

I have the name of an AMAZING home inspector too. He covers Austin and the surrounding areas.

 

Taylor is getting ready to explode because Samsung is building a gigantic plant there. The whole area is going crazy with Meta coming in, Tesla, etc.

 

Probably like or worse than Dallas.
My wife works downtown 9-5, 24 miles each way.
It can take her anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to get to work or get home.

I'm fortunate I only have to go 13 miles each way and I go to and from work in the off traffic hours..

 

Commute would be to near the intersection of 45/130 and 71.

How do the toll road work there? Full road is toll or only certain lanes?

 

Either of those areas are pretty easy to get to either thru tolls or public roads - naturally tolls will be faster/less stop/go traffic. Tolls are all lanes, usually somewhere between $1+ to 7 for the longer runs. 85mph limit compared to 65-70 on public.

 

Any recommendations for communities that are 30 mins from that area? Looking for a place with good neighborhoods and schools as I have two grade schoolers.

 

Yep, my wife's BF and husband have a lot of land just outside Taylor.
They said the subdivisions are coming and growing around Taylor very quickly.

Hell, where we live just outside Dallas county, in Kaufman county, it is insane how many homes have been built in the last 5 years.
The once cow pastures we drove by when we moved here 15 years ago are subdivisions now.

The home building has currently overrun the infrastructure; streets, schools, shopping, etc...
But the city blames the roads on TXDOT, most main roads are state roads (FM, HWY 80, etc.).
TXDOT doesn't get in a hurry to do ANYTHING..

 

Is there any state who has a fast acting DOT?

 

If I had to go back after all these years, probably Barton Creek followed by Round Rock.

I hear traffic is pretty bad nowadays.

 

I'd go East - Bastrop area for sure. Del Valle is right there and is going to get a really nice grocery store. Place was historically kind of a dump but with Tesla coming in, its fortunes have changed. Don't know your budget but there's a place called "The Colony" just before Bastrop (closer to Austin) and between Bastrop and Smithville is a kinda fancy place called "Colovista" (which sounds like a colon cleansing med to me, but to each his own). Cedar Creek is between Bastrop and Austin - there may be some subdivisions in that area or new homes with some land. I can suggest a builder or two also if you want some names. One builds spec homes in Dripping Springs - his website is http://www.idealcustomhomes.com - website hasn't been updated in a while but he usually has a spec home or two that he is building in the Deer Creek Subdivision. I believe he still builds outside of Dripping too. Most honest builder I'd ever met.

 

I agree with TaquitoBandito. East is probably best. Bastrop should really be seriously considered. Unless you're farther north than Marble Falls, coming in through the US290/TX71 intersection might take you a couple hours. So unless you're planning on way north of the west areas, I'd say forget west of the city.

 

Wherever you end up, if you like BBQ, head over to Lockhart and stop in here

 

Oh man, so much good BBQ around here. You've got Snows in Lexington, Micklethwait Craft Meats in Austin, Zimmerhanzels here in Smithville. Lots of cool little small towns between Bastrop and Houston, each with their own festivals. Round Top has their Antique shows if your wife is into that.

 

Wow, it does sound a lot like California!