PDA

View Full Version : Life Austin Question


BIG_DADDY
02-13-2019, 11:03 AM
I am going to Austin next week to look at houses. I would like to move there at some point for several reasons even if I just bought a rental unit for the next 1-3 years. Do any of you planet members know a lot about Austin as in the best places within the city to live and why? Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks is advance.

DJ's left nut
02-13-2019, 11:05 AM
Can't you !@#$ing Californian's just stay in California instead of moving to states you haven't fucked up yet?

loochy
02-13-2019, 11:07 AM
You might want to live close to one of the following clinics so you have quick access to all of the vaccinations you need:

https://www.austintexas.gov/immunizations

chinaski
02-13-2019, 11:12 AM
Can't you !@#$ing Californian's just stay in California instead of moving to states you haven't ****ed up yet?

Trust me, when I move out of this shithole I won't be voting for the same policies and nonsense this place embraces. That said, while I have lived here for 20 years, I don't consider myself a Californian at all. I was born and raised in Missouri, and my wife is from Pennsylvania. It is what it is.

KC Dan
02-13-2019, 11:13 AM
I would head north of downtown, Roundrock area but that's me. Traffic I-35 is a pain though. I have an office in Pflugerville just south of Roundrock so am there frequently.

loochy
02-13-2019, 11:13 AM
Can't you !@#$ing Californian's just stay in California instead of moving to states you haven't fucked up yet?

He's moving to Austin...they are pretty Californian in their way of thinking already. He won't have much impact.

mikeyis4dcats.
02-13-2019, 11:16 AM
@AustinChief

Ming the Merciless
02-13-2019, 11:18 AM
Can't you !@#$ing Californian's just stay in California instead of moving to states you haven't ****ed up yet?


at least 30% of Californians have political views much more in line with the majority of Texans..


I think that number is growing, too.

chinaski
02-13-2019, 11:22 AM
at least 30% of Californians have political views much more in line with the majority of Texans..


I think that number is growing, too.

There is this very common misconception that the entirety of California are Socialist/Communist Ultra-Leftist #hashtaggers. They fail to realize that outside of the Coastal Areas and Large Cities, California is predominantly conservative. And if the OP is not that way, that's just fine. He will fit in either way in Austin Texas.

BIG_DADDY
02-13-2019, 11:27 AM
Can't you !@#$ing Californian's just stay in California instead of moving to states you haven't ****ed up yet?

I'm far from being a liberal slacker bro. I don't want to change anything about Texas

chinaski
02-13-2019, 11:30 AM
I'm far from being a liberal slacker bro. I don't want to change anything about Texas

I have a rental house in New Braunfels, which is closer to San Antonio but you could probably commute to Austin, Theoretically. I really like the area. My wife also has family in that area, so it's a possible landing spot for us as well.

Hydrae
02-13-2019, 11:33 AM
Why did you pick Austin? It is a good place to live in general, just curious.

I will agree with KCDan, north is where the growth is continuing. Pfulgerville/Round Rock/Cedar Park are all viable. Apple recently announced a new ground breaking in that area as well so values will do nothing but continue to go up.

Deberg_1990
02-13-2019, 11:34 AM
I have a rental house in New Braunfels, which is closer to San Antonio but you could probably commute to Austin, Theoretically. I really like the area. My wife also has family in that area, so it's a possible landing spot for us as well.

The entire area between San Antonio and Austin along I-35 is growing rapidly.

BIG_DADDY
02-13-2019, 11:37 AM
I have a rental house in New Braunfels, which is closer to San Antonio but you could probably commute to Austin, Theoretically. I really like the area. My wife also has family in that area, so it's a possible landing spot for us as well.

We were in Dallas for the World League Texas Regional Jiu-Jitsu championships which my son was competing against. We were in Dallas for no more than 30 minutes when my son said everyone is so nice here. We were there for a few days and he even said if we ever moved this would be a good place. I have to get away from all these taxes ASAP, they are absolutely killing me.

BIG_DADDY
02-13-2019, 11:45 AM
Why did you pick Austin? It is a good place to live in general, just curious.

I will agree with KCDan, north is where the growth is continuing. Pfulgerville/Round Rock/Cedar Park are all viable. Apple recently announced a new ground breaking in that area as well so values will do nothing but continue to go up.

I have to get away from all this California tax. Cost of living is way less there than here. My son competes at a very high level in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. They have what he needs at least in Jiu-Jitsu. I am sure the Judo yet but it will work most likely. I understand they have good wrestling there too. I need to have mountains, I have been in them my whole life. Individual rights and freedoms seem much more protected in Texas from guns to medical and everything in between.

I would be retiring so employment isn't really a consideration. If I decided to come out of retirement or be semi-retired it is also an ideal spot for me to land however.

loochy
02-13-2019, 11:45 AM
We were in Dallas for the World League Texas Regional Jiu-Jitsu championships which my son was competing against. We were in Dallas for no more than 30 minutes when my son said everyone is so nice here. We were there for a few days and he even said if we ever moved this would be a good place. I have to get away from all these taxes ASAP, they are absolutely killing me.

We have no State income tax...but our property taxes are a bitch

Frosty
02-13-2019, 11:51 AM
The guy I work with is ultra conservative. He had to go to Austin for a conference at the end of January. He went to Dallas first to visit some friends and really liked it. He then did his thing in Austin and hated it. Said it was a liberal shithole with a homeless problem worse than Seattle. Just thought it was funny. I take his viewpoint with a grain of salt, though.

My brother (a filthy liberal) lives in Austin and (mostly) likes it. Really hot and humid for a good chunk of the year, though. Also, it sounds really expensive, though there may not be much of a difference coming from CA in that regard.

Sassy Squatch
02-13-2019, 11:55 AM
The traffic alone would keep me far away from living in the actual city. Some of the suburbs up north are quite nice, though. Cedar Park and Leander off the top of my head.

Hydrae
02-13-2019, 11:56 AM
I have to get away from all this California tax. Cost of living is way less there than here. My son competes at a very high level in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. They have what he needs at least in Jiu-Jitsu. I am sure the Judo yet but it will work most likely. I understand they have good wrestling there too. I need to have mountains, I have been in them my whole life. Individual rights and freedoms seem much more protected in Texas from guns to medical and everything in between.

I would be retiring so employment isn't really a consideration. If I decided to come out of retirement or be semi-retired it is also an ideal spot for me to land however.

Wrong place to expect to find mountains, that is for sure!

BIG_DADDY
02-13-2019, 11:56 AM
We have no State income tax...but our property taxes are a bitch

I can buy a killer house out there for less than an outhouse out here. I can live with that. Sooner or later with California's spending proposition 13 is going to go away as well. Private schools out here that are good are more than college. By 2022 I want to be out of here at the latest. Hell I would move tomorrow if I could.

BIG_DADDY
02-13-2019, 11:59 AM
Wrong place to expect to find mountains, that is for sure!

It may not work, I thought it was more than flat land though. Oh well I will be out there anyway.

Couch-Potato
02-13-2019, 12:21 PM
EVERYONE in CA be movin to Autsin...considered it myself actually lol

chinaski
02-13-2019, 12:31 PM
EVERYONE in CA be movin to Autsin...considered it myself actually lol

The problem with Californian's is they bitch and whine about the condition of the state, how expensive it is etc, and they move and vote in the same type of morons that embrace the same policies that are screwing up California to begin with. That's stereotypical yes, but there is some truth in it.

Then there is the other portion of Californian's that are more Conservative that move because they don't feel welcome and/or are sick of the BS.

ChiefaRoo
02-13-2019, 12:32 PM
North Austin is Prairie. West Austin/Bee Cave/Lakeway is Hill Country. It’s the prettiest part of the area by far.
Side note, Austin has brutal 365 day a year Allergans in the air.

loochy
02-13-2019, 12:37 PM
The guy I work with is ultra conservative. He had to go to Austin for a conference at the end of January. He went to Dallas first to visit some friends and really liked it. He then did his thing in Austin and hated it. Said it was a liberal shithole with a homeless problem worse than Seattle. Just thought it was funny. I take his viewpoint with a grain of salt, though.

My brother (a filthy liberal) lives in Austin and (mostly) likes it. Really hot and humid for a good chunk of the year, though. Also, it sounds really expensive, though there may not be much of a difference coming from CA in that regard.

I'm conservative and I think Austin is super fun and I wouldn't mind living there at all.

BIG_DADDY
02-13-2019, 12:38 PM
The problem with Californian's is they bitch and whine about the condition of the state, how expensive it is etc, and they move and vote in the same type of morons that embrace the same policies that are screwing up California to begin with. That's stereotypical yes, but there is some truth in it.

Then there is the other portion of Californian's that are more Conservative that move because they don't feel welcome and/or are sick of the BS.

This. The shakedown of businesses. The hate of capitalism. The ignorance of the majority. The never ending way to find another tax. The cost of living though is the kicker combined with that tax. I was at a party awhile back and almost everybody was looking at their options. Texas far and away was the most desired destination because there were Google employees there. This is the group that will vote D no matter what. Texas should keep them out of the state.

BIG_DADDY
02-13-2019, 12:39 PM
North Austin is Prairie. West Austin/Bee Cave/Lakeway is Hill Country. It’s the prettiest part of the area by far.
Side note, Austin has brutal 365 day a year Allergans in the air.

We don't have allergies for the most part but why is that?

Rudy tossed tigger's salad
02-13-2019, 12:41 PM
The entire area between San Antonio and Austin along I-35 is growing rapidly.

Sure is. I have friends that are moving out of Austin and into Kyle and Buda. 10 years ago, I would have never expected people to willingly move to those areas

Rudy tossed tigger's salad
02-13-2019, 12:43 PM
We don't have allergies for the most part but why is that?

Cedar allergies

loochy
02-13-2019, 12:48 PM
We don't have allergies for the most part but why is that?

Red Mountain Cedar. I'm allergic to it, but I live in Dallas. During the winter, the pollen from it gets blown up from strong southern winds and makes many people pretty miserable.

BIG_DADDY
02-13-2019, 12:54 PM
Red Mountain Cedar. I'm allergic to it, but I live in Dallas. During the winter, the pollen from it gets blown up from strong southern winds and makes many people pretty miserable.


That's good to know, thank you.

Chiefspants
02-13-2019, 01:01 PM
A couple of my current neighbors moved to Austin from California, hated how liberal Austin was, and then relocated to Colorado Springs (One of the most conservative cities in the country, but now is also experiencing the beginnings of a blue wave thanks to Californians). Our neighborhood page is full of Californian transplants who hate that the new place they move to is becoming California.

Kiimo
02-13-2019, 01:11 PM
Life in this thread's utopia


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trump uses racist, hateful and extreme rhetoric and it is radicalizing his supporters: <a href="https://t.co/zd7Qfgj6jb">pic.twitter.com/zd7Qfgj6jb</a></p>&mdash; Ryan Knight ���� (@ProudResister) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProudResister/status/1095545165291253760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Frosty
02-13-2019, 01:17 PM
I'm conservative and I think Austin is super fun and I wouldn't mind living there at all.

I haven't had a chance to go visit him yet. He has been saying I should come down sometime when the Chiefs play at Houston so we can go over and catch the game. I couldn't live there though. i would miss the mountains and it's way too fucking hot.

Rain Man
02-13-2019, 01:18 PM
I lived there in the early 1990s. If you're traveling there in a time machine, I can give you good advice.

ChiefaRoo
02-13-2019, 01:35 PM
We don't have allergies for the most part but why is that?


http://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/03-29-12-10-38-misery-no-more-5-ways-to-fight-austin-allergies/#slide=0

ChiefaRoo
02-13-2019, 01:36 PM
Red Mountain Cedar. I'm allergic to it, but I live in Dallas. During the winter, the pollen from it gets blown up from strong southern winds and makes many people pretty miserable.

If you didn’t grow up with it it’s miserable to experience. Takes a year or two.

Hydrae
02-13-2019, 01:46 PM
All year long we have issues with mold allergies (mostly Alternaria). In the late summer into the fall is ragweed season. Then yes, from late December until mid-February is Cedar season which really sucks! This really is one of the worst places for allergy sufferers.

otherstar
02-13-2019, 02:13 PM
Red Mountain Cedar. I'm allergic to it, but I live in Dallas. During the winter, the pollen from it gets blown up from strong southern winds and makes many people pretty miserable.

I have that allergy (tree pollen in general, really) and live in the Houston area. No escape for me, but I love the Houston area, and my kids are here...so I'm not moving :D

Cornstock
02-13-2019, 10:05 PM
I live in Pflugerville (a suburb). What neighborhoods are you looking at/what part of town do you work in? DM me if that's easier.

Major tax implications depending on where you live, to be balanced out by what kind of lifestyle you're after. A lot of give and take, but also a lot of reasonable compromises

Dallas Chief
02-13-2019, 11:15 PM
Check out some of the smaller towns south of Austin down to about San Marcos. Both east and west. The hill country has some very cool small-ish towns that are about an hour from either Austin or San Antonio. Not mountains like you are used to probably, but still some very pretty scenery down there.

RedRaider56
02-14-2019, 07:40 AM
I am going to Austin next week to look at houses. I would like to move there at some point for several reasons even if I just bought a rental unit for the next 1-3 years. Do any of you planet members know a lot about Austin as in the best places within the city to live and why? Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks is advance.

I live outside of Austin. Moved here in 2001, so if you want to ask questions shoot me a DM.
In general, Austin is blowing up. 150 people a day moving here , primarily from California. . You'd probably be better off buying now vs leasing and buying later in 3 years, the way the home values are rising.
We love it here.

As another poster said Cedar fever is a bitch in the winter and spring and summers are hot as hell, but there is a ton of things to do here.

Bob Dole
02-14-2019, 07:53 AM
All year long we have issues with mold allergies (mostly Alternaria). In the late summer into the fall is ragweed season. Then yes, from late December until mid-February is Cedar season which really sucks! This really is one of the worst places for allergy sufferers.

I never had allergy problems until I moved to the Piney Woods where the pollen is so thick that it drifts in the Spring.

R Clark
02-14-2019, 08:29 AM
Austin was as good as it gets in the 70s lol . Hippie hollow was the place to party,the armadillo was a kickass bar live music every night.lots of big nice lakes close by with clear blue water

Bob Dole
02-14-2019, 08:37 AM
I'm conservative and I think Austin is super fun and I wouldn't mind living there at all.

I used to go to Austin 5 or 6 times a year on business. I enjoyed my 3-5 day stays, but there is no way in hell I would live there.

tx4chiefs
02-14-2019, 08:37 AM
If you're not bringing California Communism with you, then welcome to Texas! I know you're from CA, but Austin traffic sucks. Also, like it's been mentioned it's the most liberal place in Texas. Plenty of work in Texas though.

RedRaider56
02-14-2019, 05:38 PM
If you're not bringing California Communism with you, then welcome to Texas! I know you're from CA, but Austin traffic sucks. Also, like it's been mentioned it's the most liberal place in Texas. Plenty of work in Texas though.

I think Austin was just rated as having the 5th worst traffic in the nation. Worse than Houston, worse than Dallas. I believe it.

BIG_DADDY
02-15-2019, 11:16 AM
If you're not bringing California Communism with you, then welcome to Texas! I know you're from CA, but Austin traffic sucks. Also, like it's been mentioned it's the most liberal place in Texas. Plenty of work in Texas though.

I'm a gun toting, constitution loving, small government supporting entrepreneur who does not consider himself a Republican but will never vote for a member of the American Communist party (Democrats). I have never collected an unemployment check and quite frankly just want the government out of my life. I have it really good where I live now but I am just tired of feeding the beast.

BIG_DADDY
02-15-2019, 11:22 AM
I live in Pflugerville (a suburb). What neighborhoods are you looking at/what part of town do you work in? DM me if that's easier.

Major tax implications depending on where you live, to be balanced out by what kind of lifestyle you're after. A lot of give and take, but also a lot of reasonable compromises

What can you tell me about Lakeway?

SuperBowl4
02-15-2019, 11:30 AM
It's too hot and humid and overcrowded. Go to the Circuit of the Americas this March for the IndyCar race and then leave

SuperBowl4
02-15-2019, 11:31 AM
If you're not bringing California Communism with you, then welcome to Texas! I know you're from CA, but Austin traffic sucks. Also, like it's been mentioned it's the most liberal place in Texas. Plenty of work in Texas though.it's also the home of INFOWARS!

BIG_DADDY
02-25-2019, 12:43 PM
OK, back from Texas. We stayed in Dallas, Cedar Park and spent a couple days in Lakeway and Spicewood. It’s hard to grasp things in such a short time but I wanted to put my thoughts down in case I am wrong about something and for additional insight.
What we liked the most was the people. That has always been our favorite part of Texas. Call it Southern Hospitality but it is really good to be around genuinely good people. What we liked 2nd most was the cost of everything is a small fraction of what we are used to paying. Saw gas $1.99 but there was a lot at $2.09. All day laser tag for the kids at $7 for an all-day pass as examples. You can’t do it one time here for that price. WAY cheaper.

What we liked the least was all the police. Good god that is a lot of cops. The lady at one of our hotels said they just hired another 500 cops and they especially like to harass people in Williamson County? She said they were nicer in Travis County where we were looking at property. I don’t know why anyone would own a high performance vehicle here at least in the areas where we were. From Hard Eight BBQ in Dallas to the Hyatt is like maybe 4 miles. Counted 9 cops, three people pulled over and 2 had them going through their cars. Crazy. 2nd least was the pollen. I was surprised to feel it but I did in the middle of winter.

I didn’t understand a few things maybe somebody can give me some insight. Why are so many houses in these housing complexes with HOA’s? With unlimited land to build these big beautiful houses on why do they gift wrap them with a fence and no yard so much of the time? Lastly, the economy is obviously booming in Texas as there is a lot of construction. It seems to me your trouble with traffic is just in its infancy stage between Austin and Dallas. Does anyone know how that will be addressed?

SAUTO
02-25-2019, 12:46 PM
Williamson county is on live pd right now. Watch some episodes.

loochy
02-25-2019, 12:49 PM
Why are so many houses in these housing complexes with HOA’s?

Because people here are trashy as hell and without HOA restrictions, a few people come in and crap up the nice neighborhoods with all kinds of dumb shit.

With unlimited land to build these big beautiful houses on why do they gift wrap them with a fence and no yard so much of the time? People are lazy and don't want to take care of a big lawn. And they use the fences a lot because there aren't a ton of trees or brush to make any sort of barriers. FWIW, one of the reasons I picked the neighborhood I live in now is because it has an HOA, 1 acre lots, and no fences with rolling hills. It looks nice. :)

Lastly, the economy is obviously booming in Texas as there is a lot of construction. It seems to me your trouble with traffic is just in it's infancy stage between Austin and Dallas. Does anyone know how that will be addressed?.

Yes, traffic is awful on I-35 between Dallas and Austin. The only solution I've heard of is a high speed train between the two areas. Other than that, it's :shrug:

BIG_DADDY
02-25-2019, 12:56 PM
Because people here are trashy as hell and without HOA restrictions, a few people come in and crap up the nice neighborhoods with all kinds of dumb shit.

People are lazy and don't want to take care of a big lawn. And they use the fences a lot because there aren't a ton of trees or brush to make any sort of barriers. FWIW, one of the reasons I picked the neighborhood I live in now is because it has an HOA, 1 acre lots, and no fences with rolling hills. It looks nice. :)

.

Yes, traffic is awful on I-35 between Dallas and Austin. The only solution I've heard of is a high speed train between the two areas. Other than that, it's :shrug:

Thanks for that. If I bought on Travis Lake I don't think I would want an HOA. On the other hand if I went with the pool I just might want to consider that.

BIG_DADDY
02-25-2019, 01:03 PM
Yes, traffic is awful on I-35 between Dallas and Austin. The only solution I've heard of is a high speed train between the two areas. Other than that, it's :shrug:

The traffic there is not that bad but I see it getting much worse. The difference between Northern California Traffic and what it is like in your area though lies more in access. Once I am in San Mateo for example I can access world class almost anything withing 20 minutes either direction. You are much more linear in getting to what you want on that level so it takes significantly longer where you are at to get there. I met a lot of people from Northern California that moved there. What they said they missed the most was the quality of food options at grocers and restaurants and the weather.

That Atos Jiu-Jitsu in Lakeway seems like a really school for any of you that are interested. We trained there for a day.

RedRaider56
02-25-2019, 06:58 PM
Thanks for that. If I bought on Travis Lake I don't think I would want an HOA. On the other hand if I went with the pool I just might want to consider that.

Almost any new development will have an HOA. If you can find an older property on Lake Travis without an HOA, go for it. Lakeway is one of the higher end suburbs of Austin. Lots of cash thrown around in the area

Randallflagg
02-25-2019, 07:03 PM
He's moving to Austin...they are pretty Californian in their way of thinking already. He won't have much impact.


Yep. When I was in the Army and at Fort Hood - it was well known that Austin was the most liberal city in the state. That was in the late 70s and it still is....

ChiefaRoo
02-25-2019, 07:12 PM
Almost any new development will have an HOA. If you can find an older property on Lake Travis without an HOA, go for it. Lakeway is one of the higher end suburbs of Austin. Lots of cash thrown around in the area

If you want a Lake Travis view in Lakeway the house will be $1.2milly... if you want to be on the Lake in the same neighborhood $1.5milly and up. Your property taxes will run $21,000 and up annually.

otherstar
02-25-2019, 07:41 PM
If you want a Lake Travis view in Lakeway the house will be $1.2milly... if you want to be on the Lake in the same neighborhood $1.5milly and up. Your property taxes will run $21,000 and up annually.

With HOA dues added to that. If you miss your HOA dues, the HOA can put a lien on your house.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/texas-hoa-coa-foreclosures.html

RedRaider56
02-25-2019, 09:11 PM
With HOA dues added to that. If you miss your HOA dues, the HOA can put a lien on your house.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/texas-hoa-coa-foreclosures.html

yep. having served on an HOA board, I can tell you this is typically the nuclear option, but yes it is available to use by the HOA if needed

RedRaider56
02-26-2019, 06:31 AM
This popped up in the local newspaper today. Thought you might find it interesting
https://www.statesman.com/news/20190225/yes-everyones-moving-to-austin---but-theyre-not-all-coming-from-california

BIG_DADDY
02-26-2019, 11:23 AM
If you want a Lake Travis view in Lakeway the house will be $1.2milly... if you want to be on the Lake in the same neighborhood $1.5milly and up. Your property taxes will run $21,000 and up annually.

There is cheaper stuff but yea that seems about right. I was looking in Spicewood as well.

BIG_DADDY
02-26-2019, 11:23 AM
Yep. When I was in the Army and at Fort Hood - it was well known that Austin was the most liberal city in the state. That was in the late 70s and it still is....

I am trying to get a away from the Marxist movement so that is no selling point.

BIG_DADDY
02-26-2019, 11:29 AM
This popped up in the local newspaper today. Thought you might find it interesting
https://www.statesman.com/news/20190225/yes-everyones-moving-to-austin---but-theyre-not-all-coming-from-california

I met a lot of people from Northern California. Those numbers are disturbing though. That's a lot of people with no plan to do anything about the roads. Trying to quit feeding the beast but that may be the best option in the short run.

yep. having served on an HOA board, I can tell you this is typically the nuclear option, but yes it is available to use by the HOA if needed

Trying to get away from bureaucracies, not join more.

RedRaider56
02-26-2019, 02:37 PM
I met a lot of people from Northern California. Those numbers are disturbing though. That's a lot of people with no plan to do anything about the roads. Trying to quit feeding the beast but that may be the best option in the short run.



Trying to get away from bureaucracies, not join more.

The problem with Austin infrastructure is twofold.
a.) New roads are tough to build due to the way the river runs through Central Austin
b.) Tree huggers everywhere will fight every road expansion, new road plan etc. I'm all for convservation but man, some of this crap is way overboard,

otherstar
02-26-2019, 06:43 PM
b.) Tree huggers everywhere will fight every road expansion, new road plan etc. I'm all for convservation but man, some of this crap is way overboard,

Yeah...that's an understatement. You know there is a problem when the city creates regulations about BBQ smoke :eek: