Austin, TX area... educate me please ***UPDATE POST #44***

JJEH

JJEH

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Well, it's been awhile... we had several things to consider regarding moving away from Oklahoma. But now we are set on the greater Austin area in Texas.

I will only have a couple months left to work and my wife is almost out processed from the Army, just waiting on her retirement ceremony.

If you live in the greater Austin area please chime in... let us know what you think regarding places to live, -to go, -to stay away from, etc.

We are in communication with a realtor and we do want to live outside city limits, no restrictions. My wife will probably look at Ft. Hood for work but that's not written in stone.

We can't wait to move.... will be around May/June, when out kids are done with school here.

Appreciate any and all comments, we want to become Texans, yehaw :)
 
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The Texas Hill Country, east of Austin was going to be the retirement area and even had 40 acres purchased. However, wife decided she like my (former) best friend better and the land had to be sold as part of the divorce settlement.
 
Austin, TX area... educate me please

Jorge,

I'll start off with a few points. We lived in Austin from 1991-2010. Both of our sons still live in that area and we return every quarter to see them.

1. We lived in the Eanes ISD west of Austin in Barton Creek West. That area has built up and there are very nice places to live a bit farther west in Bee Caves and Lakeway. TX 2244 will allow you to get to/from you need to go although the traffic congestion in Austin is high, especially during the rush hour;

2. If you like the outdoors, Lake Travis has a lot to offer;

3. Texas may not have a state income tax, but the property taxes are off the page! Be sure to ask the realtor for this information. Back in 2010 our home was appraised for tax purposes at ~ $360K and the property taxes were more than $11K;

4. In Austin there is a mantra - "Keep Austin Weird" and they do! I may be wrong, but I believe that it has become a sanctuary city for homeless people, somewhat similar to San Francisco;

5. Since the 1980s Austin has been a "hot bed" city for technology companies, including Samsung, Dell, Apple, and now Amazon. These companies generally tend to pay their employees well, but it drives up the Cost of Living for everyone else;

6. Texas is very "military friendly". The Texas Employment Commission and many employers provide a hiring priority for active duty and retired military people. Unless she wants to do so, your wife should not have to travel to Fort Hood to find excellent post-retirement career opportunities;

7. The Mexican and "Tex-Mex" food is great, but it's hazardous to your waist line!

8. Austin is "The Live Music Capital of the World". It has something to offer to everyone.

9. Best of all, Texans are some of the finest people that you'll ever meet, especially as neighbors and friends!!!


Bill

Update on property taxes- when we moved from Austin in 2010 property taxes were ~ 3% of the appraised value for property taxes (Travis County). Speaking with friends last year, property taxes are still rising. They know how to waste money in Travis County, plus the city is spending big $$ trying to cope with the hyper-growth issues including new Mass Transit solutions. In 1990 there were less than one million people living in Austin. It was great. Now if the population is > three million - Great Scott!!! On another visit someone had mentioned to me that there were 150-200 people/day moving in to Austin.

I have many tax clients in Austin. On January 1, 2018 the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (TCJA) became effective. Included with the new tax laws is the "State and Local Taxes" (SALT) total limitation of $10,000.00/year. Since Texas does not have a state income tax, you can deduct your sales taxes. But the deduction limit for sales taxes and property taxes above $10,000.00 are not deductible.

Our oldest son lives in Cedar Park. I believe that his property taxes are about $12,000.00 this year, and he does not have a palatial home on Lake Travis or Lake Austin!
 
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My daughter and her family lived in Georgetown for about 10 years until the job moved them. They loved living there.

Georgetown in Williamson County (north of Austin) is a great place to live and you don't have to go far to be in the country. My son-in-law worked in Killeen for several years. He said it was an easy commute on highway 195. Take every opportunity to avoid IH35 in Austin.

Glad have you moving to Texas.
 
JJEH said:
Well, it's been awhile... we had several things to consider regarding moving away from Oklahoma. But now we are set on the greater Austin area in Texas.



I will only have a couple months left to work and my wife is almost out processed from the Army, just waiting on her retirement ceremony.



If you live in the greater Austin area please chime in... let us know what you think regarding places to live, -to go, -to stay away from, etc.



We are in communication with a realtor and we do want to live outside city limits, no restrictions. My wife will probably look at Ft. Hood for work but that's not written in stone.



We can't wait to move.... will be around May/June, when out kids are done with school here.



Appreciate any and all comments, we want to become Texans, yehaw :)
Click to expand...
Austin is the commie strong hold of Texas. Id not ever go there or move there.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
My advice would be to find somewhere else in Texas. Anywhere else. And I am deadly serious about that. There are many other areas which are better. Unless you are working for one of the Tech companies and need to be there, Austin is far to liberal for me to stomach. And the traffic congestion is terrible, possibly exceeded only by Houston. And housing costs are very high. You might as well be living in the California SF Bay area or Seattle. You can figure that the average property tax rate in Texas will be about 2% per year of the appraisal district valuation. But it may well be more than that in Austin. Texas does have tax forgiveness for 100% disabled vets, and also a property tax freeze for those 65 and older. PS - Fort Hood is quite a distance from Austin, about 70 miles. Looking around Killeen or Temple would make more sense if your wife wants to work at Fort Hood. Or there are many military bases in San Antonio. San Antonio is not exactly a paradise on earth, but vastly better than Austin.
 
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I used to live in Georgetown Texas which was right by Austin and Austin is pretty and I thought I would like it but I wasn't that crazy about living there for various reasons. Hanging out on Lake Travis is a lot of fun but Austin is extremely crowded with terrible traffic jams and it seems like it caters to the people that have a whole lot of money.
 
As it may affect some of the suggestions--insofar as a given area being a good fit, how much you may weigh some factors vs others, etc.--it'd help to know why/how you feel OK is lacking. Are you seeking a less rural "feel", wanting to be closer to family, just tired of the weak 3% beer up there?

What sort of need to commute do you reasonably believe you'll have for whatever (the Ft. Hood bit not yet being a "for sure"), and how long a drive do you consider acceptable?

I ask those, to say this:
If you're not actively wanting to be nearer a "music scene" (Austin's, IMO, is overrated), higher property costs/taxes, possible future water concerns, people who embrace the "weird" thing, or the like, you may be happier living at least 45 minutes away from Austin.

I'll leave it to others with more experience to speak on areas north of Austin. We own property (a bit over 250 acres) about an hour east of Austin, but that's likely farther out than you're seeking. Due to my wife's work commute distance, we actually live outside San Antonio...

Something you might not be aware of is that the NE side of San Antonio is seemingly trying to grow into South Austin. The I-35 corridor between the two (San Marcos and New Braunfels are along there) is getting more crowded, and more expensive, at a seemingly more rapid pace than even ten years ago. To avoid much of that, while still being closer enough to things Y'all might need/want (and leaving open certain options), you might consider that there are areas west of Austin/north of San Antonio that both big cities are starting to really consider sort of shared (or, competing for) bedroom areas.

Blanco and Johnson City are two such places/areas, with others a bit closer to Austin, and others closer to San Antonio. Both big cities are 45 minutes to about an hour from these areas, depending. The reason I mention this is your wife may find more job opportunities on military bases in San Antonio vs Austin up to Ft. Hood, the food is better around here (IMO/IME), the property costs/taxes are lower, the people are nicer, and you'd still be close enough to Cabela's (in Buda), the couple good gun shops in both big cities, and whatever it is in Austin that some people think they need.

To give an idea of the notable differences in property taxes for one place vs another, we pay about half what another person mentioned earlier in this thread for a property valued around 300k (5 and a half acres, fairly new house, shop, outside city limits, no restrictions, homestead exemption). If you get smart on ag valuation ("exemption"), and are seeking at least 5-10 acres (depending on exemption type and county, 5 acres and just 6 boxes of bees qualifies), you can pay FAR less. How little we pay on our 250 acre place would outright shock some people (with ag "wildlife exemption").

Hope that helps. :)
 
I'm in Georgetown, Texas visiting my daughter and family. If I were younger I would move here in an instant. Arealtor told me to avoid Travis County (Austin). A realtor told me unless I like high property taxes, avoid Travis County. I won't go into what my daughter has to say about Austin in general. Not good.
 
Indeed, the entire Austin-San Antonio corridor along I-35 is being filled in rapidly. During the almost 30 years I have lived in San Antonio, I have seen that corridor change from mostly green fields to almost completely pavement and business parks. Not too much to like about them, but if you wanted to live in or around New Braunfels or San Marcos, that would be preferable to living inside Austin. I don't get north of Austin very often these days, but I always sort of liked Waco. If it seems that most everyone here is thumbs down on living in Austin, that's only because they are.
 
BTW, a gun store in San Antonio is one of the best places to buy Randall knives. Nagel's? Nagle's? Ask Spook 76. He shops there. See Post 14 in this thread.

San Antonio has a fine zoo and the Alamo, and the River Walk along the modest sized river that runs through town. Very scenic, many good restaurants. I think they have a good natural history museum, too.

Go to YouTube and view videos of the River Walk. I think you'll like that area.

Jorge, I know that isn't your real name and that you're originally a German. Is my memory correct here? I understand that Fredericksburg was the main area of German settlement and many restaurants brag that their "wurst (sausage) is the best ." Probably worth a visit.
 
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Thank y'all for the replies, I do appreciate it.

We are only in OK because big Army said that's where we are going. But now we can go wherever we want to. We considered several different States.... even California (we have friends and family there, plus they have an ocean :) ).

But we have narrowed it down to Texas. We both like the rural lifestyle, we want animals and maybe even a small ranch. Plus I'd like to grow my business and we don't want to deal with HOA or any other zoning restrictions.

We are aware that Austin is overwhelmingly blue, BUT; it's time that we turn in red. I don't want to get political but they'll gain two more voters. Just because the city in run by democrats doesn't mean we can't make our voices heard. And they won't be in charge forever. Anyway...

We don't want to live in Austin but in that area. We are looking between Lampasas and San Marcos.... lots of area to cover, lots of properties. But we are not too familiar with good areas, better areas and areas to stay away from.

I like our realtor but at the end of the day they want to make a sale...

Again, I appreciate y'all.
 
I have visited Austin many times but I have never considered living there. I suggest renting for a year or so and checking it out. Austin is in a category of it's own. Many great places to live in Texas.
 
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