markonline1

Anyone live there? We are thinking of leaving California and it's ridiculously high prices for hopefully something a little better. For the price of our 3 bed that needs work, we can get a 5 bed that's douboe the size. BA now fly there direct, and it's 2 hours shorter than SFO. More career opportunities for me (the wife is already looking at sorting a transfer), good schools and the US Grand Prix every year. Seems the perfect place. Anyone want to tell me otherwise?

N1cky

There was a recent thread should I move to Austin or San Francisco, it went off topic pretty quick, but I think there was some good info in there to start with.

markonline1

Cool, I'll take a look. Our move to the Bay Area that I posted about a few months back is off. The pay increase for the wife just wasn't worth the move.

N1cky

Judging from what you'd wrote, I think that's a good decision for you. Are there any other options other than Austin? Although I think it looks rather a cool place.

markonline1

We have a house in NC that we rent out, but I don't think moving there is an option. Her mum randomly mentioned Austin the other day. She wants to retire without a mortgage. Looking at house prices, $400k buys you a bloody nice house in the suburbs. $500 where we are now buys you sweet fa. Found the other thread, gotta say, the 100f summers don't exactly sound appealing LOL.

Yorkieabroad

We don't live there....yet..its a couple of hours away but we visit very regularly as sister in law with kids same age as ours lives there. I like it a lot. I doubt we will move before the kids leave school, but it is very high on our list of likely places to move once the kids are gone (and the ageing inlaws)

Yorkieabroad

I like the summers...gives you a reason to do everything real slow.....and drink a cool beer now and then.....

markonline1

Ha ha, that is definitely a plus of hot summers.

AlphaTangoMike

I'm watching this thread with interest. I'm planning to 'Escape from New York' this year for the same reasons and Austin is on my shortlist. Now to find a willing employer...

sherbert

I just returned from Austin yesterday (weekend trip). Very relaxed, young hip crowd there. Felt safe, less homeless people than SF and lots of different neighbourhoods to choose from. I don't know about the housing prices but I thought food/beer/coffee etc was expensive (and I live in SoCal and was in SF last week and thought it was more expensive than both). I thought it could possibly be the only place outside of Cali I could live in. It's very hot there. Was about 33 and we are only in April...

Pulaski

You could halve your budget again over here. 100°F days are rare, (many years: none)

Hotscot

I think that's where petitefrancais lives.

Me, headed for Olympia WA in two years.

(Had it with heat, sunshine and CA taxes/fees.)

petitefrancaise

Yes, I live here in Austin.....
the recent thread about Austin or San Francisco has a lot of info in it.

Feel free to pm me if you need more specific info.

Nutmegger

A couple whose opinion I respect (and who have moved around a lot because of his corporate position) will move back to Austin as soon as it is possible, to settle there permanently. They love the lifestyle there. These are people around 50, about to empty-nest, into art, music, food, and living what one might consider to be the good life in CT.

markonline1

Sounds like it's definitely a good place to live then. Petitefrancais, any areas we should avoid? I think a lot of the houses we were looking at were in Round Rock just to the north.