Gated Communities - Austin, TX
Mar 3rd 2014, 6:05 pm
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 63
Re: Gated Communities - Austin, TX
We are gated too, and although it is true that people can tailgate through on the whole I prefer it. There is no through traffic so it is much quieter than the other side of the development. We have had a couple of incidents of crime but not as much as the other side or the graffiti (mail boxes etc) that they have had in non gated or crimes of opportunity - theft of wheels caps and other minor things. The lots were also bigger in the gated section which was one of our main reasons for buying here.
Rob
Mar 3rd 2014, 6:16 pm
#17
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: Gated Communities - Austin, TX
Ahh..but there is Houston and then there is ChocolateBabz's part of Houston. Once you are on Hwy288 going South the caliber of thieves and bad people is somewhat nicer
Right ChocolateBabz??
Mar 3rd 2014, 6:22 pm
#18
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6
Re: Gated Communities - Austin, TX
We've just spent a week in Austin checking the place out in anticipation of a job offer there.
I've also spent hours on the Austin City Forums page reading about a lot of the different areas.
One of the comments that sticks with me is that the gated communities we saw are not really "gated". They do indeed have a gate, but it is often left open and they do not have much in the way of security.
This was reinforced most clearly when we popped into one to check out the last house available in the new development. I drove straight through the gate with no challenge and saw no security to speak off once into the development. We spent quite a long time driving round as we couldn't find the house at first.
The other thing you asked is about it being within 1/2 an hour of the airport. can I ask why? The one thing we were painfully aware of was the rush hour traffic. It turned what should have been a 25 minute journey one day into >2hrs. There was no real problem, just sheer weight of traffic. Can you tell me where you would be commuting to as that would help narrow down the areas I could suggest.
Cheers, Rob.
I've also spent hours on the Austin City Forums page reading about a lot of the different areas.
One of the comments that sticks with me is that the gated communities we saw are not really "gated". They do indeed have a gate, but it is often left open and they do not have much in the way of security.
This was reinforced most clearly when we popped into one to check out the last house available in the new development. I drove straight through the gate with no challenge and saw no security to speak off once into the development. We spent quite a long time driving round as we couldn't find the house at first.
The other thing you asked is about it being within 1/2 an hour of the airport. can I ask why? The one thing we were painfully aware of was the rush hour traffic. It turned what should have been a 25 minute journey one day into >2hrs. There was no real problem, just sheer weight of traffic. Can you tell me where you would be commuting to as that would help narrow down the areas I could suggest.
Cheers, Rob.
I don't necessarily mind being in a gated community that doesn't have a guard...the current one I live in is that way and is sufficient. I like having an HOA too as I like the neighborhood looking nice.
Thanks for your insight.
Mar 3rd 2014, 6:24 pm
#19
Chocoholic !
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Houston, TX - Officially Not Shit since 2009
Posts: 2,324
Re: Gated Communities - Austin, TX
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Mar 3rd 2014, 6:40 pm
#20
The worse half of Weeze
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Back in TX
Posts: 3,231
Re: Gated Communities - Austin, TX
That's what our gated rental in Katy was like - gate open during daylight hours.
Mar 3rd 2014, 7:20 pm
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 63
Re: Gated Communities - Austin, TX
The main problem I think you will have is that the airport is south east. The gated communities seem to be concentrated to the West. You might want to think about somewhere like Circle C or Steiner Ranch if you like Suburbia. There is a real lack of rentals but at your price point you should be able to find something no problem. Buda or Manchaca looked nice if you prefer more spread out but we didn't see any Gated communities out that way and the schools were much worse rated.
Mar 3rd 2014, 8:08 pm
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,106
Re: Gated Communities - Austin, TX
Hehe, yeah there's a long list of people who know the code. The UPS guy, the pizza guy, the lawn guy, the pool guy... Then someone puts up a post-it note with the "party code"... Then most people pick a number based on the year their kids were born...
