We are sick of the California lifestyle!!!! Any info or input would be great! We have two kids (3,12) both boys. Tell us about the weather, the economy, what is fun to do there, places to visit, good schools, nice areas to live, how the job market is, etc.
2006-08-16 19:34:54 · 11 answers · asked by Brian and Angel d 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Austin
We just moved here in March 2006 from Southern CA. Here's a few words - many jobs but also many applicants - have a job lined up if possible before coming. Weather - hot, hot hot!.
Housing - very affordable compared to CA, if you're a current homeowner in CA, then sell, cash out your equity and you will find many many affordable options here. Look for homes outside of Austin in smaller communities like Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown,..etc (check online Realtor.com). Things to Do - Many, many many! Parks, live music, safe to go downtown at any time - parks, concerts, festivals. Sports - love football especially UT or grow to love it. Traffic - much better than Orange County and LA, but with so many people moving here, it is starting to back up, especially during rush hour going in to and out of Austin. Driving is still not as bad as in Southern CA. Crime - very very low. Round Rock was voted as the 7th safest city in the US in 2004 nationwide survey based on population and actual crime statistics per capita.
Hope this helps
email me with any questions - paulh4477@yahoo.com
2006-08-17 05:09:47 · answer #1 · answered by Paul H 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I moved to Austin 15 years ago. It is a great place, and has not been Californicated as much as Denver or Phoenix have.
Real estate - I just bought a new house and love to tell people from other cities what I paid. They are stunned that I bought a 3000sqft house for less than $250K, in a great neighborhood (lots of trees, parks, good schools, community events). And, that is 20 minutes from downtown (perhaps 40 during rush hour).
Life Style - The 'old Austin' is still there, though a little hidden. There is still a lot to do. Hiking, cycling, rock climbing, music, festivals, restaurants, boating, swimming, plus you have proximity to Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio for day and weekend trips.
Weather - It is hot and dry during the summer. However, the rest of the year is amazing. The spring and the fall last forever, winter is non-existent. Perhaps a few days (yes, days) in the winter when you need to wear a sweater or light coat.
All in all, it is a good place to live.
PS - I agree with the other comments about the job market. Austin has jobs, but it also has a lot of very qualified people. Don't move here to look for work unless you are very confident or have a job lined up.
2006-08-18 06:15:03 · answer #2 · answered by Wundt 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You realize that this question is very large and the answers will be myriad.
I came to Austin for the first time in 1958.
Austin was then, and so remains, a fascinating city. Growth, bust, boom, high tech, low tech; it really never matters. Austin is a college and government town. There is always work.
Austin has some good schools, public and parochial, but I would suggest that you make an independent study of this before you just suddenly discover that you are really not that happy with the neighborhood AISD school.
Housing is outrageously expensive. Taxes are obscenely high.
I have lived in Hawaii, New York, Miami, Savannah, - well all over; and I still come back to Austin.
It's just such a special place that folks who have lived here for only a few months consider themselves to be old timers and think that the new comers are just ruining 'the good ole' Austin'!
Michael Dell and his wife have created a children's museum and work shop downtown.
The Blanchard Museum is an exciting and on going collection of fine art. Museum of Mexican Art. Umlauff Sculpture Garden. Zilker Park.
The stately capitol building; The Bob Bullock Texas State Museum; beautiful libraries; programs for children; magnificent jogging, cycling, camping, fishing, boating - well - you get the idea.
When it's hot it is HOT. Like now for example. One might find the climate temperate but not anywhere near perfect.
And music. Lots of good live music in venues large and small, from free concerts at the lake to season tickets for the opera or ballet.
I love Austin and I think you will too!
2006-08-18 20:15:55 · answer #3 · answered by Temple 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a person who lived in San Antonio/Austin for 4 year and now lives in Los Angeles...I can say that it's a great city. So much to do. If you are into outdoor activities, there is lots to do. Hiking, tubing down the Guadalupe. The nightlife isn't just for college kids. It's not known as the music capital for nothing. Most anyone makes a stop in Austin. San Antonio is about 1.5 hrs away and is great for a daytrip. The weather is pretty sweet year round. It does get cold in the winter sometimes...and the summers can be hot, but c'mon now. That's how most people have it. The summers although hot aren't that humid in my opinion(and I grew up in Baltimore, so I know HUMIDITY).
The job market is tight though. As a person trying to leave and L.A. and go back to Texas, I found this out first hand. It's a "big city" but still rather small, so competition is stiff. Get a job before you move.
Unfortunately, the housing market is on the rise. But it's mainly because of the huge numbers of Californians who were willing to pay $800,000 for a condo and now realize that they can get a house with land for half that. Californians ruin it for everyone. ;-)
2006-08-17 13:17:27 · answer #4 · answered by spccwby 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Moving To Austin From California
2016-11-03 00:25:38 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am originally from Los Angeles and I lived in San Fran for years. I have been in Texas for over 25 years and I can tell you that Austin has completely lost its charm. During the technology boom of the 90's there was a large migration of Californians to the Austin area. It has been completely ruined. Housing prices have skyrocketed, the traffic is horrid and people just aren't as nice there anymore. Texas is a great state and there are many wonderful places to raise a family- Austin is just no longer one of them. Try Tyler, Frisco or The Woodlands.
2006-08-16 19:48:25 · answer #6 · answered by RomCas 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
San Antonio is a more beneficial effectual position for the youngsters (except in the experience that they are Asian considering there are not particularly many Asians in S.A.). There are more beneficial sights like the zoo, SeaWorld, Fiesta Texas, Schlitterbahn, etc. Austin is geared in the route of DINKY sorts and a school-elderly demographic. often in spite of the reality that, Austin is way more beneficial extreme priced and the interest marketplace is per chance more beneficial effectual (for sure that relies upon on the area) and notably larger paying (case in element an IT interest that could want to pay $70k in Austin might want to pay purely $50k in S.A.). protection rigidity appropriate positions are in a lot more beneficial abundance in San Antonio, yet it truly is not what I do. something conceivable to evaluate instead is the liberal Austinite "contemporary and ex-protection rigidity-hating, non-agreeing stomping" mentality.
2016-11-05 00:02:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about Austin but a Friend told me that living in Texas(in general) is much cheaper than living in California....
2006-08-16 19:43:30 · answer #8 · answered by Peace 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are better places to live in Texas than the armpit Austin.
Lufkin, Garland, Alvin, Beaumont are good possibilities.
Austin is the equivalent of San Francisco now.
2006-08-18 14:37:07 · answer #9 · answered by Proud to be an American 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I haven't thought about this
2016-09-20 09:04:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋