Moving to North Austin

Beck8788 · July 2011

Hey guys,

Im moving to the north Austin area and I just wanted to get your advice on where to live. My husband and I are currently in an apartment and we still want to rent the first few years out of college. Would you suggest a town home, duplex or house? Is there a specific place you would recommend living? Thanks guys!

YellowUmbrella · July 2011

How far north are you looking to go? The arboretum area is really nice on NW Austin.

lmmckenna18 · July 2011

We live in Wells Branch and love it. There is a mix of owners and renters and even some duplexes. There are also a lot of apartments on Wells Branch Parkway. The neighborhood itself has nice, well-maintained, patrolled trails, parks, a disc golf course, soccer and softball fields, 2 pools, and a rec center with a gym and fitness classes like Zumba. It is also right in between Mopac and 35 and just south of 45 if you need to take the toll anywhere.

Beck8788 · July 2011

lmmckenna18:
We live in Wells Branch and love it. There is a mix of owners and renters and even some duplexes. There are also a lot of apartments on Wells Branch Parkway. The neighborhood itself has nice, well-maintained, patrolled trails, parks, a disc golf course, soccer and softball fields, 2 pools, and a rec center with a gym and fitness classes like Zumba. It is also right in between Mopac and 35 and just south of 45 if you need to take the toll anywhere.

Thank you! That's the perfect kind of answer I was looking for. So is the area good for raising a family? We don't have kids yet but we are planning on ttc next year. Also is it more urban or like suburbs? How is the crime in that area? Thanks!

Beck8788 · July 2011

YellowUmbrella:
How far north are you looking to go? The arboretum area is really nice on NW Austin.

Well we want to stay in the Leander/Cedar Park/ Round Rock area. I just want to live in an area where I don't have to be afraid that I'm going to get robbed...lol....I have been there and done that. It would be nice to live in an area where I can own an acre or two, but i know the more land you want the more expensive.

lmmckenna18 · July 2011

Beck8788:
lmmckenna18:
We live in Wells Branch and love it. There is a mix of owners and renters and even some duplexes. There are also a lot of apartments on Wells Branch Parkway. The neighborhood itself has nice, well-maintained, patrolled trails, parks, a disc golf course, soccer and softball fields, 2 pools, and a rec center with a gym and fitness classes like Zumba. It is also right in between Mopac and 35 and just south of 45 if you need to take the toll anywhere.

Thank you! That's the perfect kind of answer I was looking for. So is the area good for raising a family? We don't have kids yet but we are planning on ttc next year. Also is it more urban or like suburbs? How is the crime in that area? Thanks!

It is very family friendly. The neighborhood often has organized activities for kids and adults. There is a small catch and release fishing pond where they'll have fishing tournaments for kids. They have a pretty big 4th of July celebration with a parade and fireworks. They have free movies in the park. There our a lot of young families around here. I would say it is more suburban. I don't know what the crime statistics are but I feel safe in the neighborhood. My H's car did get broken into once in the two years we've been here but it was in the middle of the night and I think it is something that can happen anywhere. I come home late, after dark from work a lot and used to be home without my H on weekends because he would go to College Station for football games (I couldn't go because I work on weekends) and I am never worried about crime. Though, if you get an apartment in the area I would be careful about which one you pick. I have some new neighbors that lived in the Chardonnay apartments and said there were a few domestic disturbances that they had to call the police on. I had a friend that lived in the IMT apartments and didn't have any kind of problems like that. It seems like the apartments that are fenced and gated (IMT is, Chardonnay is not) are better choices. Also, if you want to buy the houses are much more affordable in this area. We paid less than $200,000 for our 1,800+ sq. ft., 2 story house with a large yard.

Beck8788 · July 2011

lmmckenna18:
Beck8788:
lmmckenna18:
We live in Wells Branch and love it. There is a mix of owners and renters and even some duplexes. There are also a lot of apartments on Wells Branch Parkway. The neighborhood itself has nice, well-maintained, patrolled trails, parks, a disc golf course, soccer and softball fields, 2 pools, and a rec center with a gym and fitness classes like Zumba. It is also right in between Mopac and 35 and just south of 45 if you need to take the toll anywhere.

Thank you! That's the perfect kind of answer I was looking for. So is the area good for raising a family? We don't have kids yet but we are planning on ttc next year. Also is it more urban or like suburbs? How is the crime in that area? Thanks!
It is very family friendly. The neighborhood often has organized activities for kids and adults. There is a small catch and release fishing pond where they'll have fishing tournaments for kids. They have a pretty big 4th of July celebration with a parade and fireworks. They have free movies in the park. There our a lot of young families around here. I would say it is more suburban. I don't know what the crime statistics are but I feel safe in the neighborhood. My H's car did get broken into once in the two years we've been here but it was in the middle of the night and I think it is something that can happen anywhere. I come home late, after dark from work a lot and used to be home without my H on weekends because he would go to College Station for football games (I couldn't go because I work on weekends) and I am never worried about crime. Though, if you get an apartment in the area I would be careful about which one you pick. I have some new neighbors that lived in the Chardonnay apartments and said there were a few domestic disturbances that they had to call the police on. I had a friend that lived in the IMT apartments and didn't have any kind of problems like that. It seems like the apartments that are fenced and gated (IMT is, Chardonnay is not) are better choices. Also, if you want to buy the houses are much more affordable in this area. We paid less than $200,000 for our 1,800+ sq. ft., 2 story house with a large yard.

This is great information! Thank you so much!

jentex01 · August 2011

You might also want to check out the Pflugerville area by SH 45 and SH 130...they have several neighborhoods off of Kelly Lane that are a great area to raise a family...I live up here and work in downtown Austin....taking SH 130 shaves off a lot of time that would normally be spent in traffic.....FM 685 has a great shopping center that would fulfill pretty much any of your shopping needs.....Best of luck to you and your hubby in the home hunt Smile

astroMom · September 2011

I've lived in Pflugerville & far North Austin (near the Domain). Most neighborhoods up North are pretty safe IMO. Housing is so reasonable up here, that I would try to buy ASAP. If you can't buy right away, then I'd recommend renting the smallest place you can stand and putting the difference between rent and what you want to afford in a mortgage into savings for your downpayment. That way, you won't feel like you are missing the $ later and you will have a nice nest egg built up.

hutchsl · September 2011

Good luck with your move. We got married in Liberty Hill near the area you are considering. My husband's uncle owns a restaurant (Dahlia Cafe) there. I ended up getting my flowers from the grocery store in Leander. It is a nice area.

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