Anyone live in Austin?

[LanceM]

I currently live in The Woodlands, TX. My wife may be getting a job in north Austin... a job good enough to warrant us packing up before I even find a new one.

I'm finding plenty of good jobs for me in downtown Austin, but I know that traffic there can be a huge pain. Does anyone have any comments on this? Perhaps some particular roads/areas to stay away from? I am fairly new in my field, so I can't exactly justify an hour commute for what I'd likely get paid.

That said, we will be looking for an apartment in the area. Does anyone have any suggestions, particularly close to downtown?

Thanks in advance!

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: LanceM
I currently live in The Woodlands, TX. My wife may be getting a job in north Austin... a job good enough to warrant us packing up before I even find a new one.

I'm finding plenty of good jobs for me in downtown Austin, but I know that traffic there can be a huge pain. Does anyone have any comments on this? Perhaps some particular roads/areas to stay away from? I am fairly new in my field, so I can't exactly justify an hour commute for what I'd likely get paid.

That said, we will be looking for an apartment in the area. Does anyone have any suggestions, particularly close to downtown?

Thanks in advance!

All good questions.

North side of Austin is best. West side of Austin around Mopac is nice but $$

South and East is cheap but much poorer and crime ridden.

I can give you more details when I have time. Also, there are plenty of apartments and houses around the area. Austin is really laid back and centers around the college, so be prepared for that if you decide to live in a moderately priced apartment.

I would suggest apartment North of the university. The West side has a lot of college parties. The South side and East side are a little more run down.

North is a little more quiet and they have nice shops much like the laid back area of Montrose in Houston. Hope that helps.

If you want to move farther away or get a house, North Austin is best.

 

[LordMorpheus]

you're from Houston. I wouldn't imagine that traffic in Austin is any worse than it is here.

I commuted from the Rice Villiage area to Deer Park (basically opposite side of down town) every day for the summer. I went to work early (6) and came home early(4), though, so I guess I missed the worst of rush hour.

 

[MaxDepth]

Why work when your wife has the sweet job? That said, I am sure whatever apt. complex or village could always use a pool boy to help service all those poor wives whose hubbies have the high stress, long hours IT jobs.
:thumbsup:

 

[txrandom]

Why move from the Woodlands? Woodlands is really nice area.

 

[LanceM]

My wife is from Deer Park, LordMorpheus. We were there a few weeks ago, and gosh the whole area has fallen apart quickly.

The Woodlands is definitely great (and I'd hate to leave), but I seem to be stuck in jobs around downtown or way, way southwest Houston, which isn't a fun commute. I'm finding better jobs for me in Austin, and my wife (who was a Criminal Justice major in college but now works in environmental chemistry) can hit the jackpot in that area.

We're pretty determined to live fairly north, but I'm just worried about the commute. Several companies that I would kill to work for are downtown, with one right on Congress Ave. My brother-in-law took courses at St. Edwards a while back and says that the downtown drive (heading south in the mornings and north in the evenings) is pretty much a no-no. He's making the big bucks at Dell now (living in Cedar Park), and hasn't made that morning downtown drive in quite some time.

Thanks!

 

[LS20]

traffic sucks only on the north-south running freeways (mopac/1 and i35) at 5-8pm. SoCo (south congress) is the local neighborhood but its getting expensive. IMO the best place to be is Eastside (east of i35 and the Uni) where its under process of being gentrified so you can still get a house while theyre affordable

 

[swimscubasteve]

Originally posted by: LS20
traffic sucks only on the north-south running freeways (mopac/1 and i35) at 5-8pm. SoCo (south congress) is the local neighborhood but its getting expensive. IMO the best place to be is Eastside (east of i35 and the Uni) where its under process of being gentrified so you can still get a house while theyre affordable

qft

 

[LanceM]

New Questions!

I may be getting a job around where Burnet meets Mo-Pac. With one apartment complex we're looking at, the easiest route for me would be taking Parmer (starting slightly south of Whitestone), then hitting Mo-Pac. At a second apartment, the easiest would be S Lakeline Blvd (starting slightly north of Whitestone) to Research Blvd to 183.

Any suggestions on traffic? My sister says that Parmer is horrid, but she never really drives on it morning/afternoon traffic so I would like a first-hand account if at all possible.

Thanks!

 

[Phokus]

Marking this thread! I'm also looking to move to austin! LETS PARTY!

 

[LanceM]

From what I've been finding, you're screwed if you're heading anywhere South in the mornings for work. Problem is, I'd like to live near Cedar Park.

Good luck!

 

[Hammer]

i live in downtown austin. traffic is pretty horrible. unless you work downtown, i would not recommend it.

they just opened up some new toll roads on nov 1 up north. you can find some good value homes in pflugerville or round rock.

 

[MrMaster]

Originally posted by: Hammer
i live in downtown austin. traffic is pretty horrible. unless you work downtown, i would not recommend it.

they just opened up some new toll roads on nov 1 up north. you can find some good value homes in pflugerville or round rock.

good thread. I'm relocating down there at the end of january. If everything goes as planned I'll be working in pflugerville myself. I would absolutely prefer to live downtown but I promised myself I would quite the 30 minute plus commutes.

How long would it take to get downtown from pfulgerville during and after rush hour?

 

[Phokus]

Hey guys, i work for IBM in Connecticut and i might be relocating to Austin and working at the IBM site there... any suggestions on where i should live?

 

[MaxDepth]

I have friends that live in Cedar park, in one of the subdivisions. As a single guy, it would be the death of me but for families I would say the housing and types of houses are pretty nice and affordable.

 

[mitaiwan82]

Originally posted by: LanceM
New Questions!

I may be getting a job around where Burnet meets Mo-Pac. With one apartment complex we're looking at, the easiest route for me would be taking Parmer (starting slightly south of Whitestone), then hitting Mo-Pac. At a second apartment, the easiest would be S Lakeline Blvd (starting slightly north of Whitestone) to Research Blvd to 183.

Any suggestions on traffic? My sister says that Parmer is horrid, but she never really drives on it morning/afternoon traffic so I would like a first-hand account if at all possible.

Thanks!

I have some friends that live at apartments at Duval and Mopac...that would be about a 5-10 minute drive to Burnet and Mopac. You can also look in the Gracy Farms area around Metric and Gracy Farms.

FYI Research Blvd = 183, Mopac = Loop 1