Thinking of moving to Austin, TX

[Julpost]

Wow, the difference in housing costs from here in Vermont is just staggering! I can't believe what $200k will buy in Austin! I hear that homeschooling in TX is pretty easy.....now I'm just curious about the local economy....why are these houses so inexpensive? My dh is a computer systems engineer, I'm wondering what job possibilities there are for him. So I'm off to job hunt for him. Anyone live in Austin? What's the homeschool community like?

[Montana Peach]

We lived in Austin a long time before we got here and absolutely loved it. If he is in the computer field, it's a great place to be. AMD and Motorola are there as is 3M to start. We moved when our oldest was only 1 so never had any contact with the homeschoolers there but the laws are very simple form what I Understand.

[kaylk in tx]

no reporting, no notifying, no testing, nothing except to teach in a "bona fide" manner a curriculum which includes reading, math, spelling, grammar and good citizenship. i still haven't quite decided what good citizenship looks like at the early elementary level... guess i should teach the pledge :tongue_smilie:

[Tracey in TX]

Austin is fabulous! We lived there for 2 yrs and were remiss to leave. Austin is actually considered expensive compared to much of Texas housing. It has a strong, diverse economy with both THE state university (UT) and the State Capitol within walking distance of each other.
I'd move back in a heartbeat if the opportunity presented itself.

We left when our oldest was 1y/o, so have no experience with the homeschool community. I've heard there is a strong group there, but have no contacts.

If you want even more affordable housing, look at North Texas (north suburbs of Dallas). It's amazingly affordable, and telecom corridor is centrally located.

Good luck with your decision!

[Jenny in Atl]

Austin has always been on our short list of places we would happily go if given the chance. VT is beautiful in the fall, but I know very expensive, as will all of the NE.

[Ellie]

and there are other WTMers here, too:)

I don't know why housing is so inexpensive, but it isn't because the homes are not well built or anything. We moved here from the San Francisco Bay area, so you can imagine what it was like for *us*:D

As far as I can tell, the only real requirement to homeschool in Texas is that you have children:D The educational "requirements" are so basic that you'd have to try rilly, rilly hard not to do them, and no one ever gets to check up on you anyway.

Of course, you know that it's much hotter here than it is where you are now. Summer before last we had over 30 consecutive days of 100 degree-plus temps :ack2: --not a common ocurrance, but there it is. On the up side, *all* homes have central air:D

There are many hsers in the area.

[Baseballmom]

Austin is a great place to live. My only complaint is that it is the allergy capitol of the world, they say almost everyone gets some kind of allergy within 10 years of living here. We moved from Minnesota and I will take 100+ to -anything anytime. The Austin motto is "Keep Austin Weird" and it is quite a cultural experience to live in Austin. As for homeschooling...there are lots of great support groups in Austin and the surrounding area. The only homeschool issue, I have, is that we don't have a homeschool store. I keep saying I need to open one, but I just don't have the time.

[Jann in TX]

A little over 5 years ago we rebelled from city life and we moved just south of Austin (in the hill country) near the small village of Wimberley because we fell in love with the hills---AND we found a great piece of property.

My husband works in Austin. He is a sales engineer (computer engineer on a sales team) for Cisco Systems. He has also worked for ATT. He works at home several days a week...if he commutes it takes 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic (once he reaches Austin). Both companies have been POSTIVE working environments!

Our neighbor's property is still on the market...(bad divorce and it used to be overpriced...). It has 11 acres, horse and animal pens/paddocks/housing, a rainwater collection system, LOTS of fruit trees and a DROP DEAD georgous view from the wrap-around porch! I need to mention LOTS AND LOTS of trees. The house could use some updating but it is listed around $300,000.

We lived in Cedar Park (North side of Austin) and really loved it there--great neighborhood, and lots of homeschoolers--even a CLASSICAL private school (wonderful church too).

In the south part of Austin I LOVE the 'Travis Country' neighborhood. It is my dream neighborhood--lots of huge trees, walking trails, park, pool...

I'm perfectly comfortable typing this while looking out my window at my horse (who is waiting for a meal) and lots and lots of birds on the birdfeeder--not another house in sight!

[Jenny in Atl]

Austin is a great place to live. My only complaint is that it is the allergy capitol of the world, they say almost everyone gets some kind of allergy within 10 years of living here.

Gosh, I thought Atlanta and a few cities in NC were the allergy hot spots. I wonder why Austin is so bad too? I know you'alls air is better right? We have pollen and awful air pollution during the summer. :nopity:

[Baseballmom]

I have no idea. My husband was here exactly 10 years when all of a sudden cedar fever hit him like a mac truck. He is miserable! It may not truly be the allergy capitol, but that's what people say here.

[Sue in TX]

We moved here last summer and there are lots of jobs between Austin and San Antonio. The houses are cheaper b/c, well the labor costs are less. THink of the work force south of the border... The land is cheaper b/c, well there is so much of it.

Beware that Texas has very high property tax and you can not get the homestead exemption (which is about a 10 or 20% reduction until you have lived in your home on Jan 1st.) Our property tax was over $4,000 but our home is just over $200K... to me that is a lot of money! We also have snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions, bees, wasps, and lots of them if you are outside the city limits... which we are... Ok, I am not trying to be negative, just realistic. I hope the move works well for you. Let us know what you decide.

Sue in Texas
Mom to dd6, dd5, ds 2

[Julie in Austin]

It is a great place--only downsides are allergies and heat. And a great homeschooling community!

[Laurel T.]

We lived in Houston, but visited Austin many times. I have always longed to live there. It really is a unique place.

[Ellie]

Austin is a great place to live. My only complaint is that it is the allergy capitol of the world, they say almost everyone gets some kind of allergy within 10 years of living here.

Oh, I think almost *every* city is the allergy capitol of the world:D A friend moved from San Diego to somewhere in Tennessee and she discovered all sorts of allergies; her doc told her TN was the allergy capitol...Dh sneezed at random times of the year in San Diego, and in San Jose, Calif; so far he hasn't had nearly as many problems since we've been here ::knocks on wood::