So... anyone lived in Austin?

**StoneCold** · 08-04-2006, 03:12 PM

So... what are the better areas to live (with nicer homes) for:

Quick access to UT
Access to mtn biking
Can you have both?

Clarksville (average house price 500k) would be the closet nicest neighborhood to downtown AND mountain biking.

Tarrytown is nicer (average house 700k), but 5-10 minutes from downtown but closer to UT.

Hyde Park (average house price 400K) is probably the thrid nicest neighborhood, just north of campus.

Anything nice close to downtown and UT will be 400k and up. When I say close, I mean within 3 miles. If you are willing to be 15 minutes from downtown/UT you can find a house for 150k in up-and-coming neighborhoods.

Although I should mention, condos can be had pretty close to campus/downtown for 200k.

**rideit** · 08-04-2006, 03:14 PM

East side/old airport area is going to be the hot investment ticket, but farther from trails. Closer to the real deal Taqueria/ Carnicerias, however.

**JBN999** · 08-04-2006, 04:03 PM

They are supposed to have a light rail up through Leander by 2008. If you are there for the long haul it might be a good idea to go for cheaper housing north of downtown and stick it out for public transportation besides buses.

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/capital-metrorail.html

**maddog** · 08-04-2006, 09:20 PM

If you want a funky fixer upper house close to downtown and Barton springs, check out the area south of Town lake between the freeway and Mopac (loop 1). Stay north of Hwy 71 as the neighborhoods are degenerating to the south. Also North of Hyde Park (45th St to Hwy 2222) has some good deals. Check out The Parlor (I think its North Loop at Ave F) for the best pizza ever, and say hi to James when you're there (He's the drunk guy drinking Lone Star at the bar). You'll never find anyone who says anything bad about Austin (except the weather). Lots of people live in Texas and vacation in Colorado, but not a lot live in Colorado and vacation in Texas.

**shera** · 08-05-2006, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by rideit

East side/old airport area is going to be the hot investment ticket, but farther from trails. Closer to the real deal Taqueria/ Carnicerias, however.

Yeah, but then the folks that make the tacos will have to start commuting. As far as the barrio goes, I always liked the area near the old french legation.

This thread is so cool. I lived in Austin for many years and seeing the pictures brought back some wonderful memories. I hope folks will put up some more. Like the bats - they should be at their prime right about now with the sunset exodus from under the bridge. And the eyeball cave on enchanted rock. And Willie's parties on the Pedernales. Let's show some love for the hill country.

When I was an undergraduate at UT, I lived in a co-op called The Ark. On Pearl Street. We used to take a big yellow school bus to the Shiner brewery on a regular basis. And we had a coke machine stocked with beers. Used the money to throw ragers.

One time I got busted for skating inside the capitol building. Such smooth floors. And I was in quite the altered state at the time.

Austin is changing so much. My dad got his phd there in the 1960's and he has his stories. And I have mine from the 80's and 90's...

I really miss all the music. There's a place in Frisco that has live New Orleans jazz on Friday nights now, but I haven't been yet.

**sfotex** · 08-05-2006, 07:55 AM

Get a house close to town - There's still plenty of deal to be had. One of the thing I loved about Austin was that I could hop on the bicycle, ride 10-20 mins, depending on where I lived ,and go see some live music...didn't own a car for the whole time I was there and I really didn't miss having one

**sfotex** · 08-05-2006, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by SheRa

When I was an undergraduate at UT, I lived in a co-op called The Ark. On Pearl Street. We used to take a big yellow school bus to the Shiner brewery on a regular basis. And we had a coke machine stocked with beers. Used the money to throw ragers.

I did a year at Pearl Street Co-op. I'm pretty sure I had a good time there, that period of my life is a bit fuzzy

**AbsolutStoli** · 08-05-2006, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by sfotex

didn't own a car for the whole time I was there and I really didn't miss having one

how did you get food from the supermarket to your house?

**maddog** · 08-05-2006, 08:43 PM

- Politics: If your friend leans left, Austin is the place to be in Texas. I bet you can pick out Travis county on this map.

Leave it to all the Leftists and pot smokers in Austin to gather together in the shape of a giant heart when they made that map!

**GBB** · 08-06-2006, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by SheRa

When I was an undergraduate at UT, I lived in a co-op called The Ark. On Pearl Street. We used to take a big yellow school bus to the Shiner brewery on a regular basis. And we had a coke machine stocked with beers. Used the money to throw ragers.

Did you ever get out to Bocktoberfest? I know that's what they call it know, but I don't know if they had it back in the early 90s. Its a pretty sweet little music festival though.