Living in Texas or New Mexico

[wildcat]

Quote:

Austin Texas, what parts are the desirable areas with new and existing construction reasonably priced. How much for a small 3 bedroom is the norm.

From what I know Austin is pricey for Texas. I think you could score a pretty realistic price on a good house right outside the city. Round Rock maybe? Just everyone wants to be right in the middle of Austin.

[Austin_Explorer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTM Austin Texas, what parts are the desirable areas with new and existing construction reasonably priced. How much for a small 3 bedroom is the norm.

This might help:

http://www.austin-real-estate.org/au...ghborhoods.htm

http://kip2.kiplinger.com/features/a...lacesfull.html

In general, Austin is pricy for Texas. However my home's appraised value has fallen for the last two years. I'm not complaining since we have no plans to move and that just means lower property taxes for us in the interim.

[vic]

Property taxes are not cheap in Texas. However, the average home is and there is no income tax as was already mentioned. You are not paying tax on a $800K condo but more likely on a $100-200K house.

Our homestead in Bastrop county 3/2/2 on 1 acre costs $2400 in prop tax. Our 2/1/1 house in Central Austin (Travis county) is $4200 but non-homestead and appraised slightly higher.

No telling what the average 3/2/2 cost in Austin. South and North Austin will be 50-80% less than Central Austin. Anything in Central Austin that is in move-in condition and up to today's standards will NOT be cheap.

Lots of folks at work do the 1 hour commute to the city because it is cheaper living out in the county. They just forget to account for the cost of 2 hours of commuting agony and the wear and tear on the car. I am also more of a liberal city girl than a conservative redneck.

Once we have completed the renovation and addition of our house in Austin, we will move there. Will probably go back to one car only. Everything is right there. The savings of getting rid of one car and cutting back on the mileage will probably pay for the prop tax anyway.

Central Austin real estate is quite hot, you can rent out about anything. However, I don't think landlording is very profitable there. E.g. our house was renting out for $1000+/month with a 50 year old kitchen, poor maintenance, no insulation, no heating at all, window A/C and total 700 sqft of living space. Median selling price for comparable properties: $170K (we did not pay that though). An updated family size home is difficult to get there and sells for high $$$.

Out in the county you can get much cheaper stuff. I looked at a 3/1/1 for rental. Asking price was 29K, average rent $650. Backed out because of a pain in the ass realtor. Some good deals around though. My colleague bought a brick duplex a few months ago. Total rent $1300. Total monthly cost $650. Got to be lucky to get them though.

Vicky

[MRGALT2U]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic Property taxes are not cheap in Texas. However, the average home is and there is no income tax as was already mentioned. You are not paying tax on a $800K condo but more likely on a $100-200K house. Our homestead in Bastrop county 3/2/2 on 1 acre costs $2400 in prop tax. Our 2/1/1 house in Central Austin (Travis county) is $4200 but non-homestead and appraised slightly higher. No telling what the average 3/2/2 cost in Austin. South and North Austin will be 50-80% less than* Central Austin.* Anything in Central Austin that is in move-in condition and up to today's standards will NOT be cheap. Lots of folks at work do the 1 hour commute to the city because it is cheaper living out in the county. They just forget to account for the cost of 2 hours of commuting agony and the wear and tear on the car.* I am also more of a liberal city girl than a conservative redneck. Once we have completed the renovation and addition of our house in Austin, we will move there. Will probably go back to one car only. Everything is right there. The savings of getting rid of one car and cutting back on the mileage will probably pay for the prop tax anyway. Central Austin real estate is quite hot, you can rent out about anything. However, I don't think landlording is very profitable there. E.g. our house was renting out for $1000+/month with a 50 year old kitchen, poor maintenance, no insulation, no heating at all, window A/C and total 700 sqft of living space. Median selling price for comparable properties: $170K (we did not pay that though). An updated family size home is difficult to get there and sells for high $$$.* Out in the county you can get much cheaper stuff. I looked at a 3/1/1 for rental. Asking price was 29K, average rent $650. Backed out because of a pain in the ass realtor. Some good deals around though. My colleague bought a brick duplex a few months ago. Total rent $1300. Total monthly cost $650. Got to be lucky to get them though. Vicky

Gosh Vicky, you sound quite sensible, except for the moving to
Austin thing

JG

[vic]

Not everybody is a redneck or feels comfortable in a population of 100% rednecks

Already had the perpetual burning cross (electric) across the street - I think it was religious. Maybe to fend of the evil influence of my non-christian husband with not-so-white skin?

I think I am very sensible to move

[GTM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic Out in the county you can get much cheaper stuff. I looked at a 3/1/1 for rental. Asking price was 29K, average rent $650. Backed out because of a pain in the ass realtor. Some good deals around though. My colleague bought a brick duplex a few months ago. Total rent $1300. Total monthly cost $650. Got to be lucky to get them though. Vicky,

Vicky, 29K for a house!
What condition was it in?
Any recomendations on where to find good deals in Texas.

[vic]

It was out in the county on 0.25 acre - hour or so from Austin. I think it was 1000 sqft. New sceptic. Mainly cosmetic stuff was needed: new carpets, paint, some holes in walls, new stove/fridge, roof had another 2 years left. Total about $4K to make it rentable. Siding was some particle board type stuff - ok condition but not not too wild about it. Community had HOA, pool, clubhouse and lake. Mix of houses and mobiles but clean - working class type of thing. Basically a cheap house that you could milk for rent but not want to live in yourself.

I could not tell you where the good deals are - I would have gotten one myself already. This one looked like to much work relative to the returns. I only do commercial real estate partnerships at this time - no hassle, great return.

[Spanky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic Not everybody is a redneck or feels comfortable in a population of 100% rednecks Already had the perpetual burning cross (electric) across the street - I think it was religious. Maybe to fend of the evil influence of my non-christian husband with not-so-white skin? I think I am very sensible to move

I do not think that I could survive there. It is a good thing to move.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic Siding was some particle board type stuff - ok condition but not not too wild about it.

Ahh...hardboard siding...my favorite...that they're still making it is a miracle to me.

Hardboard siding is pressed from sawdust and wood particles along with binders, then laminated. Unfortunately in many climates it "pops" fibers, delaminates, and unless you paint the back and sides of it before installing it and then caulk all the nail heads annually, the exposed parts start absorbing water and expanding. Once it gets started absorbing and swelling, its out of control and needs to be replaced within a few years. Sort of like cardboard thats been left out in the rain, dried out, and then rained on again.

I got a good lesson in this stuff a few years ago and managed to sell the house with a nice low-key disclosure before having to do $20k worth of siding work. Wont buy a piece of property dressed in it again.

[tashina]

How about the tech area of North Dallas? Anyone have opinions? I'm considering a move there from California (currently Bay Area but lived most of my life in San Diego).

Property taxes there on a large $200k house are definitely less than the taxes on a $600k condo here (and that's a small condo!) and no income tax there. Our sales tax is 8.25% so that's not too different. It's the culture and the tornados I worry about. On the other hand, I don't like the bay area and we have earthquakes. So what else am I missing? Obviously something or everyone would be selling their houses and heading to Texas.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Let me see if I can help you there.

Two phrases:

"YEEEEEEEEEEEHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA "

and

"Hey y'all...watch this..."

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tashina So what else am I missing? Obviously something or everyone would be selling their houses and heading to Texas.

Not necessarily. Many people have community, friendship and family ties that they would rather not leave behind.

Ha

[LEX]

I have lived and worked in San Francisco and am a native Texan.* You may find the biggest issue to be culture shock between the two locales. You might miss the City by the Bay.* *But Texans can be very nice, as measured by the "time spent on the side of the road until someone stops to ask if you need help" standard.

The human side of Texas is a real upgrade to consider. If you are tired of being out spent for squalid condos in the Tenderloin, live around "friends" that suggest that being straight and eating meat are both reasons for seeing a Jungian therapist, and you want to have what seems like a normal lifesyle, pick Texas - Dallas area. If you are attuned to living the life bohmian in a true cultural theme park, stay by the bay.

[laurence]

Family ties will keep me where I am. Fortunately, I could do worse than San Diego. Otherwise I'd be in Northern Cal. or somewhere between Seattle and Vancouver.

[LEX]

I really like the Olympia WA. area between April and September. San Diego is nice, but, as you would have to admit Laurance, the secret is out as to the place. My Uncle left the Navy and lived there during the 50's and 60's and I recall during family trips to see him that SD was just idyllic. Those were the days when only Navy vets who had actually been on ship and carnival workers had tattoos. 8)

[laurence]

Yeah, crowds/congestion could force us out. I'm hoping since we won't have to drive during rush hour in retirement, it won't deteriorate our experience too much!

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand Banks "Hey y'all...watch this..."

Close, but the acutal quote is, "Hold my beer Bubba, and watch this.."

REW, a newly retired Texan

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Isnt that the most frequently uttered last words of the most recently deceased texan?

[MRGALT2U]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand Banks Isnt that the most frequently uttered last words of the most recently deceased texan?

Nope, it's actually "Lord if I have to die, I'm glad I died in Texas!"

JG

[cute fuzzy bunny]

So that comes after the "hey y'all...watch this!" then? Maybe the darwin video people cut the tape right before they make that last utterance...