Sep 16 2008
Thank You, Cold Front
Thank goodness for the cold front that recently went through the area. First, it kept Ike to the east, far from Austin. (We didn’t get a drop of rain, and only a bit of wind.) Second, it seems to have cut the awful string of super-hot weather we’ve been having.
It’s nice to be able to open up the windows again and not have the A/C running all the time. I course now I have to listen to my neighbor’s cell phone ring every 5 minutes. But that’s okay, since we’re planning on being out of here by year-end anyway.
For the rest of the week it will be highs in the low 80s, which will feel like jacket weather after the barrage of 100s. Though, I’d still rather have the heat and know that I’ll be in shorts in March.
It’s too bad that there aren’t more places with consistent year-round weather (meaning hovering in the 50s-70s). Places like Alpine and Fort Davis are, and we’ve considered them for that reason, but they are so far from anything that it makes it hard for a city-slicker to live there, at least full-time.
Our house hunt has shifted back to Austin again. Looking for that sweet spot of homes that don’t cost an arm and a leg and those that are actually near stuff. Always a tough thing, but it’s still possible to find 3/2 homes (around 1600 square feet) in Austin in the $150-200K range. Stuff that would be $350 in dear old Chicago.
We’re looking at existing homes, some peppered a little north of us, more to be found south of the river (south of US 290, north of Slaughter lane, bounded by MoPac/1 on the west and I-35 on the east).
We’re also going to take a look at the Mueller redevelopment area. Mueller is the old airport, almost directly east of where we’re at right now. It’s being turned into a mixed use area. Stores, houses, condos, apartments, hospital, etc. They are offering some new homes in the $160K range (and up, of course). It’s an interesting planned community. Part socialist work camp, part urban living. 
The HOA and the lack of trees turns me off, but they are at least trying to make it a livable area — it’s supposed to be very walkable, with easy access to stuff on foot. We’ll see.
5 Responses to “Thank You, Cold Front”
As a survivor of new developments, word can’t express my hatred of HOAs. I’d rather put up with my stupid neighbors with their jet skis in the driveway for 2 years than have some jackass tell me how to paint my house, what kind of fence I can have, type of mailbox, landscaping, put in a window A/C, etc. And the lack of old trees is brutal, especially during the warm weather. And, there’s nothing to absorb rain water during heavy rains, so you get nice puddles all over your lawn. Then, there’s the special assessments, special additional property taxes, and HOA dues. I don’t like to give the government anymore money than I am forced to. All in all, I can describe the experience as feeling like your were renting your house, not woning it.
My advice — find a nice older house in an established neighborhood with old trees and good bones. It is a much nicer way to live. you feel like a real homeowner and it feels so much more like your home is yours.
Yea, I know what you mean. Your experiences have made me VERY leery of HOAs, even if they are for good intentions. Small minds with power can be dangerous indeed.
I’m almost more worried about the lack of trees, especially down in in Austin. I like trees a lot, and they do a great job of shading the house from the brutal sun.
I think we’ll be able to find the “right” place for our needs, it’s just gonna take some time.
I agree with Mike, but then again I went through the same experience. One of the reasons we moved to Montgomery was the thinking that the property taxes will be less; it was more and not only property taxes, but you also pay for all the new infrastructures,roads, etc (special taxes)… Not to mention for new schools (a big arm and a leg!). Also, keep in mind that HOAs have specific rules, we would of love to have a white -6 ft fence, but you could not. Only cedar fences. You want to add something to the outside of your house like shutters, can’t do (not for 2-3 years). How about a nice storage shed? Only the plastic kind, no wood. And a lot more… Then, the mature trees. Not having a landscape done offers some opportunities if you have the money and the time (and would like to design your own thing). From my own experience, the soil was horrible and we spent quite a bit planting trees. We bought smaller ones, so you have to wait for them to grow (trying to mow the lawn without a single tree to protect you from the sun was a murderous activity – that reminded me if your grass got more than certain length, you got a ticket to pay). Let’s just say that we hated it. Unless you can find a better HOAs, I don’t see you guys living under those rules. (One more thing that I remembered, a neighbor wanted to put a bat house and they did not approve.)
Sorry Ron, I posted my comments twice by mistake. If you can delete #3. I also wanted to add that the new development got us with better prices per the amount of house. So, just keep that in mind.
Yea, that’s one of the things we’re tossing around, too. The newer build means new appliances, etc, so we wouldn’t have to spend $$$ on upgrades. Plus, most of the houses we’re looking at are pretty small in size–under 1600 square feet. Anything bigger is too expensive.