I was wondering if there are any CC addicts from the Austin area. I'm considering a move there and would like to get an idea of what it's like from the local point of view. From what I saw of it (we stopped there to get some food and drove through a few spots) it seems like a neat place to live. Any type of feedback would be much appreciated! 
Okay, guess I should have stated what I'm wanting to know lol. Well for starters how is the job market? From what I've read jobs seem plentiful and that is good. How are the neigborhoods? Are there any that I should avoid? I'll be looking for an apartment (1 br)....are the rents reasonable? The one-bedroom that I rented here in Cape for 300 a month. I already know that I probably won't find any that cheap anyplace else. Thanks in advance!
I do live in Houston, if you want to pm I will tell you what I can and go from there. I love Texas, I am from the North, but you couldn't get me to leave here.
I grew up in Austin...it is beautiful. The town, however is growing like wild and traffic is getting really bad. I am not sure the type of job you are looking for, but I know of many who move there and have trouble finding a job (unless you are talking retail or restaurant) because so many are begging to move there. I say find a job first then move. Prices are high everywhere. I would stay away from East Austin. South Austin may be more reasonable, or way North like Round Rock or Pflugerville...but prices there are even rising. I moved from there a couple of years ago, but my mom still lives there. It is a great, fun place to live. Good Luck! PM me if you want any more info.
I live in San Antonio and have friends in Austin. It is a very young and trendy city. San Antonio is about an hour away and totally different. Very laid back. Of course UT is in Austin and so is Dell. I think I saw a bumper sticker once that said Keep Austin Weird. It is very different and very croweded and traffic is horrible. I agree that you should find a job first and you are right you will probably not find an apartment that cheap. I have friends in Round Rock and prices may be cheaper there but not that cheap.
Good luck. You will love Texas!
First off, I just want to apologize for not responding sooner. Things have been hectic around here and I haven't been online much. I've read that Austin has really grown over the last few years and that traffic sucks. I was on a few apartment sites and what they want for renting just a 1-bdr is nuts but I can't say I'm really surprised. I guess I'm just used to the rent around here but that's even starting to get out of hand.
What I'm curious about is how to get a job lined up before I move? I do have some office experience but I doubt that it would be enough to secure a job. Not to mention, I'm all the way here in MO. Who's going to take me seriously? I don't mind doing retail (it's what I'm doing currently) my main concern with that is retail is known for not paying a whole lot. And with the prices that I saw for rent........ugh 
I don't have an exact date for sure on when I plan on moving. I do know it will be sometime next spring. So I still have time to do some more researching. Thanks again for your input!
You should give San Antonio a look. Rent is a lot cheaper here and there is so much new retail that has been built and is in the works.
Good Luck
The one thing about Austin's job market is there are so many college kids around who work cheap. So it's hard to find a good paying job. And rents are going up and up---more "trendy" type lofts are being built and the older homes have sky high prices for tiny square feet.
I've grown up here--send me a PM if you'd like more info.
I love Austin, but I live about an hour away in a very small town (pop. 5400). Austin changes daily. I go to an awesome cake shop called All-in-One bake shop (they have a website). The traffic is astounding! They have a population now of over 600,000...I kid with DH that I go to the cake shop so often because I don't want to forget the way. It seems like everytime I go something has changed!
They just completed the first toll road through Austin, that is supposed to help with traffic...it is free to drive on it for now while everyone is learning the new exits and such, and will begin to be charging in January.
There is a very ecclectic atmosphere in much of the city...and yes, the "Keep Austin Weird" bumper stickers do exist. The have a great reputation for live music venues, with lots of big names playing concerts in the area. They also host the SXWW (South by Southwest) music festival every spring with hundreds of live bands performing all over the city.
Keep in mind that it is a college town. Not only is the University of Texas located here, but also St. Edwards University. Austin Community College and numerous other smaller college branches.
I have a friend whose brother lives in Austin, he rents a 2 BDRM apartment for around $700/month..but rent is slightly cheaper in the surrounding areas. The job market is very competitive, but there are many people vying for the same jobs, and many people drive an hour into the city to work.
About 1 1/2 hours from Austin is Killeen and Ft. Hood, TX. My son was stationed there and lived in Killeen. Not very much there but the largest Army Training Base in the US. They also have civilian jobs on post. Might be worth looking into. My son loved Texas while he was there (now in Iraq). With any university town like Austin, there are always lots of jobs available but the pay scale may not be that great. Good luck!
Leslie
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