Austin Tx

[John Glidewell]

We are considering a work opportunity in Austin TX area. Wondering about housing costs / availability and long range shooting in the area. We currently have access to 2k at our range. We are empty nesters so schools are not a consideration. 3br 2ba, preferably on land with shop would be ideal for us. I am searching the internet but looking for first hand info. We are from TX originally and have family in Dallas area. Any input is appreciated.

Edit to add, new store is located in Cader Park.

 

[TheHorta]

Just know that Seattle hopes to be as far Left as Austin one day.

 

[Basher]

I spent ten years in Austin as a kid, and I’m glad I was too young to really get out much on my own and learn just exactly why their motto is “Keep Austin Weird.”

 

[Milf Dots]

If it was me, I'd look for the most conservative town within 35 minutes drive of Austin/work.

 

[ACard]

Native Texan here and been here all my life minus 20 yrs in service to our country. Austin is not what it once was, I wont even go to Austin any longer. Some of the highest land and real estate prices in Texas among a multitude of other issues related to their local politics etc...

Unless anything has changed long range and elr is non existent near by. Only place I know is Austin Gun club which has out to 1k but its a private Guntry Club... Caveat Emptor

My niece is a realtor in Austin, if you would like to have some local real time info I will reach out to her to connect you two. If interested shoot me a PM

 

[Maggot]

I spent ten years in Austin as a kid, and I’m glad I was too young to really get out much on my own and learn just exactly why their motto is “Keep Austin Weird.”

LIke most University towns, Austin was once a great place to live and work. Now its the San Francisco or Texas. The one redeeming virtue is, or was, unless they've ruined it, Zilker Park and Barton Springs, one of the nicest swimming holes anywhere.

Guns are still plentiful and easy to come by, but long range is dicey. Unlike many western states, there are few National forests, or open state land.

Milfy had a good suggestion, BUT, a 35 minute commute in Austin traffic is about 5 miles. Traffic is horrendous. I-35 between San Antonio and Waco is one of the most dangerous stretches of road in America, especialy through Austin.

East towards Bastrop is probably cheaper, but the pretty part is to the west, the Hill Country. Depending on your work/ need to commute, look out towards Kerrville or Fredricksburg.

 

[JR_77]

Look in Williamson County to the north of Austin specifically Georgetown. I wouldn’t live in Travis County it’s too leftist.

 

[Basher]

…Zilker Park and Barton Springs, one of the nicest swimming holes anywhere.

Those were both staples of my childhood, absolutely amazing memories there along with Travis Lake! I wish I hadn’t gone so dang blind so young, I used to love how crystal clear Barton Springs was and wish I’d been able to learn to scuba dive there rather than the murky ass lakes around Phoenix. Good memories, though. I used to love riding the train there!

 

[smcfarland]

Have been in Georgetown, TX for 21 years now. Absolutely stay away from Austin. When family comes to visit and say they want to go to Austin, I offer them a weapon to take with them but refuse to go into that shithole. Love Georgetown but even it is getting too big for my taste. Real estate prices here are insane, so be prepared.

 

[db2000]

Barton Springs now

 

[Ronws]

My wife grew up in Brenham, Her parents had built a house there when they got married in 1947. It was very common for people to work in Austin but live in Brenham.

Today, even moreso. Or, people who work in Houston shoot up 290 to Brenham to live. Brenham had the largest HEB store. Now it is matched if not slightly dwarfed by the new one in Melissa, Texas (north of Dallas on the North Central Distressway.)

Also, living in Brenham would mean that you are that much closer to Lake Somerville, a fisherman's lake.

 

[akmike47]

My wife grew up in Brenham, Her parents had built a house there when they got married in 1947. It was very common for people to work in Austin but live in Brenham.

Today, even moreso. Or, people who work in Houston shoot up 290 to Brenham to live. Brenham had the largest HEB store. Now it is matched if not slightly dwarfed by the new one in Melissa, Texas (north of Dallas on the North Central Distressway.)

Also, living in Brenham would mean that you are that much closer to Lake Somerville, a fisherman's lake.

Who’s all these people commuting 90 miles everyday? I don’t think that’s very common.

 

[Ronws]

Who’s all these people commuting 90 miles everyday? I don’t think that’s very common.

You are right, driving Austin for work from Brenham is a stretch. I might add that googling the distance is going to be from downtown to downtown.

Some are doing large distances for work. I am dealing with traffic of people who live in Sherman or even southern Ok driving to Dallas for work. And they are constantly driving at 90 mph, not kidding or exaggerating. I know of tradesman who live on the other side of Lake Tawakoni and working jobs in Fort Worth. I mean a daily drive for them.

My wife's parents built the house in Brenham in 1947, when they got married. And then he got a job with the City of Austin. And worked there for about a year or so. My wife was actually born in Austin. Then he left City of Austin and signed on with the Lower Colorado River Authority, a power co-op and he installed power poles and built transformer racks on these poles. The old kind where there was a separate transformer for each meter. They had moved back to Brenham.

He would go to the VA in Austin for medical reasons after his time in WWII.

The distance to Houston is a bit more doable.

The shortest route from my house to my job in the northwest are of Dallas is 56.5 miles. Why? Because that is where the job and the money is.

 

[Maggot]

My wife grew up in Brenham, Her parents had built a house there when they got married in 1947. It was very common for people to work in Austin but live in Brenham.

Today, even moreso. Or, people who work in Houston shoot up 290 to Brenham to live. Brenham had the largest HEB store. Now it is matched if not slightly dwarfed by the new one in Melissa, Texas (north of Dallas on the North Central Distressway.)

Also, living in Brenham would mean that you are that much closer to Lake Somerville, a fisherman's lake.

Even not allowing for the insane traffic the commute Brenham to Austin is 1.5 hours. Add in rush hour traffic and its at lest 4 hours round trip.

But HEB is great. Whole Foods challenged everyone and the Butt's stepped up. Wish we had one here.

 

[Ronws]

Even not allowing for the insane traffic the commute Brenham to Austin is 1.5 hours. Add in rush hour traffic and its at lest 4 hours round trip.

But HEB is great. Whole Foods challenged everyone and the Butt's stepped up. Wish we had one here.

Yeah, I already replied. And I see people every single damn day driving 90 mph, not kidding. They are driving from Sherman and Denison down to Dallas for work.

Also, locating on Google is going to measure from downtown to downtown. Not always accurate. But okay, let people forget about living in Brenham and working in Austin. I am sure the OP would rather live closer to Austin though I am not sure that I would want to live IN the city.

I have not been in or through Georgetown in decades to know if it is still nice. I just know about Brenham from having visited my wife's parents there from 1994 to 2018, when my MIL was moved to Louisiana by my BIL to better take care of her.

 

[Maggot]

Yeah, I already replied. And I see people every single damn day driving 90 mph, not kidding. They are driving from Sherman and Denison down to Dallas for work.

Also, locating on Google is going to measure from downtown to downtown. Not always accurate. But okay, let people forget about living in Brenham and working in Austin. I am sure the OP would rather live closer to Austin though I am not sure that I would want to live IN the city.

I have not been in or through Georgetown in decades to know if it is still nice. I just know about Brenham from having visited my wife's parents there from 1994 to 2018, when my MIL was moved to Louisiana by my BIL to better take care of her.

Fortunately, I havent been near Gtown for years either, but anything that close to Austin, and on I-35 is bound to be a mess. My buddy who's stuck in San Antonio flat refuses to drive north. Its a death trap. Especially on Sunday's whem Jose is stuck int he SUV iwth his wife, 8 kids, the grandmother and grandfather and a couple dogs, and they're all screaming at him at once. You can see it in his eyes, he just wants it to end, one way or another.

 

[ironman56]

If your relocating for longterm and don't mind the commute, any thing west/ north toward llano is still sorta affordable , I live at lake buchanan , and I'm a member at rively ranch range on the east side of the lake , best range I've ever used , they have a 12k range ,but you have to qualify at the 600yd range first, it's the only range iv been to that you have ur own private bay , with berms on 3 sides and you can do drills that most ranges prohibit, matter of fact , I've never had RO 's ever even come by and check on what we're doing , can practice drawing from the holster without someone looking over ur shoulder. But as for as commuting, it makes a big difference what part of Austin you are working in , if you have to go into the city proper it can be exhausting , but if outside of loop 360 on the same side of town as ur commuting from its not so bad .

 

[John Glidewell]

Thanks for the replies. I will add the new store is located in Cader Park, so north of Austin proper.

 

[ACard]

Thanks for the replies. I will add the new store is located in Cader Park, so north of Austin proper.

Cedar Park is a very nice area and home to one of the best NFA shops I have ever dealt with, Capitol Armory. Still its commuting distance to CBD Austin so real estate is pricey. Anothe thing to add no one has is you need to consider the cost of our utilities, gas, electric, water etc... Some of the highest in the nation.

 

[Smitty192]

Cedar Park is a very nice area and home to one of the best NFA shops I have ever dealt with, Capitol Armory. Still its commuting distance to CBD Austin so real estate is pricey. Anothe thing to add no one has is you need to consider the cost of our utilities, gas, electric, water etc... Some of the highest in the nation.

$500+ electric bills in the Summer

Travis County's judicial branch, including a potential jury pool, are full of communist. Ask Sgt. Daniel Perry.

Find another job. Austin is a shit stain on the great state of Texas. So is Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, El Paso, and Beaumont.

 

[John Glidewell]

$500+ electric bills in the Summer

Travis County's judicial branch, including a potential jury pool, are full of communist. Ask Sgt. Daniel Perry.

Find another job. Austin is a shit stain on the great state of Texas. So is Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, El Paso, and Beaumont.

No need to find another job. We were considering this to get closer to family. It is not sounding like a good move. Already established here in Reno and lots of places to shoot. Thanks for the info.

 

[akmike47]

Cedar Park is a very nice area and home to one of the best NFA shops I have ever dealt with, Capitol Armory. Still its commuting distance to CBD Austin so real estate is pricey. Anothe thing to add no one has is you need to consider the cost of our utilities, gas, electric, water etc... Some of the highest in the nation.

North Austin in turning into India part 2

 

[Ronws]

North Austin in turning into India part 2

I was going to make a comment about Austin now being weird AND smelly.

Glad I didn't.