Tech bro moves from CA to Austin - immediately reverses course after calling culture 'bland'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Austin is a great bang for your buck compared to some of the other tech cities. You have options for great schools at multiple price levels. Lots of awesome food, everything is close in.. I live in a suburb of Austin but a true 10 min from downtown with excellent public schools. Downsides are the nasty brutal heat, allergies and lack of unique places to go for weekends away. Taxes are high though, but no state income tax. People are kind and warm and I have found they don't take themselves as seriously as those on the costs. If you want a more laid-back vibe this is it. No one asks what you do for a living in their first conversation and I live in a wealthy, highly educated area.

Okay that bolded part doesn't even make sense to me unless you're talking about parts of Austin itself since most of the city feels like a suburb. I used to live off of South Congress and I really don't know what you're talking about saying you lived in the suburbs 10 minutes from downtown. That literally makes no sense. I have family that still live in the area and travel there often. It's crazy what's happened but you cannot get from Round Rock, Pflugerville, or Oak Hill to downtown in 10 minutes. Unless you live in Sunset Valley, which I never understood how it existed, I don't see as how you can get downtown in 10 minutes.

I live in Westlake by the trader joe’s. Map it! Under 10 min.

[Anonymous]

Who would want all this stupidity and complaining attached to their name publicly?!

[Anonymous]

It’s 7min to True Foods downtown

[Anonymous]

Also just mapped Oak Hill to the Barre 3 downtown and it’s 11 minutes and you can still find houses there for around $500k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also just mapped Oak Hill to the Barre 3 downtown and it’s 11 minutes and you can still find houses there for around $500k.

Are you kidding me? I went to the ACC out there (Pinnacle) and it is not anywhere near 11 minutes to get anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Six years isn't immediate.

He moved back to California after only a year. He just decided to write about it in 2021.

He wrote a semi-famous Quora post about it in 2016:
https://www.quora.com/Has-anyone-moved-from-the-Bay-Area-to-Austin-What-were-your-reasons-What-would-you-advise-anyone-looking-to-make-the-move-to-consider-before-making-a-decision?top_ans=30172787

Good....GOD.

wow. in general this encapsulated a lot of what I dislike about the east (realizing that Texas is not actually the east.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Six years isn't immediate.

He moved back to California after only a year. He just decided to write about it in 2021.

He wrote a semi-famous Quora post about it in 2016:
https://www.quora.com/Has-anyone-moved-from-the-Bay-Area-to-Austin-What-were-your-reasons-What-would-you-advise-anyone-looking-to-make-the-move-to-consider-before-making-a-decision?top_ans=30172787

Good....GOD.

wow. in general this encapsulated a lot of what I dislike about the east (realizing that Texas is not actually the east.)

Actually? Try not even remotely the east.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Six years isn't immediate.

He moved back to California after only a year. He just decided to write about it in 2021.

He wrote a semi-famous Quora post about it in 2016:
https://www.quora.com/Has-anyone-moved-from-the-Bay-Area-to-Austin-What-were-your-reasons-What-would-you-advise-anyone-looking-to-make-the-move-to-consider-before-making-a-decision?top_ans=30172787

Good....GOD.

wow. in general this encapsulated a lot of what I dislike about the east (realizing that Texas is not actually the east.)

I think there is something a little off with this guy. He has 7 kids and was looking for homeschool school options. That's not very typical for many families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also just mapped Oak Hill to the Barre 3 downtown and it’s 11 minutes and you can still find houses there for around $500k.

Are you kidding me? I went to the ACC out there (Pinnacle) and it is not anywhere near 11 minutes to get anywhere.

Well map it.

I also actually live in Westlake and trust me it’s under 10 min to downtown. I do that drive every week. I think you just want to argue about it but don’t even live in Austin.

[Anonymous]

It’s really hard to define the suburbs in Austin, given the true downtown is quite small and many very suburban areas are still within the city’s limits.

To the PP considering moving to Austin. We recently moved back east (Texas is not even remotely eastern) and while Austin has its downsides, I still fully endorse living there. I am not sure what folks are saying about a lack of outdoor activities—Lady Bird and Lake Travis provide welcome relief even in the summers, and my daughter and I spent many days out in the nearby hills. I also enjoy how so many dining and drink options have expansive outdoor areas, though I recognize that is a different type of outdoor activity.

Austin’s prices continue to increase, but it is still incredibly affordable compared to many cities. The area you list as where your work would be based is not an exciting one, but you should be able to live in central Austin without too much commuting hassle at all. If you can afford it and/or don’t mind a small place, Clarksville/Old West is still one of my favorite areas of the city that is walkable in a way similar to Hyde Park.

The food scene is still extremely strong and there are a ton of great day trip options—Fredericksburg, San Antonio, etc. I was heavily involved in civic life in the city and there are a lot of very engaged people committed to their city.

I will say that I don’t think the fries at Hyde Park Bar & Grill are as good as they used to be

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also just mapped Oak Hill to the Barre 3 downtown and it’s 11 minutes and you can still find houses there for around $500k.

Are you kidding me? I went to the ACC out there (Pinnacle) and it is not anywhere near 11 minutes to get anywhere.

Well map it.

I also actually live in Westlake and trust me it’s under 10 min to downtown. I do that drive every week. I think you just want to argue about it but don’t even live in Austin.

I don’t need to map it, I drove it. 71 is bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Austin is a great bang for your buck compared to some of the other tech cities. You have options for great schools at multiple price levels. Lots of awesome food, everything is close in.. I live in a suburb of Austin but a true 10 min from downtown with excellent public schools. Downsides are the nasty brutal heat, allergies and lack of unique places to go for weekends away. Taxes are high though, but no state income tax. People are kind and warm and I have found they don't take themselves as seriously as those on the costs. If you want a more laid-back vibe this is it. No one asks what you do for a living in their first conversation and I live in a wealthy, highly educated area.

Where is this and what are housing prices like? I'm looking for something along the line of 4bdr/3ba, 2000+ sq ft for ~$850k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s really hard to define the suburbs in Austin, given the true downtown is quite small and many very suburban areas are still within the city’s limits.

To the PP considering moving to Austin. We recently moved back east (Texas is not even remotely eastern) and while Austin has its downsides, I still fully endorse living there. I am not sure what folks are saying about a lack of outdoor activities—Lady Bird and Lake Travis provide welcome relief even in the summers, and my daughter and I spent many days out in the nearby hills. I also enjoy how so many dining and drink options have expansive outdoor areas, though I recognize that is a different type of outdoor activity.

Austin’s prices continue to increase, but it is still incredibly affordable compared to many cities. The area you list as where your work would be based is not an exciting one, but you should be able to live in central Austin without too much commuting hassle at all. If you can afford it and/or don’t mind a small place, Clarksville/Old West is still one of my favorite areas of the city that is walkable in a way similar to Hyde Park.

The food scene is still extremely strong and there are a ton of great day trip options—Fredericksburg, San Antonio, etc. I was heavily involved in civic life in the city and there are a lot of very engaged people committed to their city.

I will say that I don’t think the fries at Hyde Park Bar & Grill are as good as they used to be

Thanks! That definitely gives me more options to look around. Reverse commute on MOPAC might be possible. I'll have to see. Terrible time to move, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s really hard to define the suburbs in Austin, given the true downtown is quite small and many very suburban areas are still within the city’s limits.

To the PP considering moving to Austin. We recently moved back east (Texas is not even remotely eastern) and while Austin has its downsides, I still fully endorse living there. I am not sure what folks are saying about a lack of outdoor activities—Lady Bird and Lake Travis provide welcome relief even in the summers, and my daughter and I spent many days out in the nearby hills. I also enjoy how so many dining and drink options have expansive outdoor areas, though I recognize that is a different type of outdoor activity.

Austin’s prices continue to increase, but it is still incredibly affordable compared to many cities. The area you list as where your work would be based is not an exciting one, but you should be able to live in central Austin without too much commuting hassle at all. If you can afford it and/or don’t mind a small place, Clarksville/Old West is still one of my favorite areas of the city that is walkable in a way similar to Hyde Park.

The food scene is still extremely strong and there are a ton of great day trip options—Fredericksburg, San Antonio, etc. I was heavily involved in civic life in the city and there are a lot of very engaged people committed to their city.

I will say that I don’t think the fries at Hyde Park Bar & Grill are as good as they used to be

Ethnic food scene in Austin is nothing like Bay Area or even DC area. Houston is a lot better but the weather is horrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Austin is a great bang for your buck compared to some of the other tech cities. You have options for great schools at multiple price levels. Lots of awesome food, everything is close in.. I live in a suburb of Austin but a true 10 min from downtown with excellent public schools. Downsides are the nasty brutal heat, allergies and lack of unique places to go for weekends away. Taxes are high though, but no state income tax. People are kind and warm and I have found they don't take themselves as seriously as those on the costs. If you want a more laid-back vibe this is it. No one asks what you do for a living in their first conversation and I live in a wealthy, highly educated area.

Where is this and what are housing prices like? I'm looking for something along the line of 4bdr/3ba, 2000+ sq ft for ~$850k.

Do you have kids in school? For your budget your best bet is going to be a 2,000 square foot house in Westlake. Look at anything before Bee Caves + 360. Woods of Westlake, Lost Creek, Bee Cave Woods, Walsh Tarlton(78746 zip). If you give me your email I'll send you a realtor with off market listings. There is not much inventory.