SF folks movin to austin

08/18/2006 Heather K. says:

Well, I'm *going* down that road at the end of the current year.  I'll try to remember to share how that goes -- and see you in Austin!

08/20/2006 David N. says:

We're checking out Austin next week with that very thought in mind.

08/20/2006 Catherine "Mclovin" D. says:

Thats interesting. My husband would like to be certified as a yoga teacher there. We plan on selling our house & moving in June. Its time to cash out & slow down a little.

08/29/2006 Alex M. says:

It's become a cliche -- Austin is becoming overrun with folks from California.

I won't lie. The prices are better and the weather's nicer. We don't have the same culture, but you can find new, interesting alternatives. The hike and bike scene around Town Lake rivals that of Marin/East Bay. And the gentrifying East Side is now home to Mission hipsters and brave families alike.

In Austin, you will need a car. You will need airconditioning and a sense of humor. You will have to be okay with giving up cheap sushi, but we do have ample Thai food. We didn't use to have rush hour and toll roads, but now we do. There's almost 1 million of us in Austin and it shows, more and more.

But please, please, I beg one thing of you. Don't buy a condo. The recent growth downtown is unsightly and unnatural. Cut off developers at the knees, don't buy in. Rent isn't supposed to be $1300 down here.

09/01/2006 kemp g. says:

Just moved here a week ago.  It's alot like you'd expect, and alot different too.  I'd like to buy a house within the next year, and we've already seen some grerat fixer-uppers.  Everyplace here is super-busy (restaurants), and the yoga scene here is booming for your husband.

09/02/2006 Clarisa R. says:

I just moved here recently and I've been to San Francisco, so I can say both cities are similar because there are tons of leftover hippies and young, liberal folks who support local businesses. The only major difference is people in Austin are probably the friendliest people you'll been in the US!

09/07/2006 David N. says:

Checked out Austin last week.  It was over 100 degrees every day, which is really hot -- could make you like fog again.  It is a very pleasant town, but be clear that there is a big jump from being in an international metropolis and a large town in Texas.  We like Austin a lot, but I'm downtown in the middle of a work day and counted about five people on the street per block -- contrast to SF's financial district/union square etc. which are comparable zones.  Residential development near town is very old and small and is often scraped and rebuilt if you don't want to be in a suburban neighborhood (post-50's housing.)  Of course housing prices are unbelievably low.  From my research, housing is running about 1/4 of the value of SF, with wages running about 2/3 of SF's, so there is theoretically a significant improvement in disposable income.  It is certainly not an apples to apples comparison, however, as I said, especially if you are in to being in a city.+

09/12/2006 Catherine "Mclovin" D. says:

A lot of great feed back. We just returned from Bali so we think we can take the heat. Plan on getting a home with a pool to handle the heat. we have spent the last 13 years in San Fran & prior to that 10 yrs in NYC. Our son is 11 & we are looking to for a change from the big city. Our  house here although not big has made us a fair amount of money because we bought it 11 yrs ago. Tired of the fog and not being able to go outside at night with out a cold.

09/12/2006 Heather K. says:

Yeah, I don't think you should ever move to a new city expecting or wanting it to be exactly like the one you came from.  If you're that happy where you are, you should probably just stay put (and find a way to put up with the drawbacks, like expensive housing).  Personally, I'm really looking forward to the change.  A lot.

09/12/2006 Catherine "Mclovin" D. says:

Heather would love to have a drink when we are in Austin. Change is in the air so that is what we are looking forward too. We will be moving in June & visiting in Feb. let me know how your plans go. I don't need to see 40 people walking downtown. more interested in seeing a bunch of dogs at the park.

09/13/2006 Heather K. says:

Sounds excellent!

09/13/2006 Patrick W. says:

Well I did it the other way around, and I can't freaking wait to move back.  So I wish I were you!

09/17/2006 Charles J. says:

I lived in Hyde Park in Austin two years ago and I had many many problems with horrible people there.  I have a lot of bad memories of all the rudeness I encountered in Austin  I've never heard of anyone else having problems there though.  I think that South Austin is the best place to be.

10/03/2006 Alex M. says:

I'm curious about what kind of rudeness you encountered. Sales clerks? Coffee shop boys? Postal workers? Hyde Park is a dynamic mishmash of a neighborhood, with affluent professionals and older students sharing elegant oak-shaded avenues. The Speedway corridor is certainly an exception, lined with apartment complexes and breakup efficiencies (aka anyone who needs 400 s.q. TODAY), and assorted laundromats. Hyde Park can be a little snooty, but that's more of a cultivated "oh, my home's appreciated ever so much, aren't I fabulous" snobbery and comes at you only rarely. Still, I'm curious about your experience.

10/14/2006 Catherine "Mclovin" D. says:

We are seriously looking at a home in the 78748 zip, any thoughts on that area. It's a little further out by Brodie & Slaughter.

10/15/2006 Edwyn E. says:

sounds too far south and you are getting closer to circle c which is just as dubya as moving to round rock - north west is getting a bit too southern California - they are even building a Santana row replica - Austin styled out here ... somehow i hope Austin keeps its character before it ends up being a satellite city of LA/SF,  and Seattle with touches of Orange County on the edges.

10/15/2006 Annie P. says:

I lived a little south of Slaughter, off of Manchaca, for several years, and for me, it was too far south. I like to take my dogs to Town Lake, Red Bud, and Zilker and love being closer into the city. I've lived in central Austin, south central (78704), and now east Austin (78721-just east of MLK/Airport), too, and I have preferred all of those to far south Austin.

That said, I have a couple of friends who live off Brodie near Slaughter, and it's a nice area, if you prefer the more suburban feel. One of those couples is looking to move to Travis Heights in the next couple of years, though; they're ready to move closer in.

Depending on how much house you can afford, I'd look at Travis Heights and the Zilker area. Both are south of the river, laid-back, older communities. Travis Heights went through what east Austin is going through now. There are a lot of great homes in the area.

10/15/2006 Catherine "Mclovin" D. says:

Annie. Wow! thanks for such good advice. we have about 300K but want a house with a pool. we have 2 dogs and a kid & dont mind a more laid back appeal.

10/16/2006 Kim J. says:

Wow Travis Heights is super super expensive.  But probably around the same price range as California.  I can't imagine paying that amount for so little house.  And could in no way afford anything larger.  All that said, it's a beautiful area.  If you can do it, it's a perfect location.  North and South are so easily accessible.  An area that is developing that I really like is the Crestview area. I used to live there when I rented.  Lots of houses for sale there as well.  I live far North in Round Rock and hate it.  Looking to sell my house. I definitely got more  
San Fran has more to do (I travel there for work often) theatre major sports scene, the OCEAN...but Austin is a really cool town, quickly turing into a city. I've lived here 18 years now.
Hope that helps!
house for my money but i'm too far removed from Austin life.
Hope you like Austin!

10/21/2006 badass P. says:

This post has been flagged as inappropriate by the community and has been removed.

10/21/2006 Heather K. says:

Golly, Johnny P., I'm awfully sorry to hear that!  I haven't a home town myself, however, so no matter where I go, *someone* is just going to have to put up with my hideous non-nativeness.  The Californians may have felt similarly repulsed when I relocated here.  But life's just tough that way, I guess.

10/21/2006 badass P. says:

Yes. Golly.

10/21/2006 Heather K. says:

Ods bodkins, even.

10/22/2006 Clarisa R. says:

Have you looked in the Barton Springs area? There are really nice places there and off of South 1st, such as Annie St.

10/22/2006 Catherine "Mclovin" D. says:

Thanks Clarissa. We will be there in less then 2 weeks property shopping. We are looking at a lot of places in the SW area with pools.We have spent over 20 years in Urban environments and don't mine being a little further out. Our 11 yr old son wants a pool and that is an area that we can afford one. Of course we hope we find something next to Jonathon P.

10/22/2006 La G. says:

You are going to love Austin!! I live in south Austin and it is growing rapidly. There are a lot of grocery stores, gas stations, schools and such going up, so I think you will find what you are looking for. Good Luck! :)

10/23/2006 badass P. says:

Ok, I can't take it anymore.  Look, if you're going to move to Austin, would you please do the Natives a favor?  Learn a little bit about Texas.  It's the least you can do.  I guess we can't stop you from coming, although I wish we could.  Just learn a little bit about our cultural history.  When people come here from the outside, they immediately look for places that remind them of home so as not to feel so alone.  When you see a Starbucks or a Whole Foods or  a Blockbuster video store, remember that many people in Austin hate those places and therefore they MUST be going to other places.  Don't contribute to those businesses.  They take away from the culture that is Austin and that is Texas.  
Austin will cease being a cool place to come and live once the counter-culture is gone.  And that day is fast approaching.
Counter-cultures give a city it's uniqueness.  San Fran, Austiin...you want to go to these places because an alternative lifestyle exists.  But it exists because the people that created it in the first place have cultural roots in the region.  Counter-culture is really a popular word for Regional Culture and Identity.  People from outside of Texas moving into Austin seem to forget that Texas is different from everywhere else because it ISN'T EVERYWHERE ELSE.

10/23/2006 Catherine "Mclovin" D. says:

well put Jonathon

10/23/2006 Leigh M. says:

Jonathan, if you're looking for people you think will support local businesses, you should welcome the San Franciscans with open arms. Most people here eschew chains, love mom-and-pop shops, enjoy trying new things, and seek out the hidden treasures wherever they go. People in Austin seem to share these values, and most are pretty friendly. That's why so many San Franciscans move to Austin.

And we're good people to have here. Being from Houston, I know that there are plenty of people in other parts of Texas who don't share these values and do head to the closest Starbucks/Chile's/generic chain they can find. I don't think you have to worry as much about that with the folks from San Francisco.  And really, there's no reason to be so hateful and condescending.

10/23/2006 badass P. says:

I'm from Houston, and that place totally sucks.  
I have quite a bit of reason for being hateful and condescending, but thanks for caring.

10/24/2006 Chris B. says:

You must have grown up outside the Loop. I can think of many US cities that suck a hell of a lot more than Houston. Can't wait to be your neighbor!!

10/24/2006 Catherine "Mclovin" D. says:

Chris I called being Jonathon's neighbor first, now the whole neighborhood is gonna be crowded like the Mission. Sheesh

10/24/2006 Kevin "Bailey's" Y. says:

Lots of random things I guess:

"Of course we hope we find something next to Jonathon P."  lol

Allandale neighborhood might be interesting, north central, and around that price range.  Everything's pretty convenient, but it's also pretty quiet.  You'd probably get more flavor in South Austin or something, but if you don't need vibrant life right outside your door ...

Houston has great food.  That's enough reason for it's existence as far as I'm concerned.  I pretty much dislike everything else about it too.

The whole Austin thing ... I was born and raised in Austin, and along with everyone else "native"  pretty much hate it's growth.  I totally understand where Jon's coming from.  it's pretty idealistic to imagine we can have a great place and not have other people want to live there though, and I must say that, a yelping SF'er is probably the last person that's going to bring Austin more into the "norm".

Funny that you'd list Whole Foods as one of the places Austin hates though.

10/25/2006 badass P. says:

Yeah, I grew outside the Loop in Houston, but I also hung out inside the Loop, so I know the city rather well.  Houston, of course, has places that don't suck quite as much as other places.  But here is the thing about Houston that is unquestionable:  Somewhere along the line the city itself ceased to exist as a place where you would WANT to grow up or raise children or have a job.  The city is more concrete than forest, abandoned strip malls plague the highways, on many days throughout the year you can't see downtown because of the smog, the city does not support responsible growth, the city is the unhealthiest city in America, 'cultural' areas are a mix of urban poverty and upper class conflict....I could keep going.  That's why Houston sucks, Chris.  You should know that.
Kevin, I listed Whole Foods as a place Austin hates because, well, I a lot of Austinites hate Whole Foods.  That being said, a lot of Austinites don't hate Whole Foods.  I get that.  
But you can't deny that the 5th and Lamar area has undergone a drastic transformation from a place that was unique to Austin to a place that caters to upper-class individuals that don't necessarily contribute to independent business growth in Austin.  Look at the stores that now exist in that area:  you have that fucking eyesore that houses the gym and starbucks...a huge blackeye, you have Whole Foods, which takes up about 2 city blocks, you hae Seattle's Best Coffee, all of those trendy clothing stores, etc.  That place isn't uniquely Austin anymore than Slaughter and Manchaca is.
And yelping at SF'ers is quite fun, because they get so worked up over things.  It keeps me sane.

10/25/2006 badass P. says:

One thing I wanted to add:  I don't hate SFers.  They are more likely to care about the same things I care about than, say, someone from...I don't know, L.A?  When I hear of someone from Cali say they want to move here, I just want to bust their chops a little bit so that they realize Texans expect them to respect our beautiful culture.

10/25/2006 Meridith H. says:

Although I agree that the 2nd street development and the 5th and Lamar areas are depressing because they are too much like superficial Dallas (where I, unfortunately, live) or Orange County for you Californians, Whole Foods used to be one of those so-called "independent" businesses.  While I realize that they have gone public and are now corporate, they started off as a local Mom and Pop shop.  So, I do not fault them for selling out a bit and wanting the business success.  Plus, the new Whole Foods is phenomenal...more organic food than any other store in the country.

10/25/2006 Manny A. says:

Wonder which Texas culture the new folks are supposed to embrace?
The one that celebrates Cinco de Mayo with reckless abandon, or the one that wants to build a fence on the border?
The one that embraces rick perry george bush and tom delay, or the one that brings us the likes of Ann Richards, Kinky Friedman, and John Hightower?
The Texas culture hat felt the need to add a gay marriage ban to the Texas constitution, or the culture that has a huge gay population?
The Texas culture that gave use the huge mega TV churches, or the Texas that gave use Madeline Murray O'Hare?
The Texas culture of the cowboy that smiles, and extends a hand to all, or the one that thinks kick_n hippie asses is a high school sport?
The one that that finds Waylon willie and the boys the height of music culture, or the one that buys season ticket to the Bass Hall?
Should they put their arms around shiner, and lone star, and forever forgo the imports like Coors, and Bud?
Should the new people wear sandals, a peace headband and cheap plastic beads,
Or should they be fitted for cowboy boots and hat and issued a pouch of Red Man when they cross into the great state?
Should they rail against the corporate mega chains like whole foods, or praise them for providing a market for thousands and thousands of small local growers that others wouldn't.
I say if you are from S.F., L.A., New York, or Chicago, Kansas, Idaho, or from somewhere else --- come on down --- This is a great place to be --- Part of what makes Austin weird is it is a mixture of so so many ideas, cultures and view points, you'll
Always be able to find something to agree or disagree with.
Embrace the culture that suits you, piss and moan about what doesn't.
But please please which ever it is, do it with a smile

10/25/2006 badass P. says:

all of the above.  or none.  i think i have this out of my system for a while.

10/26/2006 Sarah M. says:

Catherine,
I don't know if you're still thinking of buying a house south, but I would also recommend the outskirts of the Hyde Park area, just north. (I think the zip codes are 78751 or 78752.) There are many houses for sale, new construction houses being built, and houses being renovated. Try East and West 47th-53rd Sts. I've been reading the thread of advice to you, and I agree with everyone. This is just a slightly alternative suggestion. The houses are old and new, eclectic and traditional, and big and tiny (although you definitely won't find any mansions). The beauty of this area is that it's navigable to anywhere in Austin. Too far south or too far north and you'll get caught crawling along on one of the highways. (Because yes, I won't lie to you, we have a small traffic problem on our poorly constructed highways.) Anyway, at the very least, check it out. You could get a decent sized home for $300K. Best of luck with your move!

10/28/2006 Catherine "Mclovin" D. says:

Ok, we will be there next Thurs but considering putting an offer on a house which is North (2N) in real estate area. It is located just below & very close to Walnut Creek Metroploitan Park which appears to be a good dog, kid & bike park. I hear 35 is a big traffic jam, is Lamar an Ok way to get downtown or is it also a big traffic jam. Any feedback on this area is greatly appreciated.  Ps Manny you are really well written & Sarah thanks for the kind words. Ok my husband is a British citizen so if anyone wants to rag on an Englishmen in Texas feel free and I was born in San Francisco but did spend a small amount of time living in Tx as a kid and I like hot weather but im sure ill be moaning when it gets to hot just like i complain when it becomes freezing everynite here at 5pm.

10/28/2006 Sarah M. says:

Lamar can be trafficky, but only on rare occasions does it get as bad as IH-35. I think you'll like that area. Good luck!

11/07/2006 Brian "I don't think you can give YOURSELF a nickname" B. says:

sigh. interesting thread. i wanna come too. but no worries jonathon, i can't! love the town and the people though. i do completely agree with the idea that you go to austin because austin is austin. get to know it. love it. preserve it as best you can.

11/13/2006 Alexandra L. says:

I moved here from L.A. 8 years ago, and my boyfriend moved here from San Francisco 5 years ago.  We both love Austin and call it home now.  Between the two of us, we've decided that the quality of life is much better in Austin (relative to the cost of living!), it's cleaner, overall there are less "scenesters", and the musician community is much stronger and more supportive.

11/20/2006 Logan "you did what to my shoes?!?!" Y. says:

I just moved back to Austin from Berkeley and I am glad to be back.  SF is wonderful but the friendliness of Austin is a good fit for me.  I do hope that it doesn't continue to grow so quickly though, I like that it is a little on the small side...

11/20/2006 Manny A. says:

Welcome home Logan.
You're about 40 years late for a little on the small side.

11/28/2006 Robert G. says:

I'm looking at moving - sorry Johnny P - from San Diego to Austin.  I'm not a native San Diegan and am very happy to leave - aside from the weather.  But I am concerned for my 8 yr old as he is complaining that San Diego is hot.  I am from Maryland originally so I know what hot is.  How does Austin compare, i.e. is it a dry heat, or is it majorly humid?  Also, what are the family friendly neighborhoods (or rather homeschool and alternative friendly) neighborhoods in Austin?  I'm looking to spend around $250k for a house.  If I get/accept the job I'll either be working for the city govt or the federal govt.  Thanks.

11/28/2006 Heather K. says:

San Diego hot?  Does he have a medical condition that is making him more uncomfortable than the average resident?  Many find the weather there to be ideal year-round.  Austin, on the other hand, gets extremely hot in the summer, and pretty humid as well.  It also has one of the worst allergy seasons in the country.  I'm okay with these things as I like it on the warm side and don't usually have allergy problems, but I don't know about the members of your family.

11/28/2006 Robert G. says:

I've often wondered that myself.  But he isn't running a fever, so go figure.  What is the allergy season about: mold, pollen, etc?  Thanks for the response.

11/28/2006 Heather K. says:

No problem!  Pollen (cedar, ragweed, and oak) and mold spores are the main offenders, I believe.

12/05/2007 Jon "Timbuk2" S. says:

I'm moving from SF to Austin next week and I'm ready for the change! Bring on those 100 degree summers...I'm a native Texan so I guess I can get adjusted after I turn 5 shades darker... it's really not the sun that I hate in TX it's the humidity.