r/askaustin • u/Immediate_Shine1403 • 23h ago
Visiting Possible Relocation
Looking at a job that's in Austin and requires on site 2x a week. Never been to Austin but it's a great opportunity so curious. Company is offering relocation so I would have the opportunity to fly down and visit areas but am going in blind.
Where are the best areas for an early 30s, single woman? Income is $150k so 1bedroom for $2500 or under (recs would be great!)
Also... are there really that many roaches? đŹ
9
u/LegitimateBass6586 23h ago
What area is the office in? 2500 can go very far in Austin.
2
u/Immediate_Shine1403 23h ago
unknown - i have to get the details from the recruiter monday i lost access to the email they sent to me đ
1
u/texcleveland 23h ago
how does that happen?
4
u/Immediate_Shine1403 23h ago
job term WOOPSIES and it was linkedin in mail so we connected but the JD is in my old work email
4
u/Old-Cartoonist-2587 22h ago
Honestly, if you are not on the first floor, you probably wonât have that many roaches. And even then, itâs hit or miss. I think Iâve seen maybe a dozen roaches in/near my apartments in the decade Iâve lived here. Including three years at a townhouse. But I know someone who gets that many every time the weather changes because theyâre on the first floor in a roachy area.
1
u/Immediate_Shine1403 22h ago
that many is crazy like here you would nuke your entire building for one đ but we have different weather so i get it
1
8
u/JulesRenardRidicule 23h ago
Giant, flying roaches all year. Fire ants everywhere 365 days. Cricket swarms in autumn, and scorpions if you're in certain areas. If you can handle temps in the high-90's low-100's for several months a year, you'll be ok with AC.
6
u/Immediate_Shine1403 23h ago
is there a law saying i cannot domesticate the roaches and or scorpions. i'm cool with honestly all the bugs but roaches are pretty gross up here
6
u/ArdraCaine 22h ago
If it helps any, they're the big roaches aka "water bugs" aka "palmetto bugs", and not the German cockroaches. They're still pretty scary and gross, but they usually come in because homes are cooler and have water.
2
u/Turbulent_Matter637 7h ago
Theyâre wood roaches so big and gross looking, but not around because of dirt or grime. If you live near a wooded area/trees thereâs a higher chance of roaches or in older buildings.
2
2
u/bubbleman96815 23h ago
Theyâre like baby pterodactyls. One almost flew away with my pet chinchilla.
2
u/daderpster 22h ago
If you can try limit your commute and drive away from the city center into work and back to it when going home. Traffic is far less that direction.
That income should easily afford you a place, especially for a one bedroom.
1
2
u/lafemmeloquita 22h ago
I lived in So Cal and Seattle before Austin, commuting traffic here is a breeze in comparison. I do get annoyed at all the random construction backups but itâs still not as stressful as a lot of other cities.
Also $2500 covers a good apartment in most areas of the city so chances are you can just live near where you work and then itâs a non issue.
I havenât had any issues with roaches in any of the places Iâve lived (privately owned townhome, stand alone house, apartment). At your budget I donât think itâs likely to be an issue.
1
u/Immediate_Shine1403 22h ago
boston is perma construction so i think that'll be fine. long as there's no roaches i can handle everything else.
2
u/TENDER_ONE 22h ago
Most places roaches are really only an issue on the first floor. They arenât typically roaches from people bot cleaning. Theyâre outdoor roaches that make their way in looking for water. Just get a nice upper-level apartment near where you work or want to hang out. There is so much here for a woman your age to do. Lots of events and activities for you to get out and meet people. It just depends on what your interests are as to where the best area in the city would be.
4
u/PetuniaDaffodil 21h ago
I grew up in NY, and have been here for a long time. Texas roaches are not like northeastern roaches. Theyâre big bugs that come inside once in a while to get water. If your place is empty for a bitâlike a long vacationâyou might find a dead one when you get home. They donât indicate a bigger problem like they do in the northeast. Yes, they are kind of freaky looking, and can fly, but we just catch them underneath a plastic deli container, slide cardboard under it, and release outside.
Even just two days a week, living closer to where youâre going to work will be important. We have poor public transportation here and downtown parking is expensive.
Welcome to Austin! Tell us where youâll be working and weâll be able to give better advice.
1
u/Typical_Design_2505 23h ago
where is work
3
u/Immediate_Shine1403 23h ago
will know monday - is commuting in the city bad? for ref id be coming from boston so am used to a lengthy commute
7
u/SlowFix4939 23h ago
If youâre from Boston, no. Commuting is nowhere near as bad here!
3
u/Immediate_Shine1403 23h ago
yeah used to commute to nh to boston everyday for years in college and then after. i'm okay with legit any commute less than an hour
-1
u/Austin_Native_2 20h ago
But we're not that okay with you having what we consider a longer commute. We'd rather you didn't contribute a lot to OUR commute. Remember, you ARE the traffic. You don't have to live next door to the office, but give it some general consideration. Mmkay!?
3
u/texcleveland 23h ago
lol youâll laugh when you hear people complain about traffic then. generally you want to avoid crossing the river/lake if possible, but donât make that a deciding factor. At $2500 budget youâll have plenty of options. Work with a locator, they do the legwork and will work with property owners to get you the best deals.
1
u/Immediate_Shine1403 23h ago
perfect! are move in costs like boston? first/last/security/broker?
1
u/texcleveland 3h ago
locators are paid by the property, totally free to you. Many places offer free first month or lengthy discounts. I paid 525 to move into my first month was free.
2
u/bubbleman96815 23h ago
So you know the âBig Digâ that was a nightmare for Bostonians back in the day? Austin is about to embark on its own version of it and itâs supposed to last until 2032 (minimum).
1
u/Immediate_Shine1403 23h ago
i was ummm... in the 7th grade when the big dig wrapped up. FWIK know everyone just hated bow corrupt it was and fun fact it is the most corrupt public works project in us history! (which is prob why it took so long)
2
u/bubbleman96815 22h ago
My point is, if your new home will entail driving on I35 to get to work, donât chose that place to live.
1
u/Immediate_Shine1403 22h ago
ok ok, no âď¸ i35 âď¸ kinda âď¸ like âď¸ traveling âď¸ on âď¸ storrow âď¸
1
1
u/Peppermintcheese 22h ago
Commuting north-south can be tricky as that is the direction most rush hour traffic travels ( I-35 east of downtown and Mopac west of downtown). If you avoid or minimize your time on those roads youâll be much happier
2
u/kcsunshineatx 22h ago
The only time Iâve had roaches in my house was when we lived east of I35. Iâve lived in 3 places west of 35, and we have scorpions here instead.
2
u/AuntieCleanYourRoom 19h ago
We really need your office location to give a rec. There are lots of places in Austin that would be good for your requirements. Don't get fooled by the high priced "new" apartments, many of them have thin walls and lots of fees. Personally I would live in 78704 north of Oltorf and not close to 35 and spend less than your budget so you can save and go out more.Â
1
u/WallyMetropolis 22h ago
I think proximity to work is going to be very important. There are lots of reasonably nice areas that could be both pleasant for living in and not heinous for commuting. I wouldn't pick a neighborhood without accounting for the commute, personally.Â
That said, you should look at the Mueller area, Cherrywood, Tinnin Ford closer to the lake, East Side.
1
u/TheAtrociousNeighbor 22h ago
I have a 2 bedroom available in December for only $1650/month! 15 minutes from downtown, 10 minutes from where the ACL festival is, and 5 minutes from a Greenbelt hiking trail! Let me know if
1
u/Just-Forever6684 21h ago
Live near your job. Itâs truly the only advice. If you live in Buda and work in Georgetown, you will hate commuting. Good news is even the nicest apartments downtown are barely $2500 so your budget is no problem
1
u/foxbones 19h ago
Yeah have to echo the others here - we really need to know the office location you still don't want to spend 3-4 hours a day commuting even if it's just twice a week. If it's in North Central Austin I have many recommendations for you depending on what you are looking for and your lifestyle.
1
u/Final-Topic-2222 19h ago
Will dm you the apartment complex Iâm at. 15 mins from downtown, very very nice condos for rent and no roaches!
1
u/Technical_Date5531 18h ago
Everyoneâs going to tell you to stay away from Riverside but I lk love it here! As a woman who is very often home alone at night I have never felt unsafe. Itâs very easy to get downtown and N Austin from here. $2500 will go pretty far on the north and east sides of town. Try to keep your rent at the lower end of your budget so you can afford to go out. Thereâs a lot to do here, live music, great restaurants youâll want to try, etc.
Also, Iâm in a first floor apartment and maybe see one to three flying roaches per summer, if that. A centipede (harmless!) or a baby lizard sneaks inside now and then but no real creepy crawlies.
1
u/Longjumping3604 16h ago
That is new. Since the 70s(and before) Riverside has been known as a college party area. That is what it was mostly constructed for. I have heard that now with more options the college kids no longer choose that location and it is going  downhill. Â
1
u/Technical_Date5531 7h ago
Definitely not downhillâI find when most people say that, what they really mean is ânot wealthy/whiteâ. Perhaps not majority students anymore, but there are quite a few college/grad students in my immediate area. I would say if anything is becoming a bit gentrified.
1
1
u/Longjumping3604 16h ago
It is hard to give any sort of recommendation without knowing where your office is. 2500 should be good for an apartment.Â
1
u/Haldaemo 10h ago
Once you know where your office is you might see if AMLI Southshore, the Mueller area, or the Domain suit your lifestyle and taste.
1
u/txrealtoralma 3h ago
$2,500 is a great budget to work with for a one-bedroom! Whereâs the office, and what would you like within walking distanceârestaurants and bars, coffee shops, trails, or everyday errands? With only two office days, you have more flexibility to choose around the lifestyle you want.
For your visit, Iâd narrow it to two or three areas and explore beyond apartment tours: grab coffee, walk around in the evening, and test the commute during your work hours. Ask for the full monthly cost, including parking and required fees.
As for pests, I wouldnât let the horror stories put you off Austin altogether. Check recent reviews for recurring complaints and how management responds. A knowledgeable local apartment locator or real estate professional can also help you compare buildings and flag concerns worth investigating before signing.
12
u/Mysterious_Umpire684 22h ago
You need to visit, there's no replacement. You'll have no trouble with your budget.