Saturday, September 29, 2007

Shopping for Austin Real Estate

Our real estate agent brought Al and I to different subdivisions yesterday, Friday, for an overview. We managed to cover the master-planned communities near the Dripping Springs (HD) area. Today, we continued to look around the Circle C (SW) area and went back to the HD area as well.

Some observations:
1. The smallest house in these Austin communities are bigger than our Boise house.
2. For the same amount, the Austin houses are bigger than the Boise houses!
3. The property tax in Austin is the real shocker! Boise is at ~1% while Austin is at 2-3%!!!
4. The house elevations (stone, bricks) in Austin make the brand new houses look older :(

Some Pros and Cons
HD Area
+ nice hill country views
+ nice amenities
+ feels more wide open
- high property tax
- 290 has no island (partially with middle lane)
- long commute to AMD
= no information re flood zone (is it safe to assume it is not in a flood zone since it is in the hill country?)

SW Area
+ nearer to AMD, downtown
+ established community, nice amenities too
+ near to establishments!
+ lower property tax
- feels "creepy" because of the dense, mature trees
= out of the flood zone but still near it

What is important?
- Location wrt workplace, school, worship
- Amenities
- Resale value - Location, Amenities, ISD quality

Read more...

Friday, September 28, 2007

From Idaho... to Texas

I have been for some time contemplating on blogging our relocation from Boise, ID to Austin, TX... here I am finally! I'll start from today and try to recall the last few weeks in more details later. Meanwhile, here's the chronology of life moving fast-forward recently:

Aug 13, 2007 (Mon) - Al and Rela tender resignation from Micron

Aug 30, 2007 (Thu) - Rela's last day in Micron

Aug 31, 2007 (Fri) - Boise, ID-to-Vancouver, BC
Sep 01, 2007 (Sat) - Vancouver-to-Sidney/Victoria, BC
Sep 02, 2007 (Sun) - Sidney/Victoria, BC
Sep 03, 2007 (Mon) - Sidney, BC -to-Anacortes/Seattle, WA
Sep 04, 2007 (Tue) - Seattle, WA-to-Seaside, OR
Sep 05, 2007 (Wed) - Seaside/Portland, OR-to-Boise, ID!

Sep 09, 2007 (Sun) - Columbia Heights Baptist Church's Fall Round-up and our last Sunday

Sep 11, 2007 (Tue) - ABF trailer is spotted in Boise, ID. Friends help load our house stuff into the 28-ft trailer

Sep 13, 2oo7 (Thu) - Boise, ID-to-Moab, UT
- Manigsaca's leave Boise. Stopped over at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, UT. Stayed overnight at Moab, UT.
- ABF picks up trailer.
- Boise house is listed for sale.
Sep 14, 2007 (Fri) - Moab, UT-to-Albuquerque, NM
- Went to the Arches National Monument. "Conquered" the Delicate Arch!
Sep 15, 2007 (Sat) - Albuquerque, NM-to-Abilene, TX
Sep 16, 2007 (Sun) - Abilene, TX-to- Austin, TX

Read more...

A Few of My Favorite Songs


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