Portland vs. Austin

[Frost Homestead]

traffic isn't as bad as people say it is. like I said, it just depends on where you live and work. if you live downtown expect horrible traffic along I-35. if you live on the outskirts of the city (like I assume you would be if you bought 20 acres) it wouldn't be a big deal at all. I live north of the lake, outside of Austin and I work in north Austin, I never experience bad traffic. You can grow blueberries here but not apples or cherries. Property taxes are probably just as bad as everywhere else, just depends on the neighborhood you live in. If you have 20 acres you can apply for an Ag exemption which would reduce it considerably.

 

[chickened]

Portland is very liberal, the country is not as bad. If you are a liberal you will love Portland. We have a very huge rural/urban divide in this state. Portland out votes the rural areas all the tme. It is very green here year round. I do not mean the new meaning for "green".

 

[Xtina]

Quote:
Thanks, this is very helpful. It's a major bummer that cherries and apples won't produce there. I'd just developed a liking for them.

Austin is looking more and more likely by the day. The salary my husband is being offered just isn't going to be matched here, I'm afraid. And with the cost of living difference, that comes out to be a big difference. I'd much rather move somewhere that I have family, and that's not out of the question, but the places I have family aren't currently offering my husband a job. Well, neither is Austin, but it's very likely he would be hired for the job in question. So we'll see. Every day a new adventure.

 

[Xtina]

Just wanted to update: The job was posted and my husband applied. His friend on the team sounds darn near 100% sure my husband is going to get the job, so we're preparing for a move. Still, I won't count my job offers before they're hatched, but I expect to be living in Austin before summertime. My husband will probably go sooner, stay with his friend, learn the city, and find us a rental home before I make the road trip with the baby. We plan to keep my car since we owe more on it than it's worth, so I'll have to drive it down instead of just flying. I've got prospective renters lined up for my place. Finding a rental there is going to be exceedingly difficult, since I have two medium sized dogs and a cat. If anyone in Austin knows someone who wants to rent a house in the city limits for up to $1100 a month, let me know! I'll also find an Austin thread on here if it exists to post that in as well.