If you are planning to live in or around Austin, you can expect to have a square foot price that is much higher than other areas. Even higher than Houston. My grandparents rented two houses in Austin in the late 60s and early 70s. Those houses were OLD when they lived in them. One of them was an 800 s/ft, 2 BR, 1 bath house with a detached dirt floor garage. The other was a 900 s/ft. Someone did a renovation on them about 10 years ago. One has a value of $1.3 million, while the other was valued at over $800k.

If I could do it, I would move to the Lufkin/Nacogdoches area. You could find a great house for half of that $900k. From Lufkin, you would Lake Kurth, Lake Nacogdoches, Lake Pinkston, Lake Naconiche, Sam Rayburn and Lake Livingston within 50 miles. At 60 miles, you could add Toledo Bend, Lake Jacksonville, and Lake Murvaul. At 100 miles, you could add Lake Conroe, Lake Limestone, Richland-Chambers, Lake Athens, and Lake Palestine.

I live in Leander, and I am within an hour of Lakes Austin, Travis (empty), Inks, Marble Falls, LBJ, Buchanan (almost empty), Georgetown (will be empty), Granger, Stillhouse (just refilled, but emptying fairly quickly) and Belton. Driving into Austin sucks, but it doesn't matter where you live, driving into Austin sucks from everywhere. I would never buy anything in Travis County because of politics and taxes. I love living in Williamson County as far as most things go, but it is not a dream fishing location. Not horrible either. Feel free to DM me for a phone number if you want to talk it through. I have lived in the area since 1986.

I live on the remnants of Lake Travis. Our dock has been sitting on ground since 7/22. Place has been in our family for 50 years, so we're used to and understand the elevation fluctuations. Travis is a water (mis)management reservoir, as is Buchanan. The remaining lakes in the Highland chain are kept within a few inches of a constant level except for periodic draw downs to allow for waterfront maintenance activities. Even though Travis is low, fishing is better than it has ever been in my experience since 1975. Vegetation that shall not be named may or may not be taking root in many areas. LBJ is a very solid fishery. Lake Austin is starting to put out some big girls again. I don't get up to Buchanan or Inks enough to comment. Have fished Marble Falls a handful of times but was never real excited about it.

I drive through Lakeway twice a day commuting and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. LOL Our property taxes have more than doubled over the past 4 years but there are signs that trend may be correcting. If you're used to overcrowding and traffic congestion everywhere you go then it is probably no big deal but having lived in the area my entire life, I hate what it has become. If it weren't for the sentimental attachment to our property, I would sell out and find some deep waterfront on Lake Buchanan. The population growth in that area would remain tolerable for my lifetime...I think? LOL Good luck!

I've got a place on Fork that I'll sell ya. 7,500sqft, 4,000 sqft garage/metal building, indoor pool, no HOA, close to Yantis, TX. Nothing like Yantis "culture". They have a saying.....Keep Yantis weird. lol

We just bought last year in Kempner. Areas we liked Salado, Liberty Hill, Lago Vista, Burnet, etc.

Looking at Salado now, checks all boxes. Golf, fishing, housing isn’t near as bad as Round Rock/Austin. HEB 10 minutes up the road in Belton.

Wow... Lots of great input from everyone. Appreciate the detail and the offer of support / phone calls. Will keep ya posted.