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Looking to buy soon in CenTex: Cedar Park vs Georgetown

1,758 Views | 10 Replies | Last: 16 days ago by JB
Ghost of Bisbee
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AG
Hi all, recently moved and looking to buy a modest home in the greater Austin area in the next 6 months. Would love the opinions of you all who have lived in the area.

Priorities in order are:
- Highest potential for property appreciation
- Bang for buck
- Commutability

What research has told me:

- Even with Samsung's office development in Taylor, stay to the west of I-35. All I've heard from locals about being east of 35 is that the property values don't appreciate as well and the infrastructure has not kept up with the new developments out that direction.

- Outside of Austin, Cedar Park is the red hot market to be because of location. That Lakeline mall though… rough and has seen better days. I like the neighborhoods but would have to likely buy an older home built in the 80s/90s since there aren't new developments I'm aware of that are in my budget.

- Love Georgetown, and hearing it's preferred over Liberty Hill by and large. Locals telling me they would put it only behind Cedar Park in terms of growth/property appreciation potential, even moreso than Round Rock. Seriously considering the Wolf Ranch area, or one of the surrounding established neighborhoods. Could afford a nicer neighborhood/home out here than in Cedar Park. Commuting not a huge concern unless I change jobs which is a possibility. I've heard commuting to Austin on 35 is rough but perhaps if I did that I'd leave earlier. Then I hear about 130, but don't necessarily want to take that highway if I'm living west of 35.

- Lakeway beautiful but lots of traffic congestion. Avoid is what I'm hearing.

- North of Austin with higher appreciation and growth potential than South of Austin

Either way, I will probably wait until after the election to buy. Thanks to this board and Redfin, still seems like the majority of homes out here are overpriced on the market at the moment.

What's your take on these areas? What from the research above do you agree with vs refute? Appreciate your perspectives, thanks.
MS08
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AG
IMO: Tough to find good value in Cedar Park. Already an aggressively priced market on the more expensive side.

I would say Georgetown offers better value/bang for the buck.

Both will be fine appreciation wise in the long run.

Ultimately, it comes down to your current budget, what you feel comfortable paying, and how well you a like a specific property in one of those given locations.
Furlock Bones
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AG
where will you be commuting to?
ned911
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Cedar Park ISD also has very high taxes. Williamson county in general is typically close to 2% but there are pockets of lower taxes.
FTA Class of 1988
Ghost of Bisbee
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I'm basically 100% remote with occasional travel back to my HQ outside the state. I do have an office down near pennybacker bridge but I'll rarely go and don't have much reason to.

If I change jobs, I think it would be more likely that I commute down to jollyville/round rock in a hybrid setup.

I don't think I'd hate that commute from Georgetown if I were in a hybrid work schedule half the week.
Furlock Bones
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AG
Ghost of Bisbee said:

I'm basically 100% remote with occasional travel back to my HQ outside the state. I do have an office down near pennybacker bridge but I'll rarely go and don't have much reason to.

If I change jobs, I think it would be more likely that I commute down to jollyville/round rock in a hybrid setup.

I don't think I'd hate that commute from Georgetown if I were in a hybrid work schedule half the week.
If you are 100% remote, Jonestown/Lago Vista are better than both. But, I am biased. I lived South in Circle C. Then, we moved up to Jonestown. Top of a hill. Views of Lake Travis. Regular breeze. 6 acres. It's unlike the rest of Texas.

Cedar Park is just a regular suburb in every way. You can get the same feel in any city in Texas. Georgetown is the better choice between the 2. Georgtown has a nice downtown area. You can find some acreage lots.
CenTexAg19
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AG
Both are great areas:

Cedar Park - will be more difficult to find a newer home. Not to much new growth in the Cedar Park area as it is almost built out. Plenty of places to eat, shop, and complete your day to day. Can get super congested at the busy times with 183, Ronald Reagan, and 1431.

Georgetown - plenty of new growth and has a steady outlook for growth. It has most the amenities you will find in Cedar Park but just more up to date and less congestion most of the time.

Liberty Hill - remains to be behind the times a little. Plenty of homes to live in but not sure how much growth will come in the near future outside of small retail and neighborhoods. 29 can be a nightmare.

If commuting is not an issue, you could look into Salado. It is an up and coming bedroom community that is still reasonable in costs.

Are you looking to buy an existing house or potentially build?
MS08
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AG
Cedar Park, Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Salado: username checks out.
a07nathanb
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East of 35 is where West was 7-10 years ago.
Id argue that the chance for appreciate is as high or higher as the development fills out
swimmerbabe11
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Does anyone else keep thinking he's buying a Centex home? Like the builder
JB
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We have been in GT for 2 years and like it plenty

There are a few older neighborhoods on decent lot sizes with good trees. That's what we wanted and were able to find.
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