KnowYard Community

Allergies. Cedar fever in winter is not a joke. I never had allergies anywhere else. Moved here and now I want to die every December through February.

Facebook marketplace for house rentals. A lot of smaller landlords don't list on Zillow or Apartments.com. Some of the best deals are private listings from owners.

Always check Instagram before going to a specific truck. I've driven across town for a truck that was closed for "personal day" three times. Austin truck culture.

Older suburbs that haven't been "discovered" yet by flippers. The apartment complexes built in the 90s-2000s that are well-maintained but not trendy. Those are the sweet spot.

$387 for 1600 sqft sounds high even for summer. What rate are you paying per kWh? Anything over 14 cents and you need to shop around when your contract is up.

At $110K combined you can make $350K work but it will be tight with Texas property taxes. Run the real numbers including tax, insurance, and a maintenance fund. Not just principal and interest.

Pro tip: keep a small towel in your car. After walking from the office to the parking lot in August, you'll need it before you can grip the steering wheel.

My church potluck sweet tea made in a 5 gallon cooler with approximately 4 pounds of sugar. Nothing in a restaurant comes close.

Paper plates = no insurance and possibly no registration. And they drive like it because they know they can't be traced. Biggest problem on Texas roads right now.

Pflugerville is the most underrated suburb in Austin. Cheaper, more diverse, and the 130 Toll into east Austin makes the commute reasonable.

The driving thing never stops being true. I live half a mile from a CVS and still drive there. It's 105 outside man I'm not walking.

SA just doesnt have the media market. DFW and houston get all the attention

$200/month HOA and they can't even maintain the common areas? Request a financial audit. You're entitled to see where that money goes.

Bought last year at 6.8%. Monthly payment is more than my old rent but I'm not throwing money away anymore. You can always refinance when rates drop. You can't un-rent money you already spent.

la Barbecue beef ribs on Saturday are the best single BBQ item in Austin. Yes, better than Franklin. The rib is massive and the flavor is unreal.

Brace for the first time someone invites you to a backyard BBQ and it turns into a 7 hour event with 40 people you've never met.

Look for areas near good school districts. Even if you don't have kids, school district quality correlates with neighborhood safety and maintenance. It's a useful proxy.

Micklethwait smoked turkey is the sleeper pick. People skip turkey at BBQ joints but this one is moist, smoky, and better than the brisket at most places.

Drive through the area at night before you sign anything. If you feel uneasy at 10pm on a Tuesday, trust that instinct.

Trades. HVAC, plumbing, electrical. Most will hire you with zero experience and train you. Starting pay is $18-22/hr but within 2-3 years you're at $30+. Texas needs tradespeople badly.

the food on this side of town is unmatched. dont even try to argue

The no turn signal thing drives me INSANE. It's a lever. Right there. On the steering column. Takes zero effort.

take visitors to the river walk first THEN the alamo. manages expectations

Jo's coffee is mid. The mural is the real product. But I still go because it's South Congress and the people-watching is unbeatable.

This is exactly the kind of conversation I come here for. Real local takes.