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What Austin Home Can You Buy for Less Than $300,000?

By U.S. News & World Report

Austin, Texas‘ average home price hovers around $300,000, but that can buy you a range of property types and amenities, depending on where you live.

“You could get an East Austin home close to downtown with two bedrooms, one bathroom and 720 square feet. Or a new house in Southeast Austin featuring granite countertops and stainless appliances with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, 2,700 square feet and a work commute,” says Matt Menard, broker and owner of Austin Real Estate Experts.

U.S. News spoke with a few of Austin’s top real estate agents, as identified by real estate technology company Agent Explore (a U.S. News partner), to identify the kinds of properties you can buy at the city’s average home price.

A North Austin single-family home with exceptional schools

North of U.S. Route 183, east of MoPac Expressway (Highway 1) and west of Interstate 35 is North Austin. There, $300,000 buys you a partially remodeled single-family home with 1,400 to 1,700 square feet, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a lot on the smaller end. This residential family area with peaceful neighborhoods also includes The Domain shopping center, a northern hot spot with high-end stores, restaurants and nightlife. Additionally, there’s Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park, offering hiking trails, playgrounds and pools.

[Read: 5 Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Austin to Buy a Home.]

“In these neighborhoods, if you need additional square footage for $300,000, you’re likely to get a significant fixer-upper,” explains Aaron Jistel, co-founder and owner at ListingSpark. Mostly though, he says the homes and lots are smaller and turnkey.

Close by is another kid-friendly area, Anderson Mill, with parks and shopping, as well as close proximity to grocery stores, restaurants, the Lakeline Mall and an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema location. Homes in this northern area are a bit bigger, averaging 1,900 square feet, and are connected to the desirable Round Rock Independent School District.

An East Austin condo or town house adjacent to downtown nightlife

“Town home and condo communities have sprouted along East Austin, and you could get a nice two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo for under $300,000,” Menard says. Near downtown, there are a growing number of new condo developments that allow a $300,000 budget to go far in terms of space and amenities.

This bustling and energetic neighborhood is adjacent to the center of Austin and close to the University of Texas at Austin. Public transportation runs through East Austin, and many of the happening areas are a short walk away. A good mix of businesses, stores and residences fill up this spot, providing an enjoyable city living environment for buyers who want a short commute to work, nightlife and entertainment.

[Read: A First-Time Buyer’s Guide to Austin.]

Shops, hiking and biking trails, parks with pools, and Lady Bird Lake surround new and old developments in this up-and-coming neighborhood. Additionally, some of the popular Sixth Street restaurants and bars inhabit the area, which has a wealth of ongoing activities and neighborhood upgrades. Home values are also continuing to rise in East Austin.

A South Austin single-family home near shops and restaurants

“If you go south of [Texas State] Highway 71, up to the Slaughter area between [Texas State] Highway 35 and MoPac, that’s a really good area,” Jistel says. “You can go to Southpark Meadows, Westgate [Shopping Center] and Circle C [Ranch], which have shopping and restaurants, outdoor concert venues and movie theaters.” South Austin, a family-friendly area of the city, has quiet neighborhoods with grocery stores nearby, plus plenty of parks and green space.

Traditional ranch-style single-family homes with 1,500 to 1,800 square feet, two bedrooms and three bathrooms are common in South Austin, and certain developments feature newly built houses with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms.

[Read: What’s It Like to Live in Austin?]

“Unless someone has to be near downtown, I think new construction in the suburbs is extremely appealing in that price range,” Menard says. “One of the great things about buying a new home is there aren’t multiple-offer situations. If it’s not sold, you get it at the for-sale price, and you don’t have to end up spending over-asking or have your heart broken because every home has two or three offers.”

Looking for a real estate agent in Austin? U.S. News’ Find an Agent tool can match you with the person who’s most qualified for the job.

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What Austin Home Can You Buy for Less Than $300,000? originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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