From the moment she finds out she's expecting, a new parent's mind begins to construct a fantasy of the perfect place to build a nest: a community that's safe, nurturing, stimulating, and economically sound. A neighborhood where parents reflect your values — education, health and fitness, concern for the environment — and raise their children the same way. The kind of place where a child can slip on her rubber boots, grab her colorful umbrella, and play on the quiet, tree-lined street outside her home without worry.

The editors of Children's Health wanted to find where in America such places existed and how we can make the communities we live in today more like that ideal, so we embarked on a comprehensive statistical analysis to rank 100 noteworthy American cities scattered across the country. We considered more than 30 factors that parents deem vitally important, including crime and safety, education, economics, housing, cultural attractions, and health. (See the criteria used.) When we crunched the numbers, these were the cities that best complemented family life.

Source: Children's Health Magazine

Source: Builder Magazine 

http://www.builderonline.com/local-markets/healthiest-housing-markets-2009-fall-update.aspx?cid=BLDR091008002&page=11

Even though it took a step backward during the last six months, Austin happens to be the only market on our list that is genuinely close to healthy. Home prices, which rose in 2008, finally declined this year—they are down 4.6% through September—as this Texas metro ended a long run of employment growth and lost some jobs. But its population has expanded by 4.3% during the first half of 2009, which should add housing demand and help firm up home pricing. It was the same story with Austin-area employment numbers, which remained in positive territory until mid-2009, when its manufacturing segment began losing jobs. Still, unemployment in this progressive city runs only about 7%, significantly below the national average. Dell Computer is Austin’s largest employer, with about 17,000 jobs. Austin continues to draw population, especially retirees, with its low cost of living, inexpensive housing, and warm-weather climate. The city had the third highest household growth rate in percentage terms among the top 100 market. Even so, permit activity fell by 38% during the first half of the year.

AUSTIN POPULATION GROWTH

Austin keeps growing in the downturn

By Claudia Grisales
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, July 20, 2009

Silva Laukkanen, eight months into her pregnancy, made the trek from Ann Arbor, Mich., to Austin in pursuit of a better quality of life for her growing family. Artists Grant and Dena Reid left Scotland — with no jobs in hand —in search of a community with a creative vibe. Entrepreneur Ryan Koonce left his California home in search of a bustling high-tech community where he could start his next company.

These are just a handful of examples of how Austin's population continues to grow even in the face of the toughest economy in a generation. The reasons are as diverse as the new residents.

"We're both into live music, the outdoor lifestyle and eating good food," said Grant Reid.

"We're both artists, and there was a welcoming community here for artists," added Dena Reid, sitting on the floor of their new Southwest Austin home. "We had friends come before us, and I've never heard one bad thing."

From July 2007 to July 2008, Austin added 18,461 residents, a growth rate of 2.5 percent, and moved past Columbus, Ohio, to become the 15th-largest city in the country.

Round Rock's 8.2 percent gain made it the second-fastest growing city in the country behind New Orleans, according to U.S. census figures.

Ryan Robinson, Austin's city demographer, said the growth is continuing, despite the recession. He said he expects Travis County to add more than 30,000 people this year, including births.

New residents help keep the local economy humming. They rent apartments, buy homes and cars, and in some cases start new businesses, creating jobs. Some economists say they also could create pressure on the region's job market. The local unemployment rate spiked in June to 7.1 percent, and the region has begun to lose jobs.

Robinson said some of the new residents are seeking cover from a tougher economy elsewhere.

"They are moving from the economically devastated parts of the country," he said. "Because Texas is at the top of the nation in terms of economic health, we have attracted a lot of these economic migrants."

But the city also attracts people who can choose where they want to live, like Jim Flanary.

The new chief executive of Austin-based HelioVolt Inc. had been living in Greece, where he was a top executive for a solar firm. He and his wife also own a home in Houston and were familiar with Austin.

So when Flanary got a call from a headhunter about the HelioVolt opportunity, he jumped at it.

Austin "has a very rich culture, it has a very diverse mix of people and it has a lot of restaurants and entertainment," Flanary said. "Then there's the atmosphere of the university. We want to move to Austin permanently."

Robinson says Austin offers a triple threat: a robust higher education community led by the University of Texas and its synergy with local industry, a healthy private sector and high-tech business cluster and the state Capitol.

At the center of Austin's appeal, he said, is its high quality of life.

"It's the culmination of everything, from our weather, to access to recreation, to the creative class culture," he said. "There are so many different scenes: a music scene, an art scene, a book scene, a just-do-nothing and be scruffy scene. ... When you go around the world and talk about Austin, people know Austin."

Charles Lowell, 33, a software developer and Austin native, runs a consulting firm out of his home. Laukkanen, 29, is a professional modern dancer, and she wanted to move to a community where she could continue her training after their baby is born.

"I always thought Austin was an artistic, vibrant city where I wished to live one day," Laukkanen said.

The couple considered moving closer to Laukkanen's family in her native Finland, as well as other U.S. cities such as Boston or Chicago. In the end, they wanted a place where they could be closer to relatives and a place that was a high-tech community that could help Lowell's business thrive.

"You couldn't ask for a better place than Austin in terms of networking and building a work-related community and seeking out new prospects," said Lowell, whose 4-year-old firm, The Frontside Software, has three employees.

Koonce, 35, left San Francisco with his wife and their two children for Austin two years ago in search of a better business climate and quality of life.

Koonce decided to move after he sold his last business, an online advertising technology firm.

He wanted to launch his newest business venture, an online rewards firm, in a new city where the family could live for at least five years.

They considered Denver and San Diego. But "California is sort of adversarial to business – high taxes and lots of fees – it's a bad place to start a business," he said. "You want low income taxes, and open minds, and I think Austin fit the mold."

Additionally, Koonce's wife is from Dallas, and she wanted to come back to Texas.

Koonce said he has not regretted his decision.

"When I got here, everyone was willing to meet with me, talk to me, and it was really great," Koonce said. "People weren't snobby, people weren't like 'Who are you?' You would see that in other places, but you don't see that here, and that was refreshing."

His latest company, SuperPoints Network, is adding 10 to 15 workers in the next six months.

Local economy expert Brian Kelsey says that communities with a high quality of life also have high levels of entrepreneurs and self-employed residents.

Of the country's largest metropolitan regions, the Austin-Round Rock area has the fourth-highest rate of self-employment, behind San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami, said Kelsey, who is director of community and economic development for the Capital Area Council of Governments.

Twenty-two percent of the Austin-area work force meets that qualification, he said. That can be an asset or a liability, depending on the state of the economy.

"Self-employment cuts both ways during a recession. It can be tough finding customers when companies and people have less money to spend, but self-employment can also be a reliable insurance policy compared to others faced with layoffs at a large company," Kelsey said. "Austin has a reputation for nurturing entrepreneurs, and that in part drives our economic growth."

Kelsey says he isn't concerned about an inflow of new residents wreaking havoc with the job market, because Austin's economy is much more diversified than it was during the tech crash earlier in the decade. However, it's something to watch, he said.

The Central Texas unemployment rate last month was 7.1 percent, the highest in at least 20 years, and tech companies have cut thousands of manufacturing jobs.

"Rising unemployment here is a real concern if we continue to see stronger-than-expected population growth," he said.

Grant and Dena Reid, meanwhile, are trying to get to know their new home and find work. Both are painters, but Dena works with disabled adults while Grant takes photos to help pay the bills.

The couple, who married about a year ago, saw the move from Scotland as an adventure.

"We have no children yet, so this opportunity might not come again," Dena Reid said.

Two doors down from the Reids' home, Jill and Hayden Yates took a big gamble themselves. Last month, the couple and their two young children left California for Austin.

Jill Yates is looking for work as a teacher; her husband, a filmmaker, is cultivating contacts in the industry here. Jill Yates' parents retired to the Hill Country, and she had grown tired of seeing co-workers in California losing their jobs.

"We felt it was more affordable here, and the quality of life would be better," her husband said.

"Texas seems to be very receptive to filmmaking," Hayden Yates said. "There's a feeling of collaboration here I haven't seen in L.A. It's quite different, and that's very exciting."

cgrisales@statesman.com, 912-5933

Housing price declines are slowing in states that have seen the highest declines in the past three years, but prices are dropping faster in states that have seen only moderate decreases in that time period, the research found.

Austin home market showing signs of a pickup

By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, May 21, 2009

Austin-area home sales last month were the highest since September, and several agents said they're seeing signs the market is stabilizing.

The Austin Board of Realtors said Wednesday that 1,601 single-family homes sold last month, with a median price of $189,000.

Although sales were down 18 percent on a year-ago basis, board Chairman Jay Gohil said that was the smallest percentage decline this year.

"With each month, the gap in sales volume from 2008 to 2009 is closing," Gohil said.

The April percentage decline was half as big as the gap in January.

There were 1,919 sales in the pipeline for May, the most since July, although they were down 9 percent from a year earlier.

The median price was 1 percent higher than a year ago.

R. Michael Brown, owner/broker of Avalar Austin, said the market in general seems to be picking up but cautioned that there were wide differences based on neighborhoods and subdivisions.

"We're seeing a very nice ramp-up" in the market for homes priced between $300,000 and $600,000, where his company focuses, Brown said.

That includes buyers of second homes in areas such as Lakeway and Lake Travis.

"People are looking to park some money in a tangible asset that they can use and have some fun with," he said.

But he said that getting approved for a mortgage remains a challenge for some prospective buyers, estimating that about 35 percent of his company's potential buyers encounter financing issues.

The hitch is typically "the perceived stability of their job," Brown said, particularly if they work in a industry that's declining.

In Austin, Jay Carter, an agent with LivingInAustin.com, said it seems to be a buyer's market for homes priced $350,000 and higher.

In that price range, mainly in Central and West Austin, Carter said, "we're noticing homes sitting on the market a bit longer and where some asking prices are being dropped deeply and frequently."

He said many potential buyers are "becoming convinced those prices have still further to drop. And I can't say I disagree with them."

On the other hand, for houses under $250,000, "the market is incredibly intense and competitive," Carter said.

He said the best homes in that category are attracting multiple bids after just a day or so on the market.

"If you have a nice home within the city limits to sell for under $200,000, you're still finding lots of buyers at your doorstep," Carter said. "They're taking advantage of 4.75 percent interest rates and the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit."

Gohil noted that there is a 6.4-month supply of homes for sale, considered a balanced market between supply and demand.

Brown said it's a good time to buy, with ample inventory to choose from and some sellers reducing prices, though he emphasized that buyers aren't likely to find fire sales.

Nearly a decade ago, after making a donation to a volunteer-run radio station in Austin, Texas, local librarian Red Wassenich was asked why he chose to support a broadcaster with a penchant for playing strange crooner music. "Because it keeps Austin weird," he said.

Since then, the phrase "Keep Austin Weird" has become the city's official rallying cry against the establishment of large chain stores near mom-and-pop shops--and, more generally, for maintaining the city's eccentric feel. The city may be weird, but perhaps more redeeming is that it's also a bargain to live there: Austin is the place where people pay the least to get the most.

"Austin has always been really different from the rest of Texas," says Wassenich, 59.

He's talking about the city's weirdness, but he might as well be talking about its affordability and profusion of job opportunities. Four other Texas cities make the list of America's Best Bargain Cities, but none come close to Austin, whose 5.5% unemployment is the best in the country and about half the national average.

Behind the Numbers

To determine which U.S. cities are the best bargains, Forbes looked at the country's 50 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas and metropolitan divisions--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget used by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics.

We assigned points to metro regions across four data sets: Average salary for workers with a bachelor's degree or higher, from PayScale.com; annual unemployment statistics, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; cost of living, from Moody's Economy.com; and the Housing Opportunity Index, from the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo, which measures the amount of homes sold in a given area that would be affordable to a family earning the local median income based on standard mortgage underwriting criteria.

Austin earned high marks across the board.

"They have the triple-whammy of being a university town, a state capital and a technology center," says Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis at PayScale.com, a salary data aggregator based in Seattle. "It makes for a very robust economy and a great place for people to work."

Second on our list is Phoenix, Ariz., but what makes this city affordable isn't quite the same formula as in Austin. The real estate bust left the desert oasis as one of America's emptiest cities, which has also driven down home prices. As a result, Phoenix is one of the most affordable big cities in the nation.

Washington, D.C., rounds out the top three, thanks to an employment rate rivaled only by Austin. That comes as no surprise to Lee.

"Between defense spending under Bush and stimulus spending under Obama, it's been an incredibly strong time," he says.

Further on, the list includes a few places that may raise an eyebrow or two. Ritzy Cambridge, Mass., clocked in at No. 11 because of extremely high salary scores, while Detroit's rock-bottom housing costs earned the city a No. 15 rank--despite an astronomical 13% unemployment rate. That's roughly twice Austin's rate.

Lone Star Constellation

While the capital of Texas graced the top of our list, the rest of the state's large cities performed admirably too. All five of Texas' biggest burgs--Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Ft. Worth--were among the top 10 best bargains. Not a single city in Texas ended up on our list of most overpriced places.

Part of the reason is that Texas offers some of the best incentives for entrepreneurs looking to start or move a business, according to Eduardo Martinez, a senior economist at Moody's Economy.com. Like Phoenix, Texan metros "have picked up a lot of California companies that have left because of high operating costs," he says.

Still, the state's future is far cloudier than its big blue skies. Martinez warns that Texas is vulnerable because of its exposure to America's foundering auto industry via manufacturing. The Lone Star State may also be aversely affected by the expected decrease in defense spending as contracts won in the Bush years begin to expire.

Back in Austin, though, residents are facing a different sort of challenge: To keep the city weird--and to themselves.

"Tell people not to move here!" says Wassenich.

In Depth: America's Best Bargain Cities

1. Austin, Texas

(Austin-Round Rock, Texas)

Cost of Living: 3 of 50

Housing Opportunity: 24 of 50

Unemployment Rate: 1 of 50

Average Salary: 20 of 50

2. Phoenix, Ariz.

(Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.)

Cost of Living: 13 of 50

Housing Opportunity: 14 of 50

Unemployment Rate: 6 of 50

Average Salary: 21 of 50

3. Washington, D.C.

(Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va.)

Cost of Living: 38 of 50

Housing Opportunity: 21 of 50

Unemployment Rate: 2 of 50

Average Salary: 4 of 50

4. Fort Worth, Texas

(Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas)

Cost of Living: 16 of 50

Housing Opportunity: 10 of 50

Unemployment Rate: 8 of 50

Average Salary: 34 of 50

5. Cincinnati, Ohio (tie)

(Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.)

Cost of Living: 9 of 50

Housing Opportunity: 7 of 50

Unemployment Rate: 23 of 50

Average Salary: 33 of 50

5. Indianapolis, Ind. (tie)

(Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.)

Cost of Living: 13 of 50

Housing Opportunity: 1 of 50

Unemployment Rate: 17 of 50

Average Salary: 41 of 50

Read on for more lists, rankings and real estate coverage including stories on America's most overpriced cities and places where homeowners are the most in debt.

Click here to see the full list of America's Best Bargain Cities.

To determine which U.S. cities are the best bargain, Forbes looked at the country's 50 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas and metropolitan divisions--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics. We assigned points to metro regions across four data sets: Average salary for workers with a bachelor's degree or higher, from PayScale.com; annual unemployment statistics, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; cost of living, from Moody's Economy.com; and the Housing Opportunity Index, from the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo, which measures the amount of homes sold in a given area that would be affordable to a family earning the local median income based on standard mortgage underwriting criteria.

With Summer right around the corner, many families are faced with the prospect of making plans to keep their kids occupied for the summer.  At Steiner Ranch, families enjoy a lifestyle that has been thoughtfully developed over years to foster a sense of community. This, coupled with a price range of $230-$3 Million, has made it one of the top destinations for Austin families looking for new homes.

“Creating a family-friendly neighborhood goes far beyond just putting in a community pool,” said Kathy Mayer, Community Sales Manager. “Steiner Ranch has the whole package: amenities, on-site schools and activities for kids of all ages.”

The family friendly atmosphere in Steiner Ranch is carried out through the design of the community, where paved sidewalks connect the neighborhoods and cul-de-sacs become gathering places. Over one third of the land area is open space, and 20 miles of hike and bike trails run through these areas. Three community centers offer pools, tennis and basketball as well as multi-purpose sport fields. All of this sets an atmosphere where homeowners can keep their kids happy and close to home.

“Steiner Ranch truly is the perfect place to raise kids,” said Stacy Wilson, a resident who has three kids. “My kids love all of the opportunities for fun, and I love that I never even have to leave Steiner for any of my kids’ activities. Soccer, dance, basketball, art…it’s all here!”

At 26-Music, a music school located in Steiner Ranch, moms and kids can start out in Kindermusik and “Mommy and Me” classes and graduate to music lessons and summer music camps. This is just one of many businesses located in the community that cater to kids.

Sharon Adams, Community Coordinator for Steiner Ranch, organizes the events for the homeowners association throughout the year. The shear number of opportunities for both adults and kids is staggering. Within Steiner Ranch, there are 150 sports teams with a total of 1,500 kids that practice on three multi-purpose ball fields each week. Over 600 kids take part in the swim program. Sharon has planned 42 different summer camps for this summer with a wide variety of options for kids.

Having highly-rated schools within the community ads value to the neighborhood whether a homeowner has kids or not. Steiner Ranch is home to three on-site schools that have been rated “Exemplary,” the highest rating given by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). These schools, which are part of the Leander Independent School District, are Steiner Ranch Elementary, Laura Bush Elementary and Canyon Ridge Middle School.

“I would put the education my kids are getting here in Steiner Ranch next to anybody’s,” said Keith Sommer whose kids attend Laura Bush Elementary. “The parental involvement here is outstanding and the teachers really care.”

In 2009, River Ridge Elementary will open in Steiner Ranch and Vandegrift High School will open 5 minutes from the entrance of the community. These schools will accommodate the planned growth for the area and will keep the kids close to home all they way through graduation.

Steiner Ranch is located between Lake Travis and Lake Austin. From downtown, take RR 2222 and turn left onto FM 620. Continue two miles and Steiner Ranch will be on the left. Or for directions, call the Welcome Center at 512-266-5833 or visit www.steinerranch.com.

Why go on a vacation when you can live the vacation lifestyle every day in Steiner Ranch? 

"Every day living in Steiner Ranch is like being on vacation. There is amazing natural beauty, and the hiking trails and both lakes are within five minutes of our house. It's a 'stay-cation' because we don't have to spend gas money to go anywhere to enjoy it," says Keith Sommer, Steiner Ranch resident for over 3 years.

This resort-like feeling is echoed in the rolling hills of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and Lake Travis and Lake Austin that surround the property. New homes in Steiner Ranch start in the $250's and range to over $3 Million, so there is a home for just about any price range and lifestyle. All homeowners have access to the three community centers that offer pools, tennis and basketball courts as well as the lake club on Lake Austin. The 18 miles of hike and bike trail add the final touch to keep residents at home with nature. Three highly-rated schools in the neighborhood complete the package.

For those looking for a huge value in a new home, the Monterey and Tierra Grande neighborhoods have homes starting in the $250's. Taylor Morrison just opened Tierra Grande, a neighborhood of homes perched on the edge of a canyon with amazing views.

If being near a pool is important, the Belcara and Mediterra neighborhoods offer the state-of-the-art Bella Mar community center within a short walk. Taylor Morrison is closing out the Belcara neighborhood and has opened Mediterra and Palisades. Both neighborhoods have homes starting in the mid $300's.

Emerald Ridge is another new neighborhood in Steiner Ranch that offers amazing Hill Country Views on heavily-treed estate home sites. Taylor Morrison is offering these luxury homes starting in the $500's.

For the country club lifestyle, look no further than The University of Texas Golf Club neighborhood. Hawks Canyon and The Reserve offer large homes with tile roofs by Taylor Morrison starting in the upper $600's.

Set in the highly desirable Westlake area, Senna Hills is truly a community unlike any other, and there is still a chance to own your dream home in this majestic Hill Country setting.

Taylor Morrison has just announced the final release of the most highly sought-after estate homesites in Senna Hills.  With dedicated green space surrounding much of the development, these exclusive homesites offer stunning views of the rolling Hill Country terrain.

“Our newest home sites are spectacular,” said Toney Boswell, Sales Counselor. “ This release presents a tremendous opportunity- it really is the last chance to build a brand new home in Westlake.”

One of the most attractive features of the community is its access to schools in the renowned Eanes ISD, including Barton Creek Elementary, West Ridge Middle School and Westlake High School. For shopping and entertainment, the new Hill Country Galleria is just minutes away with a bevy of high end and distinctly Austin stores and restaurants.

Senna Hills attracts growing families and empty nesters alike with a wide array of elegant home designs complemented by a wealth of in-community amenities. Among the highlights are a community center with clubhouse, playground, pool, picnic areas and lighted basketball and tennis courts. Activities abound at Senna Hills, where homeowners coordinate playgroups, book clubs, Bunko groups, luncheons and even a neighborhood newsletter.

Taylor Morrison offers nine spacious and award winning floorplans to choose from ranging from 3163 square feet up to 5000 square feet. The Barcelona plan features soaring two-story ceilings throughout the foyer and living room, and the great room adds architectural drama and abundant natural light to the five-bedroom plan. The secluded master suite occupies an entire downstairs wing, with highlights including a room-sized closet and a bay window sitting area.  This home also features a downstairs guest suite with a full bath . 

The popular one-story Altessa plan offers several flexible options, including adding a fifth bedroom and fourth bath, or creating a workshop or window-filled sunroom.  At over 3,000 square feet, the Altessa is perfect for homebuyers who are looking for a luxury home, but do not need extra square footage.

In Senna Hills, Taylor Morrison is offering luxury standard features including granite countertops in the kitchen and master bath, generous crown molding and stone and stucco exteriors. At the Taylor Morrison design center, a professional design team will help you put a personal signature on your new home with thousands of home-customizing options and products under one roof. These include a large selection of appliances, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, countertops, flooring, light fixtures, and electronics such as home entertainment and security systems.

Few suburbs of Austin compare with Westlake, and even fewer communities can offer this exceptional caliber of scenic beauty.

Visit Senna Hills today to tour the Siena II model home and view the impressive new homesites.

Senna Hills is conveniently located off R.M. 2244 approximately 2 miles before Hwy 71. For additional information call 512-263-2655 or visit www.taylormorrison.com

Schools are one of the most important factors homebuyers consider when choosing a community. Not only are they important for the children who attend the schools, but they are a major indicator in how well a community holds and increases property values.

Steiner Ranch is home to three on-site schools that have been rated “Exemplary,” the highest rating given by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). These schools, which are part of the Leander Independent School District, are Steiner Ranch Elementary, Laura Bush Elementary and Canyon Ridge Middle School.

With a guiding principle that embraces curriculum, ethical behavior and parent and community involvement, Leander Independent School District is one of the state’s fastest-growing school districts, attracting buyers to Steiner Ranch with its excellent educational opportunities.

“I would put the education my kids are getting here in Steiner Ranch next to anybody’s,” said Keith Sommer whose kids attend Laura Bush Elementary. “The parental involvement here is outstanding and the teachers really care.”

In October of 2007, voters in the Leander district approved a $559 Million bond package that provides for 22 more new schools, two of which will draw students from Steiner Ranch. This continued commitment by the residents of the district has enabled the district to keep up with the fast growth as well as provide state-of-the-art facilities.

“You can’t get over the “Wow” factor of walking into these well-maintained facilities as well as the exuberance of the people who work there and the kids who attend,” said Monique Brannon, long-time Steiner Ranch resident.

River Ridge Elementary School is among the new schools being built under the bond package. It will open in fall 2009 and will be located near the Bella Mar area in Steiner Ranch. This school will be built under the new “cluster” concept that is designed to be more conducive to learning. The learning clusters allow for more flexibility as well as more hands on learning opportunities.

The fifth Leander district high school is set to open in fall 2009 near the intersection of RR 2222 and FM 620, about a five minute drive from the entrance of Steiner Ranch. A new sports stadium will also be built on the site, which will keep students and activities close to home. This school will round out the high level of education offered within a short walk or drive from home.

Aside from top-rated schools, Steiner Ranch offers an incredible package of amenities for families to enjoy when school is not in session. These amenities include three community centers with pools, a private Lake Club on Lake Austin and 18 miles of hike and bike trails. The homeowners association employs a full-time activities director who plans everything from sports camps on the multi-purpose ball fields to safety education seminars offered in the community reception facilities.