Kyle
I have three words for Kyle - Real Estate Explosion
This place is growing fast. What was once a quaint little town sitting politely next to IH-35 has become a boisterous teenager that is sprouting faster than my son goes through basetball shoes. Kyle is within a nice drive into Austin which makes it a prime location for commuting. My gut tells me they are growing too fast, too quickly.
The main historic area of Kyle remains small-town and quaint, although a little lifeless. Large shopping centers nearby seemed to have taken the retail out of the downtown.
Kyle is located 30 minutes southwest of Austin -- 1.25 hours northeast of San Antonio.
They are bulldozing and building everywhere. Houses are small, cramped together and going for "cheap" but prices have been moving up quickly. I worry about the schools and infrastructure not able to keep up with the population explosion. Beware buying in Kyle -- it feels like a glut is coming. They are touted as being the 39th fastest growing county in the nation.
I pulled these stats below off the of the Kyle City Data website.
- 2001: 586 buildings, average cost: $74,700
- 2002: 871 buildings, average cost: $73,200
- 2003: 945 buildings, average cost: $73,200
- 2004: 1247 buildings, average cost: $80,000
- 2005: 967 buildings, average cost: $144,400
Look at those housing costs skyrocket. I think if you're looking to invest here, the train has already pulled out of the station. Also, because of the high affordability, there are a lot of investors that went in and now Kyle is becoming a rental community. Not a good formula for pride in homeownership and stability.
Kyle Restaurants
Texas Pie Company. 202 W. Center, Phone: 512-268-5885
Pies and baked goods since 1991. They serve lunch (salads, sandwiches and casseroles) all day. They can also provide catering.
Their slogan: Life's Short. Eat More Pie.
Kyle Lodging
The Inn Above Onion Creek. 4444 Hwy 150 W. (512) 268-1617. Yeah Baby! A beautiful retreat close to Austin. 19th century architecture built in the 21st century. The Inn sits on 100 acres on Onion Creek. You can mountain bike (byob), hike, swim and end your day with a sit on the deck to gaze at the beautiful sunsets, leading into the pitch dark nights with millions of stars to take in.
Drive Times
Getting from one place to another takes time in the Hill Country. Texas is a big state and there's a lot of land to traverse. I've put together a drive time grid of how long it takes to get from one place to another.
Roadtrips through the Hill Country
The very thought of a roadtrip sparks energy in the air. As a college student, my best friend and I would stock the car with candy bars, sodas and enough clothing to last a week. We'd head off to Vegas or the mountains or sites yet unknown for an overnight.
