What is life like in Kerrville? (San Antonio, Austin: low income, waterpark, houses)

[TexasRedneck]

My Mom & Dad lived in Kerrville, and we seriously considered buying their home and moving up there. We had SOME reservations (their regulatory atmosphere rivals Austin's).....then we found out what the taxes were. They had had their house for a while, so their value was "locked" - but current taxes on a 500k house were going to put us at about $12k/year. Renters think that doesn't affect them....but it does, usually even worse than a homeowner, since the renter IS going to be paying the property taxes the landlord does via their rent.

Digging deeper, I found a real disconnect between city leadership and the citizenry, and we decided NOT to go forward with purchasing the house, and sold it instead. Those high property taxes hurt the resale as well - comparable homes outside the city limits were going for about $100k more than we could get for hers.

[OzzyRules]

Originally Posted by Chaka

It's a nice small town, but I think you'd have better luck getting around on foot/scooter in San Antonio. The center of town of Kerrville is cute and charming, but there isn't that much there. You'd have to get on a car to get to most places. Doable if you lived near the center, and there are some nice areas there, but the main roads would scare the heck out of me if I was on a scooter or bike. The river is indeed lovely, and lots of outdoor stuff near there.

I used to work there but commuted from downtown San Antonio.

I can't believe you are serious. Downtown San Antonio? Downtown SA doesn't even have the most basic conveniences. You would have to drive a scooter for miles out of the area. Not likely. Sometimes I don't even feel comfortable *walking* there as a relatively young person.

Kerrville has residential areas within it's main roads. It seems like an ideal setup for getting around easily.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

I can't believe you are serious. Downtown San Antonio? Downtown SA doesn't even have the most basic conveniences. You would have to drive a scooter for miles out of the area. Not likely. Sometimes I don't even feel comfortable *walking* there as a relatively young person.

I see people in scooters around downtown all the time. I walk/cycle downtown on a daily basis. Often with kids on my bike.

You're right about though - we don't have a real grocery store. Though we do have a few small ones that provide a few things. Hopefully this will change soon. I was focusing on the safety issue though. Except for about 2 blocks right downtown in Kerrville, I wouldn't feel comfortable on a scooter or bike on those streets.

I like Kerrville well enough, but wouldn't want to live there.

[TX2FL_Federali]

I was living in SA and worked in Kerrville about three days per week. There are some nice areas like Comanche Trace, but I couldn't see myself ever living there. I second the idea of Boerne. At least in Boerne, you can ride down I-10 and be at La Cantera in a short ride.

[rctsat]

I can tell you what to do the first Friday of every month go to the Kerrville wine share you will enjoy yourself, that is unless you don't like wine and very friendly lively people. Look it up online and check it out.

[dpantle]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

I can't believe you are serious. Downtown San Antonio? Downtown SA doesn't even have the most basic conveniences. You would have to drive a scooter for miles out of the area. Not likely. Sometimes I don't even feel comfortable *walking* there as a relatively young person.

Kerrville has residential areas within it's main roads. It seems like an ideal setup for getting around easily.

I'm in agreement w/Chaka. She seems to be advocating areas just north of downtown like Monte Vista or Tobin Hill. I think that would satisfy the OP's requirements just fine.

To the OP, Kerrville is pretty spread out. You're not going to do a majority of your errands on a scooter.

[TxAzMark]

I have lived in Kerrville for 5 years. I moved here after living in PHX for 20 years. Before that I lived in HOU & SATX. I would scooter around Kerrville moons before I would scooter in any of the other places I mentioned. As far as Kerrville being spread out...that is somewhat true, particularly residentially. But the core of the town is beyond a comfortable walking distance, but could easily be managed by bicycle. You should be conscious of the fact that a lot of OLD people live in Kerrville, so drive defensively. For those who only know Kerrville by it's I-10 frontage area, that is pretty generic "every exit off I-10" kind of store front/restaurant territory. You should venture at least a couple of miles south& go a few miles East(Center Point) & West(Ingram/Hunt) on Hwy 27 & maybe even all the way to Medina on Hwy 16 & go over the "HILL". Of course you should visit the James Avery store & Visitor Center off I-10 & Harper Rd., 1 exit NW of Kerrville main exit. Also, Louise B Hays Park in Central Kerrville is AWESOME, newly renovated w/a new 6 mile walking trail along the Guadalupe River. Stay away from chain restaurants and eat @ the locally owned restaurants. Come on down for a visit.

[Azure110]

I have family in Kerrvile (one is a police officer there). Nice little town but I wouldn't live there.

They are building a chick-fil-a there so they must be moving on up there.

[TxAzMark]

RE: Schreiner University, it seems to have some, but not huge impact on the town. See Club Ed(www.clubed.net/), the Texas Hill Country's largest lifelong learning program, for wide-ranging, ongoing education programs. Alamo College also has a small branch here.

[StealthRabbit]

Kerrville is probably one of the most 'socially accepting' and 'diverse' economy 'small' towns near SA. (not german / various employers)

it is sleepy, and hosts a lot of tours / events and is essentially the 'gateway' to remote hill country ranches / camps.

Still affordable (jobs pay less)
Plenty of food, plenty of space, affordable homes.

It has Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart and good selection of local stores. Gibson's is still the 'treasure' (they actually have unique stuff (hardware) if you NEED something special. It REALLY needs a 'Central Market' / grocery option.
Stoplights are a total PITA (not synchronized). They should 'blink' from 9PM to 7AM.
But it brings good revenue for police, as does speed limit in town).

Accessibility to other great Hill Country towns is a real + for Kerrville.

Some folks (many) really like Mary's Tacos. I have had them all and still trying to figure out why people go there. (and line up, like Seattle and coffee).

Mooney Aircraft is hiring again!
Several other employers seeking to expand.
MANY empty commercial buildings. (Kerrville would be a GREAT place to start a factory!)