What's it like in Texas?

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

This may not be the right place to post this question. But i was wondering who is from Texas, what part, and do you like it?

i'm in California - Los Angeles area, where the prices are super duper high. Our utility bills are like paying another mortgage. Last night my dh and i were watching HGTV house hunters. A young woman was buying a HUGE house with a BIG backyard in Austin for under $300k. i kept looking at the houses she was touring going "Oh . . my . . . goodness!".

Since our money is tight and getting tighter, one option for us is to move to a less expensive area. My husband has visited Texas, and has a good friend who is from Houston. So i was just wondering about the upsides and downsides of living there.

Thanks for any input anyone might offer! Colleen

 

[texaschickmama]

I love it here. Our highest utility bill has been $300 and that was August the hottest time of year here. Your dollar will go a lot further here I guarantee you. The people are so friendly and the weather is great. I say do it. for $300K you could have a little ranch with a nice brick home. My friends have one with like 51 acres outside of Jacksboro. That is in North Texas. We have a great place with 10 acres and a beautiful new brick and stone house. Love it here.

 

[blue90292]

it really depends on what part of houston you move to. traffic and such has alot to do with it also, but coming from LA, traffic will probably be no big deal to you.

i used to live inner loop of houston. i now live 20 min outside of houston on the southside near pearland. pearland is going through a huge growth spirt right now. i love it down here, but it's definitely a complete different animal from, say, The woodlands area, or the katy area.

if you have an idea of what area you're looking at, i can give you a better idea.

you need to remember, that you'll probably get a pay cut taking a job out here also.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Well, the problem is my dh has gone from working for a major company to working with two others in an independent business. So the pay cut has already happened. We were hoping to check out Houston when his friend's movie deal got funded, as that will be filmed in Houston - but that hasn't happened yet.

i'm retired with a pension. We may have enough in equity to almost buy a house outright, if we found something around $200k. Then with my pension we should be able to get by until my dh got his bearings. Is there much of a film business going in Texas, and what areas might be more supportive of the industry?

As for me, i just want a pretty patch of land where i can have my chickens - but nothing too remote. i want to be able to call 911 and have them get there in a reasonable amount of time. i also like woodsy green areas with nice weather, no tornados, hurricanes, or tsunamis.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I love Texas! I was born just south of Houston, and I lived just north of Paris, TX (northeast Texas) most of my life. I've never owned property there, but my parents despair of the property taxes. Home insurance has in the past been a challenge also, but not currently. The people are friendly, the highways are awesome, fuel cost tends to be right around the national average, sales tax isn't bad, no state income tax...

Northeast Texas is generally flat (but forested) land with lots of lakes & creeks.

Centerville (east central area of the state) is a lovely area if you're looking for rural living (Texas Hill Country = rolling hills & pines). I'd skip Dallas and live in the Ft. Worth area if you were leaning towards that area.

One of these days I'm probably going to move to the Austin area, seems like much more of a place geared for someone of my own personal tastes and interests. I'm ecclectic, I'll admit it.

 

[blue90292]

i can't speak for the other areas, but you can find a beautiful home for $200k. not very big yard though. you can always buy a piece of property around 5-10 acres and have a nice brick house (around 2000 to 3000 sq feet) built for $200k if you go a little outside of the houston area. you'd probably have some money left over if you searched and waited for a little while. right now is the time to search since people don't buy and so prices are lower. during may - sept, people do more buying since the school year is over and they can up root their family. also, there's alot of foreclosure going on, because alot of people bought houses using an ARM loan, so you can find great deals if you search right, but make sure you look over the neighborhood and get police reports and stuff.

if you're looking for a more movie oriented city, austin is your better bet. but austin is more flat country. if you're looking for trees, the woodlands area, and spring are your better bet. (i only know houston area so i can't speach for the other major cities) i'm not too familiar with north houston, but blisschick, on this site, lives north of houston and could probably help you with the insite over there.

there are alot of austin and san antonio people on this site that can help you in that area, and carla is from san marcus, which is a WONDERFUL area, and she could help you with that place. it's close to austin/san antonio and very beautiful and serene. you'll fall in love when you see carla's house and her surroundings.

go to www.petchickensoftexas.com and post your question there. i'm sure you'll get a ton of info from all the good folks there.

michele

 

[gootziecat]

You can also get a lot of facts from www.city-data.com, although slightly outdated.

 

[Wildsky]

Wow, lots of people are leaving CA - just in the last 6 months 3 people from my work have moved from there - to various parts of the country (myself included)
Good luck - its tough to move - lots of planning and effort but well worth it in the long run!

 

[texaschickmama]

You mentioned that your DH does films. I know that Las Colinas is where Walker Texas Ranger is filmed. Also, Prison Break is filmed somewhere around here. They had a bid film festival in Dallas a few months back. They are trying to get Dallas know for their films. I also would steer clear of the Dallas area to live in, but that is just my personal taste. I love it out in the country. I can be in downtown Cowtown (Ft. Worth) in 40 minutes, but I don't have to hear it, see it, smell it. Just depends on what you like. Oh yeah, everything is bigger in Texas, did you know?

 

[Buckguy20]

I am from Oklahoma but I have been all over Texas. I have never lived there but it is a very nice place to visit.
Except during the OU/Texas week, everyone there has always been very friendly. There are vast differences in Texas because of its size. Houston is nothing like Amarillo and El paso is nothing like Dennison.
It depends, do you want pine trees or cactus, tumbleweeds or hurricanes, sandy beaches or skyscrapers?
Oh yes and there is always Paris in the spring!
Monty