Might move to Austin Texas but big jump! your thoughts? (Point: houses, maintenance)

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by usernamenottaken

Yea, but her husband is 30. Time to get serious and support a family.

I hope she reads these responses. Wondering if that was just another drive-by post.

[sxrckr]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

Austin is the most expensive city in Texas right now.
It has a high COL that just keeps rising.

Try looking at other cities in Texas especially if you have no jobs lined up.

I wouldn't suggest Houston in their case either, apparently the housing prices/market has been going through the roof there as well.

Maybe San Antonio?

[love roses]

Most married musicians here I know have a wife who works a professional job. One of the musicians gives music lessons during the day and the other is in a more popular group and just does music full time, but they tour and also do movie soundtracks, etc...I know some musicians in Houston as well and some of them are pretty popular too, but they also have day jobs. 2 examples there are one is in retail management and another is a prison guard. Some of the others I know are teachers too.

[CptnRn]

COMPARISON---------------------------Austin ------Fort Myers
Cost of Living, 2012---------------------95.3--------91.8
median household income 2011-------$49,987----$36,560
median house/condo value 2011------$217,700 --$110,600------and Austin prices have risen significantly since then
Median gross rent in 2011-------------$905--------$814------and Austin prices have risen significantly since then
% residents living in poverty 2011--20.3% --------28.1%
Crime rates------------------------------370.4-------561.4

There are jobs here but also lots of competition. If you don't have marketable job skills your not going to get the best ones available. Lots of musicians competing with each other here, Most musicians play for pennies and work another full time job to support themselves.

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by love roses

Most married musicians here I know have a wife who works a professional job. One of the musicians gives music lessons during the day and the other is in a more popular group and just does music full time, but they tour and also do movie soundtracks, etc...I know some musicians in Houston as well and some of them are pretty popular too, but they also have day jobs. 2 examples there are one is in retail management and another is a prison guard. Some of the others I know are teachers too.

Most married musicians here I know are women and don't have a wife.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by AguaDulce

Most married musicians here I know are women and don't have a wife.

What do they call a Austin musician without a girlfriend or a wife?

Homeless.

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by scm53

What do they call a Austin musician without a girlfriend or a wife?

Homeless.

I think you missed my point in your rush to tell a tired old joke.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by AguaDulce

I think you missed my point in your rush to tell a tired old joke.

I didn't miss anything. Your circle of friends is a small fraction of the reality that the average Austin musician is male.

[lighthouse2000]

I used to live in Cape Coral, next to Fort Myers, now I live in Utah but looking to move to Austin, I just visited Austin again, Although it is more expensive than Ft myers,, it is not by a lot, but the biggest difference, is that there are more jobs in Austin, and also, the pay better, as you know Lee County and surrounding areas have become terrible, few jobs, crime is increasing, no industry, and everything seems to be dependent mostly on tourism.

I have been impressed with Austin, the main negatives seem traffic, hot weather, and real estate taxes although in fort Myers summers are longer and more humid. The cost of living when I compared where I live is really close, and when compared with Lee County is a little more.

Schools are way better in Texas, Lee county schools are getting worse and worse every year.

After this visit, I am more convinced this is a fit for me and my family. We will be renting the first year to make sure that this is what we are looking for. I will recommend you to do the same, visit first, get more facts, talk to the locals, etc., then if you still feel you like it, just rent for year or two..

Originally Posted by stevic.swfl1111

Hi I'm married with 2 kids my husband is 30 and I'm 24. We live in Fort Myers Florida and hate it! I grew up here and my husband is from Chicago. Fort Myers has no job offers housing sucks it cost so much just to rent but the jobs pay crap and day care is way to expensive!! Its so bad my husband lost his job, I was a house wife because we couldn't afford daycare so were both jobless and we live with my parents who are business owners and there losing there house. Well my husband is in a band and there doing really well here but the music is pretty ****ty and Miami area is mainly hip hop and dub step. Well his lead Singer is moving to Austin Texas and has asked us to come with to proceed with the band. I've read amazing things but it's still nerve racking. We have the money to make the move. But I'm curious about the jobs down there, living cost seems low. Music seen is suppose to be huge! But we have no family or friends. It'll but my lil family and my husband's bandages which one of them is also married with kids. Just my question is, is Austin really as awesome and feasible as it sounds and looks like? Like all the reviews I keep reading just keep pointing to yes. Is this a town where if even if my husband's band doesn't go anywhere we will still be OK because Florida has become not a place to raise a family. 42 unsolved murders in the past 2 years so many rapes break ins I look at my close friends and ones in prison the other is a recovering addict and the more people I meet the more ****ed up they are and the school system sucks!!!... it's so ghetto I just want to move some where down to earth, music, art, and safe for my kids.

[AguaDulce]

Why do people think it's not humid here? Fort Myers has ocean breezes, right? We have humidity and NO ocean breezes.

Also, it can be 90 degrees at midnight, quite frequently, only cooling down to 80 just before sunrise.