Inter-racial family relocating to Corpus Christi (Howe, Mart: how much, house, job market)

[RelocatingMama]

My family will be relocating to Corpus Christi this year. We are from the California Bay Area. We are an inter-racial couple and have a toddler. We are professionals and I hope to stay home.

We are looking for a home in the 200-300K range. Can anyone point us in the right direction as far as good neighborhoods and schools? My husband will be working downtown.

Is there a climate of racism? What about the Hispanic population? Is the language issue a barrier? I am from California, so do know enough Spanish to place a fast-food order.

We have a grocer in California known as Trader Joes, it's a quaint style "health and organic" market. Is there anything like this in Corpus?

Thanks for your time!

[Marlow]

First of all, welcome! I am from Corpus Christi and after having moved around some have lived here as an adult for 10 years. It has it's good points and it's bad points but overall, I think it's a good place to live.

You don't say what races you all are, but I'm assuming you are African-American and white. You shouldn't have any problems because of that. The AA population here is very small (about 5% I think) but it's a relaxed place and no one really cares what anyone else does. The area is predominantly Hispanic (about 60% or so, I think) but you do not need to speak Spanish to live here. I've heard people say that on here before and don't know where it came from.

You will be able to buy a nice house for 200-300k. It will mostly be a matter of whether you want to live in an older, established neighborhood close to downtown, or a newer neighborhood on the Southside. I suggest you look at both because they have very different feels to them. If you want to send me a DM I can tell you more about particular neighborhoods.

Sadly, we don't have a Trader Joe's or a Whole Foods, at least not yet anyway. There is a small Sun Harvest which I think has been bought out by Whole Foods and I'm not sure what their plans are. There is a local grocery chain called H.E.B. that pretty much has a monopoly on the grocery market, except for some competition from Wal-Mart.

Moving from the Bay area to Corpus Christi will undoubtedly induce culture shock, but I think that you will find plusses to counter the minuses.

Good luck with everything and please let me know if there are any other questions I can try and answer for you.

[jak88]

If you are a hispanic white couple you will fit right in. Half the population is Hispanic, but I notice they always have the courtesy to speak English out in public which I find odd living in Illinois now. I grew up in Corpus as a kid and lived in Flour Bluff, which is considered part of Corpus unless you're from Flour Bluff and then it is just considered Flour Bluff. Racism was never an issue growing up, I didn't really even notice the difference between blacks and whites and Mexicans until I moved away from Corpus when I was twelve. It was just so natural to grow up around eachother.

A nice home with a lot of land is very cheap in Corpus. I think the last time I went to visit my grandparents (a couple months ago) we saw a HUGE house with a lot of land for 150,000. That same house in Illinois would cost well over 600,000. The housing market is extremely cheap in Corpus Christi.

[NOTAM]

my friend dropped by today and she has her young girl (i think she is 7 years old maybe) in a head start school in the area..they just moved here, and told me that the head start program is bilingual and when she talked to the teachers today to see how her daughter was doing, they said, "well she is very advanced in everything but there is one problem, she is not picking up Spanish as well as we would expect". um, last time i looked we live in America. i think it's horrible that they are EXPECTING her to learn Spanish. by the way, she is the only caucasian "anglo" in the class, the rest are hispanic and there is one black.

[Marlow]

If the head start program is bilingual, it may be a Spanish immersion program where the children are, indeed, expected to become fluent in both languages. In most places it's considered a bonus to speak two languages.

[love roses]

I disagree that people should be forced to learn another language, no matter how much of a bonus it can be. I don't want someone else to make that decision for me.

[jak88]

Originally Posted by love roses

I disagree that people should be forced to learn another language, no matter how much of a bonus it can be. I don't want someone else to make that decision for me.

I'd get used to it. If you want your children to be more successful, anyway. As much as I hate to say it....

These are different times, and our country/world is changing. We are no longer countries, but considered members of a globalized society. Adapt now, or at least allow your children to, so they can have an easier time later.

And again, I really hate to say it.

[dcowling1]

Multi-culturalism is no big deal in Corpus Christi. This is the most tolerant city I have ever lived in. Speaking Spanish is not required or necessary. However if your chidren have the opportunity to learn young they should do so. It will provide them a huge advantage in the future job markets and also allow them to travel and communicate freely in a large percentage of the world. Buena Suerte!

[jwal3]

I live in Corpus on the Southside and I wouldn't live anywhere else (maybe in the older, nicer downtown area, but it's alot pricier). I love the southside though, my opinion, it has the best schools also. We are far enough away from all of the city congestion, but close enough to run in for some great food, a movie, or swing by the mall. We also have a killer HEB Plus (brand new) out here. It's almost like a new suburb with a ton of great businesses. And for your price range, you would get a NICE house. And as for the bi-racial issue.. there are so many bi-racial families here.. I think that is the least of your problems. It's pretty laid back here (especially when it comes to race), we really don't care at all.

[pngwnzz]

RelocatingMama-
Just wondering if you ever made it to CC? I myself am interracial, with kids, looking in the CC area (from Alaska - don't EVEN get me started). If you made it down, please give your true opinion. I have a 14 yr old and 10 yr old.