What is Sunnyvale, Texas like? (Houston, Dallas: homeowners insurance, how much, cheap house) - City-Data Forum

suntastic08 · 12-28-2009, 07:38 AM

My family is thinking about moving there next year. We're moving from NJ.. so I'm also concerned how much of a difference it will be. I'm used to living in big towns, like where I live now has like nearly 40,000 people (a town in Somerset County) and before that i lived in London, UK.. so I'm not used to small towns pretty much and I hear Sunnyvale is pretty small. I mean what is it like? The main thing Im worried w/ small towns is that what if its harder to make friends and integrate into their tight knit community? Like cause when theres lots of people there's lots of more options. Idk.. I dont know what Texas people are like.

Anyways, is the high school good w/ volleyball? And are there any good volleyball clubs close to the town? my sister and i play it. are there good soccer clubs close to the town too? anything you know about that basically. like anyone who knows what the school year is like a the new high school please tell! im also worried at now new the school is.. do they have any clubs, any dances, any traditions? does the school have a pool, too? and is soccer played during the winter?

If Sunnyvale isn't that amazing, what are other great places near Terrell, TX? my dad is making his company there.. and I told him that there are awesome places in north dallas like Highland Park.. but the commute is like 40 mins from there and he says it looks snotty and its too expensive for them right now.. so so much for that.. haha. and so much for going to the Hockaday School then, too.. :/. I dont want to live in Mesquite though..but Sunnyvale cant be the only option!!

I have so many questions haha but I really have no clue what to expect. Thanks if you can answer some for me!

DaveG99 · 12-28-2009, 07:42 AM

Why did you pick Sunnyvale? Any particular reason?

I have lived downtown and when it came time to move to the suburbs I chose Plano. I prefer the northern suburbs like Plano, Allen, Frisco, Murphy, Sachse, Wylie. I dont know much about sunnyvale but Im sure where ever you decide to move to you will fit right in. There are lots of different kinds of people in Texas and most of them are pretty friendly.

suntastic08 · 12-28-2009, 07:50 AM

My parents picked it cause its near my dad's business in Terrell.

DaveG99 · 12-28-2009, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suntastic08

My parents picked it cause its near my dad's business in Terrell.

If I were going to try and live near Terrell Id take a look at Forney as well. Rockwall and Heath are also options and are within 15 miles or so.

TurtleCreek80 · 12-28-2009, 08:01 AM

Rockwall is a great bigger suburb east of Dallas- on the way to Terrell. Great public schools with a good athletic program. Right on Lake Ray Hubbard and about a 20-30 min drive into Dallas on the weekends.
Bigger than Sunnyvale. And most of it is newer built, so the infrastructure is nicer than Mesquite.

suntastic08 · 12-28-2009, 08:17 AM

Thanks for the info on Rockwall! And can anyone tell me how different it will be to move from NJ to Dallas? for someone who's never moved there... also is volleyball & soccer big there? I've heard that but idk. I really don't care for football, baseball, golf, and softball.

DaveG99 · 12-28-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suntastic08

Thanks for the info on Rockwall! And can anyone tell me how different it will be to move from NJ to Dallas? for someone who's never moved there... also is volleyball & soccer big there? I've heard that but idk. I really don't care for football, baseball, golf, and softball.

Every sport is big here. Maybe not professionally but in highschool they play everything. One thing your goign to find when you move here is that everything is WAY cheaper than in NJ. Especially the homes and insurance rates.

ChristieP · 12-28-2009, 06:08 PM

Definitely look at Rockwall. The city has seen HUGE population growth in the last decade, and it is a great place to live. There are lots of restaurants, retail, etc. My parents have lived there for 16 years now and they love it. The high school is very nice, and yes, soccer and volleyball are popular. (It IS Texas, so high school football is still the biggest!)

And ofr your Dad, the commute down Highway 205 to Terrell is a quick one.

suntastic08 · 12-28-2009, 06:29 PM

The only thing with Rockwall I'm concerned about is that I dont like the school clubs.. like I cant believe there is no debate team or clubs for people interested in International affairs and such. There's clubs like that at the school I'm in now.. and those are the ones Im interested in :/

NSANY · 12-28-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveG99

One thing your goign to find when you move here is that everything is WAY cheaper than in NJ. Especially the homes and insurance rates.

Negative, Houston. Once you get past the cheap houses, the Republic of Texas has a way of nickel-diming you out of tons of money. Homeowners insurance is at least five to eight times what it costs in NJ. Auto insurance is a bit cheaper, but not so much that you're going to retire any earlier. Monthly run-rate on a house is a fortune, given that you'll have four to ten tons of A/C running all the time.

I came back to NJ after three years in Texas. It's a great place to live, but don't believe the hype that it's a fast path to retirement.

And to the OP, consider carefully the things you like about the northeast that you REALLY like. Some of them are nowhere to be found outside of that area. There are other things that you will find in Texas that you won't find in NJ that are great, but don't go looking for a decent bagel in the morning. You won't find it.