Houston versus New York- I want to be in the know!!! (Bellaire: real estate market, homes)

[kenglim17]

Dear Houston,

It's time for me to move on from NYC to bigger and better things. I hope you are it. Convince me to move here. I would love to hear about everything that you have to offer. I want to know about the good, the bad, the weird; whatever it is, I want to know. I've never visited yet (I'm coming in March) so let me know the "must see" places;.. in other words, let me know what you're all about. I do have some specific things I would like to know such as:

1) What does your city offer an older guy like me. I'm about to retire.
2) I love everything Asian. Where can I find some good Asian places to shop and eat?
3) The weather, the weather, the weather. If you've been in NYC during the summer with high humidity, let me know the comparisons.
4) Utilities, Property taxes, real estate market. What do I have to know about moving into your beautiful state and city.

Coming from New York, I accept no bull. Just kidding, I would love to hear from all of you.

Cheers,

New Yawker

[carolineb]

There is a large Asian community in Houston and surrounding areas. I recently attended the Chinese New Year lunar festival at the Chinese Community Center for the 2nd year in a row. You can google CCC and learn about it -- it's located in an Asian district (near Bellaire Blvd. and Beltway 8).

One obvious difference is the lack of public transportation in Houston compared to NYC.

I don't think the heat and humidity compares at all to Houston -- I'm originally from Queens and I don't remember any summers & fall like the heat & humidity like we have here in Houston.

[Texas Mack]

Yeah, the summers in Houston will be, on most days, hotter and a more humid than in New York City (although, I have a co-worker from NYC that tells me that there can be a few days in NYC in the summer where the heat and humidity are worst than the average summer day in Houston).

And Houston has a large Asian population, mostly Vietnamese, but a growing number of Chinese as well. The "center" of the Asian community is in the SW quad of the city along Bellaire Blvd, roughly 10 to 12 square miles depending on how you define the boundaries.

Also, Houston is more car-centric than New York, so expect to drive, unless you are able to settle down inside the Loop, where public transit is a little more accessible (although, still not to the same degree).

Expect more greenery as well. Because of the humid climate and because Houston has a lot of single, detached homes with lawns, there are a lot of trees (of many varieties) and grass here. Some people who've never been to Houston are surprised by this.

Also, Houston has multiple "centers" spread throughout rather than a dominating distinguishable core like Manhattan (that is, Midtown, etc).

Also, people say y'all pretty frequently.

[houstoner]

2) Houston Chinatown,Chinese Restaurant in Houston Guide

[jfre81]

https://www.city-data.com/forum/houst...-new-york.html

Y'all = Yous guys

[Supermac34]

1. Extremely affordable housing in the suburbs of Houston. You could buy a nice home and retire in it. Also, if you golf, you can golf year round in Houston...even December and January. Overall an extremely more affordable cost of living.

2. Extremely large Asian population with tons of great food, etc.

3. Like I said: year round golf, however, in the summer you will get weeks of 95 degree heat with 90% humidity. People from Houston think its funny when David Letterman does his yearly complaints about the weather on his show. "Oh no, a stifling heat wave with 50% humidity". HA!

4. Energy utilities are high in the summer to run your AC. We use natural gas for heat here, not heating oil. It tends to be cheaper, and since the winters are mild, you actually don't run it that much. Property taxes are approx. 3%. But, since you can get a nice home here much cheaper than NY, its probably a wash. The real estate market here is a slow, steady rise. It doesn't spike one way or the other. That's what tends to keep prices lower.

For an idea on home prices and what you can get, surf around Houston Real Estate - Houston Homes, Houston Home Value and Houston Relocation.

[kiriath_jearim]

You should have no problem blending in. People from all over the world live in Houston. It can be as dangerous in Houston as in any other big American city.