considering relocating from florida to Houston or Philadelphia (Dallas, Spring: real estate, condos)

[Nikki9947]

I currently live in South Florida but was born and raised in Houston and am definitely considering moving back. There is really no city in Florida similar to Houston. But I would have to agree with Jacksonville though if you really twisted my arm. The biggest difference is that Houston has a faster pace and is a little more diverse. The main thing that is pulling me is back is the cost of living and the jobs! I am young and I feel like I can actually afford a really reasonable house there. It is also a great place to raise a family. I have never been to Philly before so I can't give you my advice on that. Either way, I think Houston has a lot to offer.

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by amhn

thanks for all your responses, all are very helpful.

As far as for the price of housing we were thinking for something around the 250K price range, some place family friendly and were we feel safe letting our kids play out in the yard. And yet where there is some form of entertainment for us adults near buy(easy access), shopping dinning etc. so just not in the middle of nowhere.

We have been thinking about Philly for awhile but for similar reasons that you all mentioned we have chosen to consider other options. we are looking for a big city and at the same time a place to call home home.
I have been hearing good reviews about the Katy and Sugarland area, just wondering if there were other areas we could look at that is near the city and just opinions on nearby towns/communities with the cost of housing in our price range.

Schools are also an important issue for us. we have been looking at private schools in the suburbs in philly and the cost, just wondering about the same for the houston areas and what areas would be best to look at. We would like to have the option of public schools too.

Just wondering with the comparison to jacksonville, is there more to do in Houston, just more entertainment, not just the shopping and dining out.

And is the public transportation better than in philly?

thanks again for all your responses.

Katy and Sugarland are very nice, family-friendly areas. Other suburban areas to consider are Pearland, Friendswood and Clear Lake. You may also want to consider the new developments on the north side like Fall Creek or Summerwood. If you would like to be nearer to work (downtown) try Maplewood and Timbergrove. There are some more areas nearer town but price range knocks out about half of them and school issues knock out a few more. If you do not mind private schools, I would add Garden Oaks area and some areas of the Heights. As a mid-way point, you might want to check out Spring Branch area but the price range is going to be limiting if I recall correctly.

[amhn]

thanks guys for all the replies and information.
I have made a list of suggested areas.
I was wondering which ones you would really put at the top of the list.
There seems to be alot to look at out there.
We are busy gathering information including all your suggestions, and planning on making a trip out there.
Just wondering if there are any other pros and cons as to living in the area.

Thanks again for all your help

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by amhn

thanks guys for all the replies and information.
I have made a list of suggested areas.
I was wondering which ones you would really put at the top of the list.
There seems to be alot to look at out there.
We are busy gathering information including all your suggestions, and planning on making a trip out there.
Just wondering if there are any other pros and cons as to living in the area.

Thanks again for all your help

Well Maplewood and Timbergrove are my personal favorites (out of my price range) as they are both close to the places I like to hang out but other folks like different things. The homes are very nice and shopping convenient. I currently live in Deer Park and have to drive to get to those places but love my home in Deer Park and the community activities sponsored by the city but most folks don't like being near the chemical plants and ignore Deer Park. I appreciate my community even more since Ike as they really kicked it up a notch and helped folks out.

[theSUBlime]

I've visited Philly a couple of times and I have family there so I know a little bit about both cities. All cities (including Houston) have safety issues, but violent crime in Philadelphia is quite prevalent.

Culturally/Historically Philly is wonderful though--I really enjoyed seeing things like the Liberty Bell and all the great memorials and sites of interest. Though less prominent, Houston has some great things to see as well. I also heard the suburbs, and very specific areas of Philly are nice.

On the surface, Philadelphia is ethnically a Black and White city, but with a closer look you see Jamaican, Irish, Italian German and many more. So in terms of experiencing different ethnic cultures Houston and Philadelphia are of equal footing--Houston is quite international as well.

As for weather... if you like it on the colder side with seasons Philadelphia would be nice. If you like it hot as hell, with some nice weather like we're getting now, pick Houston. (Hey, I told ya so!)

Mass transit = Philadelphia

Car = Houston

I think I summed it up pretty nicely. I think other people can give you specifics.

[travelguy_73]

Originally Posted by amhn

thanks guys for all the replies and information.
I have made a list of suggested areas.
I was wondering which ones you would really put at the top of the list.
There seems to be alot to look at out there.
We are busy gathering information including all your suggestions, and planning on making a trip out there.
Just wondering if there are any other pros and cons as to living in the area.

Thanks again for all your help

I'm not really sure that we all are the best ones to try and prioritize a list of the best places to live in the metro area. We each have the places we call home and like/dislike those or other areas for very different reasons.

I will say that with a $250k budget and schools to think about, you can rule out much (though not all) of the inner loop. You are most likely going to find yourself in either an older city neighborhood or a full-fledged new/newish suburban neighborhood. Older neighborhoods like Maplewood/Westbury/Willowbend (loosely referred to as the Meyerland area in zips 77035 and 77096) on the near SW side can be great, though as with any older area, you do need to pay attention to which schools you are zoned to. In these areas, you will generally be looking at about a 2k sq ft, 1960-ish ranch-style home. Right off the loop (610), it is convenient to much of the city, without being right in it. Otherwise, there are any number of suburban neighborhoods, from Cypress (NW) to Katy (W) to Sugarland (SW) to The Woodlands (N), to Kingwood (NE), to Baytown (E), to Clear Lake (SE), and Friendswood/Pearland (S). Depending on where you work (the A #1 determining factor of where you should live IMO) and what "look" you are going for, these are all good places to raise a family, and all have a similar clean, if generic, suburban feel. They will all require a lot more driving, as you probably expected. There are park-n-ride options from them, so if you work in one of the major employment centers, that could be a positive since oftentimes you can use pre-tax dollars to pay for public transportation (at least at my company you can).

There are other inner loop places that you can get for $250k, but they tend to be in gentrifying areas and might require private school (though that begs the philosophical question of how do you improve the mediocre schools if you don't put involved students and parents in them?).

At the end of the day, it is important to remember that Houston has a lot of opportunity for everyone, just like many other cities do. We don't have the density of older, NE cities, nor do we have the natural beauty of some other cities. this is generalizing of course, but we do generally have a live-and-let-live population from all over the world who tend to value personal freedom and fewer regulations (hence the lack of zoning). The city demographic can vary from block-to-block, and the suburban demographic is about the same as every other city (same builders, same style, lower price points ). It really takes a trip here to experience it all.

Weather-wise, from October-March we usually have moderate weather. April and May starts to get warm and muggy, and Jun-Sept hot and muggy. So we are now entering a nice time of year, and that will continue for quite a while. If you don't like hot/humid summers, this isn't your place (I don't like cold winters, so this is my place, LOL).

[Texas Mack]

If driving a car offends you or is seen as a detriment to your cool factor then by all means choose Philadelphia. Sure, there is public transit in Houston, and if you're a true urbanite, much of it is useful enough to be tolerable, particularly if you live inside the loop, but because buses dominate, it may interfere with your sense of cool, and we can't have that, now can we.

So there it is.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Philly has one of the highest murder rates in the country & is now commonly referred to as "Killadelphia".

I wouldn't exactly want to start a new family there if I were you.

stones....glasshouses....refraining perhaps.....

Houston murder rate reaches #2 in nation


HOUSTON -- Houston's murder rate was No. 2 in the nation in 2006, outranked only by Philadelphia, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

According to statistics compiled by the FBI, Houston's homicide rate climbed 12 percent in 2006 with a total of 334 deaths

[rainrock]

The chances of being a murder victim in Philadlephia are fairly high if you are a young black male hanging out in the ghetto after 10 PM. 90% of the murder victims in Philadlephia (2006) had a criminal record.

Murder rate for young black Philadlephians is 43 per 100,000.

Murder rate for white Philadlephians is 4 per 100,000.

The city of Philadlephia has 700,000 blacks,and 700,000 whites.

The Philadlephia metro has 6 million people with a violent crime rate well under the national avg.Unheard of outside the city and inner ring suburbs.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by EEstudent

Im looking to move out because Houston is not really that great of a city for 20 year olds.

Please elaborate

Houston is a very young city with plenty to do for people in their 20's