Left Jersey for Texas (Eatontown: real estate, renting, crime)

[New Jersey Texan]

I left Eatontown,N.J. for Keller,Tx Aug.2005. Just packed up with my wife two kids four dogs and drove down. This was after walking away from a job that I had been at for 28 yrs. We sold our house for twice what we bought it for six years earlier. Now we live in a brand new house with no mortage and no real winter.

[NC little foot]

Any regrets? I was watching house hunters and Austin texas episode came on, I was very surprised at the price of homes, very reasonable. 1 question, Do most people in Texas have tornado rooms? I'm under the impression there are many bad and frequent tornado's there. Aside from Mother Nature, I did see some beautiful lakes in Texas. And, overall it looked pretty nice. Any diners?

[min2mem]

Good for you New Jersey Texan! I also left Eatontown 4 weeks ago and bought a home in Brookville Pa. I LOVE IT!! The only regret that I have is the fact that I had to leave my home state because I could no longer afford to live there.

[New Jersey Texan]

Min2mem
I was just wondering where in Eatontown you lived? Did you get a real good price for your house like we did? Did it take a long time to sell,since the housing seems to be going through some changes about now.

[New Jersey Texan]

PattyNJ
No tornado rooms that I've seen. I think there more prevelant in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Yea,house prices are alot more resonable then Jersey. A median price three bedroom two bath house is about $160,000. And its all brick on the outside. In Jersey you would tack on alot more money for the brick exterior.

[min2mem]

Originally Posted by New Jersey Texan

Min2mem
I was just wondering where in Eatontown you lived? Did you get a real good price for your house like we did? Did it take a long time to sell,since the housing seems to be going through some changes about now.

I was actually renting, being a single Mom I could never afford to buy a house there.

[blueblack]

Hi New Jersey Texan !!! I like the sound of that !
I also am in present change mode of moving from NJ to Texas.
Through research, I am leaning toward Austin or Dallas, Texas. I am very excited about the move and all the warm weather. If I never had to shovel through another snow storm it would be A-O-K !!! I'm ready to slow it down
and enjoy the weather ! The real estate prices seem excellent, far better than NJ. I will be visiting soon, just to get a feel for the people.

For those wanting to move to NJ... There is alot of professional job opportunities and advancement, only if your willing to apply yourself. Like its neighbors, NY & Pennsylvania - there is alot going on as far as jobs, social activities,
entertainment, education & even slow it down suburban life if thats what your looking for. The Tri State area can offer it all. But, you better have the energy to go for it !

[RyanPKull]

Originally Posted by blueblack

Hi New Jersey Texan !!! I like the sound of that !
I also am in present change mode of moving from NJ to Texas.
Through research, I am leaning toward Austin or Dallas, Texas. I am very excited about the move and all the warm weather. If I never had to shovel through another snow storm it would be A-O-K !!! I'm ready to slow it down
and enjoy the weather ! The real estate prices seem excellent, far better than NJ. I will be visiting soon, just to get a feel for the people.

For those wanting to move to NJ... There is alot of professional job opportunities and advancement, only if your willing to apply yourself. Like its neighbors, NY & Pennsylvania - there is alot going on as far as jobs, social activities,
entertainment, education & even slow it down suburban life if thats what your looking for. The Tri State area can offer it all. But, you better have the energy to go for it !

I cannot picture myself in Texas..haha

What is the crime like down there? I heard there was a lot of it. Also I heard there was a lot of poor homeless people/illegal immigrants and the jobs do not pay well at all?

Is it true?

[jmacksgirl]

I am a native Jersey girl who JUST left Texas in April. I liked it ok, though I would NOT recommend living in Dallas. Alot of crime there. Austin is ok but again it is a big city so there is a crime element. I would suggest one of the surrounding smaller cities like Round Rock, Kyle,Buda,etc for the Austin folks and Lewisville,Carrolton, or even Denton for those that want to be near Dallas. I lived in Texas for 13 years on and off the bulk was from 97-April 06. There are job opportunities there but you will not make what you make up north. My hubby went to TSTC in Waco and graduated so we moved for a job opportunity to FL. check out city data dot com for the crime stats on Austin and Dallas, but I think Dallas is worse, also there is TERRIBLE traffic on I-35 the highway that gets ya from Dallas to Austin, All of my in-laws live in the Austin or San Marcos area and there biggest gripe is traffic. I personally lived in Denton, Carrolton and waco, and traveled to work near Dallas and the traffic was horrendous. Weather wise, there are major storms there and the day I left Waco there was a tornado, then followed by I think 2 more that week. There were tornadoes north and south of us approx 10-15 mi during tornado season as well which is like March-June maybe longer. You mainly get alot of severe thunderstorms, Dallas has had its share of tornadoes as well, I cant recall any for Austin. A great state to live in just steer clear of the inner city living and you will be ok. Austin is a nice city great shopping and Dallas has the Galleria (extraordinary shopping!!) but I wouldnt live in either city, just near them. Hope that helps someone!

[New Jersey Texan]

As long as you stay on the outside of the big cities in Texas you'll be fine.
My wife and I never venture into Dallas just like when we lived in Jersey we never went into Manhatten. I don't really see any homeless people buts that's because I only drove through South Fort Worth one time; then I knew not to go thru it again. True, the jobs here don't pay
as well as Jersey particually if your unskilled labor as I am.