Finally decided to do it... (Dallas, San Antonio: real estate, insurance, mortgage)

[lvknight]

My wife and I sat down and decided we are going to move to San Antonio. We set a target of July of '08. The only thing that I see holding us up is if we somehow can't sell our house for what its worth. Factoring in cost of living with the lower wages of the area, we should break even or come out a little (very little) ahead financially. That, however, is not the reason for the decision.

We want to move to an area with a better educational system, a little more family oriented. And to be honest I'm sick and tired of the desert. I've spent my whole life in Las Vegas and need a change. It would be nice to get somewhere a little greener, that gets more rain than the 3"-4" (if we're lucky)we get here. Also, my wife really misses humidity (she's from Virginia). She has family and one friend from high school in the area and really loves the idea of moving to San Antone. I like that san Antonio has a bit of small town feel (something I definately will have to acclimate to) but is a big city. Growing up in a big city, I don't think i could do a small town of under a hundred thousand. Plus nice lakes and rivers in the area (I hate Lake Mead, its all dirt and rock, and 120 degrees literally in the summer) are a deffinate plus.

We've been researching a move to Texas for a year. We've ruled out all the other cities. For some reason San Antonio just calls to us. It already feels like home and we're not even there yet. My mom and dad used to live allover Texas, Plainview, Corpus Christie, Abeliene, San Antonio, a handful of other small towns, and Dallas (where I was born). They both regret leaving the state. They loved it there. They only reason they left was that my mom just had to be in the same town as my grandparents. My dad has told me that if we move he's selling and coming too. My moms not happy about it, but she'll just have to get over it. We told her she could come and live with us, but her and my wife don't get along so she declined that offer.

I have read the negatives and the positives posted on the forum for quite a few months now. I realize that any growing city will have massive road construction. Hey, the official animal of las vegas is the orange cone. I'm going from 1.9 million people to 1.9 million people. There will be crime, homeless, and everything else we have here. What will be nicer is that we can get a slightly bigger house for 500-600 less on a 30 year mortgage vs the 40 year one we have now, auto insurance rates that are about 40% less, cheaper fuel, and much cheaper utilities. I know we'll make less, and I'm okay with that. I'm more than williing to take a pay cut to live in what I feel is a much nicer community. Life is not all about money. I'd like for my kids to grow up in a city where the economy is not about adult excess. Hey I don't want to change Las Vegas. It makes its money on gambling, booze, sex, and every other vice known to man. If that went away this state would die. I have no problem whatsoever with adults partaking in the excess. Heck I have too in my younger days. I just don't want to live and raise my family in it anymore.

Well I guess this post is long enough. But don't worry I'll have lots of quetions in the coming days, weeks, months. By the way, thanks for this forum. The decision would have been much harder to make without this place. It's one thing to look at cold hard facts on the web. It's quite another to be able to come hereand read postings from the locals. It can and does give you a much better feel of the city and its people.

[crazedchef]

Hi,

Good Luck on your move, any casino tips?

crazedchef

[sapphire]

Sounds like you've done some homework and some soul-searching. Now, you've made the decision, make it the best decision! Good luck, and keep reading posts. San Antonio is by no means perfect, but it's perfect for me.

[saywhat?]

A 40 year mortgage, huh? Sounds like you have gotten into a bit of creative financing on your house in LV. Also, you want to get what your house is "worth" - well, it's what someone is willing to pay for it, not your wishing price. I'm guessing you're going to have a hard time unloading the LV property....sad to say

[kawgpz550]

I feel like I could have almost written your thread .

I live down here in Bullhead/Laughlin...yep, same 120+, the ugly desert and poor education system

We're also looking to move to SA soon!I were hoping this summer, but I guess we will have to wait til next summer now. I will never uproot my kids in the middle of a school year like my parents did me not a good thing!

Good luck on your move! I hope everything works out great for you!

[neddy]

Remember Texas property taxes when factoring everything together. I hear of a lot of people that want a $400000 house and forget about property taxes being a lot here otherwise good luck!

[lvknight]

Originally Posted by saywhat?

A 40 year mortgage, huh? Sounds like you have gotten into a bit of creative financing on your house in LV. Also, you want to get what your house is "worth" - well, it's what someone is willing to pay for it, not your wishing price. I'm guessing you're going to have a hard time unloading the LV property....sad to say

I hear what you're saying Saywhat. When we bought this house we intended on staying in it for a long, long time. We also knew our income would be higher by this point (it is) so we would refinance it to a lower rate on a 30 year fixed. we even looked into refinancing last month to pull a little equity out to finish up the repairs early. Our payment would have stayed about the same with a higher note at 30 years because our credit is better now. We have since decided that refinancing would throw away a few thousand dollars, and we'll just buckle down and pay cash to finish up the last few things. As far as what its worth, well I think I may not have put my point accross well. I know approximately what its worth because the house in back of mine just sold. It is the exact same floorplan, square footage, lot size, and age. They had a fireplace and a finished garage so that house is worth a little more, but not much. In our favor is a newly remodeled kitchen that doubled cabinet and counter space and will soon have remodeled bathrooms and new flooring. I also have talked to a few real estate agents I know and have a good feel as to what people will pay for it. So when I say selling for what its worth, its not what I'm wishing its worth, but what my research shows it will probably sell for. Because of the current condtion of the market, we plan on it taking 5-6 months to sell. Thats one of the reasons for our target date being so far down the road.

Neddy, I couldn't agree more with what your saying. I factored in the higher property taxes when i used a mortgage calculator. We aren't looking to spend in San Antone what we spent on a house here. Looking at all the various real estate sites, we should be able to get a house with about 500 square feet more for litteraly half the price. we aren't lookiing for a 3000-4000 square foot home. More like 1600-1700 square feet.

As far as casino tips crazedchef, just give your money to me and skip the middle man.

[sapphire]

LOL at the house being worth more because it had a fireplace--in Las Vegas! I think they are the biggest wall-ruiners ever. Yes, they are pretty, but come on, how necessary are they?

[Jon S]

Ivknight,
Great read, I also am considering a move to San Antonio. I will be leaving the Hampton roads area of Virginia.
Thanks,
Jon

[MichelleSG]

Great to hear that you'll be moving out here lvknight. I know moving is such a pain but sometimes it's really what needs to happen! Selling your house in the LV market will be difficult but it's mostly just a waiting game. 5-6 months is a good estimate if you start in the summer, it would take longer if youstarted in the winter months. My friend's parents live in a beautiful subdivision (Summerland is the name I think) out there and were never able to sell their home, they put it on the market end of last summer. After 9 months they gave up and moved back in to their house.