Mansfield???

[Ex-Mansfield]

Originally Posted by mbamichael

Ex-Mansfield, can you tell us where you relocated and made your new home? Mansfield was rated among the top 100 small cities by Money magazine recently. Your comment is helpful, but I'm wondering if you were "forced" to move by circumstance (e.g., job change). It's a tough time to sell a home in most markets these days. Thanks for the inside scoop. I'm exploring communities in the Ft. Worth area and the school district will be the deciding factor.

I was mad at myself for not getting out of the housing market in 2004. I looked for a new job and had the company pay for my selling and relocation costs. We were barely were able to "get out".
Since our selling, everything (the economy and especially the housing market) has gotten worse. Now many people cannot move even if they wanted too. The inflation rate is increasing much faster than wages. We are following Japan's housing bubble of the 1980's. Now they are helping the USA based upon their lessons learned.

Since our children are gone we have been able to reduce our material possessions and actually beat the baby boom generation for once: They now want to downsize too (think Kings Mill) but are boxed-in their big expensive-to-maintain (and depreciating) houses. What no more nest egg?

So I'm leasing in Shangrla , with no debts and have had all my investments in cash as I have no faith that things will turn around anytime soon. I will not be assuming any existing debt. Its nice having more free time to enjoy life especially since the financial stress has ebbed. No more home improvement projects for me either!

I would stay away from Arlington, Grand Prairie and Mansfield school districts in general, but quality pockets do still exist. Here is an interesting schools link from 2005 which is already out of date as the district is rapidly diversifying.
Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed

[Ex-Mansfield]

Well everything has become clear as to why I did not like the leaders of Texas and had to leave. I previously highlighted the evils of Enron and TXU and all the harm which they have done. Now we must add former Texas Senator Phil and Windy (Enron board of directors) Gramm. Know that Senator Gramm was instrumental in the deregulation of Wall street bankers decades ago and also authoring and a most infamous energy trading loophole.
Since then these investment bankers have caused great ill (after making obscene profits) to our economic system, so much so now that everyone wants them to be regulated.
The bad news for John McCain is Phil Gramm is a McCain campaign co-chair and economic adviser! What a gift for Obama.
Look I don't like either candidate much but this special interest Texas connection (The Enron Loophole) could very well do McCain in.

The techniques started in Texas by Mr. Enron Gramm have spread to, and are now destabilizing the entire world. Just speculate, hedge and manipulate the financial markets. Well its going to be easy for the public to find a worthy scapegoat:
Obama calls for oil crackdown - Mike Allen - Politico.com

In conclusion, these facts are the main reason why I left Texas in disgust. BTW, my heating and cooling bills average 25% of consumers still living in the Great State of Texas. Enjoy!