Dallas/Fort Worth or Houston? (Plano, Sugar Land: sales, how much, house)

[maverick89]

I've been thinking of moving to Texas for awhile now and am really interested in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and Houston. I've never been to either place but have heard good and bad things about both areas and plan on visiting them before I make my decision on where to move. It would be great to hear other people's opinions and experiences of these areas. And one question in particular I'd like to get some feedback on is about the property taxes. I heard they are really bad in both places and am wondering how much of a setback financially they are. Any replies will be very appreciated. Thanks!

[Metro Matt]

Oh boy not again...

Please use the City-Data search feature you will find oodles & oodles of related threads.

[SaladoSam]

Another Macro Economics 331 Comparative Analysis. Discussing Houston and DFW is like comparing NYC and LA. Their personalities differ accordingly. Texas has no state income tax but you pay through a state sales tax and property tax. But you get more house for your dollar. Same cars, same groceries, same TV, same entertainment.

Houston is big, it sprawls, it's non stop. Houston has NO zoning law. Some subdivisions (homes) use deed restrictions for control. Older residential areas have no restrictions or few.

Dallas is big but segmented by highways, rivers and cities. Their common element is D/FW and Jerry Jones. The cities are heavily zoned.

Either one, you can love the life yer livin or live the life yer lovin. It's all up to you.

Been there, done that.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by SaladoSam

Dallas is big but segmented by highways, rivers and cities. Their common element is D/FW and Jerry Jones. The cities are heavily zoned.

I wouldn't exactly say Dallas is heavily zoned unless we're talking suburbs like Plano or Frisco. There are ghetto areas of Dallas mixed in with nice high dollar neighborhoods & strip centers with billboards littered along freeways just like in Houston. In Houston its just more pronounced & "in your face". Houston suburbs like Sugar Land, Katy, & The Woodlands have very strict zoning laws.

[texas1836]

houston all the way. diversity..great museums..better weather..

[stoneclaw]

Can we merge this thread with the existing smackdown thread or close this one? Please.

[tstone]

My property taxes are 2.9% on the outer edge of the Houston city limits. This is probably average for the metro. By 2.9%, that's on appraised value after homestead exemption. For example, you have an average 2200 sq ft house appraised for $200k, homestead exemption will be about $20k, so 2.9% of $180k = $5,220 a year. It's more complicated than that, but it's a fair estimate.

Now when you go deep into the city the rate is lower, about 2.5%, but property values mainly higher for something halfway decent. In the far-flung exurbs you could easily be paying 3.75%, but property values are lower.

Someone here can chime in on DFW, but I'm guessing it is very similar.

[portyhead24]

Originally Posted by texas1836

houston all the way. diversity..great museums..better weather..

All of which Dallas and Fort Worth have none.

[Lakewooder]

Dallas is not heavily zoned? HA.

We get into battles all the time over someone trying to get a small variance. My part of town in particular has earned a ornery reputation as we are very pro-preservation.

[AcresHomes44]

Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston are more similar than they are different. Even though I live in Houston, I go to Dallas frequently and to me, both cities are the same in terms of job market, media, traffic, crime, shopping, nightlife, food, etc. Both cities are spread out so you better have a car to make it in both places.