Alpine/Marathon Texas (Midland, Howe, Holland: RV parks, real estate, apartment)

[ShutterWeb]

Hi all, my husband and I will be moving to the Marathon area (my husband got a job offer we just can't pass up that will allow me to go to school full time and not have to work) and we are looking at renting from about the end of April for 3-9 months before buying a house. From what I have seen Alpine would be a better pick of the two places and about a 30 minute drive between the two isn't to shabby.

I am having a real hard time finding realtor's that have house rentals and we would prefer a house as we have dogs and an apartment wouldn't accommodate us all, although, I will not be moving out there for about 6 months, staying in Albuquerque, NM until our timing is right for me to meet up with him. In the meantime our dogs will stay with me and I most likely will bring them along when I go see him.

Anyone know any Realtors in this area that are helpful & patient? Anyone know of any micro-breweries in this area? We are going to be SO lost without GOOD beer.

Shelia
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[JamesAbilene]

Don't know anything about the beer. However, you made a good choice. Alpine, though small, has most of what you will need. Marathon does not have many services, but it is a neat place to visit. You will like Alpine.

[leorah]

Alpine is wonderful! We are looking forward to retiring there in a couple of years. Hope you enjoy your time there.

Anyway, the Edelweiss brewery in the Holland Hotel has good microbrewed beer. Welcome to the Edelweiss Brewery & Restaurant. I think there are a couple of breweries in Midland, too.

I don't know of any realtors that specialize in rentals in Alpine. You may have to go through the entire list: Alpine Texas - Rentals and Real Estate. http://wwYw.bigbendrealestateguide.com/Realtors.html (broken link).

Good luck to you!

[ShutterWeb]

I have done a LOT of research of the Alpine/Marathon area. We ended up having to rent a house that doesn't suit our needs in Marathon because hotels and such (hotels/bed & breakfasts) are booked up like you wouldn't believe (maybe we need to open a bed and breakfast!) So, we are renting for 6 months and that means I will be commuting for at least 2 months of the fall semester at Sul Ross. But, it is what it is and temporary. We have friends that work at the same place as my husband that rented this house, they went to something else and this came available. Rentals are HARD to find and made us start to think that maybe we need to buy a couple small places and rent them out...just thinking out loud here, ha!

Found the Edelweis Brewery online before reading your post and let me tell you how excited that made us!

Feeling a little protective of our UNM Lobos, found out that Sul Ross mascot is a Lobo and one of the bar & grills near the college pretty much stole the UNM lobo logo, so, need to gear up at UNM (ok, juvenile, but my husband graduated with his degree in Geology at UNM and we are proud of OUR lobos). Got admitted to Sul Ross for fall semester, and are still looking for a better place to live that is more accommodating to our family (hubby and I and 4 dogs) so that I won be traveling 30 miles a day to school. Realtors out there are not exactly friendly when talking rentals I have found which is make me a little apprehensive of the people there as a whole (I know, thats not fair, but its not friendly so far.) Little grocery in Marathon, now, those people are NICE, so, wish me luck an if anyone can give me advise on people, places & things, please do!!

Shelia

[vantexan]

If you don't mind living in small spaces there are several RV parks in Alpine. Once you've paid for the RV it's very economical paying by the month with electric, cable, and maybe wi-fi included. The money you save on gas should pay most of your RV space rent. You can find 5th wheel trailers in excellent condition for much less than new at RVTraderOnline.com Pay someone to tow it to the park and you're good to go. Lost Alaskan RV Park is very nice.

[NOTAM]

good idea but dont know how good for dog owners. i always wanted to do that, but i have dogs who like their freedom of having a doggy door and a fenced backyard.........

Originally Posted by vantexan

If you don't mind living in small spaces there are several RV parks in Alpine. Once you've paid for the RV it's very economical paying by the month with electric, cable, and maybe wi-fi included. The money you save on gas should pay most of your RV space rent. You can find 5th wheel trailers in excellent condition for much less than new at RVTraderOnline.com Pay someone to tow it to the park and you're good to go. Lost Alaskan RV Park is very nice.

[vantexan]

Originally Posted by bellestaroftexas

good idea but dont know how good for dog owners. i always wanted to do that, but i have dogs who like their freedom of having a doggy door and a fenced backyard.........

As an owner of 2 very active mid-sized dogs, and having lived in a RV for 7 years, I know what you mean. I take them for several walks a day, and let them run free on 5 acres next to the park. I've lived in 7 parks in 8 years, have seen many fulltimers doing the same. 2 park residents here have a Great Dane and a Giant Poodle. It comes down to making the best of your personal situation. A large 5th wheel with several slide-outs is fairly spacious. Certainly more so than my 26' travel trailer. And it's a readily available option. And RV parks are generally different than mobile home parks if anyone is worried about certain stigmas. We have rigs costing $300,000 to $750,000 come thru here all the time.

[Canine*Castle]

Maybe you can have your "special" beer shipped to you. The cost may be worth it so you won't feel lost in your new surroundings.

[Jezer]

I remember talking to an English lady in a gallery she was running in Marathon.

I seem to recall that there were some properties they let out- this may be the link and though these would be impractical for your needs, they might be able to help.

I recall that the lady in question moved to Marathon many years ago to nanny the children of the owners of The Gage Hotel, and she never left the area.

Good luck.

Adobe Hacienda Lodges

[ShutterWeb]

Good morning all, hubby drove off to Alpine yesterday afternoon; I won't see him for 3 weeks which is rough since we are attached to the hip.

He rented a small house this is not much to speak of but it is a roof over his head ($600 per month) no fence but our 4 dogs are welcomed. 4 dogs in an 5th wheel was thought about, however, we are going to be living in Alpine for 6 years or so. The 5th wheel would be paid for, but we are going to just buy a house after the 6 month lease is up. Finding a house to buy there is a lot easier then finding a rental. The lodges we looked into but at $500 a week, to costly and 4 dogs are NOT welcome.

He called me when he hit Alpine (we have T-mobile and its roaming on Alltel) and said that we are going to love it there. Being from an area that has a lot of topography (mountains!) we were worried about missing it all. He said that is very pretty and the town is neat.

On the subject of cell service, Alltel or AT&T? Anyone know which is better for the Alpine/Marathon area?

Thank you all for your discussions!