Moving to Livingston, Texas (Houston, Dallas: rentals, insurance, high crime)

[Bryan and Tina]

I am writing this thread to ask for your help!

My wife and I are planning on moving to Texas within the next two years.

I have been researching different towns across Texas. Lately, I have been looking into Livingston. We would like a newly constructed house on a lake and Livingston seems to offer several affordable waterfront houses.

Can anyone tell me personally about Livingston, Texas?

-or-

Can anyone tell me any other small lakefront towns in Texas that are affordable? (200k- houses)

I look forward to hearing from everyone.

Thank you,
Bryan

[theburro]

I was in Livingston after the hurricane, working on debris removal and temporary roofing for 5 weeks. Obviously, this wasn't the best time to be there, a lot of people were suffering from storm damage and the power grid was only about 50%, although Livington itself had it's power on. The embankment of Lake Livingston was damaged by 15-20 foot waves generated when the tropical storm passed, and they were frantically drawing-down the pool. Anyway, it seemed to be a nice town with good public services: police, public works, parks, etc. Ditto for the county government. There seemed to be an employment shortage, the state prison was the biggest local employer or people worked in the Houston area. The big entertainment seemed to be shopping at WalMart; in some ways it was surreal - many people didn't have electricity or a roof over their heads but others were at WalMart buying TVs and costume jewelry like nothing ever happened. But overall, it seemed lke a nice area. There's another community (west) across the lake that was similar, that I dont recall the name of; but lots of lakefront homes and subdivsions all up and down the lake. I don't know the price range but I think you need to spend more than 200K. Two last things: it gets really hot down there (even in October it was in the 90s), and the restaurant food was terrible, catfish and chicken apparently count as vegetables , or fast-food hamburger places.

[Bryan and Tina]

Thank you for the information...

How bad is the heat? What are the hottest months? Can you do anything outdoors during these months?


Does anyone know if there are any community activities, or a lot going on?

Does anyone know what type of community it is... Is there high crime?

Any and all information would be great...

Thank you again for all your help.

Thank you Theburro...

[theburro]

Originally Posted by Bryan and Tina

Thank you for the information...

How bad is the heat? BAD

What are the hottest months? April - October

Can you do anything outdoors during these months?

Swim in the lake. Seriously, if you stay out of the direct sun it's not unbearable.

Does anyone know if there are any community activities, or a lot going on?
Good parks and recreation department. High school football is very popular. Maybe a few nature conservancies and bird-watching groups. Nice library. I was working 12-13 hour days, 7 days/week and didnt have time to sample all the local culture.

Does anyone know what type of community it is... Is there high crime?

I was in every, single neighborhood during the emergency. I didn't see any evidence of crime or have any trouble with the locals. I worked with the police/sheriffs some and they didnt mention any crime waves. Very middle class - working class. Some upscale places out on the lake.

Any and all information would be great...
...

One more thing, there's a beautiful natural area east of Livingston called the Big Thicket National Preserve. Nobody preserves, manages, and interprets natural resources as well as the National Park Service. Hopefully. the exploratin companies won't find oil and gas under it and screw it up. I would have loved to have hiked the trails and explored but the trail system was completely closed due to thousands of trees down from the hurricane - it looked like a war zone.

Again, I was in a lot of towns after the hurricane and Livingston was the nicest, IMO.

[theburro]

Originally Posted by Bryan and Tina

Does anyone know what type of community it is... Is there high crime?
...

I thought of one more thing. I had been in Livingston about 3 weeks when I was asked to go to southern Polk County to survey the damage in a place called "Wild Country." I thought it was a joke or a euphemism but it turned out there actually is such a place. I mentioned this to the Polk County Sheriff and he laughed and said, "Wild County! You need at least two felony convictions to go in there." So now I didn't know what to expect.

I arrived the next day and it looked like something from the movie set of Dukes of Hazzard. A sprawling subdivision of dirt roads, with mobile homes, pigs in the streets, the whole east Texas experience. (any Wild Country folks out there, just teasing, you know we love you).

Anyway, a few days later a coworker told that some of these down-county places were hotbeds of methamphetimine production and use. Now, I don't even know what exactly meth is or how ist's abused, but isn't it endemic/epidemic to a lot of rural areas? We didn't have any problems except the usual when somebody mistook us for insurance adjusters. And there were plenty of very nice, grateful folks down there. So, if you go to visit Livingston, be sure to ask about "Wild Country." It lives up to its name.

[txdunsady]

Hi..just thought I would give you some info. regarding your initial post. I have lived in East Texas all of my life. I have an uncle who has lived in Livingston for nearly 30 years. I personally do not know that much about Livingston as far as community activities, support, misc.. I just pass throught it heading to Houston and from what my uncle has said (we do not visit him much). I do have a suggestion as far as another lake that may be affordable for you-Lake Palestine. It strecthes from Tyler to Palestine and is really beautiful (an eye sore in some parts-as with any lake, but for the most part really pretty). The good part about Lake Palestine is that you can have the small town living with the city conviences of Tyler. Dallas is also only about 2 to 3 hours away-depending if you are on the north part versus south part of the lake. Although it does get hot, it probably does not get as hot as Livingston since it is further north. All of east texas gets REALLY hot in the summer, so just be prepared.

Well, hope that helps. Good luck to you folks!!

[charris911]

two words...Lake Limestone

[dallas3740]

Can anyone tell me where to find home rentals in the livingston area?? Besides the chamber of commerce? thanks!

[Poltracker]

Check out HAR.com

[southeasttexas]

Just an opinion, but I think Livingston is a great place. Sure it is not perfect (no place is), but I would definitely consider living there. I love the natural look of it. The pine forest surrounding the lake.

Coincidental this thread came up. I am currently shopping for land for an eventual retirement home there. Check Realtor.com, too.