I don't see posts regarding Lubbock (Houston, Dallas: travel, houses, university)

[lilypad]

Rajeev, I think Lubbock may be a better deal for you. Just my opinion. Have only been here a few months, and it is windy and winter is cold (ice storm just hit), but I think you will really like the TTHSC campus, is large and beautiful. Everyone friendly here. I have been to Nebraska. Lubbock is paradise in comparison. At least we have a tree!

[Lookingforasafehome]

Are there nice subdivisons with great schools and shopping? Thanks in advance!

[Mr. Football]

Are there nice subdivisions?

Check this neat new development out:

A really nice looking development featuring homes, townhomes and two town centers, this community is founded on New Urbanist thinking.

They've got a really slick video walkthrough:
http://vintagetownship.com/virtualTour.html


Northeast Town Center


Northwest Town Center


New construction at Vintage Township

From concerts, plays and skits, to “Friday Night Movie in the Park”, the Vintage Township outdoor amphitheatre will play host to a multitude of events, thus becoming one of the more popular centers of activity. Located across the bridge from the NE Towncenter, bring a blanket or lawn chair, sit back and enjoy.

Impressive planning and I like the architectural style. They've setup a Builders Guild using smaller custom-home and niche developers (none of the usual cookie-cutters). I wonder when we'll start seeing stuff like this in the Houston area?

http://vintagetownship.com

[Mr. Football]

There's another new development, Raider Ranch, for the 55 and older set.

http://www.raiderranch.com



Raider Ranch, the Southwest’s newest resort-style, gated community designed especially for Baby Boomers age 55 announced that it will break ground on its $45m upscale villa and condominium home development on January 18, 2007. The development located at the intersection of 43rd and Milwaukee Avenue will feature villa and condominium homes as well as a 20,000 sq ft private clubhouse for its homeowners. Raider Ranch will provide maintenance-free living for its homeowners as well as amenities and services found only at the finest 5 star resorts.

This is kind of a neat deal. Designed for the 55 and up set, with villa homes starting in the $240's and condos starting at $180k. Its co-branded with Texas Tech University's Alumni Association.

I've heard the Developer of this project recently contracted to do this at another Big 12 school.

[Mr. Football]

New $60 Million Luxury Hotel and Conference Center being built across the street from the Texas Tech campus:



• The hotel will stand 15-stories, not nine to 10 as first revealed.

• An adjoining conference center, leased from the city by the hotel, has grown in size from 30,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet.

• The number of rooms has increased from 275 to 306.

• The overall hotel/conference center size has grown from 177,000 square feet to 237,000 square feet.

• The pending date for opening has been pushed from July to October 2008.

[Mr. Football]

New 800,000 sq. foot Lifestyle/Town Center "Canyon West".

http://canyonwesttx.com/

[Mr. Football]

The newer homes and masterplanned communities are typically located in Lubbock's booming Southwest quadrant. The homes there are typical of what you would find in Plano and the North Dallas suburbs. It's nice. The schools are excellent in these areas. Lubbock is a well-run, well organized city that has a nice manageable size to it. Being home to a major university and a regional economic hub, it has what cities typically twice its size have amenity-wise.

[Mr. Football]

Random sampling of homes at various price ranges


$800K


$500k-$600k


$400K


$180K


$130K-$140k


$80-$90K

[jads7]

I currently live in Lubbock, and I must say that the cost of living in Lubbock is great. We have a great size home for a very low price.

But Lubbock is boring as all get out. If you're going to TTU, great. If you're looking for a quiet, quiet, quiet place to live, great. If you can get use to the smell of the cow feed (which is called money) when the wind blows from the west, great. If you don't mind travelling 5 1/2 hrs to get to the next big city, great. If you're looking to retire, great. And if you're white America this place is great. And I say that because the minor population is very very small, except that of Mexicans.

[westtexan]

I moved to Lubbock from the San Antonio area 8 years ago, and I'll admit i'm a huge Lubbock fan.

Lubbock's not a Houston, Dallas or San Antonio-- so if you're looking to move to a huge metropolitan area with weekly big-name concerts, endless entertainment venues, multiple professional sport options, and business districts that span for miles (don’t' forget high crime rates, choking pollution, hour long commutes)-- look elsewhere.

In my opinion, what you get with Lubbock is a great sized community (200k+) where you can actually feel like you're part of a community.
The concentration of quality higher education in Lubbock keeps the population energetic and dynamic, while retaining an above average population of educated and professional residents. The unique mix draws more entertainment, arts events, festivals, unique shopping and dinning opportunities than many give Lubbock credit for. From the symphony and Broadway shows, to University and minor league sports, and hundreds of dinning and shopping venues... I never feel "bored, bored, bored (as one poster suggested).

I Love that my family can live in a great Neighborhood i feel safe in, with beautiful parks (every neighborhood has one), excellent primary schools, with the FRIENDLIEST neighbors, all for some of the BEST real estate rate values in the state...

Sure- Lubbock is the butt of many jokes- it's dusty... it's windy... it's flat... it's way out here in west Texas. But if you want one person's opinion, it's one of the hidden jewels of Texas.