South Texas VS West Texas (Dallas, San Antonio: real estate, property taxes, showing)

[Billybobbadboy]

Originally Posted by tstone

Billybob, half of my family is from the RGV and they are not Mexican, they were Spaniards who became local politicians in the early 1900s. For those Texans who think Spanish = Mexican, think Antonio Banderas. Ok, so then one went on to marry an RGV Italian and out came my mother and 10 siblings, all who speak Spanish and are as white as paper. All of them grew up in McAllen and some are still there. The other side of my family, also from South TX, is Scots-Irish+Anglo and a trace of Cherokee, all of who can be traced back to the old south in the 1800s and Maryland in the 1700s.

And Gretchen, Bellstar doesn't speak for everyone in TX. I am a believer, but not church going. I am libertarian conservative who thinks most (not all) country music sucks. I don't hunt on a full stomach. I think rodeos are downright primitive. Do I speak for everyone in TX? NO! I don't care if someone else is into it as long as they're not pushing the brown end of their stick in my face about it.

Professional blacks come on here sometimes looking for other professional blacks to live near, and no one scathes them. What's wrong with it if Bellstar wants to live around her brand of white people? Some people want to live near others they have a lot in common with.

TSTONE??

I was in no way saying that ALL were of Mexican decent.....But if you look at the facts.....99.9% of all latinos in that area ....are ....of Mexican decent, and over Half abuse the government system...And have never paid a hospital bill in their lives..as an ex lawenforcement officer....on more ocassions than not.... found that not only did those that abuse the system.....recieve their welfare....but recieved it on their family name....and as you know the middle name is ussually the mothers maiden name....they also recieved the welfare in that name also!!!! So feel free to check the availability and the abuse of the system!! The Illegal sector of this nation is robbing the real needy Blind!!

[Gretchen_SDCA]

Originally Posted by tstone

Professional blacks come on here sometimes looking for other professional blacks to live near, and no one scathes them. What's wrong with it if Bellstar wants to live around her brand of white people? Some people want to live near others they have a lot in common with.

I have absolutely no problem with her wanting to live around people similar to her. I have no problem with her not liking Hispanic culture etc. Yes, of course it looks like Belle and I have very different views of life, but that doesn't matter. We can be different.

What I find objectionable is her saying that these other cultures/customs are somehow un-Texan or that South Texas is not Texas. These other cultures are just as valid as hers, just as Texan, and have just as much of a right to co-exist in Texas.

[Cupot]

[quote=Azzurri;459798]I know this is a very general question, but I was wondering what the major differences betweeen these to parts of the great state of Texas.

I am possibly moving shorlty and would like some information for the following. (Pros and Cons)

-Climate
-Schools
-Crime
-Quality of Life
-Cost of Living
-Taxes
-Missing anything else?

I grew up in West TX and moved to San Antonio four years ago. And, I will try to help you as best as I can.
*It has been hard adjusting to a humid climate vs. the dry, windy West TX one. Allergies in SA are horrible even for locals. I find the dry heat more tolerable, since the humid type feels like the sun is on top of you. West TX has seasons every year.
*I always thought my public school education was bad until I returned to college for another degree down here. It seems to me that many of the younger students are not prepared even for community college.
*Crime is always much more obvious in a larger population, but crime rate statistics are available online for specific locations.
*Quality of life is subjective. It really just depends on your own views and opinions of what is most important to you/your family.
*Cost of living is much cheaper in West TX, even in the larger areas. SA has a reputation of being the most affordable city in Texas. I have a different opinion, I have even lived in Dallas. Overall, people earn less in their respective careers than any other city in Texas. Most people have to commute accross town from where they live, the major roads haven't kept up with the ammount of traffic/growth of the population here, construction is everywhere and nothing seems any better (there is major controversy over toll-roads), there is no real public transportation system in place, and housing in only cheap in certain areas.
*I can't really comment on taxes, every area is constantly changing them.
*Overall, they are two very different areas culturally. But if you are not from Texas, you may not know the difference. Hope this helps.

[bresilhac]

Originally Posted by bellestaroftexas

Do NOT move to South Texas unless you are prepared to, and dont mind being a minority. I am a Texan, and was uprooted to Georgia for 3 years thanks to the Army, and finally got back to Texas and chose South Texas because of a high paying contract...thinking that Texas was Texas. IT AINT.
South Texas is a WHOLE OTHER COUNTRY. You can compare East, North, West-they have the "Texas" feel to them...but South Texas is MEXICO.
I am telling you right now-it is NOT Texas. I am a female blonde blue eyed Anglo and stand out everywhere and am stared at like I am a freak. I have ZERO social life-i am semi attractive (or so they say) and have not even been asked out on a date and i have been here 6 months, and have no real friends. In the workplace, i have "acquaintances" but i have nothing in common with them. oh by the way, they think i TALK FUNNY. they think i have an accent. Ya know why? cuz i guess i have somewhat a Texas drawl or twang...which DOES NOT EXIST HERE! so another reason i dont fit in.
they call every woman here "mami" or "mama" or something like that...its a mexican term of endearment. i cant get used to it. my terms of endearment for my patients are "sweet pea" or "sugarpie" or "honey" or "darlin"...i dont call anyone MOMMY except MY MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!
and they call all males even young ones "pappy"....
it's freakin wierd.
oh and top it all off with wimpy law enforcement. i am used to feeling secure and protected by TOUGH TEXAS LAWMEN...NOT HERE. they are a bunch of wimps and all they do is take part in corruption...those drug runners can just pay them off...you should see the deputy sheriffs who come in with inmates to my hospital-they look like they are not at all self-assured and look about 18 years old! i am tougher than they are!!
it's PATHETIC.
choose WEST TEXAS AT ALL COSTS. i will. i am outta here by Oct when my lease is up

Talk about spewing a bunch of slanged, disparaging remarks about South Texas. South Texas is as much apart of Texas as any other section. And the last thing we need here is some disgruntled hillbilly type using up good air with her complaints and bad attitude. It's November now so according to your post you should be long gone by now. I say good luck and good riddance. South Texas and San Antonio are fine places to work and live. And I think if you look hard enough you'll find plenty of police corruption in those boondock hick towns out in West Texas. And as far as looks, it's probably more your sour attitude than anything else that has prevented you from attracting any suitors. So again I hope by now your back in your element. San Antonio will be a better place with you having left.

[teatime]

Excellent summary and comparisons, Cupot. Everything you wrote is true.

I'll add that in my experience the property taxes in West Texas are much lower than South Texas. LOL, I got my first property tax bill here last month and, for the first time ever, I had a HUGE grin on my face when I opened it. The tax for the year is $219. My property here is valued at half what my property in Brownsville was and I have the same exemptions on it. So, if all things were equal, my property tax in Brownsville would have been about $440, right? It was actually $1,560! That gives you an idea about how much cheaper the taxes are in West Texas. Moreover, many cities and counties here freeze the tax rate for the elderly and disabled.

[Gretchen_SDCA]

Originally Posted by bresilhac

Talk about spewing a bunch of slanged, disparaging remarks about South Texas. South Texas is as much apart of Texas as any other section. And the last thing we need here is some disgruntled hillbilly type using up good air with her complaints and bad attitude. It's November now so according to your post you should be long gone by now. I say good luck and good riddance. South Texas and San Antonio are fine places to work and live. And I think if you look hard enough you'll find plenty of police corruption in those boondock hick towns out in West Texas. And as far as looks, it's probably more your sour attitude than anything else that has prevented you from attracting any suitors. So again I hope by now your back in your element. San Antonio will be a better place with you having left.

Belle:

Here it is from a native Texan. Just so you know it's not just us "ultra-liberal" Californians who think so.

[love roses]

Boy, who are the hate mongers here again? Doesn't sound like it's just Belle.

[Gretchen_SDCA]

Originally Posted by love roses

Boy, who are the hate mongers here again? Doesn't sound like it's just Belle.

Hi:

Not a hate monger here. But I have read Belle's posts. Again, everyone has their preferences, and she has the right to live where and associate with whom she wants. But some of the comments she made about South Texas and the "real" Texas are outrageous. She has the right to free speech of course, but she must be prepared to be criticized as well.

[texassports#1]

TEATIME,
I Don't Know Where You Get Your Stats From But If You Just Look At The Census You Will See That There Are A Lot More Whites, And African Americans In The Valley Than You Think. 10%, 50%, 90% What Ever The Percentage, As Long As Its Not 100% That Means Diversity.

[RGV]

The tax for the year is $219

Wow, are the taxes cheaper in parts of West Texas because of oil?