If Texas is soo great, why is it so cheap? (Houston: real estate, property taxes)

[mpope409]

Originally Posted by mgonzalez616

I live in NJ. I am looking to relocate to Texas but sometimes I am not to sure if Texas is the place to be. I do not know if jobs market is good, I have seen the housing is comfortable in prices, I do not know of the school system. I will be taking a flight out to Texas in May 9, 2007 returning to NJ in May 16,2007. If anyone knows anything of what my concerns are please let me know.

What city were you looking to live in?

[karnival96]

Originally Posted by mgonzalez616

I live in NJ. I am looking to relocate to Texas but sometimes I am not to sure if Texas is the place to be. I do not know if jobs market is good, I have seen the housing is comfortable in prices, I do not know of the school system. I will be taking a flight out to Texas in May 9, 2007 returning to NJ in May 16,2007. If anyone knows anything of what my concerns are please let me know.

mgonzalez,

It depends on what you do and where you plan to move, but generally, most of Texas is booming in terms of job opportunities. Different regions in Texas generally support different types of employment opportunities. Dallas has very diverse options, Austin is mostly education, government and high tech, Houston is mostly energy related and San Antonio is tourism, military, medical (with a growing manufacturing base). Also, in Texas, there is not a statewide "school system." Each location is different and some communities have public schools that are far superior to most private schools. Even in some of the worst school districts in Texas, you can find very high quality schools. I know many people from the East coast who have moved here and are very happy with their decision.

[Herbert123]

Texas is so cheap because mostly is wasted abandon land, full of bugs, look at California, being smaller it stands as the fifth largest economy. Texas is nothing than just a big chunk of mud.

[karnival96]

Herbert,

When you make it down to Texas the first time, then you can talk. I live in Austin, a place that is certainly not an abandoned wasteland. I've been all over the United States and very few cities compare in appearance. Not a alot of mud as far as I can see.

[midnightbirdgirl]

Originally Posted by Herbert123

Texas is so cheap because mostly is wasted abandon land, full of bugs, look at California, being smaller it stands as the fifth largest economy. Texas is nothing than just a big chunk of mud.

You can have Cali Herbert...
MBG

[Lisa_from_Debary]

I believe its cheap (I grew up half my life there, both parents were Texans born and bred) because there is so much space...

WHILE part of the state is nothing to write home about the developers can take a wasteland and turn it into paradise almost over night, its amazing...

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by karnival96

Herbert,

When you make it down to Texas the first time, then you can talk. I live in Austin, a place that is certainly not an abandoned wasteland. I've been all over the United States and very few cities compare in appearance. Not a alot of mud as far as I can see.

It looks like the guy lives in Houston now. He has also made a post on the CA forum, a pretty funny one at that.

Many people when coming from CA think TX is terrible.

It really doesn't matter where one is from or where one lives; everywhere has its problems and not everyone likes the same things. Some places are nicer than others i.e., scenery, weather, people, and the like.

[Roma]

Originally Posted by KewGee

It looks like the guy lives in Houston now. He has also made a post on the CA forum, a pretty funny one at that.

Many people when coming from CA think TX is terrible.

It really doesn't matter where one is from or where one lives; everywhere has its problems and not everyone likes the same things. Some places are nicer than others i.e., scenery, weather, people, and the like.

I agree Herbert's posts are pretty funny. They both made me laugh.
You are right though, everywhere has it's problems and not everyone likes the same things.

[MaryS80]

Let's see Dallas has more Restaurants, Malls, and Supermarkets per capita then anywhere else in the country. Trust me there is plenty of money. I take very few of you here took a basic economics class. It's supply and demand. It has nothing to do with being near the ocean. Hawaii is expensive because there is a very limited supply of land. It's the same reason why land cost more in an urban area versus a rural area. One of the most expensive places in Texas is Rockwall county. Why? because it's tiny, this makes it exclusive and desireable, and hence more costly. Honestly though just because NY and Cali have a higher cost of living does not mean they are better. Both places have much higher taxes. Both places also have a lot of people who are working poor because they cost of living is so high. Half a million bucks buys a tiny one room apartment in NYC. We also have fewer unions here, which keeps down the cost of goods and services. You can have California any day pal. I sure would not want to live in a place where $250k buys a slum in the worst ghetto. some place where making $20 an hour isnt even a living wage.

[TraciK]

Originally Posted by KewGee

I agree. I can't find anything nice that is cheap either. I just read a post on the General U.S. forum and was abosolutely amazed that in ND, a guy paid $67,000 for a house and 17 acres. Now that's cheap.

No, I don't want to live in snow country. I also checked out property in southwest VA, and it's quite a bit less than the part of Texas where I live (plain old Central Texas) and definitely oodles less than the Hill Country of TX where I would consider living. The property taxes are nearly nothing and in Texas, they're going through the roof.

I would love 17 acres alone for $67,000 and forget the house.

I live in ND and if someone got land and a house for $67,000 the house is very old not worth much and you can bet there is nothing around them. Houses in town are very expensive! A $200,000 house around here doesn't get you much. And the weather so sucks! I hate it here! My husband is military and retiring this summer and we are out of here!!