Wanting to Relocate to Texas or Georgia! (Houston, Dallas: renting, amusement parks)

[taron2129]

I am interested in moving my family to either Texas or Georgia. I have family in McKinney and they can't talk enough about it. One thing I have noticed is that you can get a lot of house for your money in areas like these versus Georgia.

These are the most important aspects for myself and my family:
We currently live in Indiana and the allergies, asthma, and cancer levels are among the highest in the U.S. We would like a nice clean climate with mild weather. Not real pumped about bitter cold winters and ice and snow. Don't really want hot, hot summers, but I am used to hot with high humidity. I hear that the lower humidity make all the difference. I would like it to be a safe community for raising children(mine are 2.5 and 6 mos). I would like to have access to fun things to do-zoo, museums, pools, amusement parks, lakes, ballgames, etc. My field is in design/advertising and I would like to find a place to work outside of the major cities, but I am open to working in the city.

That should cover it. Any help would be great!!:)

[Lakewooder]

Not many trees in McKinney. GA has trees. But I'm from the city of Dallas where we have glorious trees. So I vote for Texas. My sister lived in Atlanta for many years and liked it, and I liked visiting her.

But Texas has something special that others find hard to understand.

[NOTAM]

i just spent three years stuck in Ft Stewart/Savannah/Wilmington Island GA and hated it. couldnt wait to get back to Texas...no state income tax, lower cost of housing/land, friendlier folks, easier living.
Georgia has alot of reverse racism. so if you are white, watch out.

[kwiley1221]

I may be a little biased, but like Lakewooder, I'd have to pick Dallas over Atlanta. Any of the suburb cities north of Dallas (McKinney, etc) are all nice places to raise a family.

I am originally the Dallas area and currently live in Alpharetta, Ga. Atlanta is a lot like Dallas. Both have strong economies, similar climates. Both areas have lots of shopping, restaraunts, etc. More trees in Georgia. North Georgia is especially beautiful. Alpharetta, where I live now, would compare favorably to Plano. Home prices are a lot better in the DFW area than north Atlanta. I am renting a 3br/2b 2000 sf house in Alpharetta that would probably sell for 250-300k. In the north Dallas suburbs, I'd expect I could find the same house for under 200k. No state tax in Texas helps out too.

My family is in Texas as well, so as I said earlier, I am a little biased and would prefer, all things being equal, to live near my family. I am tied to Atlanta due to my job else I would be there now.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by taron2129

I am interested in moving my family to either Texas or Georgia. I have family in McKinney and they can't talk enough about it. One thing I have noticed is that you can get a lot of house for your money in areas like these versus Georgia.

These are the most important aspects for myself and my family:
We currently live in Indiana and the allergies, asthma, and cancer levels are among the highest in the U.S. We would like a nice clean climate with mild weather. Not real pumped about bitter cold winters and ice and snow. Don't really want hot, hot summers, but I am used to hot with high humidity. I hear that the lower humidity make all the difference. I would like it to be a safe community for raising children(mine are 2.5 and 6 mos). I would like to have access to fun things to do-zoo, museums, pools, amusement parks, lakes, ballgames, etc. My field is in design/advertising and I would like to find a place to work outside of the major cities, but I am open to working in the cit

That should cover it. Any help would be great!!

Where in GA? North GA is wonderful.

Texas is hot, hot, very hot and humid. Georgia is hot as well and humid, but the hot spells don't last like they do here.

I have a friend who has lived in Marietta for about 7 years now, a native Texan. He said summer over there is nothing like what we go through in Texas.

You are definitely right though. The housing is pretty high in the area of GA I like as compared to the McKinney area of Texas.

[taron2129]

You mention North GA - what areas would you think fit my aspects the best??
I heard some things about Athens??

As far as Texas, would you definitely recommend the burbs of Dallas? What about Austin, Houston or anywhere else.

I did ****** and here is a list they gave me - let me know what you guys think:

Galveston TX, Columbia SC, Athens GA, St. Mary's GA, Clayton GA, Rockport TX, Brunswick GA, Marble Falls TX, Fredericksburg TX, Kerrville TX, Conroe TX, Wimberley TX, Gainsville GA, Raleigh-Durham SC. ANY INFO ON THESE LOCATIONS WOULD BE GREAT!!!

Do these big cities like Atlanta & Dallas smog up the burbs? I do want a relatively clean climate. It seems my kids are always sick up here do to the climate.

Also, let me know if anyone could recommend daycare/babysitter info. This would be one of the hardest part for me - trusting people I don't know with my kids.

THANKS, everybody!

[NOTAM]

best bet on your list is Marble Falls Kerrville or Wimberley TX.........friendly folks, safe, beautiful, no state income tax.

Brunswick GA-well, i hate GA (see my above post) but have to admit, i do kinda like St Simons Island (just down the causeway from Brunswick). Brunswick itself looked like a run down dive town. St Marys seemed a bit better (i went there for ACLS certification at the fire dept) but it still pales in comparism to anything in Texas

[mpope409]

I think that Texas and Georgia are equally beautiful, but I for one wouldn't recommend Atlanta. Not that it matters to your situation, but Atlanta just wasn't big enough for me; moreover, it's reputation is often times somewhat of an overstatement. Small town masquerading as a big city. Now, the part of Georgia I would recomment is the Northern Savannah area i.e. Augusta. That's the sweeter part of Georgia, and in my opinion the most goooorgeous place in the entire world. Gorgeous, olden-days, but very modest downtown. Here in Augusta, I don't remember experiencing any racism whatsoever. As a matter of fact, as a kid, my best friend was of the opposite race. Until you get to the outskirts or certain cut offs of construction, in this city you will not see any houses made after the year 1990, lol. Old, beautiful homes. But of course if you're looking for a more modern, "today" home, that's available. You may want to look into the more modern town of Hephzibah, a little suburb tucked away about 35 min southwest of Augusta.

As far as Texas goes, I recommend any area close to Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, or Fort Worth. You may not want to live in the big city, but trust that you are going to want to be near one. I also like Georgetown and Round Rock (right outside of Austin). It seems that everything you could possibly need or want in those towns sits right on great ol' I35, lol.

I35, by the way, connects Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, but for seem reason or the other there's no major way from Austin to Houston, which I hate because in trying to make that trip you will get lost on your first time heading down those country roads. Still, you do get to pass through some interesting towns like Elgin, Brenham, or Prairie View.