Brownsville infor?? (Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi: relocating, affordable houses, trip)

[tiffela74]

Hi all!! We are looking into relocating from the Ore. coast, the Brownsville Tx. Im wondering if anyone here has any opinions on Brownsville. Crime rate, schools, clean town or not, what the people are generally like, and if there is a gymnastics school anywhere near there.
Thanks so much!! Hopeing to hear some good feedback!!
Tiffany

[RSTX]

You are moving from the coast of Oregon to Brownsville??? Have you been to Brownsville? It is right on the border with Mexico, very hot and poor. Hmmm, actually I suppose most of us would say the same of the whole state. Never-the-less, I would seriously consider visiting for a couple of days before making the move. Good luck.

[lifertexan]

Brownsville is about 90% Hispanic,and English is the minority language,so get used to hearing a lot of Spanish.Many of the people don't even know English.Crime is about what you would expect for a large border town,kind of high.For someone used to the northwest climate,Brownsville can be a killer.Late summer often has 100 degree days with 80% humidity.

Why Brownsville of all places?

[tiffela74]

OMG I am SOOoooooo glad i found this board and that you two replied so honestly!! So far, all our research has been via internet, so you know that can be deceptive. We want to get out of Oregon, (hate hate hate the weather, sick of rain, sick of warmest it gets in our current area is 75degrees, miss the much warmer temps, housing prices have more than tripled here in the last 3yrs, not a prayer of ever being able to buy here, fed up w/many other...issues that Ore. has) and have heard more positives about Tx. than anywhere else. Wanted something along the coastal line (dearly love beach) and somewhere with more affordable houses (gee, now i know why the houses there were so cheap! shouldve known, had suspicions, but thanks for clarifying) sigh. All the websites for Brownsville were beautiful and promising, but yes, we most definatly will be visiting the area before we make any commitments. - anyone have any suggestions of areas? Oh, and it would have to have a gymnastics club within 30minutes too. Thank you very very much! Youve saved us a trip too!
Tiffany

[RSTX]

Tiffany,

from what you have said I would seriously consider looking at Victoria ( http://www.victoriatx.org/ ). It has all of the requirements such as warmth, affordable housing, close to beach (although not on the beach, it is only about 35 miles away) and it is big enough that I'm sure it has at least one gymnastics club. Not living right on the beach will have some advantages - cheaper housing for one. If you move to Corpus Christi or Galveston you will be on the beach, but things will cost more.

My wife (by chance also named Tiffany ) grew up near Victoria. It was pleasant in the evening with the sea breeze blowing ashore. Nice place and nice people. Plus it is almost half way between Houston and San Antonio if you need to go to either mega-city.

I think you are making a wise decision not moving to Brownsville. I am a native Texan and would not move my family there. Border towns are not the best place to live.

[lifertexan]

tiff

If you want to stay close to the beach then I would look between Corpus Christi and Galveston,and be very careful in some places even between these points.Almost all the area around CC to Victoria is good,but I would check everything on up to Galveston from there out pretty good.There are some chemical plants and oil refineries along that part of the coast.Freeport had a nice beach when I was there 25 years ago,but Dow Chemical is there also.And not all of the coast is beach.Some of it is like Louisiana with marshland along the coast.If you look closely at the Texas coast you'll notice that it has barrier islands almost the whole length,and out on these are where the beaches are.


If you don't have to be within a short distance of the beach,then I would look into the San Antonio and surrounding Hill Country area.

Just as an aside,Lake Jackson below Houston has just about the lowest crime rate I have ever seen.Is it really this good there?

[210]

Originally Posted by lifertexan

Just as an aside,Lake Jackson below Houston has just about the lowest crime rate I have ever seen.Is it really this good there?

No, trust me.

It's so random you mention that area. lol

But I have a cousin that lives there and she's ready to pack up and leave.

[Crackerjack]

No you don't want Brownsville. On the other side of the border too it is extremely violent. Honestly look toward Corpus. Also, there are some really nice inland towns near lakes that are great like Horseshoe Bay on Lake LBJ that is a very nice planned city. Also what the others are saying is right. Be careful about polluted areas like for instance Texas City is mostly chemicals, oil and such and I would avoid areas like that myself. Also know the Texas Gulf is hurricane country so try to buy inland but close to the ocean. I seriously wouldn't buy right on the ocean unless I knew it was hurricane proof.

[ORRIN0`]

Tiffany,

I would listen to them. I am a valley native here and i would think victoria would be a better place for you. ITs a better climate and temperature variation isnt as extreme.

[tiffela74]

Thanks so much everyone!!! Brownsville is definatly OFF the list of possibilities!! - Ive been researching Victoria and it does sound lovely. - now if i can only find a gymnastics place that is competetive, not cut-throat, and might be hiring. Any leads? Figure its a long shot, but hey, why not throw a line out?
Tiffany