We need tips & advice on moving to Texas!! (Houston: rent, buying a home)

[Nisey909]

My boyfriend and I have lived in California the majority of our lives. We are in our mid-twenties and enjoy going out and spending time outdoors (as well as indoors on those "lazy" days) but the cost of living has made our "lazy days" occur more frequently than before. It seems impossible to enjoy our lives now that we have to pick and choose over going to the beach for a day or spending $40 on a date to the movies. We have been talking about moving to Texas for a while, but now we are very determined to ACTUALLY make the move. I've been trying my best to do a little research online but I can hardly find any helpful information. If someone can answer my questions and give me advice I would be EXTREMELY grateful. We are basically looking to buy a home. We would LOVE to buy a home in a planned community where we can someday raise a family of our own yet also enjoy restaurants, live music and all that fun stuff us ppl. in our 20's love to do, but living in a non-planned community also works for us. I guess we would like to be close to entertainment, yet far enough to where our "future children" will have a nice and quiet place w/ a good size yard to grow up in. My questions pretty much are...Where in Texas would be a good choice neighborhood wise? What exactly are we looking at dealing with as far as buying a home for the first time? (I hear a lot about high property taxes) What is the average hourly wage for a bank teller? What is the weather like? What are the pros/cons of living in Texas? What is the best advice as far as making the move from California to Texas?

I have a lot of questions don't I? I hope someone can help us out. Thanks for taking your time in reading this!

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Originally Posted by Nisey909

What is the best advice as far as making the move from California to Texas?

Whatever you do, do not compare Cali to Texas. That offends Texans and rightfully so. Don't say "In CA we did it this way or that way" or "Why can't TX do it this way" or "Why don't you have this store". Accept Austin for what it is, not what it isn't.

[jclAustin]

I would suggest that you rent a place here in Austin for at least a summer to try before you buy. Austin is a long way from the ocean, not quite as far to the mountains. The gulf coast, lakes and the hill country are very scenic and enjoyable, but not the same thing. It also gets hot for a long time in the summer. That may crimp your style as far as enjoying the outdoors; it affects everyone differently and you'll need to see how you take to the heat.

The cost of living is less than that in CA. The people are friendly and helpful. The schools are good. Live music is everywhere. There are a ton of things to do with kids here. Many of the events - art fairs, music events, etc, have children's activities so you are able to enjoy them as a family. Winters are mild. There are plenty of good restaurants, but probably not as much 'depth' if you're coming from a much larger metropolitan area.

Check the city-data page on Austin to get an idea of the weather. It helps to compare it to other places you're familiar with.

HTH

[scongress1234]

I notice you didn't mention Austin in the body of the post, so perhaps other cities might interest you in TX as well. Houston is not as bad as they make it out to be, SA is very
friendly and safe, and dallas has so many things to do it isn't funny. Many people just
seem to hone in on Austin, as if they somehow fear the rest of the state.
Best thing to do is come to Austin, and Texas, yourself, and see what you think, as everyone has different tastes. Take a ride through a few other cities as well. You might be surprised how nice the other cities are as well, particularly San Antonio.

[love roses]

Scongress is right. People do tend to forget the other cities or be afraid of them, but doing a little tour of each one would give you a better feel for Texas. Austin is only one place in a very big state.

[atxcio]

Yes, if you aren't focused on Austin in particular there are so many places in TX... it's difficult to recommend a "neighborhood" in TX. Dallas or Houston have great neighborhoods if you want a big city... and as scongress1234 says, SA is a great city which is similar to Austin in topography and much cheaper. Austin is the most expensive place in TX to live, not always the best option for everyone unless you are set on it for some reason.

[AustinTexan]

There are so many really nice places to live in Texas. I don't understand why everyone in California talks about moving to Austin as if it's the only city in the state. San Antonio is a great place to live yet it doesn't get half the publicity that Austin does. I don't get it. I don't think there's only 1 city in California or any other state where most people here would "have to" move to.

[Nisey909]

Originally Posted by AustinTexan

There are so many really nice places to live in Texas. I don't understand why everyone in California talks about moving to Austin as if it's the only city in the state. San Antonio is a great place to live yet it doesn't get half the publicity that Austin does. I don't get it. I don't think there's only 1 city in California or any other state where most people here would "have to" move to.

I'm sorry you have a bad perspective on most Californians wanting to move to Texas but i am very open minded and i don't necessarily narrow myself down to only living in Austin. From what i know about it, Austin sounds like a great place for us to live. As i said, i am very open minded to suggestions and i take everyone's opinion into consideration. One thing i will say though...just as much as someone wouldn't like me placing them into a category i would appreciate if people would please do the same. I am not "everyone in california" I am an individual living in california for the time being. But i do appreciate the comment. I will look into San Antonio as well. )

[shaxs]

Originally Posted by scongress1234

I notice you didn't mention Austin in the body of the post, so perhaps other cities might interest you in TX as well. Houston is not as bad as they make it out to be, SA is very
friendly and safe, and dallas has so many things to do it isn't funny. Many people just
seem to hone in on Austin, as if they somehow fear the rest of the state.
Best thing to do is come to Austin, and Texas, yourself, and see what you think, as everyone has different tastes. Take a ride through a few other cities as well. You might be surprised how nice the other cities are as well, particularly San Antonio.

I agree. I highly enjoy Fort Worth and mid cities of the DFW area. We have yet to come to Austin, but will be there this June. I HIGHLY recommend checking out the other areas of Texas as well.

[AustinTexan]

Originally Posted by Nisey909

I'm sorry you have a bad perspective on most Californians wanting to move to Texas but i am very open minded and i don't necessarily narrow myself down to only living in Austin. From what i know about it, Austin sounds like a great place for us to live. As i said, i am very open minded to suggestions and i take everyone's opinion into consideration. One thing i will say though...just as much as someone wouldn't like me placing them into a category i would appreciate if people would please do the same. I am not "everyone in california" I am an individual living in california for the time being. But i do appreciate the comment. I will look into San Antonio as well. )

Well maybe everyone in California should be "very open minded" too and look at moving to other states besides Texas. Texans are not like most people in California (politically or otherwise) from my experience. For everyone to now say "my personality fits Texas better" sounds pretty convenient now that you "can't afford" to live in California any longer. You may be an individual living in California, but like everyone else hightailing it out of there for a "cheaper cost of living", you're like "everyone in California" to most Texans.