Moving from Louisiana to Houston (San Antonio, El Paso: appointed, credit, homes)

[LocalPlanner]

Galveston County has struggled with negative perceptions of all public schools south of Clear Creek ISD. Seriously, is there really some reason someone couldn't put their family in one of the other Galveston County school districts and do just fine? Why give yourself a longer commute?

Though, the comment about the flooding in Dickinson is relevant - a good chunk of the town got absolutely hammered in Harvey.

[westsidewolf1989]

Clear Creek ISD and Friendswood ISD are the moves. I know that's a decent commute, but that's the reality about taking a job in Galveston and not wanting to live in Galveston/wanting good schools.

[Failed Engineer]

Do the Dickinson city limits go west of 45? Or is that League City? Dickinson ISD has a elementary on the west side of 45 but that might be in League City. That area would be a good option for a shorter commute but the schools aren't as good as League City so it's probably worth tacking on a little bit to the commute. But I would say that's as close as I'd go as the schools get progressively worse south of Dickinson.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Failed Engineer

Do the Dickinson city limits go west of 45? Or is that League City? Dickinson ISD has a elementary on the west side of 45 but that might be in League City. That area would be a good option for a shorter commute but the schools aren't as good as League City so it's probably worth tacking on a little bit to the commute. But I would say that's as close as I'd go as the schools get progressively worse south of Dickinson.

Yes Dickinson extends west of 45, or at least the school district does.

[tewest86]

Anything better than the 45 mile one way 1 hr commute I do now is a plus.

[tewest86]

Sometimes I hate when people don't come back and post an update so here's mines:

We ended up moving at the end of May when school was out. My job took care of all the packing and moving. They also gave us TQSE (temp quarters) so we stayed in a hotel off Bay area for a little over 2 months. It wasn't bad because it was a 2-bedroom with a kitchen similar to a small condo.

We ended up getting a rental house in Friendswood off Hope Village Rd. behind Clear Brook HS. Our lease won't be up till summer 2020. I work in Galveston. The drive isn't that bad since I'm going against the traffic into Houston. All the construction on I-45 isn't fun but what can I do. I believe every interstate in House is under construction. It's like it will never end.

My kids are in CCISD. They like it. It's a huge difference between the size of NOLA and Houston. It takes me and hr to get from Houston to Houston. I love telling that joke.

The big shock here is the cost of property taxes. They are crazy. It greatly reduces my budget. From where we moved from, a $400,000 house would have a tax of about $3000/yr. We've been looking at houses in Pearland, Clear Lake, and League City. I really like Clear Lake. I know I won't be able to get a new build but I'm hoping to find one that's been remodeled for a good price. I believe the neighborhood is called Bay Knoll.

We've looked in LC off of 96 and South Shore. The issue there is the $10k tax bill that comes with a new build. I've also looked at some areas in Friendswood off 518 and 528. Friendswood seems to have a smaller feel to it. We are an AA family. Some people have told me that I wouldn't be welcomed in Friendswood but I haven't had any issues. I don't want to go way down to Alvin and Santa Fe. Even though I work on the island, I want to be closer to Houston to enjoy what it has to offer.

I'm also not fund of TC or La Marque. I just didn't like them. They are building that huge development off I-45 called Largo Mar. However, the taxes are over 4.01%. I've had co-workers look in there. And it's still zoned to Dickinson ISD. I will say that DISD isn't that bad. I've researched it and visited some of the schools. They just opened up a new 9th Grade school. It seems like CCISD is just so big.

Well, that's all for my update.

[john redcorn]

If you look on the east side of 45, using HWY 146 is a good alternative to 45. From my house in the far east side of LC to the causeway is about the same if I go 45 or 146.

[perro_peluo]

You mention the higher property taxes compared to LA, but when you factor in the combination of no state tax in TX you will end up better off paying just the higher property tax.


I am originally from LA and have lived in both states on and off for the last 15 years. We lived in central LA for about three years and ended up back in Katy in 2014. I ran the numbers and we were paying quite a bit more in LA for state tax and property tax. But this all depends on tax brackets, age of neighborhoods, MUD taxes, etc.

[tewest86]

I started this thread over a year ago. Man, time flies. I guess I'll give my final update. We ended up closing on a house last week in Clear Lake. We are in one of the Bays. I forget. It's an older home but it has been update with all the big ticket items replaced (i.e. windows, roof, flooring, HVAC, lights, bathroom, etc. ). I'm happy about the purchase. Once again, this site was helpful.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by tewest86

I started this thread over a year ago. Man, time flies. I guess I'll give my final update. We ended up closing on a house last week in Clear Lake. We are in one of the Bays. I forget. It's an older home but it has been update with all the big ticket items replaced (i.e. windows, roof, flooring, HVAC, lights, bathroom, etc. ). I'm happy about the purchase. Once again, this site was helpful.

As someone who's spent an extremely substantial amount of time in both, I'm here to tell you, despite all the hype that some Houstonians tell you about Louisiana culture here, it is in no way shape or form the same. I'm telling you at one point I heard someone call Houston part of a "Western end of Louisiana" and that's how you know they never lived there. Now, are certain aspects influenced? Sure, but in no way are they the same. They'll tell you "oh but try the boudin at this restaurant" or "that étouffée at that place". Neither me or any of my friends who lived in Louisiana found it similar. Just seems they're scared here to add enough fat or seasoning. Then they'll speak about zydeco events that sometimes take place here, but they don't realize in Louisiana, its the norm. In Houston, you have to go to events of that type. Personally, being of Venezuelan origin, I find the Venezuelan food in Houston to taste more similar to the food back home than cajun or creole food in Houston tastes to Louisiana.

This doesn't mean someone from Louisiana can't feel at home here. Houston is a welcoming city, you just have to adjust to the differences you'll see.