Cost of Living in Houston (house insurance, house, buyer)

[bale002]

Hi All,

Can you please help with information on the basic cost of living in Houston.

1) I know what house buy prices are through the MLS and that, generally speaking, in Texas property taxes are 3%. But how is that calculated? What is the relationship between buy price and assessed value? What, roughly, would the property tax be on a 3/2 bought at, say, $180,000? Are there any caps or breaks for state/city residents like Proposition 13 in California or the Homestead Act in Florida?

2) What are house insurance prices like? Is there a crisis in the Gulf states as there is in Florida? What would it cost, more or less, to insure a typical 3/2 1800 sq.ft home in Houston? I realize it varies depending on many conditions, but a basic idea, please.

3) What are gasoline prices like in Houston? I know it varies from state to state across the country, but one would expect the Gulf states to have comparatively lower gasoline prices, is that the case?

4) Any information on medical insurance prices for self-employed people and how they may compare with other states in the US?

5) Any problem with water bills, or is water plentiful in the Houston area?

Thanks in advance for time and any answers to one or all of these questions.

[Wysiwyg]

i just moved to houston 2 mos ago. first time buyer. the quotes i got for home insurance was around $100/mo. the home purchase was a rush so i didnt have time to shop around. also i was sort of stuck with builder 'prefered' service providers. i bet i'll get a lower rate for next year when i consolidate auto and home insurance, and figure in home security.
you need to ask the builder/realtor about water. I paid $8 last month for water and sewage, while my coworker in the same county, NE just outside the loop pays $140 a month. I think there is a private water service provider over there