Is Texas as cheap as it seems? (Houston, Dallas: 2014, apartment)

[mclor85]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

I am NOT paying close to $1mil for a 1950's 2/1 or maybe 3/1 ranch home w/ 1100 sq ft that has not been touched since the day it was built that sits on a main busy street. To me that is not just "expensive" but assinine.

Haha that IS ridiculous! My grandmother's home is a 3/3 2,000 sgf 1950's ranch home with a servants quaters and a 2 car garage. She bought it in 1985 for 70k and it is now worth 118k. San Antonio is awesome! TEXAS is awesome.
Not cheap. FAIR!

[EasilyAmused]

Texas is darn cheap if you are buying far out in the xburbs. It can be very cost prohibitive if you are buying in the "location" neighborhoods. Houston is almost as bad as LA in Uptown and inside the Loop. But well worth it if you like a zero commute time and established communities full of Texans, who don't have major monetary insecurity issues!

[texdav]

Originally Posted by JVTX72

No it isnt. I lived in Connecticut (the most expensive state) for four years and always had money left over at the end of the month. Here I make the same and have less expenses but never seem to have as much left over. Make Sense?? I think its because we have more hidden expenses here in TX.

My nephew has made the move from Texas to california and then to conn. He told me that Conn. is even more expensive than California and that is a big reason so many don't retire there unless they were born there.He makes very good money too as he runs a large company and has 4000 sq ft house on three acres. He says for the middle class they can't afford much of a home; if at all. My neices husband is from there and he aggred it is more expensive than california were he now lives in Mission Viejo.

[Coldcanadian5204]

It is not expensive in Cali it's not expensive in Texas it's not expensive in Vegas, check the real estate prices in Canada that is expensive I just bought a house in Canada it's 1100 square feet no basement just one floor it was built in 1977 needed a new roof furnace and water heater, needs new windows and I paid 250,000$ for it and I got it for a good price, I've been looking at real estate in the u.s. Lately and for a little more then I paid for my little shanty I can dam near buy a mansion Canada is expensive as hell I work for an oil company way up in northern Canada and I fly to work so I was thinking bout moving somewhere warm like Phoenix or something then jus fly up to work a friend of mine did that but he bought his place down in Mexico I can't believe how cheap real estate is all over the u.s.

[catman]

To the OP:
(1) How cheap does Texas seem?
(2) Compared to what?
(3) Where in Texas?

[hamiltonpl]

It really depends on where you want to live. For a prime location in a good school district, Texas isn't exactly "cheap." For example, in Dallas' Highland Park a run down, falling apart 1,200 square foot 2/2 bungalow in original 1920's condition will go for $800,000. It may not be Manhattan prices. But it ain't "cheap." Also, apartments at the Ritz are sold for $1,000 per square foot. Again -- not exactly cheap.

I've known several people who have moved here based on hearing about it being "cheap." They were very surprised as to how expensive it was for the desirable parts of town.

[TDAlmighty]

As many others have been getting at, it is cheap or expensive depending on the individual and how they want to live. There are reasons that certain areas in LA are expensive just like there are reasons places in Houston/Dallas/Austin are expensive. Basic supply vs. demand.

Personally I find that people tend to overhype the cheapness of Texas to justify their own decision on moving here.

[txstate]

Its cheap along with the infastrucure too just with the rolling blackouts, we cant even retrofit our power plants.

[cBach]

There are a lot of hidden fees like professional fees. For instance, to be an engineer in Texas you must have certification. You can't even claim engineer in your title unless you have that. No other state has that. There are other fees like that.

The toll roads can amount to a large monthly bill if you have to commute on them. I know several people that spend over $100/month on tolls. When I lived in California, only the major bridges were tolled.

[Two4damoney]

Originally Posted by mclor85

Haha that IS ridiculous! My grandmother's home is a 3/3 2,000 sgf 1950's ranch home with a servants quaters and a 2 car garage. She bought it in 1985 for 70k and it is now worth 118k. San Antonio is awesome! TEXAS is awesome.
Not cheap. FAIR!

I agree. Texas is fair not "cheap." States like California are unfair with the ridiculous cost of homes and sky high rents. Especially southern California. And yes, Texas is awesome.