best place to move to in Texas

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by golfgod

I suggest you look at the Highland Lakes area; Marble Falls, Meadowlakes, Horshoe Bay. Although it is a bit windier than some other places. An hour to Austin, an hour and a half to San Antonio. Tornadoes? I've lived in TX 30 years and only ever had one within 20 miles of me. It is a bit humid.

Before you settle on TX there are a few things you ought to know; we're not a "low tax" state as many politicians tell you, we just don't have a personal income tax. We have the highest homeowner's (and I think automobile) insurance rates in the country. We have killer property taxes.

Our K-12 schools kind of suck so check the school districts carefull, even if you don't have kids, school quality can drive home prices.

We used to have some top ranked colleges, but that's in the process of changing. A few more years of budget cuts and only the private schools like Rice will be top ranked.

Other than that come on in, we're leaving so there'll be plenty of room for you.

golfgod

I hate to call a fellow Texan wrong so I wont. I just want to say Texas is way down the middle of the list for most expensive property taxes. You ever look up N.J.? Back there my 900sqft (yes I said it right) I paid more then $6000 a year in property taxes. That was 13 years ago. I believe today it is nearing $12,000 a year. Car insurance? Again Texas is way down the middle of the list. Try Hawaii, California, NYC, Las Vegas or NJ and see what they pay for car insurance.

I have a home in Las Vegas and in Texas about an hour above Houston. Same size house, much larger lot in Texas, lakefront in Texas, I pay 6 times more property taxes in Vegas. If I dont get outta here soon I will register my truck in Texas too. In Texas it will cost me $75 to register, in Vegas it costs me $1266 to register. Car insurance? More then $1400/yr in Vegas, $212/yr in Texas.

Prices of homes? Geez my Texas place on the water might be worth $150K while my dump in Vegas is worth more then 3 times that.

Hey ya wanna trade? Nawww I just want to sell the Vegas house but there are no buyers.

Anyway good luck to you where ever you end up.

[jiffin4java]

Originally Posted by desertsun41

I hate to call a fellow Texan wrong so I wont. I just want to say Texas is way down the middle of the list for most expensive property taxes. You ever look up N.J.? Back there my 900sqft (yes I said it right) I paid more then $6000 a year in property taxes. That was 13 years ago. I believe today it is nearing $12,000 a year. Car insurance? Again Texas is way down the middle of the list. Try Hawaii, California, NYC, Las Vegas or NJ and see what they pay for car insurance.

I have a home in Las Vegas and in Texas about an hour above Houston. Same size house, much larger lot in Texas, lakefront in Texas, I pay 6 times more property taxes in Vegas. If I dont get outta here soon I will register my truck in Texas too. In Texas it will cost me $75 to register, in Vegas it costs me $1266 to register. Car insurance? More then $1400/yr in Vegas, $212/yr in Texas.

Prices of homes? Geez my Texas place on the water might be worth $150K while my dump in Vegas is worth more then 3 times that.

Hey ya wanna trade? Nawww I just want to sell the Vegas house but there are no buyers.

Anyway good luck to you where ever you end up.

I agree with you! When we came here in Oct. '06 we had major sticker shock in reverse! It made getting through a year and a half of my husband being in school full time with very little income MUCH easier. I have no idea how we did it!