Marfa in the summer (Austin, Alpine: houses, buying, to live in)

[ukgirl]

We live in Austin and know about the summer heat but are thinking of buying a small place in Marfa. Are the summers normally cooler than Austin? What other factors should we take into account? Are there plagues of grasshoppers for instance?

[catman]

The summers are somewhat cooler and a lot less humid. The hottest part of the summer is earlier than in Austin, but the nights are a lot cooler. I can't say about the grasshoppers, but I doubt it. It's dry out there. What I'd like to know is why it gets so much colder there at night in winter than it does in Alpine. That area (Ft Davis/Alpine/Marfa) is my favorite part of Texas.

You can look at the other side of the site to compare climates. The graphs are very useful.

[eterpay]

What would you do in marfa? That place seems pretty boring to me, and there is NO water. Unless you count the greenhouses.

[tara:)]

Its not boring. Maybe to you it is cause you just have to know where to go and hangout with. Instead of wasting alot of money to go out like in big cities. Its nice to live in a big city, but you need alot of money to do stuff. So i would suggest a small town like Marfa my hometown. Its nice and quiet. Everyone gets along with everyone and they are friendly.

[catman]

I don't think I'd ever be bored, not with that beautiful night sky to look at. I can entertain myself pretty well: ham radio, motorcycling, photography, and amateur astronomy. I could do all of them at least as well as I can here in a city, and 3 out of 4 much better.

[Cowboybootnut]

From what I have heard, housing costs have increased a lot
the last 4-5 years or so.

[doss1]

My friend, one can get star burn from the amazing nights there.

[LilyLady]

It's a gorgeous area of the state. Big Bend National Park isn't too far away either. Who knows? You might even be fortunate enough to actually see the Marfa lights!

[catman]

Originally Posted by TexasNick

My friend, one can get star burn from the amazing nights there.

I know. I've been to the Texas Star Party north of Fort Davis twice and hope to go again in two months!

[die Eichkatze]

Originally Posted by catman

The summers are somewhat cooler and a lot less humid. The hottest part of the summer is earlier than in Austin, but the nights are a lot cooler. I can't say about the grasshoppers, but I doubt it. It's dry out there. What I'd like to know is why it gets so much colder there at night in winter than it does in Alpine. That area (Ft Davis/Alpine/Marfa) is my favorite part of Texas.

You can look at the other side of the site to compare climates. The graphs are very useful.

Marfa is 200ft higher in elevation than Alpine with mountain ranges located all around....cold air sinks and marfa is where it pools. Just like it is a little cooler near a creek on a cool, clear, dry night...the samething happens in marfa...except on a much larger scale.