We are thinking of relocating to Houston Texas. Looking for the pros and the cons. We are in our 50's.?

Question

We have heard a lot of negative things about the weather. Please give me a reason to leave our home and live in Texas.

Answer 1

Been there, done that. Weather is hot, sky is beautiful, if you need to find a job though the last question in the interview, if your from up north is you have an accent where are you from? Lot of prejudice down there not only for northerners but for others. Came Back to PA after 7 months. Instead of making $8.50 and hour with TI making over $20

Answer 2

Well, well....well.....

Houston is very widespread over many miles, and lacks what I would say a very disciplined Planning & Zoning Commission. There seems to be rampant the building of unlikely buildings, homes and business' right next to each other, which kills property values. When I would visit my aunt and uncle, their brick home was next to a mobile home, which was across the street from a half million home. Then, down the street were industrial shops..on and on. Infrastructure with the streets lacks consistancy. Problems with floodings! Hurricane season means to be prepared to leave quickly and come home needing a boat to reach your home. The entire area seems to be low elevation which welcomes flooding at the slightest overage of rain. The humidity is very high as well, and it looks like housing costs are going up in Houston rathar quickly, but not at a dead run like at Austin. I understand that Austin's housing market is reflecting California with the doubling of prices every couple of years. It's killing the common citizen of Austin. There is even a tax being considered for having your house next to a "pretty" area. But that is Austin...

I would suggest the Dallas Ft. Worth area. Ft. Worth is still quite affordable, but all is becoming very expensive and untouchable. Right now, I'll admit that with my salary with my husbands, all we can qualify for is a $120k home, and when you scout out homes of that price range & under, you get a trashed out house that needs major work like foundation, plumbing and roofing. I'm discouraged, even though I know that I'm living in one of the less expensive areas right now. So, I've seen land go from just under $2k an acre in October 2003 to over $25k now for the same spot. Homes haven't gone up quite as crazy, but it's quickly slipping away from my grasp. I'll be 50 in under a year, divorced (ex has house), and my new hubby and I are looking at being stuck as being apartment dwellers, but not by choice.

Good luck. Everywhere in America is crazyiness. I feel sorry for the new immigrants working minimum wage, as they are looking at lifelong poverty and renting.

091707 6:15

Answer 3

Pros = Friendly, great food, nice cities & towns, nice golf courses

Cons = weather and crime. It's hot as hell out there during the summer months, and still pretty hot during the rest of the year, and Houston is heavily populated with rival gangs and crime. Don't be out alone after dark...

Answer 4

It's really hot. Lots of racism. People drive fast and reckless.

Don't know where you are now. But if you're in California (which I think is paradise!) I definitely wouldn't go.