Who here is from Texas?

[WakkoSS]

My friend lives in Austin and another friend is moving to Plano. I've been looking to get out of South Florida and Texas is an option as Travis County Sheriff's Office and many other departments pay well and the cost of living is still reasonable. My little 2/2 house is $230k right now and is less than 1200 square feet! I'd love a 3/2 with three car garage or a two car garage and a big barn. Plano PD starts at 48k and my friend is getting a 3k square foot home built for 175k.

I'm going out to Austin in three weeks to check it out. Those of you from Texas, tell me like it is. I'm more of a green mountain guy and I know jack diddly about Texas.

 

[justabuickv6]

I live in southeast Houston. Clear Lake area. Where NASA is.

Yes you can get a new house for 175k. You just loose some of the upgrades. It's easy to spend 20k in upgrades.

I have a friend that just recently purchased his house for 165k. It's around 2500 sq ft and has a 4 car garage (barn type). Two wide, two deep. The entire area above the garage is planked. It has to be around 1000 sq ft. Great for an office or storage.

48k is great money for a new officer. We start out at 36k. I work for Missouri City Police here in Texas. I'm not an officer. I am the I.T. guy.

 

[Lee_Burough]

Don't know about LE, but have lived in Texas on and off for 10 years (in the military). We are going back there for our final retirement move. San Antonio is our favorite place, but we can't afford to live there. We're looking for a place with less taxes.

By and large, the best thing in our Texas experience is a bunch of nice, friendly people....People is their best draw.

While there is no state income tax, property taxes are through the roof! My empty three acre lot in Granbury was taxed $1,064 last year with an assessed value of $50,000, while my $300,000 home in Colorado had a tax bill of $1,004 for 2005 The big cities are around 3% of the property value each year : OverFedSchoolSystems :

So, for us, its not how much we can spend on a home, its how much taxes we want to pay. A $300,000 home in the big city will cost you $750 a month in just property taxes. But Texans are proud they 'don't have a state income tax'

My neighbor just told me yesterday of a speeding ticket in North Central Texas with an "estimated" speed (9mph over) written on the ticket. Thing is, they were looking for a place to retire....The attitude of the particular horse's patoot as he wrote the ticket, helped make up their mind about where they did NOT want to live. Please, don't be one of "those" kind of LE's

Do you speak Spanish? There has been a Hispanic majority in Texas for a decade. If that bothers you, don't go there.

Texas is about 98% private land, so that changes a lot of things for people who like to be out of doors for family activities. Hunting rights are expensive. Its still a great place to be and live. Great People!

My lot in a gated community with its own LE, Fire and emergency protection:

 

[2QUIK6]

Austin kind of reminds me of California, lots of hills and pretty country when you get to the outskirts of town, but is still a very congested city.
Plano is just flat and overcrowded. Lots of space in New Mexico and not that crowded and cost of living is cheaper Texas will continue to get more expensive and there is no relief in sight for property taxes not to mention the public schools consistantly rank near the bottom. Thats what we get for all those yankees moving here for our "low cost of living"

 

[PaCemkr86]

im on the coast
Corpus Christi

 

[junction34]

I am here in north eaast houston. Austin is a beautiful and fun town. GO UT! HPD I heard gets payed pretty good here in houston!

 

[TexasT]

I love being in Texas

I don't think the property taxes are all that much. We have been back Two years after a 'bust' in Wisconsin at what I thought was a better job offer. The property taxes were just as high there in Wi. And the state income tax on top of that. As far as the schools go, I beleive you get out what you put in. They aren't running a daycare but many treat it as such.

Like junction34, we are up 59 a bit about 12 south of Cleveland a little bit north of Kingwood. It is growing up here and they are widening 59(The New I69 corridor according to the signs). I like it here and they are always talking about HPD being under staffed and with the projected retirements it will only get worse. Might look into it.

We are looking to move to West Texas. Specifically Midland/Odessa area. With the oil and gas industries booming I think it will be a good move. They have several Dragstrips within a few hours drive and a new one in Odessa so that meets my criteria. I just have to find a job and wait for the kids to get out of school for the summer. The cost of living out there is significantly less that Houston and I'd imagine Austin too.

Before the stint in Wi we lived south of Dallas/Ft Worth. It was ok but not that great as we thought the Wi deal was better. Experience is the best teacher. Also as stated New Mexico is an option for us but they have the new casinos out there and according to those i've talked to the housing costs have risen due to that. Hard to say but good luck with your choice.

Rich

 

[WakkoSS]

Hmmm, I was looking to get AWAY from congested, maybe live 30 minutes outside of town. Down here in Florida land is limited due to the 'glades, so it's pushed the property values through the roof. My house doubled in price in two years, insane. Guess I'll check the property taxes too while I'm there, thanks for the heads up.

 

[2QUIK6]

AS far as the property tax rate, it varies by county, but here in the DFW area, expect to pay about $3k per $100k of property...about 3% total..thats school, county, and city taxes rolled together, and sales tax of 8.25% I think thats what it currently is.

 

[PHANTASM]

My brother just moved to midlothian last summer.
he moved from minnesota for his job.
cost of living was about the same. housing he said was about the same.
got a better house and a little cheaper.

everything else as far as living seems the same.
the weather was the biggest plus as the snowreally sucks.

i visited last fall and it was nice.