thinking about moving to Houston advise please!?!!

[MyPann]

So I am in Houston now, I helped the family that I nanny for move here and I really like it. It just feels right. Here is my dilemmas first i'm from Ohio so Texas is far away from my immediate family but I do have tons of relatives here that I see like every year or so. I am afraid of hurricanes so what is the weather like, do they hit Houston every time? any advise on that would be helpful. How are the colleges in this area I'm a psychology major and an art minor? What is the average price for a two bedroom rental? any advise and/or information at all would be helpful. thanks!

[yorkymom1]

oh thats a hard decision. If your very close to you immediate family then moving that far away may take its toll on you resulting in you moving back. I know it works for some people but didn;t work for me. I moved away for about 5 years but then missed being able to see my immediate family whenever i wanted so i moved back. Plus, it helps a lot with free childcare when your close to them.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by MyPann

So I am in Houston now, I helped the family that I nanny for move here and I really like it. It just feels right. Here is my dilemmas first i'm from Ohio so Texas is far away from my immediate family but I do have tons of relatives here that I see like every year or so. I am afraid of hurricanes so what is the weather like, do they hit Houston every time? any advise on that would be helpful. How are the colleges in this area I'm a psychology major and an art minor? What is the average price for a two bedroom rental? any advise and/or information at all would be helpful. thanks!

I love Texas........Not sure about the housing and/or utility costs in Ohio....but, Texas is low in comparison to most staes. That is in housing.....Utility costs in the summer can be very high.....very humid and hot. No, hurricanes do not hit Houston every time......

What you will find is Texas people are wonderful.....so, down home and welcoming....great place to raise a family......It is one of the states that is not feeling the economic crunch.....Oh! it is a very conservative state.

[RowdysMom]

You need to be ready for oppressive heat and humidity all summer long, but the winters are wonderful and generally very warm and really nice. Hurricanes rarely "hit" Houston. There is sometimes residual flooding from a hurricane or tropical storm, but not a direct hit.

Housing costs are generally much lower than other parts of the country. The colleges and Universities are excellent in the area.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by RowdysMom

You need to be ready for oppressive heat and humidity all summer long, but the winters are wonderful and generally very warm and really nice. Hurricanes rarely "hit" Houston. There is sometimes residual flooding from a hurricane or tropical storm, but not a direct hit.

Housing costs are generally much lower than other parts of the country. The colleges and Universities are excellent in the area.

Yup ! She's right.

We do have high humidity and heat - traffic that never ends but all in all - Houston is a pretty good place to live cost wise. We did just go thru a bad hurricane but it's not something that happens often - flooding can be an issue but then again - that depends on where you live.

This winter has been cold which is not normal and last summer very hot but you get used to it. (sort of) Normally you can wear shorts in winter

as far as rental prices - depends on what part of Houston you'd be renting in. Where I've always lived it's very affordable - you can also find rental homes that rival some cities apartment rental fees.

a plus is - the beach is only an hour drive.

[TatumsMom]

I live in Brenham - which is halfway between Houston and Austin. I have family in Houston and best friends and other family in Austin. I have to say that I would pick Austin to live in WAY before choosing Houston. Houston is so humid (being near the coast) and in my opinion, kinda "ugly" (sorry Houstonians... don't shoot! ) but Austin is hilly and prettier.

Now, that said.... I'm glad I don't live in either city. I like the small town feel of Brenham. It's been a great place to raise our kids. I grew up here and didn't always love it but it does help that I don't work there. I drive about an hour away to College Station every day for work. That gets me away from some of the claustrophic small town issues and there are more places for shopping and running errands.

Sorry, don't know about the schools in Houston. Good luck with your decision!

[yorkieusa]

Too humid in Houston area for me, plus the mosquitoes are bigger than your yorkie.

[veguroev]

Originally Posted by MyPann

So I am in Houston now, I helped the family that I nanny for move here and I really like it. It just feels right. Here is my dilemmas first i'm from Ohio so Texas is far away from my immediate family but I do have tons of relatives here that I see like every year or so. I am afraid of hurricanes so what is the weather like, do they hit Houston every time? any advise on that would be helpful. How are the colleges in this area I'm a psychology major and an art minor? What is the average price for a two bedroom rental? any advise and/or information at all would be helpful. thanks!

Hubby lived in Ohio from High School to College, he never liked the cold weather. He likes Houston because it's a bigger city, there are more things to do, many places to go to he doesn't like humidity very much, but it's better than snow according to him.
Now, to me, Houston is the place to live, housing is cheaper than most states, i'm love humidity, i love it! ( yes, call me crazy ), Hurricanes are not an every year thing, nor they hit us all the time. If you have insurance you are covered... as far as schools, you have many to choose from and they run from ok colleges to excellent!
people are very friendly and welcoming.
If you are too attach to your family, you are only 3 hours away from Columbus Ohio by plane..

[Goat]

Originally Posted by MyPann

So I am in Houston now, I helped the family that I nanny for move here and I really like it. It just feels right. Here is my dilemmas first i'm from Ohio so Texas is far away from my immediate family but I do have tons of relatives here that I see like every year or so. I am afraid of hurricanes so what is the weather like, do they hit Houston every time? any advise on that would be helpful. How are the colleges in this area I'm a psychology major and an art minor? What is the average price for a two bedroom rental? any advise and/or information at all would be helpful. thanks!

Houston is a hub for Continental airlines and Southwest, so getting back to see family should be convenient and affordable. Prices vary widely for housing. You need to settle on a budget and a type of area you want (urban vs. suburbs). You can pay $2000/mth or $500/mth.

Check out this website, Help! I'm Moving to Houston|All the local advice you need to live in Houston and ask questions on there so some locals can answer them for you!

[celstu1]

I love this thread.... I, too want to check out Houston as a potential place to move. I am wondering how the job market is though, average pay scales for IT and development jobs. Schools for an MBA programs would be important to me and housing prices. This is all very interesting. How about helathcare centers, hospitals, etc.... I am from Boston area with some of the best hospitals and care centers and specialists in the world.

[Cerise]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Too humid in Houston area for me, plus the mosquitoes are bigger than your yorkie.

I love Houston and have a lot of family there, but I don't love the traffic and over built areas. Austin cost too much but is more beautiful (IMO)compared to Houston, but now we have the crazy traffic too.

[katy-yorkie]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Too humid in Houston area for me, plus the mosquitoes are bigger than your yorkie.

I agree Houston is humid, but as the saying goes, you don't have to shovel humidity! But give us a break on the mosquitoes, they aren't that big