Texas is the hot place to live

[CHEF GIRL]

DALLAS - Four Texas metropolitan areas were among the biggest population gainers as Americans continued their trend of moving to the Sun Belt in 2006 and 2007, according to Census Bureau estimates to be released Thursday.
Dallas-Fort Worth added more than 162,000 residents between July 2006 and July 2007, more than any other metro area. Three other Texas areas — Houston, Austin and San Antonio — also cracked the top 10.
"People are running away from unaffordable housing, from the economic slowdown," said Karl Eschbach, a state demographer in Texas. "I would expect Texas to stay at the top of a slowing game."
According to figures compiled by Eschbach, 16 percent of Americans who moved to other states between July 2006 and July 2007 came to Texas, which led the nation for the second straight year in that category.
Home prices continue to be a big factor. A report earlier this month by Global Insight found that housing prices in the Dallas area were undervalued by as much as 30 percent.

[luv_2_laugh]

I totally agree. I moved here from (Santa Barbara) California and I've watched its housing market sky rocket out of control. My grandmother owned some properties that she purchased in the 40's but kept well maintained throughout the years and added a few upgrades here and there. Well before p***ing a few years back she decided to sell a few. Mind you she bought these home for less than $50,000 back in the day and they sold for over a million each. Housing is no longer cheap in beautiful sunny Santa Barbara, California. You can't even find home rentals for under $2,000 and the job market is not any better. Even when you do find a job you have to make sure it pays well just so you can afford to pay your rent. I'm glad my family members own there own homes otherwise they couldn't afford to live there any longer.

[armywife1314]

I live in a small town about 1 hour north of houston and wow, our little town is great its right in the middle of many other larger towns. the population is about 7000 and for a gorgeous 3 bed brick home you can get it for 150,000 with at least an acre of land, rent is really cheap only about 800 for the more high end places with land, yards, etc. and even better the electricity company that services our town is really cheap.... .04 cents a kw!!! The lousy part were moving to fort hood...way more expensive, hooray for on post!

[Dianah194]

Yep! it is hot here that's for sure, I sweat enough for (2-3) people during the summer months her in Texas however, "it's a steal to live here. " We purchased a new home, 3300 sq. ft. for way under $180,000 at close out (2) yrs ago, there are better deals now.

[wackychick]

I used to live in the Houston area too, and when my husband I were faced with a job change that would have sent us back down there, we were surprised at what we could get for the money as well as far as land and housing. My dad and sister are still down there and they are in an area where the land is still really inexpensive, but still really beautiful too. And if you can stand the wacky weather and humidity down there, it IS a great place to live: close to everything you want to do such as cosmopolitan big city life, pretty good beaches, beautiful hill country, swampy marshes, dense forest and great water venues too. Lots of historic stuff to see down there too. You get a lot of the same benefits up here in North Texas too, but without the beaches! And don't forget Texas has no income tax either!