Anyone in Houston, Texas area?

[BZB]

I am in Houston, TX. Any mustachians live in the area?

[windman]

Moving there in a month!

I am fairly new to the Mustachian way, and want to implement some of the ideas with our location change. I found it extremely difficult to find a place to live close to work. It definitely seems like everyone commutes.

[arebelspy]

Wouldn't mind living in Texas.  Cheap cost of living and real estate investing there is awesome right now.

I am fairly new to the Mustachian way, and want to implement some of the ideas with our location change. I found it extremely difficult to find a place to live close to work. It definitely seems like everyone commutes.

Try to find a place as close as possible with good walkability - i.e. you may have to commute (a hopefully short distance) to work, but if you can walk/bike everywhere else (store, etc.) that may be okay.

[windman]

Thats kind of what we ended up doing.

The rental market was extremely competitive! When we were looking for a house to rent, there were 5 houses that got snatched up before we even got to view them. Luckily one opened up and it was just up our alley...a safe neighborhood, a yard, and pretty close to a kroger. Its also across the street from a great coffee shop, which is probably more bad news than good news knowing my wife!

House is in the Heights and my work is by IAH, so its still a good haul. my plan is to either carpool with coworkers, or I can bike it 20 minutes downtown for a 50 minute bus ride up to work. Doesnt sound that bad to me, considering I could read on the bus, and get a little exercise in at least 2x a day.

[steggy81]

Houstonian over here.

[BZB]

I found it extremely difficult to find a place to live close to work. It definitely seems like everyone commutes.

Yes, I work in the med center and Mr. BZB's job is about 10 min drive (on freeways) from our house. We rent near the light rail, Midtown area, so I don't have to pay to park in the med center. (Parking costs ~ $120 - 160 per month.) The compromise is the neighborhood is a little sketchy, esp. at night, and I don't feel safe walking alone at night.

[windman]

The compromise is the neighborhood is a little sketchy, esp. at night, and I don't feel safe walking alone at night.

That was the issue for us...I am going to be gone, traveling for work about half-time in my first year of employment at this job, so it was imperative we find a place my wife feels safe (part of the reason our rent is so high).

[reverend]

Wouldn't mind living in Texas.  Cheap cost of living and real estate investing there is awesome right now.

Having just moved here from Denver, I wouldn't be so quick to say it's cheaper here in Texas.
Property taxes are a large chunk and my staple food items are quite a bit more expensive too. 

Presumably because there's no state income tax so they have to collect elsewhere, but still... it was a sticker-shock to come down here. I may end up not buying a house (depending on what sort of job I find and when I move out of Texas etc).

[arebelspy]

Having just moved here from Denver, I wouldn't be so quick to say it's cheaper here in Texas.
Property taxes are a large chunk and my staple food items are quite a bit more expensive too. 

Presumably because there's no state income tax so they have to collect elsewhere, but still... it was a sticker-shock to come down here. I may end up not buying a house (depending on what sort of job I find and when I move out of Texas etc).

Interesting.   I had heard different, but I don't have first-hand knowledge and you do.

Any other Texans here willing to share if it's cheaper/more expensive than your previous locale?

[windman]

Cant speak to living expenses, but Rent (in the loop, at least) is much more expensive than in Raleigh, NC, where we are moving from. Our $695 2 bedroom apt in a safe tree-filled neighborhood 5 minutes from downtown would cost $1100-1200 in Houston.

[frutopia]

Hi all, I live in the Heights area and work downtown. Parking is killer and like Matt, I've been working through in my head how I would ride my bike to work in a suit. Even today I would've been soaked through. Anyway, good to see other Houstonians here and looking forward to helping each other on our journies.

[windman]

I wish my work was going to be downtown. I start in June. My plan is to ride my bike 3.5 miles downtown from the heights, and catch a bus up to jfk by IAH. (about a 50 min ride). When the weather gets mild, I plan to commute the full distance ~15 miles, should take about 1 hr or just over. Luckily I dont have to wear a suit. We will see how it goes!

[frutopia]

Windman,

Reading your earlier posts I realized you're pretty close to me. Would love to have a drink and show you around town if you like when you arrive. Including a coffee shop a bit farther away but that will change your wife's life :-)

[fiveoh]

I'm in Houston as well(Katy area).   Lived here most of my life... one thing that is bugging me lately is all the toll roads... I refuse to drive on them to save $$$ but it seems almost like a necessity nowadays.  I remember when they built Beltway 8 and promised the toll would only be temporary until the road was paid for…. I think it was 50 cents a toll back then too.   

[fiveoh]

Yeah the toles are a real pain.  My wife and both had to take two seperate toll roads for a while and those costs really add up.  Luckily I changed jobs and we can now car pool which is saving us a ton.  Especially since I was driving my ver Texan Chevy Silverado (mustachian fail).  But it sits idle for the most part now.

I also hate the Dynamic Tolling Rates that change depending on what time of day you are using them!

Have you seen the plans for the new Grand Parkway (180 mile circumference)? I'm not certain but I think a part of it was going to be toll'd

http://www.grandpky.com/images/maps/GP_SegmentStatus_Prelim_20110613_v1_200.pdf

I drive 99 everyday.  :(  They have already started on 2 of the toll over passes.   Funny thing is our tax money paid for the existing road.... yet now Fort bend county toll authority(privately owned) owns it and will be using it... 

Are you in katy city limits?  Those school taxes are horrible.   

[fiveoh]

Hey guys, I was wondering who my fellow Houston area folks use for internet service.  I'm finally cutting the cable and will be looking for an internet only provider and was wanting to see if there were any deals or offers for our area that I might have missed.  thx for your replies.

I am currently an ATT UVerse subscriber with TV/Internet.  Can you get just the UVerse internet without the bundle?

Thats what I did with uverse.  Moved down to just the internet(12mb currently).   Comcast can be had cheaper but I've had horrible service/outages with them so its not worth it to me. 

[fiveoh]

Hey guys, I was wondering who my fellow Houston area folks use for internet service.  I'm finally cutting the cable and will be looking for an internet only provider and was wanting to see if there were any deals or offers for our area that I might have missed.  thx for your replies.

I am currently an ATT UVerse subscriber with TV/Internet.  Can you get just the UVerse internet without the bundle?

 
Thats what I did with uverse.  Moved down to just the internet(12mb currently).   Comcast can be had cheaper but I've had horrible service/outages with them so its not worth it to me.

What does the 12mb cost you monthly?  Right now in my bundle i've got the 3mb internet for $34 not including fees and the U100 tv plan.  Were you able to get an introductory rate when you switched?

No introductory rate.  :(  I've been considering calling again lately(it's probably been 6 months since I dropped cable) and telling them I'm getting offers in the mail from comcast for cheaper.  I've heard that can get you a lower rate. 

I'm paying right around $50 a month for the 12mb after taxes.  I think the 3mb is $40 a month.  I stream lots of netflix and wanted HD quality+ download a lot of music so the $10 a month extra is worth it to me. 

[fiveoh]

Well I called ATT last week to officially cancel and they of course offered me a lower rate (my current internet (12mb)/cable = $133).  They offered to drop me down to the family plan at a discount for 12 months and the total bill would be $86...cool but I still want to cancel.  They say no problem and that a manager is needed on the line to approve the cancelation.

Now I speak with the manager who offers me the same deal as before ($86) plus free HD service for a year and waive the DVR fee for a year plus $25 dollars off a month lowering my total bill from $133 to $44!  The internet portion of my bill was $43 so now I get TV/DVR for a year for $1/month.

I'll call them up in 12 months and try to cancle again.

Slick! 

[photohunts]

Hey all. I've lived in Houston for 8 years now. I live in midtown. BZB, I live about 4 blocks from the rail. What part of midtown are you in?

Buying a house in Houston is cheap out in the burbs. By cheap, I mean you can get more house for say 300k than you could in more expensive parts of the country. Real estate taxes are on the high side and can be more than 3% in certain areas. Inside the loop is currently a hot market, so there will be a premium to live here especially in the western portion. If you read up on commercial real estate, you will observe that there is a surge of dense residential development inside the loop. Something like 10,000+ units in construction with more and more proposed every day.

[madage]

My family is in Pearland. I don't work in the city, though I do have an anti-mustachian long commute southward. I joined a vanpool so I only have to drive about 10 of the miles to the pickup spot. The vanpool is great for spreading the gas and maintenance cost. Sadly, there really isn't a way for me to safely bike to the park and ride lot. Highways with limited/no shoulder combined with early morning darkness and aggressive TX drivers make me very uncomfortable. The huge sweating factor in the summer is another complication. We've found Pearland, in general, is not terribly bicycle friendly, though I've started to notice a few lanes and paths I hadn't before. Now that the weather is starting to slowly turn, I'll have to try out a few routes to get to places along 518 without leaving my life in the hands of insane motorists. Public transportation is nil, which is a huge problem with suburbs in general.

We came from Michigan about a year and a half ago and, echoing others' comments, heard from people how much we'd love the lower taxes. The reality is there's not much difference. The higher property taxes combine to just about equal our previous MI state income + property taxes. Add in the 8.25% sales tax (MI sales tax is 6%) and higher food prices for my family's staples and I think we're spending more here than we would in MI. Homes are certainly cheaper in the suburbs, though we ended up making a poor decision, buying more than we need, and now we have higher taxes and particularly higher summer electricity bills. We keep the A/C set at 79 during the heat of the day, dropping to 77 for more comfortable sleeping. It's just a big house with west-facing windows. Never too late to correct a mistake, though.

We're just getting started on our mustachian journey and have decided to try to sell both our too-large 2011 Toyota Highlander and our much too-large house for more practical right-sized options. If you know anyone looking for a lightly-used 2011 Highlander, please let me know. Getting the house listed will take a few months, at least, to make some minor changes and repairs.

[ama_co]

My family lives in the Meyerland/Westbury area.  I guess Houston is too spread out to have a meet-up?  I see people from all parts of town.

[BZB]

Hey all. I've lived in Houston for 8 years now. I live in midtown. BZB, I live about 4 blocks from the rail. What part of midtown are you in?

@photohunt: we are near McGowen light rail station

[econberkeley]

I would like discuss EER strategies with other folks in the group.  I suggest meeting somewhere in innerloop. Who is in?

[econberkeley]

Where is everybody?

[fiveoh]

I might be interested depending on date/time/exact location....

Off topic but anyone have some good suggestions on fun free/cheap things to do around Houston? 

[econberkeley]

http://www.houstononthecheap.com/

[fiveoh]

http://www.houstononthecheap.com/

Great link!  Thank you sir.  Looks like im taking the little one to the zoo this weekend..

[Yokan]

Has there been a meetup in Houston yet?

[BZB]

no, we haven't had a Houston meetup yet. I was thinking we should try for late Sept or early Oct, when it is *somewhat* cooler, and meet at a park. Any suggestions for an air-conditioned place if people want to have one sooner?

[Runge]

Hi all, I'm up here in The Woodlands. As anti-mustachian as most residents here are, it's actually a wonderful place to be mustachian in many senses. Hike/Bike paths and bike-able roads everywhere, grocery stores in every "village" and at most a handful of miles away. Unfortunately I can't bike to work (I drive to Conroe), but I do most everywhere else.

I'm totally down with a meetup sometime.

[BZB]

@Runge - I lived in The Woodlands area for a few years. I liked the trees and being in biking distance of Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. A few times through my job I got free tickets to performances.

[Runge]

@BZB - I love being able to bike to the pavilion as well! I just normally ride over there and sit out on the park just outside the pavilion. Free music, picnic lunch/dinner, it's not too loud where you can't have a conversation, don't have to worry about parking and traffic, and it's not stupidly packed out on the park. It's really great!

[BZB]

I just discovered this great blog for fun and mostly cheap things to do in Houston. It's geared for families with kids, but I think there are fun ideas for kid-free folks too. I had NO IDEA there is a red button you can press to burp Buffalo Bayou. I must do this!
http://www.bigkidsmallcity.com/
 

[fiveoh]

I just discovered this great blog for fun and mostly cheap things to do in Houston. It's geared for families with kids, but I think there are fun ideas for kid-free folks too. I had NO IDEA there is a red button you can press to burp Buffalo Bayou. I must do this!
http://www.bigkidsmallcity.com/

Thanks for the link!