Moving to Houston, Going to be closer to the Rockets!

[FortyDaysThree]

Very excited. I should be moving next year or the year after from Indianapolis. What should I expect?

[LarsV8]

A whole lot of traffic, very hot summers, mild winters, tex mex is awesome, and we have a really big scoreboard now.

[FortyDaysThree]

Thanks. Hopefully no more traffic than in Indianapolis, we are the crossroads of america

[MaxRider]

houston is top 10 having the worst traffic

[Don Draper]

- live as close to the inside of the 610 loop are possible
- if you do live in the suburbs get EZ tag
- traffic will drive you mad (45 and 290 are the worst)
- There's typically more to do on the west side of the city

[FortyDaysThree]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll look in to it.

[inquisitive]

traffic muy malo! Especially around 290....see if you can bring Andrew Luck with you too when you move...i hear the Texans need a QB.

[Mr. E]

Houston traffic can try a man's soul. You have to be prepared to spend a lot of time in the car when you live here. Fortunately we have some pretty good sports radio shows. I prefer the 790 lineup, personally. They are more likely to talk Rockets ball.

[MaxRider]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/car ... s/2127661/

according to this
Austin is actually worse than Houston now

[FortyDaysThree]

Guys the funny thing is, the reason we are moving there is because Bus Drivers make a killing and my sister is a semi/bus driver.

[Mr. E]

...we have buses?

[FortyDaysThree]

...we have buses?

Yep and the drivers make over 30000 a year.

[zapatasblood]

Also ever expanding bike trails/routes

[tha_rock220]

Houston traffic can try a man's soul. You have to be prepared to spend a lot of time in the car when you live here. Fortunately we have some pretty good sports radio shows. I prefer the 790 lineup, personally. They are more likely to talk Rockets ball.

I used to make the commute between the Woodlands on Houston. Holy God, I wanted to kill someone after one day on 45. Don't fear the Hardy. 59 is a glorious freeway that rarely congests. The West loop is nearly as bad as 45, and the 10 going west is will kill you during rush hour. It's slow clear out to the Grand Parkway.

Very excited. I should be moving next year or the year after from Indianapolis. What should I expect?

Miserable heat. It will rain at 11am on Saturday morning then get up to 100 degrees of nasty, wet heat around 2pm. You'll walk outside and immediately want to take a shower. A little advice too. If you're single and under 40 you're going to be tempted to move into the Heights, Rice Military, or Midtown. Don't. Your goal should be to eventually have a residence in Sugar Land, Kingwood, Katy, or, if you don't mind paying tolls, the Woodlands.

[moofs]

Houston traffic can try a man's soul. You have to be prepared to spend a lot of time in the car when you live here. Fortunately we have some pretty good sports radio shows. I prefer the 790 lineup, personally. They are more likely to talk Rockets ball.

Also, Pandora.
Also, smartphone youtube "radio".
Great time to keep in touch with people as well.

Miserable heat. It will rain at 11am on Saturday morning then get up to 100 degrees of nasty, wet heat around 2pm.

Consider your air conditioners to be "life support".

A little advice too. If you're single and under 40 you're going to be tempted to move into the Heights, Rice Military, or Midtown. Don't. Your goal should be to eventually have a residence in Sugar Land, Kingwood, Katy, or, if you don't mind paying tolls, the Woodlands.

Why's that?
Renting a cheap, decent apartment/house is significantly cheaper in the long run than purchasing a house. I've found even cheaper by splitting a 3/2 BED/BR rent. Houses are usually more expensive unless you have a purpose for them (e.g. family). Yeah, you don't have an asset at the end of paying rent, but interest, repairs, and taxes don't result in any assets, either. I can do a justifying rundown for you if you like.

[Ribalding]

[
...A little advice too. If you're single and under 40 you're going to be tempted to move into the Heights, Rice Military, or Midtown. Don't. Your goal should be to eventually have a residence in Sugar Land, Kingwood, Katy, or, if you don't mind paying tolls, the Woodlands.

So confused.

Everybody agrees traffic outside the loop is terrible. Then you encourage him to move outside the loop? Huh??

[Nebula1]

Yes traffic is tough, but let me, as a fellow former Midwesterner, say the first thing is no snow is fantastic. Obviously that also means no snow driving which is worse than the extra minutes fighting traffic here.

No state income tax is really great and something you'll immediately feel the benefits of. Very cheap real estate, but be picky.

Great fan base here for most sports. Great food, nightlife, music. Great jobs and leading corporations here if you're looking to diversify your income.

All in all, despite some traffic, Houston is an amazing city with tons to offer while still feeling down to earth. I also like the heat, but it can get hot here.. Then I remind myself of the snow and sleet and bitter cold nights and its easy to get over the high temps. The temps do make for easy athletic training.

I usually go with 610 or 790 but I really like The Blitz on 97.5. Wish Dave was with them all the time though.

[zapatasblood]

Yeah I don't get it either. Why move out of the loop? Everything is there. Bars, nightlife, restaurants, all 4 four sports teams and less traffic.

[tha_rock220]

Why's that?
Renting a cheap, decent apartment/house is significantly cheaper in the long run than purchasing a house. I've found even cheaper by splitting a 3/2 BED/BR rent. Houses are usually more expensive unless you have a purpose for them (e.g. family). Yeah, you don't have an asset at the end of paying rent, but interest, repairs, and taxes don't result in any assets, either. I can do a justifying rundown for you if you like.

Didn't say anything about renting. So many people who live in the heights buy those townhouses that are being built brand new. That was kind of my point though. Those places inside the loop are way more expensive. Two similar apartments on Jester on either side of the loop will be hundreds of dollars a month different in rent.

So confused.

Everybody agrees traffic outside the loop is terrible. Then you encourage him to move outside the loop? Huh??

I said in my post the Hardy is your friend. Buy an eztag.

[moofs]

Why's that?
Renting a cheap, decent apartment/house is significantly cheaper in the long run than purchasing a house. I've found even cheaper by splitting a 3/2 BED/BR rent. Houses are usually more expensive unless you have a purpose for them (e.g. family). Yeah, you don't have an asset at the end of paying rent, but interest, repairs, and taxes don't result in any assets, either. I can do a justifying rundown for you if you like.

Didn't say anything about renting. So many people who living in the heights buy those townhouses that are being built brand new. That was kind of my point though. Those places inside the loop are way more expensive. Two similar apartments on Jester on either side of the loops will be hundreds of dollars a month different in rent.

Ah, gotcha. Both points still stand, then.