I have a friend from California thinking about moving to Houston. He has heard that houses are very cheap in Houston (which is true compared to CA). Here are the things that he concern (or would like to know): - Property & school tax percentage ? - Electric & gas bill for 3,500 sq.ft house ? - We don't have to pay state tax (how much money you can save here? compare to CA) - Cost of living comparison between Houston, TX & Santa Anna, CA Would you guys help me out on this, i don't live in Houston so I'm not sure about all these. Thank you very much, Vincent
- Property & school tax percentage Depends on the property. But you can go to http://www.hcad.org to view property tax history for any property in Houston. So, go to http://www.har.com and find a nice suburban home (like this one) that is around the same square footage and then look up its property tax history at hcad ... and another link. - Electric & gas bill for 3,500 sq.ft house Again, hard to say. Air conditioning is constantly on for 9 months of the year here, and it really depends on how hot/cold you want your house. for about 3,500 sq. ft (2-story house), expect to pay around $300 a month. - We don't have to pay state tax (how much money you can save here? compare to CA) I assume you're referring to state income tax. Depends on what your income is. Just look at your state income tax (not federal) and imagine that that money will no longer be paid. - Cost of living comparison between Houston, TX & Santa Anna, CA You're probably better off finding a web site somewhere to compare the cost of living. Something to consider: if you're coming from California, there are a lot of things you're not gonna like here (like the climate). So make sure you have a comfortable home and a nice television 'cause you're gonna be spending a lot more time indoors.
Here's a somewhat related thread about moving to Sugarland, Texas. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=100975&highlight=sugarland
Moving from anywhere in Cali to Texas just about will be far cheaper (yes, I'm sure there are exceptions, but not many comparable exceptions) According to the salary calculator at homefair.com, if you make $60,000 in Santa Ana and own a residence, you'll need a salary of $37,000 in Houston to live comparably. lol. Poor Californicators.
Tell your friend to buy a much smaller house, as close in as he can manage. With that kind of square footage, he's probably going to be looking in the suburbs. Houston traffic is horrendous. Get him inside Loop 610. If he has the bucks, he'll thank you for the advice.
I recommmend that he purchase a KB Home. KB Homes are known for their excellent build quality and attention to detail. They are the gold standard for Houston area homes. They have a new subdivision off of Bissonnet and HWY6 with homes between the $120s and $150s. In addition to the pristine urban setting of HWY6 strip malls, you will have access to not 1, but 2 Giant $1 Stores. Kingsbridge Village is located in the thriving area west of Highway 6. Located in fast-growing Fort Bend County, Kingsbridge offers small-town charm and many dining and shopping options nearby. Children attend schools in the excellent Fort Bend Independent School District, that are located just 10 minutes away. http://www.kbhome.com/Community~CommID~00884502.aspx
LOL! Da-Glyde, if I remember right, that's a great looking property, in a superb location. You and vtkp99's friend need to hook up. Tell him you'll give him the ClutchFans discount!
Hehe. KB Homes are considered junk in the DFW area. They're constantly rated as poor build quality and customer service. I think they're improving though. They must build 'em diff'rent down there. *EDIT* : and how the hell do you pull into the garage in that house? The flowerbed's in the way! STUPID KB BUILDERS!!!
Sorry, I couldn't get past the first 2 sentences... the sarcasm meter did not get a chance to fire, but the BS meter blew up.
KB HOme?? LOLOL sorry poor quality construction, cookie cutter design... KB is geared toward low-income to med-income families.. 3500+ sqft is med-high income... Hands down need to go to Sugarland for a family friendly atmosphere, Katy and Friendswood are pretty good places too. look to pay aobut 400$ average on keeping that house cool at 73 Degrees. I'm gonna give you a secret.. there a home site called Ashford lakes thats building up and its the best price per squre foot in the City.. 4600+ sqft @ $250,000 Standards is 5 Bedrooms ( Master Down / 4 up ) Rooms are huge, comes with a game room AND a Media room, Study, sitting area next to dining and a living room. Great location! Great Price! www.hammondshomes.com is the builder shhh don't tell everyone about it. I'm gonna try and get a house there late next year if they still have some.
