Anyone here familiar with Texas?

Ana Ng · Post by **Ana Ng** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:54 pm

The San Antonio area, to be exact.

We're looking for a place to buy a home and actually STAY after the husband retires in 2015, and I've been told that San Antonio/Austin are deece places to be. With the exception of Southern San Antonio. (I'm assuming it's because it's closer to Mexico)

Anyhow, any info would be helpful. I've done some research on my own, but it'd be cool to read from people, or in this case...YOU guys, that might've actually lived there.

K, thanks.

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:01 pm

You mean to tell me you haven't fallen in love with NH/Maine yet?

Weather pussy.

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:11 pm

I’ve heard that Austin, TX is somewhat similar to Madison, WI, so that’s definitely a huge plus.

I’ve also heard that the only things that come out of Texas are steers and queers.

Glad I could help.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:12 pm

If I had a choice between living in Texas and shoving knitting needles through both eyes, it would be a hard choice.

Ana Ng · Post by **Ana Ng** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:16 pm

smackaholic wrote:You mean to tell me you haven't fallen in love with NH/Maine yet?

Weather pussy.

I was hoping for more snow, actually. Kinda disappointing.

Not a fan of the humidity here, though.

Oh, and if people driving like utter shiitake isn't bad enough, the condition of the roads here are fuxxing horrendous.

Ana Ng · Post by **Ana Ng** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:19 pm

See, I heard that Austin is nice too, but that it's saturated with college kids.

I was thinking maybe Northern SA? I dunno.

Texas is supposed to be military friendly, I hear?

Ana Ng · Post by **Ana Ng** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:26 pm

Mikey wrote:If I had a choice between living in Texas and shoving knitting needles through both eyes, it would be a hard choice.

Let's hope that "tossing your keyboard into a wood-chipper" is your 3rd option, then.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:27 pm

I have been to all of the major Texas cities and a few of the smaller ones, and Austin is by far the most livable area that I have seen in Texas. It is by far the music capitol of Texas, you have great college sports, major league teams in all 4 major sports are within a drivable distance and the folks there are a tad more moderate than the rest of Texas socially and politically.

But if you are not a fan of humidity, you might want to cross Texas off your list entirely. Some of the most humid weather I ever saw in my life was in the San Antonio-Austin-College Station area of Texas. Well, that is to say other than every second I have ever spent in Houston it was the most humid and hot I have ever seen.

If you want a dry heat, look into Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Flagstaff, Tuscon or Sedona. You could try Las Vegas too. You would probably find some killer deals on foreclosed homes there.

Ana Ng · Post by **Ana Ng** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:32 pm

Ya, I heard about the humidity in Texas. I'm relying on a gang of central air piped directly up my ass.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:39 pm

Ana Ng wrote:Ya, I heard about the humidity in Texas. I'm relying on a gang of central air piped directly up my ass.

You will need it. Mos def you will need it. You might want to get ear muffs made out of ice too.

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:43 pm

Ana Ng wrote:
smackaholic wrote:You mean to tell me you haven't fallen in love with NH/Maine yet?

Weather pussy.
I was hoping for more snow, actually. Kinda disappointing.

Not a fan of the humidity here, though.

Oh, and if people driving like utter shiitake isn't bad enough, the condition of the roads here are fuxxing horrendous.

If you ignore that little halloween blizzard nonsense we had, last winter was extremely mild. You should have shown up for the prior winter. It would have cured you of wanting snow, trust me.

As for "not a fan of humidity" being a reason to leave coastal northern New England for "fill in the blank", TX, well, that's just bradhusker like dumbfukkery. SA may be far enough west that it starts taking on a little desert type lack of humidity, but, it's still close enough to that little humidity factory, the gulf of meheeeeco, to get it's share. I guess you could sasy the humidity is low there, compared to houston. If Houston had anymore humidity, you'd need gills.

People drive like shiitake, or any other type of 'shroom, pretty much anywhere in the US. If you want a place where people can drive, go to Germany, where they actually demand it of their drivers as opposed to the US where you can pretty much do as you please, so long as you are near the speed limit and seatbelted.

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:01 pm

Goober McTuber wrote:I’ve heard that Austin, TX is somewhat similar to Madison, WI, so that’s definitely a huge plus.

The women in Austin are 10x as hot while the women in Madison are 10x as fat. That's where the similarities end, tardling.

There is college hockey in Madison, though. Even if it is third-tier.

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:15 pm

Screw_Michigan wrote:
Goober McTuber wrote:I’ve heard that Austin, TX is somewhat similar to Madison, WI, so that’s definitely a huge plus.
The women in Austin are 10x as hot while the women in Madison are 10x as fat. That's where the similarities end, tardling.

There is college hockey in Madison, though. Even if it is third-tier.

You have obviously never been to Madison. We should probably have a holiday to celebrate that fact.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:29 pm

Goober McTuber wrote:I’ve heard that Austin, TX is somewhat similar to Madison, WI

Let's see. One is a cultural destination spot with a nationally renowned music scene, warm weather, hot chicks and a college town. The other is a college town.

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:35 pm

Goober McTuber wrote:You have obviously never been to Madison. We should probably have a holiday to celebrate that fact.

There are hot chicks in Madison, I give you that, just like all college towns worth a shit. But these chicks don't stick around after college, numbnuts.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:39 pm

Ana Ng wrote:Texas is supposed to be military friendly, I hear?

The whole country is pretty "military friendly" these days. You will find just as many military enclaves in AZ or CA. Don't let NoCal fool you. Down where Mikey lives, they have all sorts of bases and the population leans to the right of Mussolini.

Van · Post by **Van** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:41 pm

During the housing boom of '05 I tried to convince my wife that we should sell our place and go pay cash for another house somewhere else and have, you know, a fully-paid-for house and stuff. So, one week I spent a a helluva lot of time scouring real estate ads using this hand-dandy internet search thingie which asked me to input all sorts of specific data that was supposed to be important to me: housing type, price, weather preferences, neighborhood, etc.

When it began shitting out its results, everything was coming up Boise, Idaho and...Austin. Little bit of San Antonio, as well. Digging a little deeper, I quickly ruled out San Antonio. Because of the chance of snow and cold weather, Susan ruled out Boise. That left us with Austin as our search engine's main suggestion, and there were just loads of nice-looking houses in decent areas for $150K.

The only real downside? The supposed heat and, especially, the humidity. Coming from Sacramento, we knew the heat would be no biggie. It does't get as hot in Austin as it does in Sacramento. The humidity? I've never experienced it. She grew up in Savannah, Georgia and in Bermuda, and she told me I would fucking hate that sort of humidity; the kind where you take a shower and you're already sweating again by the time you're finished getting dressed.

I still wish we'd made the move, though. Bet I would've loved Austin.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:13 pm

Ana Ng wrote: I'm relying on a gang of central air piped directly up my ass.

Guess that means you won't be getting it up the ass anytime soon. Pity.

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:26 pm

Screw_Michigan wrote:
Goober McTuber wrote:You have obviously never been to Madison. We should probably have a holiday to celebrate that fact.
There are hot chicks in Madison, I give you that, just like all college towns worth a shit. But these chicks don't stick around after college, numbnuts.

Continue showcasing your stupidity, shitdick.

campinfool · Post by **campinfool** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:51 pm

While Texas, as a whole, has a low cost of living, Austin is definitely the priciest in terms of real estate prices, rents, and property taxes. As for humidity, it can change in Austin. Sometimes it feels like Houston or Corpus Christi, but right now it is oppressive dry heat. Not much difference between 108 and dry and 95 with 80% humidity. Austin tries to over play the whole "weird" vibe and it does get old, but most of us boring normal folk reside in the suburbs of Williamson County any way.

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:15 pm

Van wrote:During the housing boom of '05 I tried to convince my wife that we should sell our place and go pay cash for another house somewhere else and have, you know, a fully-paid-for house and stuff. So, one week I spent a a helluva lot of time scouring real estate ads using this hand-dandy internet search thingie which asked me to input all sorts of specific data that was supposed to be important to me: housing type, price, weather preferences, neighborhood, etc.

When it began shitting out its results, everything was coming up Boise, Idaho and...Austin. Little bit of San Antonio, as well. Digging a little deeper, I quickly ruled out San Antonio. Because of the chance of snow and cold weather, Susan ruled out Boise. That left us with Austin as our search engine's main suggestion, and there were just loads of nice-looking houses in decent areas for $150K.

The only real downside? The supposed heat and, especially, the humidity. Coming from Sacramento, we knew the heat would be no biggie. It does't get as hot in Austin as it does in Sacramento. The humidity? I've never experienced it. She grew up in Savannah, Georgia and in Bermuda, and she told me I would fucking hate that sort of humidity; the kind where you take a shower and you're already sweating again by the time you're finished getting dressed.

I still wish we'd made the move, though. Bet I would've loved Austin.

Yup, if you were thinking of dropping your horrifically overvalued home on some sap in '05 and didn't, you missed out, bigtime. Our company has a site in El Dorado Hills and we had a few dudes from there out here doing some training. One of them, a douchebag, btw, was going on about how his "ranch" (small 3 bdrm ranch on 5 acres) was worth a little over a mil. He had an offer to transfer here and it was a promotion. I told him if he didn't jump on the opportunity to turn that fake money into real $$$$ and move out here, he was a dumbfukk.

Well, in addition to being a douche, he was, in fact, a dumbfukk. Stayed put on his "Ranch" and from what I understand, got divorced and lost the Ranch in foreclosure a coupla years ago.

I heard somewhere that during the bubble, the Sacramento area had the most overvalued property in the country. When the bubble burst, sactown was ground zero. What could you have sold for, Van? What is it worth today?

Shlomart Ben Yisrael · Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:22 pm

Ana, don't rule out Canada.

You can't spell "Canada" without "ana" and...uhhh...uhhh..."dac".

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:26 pm

smackaholic wrote:Well, in addition to being a douche, he was, in fact, a dumbfukk. Stayed put on his "Ranch" and from what I understand, got divorced and lost the Ranch in foreclosure a coupla years ago.

Was his name Bushice?

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:39 pm

BSmack wrote:
smackaholic wrote:Well, in addition to being a douche, he was, in fact, a dumbfukk. Stayed put on his "Ranch" and from what I understand, got divorced and lost the Ranch in foreclosure a coupla years ago.
Was his name Bushice?

I would seriously question whether that dude is still among the living.

Van · Post by **Van** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:46 pm

smackie...$370K in '05 vs $160K now. In '05 we would've netted something like $160K, which is why I was looking at $150K houses elsewhere. She didn't want to do it. We stayed put and got killed. Simple as that.

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:50 pm

Van wrote:smackie...$370K in '05 vs $160K now. In '05 we would've netted something like $160K, which is why I was looking at $150K houses elsewhere. She didn't want to do it. We stayed put and got killed. Simple as that.

Ouch. Sucks lissing away 200K, don't it?

If I am ever in a place where I own property as overvalued as that was, I would seriously think about bailing. Even if you like the area, ain't nothing wrong with renting for awhile.

Van · Post by **Van** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:13 pm

I wanted to do it. I welcomed the idea of moving to another state and trying a new life in a paid-for house. She didn't feel up to a move.

C'est la vie.

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:18 pm

smackaholic wrote:
Van wrote:smackie...$370K in '05 vs $160K now. In '05 we would've netted something like $160K, which is why I was looking at $150K houses elsewhere. She didn't want to do it. We stayed put and got killed. Simple as that.
Ouch. Sucks lissing away 200K, don't it?

If I am ever in a place where I own property as overvalued as that was, I would seriously think about bailing. Even if you like the area, ain't nothing wrong with renting for awhile.

And just how would you know that it was overvalued?

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:30 pm

Goober McTuber wrote:
smackaholic wrote:
Van wrote:smackie...$370K in '05 vs $160K now. In '05 we would've netted something like $160K, which is why I was looking at $150K houses elsewhere. She didn't want to do it. We stayed put and got killed. Simple as that.
Ouch. Sucks lissing away 200K, don't it?

If I am ever in a place where I own property as overvalued as that was, I would seriously think about bailing. Even if you like the area, ain't nothing wrong with renting for awhile.
And just how would you know that it was overvalued?

No real estate appraisal expert, but, when you are in a pad that has been work X dollars and over a space of a few years it is now worth 2.5X or more, it's a pretty safe bet that things are overvalued. There are places that are extremely expensive, but, not overvalued because for whatever reason they command ridiculous prices over long periods of time. Fortunately, my area didn't see such ridiculous price run ups, so when the bubble popped we weren't hurt as badly. Not too far away, in the Boston area and NYC areas, they got whacked pretty bad, but not as bad as some markets in the west or FLA.

Wolfman · Post by **Wolfman** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:46 pm

You are wise to not include SW Florida in your search. Unbearable heat and humidity, horrible bugs, gators, and Gator fans. Crappy beaches with nothing but old wrinkled women. No sports or entertainment. No universities. Crushing property taxes. A state that does not allow dead folks or illegal immigrants to vote. Housing costs through the roof. Hurricanes and tropical storms destroy everything every year. Terrible place to live.

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:03 pm

Wolfman wrote:You are wise to not include SW Florida in your search. Unbearable heat and humidity, horrible bugs, gators, and Gator fans. Crappy beaches with nothing but old wrinkled women. No sports or entertainment. No universities. Crushing property taxes. A state that does not allow dead folks or illegal immigrants to vote. Housing costs through the roof. Hurricanes and tropical storms destroy everything every year. Terrible place to live.

You forgot to include preponderance of grumpy old fucks.

mvscal · Post by **mvscal** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:06 pm

Ana Ng wrote:We're looking for a place to buy a home and actually STAY after the husband retires in 2015, and I've been told that San Antonio/Austin are deece places to be.

I lived in Austin for eleven years, Houston for five years and have been to San Antone many times. Austin is, by far, the best place to live in Texas. SA isn't a bad town and I'm sure there are nice places to live there, but it doesn't hold a candle to Austin.

mvscal · Post by **mvscal** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:08 pm

BSmack wrote: major league teams in all 4 major sports are within a drivable distance

Uh, not really. It's about 90 miles to SA (doable...barely), 170 miles to Houston and 200 miles to Dallas.

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:28 pm

mvscal wrote:
Ana Ng wrote:We're looking for a place to buy a home and actually STAY after the husband retires in 2015, and I've been told that San Antonio/Austin are deece places to be.
I lived in Austin for eleven years, Houston for five years and have been to San Antone many times. Austin is, by far, the best place to live in Texas. SA isn't a bad town and I'm sure there are nice places to live there, but it doesn't hold a candle to Austin.

So, WTF ever possessed you to move to Kalifornia?

mvscal · Post by **mvscal** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:31 pm

I pretty much grew up in California and have family here. I moved to Houston when my Dad worked for Pennzoil. They moved back to California after five years and I moved to Austin instead of going with them. I moved back to socal in 95 or 96.

Ana Ng · Post by **Ana Ng** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:47 pm

Thank you for all the useful info. Srsly.

The reason we were taking a closer look at SA was because that's where the Navy Recruiting depot is, I believe? Since the husband isn't sure he'll be wanting to extend for another 3 yrs., or even IF they'll let him change rates to go....I suppose Austin is a viable option.

A fellow Navy Chief on his boat just secured a supervisory position on an oil rig in Houston, and told him to look into it as well. I guess the pay is pretty good, and a 28 on, 28 off work schedule isn't bad....coming from the sub schedules that we're used to.

Do any of you know anything about these oil rigs, or have worked on one before?

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:50 pm

Be patient. Dinsdale will be along shortly.

Shlomart Ben Yisrael · Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:52 pm

Ana Ng wrote:
Do any of you know anything about these oil rigs, or have worked on one before?

It's what guys tell their OL's when they split town to lay it to some strange.

28 days on...yeah, right.

If he comes home smelling like seafood, it ain't from deep water drilling.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:53 pm

Ana Ng wrote: Do any of you know anything about these oil rigs, or have worked on one before?

I'm sure AP does, just wait.

What I know about San Antonio:

They have Lackland AFB there, where scrubs like me go for basic training and learn how to march, make a bed, and pack a duffel bag.

The river walk is really nice, even 32 years ago.

The Alamo is over rated.

Mexicans. Lots of Mexicans.

Ana Ng · Post by **Ana Ng** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:55 pm

Martyred wrote:Ana, don't rule out Canada.

You can't spell "Canada" without "ana" and...uhhh...uhhh..."dac".

I played in a NARCh tournament in Vancouver in '97.

On our 2nd day there, a gang of Asians broke into one of our team's vans and stole a bunch of our gear.

Mean little rice people.