Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 21, 2015 9:48:41 GMT -5
As you may know, my employer is moving our workplace one hour away. Everybody negatively affected is already looking for a new job, some openly, others more hush hush. We have a few months; we'll stay where we are now until the end of July. I personally have zero intention of making that move. When I was hired I worked at that location for almost two years and the commute is a killer.
Besides that, I plan to move south. My heart is set on Miami, Florida. But this company has a subsidiary in Houston, Texas. There's an opening there at one level above me. Yesterday my manager showed me the posting and asked me to apply, knowing I want to move south. I applied for it. He know a couple of people who work there and told me he'll call them if I want, to guarantee me at least an interview. If I get that job I'll make approx. 50K. According to my manager cost of living is low there and I can live very well on that. I could work down there while I study and sit for the CPA. After all, it takes easily 18 months to go through all the CPA parts. I could sit for Texas or for Florida. I would prefer sitting for Florida, and then move there once I have all my exam parts passed. I've been asking around and I've heard good and bad things about Houston. Have you ever visited or lived there?
I don't know anyone there, but if I end up going to Houston, I'll put a huge effort on going out and making friends. I don't have much of a social life where I am now, but I'm not totally alone. Are people friendly and easy to approach in Houston?
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Feb 21, 2015 11:08:48 GMT -5
I lived in San Antonio, visited Houston regularly.
What I did not like about Houston was both the traffic and humidity. Depending on where you live and work, it can be a nightmare. My orthopod was there and my whole goal when I went for appointments was to get out of the med center by 3. I missed it once and driving back to SA took me almost 2x the normal time.
TX has no state tax, but they have higher property tax. This is where you will work out better. However, I disagree with your manager that the COL is lower. What is low in one area is high in another and it balances out. For instance, gas may be cheaper but you pay in car insurance. Your heating costs are less, but are paying for a/c most of the year. I do know Houston has higher rents than SA.
I liked TX, but the heat got old fast. If I went back, I'd prefer SA or Austin.
Whether people are easy to approach depends on where you live and how much you put yourself out there. I've got a lot of friends who still live in TX, but most I made from work.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 21, 2015 11:15:17 GMT -5
Houston has nice areas and not so nice areas, like everywhere. After Katrina it got much worse. Miami is spendy, too, and very high crime. A fair amount of floridas east coast is expensive if you want to live somewhere safe and nice. You do mean Miami or close to it? Big difference.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 13:15:09 GMT -5
I moved to Houston, TX almost 2 years ago. When i first got here, i knew 1 person so i made sure to make friends by being social through meetup events, my country's group, etc. and in less than 2 years i have made so many friends. It is very diversified, so many different cultures here. If i recall correctly you are from south america, there are a ton of people from all over s america here. If i were you, i would move in a heartbeat.
There is no state tax. The cost of living is low but it also depends on the area you live in. I lived in katy at first because my employer was there, housing was definitely cheaper. Now i live in the galleria area and it is much much higher but i prefer it (my new employer is less than a mile).
If you have any specific question, please feel free to ask.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 13:17:39 GMT -5
As somebody else mentioned, traffic sucks which is why i live so close to work. The humidity is high but it is not unbearable in my mind, maybe i got used to it when i lived in St.louis, MO. The nice thing is it doesn't snow exceptfor maybe once every 10 years or so.
Also to answer your question about people, i'd say yes it is very easy to make friends here. Your best bet is join meetup group of any interest to you, for example there is a group called single wine-os that is very active, very friendly people. Once you start going to these events you will notice that you know people from othe events, groups and you'll easily make friends.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 21, 2015 14:05:39 GMT -5
Houston has nice areas and not so nice areas, like everywhere. After Katrina it got much worse. Miami is spendy, too, and very high crime. A fair amount of floridas east coast is expensive if you want to live somewhere safe and nice. You do mean Miami or close to it? Big difference. Either Miami or somewhere within driving distance.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 21, 2015 14:10:01 GMT -5
As somebody else mentioned, traffic sucks which is why i live so close to work. The humidity is high but it is not unbearable in my mind, maybe i got used to it when i lived in St.louis, MO. The nice thing is it doesn't snow exceptfor maybe once every 10 years or so. Also to answer your question about people, i'd say yes it is very easy to make friends here. Your best bet is join meetup group of any interest to you, for example there is a group called single wine-os that is very active, very friendly people. Once you start going to these events you will notice that you know people from othe events, groups and you'll easily make friends. Humidity doesn't bother me. I was bon and raised in a very humid climate.
Snow I cannot stand. Will be more than glad if I don't have to see another snowflake.
I just checked Meetup for Houston; there seem to be a lot of activity. I'm sure traffic sucks, but that's expected from a big city.
Do you know if there are any good public transportation options? It would be great if I don't have to drive all the time.
From what I know, I'm willing to give Houston a try. Probably not live there forever, but for 2 or 3 years it may be a good option. But I just applied for the job, may not get selected for it.
So cost of living may be high depending on location within the city? If I move there I would be looking to buy a small condo.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 15:24:46 GMT -5
Probably not live there forever, but for 2 or 3 years it may be a good option. ... If I move there I would be looking to buy a small condo.
Ava, if you plan to live there for such a short time, why would you buy? You'd probably be better off renting, and maybe be able to live closer to work too.
I hope you get the job!
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Feb 21, 2015 15:45:08 GMT -5
As somebody else mentioned, traffic sucks which is why i live so close to work. The humidity is high but it is not unbearable in my mind, maybe i got used to it when i lived in St.louis, MO. The nice thing is it doesn't snow exceptfor maybe once every 10 years or so. Also to answer your question about people, i'd say yes it is very easy to make friends here. Your best bet is join meetup group of any interest to you, for example there is a group called single wine-os that is very active, very friendly people. Once you start going to these events you will notice that you know people from othe events, groups and you'll easily make friends. Humidity doesn't bother me. I was bon and raised in a very humid climate.
Snow I cannot stand. Will be more than glad if I don't have to see another snowflake.
I just checked Meetup for Houston; there seem to be a lot of activity. I'm sure traffic sucks, but that's expected from a big city.
Do you know if there are any good public transportation options? It would be great if I don't have to drive all the time.
From what I know, I'm willing to give Houston a try. Probably not live there forever, but for 2 or 3 years it may be a good option. But I just applied for the job, may not get selected for it.
So cost of living may be high depending on location within the city? If I move there I would be looking to buy a small condo.
Public transportation is probably not a good option unless you live in the city - and even then you will find that you will pay for the privilege of living downtown, unless you want to live in some questionable areas. Houston is like all cities in TX, it is HUGELY sprawling and nothing is close. Driving really is the best option, and one of the reasons why the traffic is so bad. If I was going to rate it, it would be one of the 10 worst in the nation that I have driven in (DC, NYC, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles bad). If you only want to live there 2-3 years, then buying a condo really isn't a great idea.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2015 15:48:31 GMT -5
"Do you know if there are any good public transportation options? It would be great if I don't have to drive all the time."
Not really good public transportation at all. There are busses so depending on your work and home location you could use that potentially. Do you know where the office is located? You could find a close place and maybe even walk. I am so close i could walk to work but i dont because i barely make it on tume as it is, dropping off my son first. The real estate market is really good here if you own. But for 2-3 years i think you are better off renting. The property taxes are pretty high.
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gacpa
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Post by gacpa on Feb 21, 2015 18:34:46 GMT -5
Ava,
My sister has spent most of her adult working life in the Houston area. She works for a financials services company there. It is very hot and humid, you don't have to worry about the cold and snow there. You do have to worry about hurricanes. I have visited her in Houston. If I were in your shoes, I would probably choose Houston over Miami, but I say that as a person who has never visited Miami. As others have mentioned, my sister and her husband have long commutes to work each day. But that does not mean you would have to do that. They choose to live out in the country with 4-5 acres of land.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Feb 21, 2015 19:04:56 GMT -5
I lived there for 6 years.
If your company is 'in the loop' ie near downtown, the cost of living is relatively high. If you are anywhere in the 'burbs it will be very cheap.
I had a townhouse that was 1200 sq feet + garage in the loop, sold it for $250k.
H had a 4 bedroom house in the boonies on a golf course with a pool. Sold it for $140k.
No mass transportation what so ever. Hurricane panic every year where you have to evacuate to... nowhere and people die on the side of the road in the middle of Texas.
Hot, shopping, eating. Those are 3 words to describe Houston.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Feb 21, 2015 19:08:26 GMT -5
Ava I would go for it. The weather is much closer to what you like and there are other things that are better.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 21, 2015 19:23:23 GMT -5
I lived there for 6 years. If your company is 'in the loop' ie near downtown, the cost of living is relatively high. If you are anywhere in the 'burbs it will be very cheap. I had a townhouse that was 1200 sq feet + garage in the loop, sold it for $250k. H had a 4 bedroom house in the boonies on a golf course with a pool. Sold it for $140k. No mass transportation what so ever. Hurricane panic every year where you have to evacuate to... nowhere and people die on the side of the road in the middle of Texas. Hot, shopping, eating. Those are 3 words to describe Houston. Sounds pretty scary. The office is located in zip code 77056.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 21, 2015 19:24:16 GMT -5
Ava, My sister has spent most of her adult working life in the Houston area. She works for a financials services company there. It is very hot and humid, you don't have to worry about the cold and snow there. You do have to worry about hurricanes. I have visited her in Houston. If I were in your shoes, I would probably choose Houston over Miami, but I say that as a person who has never visited Miami. As others have mentioned, my sister and her husband have long commutes to work each day. But that does not mean you would have to do that. They choose to live out in the country with 4-5 acres of land. Why would you choose Houston over Miami?
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 21, 2015 19:26:48 GMT -5
Ava I would go for it. The weather is much closer to what you like and there are other things that are better. The weather is more or less what I'm looking for. What other things are better there? I am hoping to get a lower cost of living. I've looked online and it looks like almost every condo association has a pool. So it would be easy to have access to a pool whether I rent or buy. I love swimming. It is also hot enough that I can enjoy the pool for most of the year.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Feb 21, 2015 23:44:59 GMT -5
Ava I would go for it. The weather is much closer to what you like and there are other things that are better. The weather is more or less what I'm looking for. What other things are better there? I am hoping to get a lower cost of living. I've looked online and it looks like almost every condo association has a pool. So it would be easy to have access to a pool whether I rent or buy. I love swimming. It is also hot enough that I can enjoy the pool for most of the year.
Sorry to be a Debbie downer but it's actually TOO HOT for a few months of the year to be in a pool. Like, the pool is a hot tub in the summer. At least ours was! Ok 77056 is River Oaks. That's where the fancy ass mall is with the Saks, NM and Nordstrom. Very high standard of living there. You'd want to live closer to memorial outside highway 8 to have anything relatively cheap to call home. But it will still be $$ unless you are outside of highway 6. Maybe a small condo wouldn't be too bad.
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justme
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Post by justme on Feb 21, 2015 23:49:45 GMT -5
Sounds like Houston is a lot like Miami minus the beach.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Feb 22, 2015 9:08:37 GMT -5
Ava lives in the NE now. The fancy areas of Houston may be expensive but nowhere near the fancy area in the NE.
I grew up in Miami. Some of us would much prefer the heat of the south to the cold of the north. Sure the pool in Houston may be too hot for some in the summer, but that is better than having a pool in the NE that you can only swim in for 2 months
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goldensam
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Post by goldensam on Feb 22, 2015 10:25:15 GMT -5
I live in Houston. It's hot. I find the humidity to be suffocating. Traffic is an absolute nightmare and public transportation is practically nonexistent. We have great restaurants. 77056 is a very expensive part of town.
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on Feb 22, 2015 10:55:41 GMT -5
As you may know, my employer is moving our workplace one hour away. Everybody negatively affected is already looking for a new job, some openly, others more hush hush. We have a few months; we'll stay where we are now until the end of July. I personally have zero intention of making that move. When I was hired I worked at that location for almost two years and the commute is a killer.
Besides that, I plan to move south. My heart is set on Miami, Florida. But this company has a subsidiary in Houston, Texas. There's an opening there at one level above me. Yesterday my manager showed me the posting and asked me to apply, knowing I want to move south. I applied for it. He know a couple of people who work there and told me he'll call them if I want, to guarantee me at least an interview. If I get that job I'll make approx. 50K. According to my manager cost of living is low there and I can live very well on that. I could work down there while I study and sit for the CPA. After all, it takes easily 18 months to go through all the CPA parts. I could sit for Texas or for Florida. I would prefer sitting for Florida, and then move there once I have all my exam parts passed. I've been asking around and I've heard good and bad things about Houston. Have you ever visited or lived there?
I don't know anyone there, but if I end up going to Houston, I'll put a huge effort on going out and making friends. I don't have much of a social life where I am now, but I'm not totally alone. Are people friendly and easy to approach in Houston? Ava, I wouldn't get too wound up about which state issues your CPA certificate. Unless you're in public accounting, people are more interested in the fact that you hold a CPA certificate than if you are licensed. My certificate was issued by MN. I lived in MN, NY, GA, IL, CA, and NV while working for Fortune 500 companies. I've never been licensed because I didn't bother to acquire the right kind of work experience. And nobody has ever cared. Employers are interested in the fact that you are certified. That means that you have passed the uniform CPA exam that all CPA candidates take. For the most part, employers don't care which state issued your certificate. If, for some reason, licensing is an issue for you, don't forget that CPA licenses are usually subject to reciprocity agreements between states. So, if you were licensed in Texas and moved to Florida, you would apply for a Florida license and, in most cases, would wouldn't have to take the exam again. You fill out an application, pay a fee, and you are issued a license by the new state.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 22, 2015 11:01:51 GMT -5
As you may know, my employer is moving our workplace one hour away. Everybody negatively affected is already looking for a new job, some openly, others more hush hush. We have a few months; we'll stay where we are now until the end of July. I personally have zero intention of making that move. When I was hired I worked at that location for almost two years and the commute is a killer.
Besides that, I plan to move south. My heart is set on Miami, Florida. But this company has a subsidiary in Houston, Texas. There's an opening there at one level above me. Yesterday my manager showed me the posting and asked me to apply, knowing I want to move south. I applied for it. He know a couple of people who work there and told me he'll call them if I want, to guarantee me at least an interview. If I get that job I'll make approx. 50K. According to my manager cost of living is low there and I can live very well on that. I could work down there while I study and sit for the CPA. After all, it takes easily 18 months to go through all the CPA parts. I could sit for Texas or for Florida. I would prefer sitting for Florida, and then move there once I have all my exam parts passed. I've been asking around and I've heard good and bad things about Houston. Have you ever visited or lived there?
I don't know anyone there, but if I end up going to Houston, I'll put a huge effort on going out and making friends. I don't have much of a social life where I am now, but I'm not totally alone. Are people friendly and easy to approach in Houston? Ava, I wouldn't get too wound up about which state issues your CPA certificate. Unless you're in public accounting, people are more interested in the fact that you hold a CPA certificate than if you are licensed. My certificate was issued by MN. I lived in MN, NY, GA, IL, CA, and NV while working for Fortune 500 companies. I've never been licensed because I didn't bother to acquire the right kind of work experience. And nobody has ever cared. Employers are interested in the fact that you are certified. That means that you have passed the uniform CPA exam that all CPA candidates take. For the most part, employers don't care which state issued your certificate. If, for some reason, licensing is an issue for you, don't forget that CPA licenses are usually subject to reciprocity agreements between states. So, if you were licensed in Texas and moved to Florida, you would apply for a Florida license and, in most cases, would wouldn't have to take the exam again. You fill out an application, pay a fee, and you are issued a license by the new state. Yes, that's great information.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 22, 2015 11:04:16 GMT -5
I live in Houston. It's hot. I find the humidity to be suffocating. Traffic is an absolute nightmare and public transportation is practically nonexistent. We have great restaurants. 77056 is a very expensive part of town. In other words, if I land that job I'll have to commute to work. I'll keep the car and drive. I don't intend to live in the most expensive part of town. Somewhere safe and nice but definitely nowhere fancy. Good to know.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 22, 2015 11:05:43 GMT -5
Sounds like Houston is a lot like Miami minus the beach. It does. But I love the beach and Miami's geographic location makes it a way easier trip back home.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 22, 2015 11:07:09 GMT -5
Ava lives in the NE now. The fancy areas of Houston may be expensive but nowhere near the fancy area in the NE. I grew up in Miami. Some of us would much prefer the heat of the south to the cold of the north. Sure the pool in Houston may be too hot for some in the summer, but that is better than having a pool in the NE that you can only swim in for 2 months
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 22, 2015 11:18:04 GMT -5
See; it's a mixed bag. Good and bad opinions about Houston.
I think I'll take the job if offered. At least I would give it a try. Then if I don't like Houston I'll leave. My plan is to stay there for a few years if I more or less like it, and then move to Miami. I prefer Miami for the beaches and the geographic location.
Heat and humidity don't bother me at all. Cold and snow, on the other hand, make me extremely unhappy. Driving in the snow scares me. I hate the fact that the cold and the snow dictate my life for roughly one third of the year. You guys don't have any ideas how many weekends I've had to cancel plans and stay home because of the snow, the ice, the freezing temperatures, etc. The times I've gone to work when it wasn't really safe to drive, but hey, the company is open and you HAVE to be there. The super-high electricity bills in winter just to avoid freezing or getting a frozen pipe at home. It gets old.
The high cost of living in the Northeast is a killer. And then you have the fact that unless you live in NYC or Boston or within driving distance, life in the Northeast is actually very boring. I'm really done with small-town living.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2015 11:22:22 GMT -5
Ava, my work is also in 77056. I live in 77057, which pretty much next to it. It is the Galleria area. It is expensive but if you are not buying you can find a reasonable apartment. I have a townhouse (2 huge bedrooms, 2.5 bath), i pay $1500. You can definitely find something cheaper. There are a ton of options nearby, you do not have to live too far from work (by car). If you want to buy a condo, there are inexpensive ones but usually the condo fees are on the high end. My problem is i am trying to stay in a certain school area here (really good public school) so i am somewhat limited with location. Also with 2 big dogs and a cat, most apt complexes are out for me. But you can definitely find a place with reasonable rent (unless of course your reasonable is $300 or something like that) ? I have been here 2 years and havent had any hurricane scares. It is not that big of a deal, certainly much better than Florida.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2015 11:23:17 GMT -5
I have been to Miami and it is definitely much nicer but much more expensive.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2015 11:32:07 GMT -5
One other thing... My mom comes and visits me and my son for long periods similar to your situation. My mom doesn't drive here and she doesn't speak english except for a few words. But she loves the location i live in because she can walk to everything (she loves walking). She can walk to grocery shopping, the Galleria, other stores... Where i live, technically i wouldnt even need a car except for once in a while.
Check out har.com for rentals and sales. You can search by zip code. Also, look at craigslist for apt complexes, i dont think they list on har.com.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Feb 22, 2015 13:24:15 GMT -5
Houston has good flights everywhere. Don't fret about that. I'd do anything short of murder to get the hell out of where I'm living. I hate the snow, ice, and cold. Plus, our airport sucks.
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