TEXAS OR FLORIDA??? That is the question.... (Dallas, Galveston: 2013, live)

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by jbowen3

I am looking to move to Florida (Tampa area to Orlando) or Texas (Dallas or Houston). I am more curious about the enjoyment of day to day life; opinions as to which place was most enjoyable to live. I would like to see posts from people who have lived in, at least, two of the locations listed. Just seeking opinions in regard to which place they liked the best (and maybe a short blurb why). Thanks.

If you love the beach..Florida hands down.

If you hate humidity ..Texas hands down.

I've live in both Florida and Texas.
I miss the Florida beaches but that's all I miss of Florida.
And I do love living in Texas.

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by jbowen3

What are your thoughts about the Houston market? New construction projections, sales activity, etc...

We are nuts. New, re-sale. Our economy is solid and we are out-growing our supply. Builders cannot keep up. Sometimes we have to extend option periods to be able to get an inspector on time. Appraisals are being ordered as early as possible, in order to close on time. Heard Dallas was not as frenzied, but solid.

[BobTex]

Not wanting you down here if you're a Stealer fan!

Honestly I think Houston has the better economy. Florida is eat up with people from the northeast which would make my decision easy!

Does the wife need a job too?

[augiedogie]

Florida is mostly the theme parks and the beach. That's about it. Its tough to afford to live there as many jobs don't pay much and the work ethic isn't much. Texas is THE place to be, growing, expanding economy, good jobs and good pay, and still all kinds of different landscapes, history, scenery.

[th3vault]

Originally Posted by xS☺Be

Miami if you are looking to party nonstop. Like if you like everyday all day ridiculously sexy drunkass half-naked bimbos throwing themselves at you, parties, music, utterly insane people all over the place, scams, creeps, voodoo, ocean, fishing, all at the most beautiful place in the USA. Totally lunacy - totally nuts, unabashed wildness.

Except for the most beautiful place part you can get all of that in Galveston for 1/4 the cost of Miami Beach.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by MckinneyOwnr

Out of the choices listed, Tampa can probably be the most enjoyable at times IF you live close to the water. However, for daily living and taking into account EVERYTHING like weather, housing, temperature, traffic, cost of living, etc... Dallas wins.

Orlando is simply a mess. Traffic is absolutely horrible, the only draw there is Disney and Universal, and once you've been there... No reason to return. You're about 2 hrs from the beach there, so you get none of the benefits of living on the coast, but get all of the downsides (horrible humidity, rain almost every day, hurricanes, high insurance prices.)

Best places to be in FL is either Naples or Miami, and it's extremely pricey to find a nice home near or on the water.

Dallas, while not having a beach close by, gives you great weather with very little humidity, it's a central hub for traveling all over (much easier to get to Cali or Vegas from Dallas than FL,) no threat of hurricanes so cheaper insurance premiums, better bang for your buck with housing (though admittedly, FL values have dropped a TON so it's more comparable now), more retail, better infrastructure and planning for roads and city centers, and plenty of things to do in the area.

Houston is more humid, the traffic situation is much worse, and there just isn't much of anything that makes it stand out over Dallas. Obviously, you're closer to the beach in Houston, but that's about it.

Please stop right there.

Anywhere east of the I-35 corridor is going to be super humid, it just becomes more noticeable the closer you are to the Gulf.

The trade off is barren & dry or lush & green. Dallas falls in between those two while Houston is the latter.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

If you love the beach..Florida hands down.

If you hate humidity ..Texas hands down.

I've live in both Florida and Texas.
I miss the Florida beaches but that's all I miss of Florida.
And I do love living in Texas.

See my post above.

[xS☺B☺s]

Originally Posted by th3vault

Except for the most beautiful place part you can get all of that in Galveston for 1/4 the cost of Miami Beach.

Really? I'm skeptical. Never heard of Galveston being the party capital of the world. More like the wiped out by another hurricane capital. Wife took the kids there twice. Pics were undramatic. She didn't say there was much going on.

There is nothing undramatic about SoBe.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by xS☺Be

Really? I'm skeptical. Never heard of Galveston being the party capital of the world. More like the wiped out by another hurricane capital. Wife took the kids there twice. Pics were undramatic. She didn't say there was much going on.

There is nothing undramatic about SoBe.

Miami and Florida in general are much more prone to being hit by hurricanes than the Texas coast. Get your facts straight. If you are still referring to that hurricane 113 years ago get over it. A cateqory 5 hurricane has never hit Texas. Miami and Florida cannot say the same thing.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by xS☺Be

Really? I'm skeptical. Never heard of Galveston being the party capital of the world. More like the wiped out by another hurricane capital. Wife took the kids there twice. Pics were undramatic. She didn't say there was much going on.

There is nothing undramatic about SoBe.

From Spring Break on till the end of Summer, yes, Galveston turns into a party town. So for almost half of the year Galveston is having a good time.