suburban type lady.. (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio: apartments, renting, credit)

[nwcountry]

..looking around Texas for an apartment. I am checking the different citie's suburban areas, and mostly looking at average temperatures. I am not used to living in hotter areas, so if possible, I am hoping for something that maybe ranges just as high as the lower 90s (no laughing)

I am looking at Fredericksburg so far, but need help from folks that live there now. I am on the low-end income of retirement, and need housing that is either income-based, or at least, lower rents. Also, senior housing would be best. I enjoy volunteering with children (teacher's aid type volunteer).

I do look for good, medical facilities. Decent markets with at least one health, food grocer. I need a place where I can have a gym/swimming pool (not at the apt. but just in the town). Also, I want a place that has either patios, or balconies so I can sit outside easily, my fave place

I'll toss this out here, and hope to hear back from some folks who live in Texas, or have been there enough to give me some feedback

Thank you much, in advance, for any help. I won't be ready to move for another year I figure, but it could be sooner if something great were to come up I have a lovely place here, just renting, but I have two friends there, one has a business in Llano, and the other is a retired lady who I would like to be able to visit more easily. She is near Humble. I don't really care for the Houston area, but I am staying open to suggestions, as well as warnings folks might have

[C24L]

Originally Posted by nwcountry

..looking around Texas for an apartment. I am checking the different citie's suburban areas, and mostly looking at average temperatures. I am not used to living in hotter areas, so if possible, I am hoping for something that maybe ranges just as high as the lower 90s (no laughing)

I am looking at Fredericksburg so far, but need help from folks that live there now. I am on the low-end income of retirement, and need housing that is either income-based, or at least, lower rents. Also, senior housing would be best. I enjoy volunteering with children (teacher's aid type volunteer).

I do look for good, medical facilities. Decent markets with at least one health, food grocer. I need a place where I can have a gym/swimming pool (not at the apt. but just in the town). Also, I want a place that has either patios, or balconies so I can sit outside easily, my fave place

I'll toss this out here, and hope to hear back from some folks who live in Texas, or have been there enough to give me some feedback

Thank you much, in advance, for any help. I won't be ready to move for another year I figure, but it could be sooner if something great were to come up I have a lovely place here, just renting, but I have two friends there, one has a business in Llano, and the other is a retired lady who I would like to be able to visit more easily. She is near Humble. I don't really care for the Houston area, but I am staying open to suggestions, as well as warnings folks might have

FBurg is not a suburb.....it is a small town and the cost of living there is expensive.Lubbock and Amarillo would probably meet your range of high temperatures.However,Lubbock and Amarillo aint suburbs.

[nwcountry]

Thank you for your feedback. Suburban is fine, but also, something within say, an hour of a larger town would be ok too (especially for medical facilities). I know neither place I've looked at this a.m. were suburbs of anything, but I'm weighing out all the options.

Aren't the two places you mentioned more Northern, and maybe on the same, or close to the same highway that Austin is on, or was it Dallas, lol!! Oh well, I'll keep looking More feedback welcome. One reason that I would love to live in Texas is to take pictures, so many diverse areas than I've ever been around.

[War Beagle]

Yeah, F-berg is going to be expensive. Really, the whole hill country area is going to be kind of expensive because it is the part of the state the most people find desirable. Affordability wise, the big cities will obviously be more expensive. My perception of expense in descending order is Austin, DFW, Houston, San Antonio. Like I said, just my perception though.

I travel throughout the state and deal with subsidized housing to some degree. It seems there is always a wait list, even in small towns. I have seen more tax credit and senior apartments being built, but cities typically dislike these and I believe they often have waits too.

Weather-wise, the whole state is going to see 90s a good 2-3 months of the year (at least) depending on where you are. It's also increasingly humid in the east, to a point where it can be extreme. I was in Port Aransas last summer and it was about 92. But it was so humid that I could feel a piece of paper become saturated while holding it. If I had to choose based on weather, I would probably go with West TX.

For healthcare, Houston is the best, hands down. But all of the big cities should have good healthcare and I imagine the medium sized ones are OK too.

Putting it all together, if I was in your shoes I'd probably look at Lubbock/Amarillo, San Angelo or El Paso. They are going to be a bit cheaper, a bit less humid and should have decent healthcare for routine stuff. None are huge and you should be able to find suburban type environments in each. If you are willing to live further outside of big cities, there are more options. Hot, humid weather is just more of an issue.

[nwcountry]

Can't thank you enough for all the info WB. I will take your advice, as well as the previous poster mentioned Lubbock and Amarillo as well

I also forgot to mention that larger school districts (I like to work or volunteer to help kids) and also, a good access to great libraries. Thank you again

[C24L]

Originally Posted by War Beagle

Yeah, F-berg is going to be expensive. Really, the whole hill country area is going to be kind of expensive because it is the part of the state the most people find desirable. Affordability wise, the big cities will obviously be more expensive. My perception of expense in descending order is Austin, DFW, Houston, San Antonio. Like I said, just my perception though.

I travel throughout the state and deal with subsidized housing to some degree. It seems there is always a wait list, even in small towns. I have seen more tax credit and senior apartments being built, but cities typically dislike these and I believe they often have waits too.

Weather-wise, the whole state is going to see 90s a good 2-3 months of the year (at least) depending on where you are. It's also increasingly humid in the east, to a point where it can be extreme. I was in Port Aransas last summer and it was about 92. But it was so humid that I could feel a piece of paper become saturated while holding it. If I had to choose based on weather, I would probably go with West TX.

For healthcare, Houston is the best, hands down. But all of the big cities should have good healthcare and I imagine the medium sized ones are OK too.

Putting it all together, if I was in your shoes I'd probably look at Lubbock/Amarillo, San Angelo or El Paso. They are going to be a bit cheaper, a bit less humid and should have decent healthcare for routine stuff. None are huge and you should be able to find suburban type environments in each. If you are willing to live further outside of big cities, there are more options. Hot, humid weather is just more of an issue.

I also think Angelo would be a great choice.Abilene could work also.

[C24L]

Originally Posted by nwcountry

Thank you for your feedback. Suburban is fine, but also, something within say, an hour of a larger town would be ok too (especially for medical facilities). I know neither place I've looked at this a.m. were suburbs of anything, but I'm weighing out all the options.

Aren't the two places you mentioned more Northern, and maybe on the same, or close to the same highway that Austin is on, or was it Dallas, lol!! Oh well, I'll keep looking More feedback welcome. One reason that I would love to live in Texas is to take pictures, so many diverse areas than I've ever been around.

Lubbock and Amarillo are in the northern part of the state.

[nwcountry]

Originally Posted by C24L

I also think Angelo would be a great choice.Abilene could work also.

Thanks, I will check these two places out as well!! I'm really grateful for all the help offered. After all, Texas is a BIG place and I can really use the help in my search

[C24L]

Originally Posted by nwcountry

Thanks, I will check these two places out as well!! I'm really grateful for all the help offered. After all, Texas is a BIG place and I can really use the help in my search

You are welcome.

[nwcountry]

Wow, I am really liking the Abilene area!! Thanks for those of you that mentioned it, might have missed checking it out Feedback welcome, as always denise