With over 70 years of service in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties, AMS Bekins is one of the best-known and most established moving companies in the Bay Area. Whether it’s for business or personal reasons, or if you’re moving long-distance, local, to an international location—our team of moving experts is here to help guide you through a smooth, easy, and affordable relocation.
Although our team is experienced in planning moves all over the globe, one of the biggest trends we’ve seen lately is a migration of California residents moving out of the Bay Area and into Texas. We’ve helped many of our customers make successful transitions to the Lone Star State, along with many of the services we mentioned in this blog on moving from San Francisco to Texas.
While we love living in the Bay Area, there’s no doubt that Texas is a great place to live with plenty of perks. If you’re moving to Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, or Houston, or elsewhere, take a look at some important information that will help you adjust to your new home in the grand state of Texas.
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Goodbye Bay Area, Hello, Lone Star State!
Many of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas and cities in the United States are in Texas, which explains the heavy migration of California residents leaving the tight, overpriced spaces of the Bay Area for wider, more affordable pastures. Dallas Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and Midland are among the cities with the biggest population growth over the last decade, with plenty of jobs, affordable housing, and more.
Despite the things you’ll miss about San Francisco, however, you’re bound to love life in Texas—where everything is bigger and better, at least according to the locals. Take a look at some of the perks and also some of the downsides you should know about living in the Lone Star State.
Real Estate is Actually Affordable
After living in California, it’s safe to say that your favorite perk about Texas will be paying less for housing. There’s absolutely nothing to complain about when it comes to the affordability of Texas compared to California, and you’re likely to be looking forward to living large at a fraction of the cost of the insanely expensive housing prices in the Bay Area.
So how much will you pay, really? Well, it depends on where you are and the kind of home you’re moving into. Smaller cities will cost less to live in, while living in metropolitan areas like Dallas and Houston average under $1000 a month for two or three-bedroom apartment rentals. If you’re purchasing your home, the median home price in the DFW metropolitan area is around $220,000, which is a much lower price tag than the $1,200,000 you’ll pay for an average home in San Francisco.
Cost of Living is Cheaper
Speaking of saving money, did we mention that Texas is cheap? Compared to California, one of the most expensive places to live in the world, the cost of living in Texas is cheaper across the board—from real estate and housing prices, to dining and entertainment, gas prices, energy costs, and more. You’ll also love exchanging California’s high taxes for Texas’ no-charge for personal state taxes system, and lower sales tax policies.
People are Friendly
It’s true that you’ll find plenty of types of people in Texas, and many transplants from other places, just like yourself. But in general, Texans are known for their friendly, open-armed culture and busy social lives. If you’re hoping to make friends in Texas, you’re likely to have a lot of luck—al you have to do is put yourself out there.
Texas: A Sports Fanatic’s Paradise
Love sports? If so, you’ll find yourself among friends in Texas, where sports are a state passion. From the Dallas Cowboys to the Houston Astros, to the University of Texas Longhorns and D1 football teams all over the state, sports are a big deal here—especially football, basketball, and baseball. If you have children that love sports, they’re in luck too—sports programs in Texas are world-class all over the state.
Unpredictable Weather
Now for some of the downsides of living in Texas. To start, one of California’s biggest appeals for most people is the weather, especially in Southern California. You might miss the cool, overcast mornings and temperate, breezy afternoons of the Bay Area living in Texas, where the climate can seem to vary on a day-to-day basis.
It can get scorching hot in the summers, and the short winter can be freezing cold. Light snow isn’t uncommon in the wintertime, but tornadoes are—an average of 130 tor Texas is also a major tornado capital with an average of 132 tornadoes touch down somewhere in the state every year.
Giant Insects!
Everything’s bigger in Texas—and that includes the insects, too. Lots of bugs live in Texas, attracted to the warm, balmy weather and moist air from coming in from the Southern Gulf of Mexico. If you’re not used to massive insects, this can take some taking used to—remember to carry bug spray with you if you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, especially when the weather is warm.
Make Your Move with the Experts at AMS Bekins
At AMS Bekins, we’re proud to provide the level of service we’re known for as one of the top-rated moving companies in the nation. If you’re planning a residential or commercial move to Texas or anywhere else in the world, we can help you make your move a success—with full-service solutions customized to suit your exact preferences and needs. For more information about moving to Texas or making a local or long-distance move with us, give our team a call today. You can also get started now by filling out our online form to request a free, no-obligation pricing estimate and moving consultation in your home or at your business.
