Why Californians are Moving to Texas?
The trend where people from California started migrating in influx to Texas is not a new occurrence. California and Texas are some of the wealthiest states in the United States. Even though California is seeing a steady rise in the population itself, Texas is the one taking the lead in popularity in recent years.
This migration has only been fuelled further by the arrival of the pandemic, and West Coasters began arriving in Texas in waves and investing in real estate there. In fact, one in ten people who move to Texas comes from California. The cities most migrated to are Texas’s metro areas, such as Houston, San Antonio, Dallas-Forth Worth, and Austin. This raises the question of why Californians are moving to Texas.
Living costs in Texas are better than in California
With inflation that’s been on the rise over the past years, especially during the pandemic, living costs have increased as well. California is already known for its very high cost of living. Therefore, it is no wonder that with the additional increase in living costs, many Californians began eyeing more affordable states such as Texas. Here are some differences in cost between these two states.
Food costs
Food costs are the first things everyone looks at when comparing living costs. Food in California is much more expensive than in Texas. Whether you are eating out or preparing your own food, you will be spending around $600 more on food yearly in California compared to texas.
Entertainment and transportation costs
Even though California is well-known for the things it has to offer for entertainment, its costs are much higher compared to Texas. This involves things like transportation fees and the expenses for recreational activities. Transportation is essential in large cities if you want to get anywhere. Therefore, you will have to spend a lot more money on it in California compared to Texas.
The costs of raising a child
This is another incredibly important element to consider if you’re looking to raise a family. More often than not, people who are looking at these costs are also first-time home buyers with little experience in what to look for. First and foremost, consider the expenses that come with raising a child and the education. Whereas such costs amount to around $26000 per year, they go up to $33000 in California. This is one of the major reasons why Californians are moving to Texas to raise a family.
The housing market in Texas is better
This is another thing that essentially drives so many Californians toward Texas. The real estate costs in California have grown in extreme proportions over the years. This growth has only become greater with the coronavirus pandemic. This doesn’t mean that Texas hasn’t seen a rise in house prices itself. However, you can get a lot more for your money in Dallas or Austin compared to, let’s say, Los Angeles.
As a rough example, a typical house in California costs three times the price of a typical house in Texas. This gap is only getting larger as the years progress, with house prices growing even up to 10% on a yearly basis.
One issue that may arise when coming to California from Texas is interstate moving. It requires much more planning and organization to move between states than short-distance moves. This is why, to settle in without worry, many Californians are hiring interstate movers when moving from California to Texas. You will be saving a lot of money with Texas’s affordable housing market. This, in turn, will leave you with a budget to organize a proper interstate move to safely transport your belongings.
Great employment opportunities
Both skilled and unskilled workers can find business opportunities in Texas. This, in addition to more affordable living costs, makes Texas a perfect place to call home. The effects of inflation are much more bearable than in California. Those who work in software development will have it easy in California. The high demand for software developers will allow programmers to endure the high living costs. However, the average worker will be struggling, hence why Californians are moving to Texas so much.
Lower taxes
Texas is known for having desirable tax rates. It is one of the states with the lowest tax rates in America. That, on top of having no personal income tax, makes Texas an extremely comfortable state of living in.
Tips for those planning to move to Texas
As one of the fastest-growing states in the United States, there will be a lot of competition for finding real estate. Start your search early and prepare a budget. If you are planning to live by yourself, a security deposit of about $3000 will be enough to start with. However, you can always rent with several roommates and split the costs to save even more money.
For first-time homebuyers, make sure to get a real estate agent to help you out. There are many things to learn, and they can help you avoid making costly mistakes. A good real estate agent is also up to date with the housing market. They can find your dream house much faster and even negotiate a lower price for you. Therefore, professional help is almost essential if you wish to buy a house in Texas.
Final thoughts
With so many Californians moving to Texas in droves in search of a more affordable lifestyle, many large cities have begun feeling a bit crowded. However, the comfort that the affordable living costs and the housing market in Texas provide are very much worth it. We have discussed the key reasons why Californians are moving to Texas. If you, too, are interested in moving to the Lone Star State, make sure to get a good real estate agent and a moving company that works interstate.
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