My head hurts, I'm sleepy, and I'm seriously considering moving back to Dallas.

[Shakespeare]

We just got back from a 10-day car trip to see friends and family in Texas, and had a GREAT time. It was a lot of fun being back in Dallas, and made me a little homesick (and my bestest friend in the whole world, my sister, just moved back there).

I'm having house lust the way some women have baby lust, and there's no realistic way we'll ever be able to have a house here in California. Prices are just way, way too high (and even if we could, I don't think I could swallow enough of my outrage about California real estate prices to go ahead and buy).

Housing prices in Dallas are almost 70% lower. Seventy percent. All my friends that we visited are in beautiful (not McMansion-y, just nice) homes. And they make less than I do. I pay $1350 a month for a TEEEEEEENY one bedroom apartment (no patio/balcony, no in-unit washer/dryer, no special amenities at all).

And Dallas is a really lovely place. The SO is totally open to the idea, too.

So, we're thinking about it. :hi:

[GOPisEvil]

1. For God's sake, don't move to one of those soul-less suburbs of Dallas.

There are some cool old neighborhoods in Dallas (I think crispini lives in one).

Interestingly, I just sold my house in Austin (closed today). I don't think there's a way I can buy anything other than a small condo or house here (and that's a stretch at the moment).

But then...I'm not sure I'm cut out for home ownership. I hate yard work. Maybe a big townhome or something. ;)

[Shakespeare]

2. We'd either go for one of the older neighborhoods, or out in the country.

Of course, the way Dallas is growing, what's out in the country now will be paved-over suburbia in five years, so that's a gamble.

But a gamble we may be willing to take.

I had a garden and a couple of laying hens when I lived in the Santa Rosa area a few years ago, and I've REALLY missed having a yard ever since.

I saw your post (last night, I think) saying how much you like it in the new place--I'm glad to hear that! How do you like Trader Joe's?

And College Station....jesus, but that place has grown.

I almost wept when I had my chopped brisket sandwich at Sonny Bryan's, btw. :7

[GOPisEvil]

7. I told you about CS!

It is unrecognizable.

Trader Joe's is nice, but it's TINY. Give me Central Market, please.

Sonny Bryan's is a must have every time I go to Dallas. :9

[kentauros]

4. There are some nice old neighborhoods in Arlington, too.

My brother and SIL started out there and I remember that I liked the neighborhood they were in (sorry, don't know it's name or place) the few times I visited.

But, I agree about the "soulless" neighborhoods in Dallas. I know I've been to one and it seemed like I was visiting Katy out west of Houston :P

[MrsBrady]

6. excuse me,

but we are turning things blue over here...

and we managed to turn Tarrant "pink" - progress, I'll have you know.

We need all the lefties we can get!!!

:toast:

[mnhtnbb]

3. Having left CA in 1988 and never looked back, there are LOTS of

places in the country where you can have a good life and a nice home.

Housing in CA is beyond outrageous. I looked on Zillow recently and the house we sold
for $850,000 in 1988 in a canyon between Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades is valued at
$3.7 million. :wtf: It's CRAZY!

My brother bought a 40 year old ranch house, needing work, on the San Andreas fault line
in Hillsborough CA 18 months ago and paid over $2 million. Completely nuts. Just nuts.

If I were in your shoes, I'd seriously look at getting out of CA.

[sasquatch]

8. Why the fuck does it cost so damned much?

:shrug:

[mnhtnbb]

10. You got me. Our parents built a comparable ranch style house in 1965 in

southern California for $55,000. Nothing fancy. The house my brother bought did have an updated
kitchen and hard wood floors, but still. Over $2 mill? It's just insanity. I don't know why
so many people want to live in California. I LOVE Chapel Hill. He pays 6 x what we pay in property taxes
and has a huge mortgage. For what? I don't get. I really don't.

[Tikki]

5. I can live anywhere where it is not humid.

Tikki

[BlueCollar]

9. C'mon back

$1000.00 house payment

$500.00 electricity

$600.00 per month property taxes

and ya get to be DUBYA's neighbor (Priceless)

[Shakespeare]

11. Nah. It all depends on which county and municipality you choose to live in.

Highland Park? No, thanks.

$1000 a month will buy a hell of a lot of house in the DFW area, and the property taxes are still proportionately lower than they are here in CA. Starter homes here in the LA area (unless you live way the hell out in Palmdale or Apple Valley) are in the half-mil range. Again--no, thanks.

We're very seriously considering the move.

[undeterred]

12. Isn't that a country song?

My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, & I Don't Love Jesus

[AwakeAtLast]

13. My sister moved to Austin (from Chicago) and loves it!

The lower cost of living was a great motivator for her.

We will visit over the summer.

Sounds like you've just about made up your mind - and it doesn't sound like a bad idea, either!

:hi: