Texas for retirement?????

**Daydream Believer** · 01-20-2007, 04:56 PM

DH and I have been talking about the possibility of retiring in Texas within the next few years, or at least possibly buying a mobile home in a park and wintering there. but how can I find out what basic expenses are like in Texas - such as food, gas, utilities, etc? I know that coming from Minnesota, we wouldn't have the astronomical heating bills that we have here, but would air conditioning be about the same?

Lots of questions I know.....but where can I find some answers??

**Michelle68** · 01-20-2007, 06:20 PM

Here is a link to a site where you can compare cities and living expenses: http://www.moving.com/Find_a_Place/C...es/results.asp and here is another one which compares how far salaries go in different cities: http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costo...tofliving.html .

We live in south/central Texas (San Antonio), in a city of approximately 1.2 million people. In the summer, it can get pretty hot and humid. The highs sometimes reach a bit over 100 degrees, but most of the time the highs run in the mid nineties and the lows in the 70's. Our A/C bill during the typically hottest months which are July and August run around $220/ month. (That includes gas, for our stove and water heater. We have a 1230 sq. ft. house.)

Here in San Antonio, the cost of living is pretty low, but the salaries tend to run a bit lower also. The median home price is $141,000. Gasoline is running around $2.05/gallon right now. A gallon of milk at the grocery store is running around $3.25, a dozen eggs around $1.10 and bread (grocery store brand) $0.80/loaf. San Antonio is a pretty laid back place for being a larger city. It's really rich in culture and the job market is starting to open up quite a bit.

I think (of course, native Texan speaking here) that Texas would be a great place to retire. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I'd be happy to answer them.

--Michelle

**marie_squared** · 01-20-2007, 11:23 PM

I love my Texas, too.

DH is from california and so when he saw the house prices here, he fell in love. Gas in dallas is 1.98 right now and a gallon of milk is 2.99 - our electric bill (currently 900sqft apartment with all appliances being electric) at its highest in the full blast of solid 100degree weather is about 150. mind you thought that it can be 100plus degrees for several months. you get to the point where you can literally tell when its NOT 100plus degrees, when its only ... oh say... 96 degrees.

land away from cities, such as venus, texas (just an example) about 40miles outside of dallas is extremely cheap and beautiful. untouched fields and the purest skies. lots of people buy the land and then build their own homes or live on trailers (mobilehomes).

**nwmissourigal** · 02-03-2007, 11:43 PM

I personally would love to retire in San Antonio. I have visited there alot and love the rich culture and the buildings are so beautiful and I love the river walk...however, my dh hates Texas and wants to retire in Montana...Like that is going to happen...I want warm when I am old...LOL...Blessings..Kathy

**kaykwilts** · 02-04-2007, 03:09 PM

I don't think I would want to put up a mobile home in Texas where they do have a lot of tornados particularly in the part they call tornado alley.

**Edna_E** · 02-05-2007, 07:20 PM

There are some areas that really aren't that subject to tornados. Just pay attention to where you are looking at. Most of the hill country is pretty mild. Texas has a free tourism book that has a lot of info about things to do, terrain, weather, etc. Let me know if you can't find it easily. I just got one in the mail and it still has the wrapper on it, but it is at home and I am at work.

**Michelle68** · 02-08-2007, 05:17 PM

I really can't remember when the last tornado we had in San Antonio was. We just don't really seem to have that kind of weather here. In fact, when we went on vacation to South Dakota a couple of summers ago, I was totally freaked through most of the trip because there tornadic activity all around us throughout the midwest while we were there. We just aren't used to that. As far as weather goes, it does get hot here during the summer and we do have flash flooding in low areas with a lot of rain. We also may have ice for a day or two in the winter, but other than that nothing too dramatic. Like Edna says, it all depends on what part of Texas in which you live. Remember, it's a pretty big state.

--Michelle