MONTANA TO TEXAS - a possible move

[thegrouse]

Texas hill country is pretty great area to be. Some parts closer to Austin and San Antonio have grown a lot, but if you stay away from those cities it’s still nice and quiet. Hunting sucks if you don’t own land or know someone with it though.

I live in SA and hunt on a decent sized ranch in the Hill Country. There isn't a ton to do there unless you have access to land. There are a few state parks that are overrun with people and have a real canned experience. Not a ton of hiking, unless you are content with short trails that can be knocked out in a few hours. Of course there is shopping and restaurants in a few of the towns, but that isn't really my cup of tea. I prefer the Big Bend region, but that is 6.5 hours away.

 

[Doc Holliday]

XXXX is great if:
-You are single and enjoy drinking beer and eating XXX and XXX food.
-Have a pile of cash and can afford a 4-500 acre lease and enjoy drinking beer
-Have kids and enjoy sitting at the ball field all weekend and enjoy drinking beer.
-Like to sit by the pool all weekend and drink beer.

I think you could say this about most places east of the Mississippi River, especially anywhere with suburbs

 

[traildust]

Hahah Hell. Texas is just a bunch of wild ass transplants form MS, TN, and KY who wanted some free land from Mexico.

Missouri & Oklahoma It wasn't free!

 

[Cady Creek]

I’m born and raised in MS and moved to Central Texas for work 16 years ago. Texas is great if:
-You are single and enjoy drinking beer and eating BBQ and Mexican food.
-Have a pile of cash and can afford a 4-500 acre lease and enjoy drinking beer
-Have kids and enjoy sitting at the ball field all weekend and enjoy drinking beer.
-Like to sit by the pool all weekend and drink beer.

Texas sucks if sitting around and drinking beer isn’t your thing. I’ve read up on the history and have become fond of some aspects of Texas history but think I would have enjoyed it much more 100 years ago.

I have a note on my fridge that says “I will not retire in Central Texas.” I also have young kids, a bit older than you, and I’ll tell you that you are in a tough stage. As they get older you can enjoy all of the public land out West has to offer. With young kids family help is also a cheat code so I understand that.

Shit! I have no desire to move to Texas, but you've nearly convinced me!

 

[Ecampbell25]

I have moved around a fair amount. There is no perfect place.

I personally would never want to move to Texas. But to each their own.

I moved from CT to MT then to ID and now to AK. Every time you move it costs money. ( not that it should stop you, but something to think about)

So you move and hate it what’s the worse thing that can happen.(maybe loose some money) Then you move back to MT.

I have a friend in Austin he hates it but makes a good living with his job so he stays. There are times he said he can’t go outside bc it’s too hot.
No public land to hunt like everyone has stated above.

But if your concern is taking care of your family and you have family there to help out it might be a good fit.

27 years old is still super young. Go and try it.

Best of luck.

 

[steadytowingandshot]

I’ve lived in Nacogdoches all of my life. Please feel free to DM me if you have questions

 

[dreamingWest]

Texas is great if you have land, have access to land, have established friends that also have access to land, have family that owns land, and you own land in adjacent states with good hunting.

Weather is weather. Everybody in this country has months with awesome weather and month with terrible weather. Terrible weather in Texas usually means you need access to a private pool or access to a boat. We do have great fishing.

It would be very tough to move here if it were for a job that forced you to live in a suburban sprawl zero lot surrounded by concrete and didn't have already have land access with family and friends. Then it would suck. Small town Texas still holds charm and good people.

These comments could be said for nearly every state. The difference in western states is that if you have to live in a newly developed suburb, you're likely a short drive from public land access. So it doesn't suck as bad. But those public land spots are filling up fast too.

 

[ramsdude47]

Pretty sure the only state worse than Commiefornia is Texas. But Florida is right up there too.

 

[Ecampbell25]

Selling a house and moving states is really expensive with a young family. Realistically you are going to lose 6% to realtor fees and another $10-20k getting a house ready for market, like $40k-50k on a 500k house.

If you are a busy young family you have to outsource house improvements and really need to hire a moving company. There just isn’t time in the day to do everything yourself with a bunch of young kids to watch at the same time. It’s not like moving before kids where it’s a weekend and a U-Haul. Paying for an interstate move with a 3 bedroom house is around $15k. Buying in another state contingent on sale in another state can be mess and will be stressful. On top of that real estate sales have really slowed down in lots of markets recently with 8% money and nearly record high prices. You need to have enough equity in your house and really you need a company to pay your relocation if at all possible. The cost to sell a house and move a family across states is probably $50k-$80k all in. You need quite a bit of equity and liquidity to pull it off.

It was mentioned before but cheap houses and good schools rarely go together. You need to understand the trade off between real estate costs and private school. I know that was a big factor when we moved our family. We hit the point where we could either move to a more expensive area or stay where we were and commit to paying for 13 years of private school per kid.

These are great points. My last move from Idaho to Alaska cost me 25$k my wife got 18$k in relocation bonus which helped. But still didn’t cover the entire move.

I bought a 6x12 trailer and what fit came and what didn’t fit got sold or donated.

I packed the trailer myself. It was very stressful and I only have one kiddo.

The quotes I was getting from moving companies was out of control. Like @Kurts86 said 50$k was the cheapest quote!

 

[traildust]

Pretty sure the only state worse than Commiefornia is Texas. But Florida is right up there too.

In which way? From a outdoor activity aspect or political?

 

[bojangles808]

Pretty sure the only state worse than Commiefornia is Texas.

ca sucks but still way better than texas. texas is like one giant bakersfield.

 

[Lowhighlander]

I’ve lived all 48 years of my life in central Texas, 20 miles from the historical marker from the dead center. Small town, friendly folks, high school football is king. Economy is always pretty stable. I don’t know any different so I can’t compare. Weather is hot/humid. Older I get harder it is on me. 250-300k will get you another fixer upper, prices are way up from all the Cali migrants. Every state is going to tack your rear to the wall on taxes, just pick your poison. No state income but you’ll rent your house from the school district for life. All Texans talk smack about Oklahoma but it’s a far sight better than west Texas, that’s the armpit of the world. I know going blindly somewhere with no family would be tough, but I’d google where the best opportunity for your field of expertise is, then cross reference to states with the lowest cost of living and create your own legacy. Regardless, blessings to you in your decision

 

[Mojave]

You could work in El Paso and make big money and live in Las Cruces, and have public land.

 

[Mojave]

I’ve lived all 48 years of my life in central Texas, 20 miles from the historical marker from the dead center. Small town, friendly folks, high school football is king. Economy is always pretty stable. I don’t know any different so I can’t compare. Weather is hot/humid. Older I get harder it is on me. 250-300k will get you another fixer upper, prices are way up from all the Cali migrants. Every state is going to tack your rear to the wall on taxes, just pick your poison. No state income but you’ll rent your house from the school district for life. All Texans talk smack about Oklahoma but it’s a far sight better than west Texas, that’s the armpit of the world. I know going blindly somewhere with no family would be tough, but I’d google where the best opportunity for your field of expertise is, then cross reference to states with the lowest cost of living and create your own legacy. Regardless, blessings to you in your decision

I do not know why people hate on West Texas.

Some oil towns smell like oil production. Beyond that I don't get the hate.

 

[Weldor]

Only you can decide while weighing the pros and cons of each. Don't let family be the reason, they're already doing what works for them, so keep that in mind.

I would pass over NM, though, as a place to move to.

NM is gone, Just passed through Las Cruces like we do every year from our Texas hunting trip. Homeless camps everywhere, panhandlers and beggars. Looks just like L.A. Since Covid it's changed alot.

 

[Blandry]

Stay away from the big blue cities!

Public hunting in Texas sucks! We've got tons of game to hunt, but you'll most likely have to pay to access it on private land. You can hunt just about any animal you dream of in Texas. Great lakes for fishing.

Best BBQ & Mexican food on the planet.

Our weather sucks also. Hot as hell, humidity, rains for days or zero rain for months on end. Hurricanes, tornados, heat waves, wildfires!
Mosquitos are terrible at times. You'll get all 4 seasons in a 12hr period at times

Property taxes are high, sales tax is 8.25%, but we don't have a state tax

Most beautiful women in the world!

Edit: Almost forgot, plenty of venomous snakes, spiders and scorpions.....Oh and fire ants!

You'll prolly learn a little spanish too!

I lived in Centex for 16 years, from Waco to New Braunfels in 4-5 different cities, and this is spot on.

I spent the last three years in Leander, TX, in a brand new neighborhood where all of my neighbors were either from CA, the Midwest, or the East Coast. They all seemed to love it, while I was burned out by all of the people. The transplants started flooding in around 2015 and caused all of the good (spicy) mom-and-pop Mexican food places to either change their menus to more bland, or close for the first time since I'd lived there. I saw french fries and chicken tenders on tex mex restaurant menus for the first time ever. I guess the new people were requesting that stuff. I was also tired of the heat and hunting leases becoming unaffordable. When a job opened up here in CO, I jumped on it; however, CO has its own issues, lol. I did sleep with all the windows open last night at 25 degs. Love the weather!

I would move back but only near the border where the food and BBQ is better. However even that's changing rapidly due to transplants (white people lol).

 

[Lowhighlander]

I do not know why people hate on West Texas.

Some oil towns smell like oil production. Beyond that I don't get the hate.

Nothing but dirt and tumbleweed, just ugly. I guess it’s the same as me, if you grew up with it you wouldn’t know any difference

 

[BRTreedogs]

I'd pick AZ over Texas

At least there is alot of public, hiking, and some hunting opportunities that you don't have to pay for.

And alot of people sxs/atv there.

 

[traildust]

I lived in Centex for 16 years, from Waco to New Braunfels in 4-5 different cities, and this is spot on.

I spent the last three years in Leander, TX, in a brand new neighborhood where all of my neighbors were either from CA, the Midwest, or the East Coast. They all seemed to love it, while I was burned out by all of the people. The transplants started flooding in around 2015 and caused all of the good (spicy) mom-and-pop Mexican food places to either change their menus to more bland, or close for the first time since I'd lived there. I saw french fries and chicken tenders on tex mex restaurant menus for the first time ever. I guess the new people were requesting that stuff. I was also tired of the heat and hunting leases becoming unaffordable. When a job opened up here in CO, I jumped on it; however, CO has its own issues, lol. I did sleep with all the windows open last night at 25 degs. Love the weather!

I would move back but only near the border where the food and BBQ is better. However even that's changing rapidly due to transplants (white people lol).

I'll bring ya some real mexican food and bbq when I'm passing thru in Sept. I know you haven't had any in CO!

 

[Jaker_cc]

The gulf coast makes Texas worth living in. If you don’t have land leased for hunting, then fishing and duck hunting the coast is as good as it gets here. I’m from south Texas and it’s hotter now for longer than it’s ever been in my lifetime. East Texas is nice In places. Bass and crappie fishing is great out east. Hunting is pay to play. Just the way it is. There are some great little strongholds of amazing small towns if you know where to look. The public land, landscape, access, and weather in Montana would win out for me. If you can make a living in Montana then maybe rent instead of paying that high of a mortgage for something you don’t really like. Family is family. They can be handy to have around, but sometimes you can’t get far enough away from them.

Tough spot. Best of luck in whatever you decide