5 Reasons to Move to Houston

As a native Houstonian, I proudly promote all things HTX but now I am finally breaking down all the reasons I love this town! Houston has been quietly (or not so quietly, if you ask this native) growing into a thriving metropolis at a rate faster than most other cities in the country. While the Lone Star State of Texas may paint a picture of oil derricks, cowboys, open roads, desert landscapes and longhorn cattle, Houston is an oasis far removed from the rest of the state’s imagery.

Fresh off a World Series victory (and maybe a Rockets Championship - fingers crossed!) and with a booming job market, Houston is looking more and more appealing by the day. It's no wonder so many people are looking at moving to Houston. Not convinced? Here are five reasons to relocate yourself to Houston!

1. A Great Place to Find A Job
During the recession, when jobs were scarce, Houston was one of the few cities that actually had a job market that was growing. Now that the recession is (thankfully) in the rearview mirror, that job market is even healthier. Part of this boom is thanks to a more diverse and tech-friendly job market. While Houston has forever been known as the center of the oil and energy industries, it's now beginning to attract a lot of emerging tech startups in the IT, data analytics, aerospace field, and many other fields.  We also have one of the largest medical centers in the world and people across the globe come to Houston to be a part of our cutting edge research and developments in medicine.

2. A Variety of Housing Options
If you search Houston real estate, you’ll find a number of different neighborhoods and housing options to choose from. With all of these different choices, any Houston-hopeful can find a home in their price range and to their personal preferences. Younger residents like Houston’s Midtown neighborhood, which is populated with bars, cafes, art galleries, eateries and other attractions. For people looking for a quieter life, Houston’s many suburbs, like Sienna Plantation, Greatwood or The Woodlands, are fabulous because they have lots of parks, great schools and more.

As with any location, buying a home in Houston is all about ensuring that you find the right mortgage. Start by getting a quote for mortgage offers online, selecting the right one for your finances and the home that you are interested in purchasing.

3. Beaches!
One of the best-kept secrets of living in Houston is the access to nearby beaches. The city is nestled next to Galveston Bay and Trinity Bay and, in just under an hour, you can reach the Gulf of Mexico. All of these bodies of water are filled with family-friendly beaches that have lots of amenities and activities, like tennis courts, picnic areas, parks and more. So, when the work week is over, you're only a short trip away from dipping your toes in the water!

4. Affordable
​One of the leading reasons that Houston attracts so many new businesses and residents is a low cost of living, especially compared to the city's quality of life. With all of its perks and a growing job market, Houston is reasonably inexpensive, concerning rent/housing costs. And, Texas doesn't require residents to pay income tax, which is another help for both residents and businesses alike.

5. The Culture
​Consistently, Houston is ranked as one of the most diverse cities in the United States - beating out NYC! Houston blends a number of different cultures into a beautiful, diverse community. The cowboy culture that Texas is famous for is evident in events like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. There are strong Hispanic/Latino influences too. Houston is also home to one of the largest Vietnamese-American populations. All of these different cultures are evident in the cuisine, community events, architecture and other cultural aspects of Houston which in my opinion make Houston one of the best places I could imagine living.  Further, Houston has a thriving arts and entertainment scene with a state of the art theatre district and museum district.  There is large community support for the arts and sciences, so there is always something great - and often free - to do in Houston each week.

Conclusions
​Houston is a great place to live with lots of opportunities and it only seems to be getting better! You don’t want to delay in moving to Houston and missing this city’s incredible boom.  Plus you can hang out with yours truly at my favorite brunch spots! What is not to love! If you are a Houstonian, I would love to hear your top