MOVING TO TEXAS | Checklist with Pros and Cons

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Hundreds of thousands of people move to Texas every year to start a job, start a business, or to live closer to friends and family.

Why is everyone moving to Texas?

Everyone is moving to Texas for jobs. Of course, many jobs are in the gas and oil industry, but there are plenty of jobs in manufacturing, tech, and other industries. For example, Tesla has recently moved to Texas, creating 5,000 jobs in Austing in 2021.

Everyone is moving to Texas because it’s cheaper. For people living in California or New York, Texas is inexpensive. For someone moving from California to Texas, relocating itself can be considered a pay raise because your paycheck will go further in Texas than in many other large cities in the U.S.

Everyone is moving to Texas because of the price of real estate. Buying a home is much more affordable than in California and New York. Land is also cheaper, and if you want to build, permitting is much simpler than in states like New York or California.

Moving to Texas statistics

Everyone knows someone who recently moved to Texas. The Lone Stare State attracts more than 500,000 new residents every year. According to Census, Texas welcomed about 582,000 new residents in 2019. So even with the hundreds of thousands of Texans relocating to other states, the population in Texas grows by about 100,000 every year.

Reasons for moving to Texas

The top reasons for moving to Texas are employment opportunities, lower cost of living, and cheaper real estate. But there are other reasons for moving to Texas, such as lower taxes, beautiful weather, diversity, great schools, manageable traffic, and a wide range of outdoor activities.

Moving to Texas Things to Know

Before moving to Texas, you should know that the Lone Star State is a mixed bag. But if you hate paying taxes, you will love Texas. You don’t have to worry about finding a job when moving to Texas because the state boasts impressive job growth. Its rich culture, mild weather, and relatively affordable housing make Texas a popular destination.

What are the benefits of moving to Texas?

There are many benefits of moving to Texas, including:

No state income taxes
Excellent job opportunities in many industries from energy to manufacturing
Lower cost of living than in many coastal cities such as New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco
Great school system
Mild winters

Moving to Texas and registering a car

When moving to Texas, you must register your car within 30-days. You can always get the latest information on registering your car in Texas at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles website.

Here are the steps of registering your car in Texas after your move:

Have your car inspected at an inspection station. Make sure you have proof of insurance.
Get the registration sticker and Texas license plate. After your car inspection, visit the county tax-assessor collector office to find out how much taxes you need to pay as a new resident.
You need to acquire your Texas driver’s license from the Texas Department of Public Safety (not the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles) within 90-days of moving to Texas.

Moving to Texas alone

Moving to Texas alone means you have to be on top of your game. You need to get up-to-date information on employment, cost of living, taxes, education, and healthcare in advance.

Especially when moving to Texas alone, you need to think about the cost of living. Are you going to live alone or rent a room? Are you moving with a pet or completely alone?

Before you move to Texas alone, understand the cost of living. For example, you can expect to spend $1,200 per month to rent a one-bedroom apartment. It’s less expensive than in Los Angeles or New York, but the cost of living in Texas cities isn’t cheap. So, you shouldn’t move to Texas alone unless you have at least $15,000 saved.

Moving to Texas with no money

Moving to Texas can be hard, but moving without money is irresponsible. Moving is hard as it is. So why make it even more difficult? Reconsider it. Save money. Once you have at least six months’ worth of living expenses saved, you can move to Texas.

Why move to Austin Texas?

You should move to Austin, Texas, for job opportunities, culture, quality of life, outdoor activities, and a manageable cost of living. In addition, Austin is a fun, livable, and bike-friendly city in Texas. So, why not move to Austin?

What do I need to switch my driver’s license to Texas?

You need to switch your driver’s license within 90-days after moving to Texas. An individual is required to hold a valid driver’s license from another state or U.S. territory or Germany, France, South Korea or Canada.

Moving to Texas and getting a driver’s license

When moving to Texas, you need to get a driver’s license within 90-days.

What do I need to transfer my license to Texas?

To transfer your license to a Texas driver’s license, you need to complete an application for a driver’s license, prove your identity, show your Texas car registration, surrender your old license, and pay the fees.

What documents do I need to transfer my driver’s license to Texas?

In addition to completing a Texas driver’s license application, proving your identity, surrendering your current license, you’ll need the following documents to get your Texas license:

Proof of identity
Proof of social security number
Proof of Texas residency
A completed Texas driver’s license application. You can download the Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application.
Valid license from the state where you are moving from
Evidence of Texas car registration (You don’t need to do this if you don’t currently own a vehicle.)
Proof of U.S. Citizenship – If you are not a U.S. citizen and moving to Texas, you need to show evidence that you are a lawful resident.
Proof of insurance for each vehicle you own
Application fee

Moving to Texas changing license plates

After moving to Texas, visit the local county tax-assessor collector office. Bring proof of car inspection report, insurance card, and car title or registration from the state you are moving from.

You can check the current vehicle registration fees on the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles website.

Moving from California to Texas

California is one of the top states where the highest number of new Texas residents move from. Although the climate and the beaches of California are hard to beat, many people trade it all for the lower cost of living in Texas. California’s out-of-control taxes, nightmarish traffic, and outrageous real estate prices push residents to relocate to more affordable states like Texas.

Moving from California to Texas and Taxes

Many Californians are moving to Texas because there is no income tax in the Lone Star State. This is a huge advantage for entrepreneurs who want to move to Texas to start a business.

Moving to Texas to avoid taxes

If you move to Texas to avoid taxes, investigate all state and local taxes. Talk with a Texas tax professional before you decide to move for tax reasons to avoid a potentially expensive relocation.

Moving to Houston Texas pros and cons

What are the pros of moving to Houston?

There are many pros of moving to Houston, Texas. Houston is a diverse city with excellent job prospects. Residents have many options for museums, parks, sports, and outdoor activities. And the people are friendly and welcoming.

Its temperate climate makes Houston a popular destination for new Texas residents. If you move to Houston, you don’t need to pay state income tax. And housing is much more affordable than in California and many other coastal cities.

What are the cons of moving to Houston?

One of the biggest cons of moving to Houston is the hot, humid summers. Some people call it the 10-month summer in Houston. So, if you can’t tolerate hot, humid weather, Houston isn’t your place.

Rush hour traffic is horrible, and there is virtually no public transportation. So, if you move to Houston, you will need a car.

Things to do before moving to Texas

Understand the lifestyle in Texas before moving. Texas isn’t California, and it isn’t New York. You may love or hate Texas, but don’t move there without educating yourself about the Lone Star state.

Research the cost of living to make sure you can afford to live there. It’s great that there is no income tax state in Texas, but there are many other taxes. So, make sure you get an accurate picture of the cost of living before you relocate.

Don’t move without a job. If you are lucky, you are transferring to Texas with a job. But, if you don’t have a job, don’t move to Texas. Instead, find a job wherever you live now, and only move once you have a job offer in hand.

Consider the Texas heat. It’s brutal, and it’s real. The 100-degree heat pushes many residents indoors.