 It’s one of the worst-kept secrets out there: Texas is a great place to live. If you need more proof of this, check out the Allied Van Lines Magnet States Report, which named Texas the top destination state in the U.S. for the fifth straight year.
What this means is that Texas had a higher net gain in relocations than any other state. Allied Van Lines defines that as the total number of inbound moves minus the number of outbound moves recorded by their company. What makes Texas such a desirable place to call home? Those who live here enjoy a low cost of living, reasonable housing costs, mild winters (though summers can certainly test a person’s heat tolerance), vibrant cities and towns, abundant natural beauty, no state income tax, a business-friendly environment, a diverse population, and, as Real Estate Center at Texas A&M Chief Economist Mark Dotzour is fond of saying, the best Tex-Mex food on the planet. Certainly, our state has many factors that appeal to a growing number of people. | Just how popular is Texas? The Census Bureau reports that the state grew by nearly 500,000 residents between July 2008 and July 2009. That’s almost as many people as the entire population of Wyoming. Many demographers project the Texas population growth to continue for the next several decades. That certainly bodes well for the prospects of continued economic growth and real estate appreciation. Sustained population expansion also means we will have to find ways to provide adequate housing for all those new people, keep homeownership affordable for lower-income citizens, maintain and build infrastructure, and manage natural resources like water and energy. If we don’t adequately address these issues, the quality of life in our state will decline for all Texans. These aren’t things that take care of themselves. We can all do our part by being involved in our neighborhoods and communities, voting, and letting our local and state officials know that we care about these issues. If we can manage that, we can continue to enjoy living in one of the best spots on Earth … even if our secret is out of the bag. |