To avoid any hidden costs when moving from UK to Houston
#16
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Utilities - Electricity/Gas combine we average around 250/month when we're running aircon, a little cheaper in the winter when we run heat... but when we were looking at houses, we saw a few identical to ours and most sellers declared average 600/month...I guess a lot of folk that just run the aircon full blast all summer and the heat full blast all "winter"..gets pricey and seems a little crazy when my 6 year old could programme the thermostat....
water is metered - we average around 50/month over the year - higher in summer when you run the sprinklers...cheaper this year cos its been so freakin wet!
water is metered - we average around 50/month over the year - higher in summer when you run the sprinklers...cheaper this year cos its been so freakin wet!
Our house is smaller than yours and our bills are far higher
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Saying that, OH loves the air-con cold, so that's probably why. What do you have yours set to?
BTW - where in Katy? Fancy the info on our next Houston meet-up?
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#17
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We're pretty close to Fry/Grand Parkway. Where are you? We use Reliants floating rate - the fixed rate so far would have been more expensive for us because we're a pretty low user. Aircon is set to 85 during the day, and 80 at night. Occasionally I knock it lower during the day, but not often. We have ceiling fans just about everywhere, and they make it feel a good 10deg cooler...
I PM'd with SarahinTX before the last meetup - she said she was going ot remind me about the next one cos I dont often check the meetup forum - not sure if I'll be able tomake it if its lunchtime - the kids soccer matches are between 12 and 2 (nice timing to avoid the heat....
)
I PM'd with SarahinTX before the last meetup - she said she was going ot remind me about the next one cos I dont often check the meetup forum - not sure if I'll be able tomake it if its lunchtime - the kids soccer matches are between 12 and 2 (nice timing to avoid the heat....
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btw welcome to texas wokster
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a permanent 77f for me ....and a temporary 75f is its very humid ..
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#20
Re vera, potas bene.
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Thanks again for all your replies, I had no idea it would be so expensive you have certainly opened my eyes ![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
From being incredibly upbeat about how low the property prices were, I know have alot to think about.
From what I can gather in the info provided so far I would be looking at paying on average per month - $1250 for Property tax, $166 for house insurance, $416 for gas and electricity, $50 for water, $100 for cable internet(does this include phone, or is there a seperate charge for this), $100 for car insurance and minimum $166 (based on $2000 for year which I know is probably low) for extra medical.
Which equates to $2248 per month![OhMy](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/ohmy.gif)
HOA was also mentioned at 750 - 1000 depending on the area - what is HOA and are the figures above monthly or yearly?
Are their any other costs associated like paying for your garbage collection, upkeep of local land etc, or is this area specific.
All this information will be extremely beneficial when I come to negotiate my salary.
Thanks again.
![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
From being incredibly upbeat about how low the property prices were, I know have alot to think about.
From what I can gather in the info provided so far I would be looking at paying on average per month - $1250 for Property tax, $166 for house insurance, $416 for gas and electricity, $50 for water, $100 for cable internet(does this include phone, or is there a seperate charge for this), $100 for car insurance and minimum $166 (based on $2000 for year which I know is probably low) for extra medical.
Which equates to $2248 per month
![OhMy](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/ohmy.gif)
HOA was also mentioned at 750 - 1000 depending on the area - what is HOA and are the figures above monthly or yearly?
Are their any other costs associated like paying for your garbage collection, upkeep of local land etc, or is this area specific.
All this information will be extremely beneficial when I come to negotiate my salary.
Thanks again.
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#23
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Thanks again for all your replies, I had no idea it would be so expensive you have certainly opened my eyes ![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
From being incredibly upbeat about how low the property prices were, I know have alot to think about.
From what I can gather in the info provided so far I would be looking at paying on average per month - $1250 for Property tax, $166 for house insurance, $416 for gas and electricity, $50 for water, $100 for cable internet(does this include phone, or is there a seperate charge for this), $100 for car insurance and minimum $166 (based on $2000 for year which I know is probably low) for extra medical.
Which equates to $2248 per month![OhMy](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/ohmy.gif)
HOA was also mentioned at 750 - 1000 depending on the area - what is HOA and are the figures above monthly or yearly?
Are their any other costs associated like paying for your garbage collection, upkeep of local land etc, or is this area specific.
All this information will be extremely beneficial when I come to negotiate my salary.
Thanks again.
![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
From being incredibly upbeat about how low the property prices were, I know have alot to think about.
From what I can gather in the info provided so far I would be looking at paying on average per month - $1250 for Property tax, $166 for house insurance, $416 for gas and electricity, $50 for water, $100 for cable internet(does this include phone, or is there a seperate charge for this), $100 for car insurance and minimum $166 (based on $2000 for year which I know is probably low) for extra medical.
Which equates to $2248 per month
![OhMy](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/ohmy.gif)
HOA was also mentioned at 750 - 1000 depending on the area - what is HOA and are the figures above monthly or yearly?
Are their any other costs associated like paying for your garbage collection, upkeep of local land etc, or is this area specific.
All this information will be extremely beneficial when I come to negotiate my salary.
Thanks again.
Yes peeps in the UK think coz the houses are relatively cheap (however a lot of that is down to the area you live in) that everything else is cheap but afraid it's not esp when you are paid in $$$ and spend $$$.
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#24
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Thanks again for all your replies, I had no idea it would be so expensive you have certainly opened my eyes ![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
From being incredibly upbeat about how low the property prices were, I know have alot to think about.
From what I can gather in the info provided so far I would be looking at paying on average per month - $1250 for Property tax, $166 for house insurance, $416 for gas and electricity, $50 for water, $100 for cable internet(does this include phone, or is there a seperate charge for this), $100 for car insurance and minimum $166 (based on $2000 for year which I know is probably low) for extra medical.
Which equates to $2248 per month![OhMy](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/ohmy.gif)
HOA was also mentioned at 750 - 1000 depending on the area - what is HOA and are the figures above monthly or yearly?
Are their any other costs associated like paying for your garbage collection, upkeep of local land etc, or is this area specific.
All this information will be extremely beneficial when I come to negotiate my salary.
Thanks again.
![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
From being incredibly upbeat about how low the property prices were, I know have alot to think about.
From what I can gather in the info provided so far I would be looking at paying on average per month - $1250 for Property tax, $166 for house insurance, $416 for gas and electricity, $50 for water, $100 for cable internet(does this include phone, or is there a seperate charge for this), $100 for car insurance and minimum $166 (based on $2000 for year which I know is probably low) for extra medical.
Which equates to $2248 per month
![OhMy](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/ohmy.gif)
HOA was also mentioned at 750 - 1000 depending on the area - what is HOA and are the figures above monthly or yearly?
Are their any other costs associated like paying for your garbage collection, upkeep of local land etc, or is this area specific.
All this information will be extremely beneficial when I come to negotiate my salary.
Thanks again.
The figure for internet I quoted didn't include phone - we have a seperate land line at $22/month, plus we have a family plan on mobiles $75 a month for 5 phones on the same bill, sharing 1000 anytime minutes a month with free calls between the phones.
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#25
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Ps - a lot of folk take yard services to cut the lawns during the summer - reckon on 25-30/week. Can get a cleaner for twice weekly service for around 75-100/visit. We dont have either of these, but then a) I'm a tight Yorkshire git and b) 2 hours spent cutting the grass is 2 hours away from refereeing UFC imitations between my 2 boys....
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#26
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JeeZ..you lot live expensively
2000 sqft
HOA ..$120 a year (non gated)
grass cutting $50 a month (do my own though)
pool service $80 a month (do my own though)
cable TV internet $100 a month
House ins $1400 a year
Property taxes $1700 a year ..
phone $25 a month
garbage $100 a year
Water $400 a year
Electric $ 1500 a year
Car insurance 2 $1400 a year
Ammunition $400 a year ...
2000 sqft
HOA ..$120 a year (non gated)
grass cutting $50 a month (do my own though)
pool service $80 a month (do my own though)
cable TV internet $100 a month
House ins $1400 a year
Property taxes $1700 a year ..
phone $25 a month
garbage $100 a year
Water $400 a year
Electric $ 1500 a year
Car insurance 2 $1400 a year
Ammunition $400 a year ...
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#27
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[QUOTE=Ray;5294776]JeeZ..you lot live expensively [QUOTE]
have to agree with you there Ray. We average:
HOA - $75/yr
Electricity - $1800/yr ($150/mo)
Garbage - $135/year ($40 every quarter)
Water - $600/yr ($50/mo)
Cable/Internet/Phone - $1800/yr ($150/mo)
Home insurance - $2k/yr
Car Insurance - $100/mo (full coverage on 2 cars)
Property Taxes - $1750/yr
Cell phone: $85/mo (2 phones, sharing 750min.)
And I thought we paid out a lot for monthly expenses..how can you afford a house in Houston with all those costs?? We'd still be renting at those rates.
have to agree with you there Ray. We average:
HOA - $75/yr
Electricity - $1800/yr ($150/mo)
Garbage - $135/year ($40 every quarter)
Water - $600/yr ($50/mo)
Cable/Internet/Phone - $1800/yr ($150/mo)
Home insurance - $2k/yr
Car Insurance - $100/mo (full coverage on 2 cars)
Property Taxes - $1750/yr
Cell phone: $85/mo (2 phones, sharing 750min.)
And I thought we paid out a lot for monthly expenses..how can you afford a house in Houston with all those costs?? We'd still be renting at those rates.
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[QUOTE=sunflwrgrl13;5295031][QUOTE=Ray;5294776]JeeZ..you lot live expensively
And I thought we paid out a lot for monthly expenses..how can you afford a house in Houston with all those costs?? We'd still be renting at those rates.
Looking at the list, I think the only one seriously out of whack is the property tax which is pretty large down here at 3-4%, half of which goes to the school district. Basically over 25 years you buy your house twice!!!
Tax is slightly less in some places, but the absolute cheapest I know of is 1 subdivision that only pays 2%. (This is for Katy, which is commuter belt for Houston - can't comment on Houston itself...)
And I thought we paid out a lot for monthly expenses..how can you afford a house in Houston with all those costs?? We'd still be renting at those rates.
Tax is slightly less in some places, but the absolute cheapest I know of is 1 subdivision that only pays 2%. (This is for Katy, which is commuter belt for Houston - can't comment on Houston itself...)
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Is it not the case that because Texans don't pay any state taxes that it evens itself out...................or am I just being naive?
I have also read somewhere that you can offsett your property tax against your federal taxes, is this the case?
Thanks again.
I have also read somewhere that you can offsett your property tax against your federal taxes, is this the case?
Thanks again.
Last edited by wokster; Sep 10th 2007 at 8:51 am.
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#30
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Hello from Sealy.
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