Beltways, Bayous, and a Fresh Start: Your Complete Moving Guide to Greater Houston

I moved to the Greater Houston area in mid-2020 and I have no regrets. People are friendly, there are plenty of things to see and do, educational opportunities abound, and the cost of living is well within our limited budget. At the same time, I'm also very happy our family decided to visit the area a year before our move. Like all metropolitan areas, Houston has its good points and bad points and knowing what to expect before moving can save you a lot of pain, hassle, and money. My name is Lori, and as your apartmenthomeliving.com Houston expert, I'd like to share a bit about what to expect if you decide to make Houston your new home.

Securing Housing

When Houston's population was rapidly growing a few years ago, the construction industry started building a lot of apartment and housing communities. Now, the population is still growing but not as rapidly as before. This is a good thing for new people moving into town, as apartment rent prices have stabilized or even gone down in many areas. What's more, since it's a bit more of a "renter's market" than a "landlord market", you may be able to negotiate concessions that were unheard-of a few years ago. However, you'll want to watch out for "rent bundles" that include water, electricity, garbage, and internet. Landlords offering these bundles jack up rental prices to cover the high cost of cooling your home in the summer, and you're often better off managing your own power and water usage to keep your bills manageable.

It's often a good idea to pick a neighborhood that's at least fairly close to your school or workplace. Commutes can be long and painful during rush hours, especially if you're heading to and from downtown Houston. Public transportation isn't readily available if you live outside the "Beltway 8", so picking an affordable yet safe neighborhood near the heart of the city is your best bet if you're living and working near downtown Houston. I've always felt safe traveling around the Medical Center neighborhood, but it's not the cheapest place to rent an apartment. Spring Valley Village is affordable and safe; as an added benefit, it's covered by a great school district. If you need to spend a lot of time in northern Houston, I highly recommend a planned suburban area such as Humble, Kingwood, or Atascocita; they're reasonably priced, pedestrian-friendly, and have plenty of great amenities. The Woodlands is a charming city that you can't help but love, but it's also pretty pricey. The location can work well if you work or study in town or nearby, but it's not very close to the heart of the city.

Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in the Houston Area

Utilities Setup

Most of Houston has multiple electricity service providers. You can check out the ones that serve your area, choose the one with the plan that you feel will work best for you, and then sign up for power. It typically takes a company about one or two business days to power up your apartment, but it's best to call your electricity service provider several days in advance of your move to make sure you have electricity. On the other hand, if you live in an area of Houston that doesn't have a deregulated market, your only power option is Entergy. You can request new service easily on their online portal and download the company app on your phone to easily report outages, get updates, and pay bills. I live in an Entergy-serviced area, and I'm very happy with their friendly service and prompt response to problems and outages.

To get water, you'll need to start by finding your area provider. Your landlord can tell you who it is; alternatively, you can find it by typing in your new address into the state's water district map viewer. It takes time for the provider to turn it on, so be sure to apply at least several days before you move. The price range varies depending on how much water you use, so be mindful to stick within your "low price" limit to avoid huge bills. In Houston, for instance, the price shoots up if you use more than 5,000 gallons a month. In Kingwood, on the other hand, there's no price hike until you use over 7,000 gallons per month, but in New Caney, the low-price gallon limit is a mere 3,000 gallons per month.

To find out which trash company serves your area, ask your landlord. It's also wise to find out if your provider charges "per bin" or "per pick-up". Our family saves money by composting our food garbage and scheduling trash pick-ups weekly instead of bi-weekly. If you have heavy trash that your local trash collectors won't take, bring it to your neighborhood's heavy trash disposal center to get rid of it free of charge. However, be prepared to show not only a valid ID but also two documents showing proof of address.

As for internet, do an internet search to find the ones that serve your area and be sure to check out introductory offers. You can get a great deal and often even score a brand-new phone in the process. However, you want to pay attention not only to the great deals but also the cost of service once the deal is done.

Moving Services/Logistics

There is always road work going on in and around Houston. The city (and many of its outlying suburbs) are constantly widening roads, fixing old ones, and building new ones. Thankfully, there's a site for checking which projects are underway in real time. It's also smart to check Google Maps on the day of your move even if you know your way to your new home; Google (and similar applications) will highlight traffic jams (they're all too common around here) so you don't spend long hours stuck behind rows of cars on the highway.

Try to avoid rush hour during your move if at all possible. There is an insane amount of traffic heading in and out of Houston every morning/afternoon. Furthermore, if you can pick what time of year you can move, you may want to avoid Houston's overly hot summer season altogether. Temperatures usually feel anywhere 5 to 10 degrees hotter than what the thermometer says thanks to the high humidity levels. It is literally almost unbearable. Plus, summer happens to fall right in the middle of hurricane season, and there's always a risk of flooding and wind damage if a storm hits the city. However, if you plan on getting your child in school before the start of the school year, moving in during summer may be inevitable. Public schools in Texas (like many southern states) start their school year early to mid-August.

Logistics and Registrations

Texas law states that you need to update your driver's license within ninety days of your move. This applies whether you moved from another city or another state. If you moved from another city in Texas, you can change your address online. However, if you're moving from out of state, you'll need to make an appointment at a local Department of Public Safety office to make the change. The good news is that you can book your appointment online and pick any office you like. Be sure to bring a valid photo ID and two forms of paperwork to prove your new address. Your rental contract counts, as does your electric bill, water bill, and updated vehicle insurance, but you have to have hard copies of everything.

If you want to vote, start filling out paperwork well in advance. County offices don't move nearly as fast as utility companies; in fact, if you don't get your paperwork filed 30 days before the election in question, you can't vote in that election. Furthermore, registration is done by the county. That means that even a move from one county in the Greater Houston area to another county in the Greater Houston area means a new visit to your county office to file a registration. However, the good news is that you can start the application process even before you change your driver's license. You just have to have a valid photo ID and proof of your new address.

If you brought your vehicle with you, bear in mind you only have thirty days to register it if you move in from out of state. What's more, most counties will require the vehicle to pass a safety test before registration. Once you're done with this essential bit of paperwork, I highly recommend taking a few minutes to apply online for an EZ Toll Tag. Often, taking the toll can shave a huge amount of time off your trip. Sometimes, it may be the only viable way to get from point A to point B. Texas doesn't have toll booths on any of its toll roads and if you don't have a tag, they'll get a picture of your car license and send you a bill that'll cost more than you would have had to pay with the tag. You can apply for your tag online; just get it done and over with as it's better to have it and not need it right away than it is to need it and not have it.

Community Resources

If you're on Facebook, I highly recommend joining a local community group. I'm part of one for our area and I get notifications about almost everything that goes on around town, from church sales and new business openings to information about local weather emergencies. Plus, you can post questions about community resources and happenings, and you'll get friendly, helpful answers.

If you're looking for good ways to meet people who share similar interests, look no further than your local library. The ones we've been to offer tons of programs for adults. From cooking to art to book clubs, you can find almost any type of event at a library near (or at least not too far) from where you live or work. You just have to register in advance, show up, and enjoy yourself. If you have kids, take advantage of the free activities hosted during school holidays; some of the many programs we've gone to include Christmas parties, magic shows, pizza-making demonstrations, movies, and STEM activity sessions.

There will always be unforeseen challenges when you move to a new city, but I hope the advice and information above helps you avoid problems (or at least prepare for them) and streamlines the moving process. As an added note, I can tell you from personal experience that Houston, like many large metropolitan areas, has a nearly unlimited number of services and amenities for local residents. Need to print a document to take to the DoT office? Your local library can do that at a very low cost. Want an Uber or Lyft? They're pretty plentiful, even if you live on the edge of a suburban neighborhood like I do. Plus, local people are very friendly, and you never have to feel awkward walking up to someone in a store or around the neighborhood to ask for information. Before you know it, you'll feel right at home and have a routine down that makes it easy for you to work, study, and make memories with the people you love.