Relocating to TX in a couple of weeks from out of state, and purchased a home in Cypress (Marvida). Any advice you'd give for someone moving from out of state? We've never lived in Houston, so this is a new one for us. Watch outs, things to make sure we take care of? Any advice you are willing to give!
Great response! Luckily, some of it I've done already - appointments are made for registration and licenses and I ordered a TXTag already as well! We aren't escrowing and are very very aware that these property taxes will be high and continue to go up for a while.
THANK YOU!
I was going to say - skip HCTRA and get a TXTag so it can be used when you leave the Houston area and travel more of Texas.
Also - everything outside will get mold, or rust, or both. Everything will fade in the sun. "Full sun" plants aren't always "full sun in Houston" plants, so if you're into gardening or landscaping nicely join a local Cypress or Houston area gardening group to see how we navigate the rough seasons.
Don't walk through grass barefoot - ants are monsters. Mosquitos too. You'll learn how to prep for a hard freeze and how to be prepared for Hurricane season soon enough. For now just know that we are an "always prepare so you don't panic" region.
As a new resident the ants blew my mind, I think I have a bit of an allergy too because my foot kept ballooning. Just learned about broadcast bait and I am in the process of an ant genocide 😎 I couldn't even keep them down with the regular products so hopefully this works more comprehensively lol.
Baking soda and powdered sugar. Mix into a paste. Ants can't digest baking soda. They will feed it to their queen, and the ants will die.
You could just pour some sugar out for them. They will eventually overeat, get diabetes, and start losing their limbs. You can tell when it starts happening because you will start getting benefits checks addressed to the hive. Once they're weak, sell them more insurance, invest in sugar cane fields, keep the sugar supply high, and start an ant hospital. Those assistance checks will go straight to you.
Try Andro sprinkle it on the mounds and your problems will be gone.
Orthene works amazing, and faster than Amdro, but it smells a little like rotting flesh.
I’m have to try that I am also allergic to ants so I have to be really careful.
Amdro is good for ant mounds
Nice thing about Texas is you can buy the weapons-grade shit from places like this
I’ve had a lot of luck with beneficial nematodes for ants, fleas, grubs/june bugs, etc. We did have a fly problem but got some parasitic wasps from that place and I’ve seen maybe one since.
Overall good asvice but the EZ tag works all over Texas. You don't need a TXTag.
Can you recommend a gardening group?
Buchanans also does group things and classes.
On Facebook: Gardening in Cypress, Houston Gardening, Zone 9 Vegetable Gardening, Houston Area Vegetable Gardeners, Waller County Master Gardeners
Can EZ tags not be used in other cities?
They can. They’re pretty much all compatible with the various Texas toll roads.
Doesn't EZ Tag work in most of (or all) of Texas now? I haven't had issues using it in Austin regularly. I believe you now get a discount on Harris County toll roads if you have an EZ Tag, so it might be worth it to get one.
Make sure to register your tag with all of our toll agencies, I think there are like 4 now.
What a great response!!!! All of it was great advice, then I got to the 1883 part…. I got one the other day and it was sooooo good!!!!!
The last point is so important, never been anywhere else in the country where it is 110 outside and 62 degrees indoors at every restaurant and shop for no reason.
Now that's a thoughtful response.
in terms of the drivers license, i was able to get a next day appointment at the houston north mega center. very easy to set up, but just make sure you have all the required documents!
I mentioned Cafe Zun Zun in my answer but L3 is great too. Chilosos next door used to be the best spot for breakfast tacos but it's closed now. 😭
Wait, has no on mentioned HEB? Best grocery store ever. And you'll be just in time for Hatch pepper season!
HEB is the best. There's no reason to do grocery shopping anywhere else, tbh (besides the farmer's market)
HEB is a rip off now. Houston has the 2nd most expensive groceries in the COUNTRY. HEB used to be amazing. Now it’s just crowded and overpriced.
HEB tortillas are fantastic.
If you live near 290, Mex Taco House is the best breakfast tacos around.
We all think we're better thank folks that live in Katy and Sugarland.
Get flood insurance through the federal government. Pay the full amount. DON'T PUT IT OFF. It takes a month to take effect, and it's hurricane season. Do. It. YESTERDAY.
Build a hurricane kit. Have a plan. Maybe get a generator too. When a storm is coming into town, fill up on supplies (gas/food/etc) WELL AHEAD OF TIME.
It's hot, the traffic sucks, Cy-Fair ISD is now run by idiots that censor books that are picked by other idiots at the state level, also they ran out of money so kids have to walk to school in the heat, everyone has a gun, Houston is the No. 1 city for violent road rage, your grass will die, the beltway is a scam that we can't get away from, 290 sucks, I45 sucks, I10 sucks ... that's all I can think of from the top of my head
WELCOME!
Lol thanks! I knew about the heat and the traffic, luckily no kids/schools to worry about.
I'll throw in a positive, City Brew Coffee at Huffmeister and Cypress North Houston is really good.
They aren't my cup of tea, er, coffee. But Katz coffee roasts here in Houston and you can order online for delivery or drive over to their location and pick it up.
You knew about the heat? And you are moving here? . My brain senses a paradox.
It you knew, you'd know better .
No, you don't understand IT is HOT!!! And do not tell anyone who you vote for!
As more people move to Cypress the traffic will get worse than it already is. 99 from I10 to 290 used to be fairly empty but now it chokes up at times. Trying to get to 290 or I10 on Fry or Barker Cypress can take a long time depending on the time of day. They have plans to expand 99 but the company that owns and manages it will most likely also increase the toll.
Is this the new Hunter S Thompson quote for Houston?
A bit dramatic but some truth in this. School district issues are everywhere that votes monolithically one way. It is hot but we have a/c, pools and the sun goes down at night. Percentage wise, a few bad apples on the road really stand out but if you drive safely yourself it will really cut down on road stress. There are lots of positives here and the neighborhood you've chosen is very nice and no doubt you are getting a house much nicer than what could be afforded in the place you are coming from.
Don't mislead them on the heat. The sun goes down but the temp doesn't always follow. They're in a new home so the AC will keep up but they are gonna pay.... Actually let me make a direct comment to the OP about that...
no step on snek
I-45 is always under construction.
We call soda/pop “coke”. This sounds like: “Hey do you want a coke?” “Sure, do you have Dr Pepper?”
Cypress is unincorporated and we can set off fireworks from our driveways. Fourth of July and New Years sound like a war zone.
Ace hardware on Jones road is the greatest store and they host an amazing grilling cook off every year.
I have lived in 5 states and overall Houstonians are very laidback and accepting. Cypress is not quite as diverse and laidback as inside the loop but still overall great people. Neighbors help neighbors without expecting anything in return.
When you are ready to turn on your electricity go to powertochoose.com and pick whatever looks like the lowest rate for you. Don't let anyone tell you "oh I use this company or that" it doesn't matter. They are all just middle men that aggregate and bill you for power. The lines are maintained here by a company called Centerpoint and you will pay that through your bill no matter.
After your first term ends with your provider consider a service like Energy Ogre to pick and enroll you in the best plans based on your usage. People will argue back and forth whether paying $10 a month for this service is better than picking yourself. You can listen to both sides and decide. Just don't stick with any company out of loyalty or perceived quality of service. Find the cheapest plan at the end of every term. If your lights go out Centerpoint is the only company doing something about it.
I second this, but I will add this caution: only compare fixed rate plans with no time-of-use benefits or usage-based bill credits. You have no idea what your energy use is going to be like at your new place, so there isn’t a way to target one of those gimmicky energy plans without a lot of risk.
I could go on at great length about this subject. PM if you want to be subjected to a withering blast of Texas residential energy theory
Buy a generator. Electricity is not reliable in the state.
Cypress is a beautiful place. Lots of great places to eat and some nice parks around. My top recommendation is The Bake Shoppe Cafe on grant road - the inside is decorated like Alice in Wonderland. Enjoy your time in this new space for you!
OMG! My son worked there in high school. I love love their petit fours!
The Ding Dong and the chocolate chip cookies there…I love their food. Ohh and their chicken dumpling soup it’s proper!
There is a really great BBQ trailer off of Cypress Rosehill road next to the country corner ice house, Have Mercy BBQ. Best BBQ in the area in my opinion.
Climb at Inspire Rock. Eat at Killen's BBQ. Get a coffee and some beans at Cafe Zun Zun (one of the best roasters in the city). Get Kolaches at Karma Kolache or Koala Kolache (try both). Get glazed do-nuts from Shipley's. If you have kids, visit all the parks in Bridgeland.
Do you have a link?
It’s a new area. Any storm I hear they loose power constantly. Get a generator just in case. Traffic is madness, stay away from i10 lol
Yeah, go back to wherever you came from. Cypress has way too many people already and most of them are fucking idiots.
Pay attention to your property taxes. They will only go up. If you are counting on it being paid out of escrow in your home loan, make sure that you’re covering it. Same thing with your HOA fees.
Order a toll tag from HCTRA now. You will need it. Make sure you update them after you get Texas plates.
Speaking of: make an appointment to get your TX driver license now. It may take months to get in.
Eat everywhere at least once. You’ll figure out what you like.
Get a TX State Parks pass if you like to do camping and outdoorsy stuff. Several nice state parks within a couple hours drive. CAMP IN WINTER. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
There are a lot of nice parks and walking/biking trails in the area (Bridgeland in particular, but also Towne Lake). They are technically for resident use only, but… well I go there all the time.
If you have kids and you want to go to the zoo or one of the museums, just buy a membership. It pays for itself almost immediately, if not on the second visit.
Bring a sweater - it gets cold inside.
Edit to add: - Go to L3 Craft Coffee. Order an 1885.