Reviews & Comments
Sugar Land, TX
Would like information -
7/24/2006I have read so much about Sugar Land my curiousty is getting the best of me. Money magazine, internet articles, best places for families book....and everything makes this place sound unreal. Would anyone recommend Sugar Land to a single mother? What about to an African-American female? Are people friendly to all? I know it is highly conservative, but that doesn't bother me. I am a hard-working teacher who wants to be able to buy a nice home, in a quiet community with nice parks to take my son to play. Any info, please let me know. I hear a lot of bad about Houston, how does the crime in Houston affect Sugar Land? Does Sugar Land have Houston's flooding problems? Are there quality, fairly inexpensive day care facilities? How difficult or easy is it to get a teaching position in Fort Bend County? Is Sugar Land a good place to start a business (day care)? Are there lots of friendly churches (multi-cultural)? I know I am asking a lot, but I want to get all the information I can, so even if someone can direct me to a good web-site, I would greatly appreciate it.
San Antonio, TX
Good place for single mother? Yes or No??? -
5/26/2006First let me say...I already know its hot. I currently live in Orlando, so I can take the heat and humidity. Nightlife, not an issue either. I have a small son, he pretty much is my nightlife. But I want to know about the job market, neighborhoods and is the cost fo living really that cheap. In the NE/NW areas, is there any cultural diversity? I mean, I am an African-American single mother who wants a nice, safe, warm place to live. I am also a teacher, where are the good schools? Does one need to be bilingual in order to get a teaching position? I keep reading that the south side of town is bad, BUT I get the impression that there are little to no black people anywhere else in the city. Is San Antonio lacking in a diverse community with professional blacks who own homes and their kids go to good schools??? Please let me know. Like I said, I just want a nice, clean, safe community with decent schools, a Target, decent grocery stores. A nice park for my son to play in and friendly people that won't alietate us. I know the houses are much cheaper in San Antonio. Orlando is outrageous!!!! A decent 3/2/2 in a just o.k. area would be at lest $329,900. I obviously can't afford that on a teachers salary, not to mention, checking out San Antonio Independent School District, teachers there make more than here!!!! So on paper, it sounds like the perfect place for my son and I, but I don't want to end up worse than here, with a lot of overt racisim, where its obvious that we are not wanted. I would also like it if he is not the ONLY person of color in daycare. Oh yeah, what are daycare cost like? Are there an abundant amount of decent Pediatricians and health facilities? I have only been to San Antonio once, so any advice, comments would be greatly appreciated.
Austin, TX
Is this a good place? -
5/26/2006I have always heard that Austin is a pretty liberal, culturally diverse, highly educated place. Is this true? I am a college educated teacher, who is considering a move to Austin. Let me back up.....I am an African-American single mother who is considering a move to Austin with my young son. I thought of Austin because of all the great things I had heard in the past. Now I am not so sure, after reading some of the responses. The young lady who says its not a place for anybody but whites and hispanics. Is that true? The man who responded who hopes it is. Is he the average type of racist trash that lives in Austin? Its hard to imagine a place with such a large, highly regarded university would have people like that living there, but I would like to know. Even black people would like a safe place, with good schools and nice communities to raise our children. I am a teacher, of course education is important to me. Is someone can offer some real advice, please do. Is this a place that someone like me, with a child, can live in peace and not feel isolated and alienated? Are there nice parks, waterways, lots of museums and other activities for children? Are there any active organizations for single moms? Are there safe places with reasonably priced homes? I checked out the schools, and they seem pretty good. Is there any diversity in the so-called "good" schools, or am I looking at the same situation I am in now...my son is the only brown face in daycare, no other blacks, asians, maybe one hispanic, but that is it. Please! Any advice would be helpful. To the guy who made the comments about the Katrina victims, get over it, poor people of any race will do what they need to survive. Take it from me, I live in an all white area of low income people who steal, kill, rape, beat there wifes, molest their children, drink, do drugs, don't want to work, and get welfare, and then blame me for stealing jobs they don't even qualify for, but I have enough since and education to know that people like that come in ALL races. I just want a safe, clean, warm, friendly place to raise my son.
Orlando, FL
Housing in Orlando is over priced -
9/5/2005Housing cost are becoming outrageous!!!! Seriously, you cannot find anything decent under $250,000. The home I purchased in 1998 for $76,000 is not selling for more than $190,000!!! Its only 1136 sq. ft, 3/2 with a one car garage, in a not so great neighborhood. The problem is the salaries are not increasing. Disney is the largest employer with Orange County Public Schools running a close second. How are people making $7.25 an hour at Disney or $32,000 (starting salary) being a teacher supposed to afford a home. Someone needs to reevaluate what this site says about median or average home prices in and around Orlando. Even if you travel 20 - 30 miles away from the city into the rural areas, houses are cheaper, but still close to $200,000. The only upside is that its a sellers market, and if you do want to sell, you can make a serious profit.