Where to live in Houston TX? There is a plethora of great places to live in Houston, with one of the best being Southwest Houston. Southwest Houston is an affordable neighborhood of sunny, vibrant Houston, Texas. If you’re planning a Houston relocation, check out our tips for moving to southwest Houston in particular, including must know info about the climate, transportation, and storage unit options to consider before you make the leap.
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What to Consider Before Moving to Southwest Houston
Before making the big move, you’ll want to consider a few different things. From the climate, schools, to transportation, read on to discover some key points about moving to the Southwest Houston area.
Live Seasonally and Store Your Boat
Many southwest Houston residents love the convenience of owning or renting a second home in Galveston. The coast is a wonderful spot for boating and other waterfront activities and couldn’t be more convenient to the metro area. (The two areas are less than an hour away from each other.)
But for all its perks, Galveston is not cheap – and the marina fees in particular can be intense. Many of our customers put their boats in storage in southwest Houston instead of paying expensive dry boat storage fees in Galveston. The convenience and cost benefits of storing your boat inland in a secure storage facility truly can’t be beat.
Relocating to Houston from Up North? Donate Your Cold Weather Gear
Houston boasts a balmy, sunny climate that rarely goes below 45 degrees, even during cold January nights. People who are accustomed to bundling up to protect from snow, sleet, and sub-zero weather, are going to realize while preparing for a move that they have lots of extra winter clothes that aren’t necessary in Houston.
Take it from us: if you’re relocating to Houston for good, you’ll only need to keep a few of those cold-weather items for when you visit your friends up north. Otherwise, get rid of the bulky gear and save some space by donating your unneeded winter clothing.
In the stress of moving, you might not find time to take your stuff to a donation center or thrift store. Drop it off for charity at the same convenient place where you arrange your other storage needs, so you don’t have to make multiple trips hauling belongings to different locations. Many CubeSmart locations in the southwest Houston area will collect and donate unwanted items so be sure to ask the on-site manager for details.
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Explore Rice Village
One of the most important moving tips we can offer is to take some time to chill out once and a while during the process. Rice Village is the perfect spot for an afternoon of retail and restaurant therapy. The shopping district originated in the 1930s and has grown into a retail mecca with over 300 shops and restaurants. Rice Village is close to the beautiful Rice University campus and encompasses 16 blocks for you to explore. Foodies will love the dining options, which cover everything from fine haute cuisine to crawfish. Folks looking for nightlife will find a host of bars and clubs to check out.
Visit the Meyerland Area
If you’re looking for family-friendly areas to visit or potentially move to, check out the Meyerland area. Meyerland is a community in the southwest Houston area that has a shopping plaza and a number of beautiful mid-century modern homes decorating tree-lined streets. The Meyerland Community Improvement Association works to keep the community clean and safe, making it a great place for families with kids who are relocating to Houston.
Houston School Options
Parents planning a move may be interested in Meyerland’s fine arts magnet schools. Middle school kids District attending Johnston Middle School in the Houston Independent School District often win awards for their art and can audition for the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Temporary Storage Is Great for College Students
Southwest Houston is home to Houston Baptist University and Rice University, with branches of the Houston Community College system in the area as well. Many newbies to the southwest Houston area are there to attend school.
Of course, moving for college can be somewhat hectic, whether you’re going to live in a dorm or an apartment off-campus. College students don’t generally have a lot of space, and trying to fit extra clothes, books and even furniture inside a small room can cause both clutter and stress.
Another challenge college students face is that they are often only in a location for nine months of the year. But throwing away or donating items isn’t always recommended because they might need them when summer is over. Leaving personal items hanging out in parents’ garages and basements isn’t always the best, safest, or most practical option either. Temporary storage is a convenient option for students who need a bit of extra space. It can be more expensive to replace items like quality furniture than to store them, and some things, like childhood memorabilia, are irreplaceable.
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Young Professionals Should Check Out Living in Uptown Houston
Uptown Houston is an area on the edge of southwest Houston that is a thriving, up-and-coming neighborhood with lots of great shopping and dining. Its location near many of Houston’s biggest businesses means it’s a great area for moving and shaking as well. If you’re moving for your job or looking for a career change, you should consider living in uptown Houston. It’s also near the airport and centrally located within the city, making it easy if you need to travel locally or nationally.
Living in uptown Houston is also a good area to think about if you’re planning a move for your small business as well. Ample buildings offer lots of office space for rent, and the urban area is key for building up a client base in a new area.
Consolidate Your Vehicles When Relocating to Houston
Families considering a Houston relocation from a rural area have likely been accustomed to needing two vehicles. When you move to a bustling urban area like Houston, you might find that you can walk almost everywhere you need to go. This is especially true for the Uptown Houston neighborhood where work and play locations may be very close together. Plus, let’s face it: the stop-and-go city traffic is truly irritating, especially so for people used to driving country roads for miles without passing another car.
If you find yourself with an extra vehicle that you’re just not ready to sell yet after your Houston relocation, put it in car storage until you’re sure you won’t need it any longer. Selling a car is a big decision and hard to undertake during a move. But you also don’t want to worry about trying to store your car in street-side parking if your new apartment comes with only one parking space.
For Public Transportation, Ride the METRORail
Once you’ve settled in, make it a priority to get to know the public transportation – and especially so if you’re storing one of your cars! Southwest Houston isn’t known for its public transportation, and the city as a whole is very spread out. But Houston does have some commuter options that will allow you to get around without spending a whole lot on gas. The METRORail light rail system in particular can be very useful, with a Red Line that travels from north to south and stops in many major neighborhoods. If you’re a fan of affordable living, going green, and reducing single-occupancy vehicles, there is a bus system to check out as well, with local services all over the city.
Houston also offers a Park and Ride service, which means if you need to commute from a suburb of southwest Houston to the northern part of the city, or simply don’t want to deal with your car in city traffic, you can park your car at one of several locations and hop on public transportation from that same location. It will save you the hassle and stress of trying to find parking and getting stuck in rush-hour traffic.
Moving to Southwest Houston
Southwest Houston offers great neighborhoods and amenities for families, young professionals, and seasonal inhabitants. If you’re trying to figure out what to do before moving, be sure to check out our moving checklist to make the process as stress-free as possible and give you more time to get to know your new home.
