Texas And The Growing Economy

August 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Texas has one of the only growing economies in the United States.  Knowing that we are based here in Texas, we thought we would offer some basic information about moving to Texas.

Texas Driver’s License

Map of USA with Texas highlighted

Image via Wikipedia

New residents to Texas have 30 days to register your vehicle and get a Texas driver’s license.  This is what you must do.

1)      Take your vehicle to a state inspection station.  The inspections vary by county, but make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition as well as the tires.  Here is a list of inspection stations.  You will need a copy of your insurance and driver’s license.

2)      After passing inspection that you take the forms to the county tax assessor’s office.  This is where you will receive your registration sticker and license plates.  You will also need your title and old registration for your previous home state and insurance.

3)      Then it is off to the Texas Department of Public Safety office in your area for your driver’s license.  You will need your ID, Social Security Card, Car Insurance, Old Driver’s License and Texas Vehicle Driver’s License.

Once you have completed these three steps, you will have your Texas driver’s license and plates for your vehicle.

Quick Texas Facts

State Capital is Austin located in Central Texas.

  • The Alamo, located in San Antonio is a Spanish Mission established in1718
  • Texas Capital Building in Austin is 15 feet taller than the United States Capitol located in Washington D.C.
  • Texas was its own independent nation from 1836 to 1845.
  • Texas gained statehood in 1845.
  • Six Different Countries have ruled Texas:
    1. Spain — 1519-1685; 1690-1821
    2. France — 1685-1690
    3. Mexico — 1821-1836
    4. Republic of Texas — 1836-1845
    5. Confederate States of America 1861-1865
    6. United States of America — 1845-1861; 1865-present

NASA is based in Houston. In fact, the first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969 was Houston.

The Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) airport is larger (in acres) than Manhattan Island.

Cowboy’s Stadium is the most expensive football stadium ever built, at a cost of over $1 billion, located in Arlington, TX.

With all these great facts and great jobs, what is stopping you from moving to Texas?  And when you decide to move to Texas, try RateWindow® to help you save on your mortgage.

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Here’s to things being bigger–and getting better–in Texas

September 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

As a Texan, I’m used to pretty much everything being bigger here, from the size of our trucks to the smiles on our faces.  It was nevertheless disappointing to read in a report from RealtyTrac that Texas is now making some big news in a not-so-great way:  it’s in the top 10 states for foreclosure filings.   Foreclosures were up 6% in July from the month prior—and up 16% from the same period the previous year.

But according to Mark Dotzour, director and chief economist of the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M, not all is lost in the Lone Star State.  In fact, he believes that now is the time to buy or build a home here, with one significant caveat:  that “the federal government doesn’t cause further damage to the U.S. economy with higher levels of intervention in healthcare, taxation, cap and trade and rewriting accounting and legal standards.”

Now generally I’m a pretty optimistic guy with high hopes for the future.  In fact, I’m one of those folks who encourages people to turn off their televisions, ignore the doom and gloom and go out there and do some economic stimulating all on their own.  I’m a cheerleader for home ownership and believe that the recent downturn can end once the public starts investing in real estate—and their futures—once again.   And yes, I’m going to keep leading the charge for transparency in mortgage lending as a way of turning this industry around.

But I’ve got to tell you that Doutzour’s warning gave me pause.  You see, in the midst of raucous town hall meetings, the skyrocketing national debt, and the government being involved in private business a little too much for my comfort (regardless of which party is in office), I’m just not sure that “further damage” isn’t at least somewhat inevitable.

And this is one time that this Texan actually hopes that he’s wrong.

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