need to talk to Texas carpenters

[Chris Hughes]

  Hey, my family is looking at relocating to the great state of Texas.  I need some info if you guys can help.
                                                                C Hughes

 

[fidelfs]

Chris,

I live in Houston, TX.  I am not a really a carpenter but I can help you.

 

[Steve Jones]

Chris,

I've lived about 30 years in the area around Houston and the last two years in Austin,

What would you like to know?

Steve

 

[tbellemare]

Chris:

I too lived about 30 years in the Houston area, I grew up there.

I've lived the last 10+ years in Austin.

I also have spent a significant amount of time around DFW.

'Be happy to help.

Tom

 

[Chris Hughes]

  Thanks guys.  As I said I'm looking at relocating and Texas has a lot of appeal.  What are your thoughts.  I trust your economy more than the general US economy, given where we are at now.  I was looking at the Houston/Galviston area because of the recent hurricane.  I believe that if I can get my foot in a door I will get set up quickly. 
    My wife has a friend that has a well established business in Dallas (though not in the building sector).  Apparently she knows some people, but the first name she brought out was Toll Brothers.  I know of them only by their stock.  So I'm not sure where I should concentrate my search.
    Your thoughts on these matters and any others regarding such a change of location would be greatly appreciated.
                                                                        C Hughes

 

[tbellemare]

Galveston should have plenty of work, Chris. New Orleans, too. I would think the trick would be "getting in".

Until this Fall, there was a lot of work in Austin and Houston too. Things have slowed in Austin and for the past few years, there was a real estate and building boom here. I think the square footage in downtown Austin has probably doubled in the last 5 years, and half of it looks to be real nice if not luxury condo's.

Houston had undergone a nearly complete transformation in the last 10 years. I lived there most of my life and there are large areas that were slums that are now built up like Paris. $100/bbl oil does wonders for that town.

Oh, Toll Brothers builds mostly in the suburbs to my knowledge, tract homes, spec homes, etc.

I guess to finish my thought, there has been a lot of refurbishment, rebuilding, scrape & start new activity going on in Houston and Austin for several years. That sort of activity seems it would be more interesting to craftsmen than the tract homes.

Tom

 

[Chris Hughes]

  What does pay look like down there?  My wife is a teacher and it looks like she won't have any problems there but she is concerned for my situation.  I will continue to look in Houston. What about Dallas? 
                                                                              C Hughes

 

[jaegerhund]

I'm not a Texan but as a Louisianer, I can say that I don't see much of a slow down in the building/construction trades.  Having hurricanes that "refresh" the landscape keeps people in work.  Both of my sisters were teachers and moved to Texas to find work --- I think your wife will enjoy teaching in Texas.  Good luck Chris -----

Justin