/ By / Moving To Guides/ • • • / 0 Comments

Moving To Guides: Corpus Christi, Texas

Located 130 miles southeast of San Antonio is a coastal city known as Corpus Christi.

It is the second most popular vacation spot in Texas, and more than 300,000 people call the city home.

If you are relocating to Corpus Christi, here are some things you may want to know:

Demographics

The median age of residents is 34.6 years, and females outnumber males by almost three percent. The mean travel to work time is 18.6 minutes, and in 2015, the median income was 50,658.

Employment

Corpus Christi ranked #120 on Forbes’ Best Places for Business and Careers list in 2016, and the city’s major industries are tourism, energy, and defense. The projected annual job growth is 1.7 percent, while the unemployment rate 5.6 percent.

Housing Market

The city’s housing market is one of the hottest in the nation, and the median listing price is $200,000. Appreciation is nearly triple that of the national average, and the rate has helped prices grow for the past three years.

Neighborhoods

There are several neighborhoods in Corpus Christi, such as:

Bay Area – Named for its proximity to Corpus Christi Bay, this neighborhood is perfect for both singles and families. Residents enjoy a closeness to shops and an array of attractions such as the USS Lexington Museum.

Calallen – Located approximately fifteen miles from downtown Corpus Christi, the Calallen neighborhood is mainly made up of middle class families with school aged children. Home prices tend to range between $170,000 and $250,000.

Downtown – In downtown Corpus Christi, both singles and families reside within its boundaries. It’s great for those who like to live a more fast-paced lifestyle, and apartments usually range from $1,200 to $2,000 per month, while homes sell for around $200,000.

Education

Corpus Christi Independent School District – School-aged children attending public school will receive their education from the Corpus Christi Independent School District. It educates over 38,000 students, and consists of thirty-seven elementary schools, twelve middle schools, eight high schools, and three special campuses.

Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi – This university is the only one in the United States located on its own island. There are palm tree-lined pathways, a university beach, and a scenic hiking & biking trail. The university enrolls more than 11,500 students, and offers more than eighty of the most popular degree programs in Texas.

Places to Eat

There are plenty of great places to eat while calling Corpus Christi home, such as:

Andy’s Country Kitchen – This down-home country-style restaurant specializes in Southern comfort food. The servers are very attentive and they know their regulars’ names. On the menu, you will find meals such as Eggs Benedict, Country Fried Steak, and Southern Fried Chicken Strips.

Blackbeard’s on the Beach – Since 1991, Blackbeard’s has offered seafood, steaks, and comfort food. The restaurant is easy to find as it’s housed in a bright purple building that is one of the oldest structures still standing on North Beach. The menu includes Chicken Sandwiches, Blackbeard’s Own Burger, and Fried Catfish.

Kiko’s Mexican Food – For thirty years, Kiko’s has been known for its delicious Mexican cuisine. The staff strives to provide friendly service and quality meals made from recipes handed down from generation to generation. Its menu has been voted “Best of the Best” for the past twelve years, and options include Chicken Enchiladas, Chalupas Del Mar, and Carne Asada.

Things to Do

Residents of Corpus Christi are never bored as the city offers attractions such as:

Texas State Aquarium – The Texas State Aquarium is fun for all ages. Exhibits include Dolphin Bay, Islands of Steel, and Otter Creek.

South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center – Spanning 182 acres, the Botanical Gardens and Nature Center showcases a variety of different exhibits. They include the Sensory Gardens, Butterfly House, and the Anderson Bromeliad Conservatory.

Bayfront Park – As one of the city’s newest parks, it features an interactive fountain, wind turbines, and a food court.

When you’re ready to relocate to Corpus Christi, please contact us. We’ll help you find the right movers for the job.

/ By / Moving To Guides/ • • • / 0 Comments

Moving To Guides: Riverside, California

Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, Riverside is the twelfth most populous city in California with over 303,000 residents.

Founded in the early 1870s, the city is home to the Mission Inn, the country’s largest Mission Revival style building.

If you’re moving to Riverside, here are some things you may want to know:

Demographics

The median age of the city’s residents is 30.6 years. Over twenty-three percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher, and the median income is $54,300.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Riverside is seventeen percent higher than the national average, though it is fourteen percent lower than the state’s average.

Housing Market

The median listing price is $396,000, and home values have increased 8.2 percent over the past year.

Neighborhoods

Riverside has many distinctive neighborhoods including:

Arlanza – According to the city’s website, Arlanza is one of its most geographically diverse neighborhoods. This is because it’s bordered by the Santa Ana River Wildlife area to the north and it contains a mix of nearly every type of land use found in Riverside. The neighborhood is home to several schools, great trails, and a fitness center.

Hawarden Hills – Hawarden Hills has mainly single-family residences on mid-sized and estate lots. It has natural features such as steep hilly terrain, and residents enjoy a closeness to several schools and parks.

President Park – Named for the streets that honor the country’s past presidents, this neighborhood is home to one of the first auto centers in the United States. President Park has a lot of single-family residences, many of which are in gated planned residential developments.

Top Employers

Based on the number of employees, the top employers in Riverside include:

  • University of California – Riverside
  • Riverside Unified School District
  • City of Riverside
  • Pacific Bell – AT&T
  • Kaiser Permanente

Education

Homes are zoned to one of two school districts:

Alvord Unified School District – The Alvord Unified School District promises that all students will reach their unlimited potential. It’s made up of twelve elementary schools, three middle schools, and four high schools. The district serves the cities of Riverside and Corona, and it currently educates more than 19,000 students.

Riverside Unified School District – The Riverside Unified School District prepares students for success in college, career, and life. It has forty-eight schools and offers early childhood programs and after school programs that close each school day at 6:00 p.m.

Higher Education – There are several colleges and universities within Riverside’s boundaries such as the University of California, California Baptist University, American College of Healthcare, and Platt-College Riverside.

Things to Do

Residents can enjoy a variety of things to do such as:

March Field Air Museum – The March Field Air Museum displays one of the largest collections of military aircraft on the West Coast. For close to one hundred years, aviation pioneers have called March Field home, and the museum’s collection includes uniforms, personal letters, flight gear, and more than seventy aircraft.

Castle Park – Castle Park is a twenty-five acre amusement park that offers an array of rides and games that are fun for the entire family. Things to do include riding antique cars and Dragons Tower, getting wet at Buccaneer Cove, and playing miniature golf.

Riverside Art Museum – Located in the Mission Inn district , the Riverside Art Museum strives to integrate art into the lives of people in a way that engages and inspires. Its permanent collection includes approximately 1,500 objects such as photographs, paintings, and mixed media works.

Places to Eat

There are several great restaurants to choose from such as Bann Thai Restaurant, Seafood and Crawfish, and Farmer Boys.

When you are ready to relocate to Riverside, please contact us. We will help you find a moving company that specializes in long distance and cross-country moving.

/ By / Moving To Guides/ • • / 0 Comments

Things you Should Know About Moving to Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a beautiful city on the Eastern side of the United States and is home to just over 305,000 residents. It features a vibrant urban atmosphere and plenty of amenities for people to enjoy. Along with this, the city has a rich history and offers a number of opportunities for working adults.

If you are planning to move to Pittsburgh, it is important to learn about the city and how living there will affect you. Here are some of the things you will want to know before you decide to move to Pittsburgh, PA.

Economy

The economy of Pittsburgh is a strong one. The unemployment rate is 5.6% and there is a job growth rate of 0.85%. Over the next 10 years, experts believe that the job growth will continue to grow by around 36.10%. The most popular industry is sales, office and administrative support. Management, business and finance are also popular industries throughout the city. These two sets of industries make up nearly half of the entire workforce in Pittsburgh.

Housing Market

Reports from 2015 show that the housing market in Pittsburgh is on a healthy trajectory. Currently, the median sales prices for homes in the city are around $152,000, which causes them to sell at around $109 per square foot. Since last year, the housing market has shown a 3% increase even though the sales of homes have dropped in the last couple of months due to the end of summer.

School Districts

Pittsburgh Public Schools cares for a majority of the city’s students. The district has 65 separate schools with nearly 5,200 employees. There are also almost 30,000 students enrolled in these schools. The great thing about these schools is that there are always great educational options out there for families to choose for their students.

Teachers strive to create a warm environment for the kids and will work with children individually to help them learn at their own pace. There are also many ways parents can customize their children’s education around their student’s learning style so that they can be more successful throughout their studies.

Outdoor Living and Sports

Pittsburgh is an urban city and there aren’t many rural activities available. However, there are still activities and sports for residents to enjoy. For example, baseball, hockey and American football are all popular pastimes within the city.

If you enjoy watching professional sports, there are three major franchises within the city. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional NFL football team and extremely popular around the city. However, for those who enjoy baseball or hockey, you can also root on the Pirates or the Penguins. There are also some college sports available in the city with several local universities that are all highly competitive in several sports.

If you aren’t much of a sports fan, but still want to spend some time outdoors, the city prides itself on being a green city and there are five great parks to choose from. One of the most popular parks is the Three Rivers Park, which draws in bikers, hikers and even boaters who enjoy the 800 acres of open space.

Suburbs and Neighborhoods

The great thing about Pittsburgh is that there are plenty of great neighborhoods to choose from. Regardless of the lifestyle you enjoy, you are bound to find the perfect neighborhood within the city. Some of the most popular neighborhoods to call home are:

  • Mexican War Streets – has beautiful, colorful row houses
  • Regent Square – filled with cafes, art galleries and consignment boutiques
  • East End – vibrant and has great job options
  • Shadyside and Squirrel Hill – a sophisticated side of the city
  • Bloomfield and Friendship – young working adults love the row houses and tight alleys
  • East Liberty – an area of town that is on the rebound and quickly drawing in businesses and residents.

If you are looking to make the move to Pittsburgh, PA, make sure you give us a call today. We can help make your move much simpler and help you enjoy the process of finding your new city that much better.