Top Places to Live in Galveston County - Residents Enjoy Best of Both Worlds

How would you like to own your own piece of island beach real estate, right in Houston's back yard?

Galveston County occupies its own island two miles off the Houston coast, and has been rated by CNN Money as one of the best places to live in Texas in 2007. The entire island is seeing extensive development, and you can buy homes in some of the top places to live. In Galveston County, you will find more for very little.

Potential here as a tourist destination is woefully underestimated by many property markets, and few people have caught on to the idea of buying homes in some of the best Galveston County neighborhoods to rent out to tourists during the busy season. Because the weather is almost always good and the busy season extends for longer on either side of June than it does in many other American destinations.

If you are looking for a place to buy as a tourist rental home, then you would probably do best to buy in Galveston County. Some of the less desirable areas have some incredibly low priced houses, but these are more suited to couples with no children or first time home buyers who can only afford a small mortgage. If you really want to make money from your property investment it would definitely make sense to buy in one of the best neighborhoods.

If you are looking to relocate here, you will want to take a good look at as many properties as you can before making a decision. The property market on the island can be confusing to newcomers, so it is always best to consult a realtor who knows the area and can give you some good advice on properties in your price range. A realtor who is familiar with the top places to live will be able to provide all of the information you need such as property taxes for the area, transfer duties you can expect to pay, expected returns on your investment and where the best schools in Galveston County are.

If you have children there are several schools here that have good reputations, but many parents choose to send their children to school on the mainland. This is largely because the schools in Houston and League City have sterling reputations and are by far superior to many schools in neighboring regions. Sending your children to school on the mainland is not expensive, as there are free public ferries and a two mile causeway that connects the island to the mainland.

If you want to buy in one of the top places to live, then you would probably do best to take a look at some of the new housing developments that are in the initial stages at the moment. You can buy better quality houses at lower prices if you pre-buy once the units have been planned out. Then all it takes is a little bit of time before your dream home is ready for you.

The island has a history of periodical storms which don't usually bother the inhabitants, but this has resulted in a high standard in the general quality of new homes being built in the county. Generally the walls are thicker than in homes on the mainland, and more homes are built with double glazed windows for better insulation in the winter.

Some inhabitants find the humidity in the mornings a little oppressive, but this usually clears up by mid morning and the clear, bright days the island experiences are in general cooler than temperatures on the mainland.

This attracts a lot of tourists in the summer, so it makes an excellent place to own a guest house or a small bed and breakfast. Once again, if you plan on using your home as a source of income, it generally pays to buy in the top places to live in Galveston County, rather than buying a cheaper home and fixing it up.