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Deep down, everybody wants to be a Texan. It’s okay to admit it. We’re known for our beautiful landscapes and our bustling cities, our loud music and our tasty food, our rootin’ and our tootin’. There’s even more to Texas than you might realize, though, so before you start looking at Fort Worth homes for sale, consider these five important facts about life in The Lone Star State.
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
Throw away that bulky winter coat and ditch the snow shovel once and for all. Texas is hot, hot, HOT! Temperatures in the summer months can rise above 100 degrees, and even in December don’t expect them to go lower than 60. The heat runs the gamut from dry and sunny to sticky and humid, but one thing you can always depend on is never having to worry about getting a chill. Well, not unless you crank up the air conditioner.
Pssst, we don’t pay any state income tax
Let’s just keep this between you, me, and the millions of other people reading: Texas is one of only seven states that charge no income tax. You read that right: zip, zero, nada. And that’s not likely to change any time soon. Furthermore, the state sales tax is only about six percent. Combine that with a booming economy and a competitive cost of living, and it’s not hard to see why Texas is the second most populated state in the country.
Say hello to the Silicon Valley of the South
Remember that booming economy I mentioned second ago? Well, it gets better. Texas has always been a hotbed for the American energy industry, with oil, gas, and wind energy dominating the local job market. More recently, though, a new sector has made its home in The Lone Star state: technology. Companies like Google, Apple, Dell, IBM, and Samsung all have major presences here, and millennials are flocking to cities like Austin to launch their own startups. It’s enough that people are now calling the area Silicon Hills.
We’re the only folks who do BBQ the right way
Everything is bigger in Texas, so the saying goes, and that goes double for our barbecue. We pile our plates high with juicy slabs of slow-cooked brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and ribs. While Missouri and the Carolinas like to drown their dishes in sticky, sugary sauces, Texans know better. Great barbecue isn’t about condiments, it’s about how you cook and season the meat. If you’ve never had Texas-style barbecue, then you’ve never had real barbecue.
Don’t mess with Texas!
For all the reasons outlined above and many, many more, Texans are some of the proudest people in the entire country. More importantly, we take care of our own. Of all the things we take pride in, nothing is more important than our sense of community. If you do choose to live here, never forget: once a Texan, always a Texan!
Further reading:
- If you need help dealing with legal matters, visit FVF Law right here in Texas for expert advice.