by Alan Jimz - Real Estate Broker 
Not just any city is considered a beta global city. To do so, you must meet certain characteristics and offer a number of favorable living conditions. For those who don’t know, living in Houston is a privilege.
This city is the perfect example that California and New York are not the only dream destinations that the American country has to offer, so stay and read about the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Houston!.
Houston Living Advantages
Unlimited Job Opportunities
The main reason a person moves to Houston is the job opportunities.
We are talking about one of the cities with the lowest unemployment rate in the entire United States.
This is because the manufacturing, technology and financial services industries are growing exponentially on a daily basis.
Companies in Houston, it should be noted, offer a good economic compensation to all their employees. And this is precisely what makes it one of the most prosperous cities in the country.
Culture, Medicine and NASA
Houston is a multicultural city, with more than one million foreign-born residents. This, of course, is strongly reflected in the variety of food that can be found in the streets, the urban art and the various festivals held annually.
The city also has a fairly large scientific community specializing in two areas: aeronautics and health. Houston is called the Space City because it is home to NASA headquarters. From here, man’s expeditions into space are controlled and research in this area is led, so there is also a strong international influence here.
In turn, Houston is home to the world-renowned Texas Medical Center, the institute with the most health centers and research in different disciplines in the world, with the best reputation in cardiac operations and cancer treatments!.
An Ode to Art and Sport
Houston is one of the few cities that has professionals in all artistic disciplines: opera, ballet, music, theater and more. There are a variety of museums, zoos, parks, movie theaters, plazas and many, many stadiums.
It has renowned teams in all sports; in baseball the Houston Astros, in soccer the Houston Texans, in basketball the Houston Rockets, and more.
More Affordable Than Other Major Cities
Although those who dream of a higher salary head to Los Angeles or San Francisco, Houston has an enviable wage-to-cost ratio.
Once you land a high-paying job it is important that the return on your earnings is appreciable, and in places like those mentioned above this is rarely the case.
Houston, on the other hand, tops the list for lower costs in transportation, utilities, consumer products and something far more important: housing.
Disadvantages of Living in Houston
Weather is not the best
People don’t move to Houston for its climate, of course not. According to Köppen’s classification, Houston has a humid subtropical climate; the heat is mortifying, but bearable, but the real challenge is the humidity. That’s why all cars, homes and public places are air conditioned. In addition, tornadoes are common in the area, as are floods, which can cause problems for the city’s residents.
One of the Most Polluted Cities in the U.S.
In Houston, ozone levels are of concern. The smog has reached unhealthy levels, as it can cause eye irritation and asthma attacks. This condition is caused by industries located along the waterway.
Traffic is Madness
It’s a fairly common occurrence in big cities, but Houston has terrible traffic. The moment you get in a queue, don’t expect to get home soon, as the distances are long and the traffic movement is very slow.
It is best to get out ahead of rush hour and know the less crowded areas to avoid headaches.
In short, there are ups and downs when it comes to living in Houston, but where isn’t there? This is one of the best cities in the world, there’s no doubt about it. Arts, entertainment, sports, job opportunities, affordable living, top-notch public services and scientific advancements, the list is quite extensive.
No city has as many foreigners owning their own successful businesses as Houston, at least not with all the other benefits that complement it. Pollution, weather and traffic are things that can be handled very easily. Houston is the cradle of opportunity!.
