the u-haul expressway

New Houston renters are swarming in from this Texas city most, new report says

Newstonians are pouring in from Dallas, says this new report.

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There’s a very logical reason why you might be spotting more moving trucks on I-45 these days.

In a new report from Apartment List, Houston ranks as the most popular destination for Dallas renters looking to move somewhere else. Apartment List says 6.5 percent of Dallas renters hunting for an apartment outside the metro area are searching in Houston, followed by Tulsa (4.9 percent) and Oklahoma City (4.6 percent).

In other words, I-45, the main artery between Houston and Dallas, very well could earn the nickname “the U-Haul Expressway.”

Here in Houston, the top sources for outside-the-area renters are Dallas, 13.8 percent; Austin, 4.6 percent; and Atlanta, 4.1 percent. As for Houston renters eyeing other metro areas, the top three destinations are Dallas, 12.7 percent; Austin, 12.3 percent; and San Antonio, 11.1 percent.

The report shows 24.5 percent of renters looking for a place to live in Houston are searching from outside the metro area, and 31.3 percent of Houston renters are pondering a move to a different metro area.

Meanwhile, among outside-the-metro renters searching for an apartment in Dallas, 13.3 percent are from Houston, making it Big D’s No. 1 source of potential new arrivals. That’s followed by Austin (4.6 percent) and San Antonio (3.1 percent).

In all, 34.7 percent of apartment hunters living in the Dallas area are looking to move away from the metro area, and 24.5 percent of those seeking somewhere to live in Dallas are searching from outside the metro area.

The report is based on Apartment List searches that occurred between July 1 and September 30.

Apartment List says debates around the country over rent control, zoning, eviction bans, and other matters affecting renters could result in even more renters moving around.

“All of these shifts have the potential to accelerate migration as renters reconsider how their current living arrangements align with their housing preferences, their work arrangements, and their financial standing,” Apartment List says.

Elsewhere in Texas
To the west of Houston, the Apartment List classifies Austin as a “revolving door” for renters based on high turnover. Among the 50 major metros featured, Austin ranks sixth for the share of searches from renters looking to move to a different metro (47 percent) and seventh for the share of searches from outside-the-metro renters seeking to head to Austin (45.2 percent). Two other tech hubs — San Jose, California, and Raleigh, North Carolina — also fall into the “revolving door” category.

Apartment List suggests Austin, San Jose, and Raleigh are experiencing the “revolving door” phenomenon because all three boast high shares of workers in remote-friendly jobs.

“We have seen this dynamic play out in local rent prices, where over the last 18 months these cities experienced dramatic rent declines followed by similarly dramatic rent rebounds as residents cycle in and out of the rental market,” Apartment List says.

According to the report, Austin’s top sources of outside-the-metro renters are Houston, 22 percent; Dallas, 12.6 percent; and San Antonio, 9.7 percent. The top destinations for renters looking to move out of the Austin metro area are San Antonio, 30 percent; Dallas, 7.5 percent; and Corpus Christi, 7.3 percent.

As for the San Antonio area, a whopping 44 percent of apartment searches are from outside the region. The top drivers of that traffic are Austin, 31.7 percent; Houston, 19.8 percent; and Dallas, 8 percent.

When it comes to the 29.8 percent of San Antonio renters plotting relocation to another metro area, the top destinations are Austin, 18.2 percent; Dallas, 10.1 percent; and Houston, 8.1 percent.

always be prepared

Texas tax-free weekend lets shoppers stock up on emergency supplies

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Emergency supplies like first aid kits that cost less than $75 are eligible for a tax break this weekend.

The best time for Texas residents to stock up on supplies to prepare for natural disasters is coming up this weekend. The annual statewide Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday runs from April 25-27, when Texans will be able to purchase critical emergency supplies — plus household necessities like batteries and fire extinguishers — tax-fee.

Shoppers can purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free starting at 12:01 am on Saturday, April 25, and the "holiday" runs until midnight on Monday, April 27. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the weekend, and purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order.

Saving on emergency supplies
Emergency preparation supplies must be purchased under certain price brackets to qualify for the tax exemption. For example, portable generators must have a sales price less than $3,000 to qualify for a tax break. Ladders and hurricane shutters that cost less than $300 also qualify.

Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the sales price, according to the Comptroller. So if a shopper buys a $299 rescue ladder and is charged a $10 delivery fee, the total sales price for the purchase is $309, and tax would need to be paid for that sales price.

Additional items that qualify for a tax break as long as they cost less than $75 include:

Axes
Batteries – single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fuel containers
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Hatchets
Ice products – including reusable and artificial ice
Light sources – including those that are battery operated or portable self-powered sources; candles, flashlights, and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Non-electric can openers
Non-electric coolers and ice chests for food storage
Radios – including portable self-powered radios, battery operated radios, two-way radios, and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting

The full list of qualifying items is available on The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' website.

As a reminder, over-the-counter items like antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, and spray and wipes are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Non-qualifying items that will still be taxed
Medical masks, face masks, and gloves of any kind do not qualify for a tax exemption. Other taxable items including toilet paper, cleaning supplies (such as disinfectants and bleach wipes), vehicle or boat batteries, chainsaws, plywood, extension ladders, and stepladders. Camping equipment and supplies, including stoves and tents, are also not eligible for a tax break.

Additionally, any repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies do not qualify for tax exemptions, and neither do any services that are performed on or related to those supplies.

What to do if a qualifying item is taxed during the holiday
If customers buy a tax-exempt item between April 25-27 and are still taxed, they may request a refund from the seller on the tax paid for the item. The seller can grant the refund to the buyer, or provide them with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, which would allow the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller's website.

tax free weekend emergency supplies texas