And with its world-class infrastructure, Houston is always business ready. Its thriving and vibrant economy is dominated by its oil and gas industries. No wonder Houston has earned a spot in Forbes magazine's Best Places for Business and Careers. Today, Houston acts as a major corporate centre, wherein 26 of Fortune's 500 companies operate within the city.
Energy resource is not the only goldmine of Houston. A vital part of Houston's economy is biomedical research. Over the decade, Houston has evolved rapidly in the field of health care and the home of the largest medical centre in the US, the Texas Medical Center.
Also, Houston's thriving manufacturing industry ranked Gold Medal World-Class Community for four consecutive years according to Industry Week magazine. With more than 10,700 manufacturing establishments, Houston is home to one of the largest IT company, Hewlett Packard, which has the largest workforce in the city.
One of the top reasons for moving in Houston is the increasing diverse employment opportunities, as most expats find Houston a perfect place to build and raise a family. Houston might be intimidating at first to any first time expats but it's the ideal environment to all members of its workforce, as it exudes a comfortable balance of career opportunities and small town comfort.
Business magnates and businessmen mostly reside in the neighborhood of River Oaks, which is located at the centre of Houston. River Oaks is considered one of the wealthiest communities in Texas wherein real estate value can go as high as USD$20 million. Another known neighborhood is Houston Heights or The Heights, which is one of the sought after destinations as it caters to expats looking for a suburban lifestyle near the city; it is just a couple of miles from Downtown Houston.
City dwellers can find a variety of housing options in the downtown area where residents have easy access to the city's modern conveniences like public transportations (light rail, lift vans and buses). The only downside living and working in Houston is the daily gridlock to work.
Summer in Houston is very hot and humid; July is its warmest month while January is the coldest month, and rarely experiences snow.
But like any bustling metropolis, expats living in Houston have both pros and cons. Although it is one of the most populated cities in the US, expats fall in love with Houston's southern charm, the friendly locals who are very welcoming, and the good prospect to start a family.
Houston has been called many names; it is officially dubbed as the "Space City," being the leader in space technology innovation, and is host to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Lyndon B. Jonson Space Center. It is also known as the Bayou City, with its ten winding waterways that flow through the surrounding area. Furthermore, Houston is recently hailed as "The Big Heart," being the refuge of Hurricane Katrina victims. And for expats, Houston is what they call their new home.
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