Rentals are almost nonexistent. There are less than 200 houses on the market for sale. But it is a rotating inventory, houses that are worth buying are not on the market for long.
Don't rely on the internet, get yourself here and be prepared to look around. People are putting their homes on the market and selling them within hours. Do open houses on weekends and be prepared to offer more than asking price. Make sure you are prequalified and have proof. You are going to pay top dollar, but interest rates are extremely good as you know. I have been here since 1989 and have never seen anything like this.
Midland's normal population is around 90K, we are up to 150k plus right now. Some are saying we could wind up around 250k (I don't see that). There is talk of building a 3rd high school, building a new Midland High(I think it will happen this time) and a total update for Lee high school.
Builders are going as fast as they can building the big dollar houses on the north side. There is a lot of talk of building more modest priced homes too as well as apartment complexes.
Bottom line, it's crazy here. If you have a job offer here, it's doable, but you have to be persistent and be ready to move on something you like.
Good luck

[This message has been edited by Midland Aggie (edited 6/27/2012 1:25p).]

Good points.

The same goes for you if you are looking to rent an apartment. Get to Midland and go to each apartment complex office prepared to write a deposit check. I moved out here in January right after graduating. Started looking for apartments in December. I'm paying $950 for a one bedroom one bathroom apartment that is around 700 sq feet. It is by no means worth anything close to that. The complex is probably 25 years old with outdated appliances. I only signed a 6 month lease hoping to be able to upgrade to something a little bigger later on. No chance of that happening now. I have to renew my lease and the rent is going up to $1000. When I was looking for apartments in December, most complexes weren't even keeping a waiting list becuase they had so many people inquiring. I did look at a one bedroom that was listed at $750 per month. I could stretch out my arms in the "living room" and reach from one wall to the other.

Bottom line, be prepared to pay upwards of a $1000 a month for a decent apartment.

I had 2 family members list their houses, in Midland, 2 weeks ago and both sold for asking price the same day they were listed.

My wife and I want to move to, or build, a larger (than our current) house in "old Midland" but the premium for houses and building/remodeling is just too high right now. If we were down-sizing or moving away it would be great.

If you're looking to buy, I think it would be best to get 2 or 3 high volume realtors to be "your" realtor. They will show you their listings before they officially go on the market for all the other realtors and buyers to see.

All of what the OP said:

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Be ready to live in a Storage Building unit....Some people are doing just that.

It is indeed nuts here now. Glad I am only here 2 days/week.

I'm seeing houses pop up for sale everyday. I see one or two everyday in my neighborhood (Saddle Club South) and in Polo Park. They don't last long though. Like I said before, you have to be here to look. If you find one on the internet, it's probably sold before you call on it.
People that are selling now are transferring out with their company to corporate headquarters (many going to OKC/Edmund area)or they are retiring and selling their midland house while the prices are high. Crazy.

Paid 725 monthly for a two bedroom apt in 1981. Lived in the Holiday Inn for 90 days before moving into the apt. Crazy times then too.

House in our neighborhood
We actually looked at this house before we purchased where we are now (around the corner). I believe it was listed around $150k about 6 years ago.

[This message has been edited by LoudestWHOOP! (edited 6/28/2012 4:56p).]

I'm here and moving to the apartment July 2nd. Any recommendations on furniture for the apartment around town? Any other suggestions in general are appreciated!

If you want good furniture, good friend of mine owns Carter's furniture. Good quality stuff. Good selection. He sells a line of furniture made in Texarkana (among others)that is Aggie owned. Can't remember the name of the company, but it is high quality.

I was aware of quite a large population increase around here but 150k?! Surely that's an exaggeration?

OR, just move to Big Spring. Plenty of housing and the town is not over-crowded. Nicer people too. Only 25 minutes from Midland, now the I is 75.

No offense, but Big Spring is a massive ****hole. I'd sooner move to Stanton than Big Spring.

Current population estimate is approximately 139k. That was as of December?

It's probably closer to 150k now.

ITS REALLY REALLY DUMB OUT HERE>


I know a gentleman who has a 3 bedroom place with a den area on the south side of town.

He rents out the two extra bedrooms and the den each for about $1,000/month.


RIDICULOUS.

I must admit, I'm happy to be a part of this boom. The added congestion and crowds is frustrating but pretty damn intriguing.

God bless Midland, no?

Front page of Sunday paper said the current population is 153000+. Not an exageration.
Fuzzy, come on. There's a reason Big Spring has plenty of housing available in the middle of an oil boom!

Checked out Carter's, pretty pretty nice stuff in there. I think I was the youngest in there by 25-30 years.

Couldnt believe my rent went down when I moved from midland/Odessa to Austin. Freaking crazy.

Petengr, If you just graduated, I'm 30 yrs older than you too! Old people like us with money shop there. Rooms-to-go is at Cuthbert and Andrew hwy. Target has furniture too if you don't mind some assembly. haha

[This message has been edited by Midland Aggie (edited 7/1/2012 9:13p).]

Chipotle, Austin should be cheaper! It may be pretty there, but those people are freaking crazy!

[This message has been edited by Midland Aggie (edited 7/1/2012 9:13p).]

Haha, that I did! I ended up getting some stuff from furniture row. Thanks for the tip though, maybe in a couple years

I may need to take on another roommate just to be able to live here. This is just dumb.

Man camps

Yep. My lease is up in September. Rent is going up "at least 30%."

Awesome.



NOT.

Hell, we just stuck our construction superintendents in a travel trailer for the 18 months or so that they're on site in Notrees.

Notree? I hope you at least provided them a dish! However, that trailer was probably the nicest house in Notrees!

They're actually at a park in the ghetto in Odessa, we didn't want Notrees to have to adjust their population of 23 signage.