There is some contention over how the city of Luling got its name. For some, the city was named after a Chinese railroad worker. For others, it was named after a judge called Luling. Then there's the faction that believes it was a builder's wife's maiden name. The mystery lives on...
The city is found in the counties of Caldwell and Guadalupe along the San Marcos River in south central Texas
There is some contention over how the city of Luling got its name. For some, the city was named after a Chinese railroad worker. For others, it was named after a judge called Luling. Then there's the faction that believes it was a builder's wife's maiden name. The mystery lives on...
The city is found in the counties of Caldwell and Guadalupe along the San Marcos River in south central Texas. There are just 5,411 people living in the city, according to the census of 2010, spread out between fewer than 2,000 homes. Originally founded as a railroad town, Luling became a center for cattle drivers and was known as the 'toughest town in Texas' for a time. The town then became associated with cotton, and then oil, which became important in the 1930s and 1940s. Geographically, Luling is well located about 40 miles to the east of San Antonio, while there are several other settlements closer by, such as Gonzales to the south, Seguin to the west, and Lockhart to the north. The climate in the city is typical of Texas and the deep south, with long, hot, and humid summers, and winters that are generally mild to cool.
So, you're considering moving to Luling? Great, you might well have made an excellent choice. But before you go arranging housewarming plans for your friends and family, there are a few things to think about first. Most notably, finding an actual place to live! With the city being within commuting distance to San Antonio, as well as various other towns and cities, it's well situated for wherever you happen to be working. However, make sure that you already have a job lined up before you search for a property, as this will help you secure one.
The housing market
So what can you expect from the local housing market? Well, three quarters of the properties in town are single detached family homes. This is pretty common, so if you're looking for a home to rent in Luling with a lot of space, you should be in luck. What about apartments? Well, less than 20 percent of housing is in the form of apartments, but this isn't bad at all and is pretty much as you'd expect. Don't fret if you have your heart set on one bedroom apartments. An apartment search should yield results, and you'll be likely to find both unfurnished and furnished apartments as well.
High renter occupied rates
The percentage of housing that is renter occupied is high, at over 40 percent, which is great for all rental seekers. This wouldn't mean much if the vacancy rate was extremely low, but thankfully this isn't a suburb of New York, so the vacancy rate is actually well above the national average. This simply means that plenty of houses and apartments should be available immediately, which certainly makes things slightly more flexible for you.
Securing your new home
Realistically, you'll already be working a job in the region or will at least have one lined up. When applying to rent a property the agent and landlord need to know that you'll be able to make rent, so this is crucial. If you don't have a job and you have savings, you could agree to terms where you pay for six months up front while you seek employment. As long as you've got a solid working history, this should be OK. If not, you may need a guarantor to come and save the day! Don't forget that you'll also need a security deposit to put down for the property, and the bigger it is and the more bedrooms it has, the more expensive the rent will be and therefore the larger the deposit will be too. As long as you're financially viable, however, you should have no trouble securing your new home for rent.
Luling only has two neighborhoods to choose from so this isn't like New York where each neighborhood has its own distinct vibe and feel! What you should do, however, is drive around town and get a feel for where you might want to settle, such as near in a quieter area or close by the center of the action in the downtown area.
City Center: As the name suggests, this is where all the action is. The city center has a walk score of 82, which is great and means that walking from A to B is a breeze. Along the main street going through downtown there are several restaurants, including Lugos Tacos and China Palace, while there are also several bars such as Rum Bar and Monte's. As you'd expect, there are also schools through the city, along with banks, shops, and all the usual fare.
Delhi / McNeil: This neighborhood stretches out from the city, and contains a smattering of remote houses and mobile homes. This is a good area to look for a house to rent a bit off the beaten path. If you're looking for somewhere a little quieter outside of the city for you and your family or whoever you happen to live with, you'll find plenty of places out here.
Luling is friendly, quiet, and rich in history. It's a place that is renowned for its barbeque culture, oil history, fresh produce and plants, watermelons, and wonderful paddling trail up the San Marcos River. One of the main traditions in town is the Luling Watermelon Thump, held during the last weekend in June each year. It's a huge draw for both local people and outsiders and tends to bring the entire town together. The Night in Old Luling in October is also a great event, featuring booths, food, games, entertainment, and the customary scarecrow contest!
Of course, the city is well located to reach other settlements in the area, and with San Antonio just down to the west, there's always scope for a fun evening in the bigger city if you desire it. While the city has no transit system, roads in and out are easy to reach, with Interstate 10, just south of the city, taking you directly towards San Antonio and beyond. In addition, Routes 80, 90 and 183 all pass right through the city, providing easy access to all other major towns and cities in the county.
