Your First Week in Houston
A step-by-step guide to getting settled during your first seven days in Houston. From navigating the deregulated electricity market to learning which freeways to avoid during rush hour, this checklist covers everything you need to start your new life in the Bayou City.
Set up electricity through a retail provider
Texas has a deregulated electricity market, meaning you choose your own electricity provider from dozens of competing retail companies. CenterPoint Energy handles the physical delivery of electricity to your home (you do NOT choose CenterPoint — they are the utility, not the retailer). Use Power to Choose to compare plans and rates.
- 💡 Set up electricity at least 3-5 business days before your move-in date to avoid being without power.
- 💡 Read the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) carefully — some plans have hidden fees at low or high usage levels.
- 💡 Fixed-rate plans lock in your price per kWh for the contract term; variable-rate plans fluctuate monthly.
- 💡 CenterPoint Energy is the transmission and delivery utility for the Houston area — do NOT confuse this with Oncor, which serves Dallas.
Set up water service through the City of Houston
Contact the City of Houston Public Works Department to establish water, wastewater, and stormwater service at your new address. If you live outside city limits, your water provider may be a Municipal Utility District (MUD) — check your HOA or closing documents for details.
- 💡 City of Houston water service can be set up online or by calling 311.
- 💡 If you live in an unincorporated area or MUD, your water provider will be different from the city — check your address carefully.
- 💡 Budget for higher water bills in summer due to irrigation and lawn watering.
Set up internet service
Comcast Xfinity and AT&T Fiber are the dominant internet providers in the Houston area. Availability varies by neighborhood, so check both providers for your specific address. Fiber service offers the fastest and most reliable speeds where available.
- 💡 AT&T Fiber is available in many Houston neighborhoods and offers symmetrical upload/download speeds.
- 💡 Xfinity (Comcast) has the widest coverage area across greater Houston.
- 💡 Some newer subdivisions in Katy, The Woodlands, and other suburbs may have Tachus fiber as an alternative.
- 💡 Schedule installation as early as possible — wait times can be 1-2 weeks during peak moving season.
Locate your nearest grocery stores
H-E-B is the dominant grocery chain in Houston and a beloved Texas institution known for quality products, competitive prices, and excellent store-brand items. Kroger, Randalls (a Safeway brand), and Whole Foods are also widely available throughout the metro area.
- 💡 H-E-B is the most popular grocery store in Texas — their store-brand products are highly regarded and often preferred over national brands.
- 💡 H-E-B Curbside and home delivery are available through the H-E-B app.
- 💡 Kroger is the second most common grocery chain and offers fuel rewards points.
- 💡 The 99 Ranch Market and H Mart serve Houston's large Asian American community with specialty ingredients.
- 💡 Central Market (H-E-B's upscale brand) is available at select Houston locations for specialty and gourmet items.
Check your flood zone status
Houston is prone to flooding, and it is critical to know whether your property is in a FEMA flood zone. Use the Harris County Flood Control District's flood zone tool to check your address and understand your risk level. This information will also affect your insurance requirements and costs.
- 💡 Even if your home is NOT in a FEMA flood zone, Houston's flat terrain and heavy rainfall mean flooding can happen almost anywhere.
- 💡 Ask your neighbors about their flooding experience during Hurricane Harvey (2017) and Tropical Storm Imelda (2019).
- 💡 If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, your mortgage lender will require flood insurance.
- 💡 The Harris County Flood Control District website has interactive maps showing flood risk by address.
Register for ReadyHarris emergency alerts
Sign up for ReadyHarris to receive emergency notifications including severe weather warnings, flooding alerts, hurricane updates, and other critical information for Harris County residents.
- 💡 Enable text message and email alerts for the fastest notification during emergencies.
- 💡 ReadyHarris also provides hurricane preparedness guides and evacuation route maps.
- 💡 Download the ReadyHarris app for on-the-go emergency information.
- 💡 Also follow the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office on social media for real-time weather updates.
Set up a METRO Q Card for transit
If you plan to use public transportation, set up a METRO Q Card for Houston METRO bus and METRORail service. METRORail operates three light rail lines connecting downtown, the Texas Medical Center, NRG Stadium, and other key destinations.
- 💡 The METRORail Red Line connects downtown Houston to the Texas Medical Center, NRG Park, and the Museum District.
- 💡 METRO Q Cards can be loaded with value or monthly passes and used on all METRO buses and rail lines.
- 💡 Houston is primarily a car-dependent city — transit is useful for specific corridors but does not cover most of the metro area.
- 💡 Park and ride services are available from several suburban locations for downtown commuters.
Learn the major freeways and highways
Houston's freeway system is one of the most extensive in the country. Understanding the major routes is essential for daily navigation: I-10 (east-west, Katy Freeway), I-45 (north-south, Gulf Freeway / North Freeway), I-69/US-59 (Southwest/Eastex Freeway), US-290 (Northwest Freeway), Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway), and the Grand Parkway (SH-99, outer loop).
- 💡 The Katy Freeway (I-10 West) is one of the widest freeways in the world — and it still gets congested during rush hour.
- 💡 Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway) is the inner loop; Grand Parkway (SH-99) is the outer loop — both are toll roads.
- 💡 Loop 610 is the innermost highway loop that defines 'inside the loop' vs. 'outside the loop' Houston.
- 💡 Avoid I-45 and I-10 during peak hours (6:30-9 AM and 4-7 PM) if possible.
- 💡 Houston uses local road names for highways — learn them (e.g., 'the Katy Freeway' means I-10 West, 'the Gulf Freeway' means I-45 South).
Get an EZ TAG for toll roads
The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) operates the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8), Hardy Toll Road, Westpark Tollway, and other toll roads throughout the Houston area. An EZ TAG transponder gives you discounted toll rates and avoids pay-by-mail surcharges.
- 💡 Without an EZ TAG, cameras will capture your plate and mail you a bill at a higher rate.
- 💡 EZ TAGs can be ordered online and delivered by mail, or picked up at HCTRA retail locations.
- 💡 Houston uses HCTRA, NOT NTTA — the North Texas Tollway Authority serves the Dallas area.
- 💡 Your EZ TAG will also work on most other Texas toll roads through interoperability agreements.
- 💡 The Westpark Tollway is a popular commuter route between Sugar Land/the Energy Corridor and the Galleria area.
Find a primary care physician
Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical complex in the world, and has no shortage of excellent healthcare providers. Major hospital systems include Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, St. Luke's Health, and UT Health. Establish care with a primary care physician soon after arrival.
- 💡 Check your insurance network before selecting a physician — Houston's major systems each have their own provider networks.
- 💡 Memorial Hermann and Houston Methodist both have extensive primary care networks with clinics throughout the metro area.
- 💡 The TMC is a major employer in Houston — if you or your spouse works there, your system may offer employee discounts on care.
- 💡 Urgent care clinics (NextLevel, Legacy ER, Texas MedClinic) are widely available for non-emergency visits.
All Moving Checklists
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a car in Houston?
For the vast majority of Houston residents, yes. Houston is one of the most car-dependent major cities in the United States, with a sprawling metro area and limited public transit coverage. The METRORail serves a few key corridors (downtown, Medical Center, Midtown), but daily life in Houston — grocery shopping, commuting to work, running errands — almost always requires a vehicle.
Why does Houston have a deregulated electricity market?
Texas deregulated its electricity market in 2002, allowing consumers in most of the state to choose their retail electricity provider from competing companies. This means you shop for electricity plans the way you might shop for a cell phone plan. CenterPoint Energy handles the physical delivery of power, but you choose and pay a separate retail provider. Use powertochoose.org to compare rates, contract terms, and renewable energy options.
How bad is Houston traffic?
Houston consistently ranks among the worst cities in the country for traffic congestion. The morning rush (6:30-9 AM) and evening rush (4-7 PM) can double or triple commute times on major freeways like I-10, I-45, and I-69/US-59. Many Houston residents plan their home purchases specifically to minimize freeway commuting, and the toll roads (Beltway 8, Westpark Tollway) offer somewhat faster alternatives for a price.
Is flooding really that common in Houston?
Yes. Houston's flat terrain, clay soil, and subtropical climate make it highly susceptible to flooding from heavy rainstorms and tropical weather systems. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was the most catastrophic flooding event, but significant flooding has occurred multiple times since. Even properties outside FEMA flood zones can flood during major rain events. Flood insurance is strongly recommended for all Houston homeowners, and checking flood history should be a top priority when buying a home.