Houston&#x27;s not as cheap as it used to be.  Right now if you want to get parts made it&#x27;s totally doable.  But two years ago when oil was at $100&#x2F;bbl?  I couldn&#x27;t get anyone to return a call, ever!  The company I worked for had to start its own machine shop to get anything done.<p>Housing was cheap in &#x27;09 but the average apartment rent was $1700 in November &#x27;15.  That&#x27;s over a year since the oil price crashed.<p>If oil prices continue to stay low for another year or two Houston might get more affordable as people leave looking for work elsewhere.  But that&#x27;s a big &quot;if&quot; and it&#x27;s barely started.