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Anyone know some good reasons?

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Labor costs would be the biggest one, I would guess...

Secondly, and I may be throwing shite against the wall, is the fact that property taxes are so much higher in Texas

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So over time home prices have adjusted downward to compensate for the monthly note adding in property taxes?

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I don't know historical trends Have home prices just recently dipped that far under Louisiana's

I just figured that when you are going to add $3-500 a month in taxes onto the house, people are naturally going to want to pay a lot less for the home...

All in all, total cost of ownership remains the same, its just where you are allocating the amounts too...

I always thought the abundance of land had something to do with it. In TX, you can just keep spreading further out. There is no lake or river or swamp hemming you in. I was always told that had a lot to do with the home prices in the NOLA area. Metairie'Kenner and most of New Orleans is built out. It's a lot less space area wise b/c of the lake mainly, but the river and the swampy area past Kenner too. So if you want to live close to Nola, you're going to pay more.

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Because Texas fricks you in the arse with property taxes.

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But no state income tax and you can deduct any sales tax that you paid off of your federal return... Its a win-win in my book.

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I don't mind paying them too much when you see the awesome school system in Richardson, the services offered, parks, etc. Quality of life is much better.

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Yup, much better in Texas

Do you have a price/sqft comparison? I know in the Houston loop (Heights) the range is $245-260/sqft.

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I guess I should clarify to the "suburbs".

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You can get a <5yr old 2500sq ft place in one of the burbs of houston for under 150k...

Here is a sample cost structure for materials and contractor fees for a builder in the Houston inner loop area.
I don't know if it will help you but maybe you can see if there are any major cost differences.

avery sample
2700 sf PROFORMA
ITEM BUDGET
A/C $8,800.00
Alarm/Network wiring $1,700.00
Appliances $4,400.00 allowance
Gas fireplace $1,200.00
Building Materials $40,000.00
Cabinet/Door Hardware $2,000.00 allowance
Concrete flatwork $3,000.00 assumes alley access
Demo $5,000.00 assumption
Electric $8,800.00
Electric fixtures $3,400.00
Electric underground $975.00
Exterior doors $1,250.00 single fron/back with transomes
PAINT $14,900.00
Fence $3,700.00
Foundation $11,200.00
Framing Carpentry $14,500.00
Garage turnkey $8,000.00
Grade sand $750.00
Granite $6,500.00 allowance
Gutters $975.00
Hardwoods $14,500.00
High end front door $650.00
Insulation $2,750.00
Landscaping $5,000.00
Interior Clean $650.00
Mirror/glass $650.00
Threshold/weatherstrip $475.00
Interior doors $1,980.00
Plumbing $10,500.00
Plumbing Fixtures $5,200.00
Port o can $500.00
Roof $6,500.00
Sewer tap $975.00
Shower enclosure $1,250.00
Sheetrock $9,450.00
Tractor work $350.00
Tile $4,000.00 allowance
Tile labor $4,000.00
Trim Carpentry $10,125.00
Trim Materials $10,125.00
Waste Removal $5,000.00
Windows $6,500.00

Sub Total $242,180.00

architecture/engineering $3,500.00
Insurance $2,900.00
Permits $2,000.00
UTILITIES $1,500.00

Sub Total $9,900.00

Grand Total $252,080.00
20% contractor fee 50,416
TOTAL JOB 302,496.00

San Antonio v. BR -- SA has way cheaper housing in decent neighborhoods.

You know my mistake, I was quoting the price/sqft for a built home which includes lot $. I talked to a builder that quoted to me a $550k for a 4500 sqft house with high quality everything....lot price was going to be 300-400k which included tear down.