First Time Home Looker VERY dissappointed!! (Houston, League City: foreclosure, for rent, insurance)

[Mom2Feebs]

What type of house payment are you looking for?

How much can you put down?

What school district would you like?



Charris is 100% right, a Mailboxes, Etc address doesn't count, and I agree with Visitor2007 that it is just downright wrong to give that kind of advice, for crying out loud.

Are you looking for strictly a new home?

You might find an older home in a more established neighborhood would work out much better for you. For one thing, your taxes will certainly be lower.

A condo or townhome in Spring Branch ISD is a great choice, especially off of Country Place, Tully, Memorial, etc...all excellent schools...but keep in mind a condo/townhome does have maintenance fees.

[charris911]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

that it is just downright wrong to give that kind of advice, for crying out loud.

That advice was almost as bad as the suggestion to pour gas on a pesky fireant mound!!! (that was for my friend Mom2Feebs)

[SkyeAnjel]

You might try a search on Houston Real Estate - Houston Homes, Houston Home Value and Houston Relocation in Spring(Klein ISD) or Tomball Tomball ISD), both have great school districts. check
Memorial Chase subdivision, Charterwood subdivision, both older neighborhoods in a very nice part of town that you may be able to afford.

[bostoner]

Have you talked to Twain and told them you're considering moving and weighing your options? If you're planning to continue at your present job or move nearby and it's not too much of an inconvenience, you may be able to get your kid to stay at Twain. They may just transfer his information over to the magnet program. It's worth a shot!

[FTHB]

Originally Posted by charris911

Well its your first home, so you will probably need to be open minded, but dont settle. I owned and lived in an Obra Home for 2 years. They have big floorplans, at smaller price (what you give up is the "fancy" things). Fancy meaning curving edges crown molding, countertops...etc.

Dont forget when you buy a new home, you will need fans, blinds and some grass! So you might be in a better position to find a lived-in home.

I did do a search for Spring Branch at 95K, mostly townhomes. Do you plan to move in a few years? Or will this be an area for you to stay in? If so if you wanted something small there are many townhomes in Spring Branch. Humble has a some houses you may want to look at your price range...I think you will find something! Har.com

Like I said I had a $100,000 Obra home, that was brand-new, and I loved it (saved some money). The neighborhood was safe, but not the best, schools were OK (not the best)...after two years my family wanted to move to a larger house, in our hometown...so we sold it for a profit and got our house we want to stay in. Anyway just my little story, and when we found the house, my wife and me had just said that we can take no more of this and this was the last model home we where looking at.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Thanks for the advice. I just came back from looking at two different communities in Pasadena, Shadow Creek Ranch and City Park. Shadow is out for me. City Park is more in my ballpark but the schools are okay. I'll keep looking every weekend until I find something that fits me and my needs. Thanks for the input on Obra.

[FTHB]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

What type of house payment are you looking for?

How much can you put down?

What school district would you like?



Charris is 100% right, a Mailboxes, Etc address doesn't count, and I agree with Visitor2007 that it is just downright wrong to give that kind of advice, for crying out loud.

Are you looking for strictly a new home?

You might find an older home in a more established neighborhood would work out much better for you. For one thing, your taxes will certainly be lower.

A condo or townhome in Spring Branch ISD is a great choice, especially off of Country Place, Tully, Memorial, etc...all excellent schools...but keep in mind a condo/townhome does have maintenance fees.

I'm not at all picky! I told someone I just wanted something with a backyard. LOL! I live in a third floor apartment with no balcony. But aside from that, at this time I can't put down a thing. At the most if I work really hard this year I can manage 3%. That isn't much but I have debt I need to get rid of before I would even consider moving.

An older home is fine with me as long as there aren't too many issues with the home. That's what I was looking for initially but then I was told I should look into a new home because an older home might be too much for me to handle.

Thanks for your help. I see I'm going to have to look into a townhome/condo as well. Heck anything is better than wasting over a thousand in rent.

Thanks again.

[FTHB]

Originally Posted by houstoner

Have you talked to Twain and told them you're considering moving and weighing your options? If you're planning to continue at your present job or move nearby and it's not too much of an inconvenience, you may be able to get your kid to stay at Twain. They may just transfer his information over to the magnet program. It's worth a shot!

Thanks for your response! Yes I have tried that. He's been there for two years so I figured oh they would let him stay. I've spoken to the administrators and they informed me that he has to be zoned in order to keep attending the school. They have so many people trying to transfer into the school they have stopped accepting out of zone students.

I'll try again.

[seasponge]

Originally Posted by charris911

I dont think Mailboxes Etc counts as residency!

Mailboxes Etc does not count as "residency", but they do give you an address where you want it. Yes there is a law against it, but will a school district file a lawsuit and will any cop bring charges against anyone for attempting to give their child a better school option? NO! If they do, bring them to my law office!

[charris911]

Originally Posted by seasponge

Mailboxes Etc does not count as "residency", but they do give you an address where you want it. Yes there is a law against it, but will a school district file a lawsuit and will any cop bring charges against anyone for attempting to give their child a better school option? NO! If they do, bring them to my law office!

Geez, is it me or are there just a bunch of old prunes in here? I think I'll find a more exciting, intelligent crowd. Thanks for the fun!

Texas Penal Code 37.10. TAMPERING WITH GOVERNMENTAL RECORD
An offense under this section is a Class C
misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the
governmental record is a governmental record that is required for
enrollment of a student in a school district and was used by the
actor to establish the residency of the student.

This should be another thread, but you should talk to your legislator about school-choice. Its not about a better school option, its about defrauding local property taxpayers. Most school districts require a utility bill at the address for enrollment.

Thanks. The Old Prunes

[Vicman]

Twain ES has a magnet program, but from what I can tell from the previous posts, the program is booked.

Originally Posted by charris911

Texas Penal Code 37.10. TAMPERING WITH GOVERNMENTAL RECORD
An offense under this section is a Class C
misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the
governmental record is a governmental record that is required for
enrollment of a student in a school district and was used by the
actor to establish the residency of the student.

This should be another thread, but you should talk to your legislator about school-choice. Its not about a better school option, its about defrauding local property taxpayers. Most school districts require a utility bill at the address for enrollment.

Thanks. The Old Prunes