Other than Heights, are there any safe, liberal, integrated sections of Houston? (Sugar Land: fit in, real estate)

[ny2tx]

We're moving to Houston this summer and will rent before buying. Other than the Heights, where should a progressive, liberal, artistic family with small children look? I'd like someplace with low crime & highly rated schools, but Katy is too far and The Woodlands seems "very white" from what people are saying (and too far). Honestly, the suburbs are most appealing to me because of the outdoor space (especially coming from NY) and the cost compared to inside the loop. Sugar Land and Pearland look interesting, but where are the trees?? I also read that crime in both areas is up. Any advice is appreciated. We don't want to spend more than $200K for 3 or 4 bedrooms.

Again, lower crime is key. Thanks.

[Mr. Football]

Try Garden Oaks.

[houstoner]

Good suggestion. Maybe try Meyerland, too. Both areas are suburban and just outside the loop. Not sure about housing prices.

[Premont]

200K only gets you so far. I was noticing in the Sunday Chronicle a home that was advertised from The Heights for 180K, which only had 2 bedrooms. Maybe near Stratford High (Dairy Ashford and I-10) you might find a nice home for that price and that's a highly rated school.

[houstoner]

Originally Posted by Premont

200K only gets you so far.

True. I was looking at har.com and you won't get everything you're looking for with that price point, not by a long shot. It'll be an either/or situation... either artsy with lots of trees, but some crime and few to no quality schools, or quality schools in a culturally homogeneous neighborhood with little crime and fewer trees, and so on.

[modster]

$200,000 buys you a tiny house in Garden Oaks, (1,000 to 1,400 sq ft range, with only one bath). Meyerland starts around $280,000 typically for a home needing everything done to it.

A lot of Heights type buyers that needed a 3 bedroom 2 bath have bought homes in Parkwest & Westbury at that price point. Make sure it is zoned to Parker Elementary instead of Anderson, I think that particular elementary school is good. The High School is a nightmare.

Just getting a 3 bedroom close in for $200,000 is close to impossible. Forget a 4 bedroom. Add the aversion to transitional neighborhoods and the desire for good schools, and you are pretty much asking for the impossible.

There are liberal, up & coming pockets where you can get more bang for your buck than the Heights, but you would probably have to look at some of the more moderate priced private schools.

[BearBranch]

You can always try Kingwood and the Woodlands. Their are some liberal elements to both. I'm very active with the Kingwood Democrats and have hosted Moveon.org get togethers. Same with the Woodlands.

[Watchful]

If you like trees, check out Walden on Lake Houston (Atascocita area). Not particularly liberal, but there is much more ethnic diversity in the Atascocita area than in Kingwood proper. If you do a real estate search on the net, use 77346 as the zip and see what comes up.

[ny2tx]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Modster - Unfortunately, private school isn't an option with three kids (two of the three are twins, so we're extra concerned about college costs). So if we planned to do the HISD charter/Vanguard school thing....what areas/zip codes would you consider "up & coming pockets"? I appreciate your insight.

[Nanner]

Perhaps look into the Ashford neighborhoods--Ashford Forest, Ashford Village, Ashford South, Ashford West, etc. They're zoned to HISD, but the schools are definitely some of the better ones in the district. It's located on the west side of town, near I-10 and Beltway 8. Mature trees and lots of parks.

Can't say that I'm familiar with the political climate there, but I know several liberals that live there and enjoy it. And it would definitely fit into the "integrated" category.