Clear Lake City/Shores, Seabrook, Kemah (Houston, Pasadena: fit in, houses, buying)

[StepRN3]

My husband and I are new to the Houston area. Which area has the BEST schools and is the most sought after among Clear Lake City, Clear Lake Shores, Seabrook and Kemah?

We are in our early 30's and can spend from $700,000 to $900,000.

Thank you!

[mjewell]

Check out the Texas Education Agency's website for school statistics, but for that housing price you should expect the very best Texas has to offer!

[Padanky]

Clear Lake.

Clear Creek is a good school district but Clear Lake is better. I live in League City as of this month and went to Clear Creek my whole life. I am moving to Pearland at the end of this month and putting my two children through Pearland School District is better than Clear Lake and Clear Creek.

Clear Lake and Seabrook will go to Clear Lake District and Kemah and Clear Lake Shores will be Clear Creek School District.

[texas7]

CCISD is excellent - however the only high school I would avoid is Clearbrook. Clear Lake H.S. or Clear Creek H.S. are wonderful. Look at homes that feed into either one of those two schools.

[hguy00]

Originally Posted by StepRN3

My husband and I are new to the Houston area. Which area has the BEST schools and is the most sought after among Clear Lake City, Clear Lake Shores, Seabrook and Kemah?

We are in our early 30's and can spend from $700,000 to $900,000.

Thank you!

"StepRN3," welcome to Houston.

Perhaps I am crazy, but I question why public schools are even a consideration when you are thinking of buying a near-million-dollar home. If you want your children to have every opportunity available to them, you should be looking at private education, like St. Johns in River Oaks or some other ivy-league-prep equivalent. If you want something closer to the lake and are willing to settle, you might try some of the larger churches in the area known for their great schools. If the latter is your choice, interview the instructors, ask for testing scores, and review the curriculum, especially the required reading lists (which should be well-rounded and extensive).

As for homes in this near-million-dollar price range, the more elegant options are in the older parts of Houston. The Galveston-Bay area is considered the "burbs" and generally lacks homes with charm and personality. Clear Lake Shores probably has the better image for being "older money." There you will find the occasional street barely wide enough for two cars to pass, large trees, and restored 1970-something Jaguars rolling amidst the more modest lake homes.

Many other areas around the lake are more likely to have newer construction that is often characterized by rivers of concrete and gaudy monstrosities. Here you are more likely to see the ostentatious yellow Hummer with 22" spinners pulling a boat that is used once every two years.

Seabrook and Kemah are old fishing villages. Over the years these areas have become more desirable and closer to the Bay, or on the Bay itself, you will find many interesting homes.

Ultimately, I would choose based on my tastes and not prestige--for all these areas have a good reputation. Land value is not a concern. Furthermore, the style and type of homes will be irregular and patchy. I am writing in very general terms, so look in all the areas. In case you can’t tell, I am biased towards the more charming and quant feeling that properties have when the trees are actually bigger than the house they shade. I like porches, hammocks, and vine-covered arbors. The white stucco mansion perched atop a bare knoll is not attractive to me, but it would be another man’s ideal.

~Just my very biased ramblings,
Chris

[roonie460]

Hi, my husband and I will be moving to the Houston area soon. But we will be looking for a house in the $130,000 or lower catagory. We don't have to worry about schools though. Is it realistic to expect a nice house in that price range? We have to be within 60 minutes of Deer Park. Thanks in advance.

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by hguy00

"StepRN3," welcome to Houston.

Perhaps I am crazy, but I question why public schools are even a consideration when you are thinking of buying a near-million-dollar home. If you want your children to have every opportunity available to them, you should be looking at private education, like St. Johns in River Oaks or some other ivy-league-prep equivalent. If you want something closer to the lake and are willing to settle, you might try some of the larger churches in the area known for their great schools. If the latter is your choice, interview the instructors, ask for testing scores, and review the curriculum, especially the required reading lists (which should be well-rounded and extensive).

As for homes in this near-million-dollar price range, the more elegant options are in the older parts of Houston. The Galveston-Bay area is considered the "burbs" and generally lacks homes with charm and personality. Clear Lake Shores probably has the better image for being "older money." There you will find the occasional street barely wide enough for two cars to pass, large trees, and restored 1970-something Jaguars rolling amidst the more modest lake homes.

Many other areas around the lake are more likely to have newer construction that is often characterized by rivers of concrete and gaudy monstrosities. Here you are more likely to see the ostentatious yellow Hummer with 22" spinners pulling a boat that is used once every two years.

Seabrook and Kemah are old fishing villages. Over the years these areas have become more desirable and closer to the Bay, or on the Bay itself, you will find many interesting homes.

Ultimately, I would choose based on my tastes and not prestige--for all these areas have a good reputation. Land value is not a concern. Furthermore, the style and type of homes will be irregular and patchy. I am writing in very general terms, so look in all the areas. In case you can’t tell, I am biased towards the more charming and quant feeling that properties have when the trees are actually bigger than the house they shade. I like porches, hammocks, and vine-covered arbors. The white stucco mansion perched atop a bare knoll is not attractive to me, but it would be another man’s ideal.

~Just my very biased ramblings,
Chris

Not so true. There are some wonderful old 1920's era mansions and mini-mansions along Todville Rd. and up along the bay at Barbour's Cut along Bayridge Dr. They are some of the best kept secrets around. I'm not actually sure the ones on Bayridge would fit in their price range though.

You are right about the new construction and the fact that private schools are available.

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by roonie460

Hi, my husband and I will be moving to the Houston area soon. But we will be looking for a house in the $130,000 or lower catagory. We don't have to worry about schools though. Is it realistic to expect a nice house in that price range? We have to be within 60 minutes of Deer Park. Thanks in advance.

Why don't you live in Deer Park? There are a number of nice houses in that price range though I would suggest you stay away from the new construction at San Augustine and East streets. Deer Park is very nice and very safe. Unlike Houston, a police officer actually shows up when you call and usually within 5 minutes.

[MkMom]

Originally Posted by Poltracker

Why don't you live in Deer Park? There are a number of nice houses in that price range though I would suggest you stay away from the new construction at San Augustine and East streets. Deer Park is very nice and very safe. Unlike Houston, a police officer actually shows up when you call and usually within 5 minutes.

May I ask why you suggest staying away from the New construction in Deer Park? We are relocating to the Houston area and I am from Pasadena. I want to be near home but in the great school district that is DPisd. It is my understanding that they have open enrollment so we will not have to attend LaPorte ISD which is where the new construction is districted. Having to travel down every other weekend to visit communities is a long and drawn out task that I would like to narrow down. Please advise...

[gimmemusik911]

Best schools, PEARLAND. But of those you ask about, not sure. I know they brag about Clear Lake, but I can tell you that entire school district leaves a lot to be desired. I raised mine in Pearland schools (and HE was National Honor Society, which I thank the teachers and the school district!) and pulled one from Clear Creek, I think it was, because they THOUGHT they were great and were a brutally sad disappointment.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by StepRN3

My husband and I are new to the Houston area. Which area has the BEST schools and is the most sought after among Clear Lake City, Clear Lake Shores, Seabrook and Kemah?

We are in our early 30's and can spend from $700,000 to $900,000.

Thank you!