Stafford, TX (Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City: real estate, roughest, houses)

[mwilliamsorgtx]

Thinking of relocating to Stafford, TX could someone please share a little with me about Stafford? I am originally from Orange, TX, but I had never heard of Stafford I have not live in TX in about 15 yrs. My spouse is thinking of relocating there once retiring from the Marine Corp.

[Vicman]

Stafford is a major commercial center of northeast Fort Bend County. It is close to the rough "Alief" and "Fondren Southwest" sections of Houston as well as the middle and upper class City of Sugar Land.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Vicman

Stafford is a major commercial center of northeast Fort Bend County. It is close to the rough "Alief" and "Fondren Southwest" sections of Houston as well as the middle and upper class City of Sugar Land.

And not surprisingly, Stafford is best described as a mixed bag in terms of the two extremes. The juxtaposition of one of the roughest spots of our metropolitan area with one of its toniest is an oddity to say the least, and Stafford is the DMZ, so to speak.

I have never lived there and I do not know anyone who lives there, so I can't speak for exactly where you might want to look. There is work nearby and you have great access to the center of town. You can park and ride the light rail into downtown Houston at the Texas Medical Center if you want. The Med Center is straight up US 90 (Alternate) which becomes Main Street (often South Main in local reckoning, to describe the part of Main Street through which you would enter Houston). There is heavy construction along 90A so that may affect your commute depending on where in Stafford you end up.

[mpope409]

Can't say much about Stafford as I've honestly never really been there. Just drove through to get to Missouri City.

[bostoner]

^^Ditto. The only other thing I know about it is is that the city got rid of property taxes for both its citizens and businesses years ago so they've got none, nada, zero, zilch. Maybe that's why your spouse wants to retire there, eh?

[mwilliamsorgtx]

Thank you for your posting. Yes, my spouse did mention this to me about the city having rid themselves of property taxes. He is currently deployed to Iraq and spends his free time searching the surrounding areas for real estate near Houston.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by houstoner

^^Ditto. The only other thing I know about it is is that the city got rid of property taxes for both its citizens and businesses years ago so they've got none, nada, zero, zilch. Maybe that's why your spouse wants to retire there, eh?

They also have the municipal school district, is there a connection?

[mjewell]

I live close by and the best I can say for Stafford is that it's a buffer. Lots of cheap retail and warehouses around South Main and Murphy. It's sort of a 'can't decide if it's going up or down' yet kind of place. I'm hopeful that once the construction on 90A (South Main) is done it will improve. It's a gamble that just might pay off one day.

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by houstoner

^^Ditto. The only other thing I know about it is is that the city got rid of property taxes for both its citizens and businesses years ago so they've got none, nada, zero, zilch. Maybe that's why your spouse wants to retire there, eh?

Really? So how does the city raise revenue?

[mwilliamsorgtx]

Thank you.