General thoughts/questions on new subdivisions in Fort Bend/far west side (Houston: apartment complexes)

[micmac99]

I am in no position to purchase a home right now, but if I won Powerball tomorrow and decided to stay in Houston, I would look at southern Katy (Grand Lakes southward) and other parts of northern Fort Bend with access to the Westpark. Not interested in the older areas of Richmond or Rosenberg unless they seriously do some redevelopment in the future (they look too much like those small dead country towns you pass through on Greyhound with nothing going on).

I am reading posts on here about some of the areas around there, where people are refusing to even consider. I thought these were new subdivisions. Can an area really become "the hood" that fast? I guess I haven't been checking out the market since I'm still an apartment dweller, but that's a little surprising an disturbing.

I also haven't given up on finding a wife and starting a (second) family someday, so I do need to have some general knowledge of the school districts.

I have driven up and down Fort Bend and much of Sugar Land, Mo City and Stafford. I like to go to the WalMart at Katy Mills and see a lot of undeveloped land near that mall, along the 99. I know it ain't staying undeveloped forever. That is generally a nice area and I really like to be in "new" areas and watch the growth and infrastructure take shape (although driving through a bunch of orange cones is painful while that lasts).

I would actually try to live out there now if METRO had bus service out that far, and if there were decent apartment complexes out there.

[Shivani61883]

Hi, born and raised inSpring Branch area, lived in Katy & CincoRanch for a while and still work there (I'm a realtor). Katy ISD is a great school district and Lamar CISD (Richmond area) is getting better. The South Katy & Richmond areas are fairly new and offer many options as far as home price range (although rising), shopping, entertainment, etc. I am sure you see this when you drive around up/down 99 and near Katy Mills too. Have you seen the large development off I-10 near Katy/Ft Bend Road? Very large mixed use development. Home values in most of Katy have remained very good. Yes, some pockets areas (most which suffered foreclosures and have too many homes turned into rentals), have become less than desirable to live. I have only seen areas like that in Katy - North of I-10.

No Metro bus service but there are a Metro Park & Ride spots. Numerous nice apartment complexes - getting more and more expensive though. You could really rent a house with the prices but since your single, apartment may work better.

Have you noticed all of the hotels/motels and restaurants popping up on I-10? They have been starting construction on the Northside of the highway also - large area of land between Mason & Westgreen.

Good luck!

[micmac99]

Originally Posted by Shivani61883

Hi, born and raised inSpring Branch area, lived in Katy & CincoRanch for a while and still work there (I'm a realtor). Katy ISD is a great school district and Lamar CISD (Richmond area) is getting better. The South Katy & Richmond areas are fairly new and offer many options as far as home price range (although rising), shopping, entertainment, etc. I am sure you see this when you drive around up/down 99 and near Katy Mills too. Have you seen the large development off I-10 near Katy/Ft Bend Road? Very large mixed use development. Home values in most of Katy have remained very good. Yes, some pockets areas (most which suffered foreclosures and have too many homes turned into rentals), have become less than desirable to live. I have only seen areas like that in Katy - North of I-10.

No Metro bus service but there are a Metro Park & Ride spots. Numerous nice apartment complexes - getting more and more expensive though. You could really rent a house with the prices but since your single, apartment may work better.

Have you noticed all of the hotels/motels and restaurants popping up on I-10? They have been starting construction on the Northside of the highway also - large area of land between Mason & Westgreen.

Good luck!

When I drive in the area I usually take the Westpark Tollway to the 99 and get off at Kingsland so I don't see the I-10 frontage road much, although I did drive the I-10 frontage road back into Westchase last Sunday morning. I passed the new Rudy's BBQ and some other stuff that looked interesting.

An apartment may indeed work better for me, but if I HAD the money and the credit rating, I would be very tempted to buy a house...but then again, I'd have to buy a riding mower and pay for my own repairs and stuff, and I am not a handyman by any means. I'm too used to calling the leasing office and putting in a maintenance request.

How much would a house out there rent? Something close to the Westpark/99. Not anything fancy, just a 2 BR or something. Would I have to deal with an HOA? How exactly would that work as far as extra expenses, or are HOA fees covered in the rent?