Moving to Houston - Need Advice on Purchasing a Home that will Appreciate (Taylor: real estate, apartment)

[Htown2013]

My family and I will be relocating to the Houston area in April. Due to the nature of my job, we will almost certainly be transferred away from Houston in 4-6 years. As this is corporate relocation, will will have all of the commissions & closing costs reimbursed when selling in the 4-6 year time-frame.

We are primarily interested in purchasing a property that will appreciate the most in the 4-6 year time frame.

Our target price range is $300k-$350k, but we are willing to pay up to $425k if it opens up markets that will appreciate the most in that time frame.

Work location will be in SW Energy Corridor near the West Oaks Mall.

Desirable House Criteria:
4 bedrooms
2.5+ baths
2+ car attached garage
3000 sf
30 minute commute

Minimally Acceptable House Criteria:
3 bedrooms
2 baths
2 car attached garage (wife does not want detached)
2200+ sf
Good elementary schools
40 minute commute

The minimally acceptable house criteria is if that type of house will put us in an area with substantially higher appreciation over the next 4-6 years.

Thanks for the insight.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Best bet is Katy near westheimer or west park tollway. Lots of good neighborhoods down there including much of cinco ranch.

[piyf]

Good luck.

[houston-nomad]

I would take a realtor's advice over anyone else's on this board, including mine, but I would think that buying in an older, established neighborhood, close in to where you work, you have a much better shot at appreciation than in a MPC in the burbs.

[EasilyAmused]

Western 77077 zoned to Barbara Bush Elem., as close to Buffalo Bayou as you can get. older homes almost are all going to have detached. It keeps the homes cooler and actually you get a bit of a break on insurance.

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Western 77077 zoned to Barbara Bush Elem., as close to Buffalo Bayou as you can get. older homes almost are all going to have detached. It keeps the homes cooler and actually you get a bit of a break on insurance.

I agree also western, KISD end, of 77079 which feeds to Katy Taylor HS I believe is a good bet to appreciate...

either of these options will give you a reasonable commute although rush hour traffic will make it longer than the distance indicates....but the same congestion issue if you commute from farther awwy too

[JoshRall]

As long as you don't buy in the urbs, home values will appreciate.

[JaqueCosto]

use Houston Subdivisions and Houston Neighborhoods: HAR.com

there you can search by zip codes for neighborhoods, click them and it'll tell you appraised home values by year.

It's hard for homes in Houston area to appreciate due to new construction and uncontrolled apartment expansion.

Where you'll be working Cinco Ranch is the closest MPC.

[cheryjohns]

I would suggest Cinco, above the Westpark Tollway. Commute will be the desirable range - and appreciation is good. It's not so good near the West Oaks Mall.

[TeamCon]

Buy in Coles Crossings. People buy in that neighborhood just so they can send their kids to Sampson Elementary School. That's what my real estate agent told me, anyway.