Questions about Royal Oaks Country Club and other Houston areas

[geopainter]

Why does ROCC have a wall? Why does ANY gated community/country club have one? For feelings of exclusivity and security. That's the case nomatter what neighborhood or school zone it's adjacent to. Fact is, nowhere in this town is more than a mile from something sketchy or undesirable (of course, what that is in in the eye of the beholder). The block-by-block adventure of a large, non-zoned urban area.

I happen to live in the area between Royal Oaks, supposedly the dangerous edges of Alief and Westchase, and Memorial, supposedly the best westside living and schools. I drive through both regularly, and i can tell you, there are nice parts in each, not so nice in both. Dumpy apartments and strip malls around Memorial, stretches of the same along Westheimer and south. Beautiful homes in the neighborhoods, poorly maintained blights in both, crime inside and outside of the walls.

I was a victim of a violent crime in a "nice" part of Houston. Now, i am very paranoid about crime. So i check Spotcrime, Everyblock, City of Houston Crime maps regularly. And guess what? Doesn't matter your zip code or mortgage amount or school zone - crime happens everywhere, even in nicer/pricier parts of town. If it never happens to you, or you don't hear about it/choose to ignore it, that's great and you can have an excellent quality of life wherever you choose to live. If it has happened to you, it WILL color your perceptions of Houston, and it certainly opened my eyes to what's going on around town.

So generalizing that areas are better or worse isn't always valid. Are you statistically less likely to be a victim in a gated community or in a desireable suburb? Can you live happily and safely in a run-down apartment or inner city? These are questions that people come to CityData to gain insights into, but of course the opinions they get are going to be biased and should be taken with a big pile of salt. This one included! Ok, rant over!

[Chanteuse d' Opéra]

Originally Posted by geopainter

Why does ROCC have a wall? Why does ANY gated community/country club have one? For feelings of exclusivity and security. That's the case nomatter what neighborhood or school zone it's adjacent to. Fact is, nowhere in this town is more than a mile from something sketchy or undesirable (of course, what that is in in the eye of the beholder). The block-by-block adventure of a large, non-zoned urban area.

I happen to live in the area between Royal Oaks, supposedly the dangerous edges of Alief and Westchase, and Memorial, supposedly the best westside living and schools. I drive through both regularly, and i can tell you, there are nice parts in each, not so nice in both. Dumpy apartments and strip malls around Memorial, stretches of the same along Westheimer and south. Beautiful homes in the neighborhoods, poorly maintained blights in both, crime inside and outside of the walls.

I was a victim of a violent crime in a "nice" part of Houston. Now, i am very paranoid about crime. So i check Spotcrime, Everyblock, City of Houston Crime maps regularly. And guess what? Doesn't matter your zip code or mortgage amount or school zone - crime happens everywhere, even in nicer/pricier parts of town. If it never happens to you, or you don't hear about it/choose to ignore it, that's great and you can have an excellent quality of life wherever you choose to live. If it has happened to you, it WILL color your perceptions of Houston, and it certainly opened my eyes to what's going on around town.

So generalizing that areas are better or worse isn't always valid. Are you statistically less likely to be a victim in a gated community or in a desireable suburb? Can you live happily and safely in a run-down apartment or inner city? These are questions that people come to CityData to gain insights into, but of course the opinions they get are going to be biased and should be taken with a big pile of salt. This one included! Ok, rant over!

+1 rep for you!

[jordanaf]

As for builders in Rice Military I love Tricon. I have sold two of the new construction homes and they did well on inspection. My clients have been pleased with the service.

Intown builders does a really nice town home as well. Check out the new EaDo area.

[westres1]

Dont move to Royal Oaks if you have an issue with overly controlling HOA's. They measure your grass, if a leaf isnt picked up with in 24 hrs you may get a "letter" plus the $1000 per month HOA fee is a little excessive IMO. But if you want to live inside a wall its pretty nice. I would much rather live in 77079 than inside that wall. The surrounding area is great for dining and is not a crime ridden wasteland that others have expressed. Its only entrance goes out to Westheimer not the Alief side.