Royal Oaks Country Club (Houston, Spring: apartment complex, lofts, crime)

[TXbywayof]

Lakes of Parkway perhaps? It's also close to Westside Tennis Club which is reasonably priced. Again, not sure about schools.

[NYCtoHOS]

Are you referring to these? Càceres Houston Townhomes Condos Townhouses Luxury Gated Community Patio Home near Downtown Inner Loop

I'm guessing asking for a non-townhouse style home would be too much

[ToyYot]

Originally Posted by TXbywayof

Lakes of Parkway perhaps? It's also close to Westside Tennis Club which is reasonably priced. Again, not sure about schools.

This is a good choice, the elementary is supposed to be top notch and the high school not bad. Commute not great though.

[NYCtoHOS]

Very helpful, how safe is the area surrounding Royal Oaks? I recognize the real estate in the community has flat lined, do you think that may change in the future whether it be up or down? Any concerns about stucco homes in Houston?

[gsmj]

Originally Posted by NYCtoHOS

Very helpful, how safe is the area surrounding Royal Oaks? I recognize the real estate in the community has flat lined, do you think that may change in the future whether it be up or down? Any concerns about stucco homes in Houston?

I think Alief ISD is what is most hampering long term sustained growth in that area. Too many apartments feed Alief ISD. Look just north of Westheimer to see the difference.

[ToyYot]

Originally Posted by NYCtoHOS

Very helpful, how safe is the area surrounding Royal Oaks? I recognize the real estate in the community has flat lined, do you think that may change in the future whether it be up or down? Any concerns about stucco homes in Houston?

Defn not the best neighborhood so I say safety would be questionable outside of the gates.

Do a forum search on stucco, some do seem to have concerns because of the humid climate.

[Vicman]

AFAIK the only public (non-resident) entrance to this place is on Westheimer. The communities north of Westheimer are safer and more affluent. They are in Houston ISD. Then north of the Buffalo Bayou is Spring Branch ISD (The Westside HS bit of HISD stretches out like a long string) and Stratford HS of SBISD is well regarded

Originally Posted by ToyYot

Defn not the best neighborhood so I say safety would be questionable outside of the gates.

Do a forum search on stucco, some do seem to have concerns because of the humid climate.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by NYCtoHOS

Thanks everyone! I was eying one of <$750k villas as we do travel often, prefer a smaller home <3,500 sq ft, don't care for a big yard, and will likely opt to just put future kid(s) into private school although a nice public school option is always nice to have. Given everyone's feedback, is there any neighborhoods with the Mediterranean look like this aside from Royal Oaks? Work is downtown.

You might look at Lake Pointe or Avalon in Sugar Land. Better investment compared to Royal Oaks IMO. I'm not a fan of Mediterranean (personally prefer brick/traditional) but others are and they have them out here.

[madrone2k]

I don't have any recent experience with Royal Oaks, I just looked at a few homes there when it was new. I did like what they were trying to do.

I agree with the idea that -- as far as the area overall -- its good to look north of westheimer. despite that, south of Buffalo Bayou is still spotty because of the 70s-era apartment complexes there. North of the bayou and south of I-10 is "traditionally" more desirable. Despite that, I think there is still a sort of colony of French ex-pats -- a good sign, I think -- who cluster in the area between Briarforest and the bayou, west of Sam Houston Tollway.

[davidtk]

We took a serious look at building a new home in Royal Oaks a few years ago. We loved the homes and it would have been a 5 minute commute for me, but decided against it. I didn't want to be on the perimeter, where your back yard is up against Westpark or Richmond. Homes on the interior, right across the street sometimes, were around $100K more and started at around $750K at the time. I also didn't like the lack of sidewalks since we like to walk our dogs, small yards, $2400 a year homeowners dues, and lack of 3 car garages.