Relocating to West Houston - What's the market like for buying? (Sugar Land: homes, landscaping)

[Hangster]

Unfortunately, its a huge seller's market right now. Several friends have lose out on offers over asking prices.

[Bike4Life]

There are more than 200 homes in and around Cinco Ranch priced between $150K to $300K. I wouldn't panic as some people aren't truthful in their comments.

[Hangster]

Originally Posted by Bike4Life

There are more than 200 homes in and around Cinco Ranch priced between $150K to $300K. I wouldn't panic as some people aren't truthful in their comments.

Just did search on HAR. In Cinco Ranch, Criteria = 4 bedrooms and max list price of $300K like the OP stated only returned 40 available homes. Of those 40, 28 are pending status so actually only 12 homes that are active and available on the market.

OP, you can go to www.HAR.com and do searches for yourself and see what's available in your criteria, price range and area you are looking for.

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by golferadam

What's driving the difference? I think of SL and CR as almost identical suburbs just in different locations. I didn't realize SL was selling faster and higher than CR.

They aren't selling higher, just faster. "Fast" is relative. They are not long on the market in Cinco, either - just not as crazy.

[Bike4Life]

Originally Posted by Hangster

Just did search on HAR. In Cinco Ranch, Criteria = 4 bedrooms and max list price of $300K like the OP stated only returned 40 available homes. Of those 40, 28 are pending status so actually only 12 homes that are active and available on the market.

Yes, but I think the potential buyer said "Cinco Ranch" meant to include the surrounding area (what else do you call it? It's the largest subdivision in the area). There are a lot more houses for about $215 - $275K just around Cinco Ranch NW.

[ToyYot]

Originally Posted by Bike4Life

There are more than 200 homes in and around Cinco Ranch priced between $150K to $300K. I wouldn't panic as some people aren't truthful in their comments.

If you're actually in the market you know that there is no exaggeration here and it seems to cut across all price points. And its not just west.

[tzche]

Thanks everyone for the insight.

As Bike4Life assumed, we are open to neighborhoods in the Cinco Ranch area not just Cinco Ranch. However, Hangster is right in the fact that when you really narrow things down to what we are looking for then only ~10 - 20 houses are listed with a good portion of those pending. Hopefully some nice places will be available during the house-hunting trip.

I am actually curious to hear more response to golferadam's question of the difference between CR and SL. I will be commuting to basically the corner of Highway 6 and Westpark Tollway so getting too far south or west in SL could increase the commute. However, it seems that in places like New Territory and Greatwood you can get somewhat larger homes at a better price. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Social D]

Sugar Land is more established and less competition between new and existing homes vs Cnco "area" where there are still a lot of new builds for the existing homes on the market to compete with. Sugar Land is it's own City but there are areas with a Sugar Land mailing address that are not actually in the City limits. The best neighborhoods are in the City limits of SL and generally this is reflected in the cost. Cinco is not in the City limits of Katy, but has a Katy mailing address. New Territory and Greatwood are not in the Sugar Land City limits yet. Greatwood is also in a different school district than NT or most of the rest of SL.

Someone mentioned renting first which is not a bad idea if you are totally clueless about an area or if you are not sure you will live in the City very long. But if you know what you want and where you want to live why take on the hassle and expense of moving twice ( into the rental and then later into the house).

[trekbiker]

Originally Posted by Social D

New Territory and Greatwood are not in the Sugar Land City limits yet. Greatwood is also in a different school district than NT or most of the rest of SL.

The market in NT and Greatwood as well as Canyon Gate is very competitive, I personally spent 6 months getting beat out on nearly half a dozen offers in those areas, not to mention visiting several dozen homes only to come home and find that they changed to "pending".

You can't "sleep on it" when home hunting in those areas, either, just like SL city limits and the loop areas.

The only places where you have more time if you don't like to hurry, is south and west of rt 762 towards rosenberg. Even that is getting more competitive, too.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by tzche

We are relocating to West Houston and looking for a home in either Cinco Ranch or Sugarland area less than 300k. We are hoping for ~ 4 bedrooms, a decent yard, nice neighborhood, good schools.

As others have said, it's a tough market for buyers right now.

If you are looking in Sugar Land and Katy, you should also be looking at Richmond addresses that are geographically between those two areas. That will give you additional options.

If still you have no luck, you might consider renting and put off buying until a slow season like Fall/Winter.

Originally Posted by Jonathz

I don't think for 300K (for properties of 2800 - 3300 sq ft) is realistic for Sugar Land / Katy that zoned to good school. You properly need to up to 400K. You can find properties for 300K that zoned to OK school or homes that are not updated or maintained. Competition is fierce in Sugar Land / Katy Cinco Area

Actually, you can still find <$300k homes zoned to great schools (including S.F. Austin High) in the Sugar Land neighborhoods of Stratford Park, Summerfield, Village of Oak Lake, Park Pointe. The lower pricing is because these are not part of a masterplanned community (instead are separate neighborhoods with separate HOAs) and are not technically in city limits. But nice communities zoned to good schools.

And I have said, someone looking in Sugar Land and Cinco/Katy in that price range should also be looking at some Richmond neighborhoods that are geographically between the two (Aliana, Waterside Estates, Long Meadow Farms, etc.)