Buying in Sharpstown - First Time Homebuying (Houston, Bellaire: real estate, apartment complexes)

[screwpeter]

I'm in need of advice from the pros on this forum.
My friend is a first-time buyer looking to purchase a single family house.

Budget: <$200k
Work location: Galleria
He is a 28 years old accounting professional.
He's single and not very concerned about the school district. He is okay with older houses. What he's looking for is the potential for long-term appreciation.

He thinks highly of Sharpstown because it is centrally located with easy access to 59 and 610 and is reasonably affordble. Contrary to popular belief, Sharpstown doesn't look like an area of high crime if you stay away from the apartment complexes. We drove by the other day and saw that the areas on both sides of 59 have seen significant gentrification lately.

Does anyone have any experience with that area or any suggestions?

[txdemo]

Consider Robindell. Not in Sharpstown but close.

Voted by Swamplot in 2009, Most Underappreciated Neighborhood: The Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate, 2009: The Winners! | Swamplot

Ditto Houston Press in 2010: The Five Most Underrated Neighborhoods In Houston | Houston Press

[Meyerland]

It's coming up and gentrifying slowly, but there are still highly dangerous pockets outside the neighborhoods.

Schools are bad, resale is so-so, and there is a stigma to that whole area. That being said, there are some good neighborhoods in there. For a single male, it's not the worst option. Drive through at night, as that's when you will see the true nature of a neighborhood.

Robindell is much better and will appreciate MUCH faster. Maybe look into braes timbers too.

[screwpeter]

I'm familiar with the Robindell area as I myself live in the Bellaire area. My understanding is that Robindell houses are selling >200k. That's why we are looking at Sharpstown as an alternative.

[txdemo]

Originally Posted by screwpeter

I'm familiar with the Robindell area as I myself live in the Bellaire area. My understanding is that Robindell houses are selling >200k. That's why we are looking at Sharpstown as an alternative.

There have been many on HAR sub-200k but they go option pending within a couple of days.

[txdemo]

Check Braeburn Terrace on HAR too. It's the neighborhood just east of Robindell. There's one on Jackwood.

[cougarlaw11]

I was a first-time buyer and purchased in the area east of HBU earlier this year. I am quite satisfied with my house. Crime has not been an issue at all.

I would advise your friend to stay off of the main streets and to look at homes in the heart of the various subdivisions. The homes are older, so get a good inspector and budget for maintenance costs. In my estimation, the area is good for long term appreciation. The transition will be slow, say over the next 10 years, but the neighborhood is on prime real estate. Growth is trending westward, and as Bellaire, Meyerland, and Westbury out-price buyers, demand for homes in Sharpstown will continue to increase.

edit: I am a single 31 year old lawyer who works in the Galleria area. Schools were not a major concern for me.

[screwpeter]

Originally Posted by txdemo

There have been many on HAR sub-200k but they go option pending within a couple of days.

Thanks!

I forgot to mention this: He will probably get married 3-5 years from now (hard to say when, especially when he's still looking for THE ONE , which is one of the most important investments you'll ever make lol). He will move to a more established neighborhood by then and will convert the house he's about to buy into a rental property. As such, he thinks that a healthy cash flow is an important consideration, aside from property appreciation.

How's the rental market doing in the Sharpstown area?

[Meyerland]

Out of 62 rental properties on HAR.com only a few are pending. So that shows a lack of demand.

[ipuck]

Originally Posted by screwpeter

Thanks!

I forgot to mention this: He will probably get married 3-5 years from now (hard to say when, especially when he's still looking for THE ONE , which is one of the most important investments you'll ever make lol). He will move to a more established neighborhood by then and will convert the house he's about to buy into a rental property. As such, he thinks that a healthy cash flow is an important consideration, aside from property appreciation.

How's the rental market doing in the Sharpstown area?

You sound like his pushy jewish mother. I wish i have a friend like you when i was a whipper snapper