I'm a single dad with 2 kids moving to Houston from Michigan, where should we live? (Lubbock: for sale, real estate market)

[EleftheriaRU]

The commute isn't an issue since I'm self employed running my own internet business, but being in an established neighborhood (a place with some sense of community) that is safe and friendly and somewhat close and accessible to city life and all that entails would be great, especially since we like going to art museums and I like things like classical music. My kids go to parochial schools only, so a good school district isn't important necessarily but a good school usually means a good community and good property values so o keep that in mind. My firm budget is $300k for a house, and I prefer nicely kept older homes to newer (80s and more recent) homes, $250k is what I would put as my ideal price.


A little info about us: I'm 31 and I have twin 8 year old boys, we lost my wife about 9 months ago and Houston appeals to me for it's weather, the relatively low cost of entry into the real estate market, Texas' state politics and the fact that the tax structure of the state of Texas would be better for me business wise.


If it matters at all I'm a 2nd generation Lebanese American, Orthodox Christian by faith and my boys' mother was an Italian American so they're mixed Arab and white. We attend church a few times a week if possible.


Thank you!

[Weatherguy]

Texas state politics? Oookaay. But don't expect to find Houston to be generally as bigoted as our state politicians. If it's the fiscal conservatism you like, you'll find it, but as a result Texas is very low services state, with poor education, poor care for children, etc. But the state is indeed very business friendly overall, which I'm supportive of.

[EleftheriaRU]

Originally Posted by Weatherguy

Texas state politics? Oookaay. But don't expect to find Houston to be generally as bigoted as our state politicians. If it's the fiscal conservatism you like, you'll find it, but as a result Texas is very low services state, with poor education, poor care for children, etc. But the state is indeed very business friendly overall, which I'm supportive of.

Okay, great.

I have private health insurance and I send my children to private schools. I don't really see the point in arguing with you because I am not going to convince you of anything and you're not going to convince me of anything.

Would you like to contribute to the topic, or did you just feel the need to virtue signal for no reason?


I would love if you contributed to the topic, not too interesting in the virtue signaling.

[acousticset]

I lived in the greater Houston area and spent a significant time living north of the city. I'd check out Spring (west of I-45), The Woodlands, and Conroe on the north side of Houston. You might have more options of getting more land living in Conroe, but The Woodlands has more entertainment (mall, shops, movie theater, concert/festival venues, great schools). You would also have more drive time running errands living in Conroe. I know the Woodlands has a couple of private schools.

Katy is on the west side of town but has had a huge surge of new residential developments out there, as well as new shopping centers. It's a lovely suburb with great schools with a close knit community. There is only one way in and out if you wanted to spend any time commuting to the city (I-10), but with you working from home I imagine that really isn't an issue.

Best of luck on your search!

[Vicman]

I went on HAR.com and looked to see what $250K would get you in the West U/Bellaire/Willow Bend area. There's a cleared lot in Bellaire (no house on it, you have to have your own built) and maybe a few in the Westbury area. As for Montrose/Midtown you'll mainly find empty lots or condominiums. (there's one single family house in a central neighborhood I see on HAR: 2310 Lubbock St ). It's more difficult to find something in your criteria in my neck of the woods, sadly.

There are suburbs where the houses are cheaper but the community is still high quality. The Woodlands, Katy/Cinco Ranch, Sugar Land/Missouri City, Kingwood, etc. may be possibilities. Depending on which direction I could help you look for a house there.

Montrose, a centrally-located neighborhood, has a Greek Orthodox church http://www.agoc.org/ and a K-8 school, Annunciation Orthodox: http://www.aoshouston.org/

You may find the Sugar Land area appealing because it's near Our Lady of the Cedars, Welcome Page the Lebanese Maronite Church (11935 Bellfort Village Dr, Houston, TX 77031). It's not the same flavor of Christianity but I'm sure they love the hummus and Almaza.

As for parochial schools, the Roman Catholic church operates a few in Sugar Land:
* St. Theresa http://sttheresacatholicschool.org
* St. Laurence https://stlaurenceschool.org/

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by Weatherguy

Texas state politics? Oookaay. But don't expect to find Houston to be generally as bigoted as our state politicians. If it's the fiscal conservatism you like, you'll find it, but as a result Texas is very low services state, with poor education, poor care for children, etc. But the state is indeed very business friendly overall, which I'm supportive of.

It's best to disregard most of this post.

Have you looked at HAR yet?

[TXbywayof]

Originally Posted by EleftheriaRU

Okay, great.

I have private health insurance and I send my children to private schools. I don't really see the point in arguing with you because I am not going to convince you of anything and you're not going to convince me of anything.

Would you like to contribute to the topic, or did you just feel the need to virtue signal for no reason?


I would love if you contributed to the topic, not too interesting in the virtue signaling.

I'm smiling after reading this. Onward. To be honest, it's going to be difficult to meet all your criteria. You may have to have a further commute for school, church, or both. I was even thinking of a townhouse but I'm still not sure about the budget. Here are some churches: St. George is inside the loop on Mercer, Antiochian, heavier on the Arabic. St. Joseph is on Hammerly in Spring Branch close to beltway 8, Antiochian but very diverse, all English. St. Paul is in Katy, also Antiochian. They may still be a mission and I think just bought land to build. There is a Coptic church in 77095, sorry, no info on that one.

You may be able to find something in your budget close to Spring Branch..Spring Shadows maybe? I think this would be your closest fit. I hope you have visited Houston. We do not have the natural beauty of Michigan...don't have the snow or cold either.

[SugLandDAd]

I would look in Stafford, or Sugar Land... there is a Maronite Church not too far away, and in the older part of first colony, you may find a house in that price range.

Maronite Church

Welcome Page

Catholic School

St. Theresa Catholic School

Museums in Sugar Land

http://www.childrensdiscoveryfb.org/

http://www.hmns.org/hmns-at-sugar-land/


Houses

77478 Real Estate & Homes for Sale - HAR.com

http://www.har.com/zipcode_77479/rea...ice_max=300000

[Nick_tx]

I didn't see in your post, but where in Houston would you be working? What is your business?

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by Nick_tx

I didn't see in your post, but where in Houston would you be working? What is your business?

OP said "The commute isn't an issue since I'm self employed running my own internet business" so he works from home.