Any Reasons Not To Retire to Lake Conroe?

[Lake Conroe resident]

Originally Posted by borgertx

Several of the homes we are watching in Walden are made of stucco. Thought stucco homes would be built in dryer areas. Would you be worried about these homes over time? What are your thoughts? Not long before we'll actually be coming down to buy. Thanks so much.

I would not advise getting a stucco home anywhere in South East Tx or anywhere else where it rains as much as it does here. They are fine for CA, AZ, NV, etc... where the barely get any rain and the air is always dry. For here where it's either raining or humid not so good. If your in doubt of this just call any home inspector or stucco inspector. Stucco repair will be a great business to be in shortly as most of the people moving from CA, FL etc.. are building these homes without any thought...

[mariposa]

Originally Posted by Mr. Lake

Everytime I asked a Lake Conroe resident about the Conroe Regional Medical Center, I got an answer like "Oh, we go to the Woodlands just down the freeway." or, "Our doctor is right over in Tomball..." I got the impression that there is no good medical care close to Lake Conroe, and that we would be going all the way downtown for anything important. And we got the impression that we should not have a doctor who would put us in Conroe Regional. Have we got the wrong picture?

A friend, who has been an L&D nurse for at least 20 years, has worked at hospitals in The Woodlands and Conroe. She's always told me to go to Conroe. I'd not be afraid to seek care there. I'll take her word for it, because she's truly been on the inside and has nothing to gain from recommending one over the other.

My doctor is in Conroe, and I'm perfectly satisfied with him. I know several people in The Woodlands who use an ophthalmologist in Conroe, because he is that good. I've had both good and bad experiences with doctors and dentists in The Woodlands and Conroe. It's probably like anywhere else in that respect.

The original hospital in The Woodlands had a horrible reputation until taken over by Memorial Hermann. The maternity ward (when I had my baby in the very early 1990s) wasn't really more than glorified birthing rooms. I was high-risk, so I had to have my child in Houston.

St. Luke's also has a hospital out there, so I can't imagine needing to go downtown unless something was extremely complicated.

[borgertx]

Originally Posted by Lake Conroe resident

There's no reason not to retire here and your right the fees and taxes are going to be less $ than the Woodlands not to mention a lot less traffic. We are getting a lot of new retail coming to the area including a new mall so there will really be no reason other than visiting your family to go to the Woodlands anymore. Walden is a very nice area where you can get a lot for your money as are many other subdivisions around the lake. You can enjoy the lake and play golf at the 12 or so courses we have within a 10 mile radius. Good luck and enjoy. Low crime, low traffic, low tax rate, safe neighborhoods, lake and golf = good place to retire.

We will be coming down next week to look at houses in Lake Conroe area. Will we have any problems getting into subdivisions (Walden, Del Lago, Bentwater, April Sound or Seven Coves) to drive around and look at houses? See a lot of houses on Browning St. in Walden for sale. Is that a good street to check out? Thanks!

[cubssoxfan]

We will be coming down next week to look at houses in Lake Conroe area. Will we have any problems getting into subdivisions (Walden, Del Lago, Bentwater, April Sound or Seven Coves) to drive around and look at houses? See a lot of houses on Browning St. in Walden for sale. Is that a good street to check out? Thanks!

When we did a scouting trip last month, some of the neighborhoods were gated. The guards would not let us throught to view a listed house without a realtor. So try to incorporate this into your plans. Have fun.

[borgertx]

Originally Posted by Lake Conroe resident

There's no reason not to retire here and your right the fees and taxes are going to be less $ than the Woodlands not to mention a lot less traffic. We are getting a lot of new retail coming to the area including a new mall so there will really be no reason other than visiting your family to go to the Woodlands anymore. Walden is a very nice area where you can get a lot for your money as are many other subdivisions around the lake. You can enjoy the lake and play golf at the 12 or so courses we have within a 10 mile radius. Good luck and enjoy. Low crime, low traffic, low tax rate, safe neighborhoods, lake and golf = good place to retire.

To live in any of these subdivisions, do you have to join the country club? In an e-mail from a realtor on a house in April Sound, he stated that it was mandatory that one join the country club. It was a group of houses that had high monthly fees and the requirement about the country club. Hope all of the subdivisions don't have that requirement.

[Lake Conroe resident]

[quote=borgertx;4084950]To live in any of these subdivisions, do you have to join the country club? In an e-mail from a realtor on a house in April Sound, he stated that it was mandatory that one join the country club. It was a group of houses that had high monthly fees and the requirement about the country club. Hope all of the subdivisions don't have that requirement.[/quote]
In answer to this question as well as the previous; most of the subdivisions are gated though Walden, Del Lago and Seven Coves are not. April Sound has a 24 hour patrolled security with a manned gate so no entry ( I live in AS) Bentwater is the same way no entry as well as some of the smaller subdivisions like Point Aquarius, South Shore, Cliffs, Grand Harbor, Blue Heron Bay, Riverstone, Pelican Bay, too many to list all gated. Walden has mandatory HOA fees of 840 per year while April Sound you pay 142 per quarter to the POA and another 56 per mo to the Country Club, and yes it is mandatory ( it gives you access to the pools, fitness club, marina, restaurant, boat launch etc...

[Lake Conroe resident]

[quote=borgertx;4069209]We will be coming down next week to look at houses in Lake Conroe area. Will we have any problems getting into subdivisions (Walden, Del Lago, Bentwater, April Sound or Seven Coves) to drive around and look at houses? See a lot of houses on Browning St. in Walden for sale. Is that a good street to check out? Thanks![/quote]
No problem driving around Walden; Browning is a good street though it's kind of a main street to get to some of the less busy ones, not bad though. Don't get a place on Walden Rd or one that backs up to it as it's getting busier every year and only going to get worse with the road noise and traffic etc... 6000 lots in Walden total though some are owned by adjoining homes

[princessdeonthelake]

When considering moving to Lake Conroe, check our issues with each Property Owners Association first. For example, noise ordinance, regualtions on building, etc. I can tell all first hand, Walden has a very weak association. They tackle small issues, not the big ones.

[princessdeonthelake]

I have heard April Sound has heavy deed restrictions and enforces them. Walden tackles small issues.

Has anyone had any issues concerning SJRA regulations on builing a boat deck on Lake Conroe? Does anyone know what restrictions the property owenrs association has in Bentwater and April Sound?

[Lake Conroe resident]

[quote=princessdeonthelake;4678285]
Has anyone had any issues concerning SJRA regulations on builing a boat deck on Lake Conroe? Does anyone know what restrictions the property owenrs association has in Bentwater and April Sound. Yes to both.