Houston Suburbs versus Dallas Suburbs (Plano, The Woodlands: appointed, real estate, rental)

[Amy H]

My husband's job is moving us from Dallas to Houston within the next couple of months. We went down to Houston last weekend to evaluate areas to live and were somewhat disappointed. My husband's office will be at the Beltway and I45. I will work part-time in downtown Houston (hopefully missing the worst of rush-hour traffic). If you are familiar with the Dallas area, we currently live in the Plano/Allen/Frisco area (west side of Allen). This weekend, we looked primarily in the Klein ISD area of Spring. We found some beautiful neighborhoods that we liked very much (Gleannloch Farms and Auburn Lakes). In a lot of ways, inside the neighborhoods it is much prettier than Dallas. The problem comes when you leave the neighborhoods. There were pawn shops, adult video stores, trailers, tarot card readings, liquor stores, etc. within a block of schools and daycare centers. In the area of Dallas where we live, there is not what I would call an "eyesore" within 5 (probably 10 miles) of our house and even farther if you go in certain directions. My question is: is this just what life is like in Houston or is there an area that is more "zoned" so to speak? We do think the Woodlands are beautiful, but while home prices in suburban Houston are comparable to suburban Dallas, the Woodlands is significantly higher and we'd prefer not to downgrade our home. Plus, I don't really want to spend 350k for a DR Horton home. Our price range is $300k to $400k, but we'd prefer to stay on the lower side of that. We also like the suburbs and would like to stay on the North side of town. We will have kids in school, so good schools are important. I really don't mean to sound snobby. (Real estate tends to bring out the snob in anyone, right?) In many ways, Houston is prettier than Dallas (for example, the trees), but my husband and I have grown up in Dallas and aren't accustomed to seeing XXX stores, etc. in the suburbs. To be sure, Dallas has such places, but they have been largely kept out of the suburbs. I guess my question is, instead of my neighborhood being a small island are there any big islands in North Houston other than the Woodlands?

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by Amy H

I guess my question is, instead of my neighborhood being a small island are there any big islands in North Houston other than the Woodlands?

No, and there're boobie bars around there too.
Houston is much bigger city that Dallas, and has grown at a pace too fast to "plan" in many directions. The NW, around 45, is hard because you have The Woodlands then miles and miles of bad and then you land in the expensive areas.
That's why people like the West side of Houston so much. There really isn't any ghetto along I-10 west of Downtown. But it's an unrealistic location for you. And realistically you have to go all the way to Katy to get in the 300's, and it would be tract also.

[Mr. Football]

If you're husband is working around 45 and the Beltway you have a ton of excellent options. EasilyA likes to pimp the Westside like she's the mayor, but there'd be no reason to even want to look there when you have much better choices than Katy in the North/NW suburbs: look at The Woodlands, Kingwood (more for your $$$), Champions, Klein, Spring, HP Corridor, Cypress.

You may want to check out neighborhoods along 249, which will give you good access to the Beltway.

[EasilyAmused]

Mr. Football is the Mayor of Cypress, so you'll get some good info about that area as well.

[Poltracker]

Amy. the problem is that when you are in Plano, Frisco or Allen, you are within a city limits and I believe those areas have zoning or at least ordinances that can limit the types or distances on establishments. The neighborhoods you are looking at are located in unincorporated areas of the county where there are no ordinances in place (counties cannot make ordinances). Individual communities can write deed restictins to keep their communities nice but they cannot do anything about the community next door. This is the problem you are seeing. It also present in the Dallas area where there are unincorporated areas.
Best advice is to stick to master planned communities like Woodlands or Kingwood. Where deed restrictions and HOAs prevent a lot of this.

[Amy H]

Mr. Football,

We visited the Klein ISD area and were slightly troubled by the visual clutter (pawn shops, liquor stores, adult video stores, trailers, etc.) right outside really nice neighborhoods and schools. Is there an area in North/Northwest Houston that is not so cluttered (i.e. nicer looking and more upscale/desirable retail)? It seemed to us like maybe things were a bit nicer toward 249? Is west of 249 in Cypress? What is Cypress like? Are there billboards, undesirable retail, etc. everywhere or does it look more "zoned"? We were originally considering Cypress but I'm a bit turned off by the "open concept" schools. Can you recommend any good areas along 249. I will be going downtown and have heard that I should stay away from 290.

Thanks

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Amy H

... my husband and I have grown up in Dallas and aren't accustomed to seeing XXX stores, etc. in the suburbs. To be sure, Dallas has such places, but they have been largely kept out of the suburbs.

Y'all have probably been accustomed to not being able to buy beer at many local grocery stores, too, or having a liquor store on almost every corner. Most of us natives have never dealt with those silly laws you have.

Well I'm only familiar with the south half of this area, but if the north is anything similar you'll find an occasional massage parlor/bath-house, tattoo & smoke shop, and those 24 Hour 'news stands'. Oh yeah, and 7-7-7 game rooms but those are more rare. Check yes on pawn shops, too. You can find all of the above within about a 4-5 square mile area in Clear Lake, not next door to, but a couple miles from $500k+ homes.

Also, many mom & pop type movie rental stores have ''back rooms.'' I remember being aware of all of this as a middle-schooler in the late 80s, and today things really haven't changed.

Honestly, it's not really a big deal.

[Mr. Football]

Originally Posted by Amy H

Mr. Football,

We visited the Klein ISD area and were slightly troubled by the visual clutter (pawn shops, liquor stores, adult video stores, trailers, etc.) right outside really nice neighborhoods and schools. Is there an area in North/Northwest Houston that is not so cluttered (i.e. nicer looking and more upscale/desirable retail)? It seemed to us like maybe things were a bit nicer toward 249? Is west of 249 in Cypress? What is Cypress like? Are there billboards, undesirable retail, etc. everywhere or does it look more "zoned"? We were originally considering Cypress but I'm a bit turned off by the "open concept" schools. Can you recommend any good areas along 249. I will be going downtown and have heard that I should stay away from 290.

Thanks

Check out the "HP Corridor" area. It's about the size of The Woodlands, with identical demographics, big mature trees, excellent schools and has tree-lined boulevard streets and a lot less visual clutter than other areas. The HP Corridor begins at roughly 249 & Louetta and stretches all the way west down Louetta towards Coles Crossing. Neighborhoods in this area: Vintage Park, Lakewood Forest, Lakewood Glen, Lakewood Oaks Estates, Villaggio, Village Creek, Lakewood Crossing, Wincrest Falls, Tuscany, Longwood, Rock Creek, Stable Gate, Northpointe Forest, Lismore Lakes, Hidden Falls, Northlake Forest, etc.

Here are my pics, most of which are from the above neighborhoods:

Flickr: Photos from longwood_cypress

[Supermac34]

I'd also look at Champions, Champions Forest, Champion Woods, The Falls at Champions, Memorial Northwest, Spring Creek Oaks/Forest, Gleanloch, Windrose, etc.

[bostoner]

Originally Posted by Mr. Football

EasilyA likes to pimp the Westside like she's the mayor,

EA's a girl???!