Dallas suburbs Vs Houston suburbs? (Austin, Plano: crime, how much, new home)

[codemc]

We currently live in Austin which we like but the home prices are crazy.

We recently visited the DFW area and liked the area and neighborhoods. Everything was very clean and spread out compared to Austin. But the homes seemed very similar to each other - 2 story brick homes on tight lots. (Plano, Coppel, Keller, FlowerMound)

Now we are researching the Houston area, specifically the Woodlands/Spring area and will visit soon.

For those living there or around, I had read and heard that Houston was more "crimey" attributed to being a large city and other factors even before moving to TX. How much of a concern is this when considering the Woodlands/Spring area?

Secondly, if you've lived or are familiar with areas in Dallas like FlowerMound, Plano, Coppell, Keller how would you describe the difference between The Woodlands/ Spring from those areas? Pros cons?

[TX Rover]

They’re practically interchangeable. All of your threads are splitting hairs.

[lotophage]

The suburbs of Houston and Austin look so similar that my brain sometimes gets confused driving around them about what city I'm in at the moment. It's the same developers doing the same home designs and neighborhood layouts. Same restaurants, same stores, same businesses.

[kreeyax]

When we lived in the DFW suburbs our property tax rate was about 2.2%, and when we moved to the Houston suburbs that went up to 3.7% because of MUD/WCID taxes. So that's something to think about since you pay that year after year it can really add up. Especially on a $500K+ home.

[Redlionjr]

Originally Posted by codemc

We currently live in Austin which we like but the home prices are crazy.

We recently visited the DFW area and liked the area and neighborhoods. Everything was very clean and spread out compared to Austin. But the homes seemed very similar to each other - 2 story brick homes on tight lots. (Plano, Coppel, Keller, FlowerMound)

Now we are researching the Houston area, specifically the Woodlands/Spring area and will visit soon.

For those living there or around, I had read and heard that Houston was more "crimey" attributed to being a large city and other factors even before moving to TX. How much of a concern is this when considering the Woodlands/Spring area?

Secondly, if you've lived or are familiar with areas in Dallas like FlowerMound, Plano, Coppell, Keller how would you describe the difference between The Woodlands/ Spring from those areas? Pros cons?

The Woodlands is probably about the safest burb you can be in even probably more so than the burbs you mention in DFW. Spring is a little bit more all over the place for various reasons. First it's unincorporated so it doesn't have any uniformity in look and feel. 2nd I-45 cuts through Spring and you'll notice a difference based on what side of the freeway you live on. East of 45 tends to have more crime and cheaper housing. Now personally I never consider Spring to be dangerous even east of 45 but there is more crime in that part of Spring.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by kreeyax

When we lived in the DFW suburbs our property tax rate was about 2.2%, and when we moved to the Houston suburbs that went up to 3.7% because of MUD/WCID taxes. So that's something to think about since you pay that year after year it can really add up. Especially on a $500K+ home.

^^This^^ One of the main downfalls of Houston area unincorporated wastelands. No way around it.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by usc619

^^This^^ One of the main downfalls of Houston area unincorporated wastelands. No way around it.

But, to me anyway, that's better than the buyers of new homes making the rest of the incorporated municipality help pay for the roads, water lines, and sewer lines that only serve the new homes. Those taxes go down over time, as debt for the initial construction is paid off.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by WRM20

But, to me anyway, that's better than the buyers of new homes making the rest of the incorporated municipality help pay for the roads, water lines, and sewer lines that only serve the new homes. Those taxes go down over time, as debt for the initial construction is paid off.

That’s BS because the new homes and residents are paying and contributing into the city tax base. That’s why you see successful cities like Plano thriving into the future.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by usc619

That’s BS because the new homes and residents are paying and contributing into the city tax base. That’s why you see successful cities like Plano thriving into the future.

I've lived in Plano. It was great when it had 15,000 people, ie 1972, but with 290,000, it's a suburban hell hole with a bunch of people I have no desire to live near.

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by Redlionjr

The Woodlands is probably about the safest burb you can be in even probably more so than the burbs you mention in DFW. Spring is a little bit more all over the place for various reasons. First it's unincorporated so it doesn't have any uniformity in look and feel. 2nd I-45 cuts through Spring and you'll notice a difference based on what side of the freeway you live on. East of 45 tends to have more crime and cheaper housing. Now personally I never consider Spring to be dangerous even east of 45 but there is more crime in that part of Spring.

That's pretty much true re east and west of 45 if you're talking about Harris County, but I wouldn't say that's true of the Montgomery County part of Spring east of 45 (stretching from the 45 & Rayford area to Spring Trails to Woodson's Reserve.