Sugar Land Neighborhoods??? (Houston, Austin, The Woodlands: crime, houses, buy)

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Ok, this is like the tenth poster in a week talking about hiring in Stafford. What company is in Stafford?

Texas Instruments, UPS, Tyco, Microwave Networks, Input/Output

[icon7]

No business or property taxes in Stafford. Lots of small businesses open shop in the area. It is on the top 100 list of places to start a small business. They collected enough cash via sales taxes, use feees etc. so they gave the businesses and residents a break.

A long, long, long, time ago...I would shop at stores in Stafford because their sales tax was 3-3.5% less than Houston....now it is about the same....but then Gas was 75-80cents!

[MalteseJane]

Originally Posted by SilverWings

Jane, strongly suggest you revise your wish list away from older homes. Building codes were pretty lax then, particularly with regard to energy efficiency. Ideally, it's best not to go much past 10 years old or you could be facing some extremely serious electric bills. I've been told that older homes here have virtually no insulation and often come with wood siding which needs replaced every 10 years or so. (Newer homes come with "hardy-plank" siding which looks like wood but is a concrete like substance)

I also don't think you'll find many older homes in Sugar Land. This whole area is just very new in general, and the older homes are on the best lots which command a price premium.

But either way I think you'll love it here in Sugar Land.

I beg to disagree with you. I live in a house that was build in 1983. Every contractor that came to work in our house said it was well build and even better build than most of the new houses. As for energy efficiency all depends on the upkeep. Our house is as energy efficient as the new houses if not better. We have changed all the windows to double pane and our a/c unit is a 14 seer. If you can find a 13 seer a/c unit in a new house you are lucky. Most will put in only 12 seer. We don't have wood siding, we have brick. My last electric bill was 242$ for a 2185 sq feet home and I keep my a/c at 73° during the day and 72 at night.

[Ideo]

Jane & Sue:
Please check crime rate at the Sugar Land police dept. (Sugar Land Police Department - Crime Information) and don't be misled by all the "best place" ranking. Houston crime map is another good source. If you stay in a nice area (central Sugar Land - New Territory, Telfair, etc.), you should be fine. There are "potentially" rough areas (perhaps in the near future) in Sugar Land and Missouri City, where crime is spreading from Houston. You may check with your realtor and the detailed crime report breakdown by area/subdivisions.

[Jane Welborn]

It is an industrial pump company. As of tomorrow it will still be available.

On another note, I just wanted to say that you have some really great information to share and really opened my eyes to some of the older neighborhoods in Katy that we are currently looking at... I think that it is you, on the other had it might be Mr. Football I really enjoy reading what both of you think...

Jane

[Ideo]

Because you're looking at the area in Katy & the school seems to be the most important thing, why don't you consider Cinco Ranch. Katy ISD is among the best in these areas.

[EasilyAmused]

OT for a second. I think the older homes ,Pre-70's. were built with far better material and labor than today's. They have far less structural problems that today's tract home. So whomever said to avoid old homes is majorly in the wrong.

Also, with energy prices going the way they are, the "charm" of the 8 foot ceiling will return.

Even in the 80's they had better quality lumber that what they build with today. Have you seen the green wood on these sites?

[usc619]

Originally Posted by MalteseJane

I beg to disagree with you. I live in a house that was build in 1983. Every contractor that came to work in our house said it was well build and even better build than most of the new houses. As for energy efficiency all depends on the upkeep. Our house is as energy efficient as the new houses if not better. We have changed all the windows to double pane and our a/c unit is a 14 seer. If you can find a 13 seer a/c unit in a new house you are lucky. Most will put in only 12 seer. We don't have wood siding, we have brick. My last electric bill was 242$ for a 2185 sq feet home and I keep my a/c at 73° during the day and 72 at night.

I have no dog in this but I have to disagree with a few statements

1. Most new homes are installing at least a 14seer AC unit.

2. My home (built last year) is 3660 sq and our bill was $200 the last 2 month(the most it has ever been), for the most part newer homes are built to be more energy efficient than older ones.

[icon7]

Not in all cases...My home was framed with 2x6's and 2x8's. Plus every energy saving thing just about that $$$$$ can buy! I do agree that homes in the 60's used much better building practices than now, but unless you are building a starter low end home, most building codes have gone up. nails, insulation, and siding are better....but how much can you improve on Brick

and MalteseJane
in Houston minimum SEER is 13 to get Energy Star Certification

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

....Even in the 80's they had better quality lumber that what they build with today. Have you seen the green wood on these sites?

[jembemom]

Hi Jane

I live in Sugar Creek. I have a child in Dulles elementary, Dulles middle and Dulles High School (s).

My spouse works in Houston Heights . We didn't move into the city due to the cost of living in a good public school district and that our kids grew up in a cosy university town without any big city street smarts.

I have lived here in Sugar Land for almost a year. As a stay at home mom I have made many friends and so have my kids and the new dog!

I use to live in a 100 year old home so the 1970s is very new to me.

I'd be happy to answer any questions.