Relocating from California to Houston (Dallas, Fort Worth: best neighborhoods, apartment complexes, lease)

[rcandelaria]

Hello,
I am being relocated due to work to Houston. I currently live in Southern California. I have no idea what it is like out there. I have 2 little girls and one is 7 and in 2nd grade I do not want to move into Houston city but some where on the outskirts. Could someone please tell me where a nice safe area is to raise my family. We absolutly love the city of Flower Mound in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Please advise of a similar area near Houston

[BEVH]

Me too relocating from Orange County. If you want advice from the locals, you need to tell them where you will be working for them to give you an idea of commute times and safe areas. For example Kingwood is great but I will work in Sugarland and it is a 2 hour commute. So the more info the better for the board. Also let them know if you are renting or buying and if buying price range. That will help you get the help you need.

Personally after visiting Houston, I think we both are nuts to leave SO CA.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by BEVH

Personally after visiting Houston, I think we both are nuts to leave SO CA.

Oh great, the whining begins.

Thanks.

[Poltracker]

Where will you be working? Houston is a big city and commute must be taken into account.

[ShelbyGirl1]

Originally Posted by BEVH

Me too relocating from Orange County. If you want advice from the locals, you need to tell them where you will be working for them to give you an idea of commute times and safe areas. For example

Kingwood

is great but I will work in

Sugarland

and it is a 2 hour commute. So the more info the better for the board. Also let them know if you are renting or buying and if buying price range. That will help you get the help you need.

Personally after visiting Houston, I think we both are nuts to leave SO CA.

We were transferred from Ca. as well....Would I like to go back? Sure! But Houston is a great place to live as well. Yes, the heat can be a bit much, the bugs a

nuisance

....but the people make it what it is! Give it a chance!

[SkyeAnjel]

Originally Posted by tstone

Oh great, the whining begins.

Thanks.

LOL!
No one can afford where their from , so we get to hear the complaints after they have moved into their big house that they could only dream of in their home state.
I have a friend who has been here 20 years and still complains how much she hates houston and how great California is , yet never leaves...

[Topaz]

Well, I grew up in Southern California and I would NEVER move back. I love living in Sugar Land. I am sure there are many former Californians who would agree with me. rcandeleria, if the job will be within a commuting distance from Sugar Land, consider this area. The City of Sugar Land Web site is a good source of info. Mostly master planned communities with excellent schools (check out ratings and parent reviews at GreatSchools.net). Very family friendly area with lots of parks and things for children to do.

There are many nice areas surrounding Houston. Like other posters have said, your work location will determine your choices. Although when we moved here everyone told us to live close to my husband's job but we chose Sugar Land, anyway, and we don't regret it at all even though my husband's commute is 40+ miles each way. Since he can go mostly 65+ mph with no stressful stop and go traffic on the toll way, it isn't as awful as Southern California commuting tends to be. Plus, the cost of gasoline is causing many Houston employers to allow employees to work from home one day per week. After you've been on the job for awhile, you can negotiate that.

[rcandelaria]

Sugar Land looks very nice with the water front homes. However, just wanted to mention that we will be selling our home here and moving into an apartment temporarily while we get settled to hunt for the best neighborhoods. Are there nice apartment/ condo communities in Sugar Land? Can you recommend the nicer ones? Which elementary school is best?

Someone mentioned that we should inform where exactly I will be working, to get the best advice. I will be working in downtown Houston. How far is the commute to Sugar Land? Is this unreasonable - should we look elsewhere?

Has anyone been to the city of Flower Mound in the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex? Please compare and contrast Sugar Land to Flower Mound.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by rcandelaria

Sugar Land looks very nice with the water front homes. However, just wanted to mention that we will be selling our home here and moving into an apartment temporarily while we get settled to hunt for the best neighborhoods. Are there nice apartment/ condo communities in Sugar Land? Can you recommend the nicer ones? Which elementary school is best?

Someone mentioned that we should inform where exactly I will be working, to get the best advice. I will be working in downtown Houston. How far is the commute to Sugar Land? Is this unreasonable - should we look elsewhere?

Has anyone been to the city of Flower Mound in the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex? Please compare and contrast Sugar Land to Flower Mound.

Sugar Land to downtown Houston isn't a bad commute. Google Maps is good at estimating commute time...it usually gives one estimate for non-traffic times and another longer one for high traffic times.

Houston Transtar is a great Web site for watching traffic patterns and how they change during different times of the commute.

There are a lot of good schools in Sugar Land. Look at the ratings at GreatSchools.net as one source for finding the best ones. I'm only familiar with Walker Station Elementary and it is exemplary. Once you have your lease you will want to register because school starts the third week of August for Fort Bend ISD.

I don't know much about apartment complexes in Sugar Land or Flower Mound. Someone else might be able to make suggestions about those.

[Lake Conroe resident]

Originally Posted by rcandelaria

Hello,

Originally Posted by rcandelaria

I am being relocated due to work to Houston. I currently live in Southern California. I have no idea what it is like out there. I have 2 little girls and one is 7 and in 2nd grade I do not want to move into Houston city but some where on the outskirts. Could someone please tell me where a nice safe area is to raise my family. We absolutly love the city of Flower Mound in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Please advise of a similar area near Houston

If you currently live in or like areas such as Valencia, Agoura, T-Oaks, Irvine, Dana Point, Simi Valley etc... You will fit right in living in The Woodlands Tx as it's just like those places only with a lot more trees. Also add a LOT more humidity, rain and bugs. Your commute will also be similar to Houston from The Woodlands as it would be from the above cities to LA.