Inside Hwy 6 vs Outside? (Houston, Austin: apartments, house, transfer)

[aggie88]

I have a home in SW Houston between Beltway 8 and Hwy 6 that I am considering selling. The commute to downtown is about 17 miles. Because of the gas prices - are homes closer into town becoming more desirable ($$$$) - esp if they are in good neighborhoods and relatively new? Or are families generally still preferring suburbia - 30+ miles commutes?

[texas7]

Closer into town is VERY desirable $$$$. It is the happening place in Houston. Some families who live there often send their kids to privates so it doesn't matter about the ISD. I don't find that living in the burbs protects kids that much more from real life than living in the city.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by aggie88

I have a home in SW Houston between Beltway 8 and Hwy 6 that I am considering selling. The commute to downtown is about 17 miles. Because of the gas prices - are homes closer into town becoming more desirable ($$$$) - esp if they are in good neighborhoods and relatively new? Or are families generally still preferring suburbia - 30+ miles commutes?

I'm at Kirkwood and Memorial and we are seeing a lot of out of state transfers starting to buy in and around here. I think you've probably noticed the price increases over the past three years. And as you know, by Houston standards, this is a burb area without being in suburbia. I think being close to the action, yet living in a Mayberry type neighborhood is appealing to many, despite the fact the homes are older and cost more.

Now depending on what schools your house is zoned to in that locale will determine it's desirability. And if your location is anywhere near Sharpstown, it's not on an upswing yet.

[Mr. Football]

How close is it to the SW Houston ghettos? Someday, I'm sure somebody will buy up all of that land, doze the apartments and it will again become valuable. You might have to wait awhile though.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by texas7

I don't find that living in the burbs protects kids that much more from real life than living in the city.

Totally agree.

[coog78]

Originally Posted by aggie88

I have a home in SW Houston between Beltway 8 and Hwy 6 that I am considering selling. The commute to downtown is about 17 miles. Because of the gas prices - are homes closer into town becoming more desirable ($$$$) - esp if they are in good neighborhoods and relatively new? Or are families generally still preferring suburbia - 30+ miles commutes?

I agree with a previous poster that living in the city is where all the action is. That is what is primarily driving prices up in town. Gas prices are adding to the amount of people looking to live closer in as well. Do your research on property taxes before buying and factor that into your mortgage.

I would prefer my kids to grow up in the city and be exposed to more culture. Some feel the same way, others prefer the burbs.

[ZeroTX]

There's some very nice areas within Alief, where the homes are currently worth zilch, because of the type of people who moved in there. Mission Bend, I suppose must have been very nice at some point... the homes are nice, or used to be. Many are still nice, but are priced as much as 40%-50% below Sugar Land or Katy, because, well, they're Alief.

My wife and I are on the hunt for an affordable home in SW Houston suburbs, but are only interested in homes within Fort Bend ISD (which comes pretty far into the city, actually). Everyone keeps telling us to look out in Sienna or Richmond and we're like "uhh... do YOU want to pay for my gas?"... as such, we're looking closer and no more than 5 miles from 59, period. Not gonna spend 15-20 minutes a day just getting from the house to the freeway.

[crbcrbrgv]

Two words. Meadows Place Texas (whoops, three words) Right on Kirkwood and 59. Understandable if it is too blue collar for your taste.

[CanTex]

Originally Posted by ZeroTX

There's some very nice areas within Alief, where the homes are currently worth zilch, because of the type of people who moved in there. Mission Bend, I suppose must have been very nice at some point... the homes are nice, or used to be. Many are still nice, but are priced as much as 40%-50% below Sugar Land or Katy, because, well, they're Alief.

My wife and I are on the hunt for an affordable home in SW Houston suburbs, but are only interested in homes within Fort Bend ISD (which comes pretty far into the city, actually). Everyone keeps telling us to look out in Sienna or Richmond and we're like "uhh... do YOU want to pay for my gas?"... as such, we're looking closer and no more than 5 miles from 59, period. Not gonna spend 15-20 minutes a day just getting from the house to the freeway.

Sienna Plantation is right next to the Fort Bend Parkway, which makes for easy access to the south Sam Houston Tollway, 610 loop south, or the medical center via Main Street from I-610. It takes me 5 minutes to get to the Fort Bend Parkway, and will be even shorter once they extend it all the way through Sienna Plantation.

[Houston456]

I do agree that it does not make sense to travel 15-20 minutes to get in to the freeway...

But what is the REAL difference between a Aliefrabia and Subarbia on Gas prices ? If you take Downtown as the point of refercence, then the difference is 12 miles. That means you have to drive 12 (miles)*2 (times)*250 (days)= 6000 miles more per year. If your vehicle averges 20 mpg, that means you have to buy 300 gallons more, which means you gotta spend 300 (gallons) * 4 ($/gall) = $1200 per year. That is $100 per month.

But What does that $100 buy for you ?

1) A great family friendly community like New territory / First colony / Avalon
2) Terrfic combinations like
a) Walker Station - sartartia -Austin
b) Commolwealth-Fort settlement - Clements

People who are living in 'subarbia' are livng there for a reason. And I don't think gas prices can change that. That too, many of the communites in the subarbia have an average family income of $150K/yr and they know $1200/yr wont make a huge dent..