Bad parts of ClearLake? (Houston, Austin: apartments, insurance, crime)

[AustinCourtney]

Are there any parts of ClearLake you would avoid?

We're possibly moving there in the Dec/Jan time frame. We have two young boys, currently 2 and 3, who will be attending public schools there in a few years.

Our price range is low for the area. We're looking to spend no more than 180, but I've noticed you either find really nice homes there, or ones that do not look so nice. I know in general the Clear Lake area is nice, but I'm worried about living in a bad neighborhood because of our budget. I would rather have the worst house in a great neighborhood, than the best house in a so so neighborhood. Age of the house does not bother me, upkeep of the neighborhood and reputation does.

If this move takes place he will be working in the area of Ellington field.

I'm open to other suggestions, rather than just ClearLake also.

Thank you in advance!

[tstone]

Ones that either look nice or don't? Clear Lake is all generally middle class and above. There aren't that many bad homes at all. There is an area of old, generic tract homes from the late 70s that could use help and start at about $120k. But generally speaking it's all kept up fine. I'm speaking for the Houston side, not Webster or the unincorporated parts of 77598. That's a different story.

And you'll be fine with that budget. These are in the neighborhoods close to Ellington.

Look:

13910 Aspen Knoll Ct., Houston, TX 77059

14515 Redbud Valley Trl, Houston, TX 77062

14806 Flowerwood Dr, Houston, TX 77062

Bay Glen isn't as nice as the other two but it's still decent. Bay Pointe is the newer neighborhood and the highest price per sq ft. These are all along Clear Lake City Blvd between Hwy 3 and Space Center Blvd.

There are even older ones from the 1960s that are maintained very well and can be had for 180k but they are farther south from Ellington.

In that website you can use zip codes 77062, 77058 and 77059, which is Clear Lake Houston.

Zip 77034 is Ellington and there might be something there as well. Brand new development off Scarsdale is in your price range but it's a bit remote and a little too close to some dicey areas (Fuqua) IMO.

[arbucle]

Have you looked in Friendswood? Very close to the area that you are looking and you can buy a home in FISD that is one of the best public schools in Texas.

[tstone]

Regarding Friendswood:

The town lies in both Clear Creek ISD and FISD. Depends on which side of the creek you're on, roughly speaking. FISD is a little better than CCISD, but FISD is for the fairly rural areas, too that are literally 90+ % white. For some in the "diversity" crowd, that is a huge dealbreaker. CCISD will be more "diverse". CCISD is also for Clear Lake Houston. You can also look at League City, also CCISD.

For 180k you can't go wrong with League City or Friendswood. You may also be able to get a slightly bigger house there than you could in Clear Lake Houston, since you are looking at near-exurbs vs a city-burb. We preferred the Houston side at a slightly higher price tag because there are more city-like amenities nearby. Jogging/walking trails are everywhere and things such as a bank, eye doctor, grocery store, a Hunan restaurant are within walking distance.

[lonestarwvu]

Honestly, I don’t you will find a “bad neighborhood” in Clear Lake. I live in one of the oldest sections. I bought there specifically because it was close to the park and ride. When we moved to Houston we only owned one car (still do) and it was important to be near public transportation so I didn’t have to drive to work.

I would describe the neighborhood I live in as a mix between blue collar and white. It’s very middle class. Most of the homes are well maintained, but a few aren’t. I have been in neighborhoods where houses cost upwards of 500,000 where this is true as well. Most of the homes were built in the 70s but this is not a problem for me -- I moved here from Pittsburgh where it isn’t uncommon for people to live in homes that are as much as 100 years old. There are occasional break-ins, but most of those are in unlocked cars and open garages. I have yet to live anywhere that there is no crime at all.

We live within walking distance to a good elementary school that has diversity which is on par with the demographics of the United States. The hospital complex where my second daughter was born is less then five minutes from my house, as are numerous shops and restaurants. I live within walking distance of the local library which is also very good.

In your price range I don’t think you are going to have any problem in Clear Lake.

[arbucle]

The School system is 83% white and if you dont like being around too many whites then I guess that could be a problem.FISD is better than just a little better than CCISD .The entire school system is exemplary and only three school systems in the state that are 4a are ranked academically as well as FISD.As far as being rural ,I think you might be combining Alvin with Friendswood.Due to developements like West Ranch Friendswood will have been built out by 2012.

[AustinCourtney]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm having fun looking at my options.

We've decided to take a trip this weekend to Houston to look around. I'm finding it really hard to judge the different neighborhoods by stuff I'm finding online. I think I need to actually look around. I appreciate all of the feedback- keep it coming if you'd like.. I can always use more info.

What do you guys think about Pearland?

[tstone]

Originally Posted by arbucle

As far as being rural ,I think you might be combining Alvin with Friendswood.Due to developements like West Ranch Friendswood will have been built out by 2012.

The part of Friendswood that is rural (to me) is down 528 way past 518 but not yet in Alvin. There are some nice but fairly remote neighborhoods out there. Lots of room to grow but 288/45 freeway access is a pretty good haul either way, and will only get worse by 2012. On the other hand if you live along Clear Lake City Blvd, the area has been fully developed for ~15 years and the freeway is 5 minutes down the road. That's one of a few reasons $/sq ft is higher there.

AustinCourtney I'm not sure what you're finding online about Clear Lake or what your tolerances are, but the areas to avoid are generally El Dorado & NASA Rd 1 between Hwy 3 and 45. Slummy $500/mo apartments bring down that area. Forest Bend in Friendswood (especially) and a small section of old Heritage Park (not much better) in unincorporated 77546 are also not so great neighborhoods but pricing there is $70-100k. With $180k you'll be fine. Things may seem cheap on the surface but you'll be paying a combined total of nearly 4% of your home's value every year in taxes, fees & insurances. So on $180k that's $7,200/yr, and it only keeps going up. Tax rates are average for the area (2.9%) but insurance is a small fortune.

[Clear Lake TX]

CCISD is much larger than FISD, it has 4 high schools. Clear Lake HS is the best among the 4 CCISD HS and also much better than Friendswood HS. That's why house zoned to CLHS has about 20-30% higher price than other area with same size of house, particulary the area combined with Brookwood or Falcon Pass Elementary, Space Center Intermedia and Clear Lake High. With 180k, you probably could find a home in Middle Brook which is the low end of 77059.

[texas7]

Pearland is nice but for convenience and traffic sake - I would go with Clear Lake particularly working near Ellington. Schools are good, area has a good quality of life as well.