Houston or San Antonio??? (Dallas, Fort Worth: real estate, leases, vacation home)

[DFWMike]

I grew up around Houston, travelled to San Antonio often. Houston is a traffic mess, hard to get around, the suburbs can be quite nice, Lake Conroe, The Woodlands, Kingwood are very nice master planned communities. San Antonio doesn't have near the traffic and the landscape is much nicer. I don't see much of a gap in amenities unless you are sports/arts buffs. If you like suburban living choose Houston, if you want a nice place where you actually want to go downtown choose San Antonio.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by DFWMike

I grew up around Houston, travelled to San Antonio often. Houston is a traffic mess, hard to get around, the suburbs can be quite nice, Lake Conroe, The Woodlands, Kingwood are very nice master planned communities. San Antonio doesn't have near the traffic and the landscape is much nicer. I don't see much of a gap in amenities unless you are sports/arts buffs. If you like suburban living choose Houston, if you want a nice place where you actually want to go downtown choose San Antonio.

Houston's downtown is a lot bigger and has more amenities, so I don't really agree with that. San Antonio's downtown has some historic sites and the Riverwalk.... Houston's downtown is much more lively (aside from San Antonio's Riverwalk, which is for tourists)

[Guerilla]

Houston's Downtown is also about to get so many new shops and residents. On a forum I just found recently called SSP, they have this development thread for Houston:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=114123

[C2H (ComingtoHouston)]

Originally Posted by JJP

Houston's downtown is a lot bigger and has more amenities, so I don't really agree with that. San Antonio's downtown has some historic sites and the Riverwalk.... Houston's downtown is much more lively (aside from San Antonio's Riverwalk, which is for tourists)

I agree with the part that Houston's downtown being a lot bigger but San Antonio's downtown still beats Houston's as far as pedestrian -friendly environments go. Downtown San Antonio is a tourist hotspot, Houston's is not.

As far as downtown houston amentities, you must be talking about downtown Houston's performance halls, sports stadiums, opera, and nightlife. If you're talking about those, then yes Houston's downtown has the edge but San Antonio's downtown is still much busier.

Houston's downtown is currently getting a major boost. With the Houston Pavilions (an outdoor entertainment/retail mall) currently under construction, New Urban Park (with underground parking) and a new Residential High rise, downtown Houston is about to explode.

There's no doubt in my mind that downtown Houston will catch up or maybe surpass downtown San Antonio in the next couple of years.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by C2H (ComingtoHouston)

As far as downtown houston amentities, you must be talking about downtown Houston's performance halls, sports stadiums, opera, and nightlife. If you're talking about those, then yes Houston's downtown has the edge but San Antonio's downtown is still much busier.

... and restaurants, businesses, bars, housing, the aquarium.... just compared to 5-10 years ago there's a huge difference. And I still stick to Houston's downtown being busier.

[maimazda]

Do any one know what water temp. at beach are like. west coast seem be very cold even at mid summer.

[honeyinhouston]

I would choose Houston, and not because I live here. I've been to San Antonio and it's nice and yes, very laid-back. I go to San Antonio when I want to relax. I enjoy the shopping, restaurants, diversity, concerts, and clubs that Houston offers. If you like a slower pace, then go to San Antonio.

[masalamomma]

Don't use the beach access in surban Houston as a reason to move there - I went once and never went back again. Yuck!

In the long run, it may be best to choose Houston over San Antonio because your daughter will have more options along the way in the forms of entertainment, good schools, and eventually going to college.

IMHO, Sugarland is the best place to live in the Houston area.

[pwright1]

I would definately live in Houston over San Antonio and not Sugarland or the Woodlands. I would live in Houston inside the inner loop. Everything is right there. Downtown with its theater district, Aquarium, professional sports facilities. The museum district with all the cultural amenities. I was quite impressed. The best hospitals close by. Close to major shopping. I think the best of Houston is inside the loop. As far as downtowns are concerned Houston's has the edge and will pull away further with all that's coming in next 2 years.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by masalamomma

Don't use the beach access in surban Houston as a reason to move there - I went once and never went back again. Yuck!

How long ago? There have been a few threads in here about how Galveston had problems years back but is all cleaned up now. I was there in November and it was great!