Moving to Houston from Colleyville/Southlake (DFW area) (Dallas, Austin: apartments, houses)

[Zimbatross]

I live in Colleyville/Southlake area in DFW and I love it there. But it looks like we (spouse and 2 little kids) might be moving to Houston.

I was wondering what is the equivalent/similar towns in the Houston Area for Colleyville and Southlake....We are looking at a $400k max price range and we enjoy the Towncenter, not having apartments nearby, the good schools and the fact that we are close to the airport.

I might be working at the Galleria area in Houston and was looking for something similar to Colleyville/Southlake within a 30 minute drive....(20 Miles Max).....I currently work around the Galleria area in Dallas and it takes me about 30 min each way...
Any suggestions will be appreciated...

[BunBoHue]

Hi! Welcome to Houston. I used to live in Carrollton. Soutlake, that's a swanky area Have you visited Telfair & Riverstone in Sugar Land? $400K should get you a nice house there. Sugar Land also has a towncenter and shops around it. It's kinda like the one in Southlake, but I don't remember if there is a grassy area at the one in Sugar Land. You can go to Sugar Land Town Square to get more info.

There are other parts of Houston that's nice, but I can only speak for the area I'm staying at. As for traffic, my wife works in the Galleria area here and it's brutal if you have the regular 9 - 5 commute. But outside of that time it takes 20-25 minutes. The IAH is a long ways off, about 45 minutes. Hobby is a little closer, but not by much. Good Luck

[dragonflycafe]

I live in Keller now and love this area, but Houston is my hometown and it's a great place to live. If you can, you need to stay inside the loop (inside 610) or as close in as possible. This is a badge of honor for Houstonians! Houston is a giant, sprawling city and there is a lot to do in a concentrated area (Galleria, downtown, museum district, montrose, medical center, to name a few...)

If you love Southlake and Colleyville do yourself a favor and check out West University/Southside Place (77005) and Bellaire (it is just outside the loop, great small town atmosphere). I actually rate those two higher than SL/CV because it's much closer 'in' to downtown and all the fun places to be...yet they are extremely family friendly and have good schools. Note that you might be used to big, pink brick houses with 3000+ square feet. Many of the homes in your range will be of the smaller, older variety but they will be super cute inside. You trade space for location, location, location. And location is EVERYTHING in Houston. Re: no zoning in Houston. You will see more apartments than you are used to (I respect CV/SL keeping them out), but Houston has a totally different vibe.

Other good places to look are some neighborhoods in the Meyerland area (zoned to Bellaire HS) and the Braeswood area (great area south of Bellaire/Holcombe and in between Buffalo and Stella Link). Spring Branch used to be nice (it's been a long time since I've been out that way), but it's farther out. Memorial and Tanglewood are great and very close to the Galleria area but it can make Southlake look cheap. (The Highland Park of Houston is River Oaks, btw).

The Heights is a very, very cool area now. In my day it was rough, but now I have a lot of friends who grew up in swank West U and River Oaks now moving there. Don't know how family friendly it is. Haven't been out there lately so hard to say.

Please write if you have any more questions about location and Houston. The weather is bad, but Houston is a fantastic combo of funky Austin and sophisticated Dallas. But again, stay as close in as possible if you can. There are plenty of great neighborhoods in the suburbs, no doubt, but there are so many great things to do close in to town.

And don't get me started on the great food and arts scene down there!

[usc619]

Originally Posted by Zimbatross

I live in Colleyville/Southlake area in DFW and I love it there. But it looks like we (spouse and 2 little kids) might be moving to Houston.

I was wondering what is the equivalent/similar towns in the Houston Area for Colleyville and Southlake....We are looking at a $400k max price range and we enjoy the Towncenter, not having apartments nearby, the good schools and the fact that we are close to the airport.

I might be working at the Galleria area in Houston and was looking for something similar to Colleyville/Southlake within a 30 minute drive....(20 Miles Max).....I currently work around the Galleria area in Dallas and it takes me about 30 min each way...
Any suggestions will be appreciated...

Katy

[lhafer]

Sorry, but Katy is not a 30 minute drive to anywhere!!

[westhou]

Originally Posted by usc619

Katy

Katy has the worst commute out of all the options in the Houston area. Over an hour both ways. West University, Bellaire, and the Villages in Memorial would be the best options for the OP.

[lhafer]

Westhou - I totally agree.

Other possibilities are Meyerland and the northern part of Sugarland, Missouri City, and the Galleria area.