Advice for Houston Relo?...jobs in Greenspoint and Westchase (near beltway) areas (Spring: house)

[borobream]

We are strongly considering relocating to Houston this summer. Is there an area between our workplaces near the Greenspoint Mall and on Briarpark near beltway/westheimer that makes sense? Considerations: quality of schools for 2 young daughters, commute time, upper range for a house is 300K. We are open to solutions that might involve private schools and/or public transportation options. All advice is welcome and appreciated!!

[chris_ut]

Not any public transportation options that I can see. Best bet would seem to be living somewhere with quick access to Beltway 8. Jersey Village area would be sort of central to your 2 jobs but I am not familiar with housing there.

[WillysB]

One or both of you will have a considerable drive, but then, that's the way it's done in Houston. Public tranpo isn't going in those directions.

Look out 290 towards Cypress, or 249 towards Louetta (road).

That large undeveloped area at Bush Park and to its north is flood reservoir and tho' usually dry, will never be developed.

[EasilyAmused]

You could consider Spring Valley/Spring Branch and go private after Elementary. Easy access to the Beltway. The person going to Greenspoint would have a reverse commute, so it wouldn't be that bad

[Texas Mack]

Jersey Village and points north/northwest would seem to be a good central point. Like EA just posted, the person going to Greenspoint would be doing a reverse-commute, so traffic shouldn't be much of an issue. The person going to Westchase will want to invest in a Eazy Tag to shoot through the tolls on the Sam Houston.

BTW, Jersey Village high is pretty good.

[modster]

You could sort of go two different directions. Neither would involve public transportation. For good public schools and a larger newer home, somewhere in the northwest suburbs, from Jersey Village as others have suggested, on out to Champions, Klein, Cypress. Greenspoint would not be a bad commute at all, Westchase would be a bit longer on beltway 8.

The other option would be to go in-town, but this would probably necessitate private schools. Older neighborhoods, great proximity to everything in town and more of a reverse commute to Greenspoint and Westchase. Garden Oaks, Shepherd Park Plaza, Candlelight Plaza, possibly Timbergrove. The Spring Branch options mentioned earlier might work too.

I suppose a third option, which would probably also entail private schools, at least for elementary, would be to live close to Westchase in an area like Walnut Bend. One of you would have no commute at all, the other would have to take the beltway around to Greenspoint, but with an EZ tag I don't think it would be too terribly bad.

A lot of it would depend upon what you like. The farther out options would get you a much larger newer house in the newer developments. The closer in areas would offer the older homes and established neighborhoods with better access to the amenities of the city.

[EasilyAmused]

yes, Walnut Bend would be a good one for that price range and private school option.

One thing is, the Beltway down to Westchase from points North and NorthWest is a very HARD drive. So, reverse commuting to me would be the best choice. Grace school is close by and isn't as hard to get into as some of the others. St. Celicia's is affordable and not too bad of a drive. It's a popular school with the Walnut Bend crowd.

[Texas Mack]

I agree.

Walnut Bend on the west side and Candelight Estates inside the loop are also good options.

I suppose in keeping with the Walnut Bend theme (only using Greenspoint instead of Westchase in the example), you could go to the NE and settle in a place like Fall Creek or Summerwood, where your commute to Greenspoint would be about 15 minutes. The downside is that your commute to Westchase might take 45 minutes, plus you'll have at least three tolls through which to negotiatie (again, consider an Eazy Tag).