Neighborhood options - south Houston and beyond (League City, Pearland: apartments, foreclosures)

[sevfiv]

Hi folks,

I have a friend who lives near me (medical center area) that is moving soon (4-5 months maybe). They are a couple, and one works in the medical center and the other in Alvin. She also has to travel a couple times a week to UH Clear Lake, making a tiring med center -- Alvin -- Clear Lake -- med center drive.

Can anyone recommend a "compromise zone" more south than the medical center but not all the way out to Alvin? Glenbrook/Garden Villas are options going southeast, and they want to avoid Sunnyside/Bellfort area. The Minnetex/Mykawa area is good location-wise, but there just isn't anything out there. Friendswood and Pearland are also options (a little far, but doable) but none of us know much about the them.
They're looking to rent or buy, but keep it under $1,000/month if possible.

TIA!

[Timnwendy]

That low of a price range is going to limit their options considerably.

[hg1027]

My wife and I are about to leave Settlers Ranch apartments after 2 years. It's off Fuqua, just inside the beltway on the south side. Its a 25 minute ride for her to get to Texas Childrens at 6 am, 20 minutes to the Shell plant in Deer Park for me, 20 minutes to our parents in Clear Lake.

If you check out the place, there are still a few units with some hurricane damage, and the complex is getting terrible reviews for how they handled it. Our unit didn't get touched, we always have plenty of parking, my wife worked some odd shifts for a few month (11a-11p, 3p-3a) and always felt safe walking around. I go jogging before work at 5am and sometimes as late as 11pm. Very safe area. The management leaves you alone as long as you pay on time. The maintenance guy with stop and help you out whenever you need. We've been paying ~$800 a month for a 1 bedroom.

[tstone]

Something off Dixie Farm Rd between I-45 and Hwy 3 might work to rent, not sure about buy.

[sevfiv]

Thanks for the replies so far. Yeah, not looking to spend a lot for a somewhat temporary move (they'll be there less than two years probably - just for her to finish graduate school).

I think they are paying around $700 for a one bedroom in town, so it's weird to not have much luck finding anything like that farther out.

[modster]

If they are just renting, which given the short term situation is probably the best choice, there might be some areas that would be okay to rent in that might not be their choice to buy in, if that makes sense.

In Overbrook there are a couple of nice streets right next to the bayou and over by the Mt. Carmel facility, further north, it goes south real quick. (It is just across the bayou from Garden Villas). http://www.overbrookcivicclub.org/

About the only way buying would make sense is if they get a foreclosure well under market that needs a little TLC, (but not too much), and they can put some lipstick on the pig and basically "flip" the house. Even that bears risk but it might be a viable option. I have seen some really low priced foreclosures that if the economy/market improves even just a little, could provide an opportunity for some quick equity.

[LeagueCityHomes]

I'd recommend the Friendswood and west League City area for affordability and safer communities as well as great access to 45. This will be a little far out, but a mortgage near 1k/mo. is possible and the school districts are great.

[sevfiv]

Thanks, I'll pass on the Overbrook information.

I think a mortgage around $1000 is too much since it doesn't involve taxes, maintenance, etc.