We're Moving to Houston Too! Some Questions... (Dallas, The Woodlands: foreclosures, renters)
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I just accepted a great offer to come to Houston and work for a major company located in the NW burbs in the vicinity of Tomball Pkwy and Louetta Rd. (you can probably guess who). I start on Feb. 8th!
We're looking for some advice, since we know very little about Houston other than what we've been able to research online. I've been lurking here in the Houston forum for the past couple of weeks and have learned a lot. Thanks! Houston seems like a great place to live with friendly people and we are really looking forward to it.
As you can tell from my screen name, I live in Brooklyn with my wife but we're not natives of NYC. We're actually from Upstate NY (Buffalo) and have been in NYC for almost 4 years. We're both in our early forties with no kids.
Since we tend to be gregarious and down-to-earth, we're looking for a nice community where we can make friends with the neighbors. Basically the kind of place where folks invite each other over for a few beers or get together for a ball game, that kind of thing. Some decent, non-chain dining and shopping options would be nice too.
In the interest of a sane commute, we're looking in Cypress, Champions, Klein and the Western part of Spring. The Woodlands looks beautiful but we don't want to be too far from the city because we'd like to head in for dining, theater and museums every once in a while. We also intend to rent for a year so we can get our bearings and learn more about the area before buying. We've spent a lot of time on Har.com and found some great looking homes for rent in our price range of $1200-$1400 per month.
Here are some questions:
1. I'm pretty certain the places we are looking in are good neighborhoods, as long as we stay north of FM 1960, correct?
2. Do you think we will find nice friendly people who like to make new friends? We are concerned about getting too isolated in a suburban setting, especially since it seems that a lot of suburban socializing tends to center around children and we don't have kids.
3. We're unfamiliar with this whole subdivision/gated community lifestyle. We've only lived in old-fashioned neighborhoods. I'm assuming many of the NW communities are set up this way, or am I wrong? What types of amenities are typically in these communities? I've seen community pools, but are there also clubhouses or other things?
4. This coming weekend we are going to fly in for a little look-around and we'll have about a day and a half. Any suggestions for how to make the most of our time?
5. Should we be concerned about these houses for rent? It seems like there are too many of them! I'm familiar with the rights of renters in foreclosure situations, but can anyone provide any additional insight or advice? Are they mostly owned by individuals or companies?
We will have short-term housing for at least the month of February and will be working with a corporate relocation specialist as well, so we aren't totally on our own, but I'm eager to read your suggestions and advice!
Once we're in Houston, I'll have to request to change that screen name -- "UpstaterInHouston" maybe?
I just accepted a great offer to come to Houston and work for a major company located in the NW burbs in the vicinity of Tomball Pkwy and Louetta Rd. (you can probably guess who). I start on Feb. 8th!
We're looking for some advice, since we know very little about Houston other than what we've been able to research online. I've been lurking here in the Houston forum for the past couple of weeks and have learned a lot. Thanks! Houston seems like a great place to live with friendly people and we are really looking forward to it.
As you can tell from my screen name, I live in Brooklyn with my wife but we're not natives of NYC. We're actually from Upstate NY (Buffalo) and have been in NYC for almost 4 years. We're both in our early forties with no kids.
Since we tend to be gregarious and down-to-earth, we're looking for a nice community where we can make friends with the neighbors. Basically the kind of place where folks invite each other over for a few beers or get together for a ball game, that kind of thing. Some decent, non-chain dining and shopping options would be nice too.
In the interest of a sane commute, we're looking in Cypress, Champions, Klein and the Western part of Spring. The Woodlands looks beautiful but we don't want to be too far from the city because we'd like to head in for dining, theater and museums every once in a while. We also intend to rent for a year so we can get our bearings and learn more about the area before buying. We've spent a lot of time on Har.com and found some great looking homes for rent in our price range of $1200-$1400 per month.
Here are some questions:
1. I'm pretty certain the places we are looking in are good neighborhoods, as long as we stay north of FM 1960, correct?
2. Do you think we will find nice friendly people who like to make new friends? We are concerned about getting too isolated in a suburban setting, especially since it seems that a lot of suburban socializing tends to center around children and we don't have kids.
3. We're unfamiliar with this whole subdivision/gated community lifestyle. We've only lived in old-fashioned neighborhoods. I'm assuming many of the NW communities are set up this way, or am I wrong? What types of amenities are typically in these communities? I've seen community pools, but are there also clubhouses or other things?
4. This coming weekend we are going to fly in for a little look-around and we'll have about a day and a half. Any suggestions for how to make the most of our time?
5. Should we be concerned about these houses for rent? It seems like there are too many of them! I'm familiar with the rights of renters in foreclosure situations, but can anyone provide any additional insight or advice? Are they mostly owned by individuals or companies?
We will have short-term housing for at least the month of February and will be working with a corporate relocation specialist as well, so we aren't totally on our own, but I'm eager to read your suggestions and advice!
Once we're in Houston, I'll have to request to change that screen name -- "UpstaterInHouston" maybe?
Well, I don't live in that particular area, but I live in a somewhat similar area and would offer:
1. Can't help you much with "north"; there are some really nice neighborhoods up there and some real crap; you'll have to drive around (weekends are good! working people are home, so you might see some of them outside, kids, etc, and get a feel for it).
2. Houston generally is a very friendly place. I've lived in my house two years and I know every neighbor; I get together with several of them periodically and we have beers/burgers/football, etc. I am single, so no kids. One of the keys to this whole thing, I think, is to try to make sure you get into a neighborhood of people fairly close to your demographic. My neighbors are all about my age. Yes, there are some young families, but there are a lot of 50-somethings like me, and their kids are either gone or teenagers-who-wish-they-were-gone. Watch for the number of basketball goals and toys around. In Texas, if you see a house with, say, two nice cars which tend to sit in the garage or near it, with a couple of older pickup trucks also, that's usually Mom, Dad, and two teenagers
So, the upshot is, yes, you can probably find some hangout friends out there, but be advised: burbs = kids.
Live either close to work or somewhere where you drive opposite the traffic. If you don't know about it, Houston Transtar has a live traffic map (we all have "EZ Tags", which you will need as well---it's the only way to use the toll roads effectively; Transtar maps traffic by monitoring speed of EZ Tags). You can watch the website from Brooklyn and see the traffic patterns, then plan accordingly.
3. The neighborhoods vary, but usually the pools are fairly heavily used (again, kids); the "clubhouse" bit is mainly for use (by residents) for parties, etc--in other words, people don't "hang out" at the clubhouse.
Honestly, you'll feel isolated at first, coming from the City. I lived on the Upper West Side for 3 years; you'll feel so isolated from your neighbors, etc. You'll get used to it quickly.
4. Drive neighborhoods. Drive from the neighborhoods to work. Note the number of major intersections/freeways/freeway interchanges you have to cross. Each one represents a slowdown in traffic (average estimate, add 15 minutes for each one).
5. If you're renting from a Realtor or management company, ask LOTS of questions. If they won't answer, well, you know what to do about that (walk). Renters here have almost NO (ZERO) rights compared to New York, you will really be surprised by this. Contracts are written in favor of the landlord, there is no regulatory oversight, and you're pretty much "at the mercy". You just have to be very aware. Undoubtedly, you will see some foreclosures. Ask lots of questions.
A thought (just a thought): Are you really sure you, as a couple/no kids, want to move to the burbs? Remember that all of Houston outside of downtown itself (the actual high-rise central business district) looks like what a New Yorker would call "burbs". Maybe the Galleria area might be a better fit? Just a thought.
Welcome to Houston!
(If you use "upstater in Houston", beware: people might think you're from Dallas! ;-)
A thought (just a thought): Are you really sure you, as a couple/no kids, want to move to the burbs? Remember that all of Houston outside of downtown itself (the actual high-rise central business district) looks like what a New Yorker would call "burbs". Maybe the Galleria area might be a better fit? Just a thought.
Malvie is right. The city of Houston proper (3,800 per sq mile) has a lower population density than Nassau County (4,700 per sq mile), that Long Island "suburb" situated next to New York City. Compare that to Brooklyn, which has a population density of 35,000 per square mile. (Manhattan's is 71,000 per sq mile).
4. This coming weekend we are going to fly in for a little look-around and we'll have about a day and a half. Any suggestions for how to make the most of our time?
Since I'm not sure what your into, theres a list of events from the c&vb site of Houston. The first couple are traveling exhibits, so they have weird dates, but after that i edited them so they just display events taking place from January 29-31. (F, Sat., and Sun.)
I grew up in that area. There are very nice subdivisions out there like Champion Forest, Memorial Northwest, Huntwick, etc. There are nice neighborhoods going west into Cypress as well.
These areas have great schools that attract a lot of families. It is ground zero for that. Some that live out there will try to tell you how great it is for people without kids. I'm not saying it is totally without its merits on that score, but the area is clearly geared for families. It is what it is.
Concerns about feeling isolated, wanting some real choices beyond the chain restaurants/big box retail offerings, etc., lead me to suggest that you expand your search to some closer in areas with a reverse commute. Heights, Garden Oaks, Timbergrove maybe.
I grew up in that area. Concerns about feeling isolated, wanting some real choices beyond the chain restaurants/big box retail offerings, etc., lead me to suggest that you expand your search to some closer in areas with a reverse commute. Heights, Garden Oaks, Timbergrove maybe.
Excellent neighborhoods for DINKs (double income, no kids)
I certainly hope this job isn't with HP. My husband works there and the place is in shambles literally and figuratively. You may want to check out glassdoor.com if you still have a chance. http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Hew...views-E327.htm
Thanks, everyone (well... almost everyone) for your helpful information.
We're going to be there next Saturday and Sunday and plan to do a lot of driving around not only Cypress and Klein, but the areas inside The Loop and the Galleria area as well.
If anyone else has any suggestions or advice, we'd love to read it.
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