Family living inside the loop, affordably?

[tstone]

How old does a sub-million $ home have to be to shed itself from "cookie cutter" status?

[travelguy_73]

Originally Posted by tstone

How old does a sub-million $ home have to be to shed itself from "cookie cutter" status?

This is actually a good question. Most of our old Houston neighborhoods were suburban in nature when they were established, and would have been considered cookie cutter for their day. Trees were clear cut, homes were built by just a few builders, etc. Heck, there are two 1930s homes on my block that are identical, except for the brick color...that's very Perry Homes, LOL.

I think a non-custom neighborhood stops becoming coolkie cutter once enough time has passed to allow homeowners to update and "modify" their homes, and for the housing style to going out of style and then back in style. I'm sure craftsman wasn't always in demand like it is now, tudors weren't always high on someone's list, etc. I think the vibe of the neighborhood probably also changes, and so people don't necessarily focus so much on the house, but the package of the house, the feel of the street, things like that. I know when we briefly considered Clear Lake, it was all about the floorplan and price, and that was about it. Every street was the same, so that didn't really matter, and there were a few choices of brick, so that didn't matter so much either.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by travelguy_73

I know when we briefly considered Clear Lake, it was all about the floorplan and price, and that was about it. Every street was the same, so that didn't really matter, and there were a few choices of brick, so that didn't matter so much either.

Unless you're talking about typical suburban-style lots on rows, the rest is not accurate for Clear Lake "proper", which is 15-45 yrs old. But that's another topic.

Thanks for the cookie-cutter explanation BTW. Seems like that definition is strictly in the eye of the beholder. I guess I'm just trying to understand a certain mentality, and a lot of it revolves around negativity and falsehoods to justify a decision.

I do admire you neighborhood pioneers. Perhaps one day, the value you get for a dollar inside 610 will actually be there for family living. Next step, you pioneers need to start having big families or else in 20 years you'll be even MUCH more outnumbered than you are right now.

BTW, Porter is not a good example of a typical, Houston-area suburb. Yuck.

[MNCold]

Can someone explain to me what Clear Lake 'proper' is and why?

[tstone]

Originally Posted by MNCold

Can someone explain to me what Clear Lake 'proper' is and why?

Between Hwy 3 & Middlebrook, Ellington Field and NASA. Basically what would've been it's own "Clear Lake City" before Houston swallowed it up 30+ yrs ago. It's the same way people were just throwing around 'Eastwood proper'... Another neighborhood/area in the city limits with imaginary boundaries, so C-D nerds can pinpoint locations within 600 sq miles.

[David Dollar]

I personally think that there are several places inside the loop for under that price. There are houses for less than than in the Heights and Eastwood. Take it down a notch and live in Northside.

[vegankris]

Isn't this an old thread?