Do you feel safe in your single family home? (Houston: sale, condo)

[crone]

The thing that I consider feeling safe, along with security is compassionate neighbors. I may not see people on the block for 6 months. Some, I do not know except to wave in passing. A few, we talk nearly every day. When the ambulance came to the house the neighbors summoned the person they knew we were very close to who lived a few blocks over. It is very reassuring to know that if I went out and hollered for help, somebody would be here in 30 seconds.

There are also several older single women in the neighborhood who kinda look out for each other. The 50ish couples tend to all of us.

One of the reasons we delayed putting our house for sale is the knowledge that finding this kind of neighborhood again will be impossible.

[J-CityRelo]

I live in a townhouse (end unit) that is ungated and I feel pretty safe. My neighborhood has both single family homes and townhouses. I think I felt just as safe when we lived in a single family home. If you're worried about it I would definitely suggest adopting a dog. I've noticed that since my dog passed away I worry more, especially when my SO is out of town. Not that my dog would have attacked anyone! But he always barked when he heard something.

[Reivax]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Try to buy in a neighborhood that has mixed age groups. Retired couples make for the best security system!! Neighborhoods with all young families seem to be more interested in your activites than in something that doesn't "seem right."

Having a constable contract is another thing to look for as well. Also, no matter where you are anymore, keep your car in the garage and it will be safe. That's what garages are for...cars.

no, *driveways* are for cars. :P
Garages are for retired exercise equipment, Christmas decorations and freezers full of deer meat.

I'm with you on the retired people being best watch dogs. If I need to know what time my teenagers come or leave, I just ask the lady across the street. She reminds me of Mrs. Kravitz from Betwitched, only really sweet.

[crone]

Texas has some convoluted laws. The penalty for daytime breaking and entering is not as bad as at night. Many burglaries happen during the daytime.
HCSO says best deterrent is dogs and nosy neighbors.

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by J-CityRelo

I live in a townhouse (end unit) that is ungated and I feel pretty safe. My neighborhood has both single family homes and townhouses. I think I felt just as safe when we lived in a single family home. If you're worried about it I would definitely suggest adopting a dog. I've noticed that since my dog passed away I worry more, especially when my SO is out of town. Not that my dog would have attacked anyone! But he always barked when he heard something.

Instead of a dog, I adopted a Glock. It's not afraid to attack anyone I order it to, and it's bite is much worse than its bark.

[HoustonRonnie]

Originally Posted by rb4browns

Instead of a dog, I adopted a Glock. It's not afraid to attack anyone I order it to, and it's bite is much worse than its bark.

I'm a shotgun kinda dude. I have a 28 O/U Caesar Guerini next to the bed. That's just how I roll.

Ronnie

[CaroleF]

So where are all these neighborhoods full of retired people? I think I should be looking there, don't you?

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by CaroleF

So where are all these neighborhoods full of retired people? I think I should be looking there, don't you?

What's your price range? I'm sure all of us can ramble off several. You won't find many in the Master Planned Communities though. They're mostly are in the 1960's, or before, built neighborhoods.

[CaroleF]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

What's your price range? I'm sure all of us can ramble off several. You won't find many in the Master Planned Communities though. They're mostly are in the 1960's, or before, built neighborhoods.

As low as possible. I suppose in theory I could go up to $170,000 with a mortgage payment, but if I can get a cheap one I can pay cash. I like the older homes, although I am not crazy about enormous yards.

[Malvie]

It's all perception, really. There is no such thing as "safe", and when you start thinking you're "safe", that's when you leave yourself open to problems.

I moved back to Houston from a town of 10,000 in Arkansas. "Mayberry". Except it's not Mayberry any more. There's crime all over the place, a tiny, ill-trained, inept police force; drugs (especially crystal meth and crack) all over the place. In-town (where I lived in my family home) was a war zone; "out in the country" (idyllic, right?) was no better; lots of robberies and rapes because there was NO ONE around.

Here in the city, the "gated communities" are such a joke---you think the crooks are deterred by your little gates? Really? Really?

Here's the best advice I can give you: it's a tough, cruel world. There are bad guys everywhere. You take the best precautions you can: have a dog. Buy an alarm system (when my 3 year contract at $34 a month is up with Broadview/ADT, I'm going with Smith Thompson). Buy a gun and keep it close, along with your cell phone. Always have an exit (that was one of my "musts" with a house, I had to be able to get out of every room through the window in case of fire, or if the bad guys were coming in the other way).

When you get home from work, look all the way around you before you get out of your car. Keep your doors locked when you're in the house alone. Let your dog bark a little when they hear a noise, then praise and thank them (they'll stop unless there really IS somebody in the driveway).

When you go on a trip, lock the jewelry in the bank vault, set the alarm, lock the house, put the dog in the car with you, and say, "I've done the best I can" and don't give it a second thought.

That's what I do, anyway.





As for townhouse/house, I don't think it makes any difference. I like a single family residence because of the space and privacy; I don't want to share walls; I like a back yard so I can let the dogs out without walking them; I just derive a lot of pleasure from my home, and as long as I can make the payment, nobody can take it away from me. But, if I have to move into a condo or apartment when I'm older, I won't mind, really. Just don't fool yourself that one place is safer than the other; it's not.