Young family moving to Houston in Sept. 2012 (Baytown, Katy: apartment complex, renting)

[ndujuncoSLP]

Hello everyone! I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and my company will be sending me to Houston ISD for the coming school year. I was initially thinking of finding an apartment in Katy or the Sugarland area but was worried about the daily commute since i will not know which school(s) i will be reporting to until July. Any suggestions on good neighborhoods near or within HISD? Maybe an apartment complex that's within the $700-$900 range for a two or three bedroom?I would prefer to be very near a good school for my kids ages 6,5, and 4 so i don't need to purchase a 2nd vehicle. I've done a lot of research but Houston is just so big and could not determine where to go. We will be scheduling a visit there in the summer to check out the neighborhoods so please feel free to point me in the right direction

[EasilyAmused]

Maybe something off FountainView or Voss.77057. It's within HISD and zoned to Briargrove Elem.(Excellent neighborhood school within an affluent neighborhood) It can be a somewhat walkable area when the weather is nice. But I don't think you could get three bedrooms zoned to better schools within the city. Might be able to get two bedrooms for close to the 1000 range.

[H'ton]

Originally Posted by ndujuncoSLP

Hello everyone! I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and my company will be sending me to Houston ISD for the coming school year. I was initially thinking of finding an apartment in Katy or the Sugarland area but was worried about the daily commute since i will not know which school(s) i will be reporting to until July. Any suggestions on good neighborhoods near or within HISD? Maybe an apartment complex that's within the $700-$900 range for a two or three bedroom?I would prefer to be very near a good school for my kids ages 6,5, and 4 so i don't need to purchase a 2nd vehicle. I've done a lot of research but Houston is just so big and could not determine where to go. We will be scheduling a visit there in the summer to check out the neighborhoods so please feel free to point me in the right direction

$700-$900 is going to push you out into the suburbs or into some borderline shady areas in the city. And I'm talking about for a one bedroom in that price range.

You might want to think of renting a house in the suburbs based on your situation.

[jdw7337]

Originally Posted by H'ton

$700-$900 is going to push you out into the suburbs

Then the suburbs will push you right back , $900 won't get you more than a 1 bedroom if you want really good schools in a good neighborhood. There are apartments that have great views of chemical plants for that price tag.

[H'ton]

Originally Posted by jdw7337

Then the suburbs will push you right back , $900 won't get you more than a 1 bedroom if you want really good schools in a good neighborhood. There are apartments that have great views of chemical plants for that price tag.

She can probably find a modest 2 or 3 bedroom house in the suburbs. maybe Tomball or somewhere like that.

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by H'ton

$700-$900 is going to push you out into the suburbs or into some borderline shady areas in the city. And I'm talking about for a one bedroom in that price range.

You might want to think of renting a house in the suburbs based on your situation.

You really think that?

You need to get out more.

[jdw7337]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

You really think that?

You need to get out more.

Well you have consider that a good school & neighborhood are included in the criteria. & it's all relative to the area you know best for example I know Baytown better than anywhere else. so when you take these examples (bellow) in my area and add the fact that the location needs to be more central, the consensus would be that the price is higher.

example:
Hunt Road Apartments
Baytown
Memorial High School/Walker Elementary (new high preforming schools)
in the heart of Baytown's shopping area
quiet street (for another year at least)
1 bed room $800.

Camden Baytown
Baytown
okay schools
near shopping
on a busy avenue near hospitals
view of chemical plant (2 miles away)
2 bed $900

[H'ton]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

You really think that?

You need to get out more.

Are you talking to me?

Where are you going to find a 3 bedroom apartment in the inner loop that is safe, not really old, and serves a good school?

[ndujuncoSLP]

Ok thanks for all the info guys! Quick question though... what range should i budget for housing? Currently i am in a luxury apartment in Las Cruces, NM and i only pay $770. Pretty good deal and we were lucky to find this place... If anyone has any suggestions please do post it

[timtemtym]

If You're an SLP in HISD, you should be making enough to afford more than that. What kind of contract did they offer you? I work with those services in metro Houston and most of my slp friends are pulling down some mega bucks. But they don't have three kids to provide for. I'd be wary of anything near HISD that rents a three bedroom for 900.

It's also a large district so you should see in what area you'll be working. There are some apartments in the timbergrove area where you might get a decent two bedroom for 800 or so. It's a safe area with great parks and decent schools. It's the western half of the 77008 zip code. There are also decent townhouses around there and just north in oak forest (77018) where you might find something closer to 1000 for a three bedroom.