Ethnically diverse neighborhoods around 77079? (Houston, Sugar Land: real estate, condos, townhouses)

[EasilyAmused]

Regardless of color or race, buying in a neighborhood that is full of natives, we even are getting third generation buyers now, is going to be hard. Grandparents, parents and kids have known each other since birth, gone to the same schools, colleges, vacationed together for decades, and live within blocks of their childhood homes and parents. It's like a small town, everyone knows everyone and just about everything about them. It would be hard anywhere in the world to break into such areas, much less Houston, Texas.

Moving into a true burb, it will be full of transplants open and eager to make friends and create a life.

Ps- we often joke that when people coldly acknowledge you, their "friend card must be full"

[desihorn]

I am a first-gen immigrant ,non-White, in 77079 and East of Wilcrest. This is my experience in the neighborhood. The majority here are families that have been here for a long time, upper-middle class and retirees and they are generally White. Having said that there are a lot of Asian families and the new people moving in are diverse and generally young upper-middle class families with kids. I have had neighbors help us out when my wife was pregnant, attempt to talk to my parents when they visit and have been mostly very pleasant. There are a few bad apples but I wouldn't attribute that to race. I don't know how things are going to be when my kids start school in a year or so but we will cross that bridge when we get there. As of now, our plans are to stay here as long as we are in Houston. On the negative side, I had a friend of mine move away from here about 5 years ago since everyone at any sports events or social gatherings assumed that she was the nanny :-)

[coconutbutter]

Hmm, I think what you describe can happen anywhere, really. I think a lot of that depends on factors you can't control.

For what it's worth, my family and I lived together in Kingwood until we gradually left to move back into the Loop (although my aunt still lives in Kingwood). We are Asian. However, for a suburb that's known for being pretty white, we were pleasantly surprised to find diversity in our neighbors.

I live in a predominantly working class neighborhood, and although my neighbors haven't really acknowledged my existence, I'm okay with that. I wave to whomever I see walking by and try to say hello when the opportunity is there. Regardless, I am happy with my house and where I live.

That being said... I found that people were more welcoming and inviting when I lived in Kingwood. My mom made friends with the neighbors, and we watched out for each other. However, she has had success with making friends with her next door neighboors in Shady Acres, even though she works. She's had neighbors over for dinner, has been invited herself, and they give each other small Christmas presents of baked goods, etc.

I think key to what you're looking for is a neighborhood with an active civic club. I read civic club newsletters (well, I did when I was looking for a house!) to get a better feel for the community. If your civic club has activities like exercise classes, I'm sure that you will probably make friends there.

Also... I wouldn't limit yourself to your neighborhood in terms of friendships and such because some neighbors just don't want to be friends vs. acquaintances (not that I'm saying you're doing, but you know). Houston has a lot of great events throughout the city, but unfortunately, most don't seem to be advertised particularly well. I try to read various blogs and online sites for events that are going on in the city. Anyway, I think you'd also be able to find what you're looking for at those kind of events, too. Might not be in your backyard, but who knows - they might be!

[DejaBlue]

Originally Posted by mingna

Yeah, I thought I would get a reply like this. Let me clarify. I am an educated (Ph.D in science field), Asian who decided to be a stay at home mom. Due to my husbands' job, we have lived across the US, Shanghai, and London. In all these numerous moves, I have experienced a common phenomenom: in those neighborhoods that we haved lived in that were mainly white (whether native or transplants) I struggled to find any sense of community beyond the polite, distant acknowlegment every now and then. Dinner invitations were rarely reciprocated, plates of home-baked Christmas cookies cooly accepted, and efforts to make eye contact while out in the neighborhood in order to say "hi!" rarely returned.

I love to bike, hike, garden, read (tried joining neighborhood book clubs to no avail), travel, visit museums, am curious about others' life experiences and different cultures, moderate/independent politically. I believe that all these traits should lend itself to being a good neighbor and having some success in making new friends in these neighborhood, but this was not the case. In areas I lived that contained a higher proportion of minorities I had no such problem. Made long-standing friend from people from all over the world of many ethnicities: Afghan, Persians, Greek, Bulgarians, Mexicans, Indians, Chinese, Morroccan, Thais...

Although I would love to live in the 77079 area, with it's mature leafy neighborhoods, parks, and access to those amenities that would enhance my lifestyle, I am hesistant to put down so much money (we were looking at $750,000-900,000 homes) if I find myself in a neighborhood where I will have difficulty in forming a sense of community with my neighbors, playmates for my kids, and just new friends in general.

So I ask this question not to "be with my own" or in order to stay away from "white people" (my husband is a Yankee of English extraction), but to ensure that I will find a welcoming neighborhood community regardless of my skin color.

Houston is odd. It's pretty diverse yet divided at the same time. Pretty much anywhere you'll be fine. The only minorities that make neighbors raise an eyebrow sometimes are blacks and any kind of Hispanic. Asians don't give off a "cause trouble" and give off a heavy money vibe depending on the areas. Asians and Southeast Asian/Middle Eastern.

I really don't think upper/middle, educated Lexus driving, Memorial style white people really mind you guys moving in next door. Seriously.

I don't know if they live nearby but I'm in the Memorial area here and there and I see a crap load of Acura SUVs. LOTS and 8/10 there's an Asian lady driving. You won't stick out like a sore thumb. If I see 1 more MDX I'm gonna start a drinking game.

[fnh]

Hi Mingna, if I were you I would avoid the entire Memorial area, east or west. You will not find what you seek there, plus the commute is a killer. I am another PhD scientist SAHM and, frankly, Memorial is too 'white' for my taste - and I myself am white. Another thing, the schools there are good but, IMO, they should be crazy off the charts good with the concentration of wealth and attendant level of mommy involvement and test prep. But they're not... so what does that tell you?

Really there is nothing closer that appeals to you? Heck, Pearland would be a better choice than Memorial. ;-)

[DejaBlue]

Originally Posted by fnh

Hi Mingna, if I were you I would avoid the entire Memorial area, east or west. You will not find what you seek there, plus the commute is a killer. I am another PhD scientist SAHM and, frankly, Memorial is too 'white' for my taste - and I myself am white. Another thing, the schools there are good but, IMO, they should be crazy off the charts good with the concentration of wealth and attendant level of mommy involvement and test prep. But they're not... so what does that tell you?

Really there is nothing closer that appeals to you? Heck, Pearland would be a better choice than Memorial. ;-)

OT but I find the stay at home mom PhD...interesting. I can't imagine. I'd never have kids after busting my ass on a PhD and in the science field masters...maybe. Ph.D no way. A dissertation alone keeps me from that.

Back on point, you make a really good point though on Memorial schools. They are "good" but not stellar. With the amount of rich or wannabe rich, stay at home, super involved, play dates, baby Einstein from conception type of parents they SBISD be giving Kincaid, St John, etc a deep run for their money.

[EasilyAmused]

A LOT of Memorial does send their kids to top privates. About 75% of the teens in my neighborhood go to top privates. Apartments becoming congested with families,and out of district admissions,has sent the uber whites to private.

Ps-rich executive whites can spawn B students, and were in fact probably B students as well. You can be a millionaire without a 5.2 GPA.Shocker I know. In fact most highly successful people I know probably pulled 3.0's. People skills are infinitely more important.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Ps-rich execuive whites can spawn B students, and were in fact probably B students as well. You can be a millionaire without a 5.2 GPA.Shocker I know.

Not really- $1M ain't all that much nowadays.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by tstone

Not really- $1M ain't all that much nowadays.

So true...but it applies to all the categories of the 1%

[DejaBlue]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

A LOT of Memorial does send their kids to top privates. About 75% of the teens in my neighborhood go to top privates. Apartments becoming congested with families,and out of district admissions,has sent the uber whites to private.

Ps-rich executive whites can spawn B students, and were in fact probably B students as well. You can be a millionaire without a 5.2 GPA.Shocker I know. In fact most highly successful people I know probably pulled 3.0's. People skills are infinitely more important.

LOL 5.2 GPA. It's ridiculous now. I swear it's going to be 7.0 sooner rather than later. The advanced classes progress to college level then graduate level before you know it