Moving to your great city (Houston, Sugar Land: 2014, apartment complexes, houses)

[Houston2013]

Iam posting here to get some different opinions and suggestions. I'm now in phase of brainstorming. My wife, daughter (8) and I are relocating to Houston. My wife will work downtown; I will work out of the house. There are so many suburbs, it is hard to even get started looking. Areas that interest us are Pearland, Sugarland, Summerwood, maybe Cypress. Here is a list of what is important to us:

- Great public schools
- Either newer suburb master planned community/newer house, or suburb with mature trees
- Price range $350K/$450
- Live in a place where there is a lot of retail, restaurant, ect
- Must be 30 min from downtown

Looking for community suggestions and or actual subdivisions people really like and are happy they moved to.

Thanks in advance

[texas7]

Summerwood and Pearland will offer your best commutes from the places mentioned with Summerwood being the best commute.

[timtemtym]

Yep ^^ 30 minute commute would be Pearland or Summerwood. Cypress is unpredictable and they are doing a long and massive redo to 290. Sugar Land is my favorite of the areas, but the commute to downtown would almost never be under 30.

Honestly though, looking at your price range. Why not look at Bellaire or Spring Branch since you want mature trees and good retail. Both areas are safe and a much better commute. Schools in Bellaire and parts of Spring Branch are excellent.

[Houston2013]

I will look at Bellaire and Spring Branch, just did not know if there would be any newer homes in those areas. What are some of the nicer subdivisions in Summerwood or Pearland? What would you say the commute of Sugarland would be? My wife is not someoen who loves traffic

[Copsgirl73]

Is a commute to Summerwood faster than to Sugar Land?

[winkosmosis]

What you're looking for doesn't exist. The closest is The Woodlands but it's 45 min at least from downtown, but more like 1:15 at rush hour. That's the main problem with Houston. Outside loop 610 there's a big sprawl of currently undesireable suburban neighborhoods before you get to what most people would consider nice, so if you work downtown you have a long commute.

Edit: Maybe Bunker Hill has some houses in that price range

[Chicago3rd]

Originally Posted by Houston2013

I will look at Bellaire and Spring Branch, just did not know if there would be any newer homes in those areas. What are some of the nicer subdivisions in Summerwood or Pearland? What would you say the commute of Sugarland would be? My wife is not someoen who loves traffic

One of the most wonderful things about Houston is that people will tear down old house and build new ones in great neighborhoods. I have never lived in a city where apartment complexes vanish practically overnight to be replaced by newer better. Same goes with homes.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Pearland is your best bet, followed by kingwood, sugarland and katy. Avoid Cypress like the plague (commute downtown is well over an hour and 15 with worse coming). The woodlands is only 45 min if she's leaving at 5am and returning at 3pm, else it's much longer. If 45 south wasn't a debacle, I'd suggest friendswood too, but think that will still be over an hour. Look into park and rides so atleast she won't have to drive the majority of the commute. My father did that once the routine commute from spring exceeded an hour regularly. It just wasn't worth the hassle to sit in traffic.

[nana053]

I live in Pearland and really like the area. The area is quite diverse in terms of population. It's very family friendly and the schools are good. Both High Schools are going to the academic decathlon for the state this year.

Pearland ISD

One of our middle school students will be participating in the Houston Spelling Bee.
Pearland ISD

The commute should be ok and in theory, they are putting in some more lanes (with tolls) on 288. There also is supposed to be a park and ride opening in 2014.

[texas7]

Originally Posted by Copsgirl73

Is a commute to Summerwood faster than to Sugar Land?

A commute from Summerwood into downtown is definitely faster than Sugarland. 59N in that direction is the best commute in the city. I work with several who live in the Summerwood/Fall Creek areas and absolutely love it and they get in and out of town in a flash. I believe it would be faster than taking 288 to Pearland - traffic is horrendous in that Pearland 288/518 area.