Sugar Land vs. Katy Area for future real estate appreciation (Houston: home, neighborhoods)

[crbcrbrgv]

Something that seems to be left out of the conversation is this. If the OP is living pretty tight as it is and the house value goes up 50k in a year, the taxes will be a strain.

[mingna]

Originally Posted by Htown2013

The Sugar Land area housing seems very expensive. We can probably get what we want in Sugar Land for $425k, but that is the most we are willing to spend for a house. We can easily get what we want in the Katy area, including Cinco Ranch & Cross Creek Ranch for much less, $290-320k.

Not being from Houston and very unfamiliar with the area, I am looking for arguments/logic if it's worth the extra $100k to be in Sugar Land vs. the other areas. While I can afford the SL house, it would be the most I'm comfortable paying at this time. Is it worth it? Why or why not?

What about resale and future trends in either area?

You seem to be a numbers guy, so if you omit personal nuances affecting someone's buying decision, you will always find a certain percentage of the home-buying population who will buy based on perception and preference for either places- right or wrong.

I have not lived in Katy so I will only comment on SL.

As long as the school ratings for your zoned area remain high (a major factor influencing many people's home decision), a SL house is a good investment (although I know you would mainly buy for liveability - right?). SL has enough amenities and is logistically attractive enough that many people with the financial buying power will choose to live there.

For example, a person not bothered by the demographics (probably thinks it's a plus), who wants the good schools and the safe environment - but also likes the amenities of in-town ethnic/non-ethnic supermarkets and restaurants of decent quality; easy access to ethnic eateries off Hwy 59 in Hillcroft/Alief/Sharpstown/Westheimer area; ease of access to local cultural offerings (including a branch of the Houston Natural History Museum); ease of access to cultural offerings in Museum District/Downtown; easy commute if they work for one of a wide variety of local engineering MNC (Fluor Daniel, GE, Schlumberger, Halliburton, soon-to-be Texas Instruments), hospitals, schools (colleges); easy access to a wide variety of retail shopping, etc.

For the majority of my friends and acquaintances who live and either work in SL or elsewhere in Houston, these factors weighed heavily in their willingness to pay the (relatively) higher price of living here. I know my Cambodian friend in Cinco Ranch constantly complains about having to drive 25-35 min to access hard to find Asian ingredients at either 99 Ranch in SL, or the markets in Bellaire - which for me takes anywhere from 2-15 min. drive.

Someone mentioned it before, but it bears repeating that for some SL folks, there is little reason to venture into Houston proper because SL meets most of their needs.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by Htown2013

If I will be in unincorporated Houston ETJ, I'd at least want to be in Fort Bend County. Unicorporated Harris Co is truly a free-for-all ugly hodgepodge.

You've received good advice on this, or someone knows their stuff. Unincorporated Fort Bend County is immensely better than unincorporated Harris County. There are just more regulations on all sorts of things that make it much nicer.

Originally Posted by swopoe

I cannot ditto this enough! No Clements for my three kids, thank you very much.

Same here. Though we're in the Austin High zone, which isn't far behind in ranking. However, there's enough demand in the Clements zone that it commands higher prices generally than other zones, so in that sense it's a good investment. I love the neighborhoods in that area, but don't think I want my kids in Clements with all of the pressure and as long as Texas has this top 10% (I think now it's 8%) rule...

[swopoe]

Originally Posted by AK123

Same here. Though we're in the Austin High zone, which isn't far behind in ranking. However, there's enough demand in the Clements zone that it commands higher prices generally than other zones, so in that sense it's a good investment. I love the neighborhoods in that area, but don't think I want my kids in Clements with all of the pressure and as long as Texas has this top 10% (I think now it's 8%) rule...

We are zone for commonwealth, fort settlement, and Elkins, and I am fine with that. My husband and I are from the east coast and went to east coast schools, so we aren't going to push for our kids to stay in TX for college anyway. I just see the pressure at Clements as unnecessary.

[mingna]

Originally Posted by AK123

. Though we're in the Austin High zone, which isn't far behind in ranking. However, there's enough demand in the Clements zone that it commands higher prices generally than other zones, so in that sense it's a good investment. I love the neighborhoods in that area, but don't think I want my kids in Clements with all of the pressure and as long as Texas has this top 10% (I think now it's 8%) rule...

This is only for UT, right? What about other universities in the state? The country? Where is the pressure coming from - the parents, the students themselves, peers, teachers? If it's parental or within the student themselves, then that is controllable.

One option is to take advantage of whatever real academic benefits are derived from attending Clements, and apply those skills and knowledge to getting top notch grades at a good community college or transfer college (such as SFA). Then, transfer in to UT or your school of choice at the Junior level. First two years at most universities are similar in general requirement classes anyways, and you will have saved a tremendous amount of $$ in tuition; yet graduate with the same degree, from the same university (with the same perceived prestige), as a direct high school transferee.

Very common occurence - with great success academically and post-academically (jobs).

[AK123]

Originally Posted by mingna

This is only for UT, right? What about other universities in the state? The country?

Public schools in the state.

Originally Posted by mingna

One option is to take advantage of whatever real academic benefits are derived from attending Clements, and apply those skills and knowledge to getting top notch grades at a good community college or transfer college (such as SFA). Then, transfer in to UT or your school of choice at the Junior level. ....

If we were stuck in that school zone with no intentions to move, maybe we'd have to look into these things. Luckily, we're not.

[Htown2013]

Originally Posted by mingna

This is only for UT, right? What about other universities in the state? The country? Where is the pressure coming from - the parents, the students themselves, peers, teachers? If it's parental or within the student themselves, then that is controllable.

One option is to take advantage of whatever real academic benefits are derived from attending Clements, and apply those skills and knowledge to getting top notch grades at a good community college or transfer college (such as SFA). Then, transfer in to UT or your school of choice at the Junior level. First two years at most universities are similar in general requirement classes anyways, and you will have saved a tremendous amount of $$ in tuition; yet graduate with the same degree, from the same university (with the same perceived prestige), as a direct high school transferee.

Very common occurence - with great success academically and post-academically (jobs).

Agree. With the price of tuition what it is this seems to be the way to go. We can afford to send our kids to UT but not equivalent private schools.

[mingna]

Originally Posted by Htown2013

Agree. With the price of tuition what it is this seems to be the way to go. We can afford to send our kids to UT but not equivalent private schools.

Very underrated and economically sound way of obtaining an undergrad degree from a top public university, without incurring massive debt.

From a highly rated city college, I transferred into what was then a top 10 rated undergraduate university for my major; took advantage of it's strong academic programs and first-rate facilities, and graduated with a degree stamped from a university widely held in high esteem within both industry and academia in the know. Secured a good job 1 month before even graduating, and when I decided to return to graduate school, that degree (with all it entailed) helped served as a stepping stone for admission into every top 4 graduate programs I applied for - including an Ivy League (which I turned down because it did not have the best program for my area of study). This is not to brag, but to illustrate that this route to obtaining a good education should not be underestimated.

If it took me turning into a Tiger Mom and hyper-pressuring my kids in order for them to be in the top 8% of Clements, I would not do it. Instead, I would pursue the route I mentioned.

[Htown2013]

Originally Posted by mingna

Very underrated and economically sound way of obtaining an undergrad degree from a top public university, without incurring massive debt.

From a highly rated city college, I transferred into what was then a top 10 rated undergraduate university for my major; took advantage of it's strong academic programs and first-rate facilities, and graduated with a degree stamped from a university widely held in high esteem within both industry and academia in the know. Secured a good job 1 month before even graduating, and when I decided to return to graduate school, that degree (with all it entailed) helped served as a stepping stone for admission into every top 4 graduate programs I applied for - including an Ivy League (which I turned down because it did not have the best program for my area of study). This is not to brag, but to illustrate that this route to obtaining a good education should not be underestimated.

If it took me turning into a Tiger Mom and hyper-pressuring my kids in order for them to be in the top 8% of Clements, I would not do it. Instead, I would pursue the route I mentioned.

Congrats on your route - that worked out very well for you. Yes, I couldn't agree more with your approach. You made me laugh with the "Tiger Mom" approach. Remember, I don't have time to be a tiger parent, as I have to work my a$$ off! :-).

[usc619]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Taylor High School areas... Near east Katy. The High School is rising once again in socio-demographics over Cinco and Seven Lakes.

What does this mean?