Relocating from Dallas to Houston area.... HELP! (Sugar Land, The Woodlands: wood floors, house)

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by Failed Engineer

There are only 2 decent Town Centers in Houston suburbia. The Woodlands and Sugar Land. That's it.

Katy's La Centerra looks just like those two. At least to me they do.
I thought Kingwood built one too.

[crono_clone]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Katy's La Centerra looks just like those two. At least to me they do.
I thought Kingwood built one too.

Kingwood does have a Town Center but I don't think it's anything like the Woodlands or Sugar Land.

Kingwood Town Center Kingwood

[Failed Engineer]

The Katy and Pearland ones resemble to some degree the Woodlands and Sugar Land TCs layout, but the retail and especially restaurants are severely lacking in comparison. I'm not familiar with the Kingwood one.

[abbybaby]

Originally Posted by KnoxsMom

I guess it looks like Sugar Land, unless I get any more suggestions. The Pearland Town Center seemed nice, but just lacking some upscale shops and especially restaurants. I cannot believe how Houston has such a lack of Whole Foods, Central Market, etc. There is ONE Central Market in Houston.. ONE! Within a mile or two of me, I have Central Market, Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Sprouts, and Trader Joe's. Insanity! It's just like the never-ending stream of houses. I never thought we would end up in the suburbs, but it is our only option in Houston. Total defeat. Housing is definitely more expensive in the H!

We are relocating from Allen and are in the same boat as you. We had no intentions of moving and just purchased a new home this year. My husband just could not pass up this job offer here.

No Whole Foods, etc. Is killing me!!! I am so used to having everything around us and it is hard to find that here.

Our number one priority is schools. So far the only thing I have found that meets or exceeds our schools in Allen is Friendswood isd but there are so few housing options there. Shopping is the pits there. Food is excellent if you are big on fresh seafood but that is about it.

We visited Pearland yesterday looking at several subdivisions and one visit was enough to cross that off. Everyone said how great the Town Center was. I was expecting a large Town Center.

Housing is definitely higher here. We started looking in the 300-400k range thinking that would get us a really nice house. To get what is comparable to our Allen home we have now had to increase our search to the 500-700k range. So there goes hubbies boat for a while!!!

I have family that lives in Sugar land so we looked there but they all told us the public schools were not good. I haven't researched them anymore after that. This is coming from family that has lived there since they were kids and now have their children in private schools there.

I really liked the Galleria area but with 3 young kids we cannot squeeze into a tiny home to fit in our budget so that is out. I loved the trees in Woodlands but was not impressed with the schools at all. I thought I would like Katy but didn't. It seemed so far out from everything. We considered Clear Creek isd because it is good but have yet to find an area we like in it. Parts of the Bay Oaks subdivision was nice but other parts not. Still nothing good around for shopping, etc.

I definitely feel like we have been spoiled living in Dallas. We had great schools, shopping, restaurants, night life, etc. all close to us. Now we are just trying to decide on what we are willing to sacrifice on. My husband starts his job next week and we have no idea where we really want to live!!

[F2BBS]

Bay Oaks is that million $ neighborhood isn't it? And some parts aren't nice? Jeez. I think some of you need to tone down the typical Dallas snob factor before coming down here. Just thinking "out loud". Peace.

[Failed Engineer]

abbybaby, I'm not sure where in Sugar Land your family lives (there are parts with less desirable schools) but check the homes zoned to Clements High. Clements itself is hyper competitive and there are parents that wouldn't want our kids going there (myself included) but it's feeder schools are universally awesome.

The Clements zoned homes are also closest to Sugar Land's best retail.

[DanielWayne]

Originally Posted by abbybaby

We are relocating from Allen and are in the same boat as you. We had no intentions of moving and just purchased a new home this year. My husband just could not pass up this job offer here.

No Whole Foods, etc. Is killing me!!! I am so used to having everything around us and it is hard to find that here.

Our number one priority is schools. So far the only thing I have found that meets or exceeds our schools in Allen is Friendswood isd but there are so few housing options there. Shopping is the pits there. Food is excellent if you are big on fresh seafood but that is about it.

We visited Pearland yesterday looking at several subdivisions and one visit was enough to cross that off. Everyone said how great the Town Center was. I was expecting a large Town Center.

Housing is definitely higher here. We started looking in the 300-400k range thinking that would get us a really nice house. To get what is comparable to our Allen home we have now had to increase our search to the 500-700k range. So there goes hubbies boat for a while!!!

I have family that lives in Sugar land so we looked there but they all told us the public schools were not good. I haven't researched them anymore after that. This is coming from family that has lived there since they were kids and now have their children in private schools there.

I really liked the Galleria area but with 3 young kids we cannot squeeze into a tiny home to fit in our budget so that is out. I loved the trees in Woodlands but was not impressed with the schools at all. I thought I would like Katy but didn't. It seemed so far out from everything. We considered Clear Creek isd because it is good but have yet to find an area we like in it. Parts of the Bay Oaks subdivision was nice but other parts not. Still nothing good around for shopping, etc.

I definitely feel like we have been spoiled living in Dallas. We had great schools, shopping, restaurants, night life, etc. all close to us. Now we are just trying to decide on what we are willing to sacrifice on. My husband starts his job next week and we have no idea where we really want to live!!

[tstone]

That's funny. Allen, Texas? Talk about bland...

[swopoe]

Originally Posted by Failed Engineer

abbybaby, I'm not sure where in Sugar Land your family lives (there are parts with less desirable schools) but check the homes zoned to Clements High. Clements itself is hyper competitive and there are parents that wouldn't want our kids going there (myself included) but it's feeder schools are universally awesome.

The Clements zoned homes are also closest to Sugar Land's best retail.

I agree. My kids are zoned to Clements feeder schools (Commonwealth Elem and Ft Settlement Middle) and the schools are awesome. And I am from the east coast, where the schools really are awesome.

Plus, we really do have all the shopping in Sugar Land I, a stay at home mom of 3, need. Except for that darn Trader Joe's.

I think some of you are being pretty unrealistic.

[dejamiller]

Originally Posted by swopoe

I think some of you are being pretty unrealistic.

Exactly! I read some of the post and just smh. Allen, TX??? Really?? I mean she has cleared half of Houston off her list.