Househunting in Houston & Sugar Land...I am so over it! Talk me back from the ledge, guys? + (League City: apartment, renting)

[skybluesky]

We are first time homebuyers that started looking in July, and it's been a mind boggling and exhausting experience. We started out looking for something around 200k on the Central North side (Mangum Manor, Candlelight areas, etc.), but quickly learned our must haves wouldn't be met in our budget for that area (safe feeling, good elementary school zoning, no flood zone). We didn't want to buy a "stop gap" house to live in for 5 years and then move when we have a kid entering elementary school...so we decided to look further out.

Switched focus to the 'burbs, specifically Sugar Land, and upped the budget to 230k. Focusing on areas with decent tax rates (under 3% at least), good school zone (better for resell), and mature trees. New Territory, Greatwood, First Colony, Pecan Grove. We have looked at 37 houses in 9 weeks and none of them seem to justify the list price - it's always something. Weird layout, backs up to busy road, next to train tracks, borders Alief or other unsavory part of town, major roof/foundation/HVAC probs, unfavorable school zone, *completely* outdated. I think out of the 37 houses, there were 3 nice options that fit the bill but went pending in a day.

I really, really believed that if I decided to move out to the suburbs, I could have my pick of decent to great houses for *well* under 200k. Did I miss those golden years? It feels like the ONLY thing making a house purchase right now worth it is the low interest rates. I'm fed up. I'm ready to continue renting an apartment for $1300/month, stash cash for higher down payment in a couple years, and try not to lament when interest rates keep rising.

What would you do, CityData? To make matters more complicated, the place we're in now is on the market and we're just waiting for the landlord to tell us he got an offer and it's time to get out. Ugh.

[Failed Engineer]

You focused on the wrong (i.e. most expensive) suburb. Katy, Pearland, Cypress, League City, Friendswood all have good options under 230k that meet all your criteria.

[skybluesky]

I should add that I do realize we started looking after the summer rush and inventory is low. It definitely feels like we're picking over the scraps of summer feasting.

[odiego]

Originally Posted by skybluesky

We are first time homebuyers that started looking in July, and it's been a mind boggling and exhausting experience. We started out looking for something around 200k on the Central North side (Mangum Manor, Candlelight areas, etc.), but quickly learned our must haves wouldn't be met in our budget for that area (safe feeling, good elementary school zoning, no flood zone). We didn't want to buy a "stop gap" house to live in for 5 years and then move when we have a kid entering elementary school...so we decided to look further out.

I'm not from Houston (yet), but am on the same boat. First time home buyers, with a $200k budget. We're coming from Chicago, so for us pretty much anything would be an upgrade (weather, crime, even traffic). I did noticed during my hunt, that in this market you have 2 options, get higher sq footage with a lower quality build, no amenities and OK schools, or sacrifice the sq footage for a better built home and amenities and better schools.

My opinion is don't give up, rates are really attractive right now and they will go nowhere but up.

[DejaBlue]

Failed Engineer is right. Don't listen to the hype. Sugar Land and Katy are NOT the heavenly in Houston suburbs. There's a ton of others and you're limiting yourself.

What has you so sold on Sugar Land? And you just mentioned your price but what are you wanting house wise?

I feel like you might be wanting too much for too little but need more info on what you're looking for. If you're new to Houston and followed the oh you can get whatever you want, 4 bedrooms, 3500sq ft, best schools in the burbs, pool, etc for $150k.

You got hoodwinked. Big time.

[jojobeans2]

There are plenty of other suburbs that have great schools, safe-feeling, no flood zones, etc. Why are you only looking at Sugarland?

You can get everything you want for your budget in any of the other suburbs that Failed Engineer mentioned.

I had done the exact same thing - I had limited myself to an area (the inner loop) and couldn't find anything I could afford (for months!), and then finally expanded my scope a month ago and found the perfect house.

Don't give up just yet

[Lbjen]

We were in exactly the same boat and decided to up our budget a little and build something instead. I looked at hundreds of houses in SL, Katy, Cinco Ranch, even Cypress but everything was either outdated or had a poor school. By the time we figured in the cost of updating it just made more sense to get what we wanted from the start.

[skybluesky]

Originally Posted by Failed Engineer

You focused on the wrong (i.e. most expensive) suburb. Katy, Pearland, Cypress, League City, Friendswood all have good options under 230k that meet all your criteria.

We have family that lives in Sugar Land, so we decided if we're going to move further out, it might as well be in the direction of family and future child care help. Pearland doesn't seem well planned out (highway access, alternate routes, etc.) and is devoid of trees. Katy's tax rates are ridiculous, at least in newer sections, and I don't like the 'feel' of newer Katy. Older Katy has better tax rates, but that's where I'm seeing 200k+ homes in bad shape with no seller flexibility. Cypress is out because I refuse to use 290 as my commute road into town. I'm not familiar w/ League City or Friendswood, but will check those out. I was looking into Fall Creek on the NE side of town, the homes are nice, commute seems better, but the tax rate and HOA are very high.

Here's what I'm looking for, under 230k:
>3-4 bedrooms, 2-3 bathrooms
>Open floorplan (but not "the kitchen is IN the living room" layout)
>Somewhat upgraded kitchen (as in, doesn't look like it's straight from 1980. I'm ok w/ painting cabinets and changing countertops, other visual details)
>A second living area, whether it be an office/den/gameroom that is separate from main living room
>Trees, maybe? Hopefully?
>No major foundation probs, old roof, old HVAC system, water damage
>Good elementary school (prefer good overall school zoning, for resell value)
>No highway noise from the backyard or inside the house (I'm looking at you, Long Meadow Farms...)
>Tax rate under 3%
>Feels safe and quiet

Neither of us have a permanent office location. We're both consultants so the project could be anywhere. I'm currently on the NE side of town, and he's in the Galleria area. Who knows where the next project will be...

[skybluesky]

Originally Posted by Lbjen

We were in exactly the same boat and decided to up our budget a little and build something instead. I looked at hundreds of houses in SL, Katy, Cinco Ranch, even Cypress but everything was either outdated or had a poor school. By the time we figured in the cost of updating it just made more sense to get what we wanted from the start.

Where did you end up building, if I may ask? And congrats on your new home!

[skybluesky]

Originally Posted by DejaBlue

What has you so sold on Sugar Land? And you just mentioned your price but what are you wanting house wise?

I feel like you might be wanting too much for too little but need more info on what you're looking for. If you're new to Houston and followed the oh you can get whatever you want, 4 bedrooms, 3500sq ft, best schools in the burbs, pool, etc for $150k.

We really don't want any of those things. We want to stick to under 2500 sq. feet, no pool, we're fine with 'recognized' schools that have plenty of diversity, we don't need tennis courts/splash pads/fitness center. We prefer a one story home, but a smaller two story is fine.

We are sold on Sugar Land because family lives out there. If we move that far out, it might as well be in the direction of family and friends. I don't want to use 290, Westpark, or I-10 as my commute rode into town.