Driving and living in Houston (San Antonio, Austin: for sale, real estate, HOA)

[DittoDitto0]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum. My husband and I currently live in Austin. We are interested in moving to Houston but we aren't sure what areas to begin investigating.

I was more interested in living in a suburb of Houston. He is more interested in living in the city but further out.

I would want to live in an area where driving was perhaps a little easier, meaning I might be afraid of the expressways. We are on the elderly side.

We would want to live near hospitals and good doctors.

We would want to be someplace that getting to grocery stores was an easy drive.

We are interested in an area with low crime.

We are interested in a 1700 sq foot house with 1/4-acre yard. We would prefer not to have an HOA. The price of the house would be between $160K to $250K.

Can anyone suggest areas that we should look at?

Thank you.

[Oildog]

start here Houston Real estate, Houston homes, Houston Realtors - HAR.com

[Chrisrock]

In what part of Austin do you currently live? Sounds like you guys might be somewhere off 620 in Williamsburg or maybe Round Rock. If so, sounds like you would transition well into some parts of Katy.

[DittoDitto0]

We are thinking of maybe Spring, TX now. Is this a safe city?

[DittoDitto0]

Austin has become very expensive and we are retired and living on a fixed income

[winkosmosis]

Originally Posted by DittoDitto0

Austin has become very expensive and we are retired and living on a fixed income

Houston is very expensive. In the city in any nice safe area is way out of your budget.


You should compare towns around Austin to the suburbs in Houston. At an equivalent distance to Spring, and without the long freeway drive, you'll find places like Marble Falls... It's beautiful and there are many houses in your price range http://www.trulia.com/for_sale/Marbl...0-250000_price

[DittoDitto0]

Thank you Winkosmosis

[timtemtym]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

Houston is very expensive. In the city in any nice safe area is way out of your budget.


You should compare towns around Austin to the suburbs in Houston. At an equivalent distance to Spring, and without the long freeway drive, you'll find places like Marble Falls... It's beautiful and there are many houses in your price range Marble Falls Real Estate & Marble Falls Homes For Sale — Trulia.com

Definitely agreed! Unless they are moving to be closer to family in Houston, it just doesn't sound like a place for starting over at retirement. Plus a lot of areas in that price range in Houston might be very far out (i.e. drive for services and community) or might be in patchy, not so nice areas. If it were me, I'd rather look at Marble Falls, New Braunfels, NW San Antonio.
Retire with some scenery!

[HoustonBornNRaised]

Originally Posted by DittoDitto0

We are thinking of maybe Spring, TX now. Is this a safe city?

I would say it is. I lived there for over 20 years with no incidents. Check 77388, 77379, and 77389 zip codes. You're going to have a difficult time finding a development with no HOA though.

[houston-nomad]

You might also check 77035. There are houses in your price range, and it's close to the Medical Center, so you could avoid freeways. Plus the neighborhood has a nice mix of young families along with older people, and a suburban feel.