2-3 top LOCATIONS to buy first home - moved in from Chicago (Houston: townhouse, neighborhoods)

[judefenix]

My wife commutes to work to downtown using Houston Metro now and I need to drive to the HP office. What might be a good location to buy a house (20- 35 mins to downtown using public transportation and upto 40 mins each way to HP campus). Here is some other criteria that we have established.

1) Great location - community, excellent schools, safety
2) High ROI
3) Great backyard
4) $250K-$425K , 4Bed+/3 Bath+, 2 stories.

[Julesunder]

That pretty much puts you in Cypress, but the commute will be more like 45-1 hr. To my knowledge there is no community within Houston that checks all your boxes.

A.) maybe good schools, forget great, unless you go private.
B.) for 250-425k, there is no way getting a 4bed within 20-35 mins...townhouse overlooking train tracks maybe
C.) Safe...now thats the hard part in Houston...don't see it for 4 bed at 425k

Start looking at Katy, Sugarland and Cypress areas, inside the loop isn't going to happen.

Its depressing to house shop in Houston

[azinwood]

exact work situation as us.

we live in katy.

depending on the role at HP, telecommuting maybe available 2 days a week. it helps.

Commute to Tomball on the new 99 is 45 minutes door-to-door both directions. Decent now but will get worse as more developments occur on 99.

Katy to downtown is 35 minutes at 5:30am. 50 minutes on the return at 4:15pm.

Will have to sacrifice timing and some of the 4 criteria you listed.

YMMV.

[judefenix]

Thanks Julesunder for the remarks. What are the commute options from Cypress? Is there a park n ride option ?

How about the Tomboll area ?

[haudi]

Tomball is a good option for you. There is little to no public transportation between Cypress and the HP campus. THe Houston Public Transportation system outside the loop is a joke. Look at Lakewood Forest, Hunter's Valley and the other surrounding neighborhoods. Older but beautiful homes and within your budget. Gorgeous area too.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by azinwood

Katy to downtown is 35 minutes at 5:30am. 50 minutes on the return at 4:15pm.

Will have to sacrifice timing and some of the 4 criteria you listed.

YMMV.

The morning time right on the money, but the return time usually take me more like an 80-90 mins without the toll lane and 50 min with the toll.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by judefenix

My wife commutes to work to downtown using Houston Metro now and I need to drive to the HP office. What might be a good location to buy a house (20- 35 mins to downtown using public transportation and upto 40 mins each way to HP campus). Here is some other criteria that we have established.

1) Great location - community, excellent schools, safety
2) High ROI
3) Great backyard
4) $250K-$425K , 4Bed+/3 Bath+, 2 stories.

Spring Branch ?

Spring Branch Management District |

[azinwood]

Originally Posted by usc619

The morning time right on the money, but the return time usually take me more like an 80-90 mins without the toll lane and 50 min with the toll.

Correct, that's taking westpark toll on the way back and i10 in during the morning commute.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

Spring Branch ?

Spring Branch Management District |

Spring Branch is the best option, but he may have to push the spending limit a little higher, that being said " no way in hell would I have my wife driving DT to Katy everyday" lol. I rather keep her drive to a minimum ( less stress at home )

[Julesunder]

Katy is nice but with really only one way in, one way out (I-10) the drive times and traffic will make you want to jump off a bridge. Its true, I-10 to the city starts to lock up before 6am. I would rule out Katy

Sugar land is kinda in the same boat as Katy, but further south. Worth a look

Cypress all depends if you are north of 290 or south of 290 and if you would actually have to use 290 at peak times. There is major construction going on and will be for the next 10, 20, 50 years. There is a park and ride metro and I would highly recommend it, if you move out that way or see if you can work flex hours...630am-330pm, something like that.

I've been house shopping for the last 6 months, I currently live in the loop. So expensive for nothing and very sketchy in certain areas with horrible schools.

I'm leaning toward Cypress because even tho the commute is tough (it will be anywhere nice). The schools are huge, new, and you can get a giant house with a pool for 400k, easy. However, Cypress comes with a hefty property tax about 3.4-3.7%.

We opted for hard commutes, but a nice, safe place on the weekends. I'll depends on whats important and what you're willing to deal with.

Take a look at Cypress, south of 290, Barker Cypress and Fry road area. Its clean, family friendly and actually has trees