Input on Schools in the Woodlands / Home Market (Houston, Conroe: for sale, real estate)

[Texascrude]

Like many others, I work for Exxon and am going to be moving to Houston sometime in the next 2 or 3 months. We lived in Eagle Springs from 2010 to 2013, but with all the development the area has seen in the last few years I just want to make sure I have updated information!

A few questions:

1) We're currently looking for at least a half acre within about a 30 minute commute of the campus. Prices vary drastically (We're looking at homes somewhere between $300k and $600k), and it seems that the big differentiator is the school the homes are zoned to. Just looking at test scores (SAT / ACT / AP participation, etc) it looks like The Woodlands and College Park schools are a clear notch above all the other public schools in the area. Am I missing any? What about Magnolia High School? I have several friends that purchased in Benders Landing, but Oak Ridge seems to be challenged -- is that an accurate statement?

2) Assuming we settle one of either The Woodlands or College Park high schools, Carriage Hills or Lake Creek Forest look to be a pretty good fits for what we're looking at. Is anyone familiar with that area that can share some input?

3) As far as the general market, I see that homes are moving a lot slower than they were when we first started browsing about a year ago, and it looks like many homes get cut several times before finally selling. What's the feeling from y'all over there? Would it be worth renting for a year to try and time the market a bit? I certainly don't want to buy in a free fall and end up upside down a few months after we purchase the home.

Thanks for any and all input -- I appreciate it.

[colcat]

Magnolia High School is a good school, just stay away from Magnolia West HS(not as good). I think Magnolia would be a great place for you, given your criteria. More land and house for less money than, say, The Woodlands. You didn't say how old your kids are. I say this because if they are young, I am pretty sure that Oakridge will not be the only HS within a few years and Benders Landing would be zoned to another school. Benders Landing is nice, but you are correct about your thoughts on Oakridge HS.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Texascrude

Like many others, I work for Exxon and am going to be moving to Houston sometime in the next 2 or 3 months. We lived in Eagle Springs from 2010 to 2013, but with all the development the area has seen in the last few years I just want to make sure I have updated information!

A few questions:

1) We're currently looking for at least a half acre within about a 30 minute commute of the campus. Prices vary drastically (We're looking at homes somewhere between $300k and $600k), and it seems that the big differentiator is the school the homes are zoned to. Just looking at test scores (SAT / ACT / AP participation, etc) it looks like The Woodlands and College Park schools are a clear notch above all the other public schools in the area. Am I missing any? What about Magnolia High School? I have several friends that purchased in Benders Landing, but Oak Ridge seems to be challenged -- is that an accurate statement?

2) Assuming we settle one of either The Woodlands or College Park high schools, Carriage Hills or Lake Creek Forest look to be a pretty good fits for what we're looking at. Is anyone familiar with that area that can share some input?

3) As far as the general market, I see that homes are moving a lot slower than they were when we first started browsing about a year ago, and it looks like many homes get cut several times before finally selling. What's the feeling from y'all over there? Would it be worth renting for a year to try and time the market a bit? I certainly don't want to buy in a free fall and end up upside down a few months after we purchase the home.

Thanks for any and all input -- I appreciate it.

I wouldn't bet on the market continuing to go down. Maybe it will, but oil prices and home prices could also start working their way back up, quickly.

There may also be some property in the north part of the Cypress-Fairbanks school district to look at. That area has been really growing. With the Grand Parkway completed, it will be a lot easier to get east-west from 290 to 45.

[Texascrude]

Originally Posted by colcat

Magnolia High School is a good school, just stay away from Magnolia West HS(not as good). I think Magnolia would be a great place for you, given your criteria. More land and house for less money than, say, The Woodlands. You didn't say how old your kids are. I say this because if they are young, I am pretty sure that Oakridge will not be the only HS within a few years and Benders Landing would be zoned to another school. Benders Landing is nice, but you are correct about your thoughts on Oakridge HS.

Thanks for the input. We've got 3 kids, oldest is only in 2nd grade now, so HS is quite a few years off, but I'd hate to buy a house and leave something as important as the kid's HS up in the air like that... especially if we don't have to. It'd mean an older house at the same price point, but I'd rather deal with an older house than the uncertainty of an adequate school.

We'll give Magnolia another good look, I'm just not sure how to compare schools outside of average SAT / ACT / AP courses, etc.

[colcat]

Originally Posted by Texascrude

Thanks for the input. We've got 3 kids, oldest is only in 2nd grade now, so HS is quite a few years off, but I'd hate to buy a house and leave something as important as the kid's HS up in the air like that... especially if we don't have to. It'd mean an older house at the same price point, but I'd rather deal with an older house than the uncertainty of an adequate school.

We'll give Magnolia another good look, I'm just not sure how to compare schools outside of average SAT / ACT / AP courses, etc.

Well, you want a little land, not going to happen in that price point in The Woodlands. If you want to compromise on that, The Woodlands is the place for srellar schools and real estate value.

[Texascrude]

Originally Posted by colcat

Well, you want a little land, not going to happen in that price point in The Woodlands. If you want to compromise on that, The Woodlands is the place for srellar schools and real estate value.

There are some sections of Conroe zoned to College Park (Carriage Hills) and The Woodlands HS (Lake Creek Forest) that have acre lots in that price point -- seems like the best of both worlds unless I am missing something.

Any knowledge of those areas?

[WRM20]

Try Lake Windcrest. Big lots, big houses. Here's the current list of properties for sale Real Estate & Homes for Sale in Texas - HAR.com

[colcat]

Originally Posted by WRM20

Try Lake Windcrest. Big lots, big houses. Here's the current list of properties for sale Real Estate & Homes for Sale in Texas - HAR.com

Excellent area, zoned to Magnolia schools.

[colcat]

Originally Posted by Texascrude

There are some sections of Conroe zoned to College Park (Carriage Hills) and The Woodlands HS (Lake Creek Forest) that have acre lots in that price point -- seems like the best of both worlds unless I am missing something.

Any knowledge of those areas?

Lakecreek Forest iis really nice. I would stay away from Carriage Hills. To many property variables with a trailer park at the entrance. And the traffic is horrible.

[Texascrude]

Originally Posted by colcat

Lakecreek Forest iis really nice. I would stay away from Carriage Hills. To many property variables with a trailer park at the entrance. And the traffic is horrible.

Thanks, that's helpful. We'll head down in the next week or so but will have limited time on the first trip, so this really helps narrow down where I need to focus.

Is there much difference between those two schools (College Park and TWHS)? From great schools, it looks like they're comparable though College park is quite a bit smaller, with TWHS having slightly more affluent demographics.