Lakeshore Harbour - Missouri City - too good to be true? (Houston: 2015, house)

[MAROON79]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I'm also kind of shocked about the comments regarding Hightower. It has always seemed to be an "average" high school, not the apocalyptic nightmare folks are describing here. Same goes for some other high schools that are "average", like Bush in FBISD, Terry in LCISD, and Langham Creek and Cy-Falls in CFISD. If you posters feel this way about those schools, what about ones that have had a much worse reputation, like Willowridge and Cy-Ridge?

All your negative commenting does is reduce the market viability of otherwise perfectly decent neighborhoods and send them on an accelerating path toward decline.

The issue is most don't want to settle for average schools for their kids. Excellent or Above Average is what most would strive for given the option.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by MAROON79

The issue is most don't want to settle for average schools for their kids. Excellent or Above Average is what most would strive for given the option.

The thought then is that no matter how motivated the child and the parents are, if the kid doesn't attend an "above average" school, then the actual education and life prospects of their kid are harmed?

[Fernandabr]

Originally Posted by MAROON79

The issue is most don't want to settle for average schools for their kids. Excellent or Above Average is what most would strive for given the option.

Exactly... I know that the whole concept of what's an average school and what's a good school can be realtive. What's average for you might be good for others, but in our country we would invest a great amount of money in our kids education just to make sure it's way above average, so that's what we are looking for. Schools that people wouldn't even have to argue about their quality.

We would be willing to take a risk if the school was improving, with active parents and a good community around it. That was what we were thinking could happen in Missouri City, but apparently we got the wrong perception.

[ipuck]

Originally Posted by Fernandabr

Thanks for all your answers! We are not from town so every information we can gather is very useful.

We were first looking at the Cinco Ranch area because of the schools, but everything good near our budget would disappear very fast and receive multiple offers that would drive the price way up. We are pretty young and don't have that kind of money to win a bidding war.

We are considering the new developments in Katy and Richmond as well, but they all have this post apocalyptic feel with lots of sand and young trees, that we don't quite like.

Any suggestions of neighborhood/communities that we might not know that are not a 1 hour drive to the galleria area and would meet our expectations?

You can't expect lot of old trees and want a new house. Pick one or the other.

https://goo.gl/maps/HnXtuRNoW8x

This is Palm Royale in First Colony. Granted, it is probably the nicest street in Sugar Land, but most of the neighborhoods in First Colony are built that way. All their neighborhoods are planted with trees lining both sides. It actually cause problem as the sidewalk require maintenance when the trees get too big and the constant tree trimming, but the streets looks so much better and actually walk-able in the summer.

https://goo.gl/maps/RXwktRfv5fB2

This is one of the street I drove through before in Lake Colony I think. I believe the houses there are close to the price range you are looking for. That one and Heritage Lakes I think are around that range.

Pretty much all the neighborhoods managed by First Colony have that look to them.

[mikeyyc]

Originally Posted by Fernandabr

Exactly... I know that the whole concept of what's an average school and what's a good school can be realtive. What's average for you might be good for others, but in our country we would invest a great amount of money in our kids education just to make sure it's way above average, so that's what we are looking for. Schools that people wouldn't even have to argue about their quality.

We would be willing to take a risk if the school was improving, with active parents and a good community around it. That was what we were thinking could happen in Missouri City, but apparently we got the wrong perception.

Sienna Plantation is still in the ETJ of Mo'City, and has excellent schools.

[Houston321]

The developer made a decision a while back in Lakeshore that changed the community. Years ago Princeton was building nice homes, with tile roofs on the water in the 400-500 range. When the downturn occurred around 2008-9, the developer allowed Brighton Homes to come in. Brighton builds 4000 sq.ft. boxes for the high 200's. This forced Princeton's hand to basically build their lower end product (Legend) and slap a few features on them and still call them Princeton to compete with Brighton. So, of course the 400-500K homeowners are stuck and pissed, and the price point was brought down. It was once on pace to be just like Chelsea Harbour in Sugar Land, mainly Asian and Indian, good credit, higher price point, but that has changed. Also, an older Indian couple drove into the lake and died around this time frame, which spooked a lot of people out.

[Failed Engineer]

OP, you have a lot of good options in the $300k range in the SW suburbs. Probably need to prioritize your needs and wants though because you won't get it all. New construction or existing preferences, what are your sq ft needs, house finish or schools more important, are you sensitive to ROI? Any other specific wants? You've already covered commute so that's an important one.

There's too many solid options to even start narrowing them down before you provide some input.

[Fernandabr]

Originally Posted by Failed Engineer

OP, you have a lot of good options in the $300k range in the SW suburbs. Probably need to prioritize your needs and wants though because you won't get it all. New construction or existing preferences, what are your sq ft needs, house finish or schools more important, are you sensitive to ROI? Any other specific wants? You've already covered commute so that's an important one.

There's too many solid options to even start narrowing them down before you provide some input.

We are looking for a ready to move home, it doesn't have to be a new construction, but it needs to be at least remodeled and updated so we don't have carpet all over the house and weird floorplans. We would like 3 or 4 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms and a good sized backyard. That's pretty much it regarding the house.

We would prefer to be in a good school district but if it's an area that's proved to be improving and have active parents concerned with their children education, we don't mind taking a shot since we will be fully committed to our kids education.

As I mentioned, I do like communities with green areas and large trees and that's why Cinco ranch was our first try, but that's not a determinant factor, it would be a bonus.

The ROI isn't much of a deal for us since we're planning to live there for a long time. Of course we don't want to buy a house and see its value cut in half 10 years later but we don't need it to double it's value also. It's not a major concern.

I really appreciate your help, thanks again.

[Augiec]

One big issue no one has raised are the significantly higher tax rates in Missouri City compared to Sugar Land. A $300K home in Missouri City will cost you about $9,000/yr in property taxes, if not more. Yes, there's a federal tax deduction at year end for that, but for the most part that is money you're never going to see again. Sugar Land, having a lower tax rate will cost you a little over $6,000/yr.

Some might say $3,000/yr isn't that bad for the neighborhood you love, but when you add it up over the 10-20 years you plan to live there and factor in the present value of those first few year's of taxes... it adds up.

Give me an older house with a 2.2% tax rate over a newer house with a 3.2% tax rate any day.

[ipuck]

It is generally a .8% difference between the older homes in SL to Missouri City, so more like $2,400 for a $300,000 house.

The newer MPC are all 3.2% and up.

I totally agree the 1% makes all the difference in the world, and was the main reason I didn't buy new when I move down there.