Sacrifice commute or sacrifice house quality? (Katy, Cinco Ranch: school, living in, price)

[westres1]

Briargrove Park/Walnut Bend/Lakeside

[hendersj31]

Descent suggestion. ^^^^
Not BGP but maybe Walnut or Lakeside if they can up the budget a little.

[moojaabee]

Thanks guys again.

Looks like Jersey village, walnut, and lakeside is really good in terms of schools and distance but they are at least 15 years old.

I guess there are no newer homes built around those area?

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Ghost Town

Why not Pearland or Stafford? Commute should not be that bad. Also Oak Forest area recently had plenty of houses within 300K budget, and this is kind of super popular area here on this forum.

You should consider Pearland.

[trbstang]

Originally Posted by moojaabee

Thanks guys again.

Looks like Jersey village, walnut, and lakeside is really good in terms of schools and distance but they are at least 15 years old.

I guess there are no newer homes built around those area?

David Weekley is building a community of homes directly across from the Park & Ride at 290 and West Rd in your price range, but they are really like patio homes to me and they don't have the better schools in the area.

Enclave at Castlebridge Houston TX Home Builder, New Homes | David Weekley Homes

There are a couple of communities along Jones Rd in Jersey Village that are newer, but they are in the high 200's and 300's

[Oskar_Z28]

My brother just moved to a neighborhood off West Rd and Gessner. Forgot the name. Good schools (Gleason Elementary) and decently priced. Problem is that it's 290 commute heading downtown. It might work out eventually but for now not.

[naadarien]

Originally Posted by HTownNearNative

...My friends who work in the Galleria area have a hellish commute regardless of whether it is Katy, Jersey Village, Pearland, Sugar Land (best suburban option IMO), etc. It is more like an hour and a half to 2 hours if a really bad day. Most either get to work between 9-9:30am and leave after 6:30-7pm or get in at 6:30am and leave no later than 4:30pm in order to avoid the worst traffic. Sugar Land may be closest to an hour and 15 min commute max. There is a Trek (not sure on exact name) private bus service from Sugar Land to several major Galleria area employers (multiple stops at each one).

If you come SW down 59, pick a community near the highway, and avoid Hwy 6 in Sugar Land.

I live in Richmond where 59 and 99 meet. I work in Midtown. I work 6:30a-3:30p. My commute in the morning is 20mins door to door. My commute home is 35 mins because I take the 59 toll road. Well worth the $2.25 a day. I work from home on Mondays so I only do that commute on Tues-Fri.

I have never had a commute even approaching a hour unless I don't take the toll road coming home. I never need to take the toll road in the morning unless there some ridiculous accident at or around the 610/59 interchange.

If you want a new/er home, I'd definitely come this way. The 10, 290, 45 and 59 north of Houston have ridiculous commutes in comparison. That is why we moved out here (we relocated from the NE). Less traffic, fewer accidents, great schools for the most part, and a broad selection of homes. Anything in the top school districts sell fast though so don't hesitate if you find the place you like.

Good luck

[fnh]

naadarien, I had to do some mapping because you are way out there and your stated time of 20 minutes seems implausible to me, namely because that is the time it takes me to get downtown without traffic and I am traveling only half the distance. For you to go 26 miles in 20 minutes (door to door!) requires absolutely no traffic and/or an average speed of 78 mph. You would also have to practically work and live right on top of the freeway, which is a whole other concern.

Google maps says the average time at 6am to travel that stretch is 30-40 minutes.

But, regarding the OP's desire for new construction, one will have to commute from the hinterlands for it without the budget to scrape & build closer in. It's all relative though. My 20 year old home in Houston is quite new compared to my 116 year old home in Seattle.

[Lowexpectations]

Originally Posted by TXwrath

I live in katy and commute to the galleria. Takes about 45 min-1hr each way. I have done it for several years and used to it.

Summer traffic is upon is and now my commute should be 15-30 minutes each way.

I look at the bright side: This is ME time. I can call family on the way home to catch up, listen to podcasts/radio/audiobooks.

Sorry the commute from Katy to the galleria is never 15 minutes unless it's via helicopter

[Panda_Puck]

I do similar commute
Live in Katy (Silver ranch) and work in Galleria but have flexible hours and multiple options.

Option 1: Leave house around 6:00 A.M. via westpark and takes no more than 30 mins to galleria. On the way back, start at 4:00 P.M. and home by 4:45. This is via Metro van that my office provides

Option 2: Whenever i drive my own, usually leave home around 8:15 A.M. and reach office by 9:00. On the way back, leave office around 6:15 and home by 7:00.

I have some friends who live in sugarland, Aliana, Pearland etc and 45 min commute is pretty standard so Katy is not that bad if you have some flexibility
However if you commute during rush hours, then 1:15 hr is a pretty standard time from katy to Galleria.

We were looking for a new house in same price range as yours with good school districts and Katy checked all the boxes.

Good luck with your purchase