What Area

[SpringBrancher]

Rent first for a year on 2nd level or higher. I agree with museum park if you don't have kids and school is not an issue. Don't plop down 600k until you know Houston a bit better.

[texas7]

Clear like would be good. Close to Ellington and there is a park and ride at south belt for med center. For established neighborhoods try bay oaks and for newer try the reserve at clear lake.

[Ghost Town]

Both suggestions (West University/Museum dtrct) and Clear Lake are too skewed in terms of commute either for wife or husband. I am for the equal opportunities for both. Pearland. And also can save $$$ on a house (400K will be enough).

[chris_ut]

Peatland is about as suburban and car centric as you can get.

[Ghost Town]

Originally Posted by chris_ut

Peatland is about as suburban and car centric as you can get.

Well you can't always get what you want, but IMO Pearland meets the main criteria.

[texas7]

I'd skip Pearland and move to clear lake and do the park and ride to the med center but I'm not the OP. I find Pearland to be a pain in the rear to go anywhere if you have to navigate around the 288/518 area. Perhaps Pearland parkway and the beltway.

[chris_ut]

I glanced at har and not a ton in your range but here is an option: 2265 University Blvd, Houston, TX 77030 - HAR.com

Its a fixer Upper but within walking distance of a tons of shops, bars and restaurants.

If you don't mind a townhouse: http://www.har.com/2303-wroxton-road/sale_26780616

[SpringBrancher]

Ellington is just outside the beltway. The husband has an easy 30 minute commute from anywhere under discussion. The med center is a huge pain to get to otoh. With two incomes they can likely afford a comfy apt in the museum district to enjoy as they discover Houston. That is my final advice.

[Birdman03]

Originally Posted by SpringBrancher

Ellington is just outside the beltway. The husband has an easy 30 minute commute from anywhere under discussion. The med center is a huge pain to get to otoh. With two incomes they can likely afford a comfy apt in the museum district to enjoy as they discover Houston. That is my final advice.

I agree. Husband will be commuting against traffic from Rice Village / West U / Museum District and Med Center is close by. Their desire for walkability and an older established area narrows the field quickly. $600k won't buy anything major but should be enough. No mention of kids or concern about schools so they don't need suburbia.

[Birdman03]

Originally Posted by Altuve

I would consider the East End to be in transition. It was considered to be a high crime area 10 years ago. Now, a lot of young folks have moved in there. It's not family oriented. I don't consider it to be a walking type area. As someone else mentioned, there are very few of those in Houston. Getting something close to Rice Village would be your best bet for that, but not sure $600k will get you any neighborhoods close by. I suggest getting a an apartment for a year close to Rice Village, then figuring out where you want to live once you are living here and can look around.

Unfortunately, flooding is neighborhood by neighborhood in a lot of areas. My house, for example, did not flood, and the water only got a couple inches over the sidewalk in our yard. But two blocks away, there were houses that had five feet of water in them. Best to look at the flood maps and figure that out once you determine what areas you like. There were some areas hit very hard, and have been hit hard repeatedly. I would be more concerned buying in a neighborhood that flooded during the Tax day and Memorial Day floods of 2015 and 2016.

You can look at the flood maps for anywhere in Harris County using the tool at the link below:

~Flood Information Portal for Harris County, TX~

I note that Rice Village is mostly Zone X - 0.2% Annual Chance of flooding. The lowest risk areas are generally north of University Blvd towards I-69 (old US 59). Chance of flooding increases significantly towards the SW into Braeswood Place and Meyerland.