House and School Advice for new family? (Houston, Austin: transplants, real estate)

[LadyMill00]

You might want to look at West Memorial (between Memorial City Mall and I-10/Kirkwood). Cute houses with very large lots. Not all of west memorial flooded, we did lots of research and focused on Wilchester West. We just bought a home right off the beltway and public schools are top rated. We picked this area because of the decent commute to downtown (30-45 minutes) and if your wife works in Sugarland, I would think it would be a decent drive down the beltway. AND if you really wanted to do private schooling, you have many nearby private schools - Awty, Grace, Village School, Kinkaid, British School...etc.


Not sure that it's very diverse though........BUT it's the closest "in-town" suburb type area in our price range that I could find. I know lots of people recommend Bellaire/Meyerland area but this part of town has had many instances of flooding outside of just Hurricane Harvey. West memorial area only flooded during Harvey and that was after the release of Addicks reservoir.

[chris_ut]

There are many streets/houses in Bellaire/Meyerland that have never flooded so you just have to do your homework like any neighborhood or take the 20% price cut on a flooded house and roll the dice.

[mkwensky]

Originally Posted by LadyMill00

You might want to look at West Memorial (between Memorial City Mall and I-10/Kirkwood). Cute houses with very large lots. Not all of west memorial flooded, we did lots of research and focused on Wilchester West. We just bought a home right off the beltway and public schools are top rated. We picked this area because of the decent commute to downtown (30-45 minutes) and if your wife works in Sugarland, I would think it would be a decent drive down the beltway. AND if you really wanted to do private schooling, you have many nearby private schools - Awty, Grace, Village School, Kinkaid, British School...etc.


Not sure that it's very diverse though........BUT it's the closest "in-town" suburb type area in our price range that I could find. I know lots of people recommend Bellaire/Meyerland area but this part of town has had many instances of flooding outside of just Hurricane Harvey. West memorial area only flooded during Harvey and that was after the release of Addicks reservoir.

A 5br mansion in this area will run closer to 1mil than 750 if you want to be zoned to Memorial Middle.

[hendersj31]

OP said they could go up to 1 mil.

[newtxfamily]

OP here. We'd be fine with going down to 4 bedrooms for the right area. Bellaire and Memorial both look great for now! Though after doing some digging just to keep our options open, I found a number of houses for sale in the "Royal Oaks" and "Shadowlake" communities, near Westchase. Strangely, the houses seem to be pretty affordable but still large and in some kind of gated community that looks nice- can see lakes on the map. This area also seems to be more in-between (~12 miles to Sugar Land and ~15 to downtown).

What's the catch here? Is something off or is it simply an underrated area?

[jerbear30]

If I had that kind of money and that commute, I would look first in West U and then out toward Bellaire. I do agree that you'll find a good house in west Memorial as well, but the area isn't quite as nice. West Memorial will give you more house for your money, but the restaurants and nightlife will not be as good. Also, the schools are nothing special.

[mkwensky]

Originally Posted by newtxfamily

OP here. We'd be fine with going down to 4 bedrooms for the right area. Bellaire and Memorial both look great for now! Though after doing some digging just to keep our options open, I found a number of houses for sale in the "Royal Oaks" and "Shadowlake" communities, near Westchase. Strangely, the houses seem to be pretty affordable but still large and in some kind of gated community that looks nice- can see lakes on the map. This area also seems to be more in-between (~12 miles to Sugar Land and ~15 to downtown).

What's the catch here? Is something off or is it simply an underrated area?

The schools are the catch. There is a good private school nearby though: https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/...village-school

[chris_ut]

I think there are a couple threads on this forum discussing royal oaks but basically its surrounded by bad areas that overwhelm the schools so downsides are you get no appreciation on your house and need to pay for private schools.

[imback]

All the well-intentioned posters that advise you to check whether a house/street has flooded are forgetting a major lesson taught by Harvey:


There are NO homes in Houston that have "never flooded". There are homes that have ALREADY flooded and there are homes that have not flooded YET.


They are also forgetting that Harvey flooded many thousands of homes and businesses that were outside any flood zone or floodplain. Many homeowners who in past years had dutifully followed that "check-it-out" advice and thought that they were in safe "never-flooded areas" had their comfy delusions literally washed away by Harvey.


On the other hand, something like 84% of the Harvey-flooded structures in Houston would have been spared if they had been elevated to the higher levels now mandated in the new building ordinances enacted post-Harvey by the City of Houston (see May 22, 2018 Washington Post)


Don't even think of purchasing a non-elevated house in Meyerland. Frankly, I wouldn't purchase any non-elevated home anywhere in the Houston area.....


In terms of your budget, and the Sugar Land/downtown commutes, Meyerland is your best bet - as long as you get a sufficiently elevated house. While 3- and 4-bedroom houses are most common, there are 5-bedroom houses in Meyerland.


Bellaire is also good for both commutes and has many beautiful homes - but is outside your budget for the type of home you want. West U is too expensive, and while getting to downtown is easy from there, I wouldn't want that commute to Sugar Land....Many of the other areas mentioned are nice - but they simply will shaft one of you commute-wise, and some of these areas are quite expensive.

[descovy]

One point for moving to Sugar Land, you can get the home of your dreams on that budget, or even a little less and pocket that money to pay the high property taxes we have in Texas.

Another point, great public schools, and at least one parent is nearby (the one working in Sugar Land). So anytime there’s a mid day special event at school, or your kid gets sick, or your kid wants to do dance lessons after school, there is one parent close by (and not hampered by bad traffic)

As a parent, I like the idea of living close to one of the jobs rather than midway between both jobs. Rather than both parents fighting traffic and tolls...