Seeking feedback about this Katy Home (Houston, Conroe: sale, HOA fees, how much)

[hereticiam]

We are considering this home in Katy.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/2414-Ra...45541748_zpid/
It is in Avalon Spring Green.

HOA is $1800. It is unclear what we get for HOA fees of $1800 per year. I don't think this community has pools like Cinco Ranch.
Is the location OK for commuting downtown?
Is it close to retail/restaurants?
I am assuming that schools are highly rated.

Woodcreek J High School
Grades: 6-8
Distance: 0.9 mi
6/10
Katy High School
Grades: 9-12
Distance: 2 mi

Other homes next to this home are valued 15-20% lower in Zillow. I understand Zillow's home values cannot be relied upon.

Any other comments/feedback about this home will be much appreciated.

[Zoo2000]

What a beautiful home. They didnt spare any expenses did they.

Commute to downtown will be long. You'll take I-10. Depending on when you leave, it'll take ~45 min - 1 hour each way. Some people can't tolerate that long of a commute, others can--just depends. They're in the process of expanding 1463/Spring Green to 4 lanes all the way to I-10, which alleviate some of the congestion leading up to the freway.

Katy High isn't as well regarded as other South Katy high schools (i.e. Seven Lakes, Cinco, or Thompkins) but is overall solid...

Lots of retail/restaurants in this area have popped up over the past ~5 or so years. I remember when this area was just fields. It's amazing how much development has arisen over the years.

[WRM20]

Note that the open area behind the home is a pipeline easement with at least 3 pipelines running through it. It's not something that bothers me, but some people don't like the idea. It dies mean that no one will ever build there.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by hereticiam

We are considering this home in Katy.
https://www.zillow.com/homes/2414-Ra...45541748_zpid/:

It is in Avalon Spring Green.

HOA is $1800. It is unclear what we get for HOA fees of $1800 per year. I don't think this community has pools like Cinco Ranch.
Is the location OK for commuting downtown?
Is it close to retail/restaurants?
I am assuming that schools are highly rated.

Woodcreek J High School
Grades: 6-8
Distance: 0.9 mi
6/10
Katy High School
Grades: 9-12
Distance: 2 mi

Other homes next to this home are valued 15-20% lower in Zillow. I understand Zillow's home values cannot be relied upon.

Any other comments/feedback about this home will be much appreciated.

Nice home in a gated neighborhood with city of Katy services. Unfortunately I think you can do better for a lot less. I can’t even begin to think what your tax bill is going to be once the county reappraised the home based of the purchase price

[gwarnecke]

I'd keep looking. I'm not really an expert on the Katy market but that place seems overpriced to me:

-The commute to downtown or anywhere inside the loop would be terrible. Figure 1+ hour each way. Better than that house you were looking at in Conroe, but not by much.
-HS rating. While I'm sure Katy HS provides a fine education, its ratings trail the more-desirable Katy high schools (Seven Lakes, Cinco Ranch, etc). This will limit appreciation/resale potential in the future, since schools are usually one of the top considerations for families buying in the far suburbs.
-While big enough, 4400 sq ft isn't that much for $1mil in the far suburbs. It should be cheaper, bigger, or closer in.
-In a lake community but not on the lake. If it's priced at the top of the neighborhood, it should be on the lake.

Re: your question on amenities, you have Katy Mills mall and La Centerra within a reasonable driving distance, along with a cluster of retail at 99/I10. So you're good there. But you're awfully far from the city proper.

[hereticiam]

How does homestead exemption work for this home in Katy?
I read that it is 20%.
So if the county appraises the home at the sale price of 1 million the property taxes will be calculated for a value of $800,000.
HAR shows a property tax rate of 3.1892% so should I expect to pay nearly $25.5K per year?

WRM20
Thanks for the note about pipelines in the back of the home. I have never lived near the pipeline and don't know what to think about it.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by hereticiam

How does homestead exemption work for this home in Katy?
I read that it is 20%.
So if the county appraises the home at the sale price of 1 million the property taxes will be calculated for a value of $800,000.
HAR shows a property tax rate of 3.1892% so should I expect to pay nearly $25.5K per year?

WRM20
Thanks for the note about pipelines in the back of the home. I have never lived near the pipeline and don't know what to think about it.

Homestead exemptions and rates(stated in dollars per 100 dollars valuation) are
City of Katy 20% 0.44
Ft Bend Drainage 20% 0.0129
Ft Bend County 20% 0.4383
Ft Bend MUD 163 0 0.82
KISD $45,000 1.3517

For a home valued at $1,000,000 taxes for 2022 would be $28,238 or about $2,353 per month

The MUD tax rate is not as bad as others, and will go down over time, but that's still a lot of money. My total taxes living in Houston are about $7,500

[usc619]

Originally Posted by WRM20

Homestead exemptions and rates(stated in dollars per 100 dollars valuation) are
City of Katy 20% 0.44
Ft Bend Drainage 20% 0.0129
Ft Bend County 20% 0.4383
Ft Bend MUD 163 0 0.82
KISD $45,000 1.3517

For a home valued at $1,000,000 taxes for 2022 would be $28,238 or about $2,353 per month

The MUD tax rate is not as bad as others, and will go down over time, but that's still a lot of money. My total taxes living in Houston are about $7,500

Should not have MUD taxes living in city limits IMHO. Not all tax entities are giving Homestead exemption.

[a_guerrajr]

Not too familiar with that area.
For $1800, I would assume it is gated and has access to a Pool/Clubhouse, or even a bulk assessment for services.

Nice house, but for 1 mil, seems a bit much given the finishes aren't anything out of this world. Bathrooms have basic hardware, not even a pot filler in the kitchen. House shows well and yep the backyard is nice.

My guess is the price is influenced by the hood it is in.

[Harrythehousehunter]

Originally Posted by hereticiam

We are considering this home in Katy.

[url]https://www.zillow.com/homes/2414-Rainflower-Meadow-Ln-Katy,-TX-77494_rb/245541748_zpid/[/url]
It is in Avalon Spring Green.

HOA is $1800. It is unclear what we get for HOA fees of $1800 per year. I don't think this community has pools like Cinco Ranch.
Is the location OK for commuting downtown?
Is it close to retail/restaurants?
I am assuming that schools are highly rated.

Woodcreek J High School
Grades: 6-8
Distance: 0.9 mi
6/10
Katy High School
Grades: 9-12
Distance: 2 mi

Other homes next to this home are valued 15-20% lower in Zillow. I understand Zillow's home values cannot be relied upon.

Any other comments/feedback about this home will be much appreciated.

Looking at the comps in the area it would be lowest sale of similar homes. For what has sold in the past it should be priced at $1,033,328. Heres a link to what has sold [url]https://cloudcma.com/live/5c1cdb053ba781eecca90850c2f3dfb2[/url]