Questions About Houston (Baytown, Sugar Land, The Woodlands: apartments, to rent, credit)

[LadyTee73]

Hello everyone! I am a single professional woman with two children (a daughter, 16, and a son, 10) and I have been considering a move to Houston. I currently work for Chase Bank here in Indy and I know that Chase Bank has a huge presence in Houston. I have applied for several positions in the Houston metro area so if offered a job, I wouldn't have to worry about relocation costs. I do have a few questions about the city though. I have been reading a few threads and I see that the heat and traffic seem to be two of the biggest topics. I live in a city where I experience all 4 seasons and I really don't care for the winter months nor the snow that it brings. I would like to live somewhat close to the downtown area but in a safe neighborhood. I don't have a concern about demographics: it doesn't matter to me about living among different races (I am African American BTW) but I would like to live in a safe area where my children can be free enough to ride their bikes or go & visit with friends without worrying about being harmed. I would prefer to rent for the first year or two, and schools are also a factor for me; I would like my children to attend good quality schools with positive feedback from parents about the school system. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[City Love]

The biggest issue here would be price range. You won't have too much of a problem if you are open to a large payment. It will get tricky if you have a very modest budget.

What do you consider too hot? It does get burning hot here for a couple months.

[LadyTee73]

Originally Posted by City Love

The biggest issue here would be price range. You won't have too much of a problem if you are open to a large payment. It will get tricky if you have a very modest budget.

What do you consider too hot? It does get burning hot here for a couple months.

Thanks for the reponse City Love. I would be very open to a large payment. Actually I don't have too much of a problem with heat, just the humidity. I have read on previous posts that the humidity is 'unbearable' but we have had days here in Indy that have been extremely humid, but I'm sure that Houston's humidity is on another level...lol! I would find some ways to keep myself cool; I'm pretty positive that I could deal with it. It's the winter months & cold that I can barely deal with.

[MrsMtnsOnTheMind]

I have worked in Indy......why would you want to leave? You have 4 seasons, beautiful scenery, nice people, mild summers, Indian summers. If I had a choice I would live in Indy over Houston. I would recommend a visit before considering a move.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by LadyTee73

Hello everyone! I am a single professional woman with two children (a daughter, 16, and a son, 10) and I have been considering a move to Houston. I currently work for Chase Bank here in Indy and I know that Chase Bank has a huge presence in Houston. I have applied for several positions in the Houston metro area so if offered a job, I wouldn't have to worry about relocation costs. I do have a few questions about the city though. I have been reading a few threads and I see that the heat and traffic seem to be two of the biggest topics. I live in a city where I experience all 4 seasons and I really don't care for the winter months nor the snow that it brings. I would like to live somewhat close to the downtown area but in a safe neighborhood. I don't have a concern about demographics: it doesn't matter to me about living among different races (I am African American BTW) but I would like to live in a safe area where my children can be free enough to ride their bikes or go & visit with friends without worrying about being harmed. I would prefer to rent for the first year or two, and schools are also a factor for me; I would like my children to attend good quality schools with positive feedback from parents about the school system. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Gotta tell us more. But that would be something the suburbs offer.. Where did you apply?

[LadyTee73]

Originally Posted by MrsMtnsOnTheMind

I have worked in Indy......why would you want to leave? You have 4 seasons, beautiful scenery, nice people, mild summers, Indian summers. If I had a choice I would live in Indy over Houston. I would recommend a visit before considering a move.

I definitely plan on visiting before making a move, so I can get somewhat of a feel of the city. I just don't like it here at all. I have plenty of family here, whom I know I would miss, and I have friends here but I don't consider them 'close' friends. I feel that a move would be good for me. I have only lived in one city my entire life and I would like to experience another part of the United States, and not say "I was born here, raised here, and died here". Some people may be content with that, but I'm not. There are a lot of people I know who love Indy, but I'm just not one of them.

[LadyTee73]

Originally Posted by XodoX

Gotta tell us more. But that would be something the suburbs offer.. Where did you apply?

I would prefer the suburbs as far as where I want to live, but I would like an area that is no more than possibly 30 to 45 minutes away from downtown. All the positions I applied to are in the DT Houston area. I think I read somewhere on this forum that some areas within the loop are pretty good but I'm not sure if that's true or not. I am interested in the city of Baytown and the Cypress-Fairbanks area but I would need to do more research.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by LadyTee73

I would prefer the suburbs as far as where I want to live, but I would like an area that is no more than possibly 30 to 45 minutes away from downtown. All the positions I applied to are in the DT Houston area. I think I read somewhere on this forum that some areas within the loop are pretty good but I'm not sure if that's true or not. I am interested in the city of Baytown and the Cypress-Fairbanks area but I would need to do more research.

Ok. You have two children and I don't know how much you want to spend on rent, and I don't think you will find a decent school inside the loop ( other than private). The apartments inside the loop would probably run you about 1800 - 2000 bucks a month for a 3 bed room apartment (again, depending on what you like, but you want to live in a safe area). I wouldn't consider Cypress.. the traffic on 290 is just so bad, it's not funny. Used to live there - never again!

Sugar Land, Katy, The Woodlands, perhaps even Friendswood/Clear Lake area.

[karuna95]

Originally Posted by XodoX

Ok. You have two children and I don't know how much you want to spend on rent, and I don't think you will find a decent school inside the loop ( other than private).

public school options inside the loop (for the 10yr old):
Lanier Elementary is a Vanguard school. Very competitive to get in, but if the 10-yr old qualifies, Lanier would offer an academically stimulating environment, and very high parent/teacher support.

West University Elementary students regularly score highest of all the public elementary kids in Houston on standardized tests.

Roberts Elementary School near the Texas Medical Center is also well-regarded, and is a magnet school for languages I think. Many nationalities represented there, as the children's parents are researchers who work at the med ctr, and came from all over the world.

high school options inside the loop (for the 16 year old):
Lamar High School and Bellaire High School both offer International Baccalaureate high school degrees. Students at both may earn up to 26 credits, applicable to placing out of first year of college (if they pass the tests). Both of these high schools graduate significant numbers of National Merit Finalists and Semi Finalists every year. Bellaire also offers the AP program.

Come visit Houston and get a feel for it, and see what you think. It can get hot and humid, but I'd say that it's certainly NOT unbearable, as the more than 2 million residents of the City can probably attest to. And of course, it doesn't last. Weather is mild, for significant portions of the year. Wonderful if you enjoy gardening and being outdoors.

[houston-nomad]

I love the SW part of town: Meyerland area, including Maplewood, Willowbend, Westbury. There's a wide range of price points, also a wide range of school quality, so you need to do your research and be sure you are zoned to good schools. You can be downtown in 30 minutes, in the Galleria in 10 minutes. In my neighborhood kids ride their bikes around unsupervised, there are lots of soccer leagues, scouting, swim teams. Plus a nice mix of people, in terms of color, religious beliefs, politics, etc.