Properties prices in Houston compare to California prices (Orange, Katy: real estate, foreclosures)

[kal123]

Hi all

As I mentioned in my other thread, I am moving from Orange county california to Houston , I would like to know what is the safest area to live and raise your family including schooling and work.
Also I wounder if 100K could buy me a decent house in good area, which will not in California??
Thank you for your feedback

[chris_ut]

You need to live close to work, Houston is a very large city. 100k won't buy you a decent house in a decent area in Houston Metro, you really need 130-150k to get something smaller or older in a nice area , maybe in a small town in East Texas you could get something good in that price range.

[surfs1st]

We moved from CA last year, while the housing is much cheaper, you'll come to realize as I did, it doesn't necessarily equate to a lower cost of living.

We chose to live in the Woodlands/Tomball area to the NW. The price point for Houston, to avoid undesirable neighborhoods and insure decent schools, is about $175,000 +.

Coming from the OC/Greater LA area you'll be happy to know that traffic is almost as bad here, I45 is reminiscent of the 405, in case you start to feel home sick. The only difference is that instead of sitting in traffic on a beautiful SOCAL day, it will be 98 with a heat index of 110 and 92% humidity.

My contract expires in 2 years and I have every intention of moving back to CA.

[cheryjohns]

Upper Katy - but it won't be perfect and it won't be large. It will be a 3 bedroom/2 bath/2 car garage under 1400 square feet in a working class neighborhood - but it will be in a decent school district. No granite countertops, no hardwoods. Built in the 80's. The only reason you can even come near that price there is the spat of foreclosures have brought it down. In less than 2 years, that won't be the case. It's the safest area in a decent school district that I can think of that will fit that price range. However, whether it fits in geographically with your job location is a whole other subject.

[descovy]

Look at Houston Real Estate - Houston Homes, Houston Home Value and Houston Relocation It'll have to be the suburbs. I lived in the 77065 zip near Cypress. We had an exemplary elementary school (Millsap) and houses in my old neighborhood (Oak Cliff Place) sell from $90-$115k... quiet, safe, but older homes...