Oil Company family moving from Bay area (Houston, League City: real estate, condo)

[wombat5]

high school aged kids in tow.
Considering distance from work and horror commuter stories I've read here, where is the best place to "replant" ourselves?

Someone mentioned Friendswood, Woodlands.

Very laidback family ( origionally from Australia 4 years ago), but looking for good school and community that is easy to assimilate into.

Also looking for any other families with kids in Young Life program who can let us know info on their experiences.

Dont like the idea of being in an area where everyone is pretentious and trying to "outdo" each other - we're leaving that behind!

Any advice welcome!!

[City Love]

Where will you be working and what would the price range be?

Both places mentioned are nice places. It's almost a 60 mile difference between the 2, so it's a good idea to bring other factors into play. Like work and price.

[wombat5]

working downtown- near mckinney st.

currently in a 3 bed, condo 2400sq feet. cost 750k. looking for 4 bed min. 3500 sq feet. good school zones. dont want to spend a boatload of cash but can go up to 750k, obviously prefer much less.

[City Love]

Originally Posted by wombat5

working downtown- near mckinney st.

currently in a 3 bed, condo 2400sq feet. cost 750k. looking for 4 bed min. 3500 sq feet. good school zones. dont want to spend a boatload of cash but can go up to 750k, obviously prefer much less.

If you want good school zones and in the oil industry. Memorial should be at the top of your list. West side of town off the Beltway and Memorial. You could choose 77079 or 77024. You can spend up to and way more than $750k, but you can get a great home between $400-$600k. More if you want nicer.

You won't have to worry about private school, unless you really want to. But schools are top notch there. If you want a really LARGE home, then you could continue to look at the Woodlands or Friendswood. You will get a nice 5000 sq ft home there with tons of upgrades. Also great schools.

[wombat5]

thanks citylove. I'll check those out.

[texas7]

you can go to Houston Real Estate - Houston Homes, Houston Home Value and Houston Relocation to look at resale homes and select areas to look at --- West University and Memorial are great for good schools and short commutes in your price range and lovely homes. Go further out and you get very large homes with much longer commutes. People love the Woodlands but the vast majority of people I know who live in the Woodlands and work downtown hate their commutes with a passion - and many are moving back into town. Good neighborhoods - but a longer distance commute from downtown, large homes, good schools are Kingwood (North), Sugarland (Southwest), Clear Lake, Kemah, League City, Friendswood - (last 4 all Southeast). All have great schools.

[Oildog]

Your going to like Houston. Yeah its going to be a shock in the summer. But your neighbors wont hate you if you say you work for an oil company. More likely you'll get 'I work for BP/ExxonMobil/ConocoPhillips welcome to town.' Oh yeah, you will be pretty happy I'm guessing, with what you can get for 500k. If you want to consider in the Loop, you may look in River Oaks (77019).

I'm in the industry as well and most of my colleagues with kids live in Katy or Memorial area.

[mikehtown]

I agree on the Memorial area, but you should also consider looking just north of I10. It'll give you the same commute and high schools (Stratford or Memorial) but a little less expensive.

I'd suggest getting a realtor, especially if you don't know the area you're interested in get one that works a wide area of the city - don't pick one that focuses solely on one of the suburbs. Too many realtors guide buyers towards the area where they are familiar or where they'd like to live if they had your budget.

750K opens up some good options in the Houston area, especially in the outer suburbs of Houston. I'd try to avoid having the family fall in love with a mansion way out that will equate to you spending 2 hours a day in the car though.

[HTownNearNative]

Just a note on communities north of I-10 (Hillshire Village, Spring Valley Village), gotta be careful where you go to be zoned to the right schools, Memorial for example. Living north of I-10 and south of Westview Drive is likely a must. Definitely find a good realtor.

[Cassino]

Originally Posted by Oildog

More likely you'll get 'I work for BP/ExxonMobil/ConocoPhillips welcome to town.'

Don't forget Chevron.

Welcome Wombat. I am in the industry also and moved here from California about 8 months ago.