Help, need to find a house fast!

[Harrisment]

I need to summon the help of the bbs here. We put our house on the market 2 weeks ago, and to our surprise we just receieved word that a buyer has made us an offer and we accepted. Now the problem is that they want to close in 30 days, and we don't have a house picked out. We're moving from the southeast side, because we both work on the other side of town. I'm at I10 and Dairy Ashford; the wife is at 290 and Hollister.

I'd like some suggestions from people that live in the Spring Branch/Central North/ and West areas of town. We don't really want to go any further west than Dairy Ashford on I10, or past the beltway on 290. As far as price, we're looking to stay around 140 but would go into the 150's if the house was just perfect for us. I really like the I10/Gessner area as far as location, but the looks of it makes me think it's not a very safe part of town. Some of the subdivisions I've been looking at online are Oak Forest, Kempwood, Westbranch, and Spring Shadows. That's about all I've been able to find in our price range and the area of town we want. And yes, we do have a realtor but he's not very familiar with this side of town. Basically he is giving us a break on the realtor fees and we agreed to pick out some houses that he can show for us. So....if you live in these areas, help! Tell me what you like/don't like about living there.

[A-Train]

Talk to Cookie Kwan if you want to move to the West Side...

[ROCKSS]

I am in the process of putting my house on the market although I live in Crosby. I had it built last year (4Br- 2.5 bath- 3 car gararge) with a ton of upgrades. Its probably in the wrong direction for you but thought I would throw it out there. I just got word that I am being transfered back to Omaha so I am going to sell it for what I owe on it.

[PhiSlammaJamma]

You got it good down there. 150 will buy you a shed and a well in DC.

[rockHEAD]

http://www.har.com
http://www.buyowner.com

go, hurry!

[Harrisment]

Originally posted by rockHEAD http://www.har.com http://www.buyowner.com go, hurry!

Thanks Head, I think I've looked at just about every house on har.com though.

I'll check out the buyowner site.

[meggoleggo]

Well it's been about 10 years since I lived in that area, but I can just list some neighborhoods slightly north of 290 and Hollister... It'd be convenient for the wife, and not too much of a drive for you.

Anything Woodland Trails (west, north, I, II)
Carriage Lane
Mangum Manor (it's off of 290 and Antoine)
Jersey Village is right at the Beltway and 290

[rockHEAD]

Originally posted by Harrisment Thanks Head, I think I've looked at just about every house on har.com though.

if your limit is 150, search as high as 165-170, you can always bargain!!

[droxford]

I spent my teen years in Jersey Villiage - it's a great place.

[RocketsPimp]

Originally posted by droxford I spent my teen years in Jersey Villiage - it's a great place.

For me to poop on!

[MadMax]

Originally posted by RocketsPimp For me to poop on!

any use of Triump earns a thumbs up from me!!!

[Gutter Snipe]

I live in Stone Brook Village. It's by Bingle and West Little York, about 5 minutes from Hollister and 290.

It's a very nice gated community, super-quiet, and all of the homes were built by a very good builder (name escapes me at the minute). Cy-Fair school district. Yearly association fees are $800. The community was built in 1997.

You can search in HAR by the subdivision name, but here's a link to one I walked by the other day...

Single Family Home

[Harrisment]

Originally posted by Gutter Snipe I live in Stone Brook Village. It's by Bingle and West Little York, about 5 minutes from Hollister and 290. It's a very nice gated community, super-quiet, and all of the homes were built by a very good builder (name escapes me at the minute). Cy-Fair school district. Yearly association fees are $800. The community was built in 1997. You can search in HAR by the subdivision name, but here's a link to one I walked by the other day... Single Family Home

Thanks Gutter. I've never looked in that area but it doesn't look to far from either of us for work. Also isn't too far from the city. Their are only 2 houses listed though and they're both 159, so it's a little out of our range. Any other nice subdivisions you know of near you?

[DanHiggsBeard]

You can always do the apartment thing for a bit instead of rushing into a house you might not really want.

[Harrisment]

Originally posted by DanHiggsBeard You can always do the apartment thing for a bit instead of rushing into a house you might not really want.

Not really an option for us....we have two beagles that would go nuts if they were locked up in an apartment. We'd probably be kicked out within a week.

[oomp]

I live in Oak Forest and really enjoy it. There are quite a few houses for sale there that I'm guessing are right in your range. If you get a chance you might want to spend an afternoon driving around - there are quite a few that were for sale by owner.

[Gutter Snipe]

Originally posted by Harrisment Thanks Gutter. I've never looked in that area but it doesn't look to far from either of us for work. Also isn't too far from the city. Their are only 2 houses listed though and they're both 159, so it's a little out of our range. Any other nice subdivisions you know of near you?

It depends on how new you want your house to be. There are a range of houses that are fairly inexpensive in the area, but they are all 30ish years old. As always in Houston, your quality of community is fairly closely tied to the price you paid for it.

For older communities, Inwood Forest has a very good safety record compared to the areas around it because of their strong community and neighborhood watch. It's a little farther away from Hollister, but there are some areas in it that have the combination of nice golf course view and not having gotten flooded during Allison.

If you go up Bingle past W. Little York, they have some new subdivisions running from 110K or so. My wife and I looked at them and felt that the quality of the construction matched the pricing though.

You might want to check out the red brick house in my subdivision and see if they'll bend on the price though - just as a comparison those townhomes they are building on Hollister between Tidwell and W.Little York started at 150K I think.

Finally, in fair disclosure, I should mention that they are building a subdivision right across the street from ours. We were a little disappointed to see that the prices would be starting from 110K. I suspect that means that most of the houses will run from 120-160K. I have no idea what that will do to our property value though.

[thegary]

Sprawling on the fringes of the city
In geometric order
An insulated border
In between the bright lights
And the far unlit unknown

Growing up it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass production zone

Nowhere is the dreamer
Or the misfit so alone

Subdivisions ---
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions ---
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth

Drawn like moths we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night

Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight

Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights...

[DanHiggsBeard]

I want to be stereotyped
I want to be classified
I want to be a clone
I want a suburban home
Suburban home
Suburban home
Suburban home
I want to be a statistic
I want to be masochistic
I want to be a clone
I want a suburban home
Suburban home
Suburban home
Suburban home
I don't want no hippie pad
I want a house just
Like mom and dad

[Rocketman95]

We'll have to take you out for a welcome to the westside beer when you move!