Kind of crazy to think so soon after visiting, but it may in fact be a real possibility. Discussion is in the works for me to transfer to the Houston office for my company. I don't know the time-frame and I'm not looking for a real estate agent or anything, but I was hoping for some insight into the latest Houston residential scene. I grew up in Pasadena so I know/knew Houston pretty well circa 1997, but I know a lot has changed since then. The office is right over by the Galleria on San Felipe. My wife wants to live near the office, but it seems to be that part of town has to be a pretty pricey place to live. I was thinking maybe Sugarland most likely, but I don't know what the commute would be like, although I can imagine it could be pretty bad. I've pretty much eliminated Katy, the Woodlands, Kingwood, or anyplace north of the Galleria because I think the traffic is even worse in that direction. But I might be wrong, and that's where you guys come in. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated, especially from those of you who actually work in that part of town. I'm very interested to hear what your commute is like, and how you like your community, etc. Thanks in advance!
look for areas with easy/quick access to the Ft. Bend and Westpark tollroads Fulshear is an outlying community that is growing (like Sugarland did) ....about a 20-30 min drive into the Galleria on the Westpark tollroad
Actually I just assumed the commute would be too far. I personally think my wife would love the Woodlands. Any idea what the drive is like?
Probably renting to start, maybe even just an apartment. If I can convince my wife that Houston isn't so bad after all, maybe buying is down the road.
There are a few decent priced apartments on Westheimer (a few places between Chimney Rock and Gessner), and that's pretty close to the Galleria if you work there.
the drive isnt bad from sugarland to galleria area. its right after the galleria area when it gets packed. just get on 59 and youll be there in 10 - 15 minutes depending on where you get on. other fort bend areas, you can take the westpark tollway, but be ready to clunk down 5 bucks everyday.
Have you considered a condo or townhouse? When I was there I heard and saw a lot of those going up. Unfortunately I have no idea what the prices are like for those.
Sugarland would not be a bad drive. And actually don't discount Katy either. Since the Westpark tollway opened up you'd probably get to work faster from Katy than even Sugarland. Westpark is fast, fast, fast cause hardly anyone is on there.
If you are only going to rent then you outta look closer in. There are all sorts of appts, duplexes, condos in midtown, montroes, Rice Villiage areas that are nice, affordable and only about 10 minutes away. If wifey wants to be closer and you need to convince her to like Houston, moving to Sugarland might not cut it.
I work about a minute away from the galleria, on Post Oak between San Felipe and Westheimer. I live on the west side of town, right near the Beltway and Westheimer. I just take Westheimer all the way in, never have to get on a freeway. It usually takes me about 20 minutes each way. That's leaving my house at 7:00 am and leaving work at 4:30, it can take a little longer if you work a later schedule. Housing prices are reasonable. Our 1,700 sq foot house was $150,000 last summer when we bought it.
The Westpark Tollroad was obsolete before they ever finished it, way way underbuilt for the traffic it has to carry at rush hour. There are thousands of new homes still going up in Ft. Bend County and they are all dependent on the tollway. It is already a rush hour creep and will only get worse. But if your office hours are something other than 9-5, you can still use it to get a pretty great housing value.
Really? I admit, Ive never used the Westpark Tollroad during true rush hour. But I've been on it around 6-7am and 3:30-4:30pm regularly and never seen a hint of congestion.
during rush hour, it takes me slightly less than 30 minutes to drive from sugar land to the galleria area where i work. its about 5 minutes faster taking the HOV lane.
