I just wanted to add a huge difference between Houston and the vast majority of major metropolitan areas... there is no zoning. Yes, you read that right. I think it's absolutely nuts, but there you go. Just another thing to consider. The neighborhood where I grew up, in Southeast Houston, was destroyed by the lack of zoning to control what could be put into residential neighborhoods.
Memorial is the way to go... Memorial HS is a very good school, Memorial residents have class, there's a decent amount of space on each lot, without being 30 miles outside the city. Within 20 mins from just about anything important, other than the airports. Of course, I grew up in the Memorial area therefore I might be biased.
Move to Royal Oaks and maybe you'll live near an NBA player. http://www.royal-oaks-houston.com/royal-oaks-homes-forsale.html You can buy this crib for a cool 3 million.
Hikanoo, Answer these questions and I'll let you know: What interests you? Activities for kids? Going to the theatre or out to restaurants/bars etc? Being close to town? Whats your price range? Is it an 'investment' as well as a purchase? (Willing to live in areas that have appreciation potential versus very nice right now.) BTW, you've already made the first step by moving from a location with extremely high prices to a city with quite reasonable home prices. Its ironic, friends of mine gloat on how they sold their homes in NY or LA for XXX money, yet they then don't take (and can't take) the gains off the table when they buy another inflated home. Cheers to you. I prefer the River Oaks area, Memorial Park Area or the River Oaks edge to Midtown area. That River Oaks edge to midtown area is seconds from I-45 which takes you about 25 minutes to the airport. There is reasonable investment appreciation potential there and you are minutes from anywhere in the city.
FD Khan -- Are the condo's that you were building located in the Rice Military area or just east of Memorial Park? That area seems to be heating up right now with some very nice homes and starting to get more entertainment options as well (in addition to being very close to upper Kirby and great highway access). I think either that area or the Montrose area between 59 and the Mecom Fountain could turn into the next midtown-like entertainment hotspot.
I finished some near Shepherd and Grey (about two blocks from there toward Dunlavy) and kept one to live in. I'm developing 4 smaller (1800sq) ones near Shephard and 14th st area. Those are all pre-sold (75% riskless) but one, which is the only way i'll get into that market with all the increasing construction happening in the area. This land was also aquired about two years ago, so i didn't have to pay today's premium on it. Even though I've analyzed the population entering Houston (consolidation by XOM, BP etc in Houston + new people and the % that would want to live in the 610 Loop), i'm still weary of demand filling the supply if construction keeps growing at the same rate. I also think the excessive building in Katy and other outlaying areas will limit any potential price gains over the next few years.
5 years ago the Pearland commute was sweet, but it is starting to suck. In five years, the commute should be as bad as the other satellite communiities.
Houses twice this size but cost half as much in sugar land. In river oaks, you pay a lot for the name.
I would rather live in a house half the size and not have to drive out to the 'burbs. Its a lifestyle issue, I know many people who enjoy their large house in Katy/Champions/Pearland/Sugarland but then spend 2 hours a day in traffic because they work in the loop. I'm always in the downtown to galleria circle so I'd rather live a more relaxed life and cut out all the driving and be closer to where I spend time on the weekends, evenings and workweek, than have a bigger house.
And not saying Sugarland is a terrible place to live, but Sugarland definitely isn't Royal or River Oaks.
I agree with this, however, if your single, you want to live Downtown/Uptown...In between the two airports and a lot of bars/clubs/restaurants...
Royal Oaks is in a somewhat crap location. I-10 West traffic really sucks out there. Especially when you get onto I-10 West from Beltway 8. It's somewhat far away from the best parts of town to hang out at: Galleria, Uptown, Midtown, Upper Kirby and West U.
Yea, I live right by there. Nick Van Exel, Damon Stoudamire and some others have places within the community there. Its not too far from the Galleria scene, but it is quite a ways away from the downtown, midtown scene.
I lived right around there about 1970-71. Had a 2 story brick house, with a friend. The location is terrific, and it was back then as well.
I agree that people that live in Katy, Champions, Pearland will take them a real long time to get into town. But SugarLand isn't nearly as far. From downtown w/o traffic, I can get to SugarLand in about 20 minutes. Traffic is bad in Houston no matter where you want to go, but SugarLand is right off of 59 and they finally finished the 5-lanes, which eased up traffic big time. The bad part is right when you pass SugarLand, when it bottlenecks into 2 lanes. But it is the Burbs like you said. Great place to raise a family.
