[Abacha]

Howdy folks, I'm new to Houston and looking to purchase a loft-style condo in the downtown area to replace a 1700 sq.ft loft condo in New Orleans (sigh..) If anyone is out there interested in helping I'd appreciate some help in getting up to speed.

1. I've cruised the forum and a few websites, along Main and Texas Sts. look popular and appealing (St. Germain, Capitol, Rice). I'm also going to grab a broker and take a look at some properties in the next week or so. Any opinions? Other good resources? Other areas to consider?
2. In NOLA prices would be $200-$250/sq.ft in a similar CBD area w/ $0.21-.26 maint. fee. How would that compare to Houston? I'm hoping to get something cheaper than that, ideally close to $150/sq.ft for a larger place.
3. I don't really need much luxury, fancy trim, fittings, gym, pool, etc, preferring larger floor plans, ceilings and lower maint. fees. Rough and sparce is ok.
4. I'd also be willing to move out a bit to an up and coming fringe area (if any exist) and take a shot at dealing with greater riff-raff if the price is better (I parked outside the Flying Saucer on Main one night and it was a bit rough, I'm ok with that).
5. Any new units going up in the next 6 months that I can still get in on?

Much appreciated.

[lwood]

Abacha, on Friday, April 28th, 2006 @ 12:43pm, said:

Howdy folks, I'm new to Houston and looking to purchase a loft-style condo in the downtown area to replace a 1700 sq.ft loft condo in New Orleans (sigh..) If anyone is out there interested in helping I'd appreciate some help in getting up to speed.

1. I've cruised the forum and a few websites, along Main and Texas Sts. look popular and appealing (St. Germain, Capitol, Rice). I'm also going to grab a broker and take a look at some properties in the next week or so. Any opinions? Other good resources? Other areas to consider?
2. In NOLA prices would be $200-$250/sq.ft in a similar CBD area w/ $0.21-.26 maint. fee. How would that compare to Houston? I'm hoping to get something cheaper than that, ideally close to $150/sq.ft for a larger place.
3. I don't really need much luxury, fancy trim, fittings, gym, pool, etc, preferring larger floor plans, ceilings and lower maint. fees. Rough and sparce is ok.
4. I'd also be willing to move out a bit to an up and coming fringe area (if any exist) and take a shot at dealing with greater riff-raff if the price is better (I parked outside the Flying Saucer on Main one night and it was a bit rough, I'm ok with that).
5. Any new units going up in the next 6 months that I can still get in on?

Much appreciated.

Sandra Gunn Properties appears to be one of the loft specialists. I would suggest a newer loft building, Il Pallazio, between downtown and the medical center. Ask your Realtor about the Randal Davis buildings. He is a developer who has built new loft buildings in the inner city in the last few years. Very nice projects.

Downtown, the St. Germain is on the lower end. Check out Live Oak Lofts on Live Oak Street. That is just east of downtown. On har.com it would be listed as townhouse/condo, area 4.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

lwood, on Friday, April 28th, 2006 @ 1:00pm, said:

Sandra Gunn Properties appears to be one of the loft specialists. I would suggest a newer loft building, Il Pallazio, between downtown and the medical center. Ask your Realtor about the Randal Davis buildings. He is a developer who has built new loft buildings in the inner city in the last few years. Very nice projects.

Downtown, the St. Germain is on the lower end. Check out Live Oak Lofts on Live Oak Street. That is just east of downtown. On har.com it would be listed as townhouse/condo, area 4.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

Correction: The correct spelling is Il Pallazo.

[VicMan]

The closest full service grocery store to Downtown is the midtown Randall's. Whole Foods has a location off of Kirby west of Downtown.

Both CVS and Walgreens have one store apiece in Downtown.

The nearest Bookstop and Borders are west of Downtown too.

Downtown has the Angelika for arthouse films and a few regular films. The closest mainstream theater is the Edwards Grand Palace, west of Downtown along Weslayan.

Downtown is in Houston Independent School District (HISD). To find out what schools your property is zoned to, enter the address at http://dept.houstoni...tool/search.asp

If you are not satisfied with your neighborhood schools:
* Houston ISD has many transfer and magnet programs
* Many private schools are in close proximity to Downtown - Incarnate Word, a Catholic all-girls' 9-12 school, is in Downtown.

This post has been edited by VicMan: Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 2:34 PM

[editor]

Check Dakota Lofts.

[travelguy_73]

There are many nice buildings for sale and lease downtown and nearby. Herrin and Live Oak are near downtown, Franklin, Capitol, Commerce, Bayou, Hermann, St. Germain are all for-sale units in downtown. Hogg, Ballpark, and Dakota are rentals that come to mind. Of all of those, Bayou and Hermann are my faves.

This post has been edited by travelguy_73: Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 5:49 PM

[Daniepwils]

I have lived in Humble Tower (Dallas and Main) now for about a year and a half. Its pretty good. Staff is awesome!!.

Only three downsides. The parking Garage, is made for small cars, not SUV friendly. And it is very noisy, but hey you are gonna live downtown, anywhere you live will be noisy. Last but not least, THEY NEED TO MOVE THE BUS STOPS away from the entrance of the hotel and Humble Towers, I really don't like having to push my way threw that croud just to go jogging.

I pay 1040 for 800sq feet loft syle apartment. Well worth it. Everything you expect and more. There is a pool on the roof, which is pretty busy on the weekends with everyone laying out. They have a small gym, but the manager is working on getting everyone free gym memberships to a nearyby gym (only like three blocks away). There is a STARBUCKS going in right next door to the entrance of the building.

GREAT PLACE to live. Very secure and safe. AND will be right next door to THE PAVILIONS. /cheer.

[ToolMan]

Daniepwils,
Is your pool open to the public? It's been pool weather for a while we don't have a pool at the Hogg. Right now I use I friends pool in Midtown or my other friends around Memorial Park.

[Daniepwils]

naw sorry bro for residents only.