Where To Live In Houston

[blackdog]

Hi All,

We're relocating to Houston (I'll be working on Highway 6 south of I-10; I figured that this was a good forum to start) and wonder if any of you can offer some suggestions on where to look for a home. To throw out a wishlist and give you some background on our interests:

1) it would be great to commute 30 mins or less

2) we're early 30's; no children yet, but soon...

3) proximity to running trails and greenery would be fantastic (Terry Hersey Trail ok?)

4) would love to be able to walk/bike to shops, restaurants, pub for a drink every now and then

5) 2-3 times a month, would be great to see plays/theatre and jazz/classical music. It would be great to see live rock and roll/ soul/ funk/ etc. sometimes too.

6) safe neighborhood

7) someplace nice to walk the dog every day...

I've only visited Houston for the job interview, so I don't have a feet-on-the-ground perspective of the city and don't really know if what we've seen on the internet is valid, but... so far, we've thought a couple of places look interesting: "the Heights", which seems nice, but maybe too far of a commute? "the Galleria" and the Westchase area? I've been looking along Terry Hersey trail on google maps looking for nice neighborhoods too...We'll be able to afford a house up to ~300K.

Any suggestions?

Thank you for your help!!!

-blackdog

[LTAWACS]

Inside the loop. Most definately. Inside the loop.

You'll enjoy what's called Reverse-Commuting. Relatively little traffic in both directions.

[MidtownCoog]

Dude, there is no such thing as a reverse commute on I-10.

[LTAWACS]

Dude, there is no such thing as a reverse commute on I-10.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ugh...

[kjb434]

Very True. I-10 (katy) outbound from the west loop to the beltway is just as busy as inbound traffic.

I do enjoy reverse commuting on US 290 though.

[WestGrayGuy]

Two Words:

INNER LOOP

Yes, I am an inner loop snob.

Everything worth seeing/doing is inside the loop. Trust me, I had a tour of duty in Sugarland/Stafford. I lasted 6 months.

[Guest danax]

Definitely check out the East End.

just kidding...I would try to buy one of those cool, mod homes in Memorial Bend area if at all possible, but that's my taste. If you're only going to be attending the theatre and all that a couple of times a month, the short commute would be preferred to a short distance to entertainment. I don't think you can really have both.

[blackdog]

Forum!

Wow! Thank you for the quick information, especially your detailed response tw2ntyse7en! You all give credit to the Friendly Texas moniker! It'll take me a while to digest all you've written (with map in hand). With your responses, I think we'll be focusing our search to the rectangle described by 610 to the east, I10 to the north, Hwy 6 to the west, and the Westpark Tollway to the south - with caution around Alief.

Is it correct to think that if we lived west of the W Sam Houston Road within the rectangle described above, I'd probably have a 30 min commute to Hwy 6, and that if we lived as far east as 610 (say at the intersection of 610 and Hwy 59), that the commute would be ~ 1 hr? I think I'd shell out for taking the toll road every day...if that's faster than the surface streets.

Would it be crazy for taking the surface streets (say Memorial, 1093, or Richmond) instead of a highway if one lived east of the San Houston Rd? For example, I saw a home online in "Galleria" which was ~ 15 miles to where I'll work. However, that 15 miles would take me close to 45 mins to drive via surface roads (it was off Richmond Ave)?

Thanks! I promise to keep you informed!

-blackdog

[texasdago]

Are you trying to stay within a specific price range? That would help...

There's a cool modern house that just went up for sale in Memorial Bend - 5 BR, ravine lot (20,000 ft. lot) with a pool for $385,000.

[texasdago]

Duh... sorry about that.

Take a look at Memorial Plaza... a few nice houses under $300K and your kids could walk to Rummel Creek Elementary, one of the best schools in SBISD. One of them is a very cool split-level house... not the best location but worth a look.

[blackdog]

Hello again!

Memorial Bend looks really interesting! I very much like that style home (The William Floyd designed homes). Tw2ntyse7en, I like the 50-60's mod as well as bungalow style...I think I'm just more attracted to something with some individual style rather than the more generic, mass-produced houses (though my pocketbook might not be so choose-y!) Tw2ntyse7en, if you aren't in a Houston real estate czar, maybe you should be by the wealth of information you share. Thanks!

Texasdago, do you have more info on the house with pool there? Anything online? I checked MLS, but didn't seem to find it.

Any realtors that specialize in this general area that are online? I really like karenderr's site, it offers lots of information and videos, though they focus on the Heights area.

Thank you all!

-blackdog

[texasdago]

Well, right now what is for sale in Memorial Bend tends to be mostly traditional - there are 2-3 mods for sale. One has a big lot and the owner (GRRR!!!) wants to sell it as a teardown - it is in fine shape, though.

The one with the 20,000 ft lot and pool is listed on buyowner.com and the listing # is 4139.

As for mid-century realtors, go to the Houston Mod board on this web page and send a message to rps324 - he'll hook you up.

[texasdago]

Here you go...

http://www.buyowner.com/property.asp?code=HOU4139

[blackdog]

Thanks! Thats a beautiful house. Looks to be a little out of our range, but it's close. (I guess it would really depend on if we wanted to spruce up the kitchen (I strongly dislike white kitchens... )

Here are two other houses that really caught our interest, to give you a sense of our preferences:

http://www.har.com/search/engine/indexdeta...=0&backButton=Y

Its MLS # 2719593. Looks really nice to me, I just wonder about the proximity to the main drag street.

http://www.har.com/search/engine/indexdeta...=0&backButton=Y

This one is MLS # 6921398. Again, it looks great, but its right on Memorial, which might be difficult.

Thanks again Forum!

-blackdog

[Lowbrow]

Memorial isnt so bad. I drove past the Richmond one and had similar thoughts to you. Beautiful property... but right next to the drag.

[SpaceAge]

The house you mention above in Briarmeadow on Longfield was built for the 1957 Parade of Homes. The Parade of Homes was the big yearly event where builders could be in the spotlight and have their creations seen by hundreds of thousands both in person and in the newspapers and magazines. Most of the Parade homes are larger and have more features than the typical houses in the neighborhood.

This house is located at the end of a cul-de-sac about six or seven houses from Richmond Avenue. I did not notice extreme traffic noise when I visited several weeks ago. Briarmeadow is really an undiscovered jewel of a neighborhood. It is very well maintained and has an excellent home owners association. If you enter and exit the neighborhood from Westheimer or north Hillcroft, it seems like you are very close to the Galleria area. Other neighborhoods just a mile or so away have smaller, older houses, that sell for much more.

[texasdago]

Both houses are worth looking at and the Briarmeadow one does have a ton of potential. One factor to consider - if you're going to have kids, I would say Memorial Plaza hands-down. The schools zoned to Briarmeadow are not good schools whereas Memorial Plaza is zoned to Rummel Creek, Memorial Jr. High and Stratford High School - much much much better.

[Gary]

Dude, there is no such thing as a reverse commute on I-10.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was going to post the same thing until I read yours. I-10 has no flow of traffic.

[LTAWACS]

Two Words:

INNER LOOP

Yes, I am an inner loop snob.

Everything worth seeing/doing is inside the loop.  Trust me, I had a tour of duty in Sugarland/Stafford. I lasted 6 months.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Truer words have never been spoken.

[LTAWACS]

Definitely check out the East End.

just kidding...I would try to buy one of those cool, mod homes in Memorial Bend area if at all possible,  but that's my taste. If you're only going to be attending the theatre and all that a couple of times a month, the short commute would be preferred to a short distance to entertainment. I don't think you can really have both.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What's wrong with the east end?

[Gary]

I was thinking about this post while driving to a friends house last Friday and thought I would do some trip timing.

My friend lives in Willowbend ( between South Post Oak and Willowilde) so this is obviously my destination. I started timing at HWY 6 and the Westpark tollway, the time was 5:33 pm. Traffic of course down the tollway was nonexistant. I took the tollway all the way in until I exited on the feeder of 610 South. I stayed on the feeder, went through the light at Fournace and got up on the freeway (South). I then exited onto South Post Oak turning left on Willobend and into the neighborhood eventually pulling into my friends driveway. The time was 5:56.

So on a Friday at 5:30 in the afternoon I made it from HWY 6 and the Westpark tollway to teh middle of Willowbend in 23 minutes and that was with some decent traffic on 610 and at the light at South Post Oak & Willowbend.

I thought I'd post my time to Blackdog to let him know that the great homes (and entertainment) in town are not to far of a commute if you allow yourself 30 minutes.

You said your working off of I-10 & HWY 6 so that might add between 7 and 10 minutes to my above time. And by the way my time was made doing about 57 mph, that is until I hit a little traffic.

Good luck.

[blackdog]

Hi Forum & Gary,

Thanks for checking the time of the drive! Sounds pretty reasonable to me. Do you think it would be similar during the AM rush into work (for me on Hwy6)?

We've seen some pretty nice houses on the internet. I can't wait to get into town in 3 weeks to start really looking around! Maybe the prices of those couple of great "mods" will come down some? I can dream, can't I?

Aloha,

blackdog

[Gary]

Hi Forum & Gary,

Thanks for checking the time of the drive!  Sounds pretty reasonable to me.  Do you think it would be similar during the AM rush into work (for me on Hwy6)? 

We've seen some pretty nice houses on the internet.  I can't wait to get into town in 3 weeks to start really looking around!  Maybe the prices of those couple of great "mods" will come down some?  I can dream, can't I? 

Aloha,

blackdog

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would certainly think so since you would be going out of town in the am and into town in the pm. The time really shouldn't vary much at all.

The cool thing to me is that there are some fantastic mods in this area that are well within your budget, especially on the South side of Willowbend. This area is so close and conveniant to so much the city has to offer.

I have fallen in love with the homes over there and some the yards are like magazine covers, just beautiful. With the budget you mentiond earlier you won't have to dream at all to get into a killer mod.

Good luck.

[texasdago]

To me, the east end and even the area in Willowbend have a lot going for them. I love the houses over there. However, if schools/school district are part of the decision-making process, the schools in Memorial are far far better and safer.

[Gary]

To me, the east end and even the area in Willowbend have a lot going for them.  I love the houses over there.  However, if schools/school district are part of the decision-making process, the schools in Memorial are far far better and safer.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Man that's the truth. My buddy who lives there grew up there and he told me that anyone and everyone who can afford to live in the area sends there kids to private schools.

[dalparadise]

4) would love to be able to walk/bike to shops, restaurants, pub for a drink every now and then

5) 2-3 times a month, would be great to see plays/theatre and jazz/classical music.

[Gary]

The commute thing is true but after I took the Westpark toll road I'm not sure that the village is out of the question. If it took me 23 minutes from 6 and the Tollway to Willowbend (and in the neighborhood at that) getting to the village continuing down Westpark shouldn't be much different.

I'm thinking about 30 minutes from 6 and I-10, give or take a couple of minutes. What's really cool is that it's a reverse flow commute so it allows alot more freedom for travel.

[dalparadise]

The commute thing is true but after I took the Westpark toll road I'm not sure that the village is out of the question. If it took me 23 minutes from 6 and the Tollway to Willowbend (and in the neighborhood at that) getting to the village continuing down Westpark shouldn't be much different.

I'm thinking about 30 minutes from 6 and I-10, give or take a couple of minutes. What's really cool is that it's a reverse flow commute so it allows alot more freedom for travel.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Watch that West Belt traffic, though. the toll plaza -- even the EZ tag lanes -- seems to back up frequently, often for 10 minutes+. This can add to frustration and commute time. You're right about Westpark, though. It's a breeze...for now. It's still quite new.

[Gary]

Watch that West Belt traffic, though. the toll plaza -- even the EZ tag lanes  -- seems to back up frequently, often for 10 minutes+. This can add to frustration and commute time. You're right about Westpark, though. It's a breeze...for now. It's still quite new.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's new but I don't think it will ever get like the beltway because of all the east/west infrastructure going up. Also in Blackdog's case he would be traveling against the flow of traffic both ways so he should be good to go.

[blackdog]

Hi All!

Got the big map of Houston up on the wall and am marking off areas according to your comments. Thanks!

When you mention "The Village", where do you mean? I've found lots of villages on the map...

What about West University Place? Seems like a nice area, probably within 45 mins for my drive, and what about the schools? Are they ok?

Thanks again!

-blackdog

[Gary]

Hi All!

Got the big map of Houston up on the wall and am marking off areas according to your comments.  Thanks!

When you mention "The Village", where do you mean?  I've found lots of villages on the map...

What about West University Place?  Seems like a nice area, probably within 45 mins for my drive, and what about the schools?  Are they ok?

Thanks again!

-blackdog

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah West U is awesome. The Village area everyones talking about is pretty much connected to West U.

[dalparadise]

I called some friends that work at fire station 51 (Sharpstown: Bellaire @ Blintiff) and fire station 10 (Corporate @ Bellaire) and they denied ever hearing the sound of automatic gun-fire at night. Now, they without a doubt make more shootings than any other area of the city, but they rarely ever make a gun-shot victim with multiple gun shots wounds that could be indicative of automatic gunfire - much less hear it going off at night.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So, if you're shot by a bullet fired from a single-shot gun, it's somehow better than if you're hit by a bullet from an automatic weapon?

Please.

Perhaps things have changed a bit in the past 8 years, but it sure doesn't look like they have. About 8 years ago, I lived near Gessner and Richmond, in a townhouse that seemed really nice, with well-manicured landscaping, in the heart of Westchase. On a couple of occasions I hit the floor in my own apartment, because of rapid-fire gunshots that sounded too close for comfort. I assumed they were automatic, as they were fired faster than anyone could possibly squeeze the trigger.

I heard on the news about murders at the gas stations nearby. I heard about Jamaicans and Columbians fighting over turf boundaries on Gessner, south of Harwin. That seemed really close, too. A strip of Fondren, just a few blocks over and a mile south or so, was called out in the newspaper as the center of Houston's crack trade. They showed dots on a map locating busts over a 6-month period and the whole thing was dots.

As soon as my lease was up, I left. Now, maybe things are better. Maybe they're only killing each other with .45 Magnums now. It's still not the kind of place I'd invest my $300,000, for all the fake Prada on Harwin. I think Westchase is a toilet. It looks pretty nice -- it's well landscaped and many of the homes seem remarkably well kept, but take a second look -- how many are for sale or rent? How many are owner-occupied? How many crappy Sam's Boat-type slackjawwed dipshit joints are all over there? And how many acts of murder, arson, rape and assault does it take before you recommend someone from out of town look elsewhere? Especially someone who claims to enjoy walking to pubs and jazz clubs and living in a pedestrian-friendly urban area.

Oh, and yes..."The Village" is the commercial area and centerpiece of West University Place.

[debmartin]

"Perhaps things have changed a bit in the past 8 years, but it sure doesn't look like they have. About 8 years ago, I lived near Gessner and Richmond, in a townhouse that seemed really nice, with well-manicured landscaping, in the heart of Westchase. On a couple of occasions I hit the floor in my own apartment, because of rapid-fire gunshots that sounded too close for comfort. I assumed they were automatic, as they were fired faster than anyone could possibly squeeze the trigger." (quote, dalparadise)

it's a shame about that part of westchase, the area around gessner/richmond. i have a good friend who owns a condo at tanglewilde south II, just around the corner from emerson elementary. despite the landscaping, immaculate pool and well maintained units her property values just keep going down. it's mostly lease units because every time someone wants to buy one, unless it's cash it's not well enough owner-occupied to get financing. back in '96 when she bought in, there was a 24hr armed guard - the association decided to save money and cancel the security and now it's pretty much a free-for-all with people walking through and cars stolen and getting broken into. my friend's had enough and is planning on moving in may and leasing the place out.

when we started talking about the area and comparing now to then, one of the biggest culprits we agreed upon is the apartments and nightclubs which have grown in much larger proportion than any other respectable development. the one across the street from her condo, "the gables" is the worst - gunfire all the time, cops busting down doors and nearly impossible to walk around the corner to the stop & go anymore, even in broad daylight. these apartments are listed online as section 8 hud housing, which no disrespect meant to anyone on public housing but often times it's where a lot of criminal activity takes place. funny to see the gables advertising all their high class properties, when we've always associated that name with the slums. the stop & go (richmond/ocee) was recently on tv for a hold-up and the perp was shooting it out with police. technically my friend's area is not "westchase" because that area starts after gessner, but it's right on the border. the big difference is the westchase business district and homeowner associations are pro-active and have worked hard to improve the quality of the westchase district. briarmeadow has an active association closer to hilcroft, but on richmond from dunvale to gessner very little if anything is being done about eyesore apartments and crime infested clubs. until this changes i could not recommend the area to anyone, local or newcomer.

debmartin

[Guest danax]

^ We all know the correlation between low income and low lifestyles that include crime, and we all know that there are a lot of good people that have little money. However the only way to cleanse an area like that is through the disinfecting action of gentrification, which, unfortunately, forces some decent people out too.

These little pockets will eventually get de-fragged although the process in Houston is a bit slow.

[blackdog]

Hi again forum,

Thanks for all the insight (Where to live in Houston thread) that we've been using while looking for a home in Houston. We've decided that it'll be best to rent for a couple of months in order to get the lay of the land. After your comments, we'll probably be looking in Memorial and West University, both for an apartment and for a final home.

We've gotten the help of an apartment agent courtesy of my my employer to help us find a short-term place (6 month lease). They sent us a list of places that supposedly meet my criteria (safe, in Memorial or West U., ~1000/month for 2 bed, dog-friendly, close to either greenery (running trails) or interesting nightlife). However, I checked the ratings that these places got on apartmentratings.com, and most of them scored really poorly. Now, I'm wondering about the agent assigned to us, and whether they really are knowledgeable about their recommendations.

If you all have any suggestions of short-term rental places that meet my criteria, can you post them? If you are an agent, I'd be happy to give you the referal. Also, anyone have personal experience with the following places that were recommended by the agent?

Looks like I'll be buying lots of drinks when I get into town...

Thank you!

blackdog

Places in Memorial:

The Memorial, 15135 Memorial Drive

Meadows on Memorial, 700 Memorial Mews

Silverado, 1335 Silverado Dr.

Village on the Parkway, ???

Ashford Lakes, 1200 South Dairy Ashford

Places in West University:

Gables Pin Oak, 4848 Pin Oak Park

Pin Oak Estates, 4807 Pin Oak Park

Camden Vanderbuilt, 7171 Buffalo Speedway

Kirby Place, 7500 Kirby St.

[texasdago]

Consider looking at Kerry Glen - right by Woodway and Voss. I lived there twice (With my cousin in my single days and with my wife when we were first married) and the complex is amazing. They're all privately owned but you may be able to find something in your price range. We absolutely loved living there - green, quiet, security, etc. It really has it all and it is all bills paid. I can't tell you how much I recommend this place. Some units even overlook the bayou.

You'll need a real estate agent to find a place in there and I can refer you to one who can help. It's a jewel of a complex. Trust me.

Kerry Glen

http://www.har.com/cs_forlease.htm

[rps324]

Personally I wouldn't put too much stock in the comments on apartment ratings.com. My perspective may be a bit tainted, since I was once in the apartment business. When you have 300 to 400 units, you just can't please all the people all of the time. Sooner or later someone gets bitter because, I don't know, you charged them a late fee because they paid late. Or they left thousands in damages and didn't get their $100 deposit back.

Of course there is a lot of bad management and poor customer service out there as well. So I would look for common threads in the comments and try to decipher fact from fiction.

[Parrothead]

Hey td--I thought of you yesterday when I saw on Channel 13 that Kerry Glen had caught fire! I about fell off my chair, my husband thought I was crazy I said, "Hey, I know someone who lived there......well, sorta know......"

Did you see that on the news?

[SpaceAge]

We are really doing a good job finding these people a nice place to live. First a trashy automatic gunfire laden violent borderline slum toilet (all of which is incorrect by the way) and then a fire trap apartment with aluminum wiring. Would you like any other suggestions?

[texasdago]

Hey td--I thought of you yesterday when I saw on Channel 13 that Kerry Glen had caught fire! I about fell off my chair, my husband thought I was crazy I said, "Hey, I know someone who lived there......well, sorta know......"

Yeah... well... that really sucked. We loved living there but I stand by my suggestion. We would live there again.

[Pumapayam]

Afton Oaks is nice along with Greenway plaza. They are sanwiched in between Memorial and Rice Village.

I would recommend NOT living passed the belt-way 8 if you are planning on living in memorial. Unless you have a job in the west side of Houston, traffic congestion in and out of town will become a part of daily life for you. Just some helpful FYI.

[Parrothead]

Well, for what it's worth, Georgetown caught fire too, two years ago. Destroyed 6 2000+ sq.ft. townhomes. They're all rebuilt now and beautiful!! I am sure Kerry Glen will recover and be right back to where it used to be.

[blackdog]

Hi Forum!

Thanks for the suggestion(s). I think we've found a place to rent: Woodway Square on 1200 Winrock Blvd. I'm visiting town next weekend to check it out. Seems to be very dog friendly and pretty safe (Hey, only 4 burglaries on that street thus far this year! )

Anyone have personal experience there?

I've learned a lot about Houston from these discussions; feel like we'll be able to hit the ground running - which is fantastic!

Aloha,

blackdog

[dalparadise]

Hi Forum!

Thanks for the suggestion(s).

[Pumapayam]

I live in a townhome on Winsome/Fountainview and I have a neighbor that is a dancer at Baby Dolls. I would have never known.

Trash. oh well.

[rps324]

Yes my stint helping to market Regency Arms (Winrock & San Felipe) taught me that area is a little sketchy. It was frightening and it seemed like there was nobody good coming through the front door to replace the ones you would kick out.

[blackdog]

dalparadise and rps324,

So can you suggest something better, that meets the criteria outlined when I started this thread?

(Safe, dog-friendly, within 45mins of where I'll be working - intersection of Hwy 6 S and Briar Forest, close to either running trails or walkable nightlife, perhaps Memorial or West University)

Texasdago has thus far been the only one to offer a suggestion - which looked really nice, but just had a fire.

Anything else out there?

Thanks all!

-blackdog

[rps324]

dalparadise and rps324,

So can you suggest something better, that meets the criteria outlined when I started this thread?

(Safe, dog-friendly, within 45mins of where I'll be working - intersection of Hwy 6 S and Briar Forest, close to either running trails or walkable nightlife, perhaps Memorial or West University)

Texasdago has thus far been the only one to offer a suggestion - which looked really nice, but just had a fire.

Anything else out there?

Thanks all!

-blackdog

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Woodway square should be fine. It is kind of unto itself.

[Parrothead]

Oh wow! Highway 6 and Briar Forest? I used to live right on Eldridge (The Parkway in between Westheimer and Memorial Dr.) and that is a GREAT area with gorgeous, mostly new apartments at a reasonable rate. Terry Hershey Park is right there. There is also a TON of greenspace, and a brand-new Kroger Signature grocery store on the corner. It is a very upscale, growing area that is surrounded by Kickerillo's (a developer here) gated communities. I highly recommend it.

Here is some info on the area along with a map:

Map of Area

Here are the apartment complexes on Eldridge and Briar Forest (they are all built within the past 5 years and are very nice):

The Lexington

The Biarritz

Amli on Eldridge Parkway (this is where I used to live; it was called "The Lodge on the Parkway" initially)

Chandler Park

San Montego (I lived in the sister property to this one down by the Med Center--by far the best apartment living ever! Sueba is a great builder and you feel like you are in a home, not an apartment. Gated with a guard.)

The Retreat at Eldridge

There are two restaurants I love that are within walking distance: Cafe Taipei (the best fried rice in Houston) and Cafe Red Onion (excellent Mexican food). There's a brand-new McDonald's, Walgreens, and Chase Bank. We still go to our Veterinarian over there at West Houston Veterinary Associates right at Briar Forest about 1/8 mile from Eldridge. There's a Carvel ice cream place, a day spa, a dry cleaner, and a Hallmark Store all right there. Hope that helps!!

Good luck and if you have any questions about the area please feel free to ask.

[texasdago]

I just can't seem to suggest anything out on Eldridge. Yes... the area is nice but it's just too far.

Kerry Glen will be just fine... it's a large complex. When we lived there, Hakeem Olajuwon had one big unit (used to be two units) just below ours. We spotted Barkley and Drexler there a couple of times and his family was always around.

If anything, there are plenty of bills-paid options off of Ripple Creek... Woodway Glen, etc.

As for Winrock, having lived theere, the further north, the better.