Wunderbar

Uhhmmm (clears throat, a little embarassed) -

Thanks again for all your input. Believe it or not, it was very helpful in a housing search that lasted over 4 months. I am delighted (but, as indicated, a little embarassed) to say we found a SMALL bungalow in West U. It is a great location with regards to parks and amenities, and the schools definitely weighed in on the final decision too.

However, as our family grows and we start to learn about Houston and its charms, the Heights will always be a place to consider for the next house! And, in the meantime, we will be frequent guests for shopping/fun/entertainment and dining.

Thanks again for all the thoughtful responses, and our best to you all. Now ... flame away

Wow - I am flattered and grateful by the number of responses, and the helpfulness of the information! This is exactly the type of feedback I was looking for ... and incidentally, one of the reasons I am so attracted to the Heights. You "care" and "help", and that is what a neighborhood should be!

I thank you for the thoughts, and they will be incorporated into the search. I feel some obligation to respond in some way, so I will come back with periodic updates when relevant (but I will not, I promise, drag you through our entire search - nobody can "care" that much without being a little creepy!)

We are young 30's with an under 1 year old, and find the Cleavers cute but cloying. We lived in the mid-city in Atlanta prior to Baby, and have been city residents most of our lives, so we are aware and okay with the risks of intown living (petty crime, areas-to-avoid, etc.) and just want to take reasonable steps to mitigate bigger problems. Trust me - if we wanted to live with the Cleavers, we know where to find them. That is not appealing to us.

Our search is for a 3+ bedroom 2+ bath w/ garage without significant restoration/maintenance problems. Price is difficult to discuss online - like anyone, we just want a good value for the money we spend, whatever range that falls in. We are looking in areas that seem appropriate for our budgeted purchase price.

It is reassuring that many of the areas you have mentioned (including those outside the Heights) are the same as our Realtor - I have trouble trusting a "single source" but it is much easier to swallow when it seems to be conventional wisdom. Thanks again for the tips and the friendliness - I was maybe premature with my prediction that *we* would be good neighbors, but you all seem to already fit the bill.

What is incredibly helpful for the online search we are relegated to is that you have subdivided the "Heights" into regions I can concentrate on. Thanks again, and all the best to you.

Hello -

I am moving to Houston, family in tow, and am house hunting. Based on my limited knowledge of the area and my extensive reading of this board, I love the Heights. My wife, originally dead set on West U, has decided that the Heights could be fun ... the Woodland Heights. My next task is to get her to expand the Heights target area a little farther. Her key word, that drives me nuts because it is NOT what we are looking for, is "homogenous". I think that she actually means "family-friendly, safe, charming" ... think Woodland Heights. Sidewalks, no low-income apartments, etc. I want to stay inside the loop. We both find areas you can walk, shop, play, experience very fun.

So, where else can I succeed in finding "presentable" Heights neighborhoods? I am looking in the square bordered by W 11th, W 20th, Shepherd, and Heights, but have been nixed ... appropriately, in your opinion? Can you recommend other "blocks"? Do I need to stay East (or West?) of Heights Blvd?

Thanks in advance - we are very excited to be in Houston, just want to make sure we get to a place we are all happy. I appreciate your expertise in action, where available - I think we would be good neighbors!