snickstx

Been looking for new digs and I think Settler's Corner is what I need. I'm tired of dealing with a yard, especially after last week. I read that it was the 1st housing built at the beginning of TW. They were sold in the high $20's. Anybody know anything else interesting about them? How the noise coming off Millbend & Grogan's Mill? How the noise inside the neighborhood? I've driven through several times and it's always been really quiet. Is that a park in the middle? Are the townhouses built well? I'm in a dumpy rental in Windsong, I swear the walls are made out of newpaper, and the roof, and the carpet, and the cabinets.....

LOL I tend to agree but since I need a license from the federal government to do business that's not really an option. They're not known to be forgiving.

Are home-based businesses generally allowed, especially in GM? I rent and would need approval for a very low traffic home-based business. I can't fly under the radar with this so I need approval for the business or a specific absence of a restriction. I am assuming the only authority is TW Community Associations. I was unable to find anything quickly on their website. I would have tax license and d/b/a as well so I'll be legit. btw, traffic will be max 2 cars a week for about 20 minutes each btwn 6-9pm or on the weekend, parked in my driveway. Probably more like a car or 2 a month realistically.

Thanks y'all, I called the office just a few minutes ago. I googled Entex and got Centerpoint so I just put the application in on their site. We'll see. I am in the middle of moving down from Ft Worth. I work down 45 at the Beltway. I am actually very pleased with the commute. The only issues I have run into, even considering the weather lately, has been the traffic at times on Sawdust. But, I'm still learning faster ways in and out. I've been wanting to move down for many, many years now and after exploring for a couple of weeks I realize I made the right choice.

Finally moved with my employer, signed for house, moving in next month. But, can anybody tell me who I need to call to get water and trash set up for my house in GM? Also, who is the local gas company? Thanks

Many thanks for all the passionate responses. As to the education issue...for me at least, there are a number of other factors that contribute to a well rounded school experience. While I do think that teaching the test is deplorable, most if not all public schools do it. Unfortunately, I am just a border-line blue collar single dad raising two kids....no John Cooper in our future. With that said, I think the environment a child is educated in is on the same level as many other factors such as parental involvement and teacher dedication to education. While I haven't experienced it myself, I think it is safe to say that, considering 2 schools with exactly the same educators/staff/curriculum, my kids would be better served by a campus that offers more current technology, safer modern building and some of the other trappings of a more financially sound ISD. I went to school in one of those myself and much preferred it over some of the other schools in the city (Fort Worth). That's all I have to say about that. Except that I went to Lamar for a brief period in the 90's and they really had some great programs back then. I was actually surprised to hear that it takes 15 minutes to get to the highway from Alden Bridge....it doesn't look that far on the map. LOL I am actually leaning more towards Shenandoah because it looks like I can get more house for the money, the city government is established and it

For those that responded to my questions about Cy-Fair, thanks for the input and direction. After mulling over my options, doing some more research and basically keeping my ear to the ground it looks like The Woodlands may be a better fit for my family. While I am still in love with the area, I have to look at my ability to upgrade from starter home to larger home and then to retirement home without a huge impact on my family every time we move. Now, I have A LOT of questions that hopefully some residents can help me out with. Due to budgetary restraints, I've been looking at townhouses (Alden), some smaller starter (read:needs work) homes (Grogan's) and some larger, older homes (Shenandoah). Traffic is one of my primary concerns. I will be working on Airline & Aldine Bender just south of Greenspoint. Also, 2 young kids (4 &7) so access to good and economical daycare is a must. ALDEN 1) How is traffic from Alden to 45 during rush hour via 242? What about 242 from Greenbridge and then out 1488? 2) How are the townhouse communities in this area? Are they integrated into the neighborhoods well or do they just look like streets of duplexes? 3) How is retail support in this area? Grocery stores, general retail, gas stations, etc? 4) Specific to townhouses anywhere in The Woodlands...what should I expect to pay every month in addition to P&I, insurance, property tax and maintenance fees? 5) For those that live or have lived in a townhouse in The Woodlands, how was your experience? Anything I need to keep an eye out for going in? GROGAN'S 1) Same as above, how is traffic in and out during rush hour from say Sawdust & Grogan's? 2) Is this area more susceptible to flooding? Have any houses or streets been condemned? 3) Is this still pretty safe? Would you let your kids play in the neighborhood? 4) As above, what about retail support this far south? SHENANDOAH (West of 45) 1) Any drawbacks to this area other than no HOA and related fees? 2) Traffic doesn't seem to be much of a problem but I'll throw it out just in case, anything I need to be aware of? Other than the cops. 3) Flooding and/or other drainage issues? Is there city sewer or septic? 4) Are the neighborhoods maintained or is it starting to slip? Lastly, if push comes to shove, I may have to move into an apartment while I sell my house up hear. Are there any that I need to avoid? Rent budget is about $800 for a 2 bedroom. Also, are school transfers allowed? I would rather the kids go to one school the whole time. Sorry for so many questions but I haven't been in The Woodlands (other than for a concert) in about 15 years. I am planning another trip soon but with 87 getting close to $3/gal, I've got to watch my driving from Fort Worth. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I learn more but this is all I can think of for now. TIA

As I posted in another thread, I'm a single dad with 2 young kids moving to the area between now and the 1st of the year. I've learned to start planning childcare as soon as possible so I'm starting today. I would like to hear from anybody that has good personal experience with a daycare that will provide tranportation to/from Yeager and maybe Bleyl. I have a 2nd grader and a pre-schooler. If everything works out with my job, I'll be working in Greenspoint area 8ish to 5ish M-F. I've spent most of the morning looking through the DFPS listing but I'm not real thrilled with the options thus far and, because I'm in Fort Worth right now, it's kinda hard for me to make a good decision based on a phone call. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Well, Great(ish) news for me. It looks like I'll be able to go straight into the Greenspoint office although it might be after the 1st of the year. I have nothing against the area inside the loop, I lived there myself about 15 years ago, but the almighty dollar rules right now. Single dad, 2 kids, sporadic child support and an underpaying job keep me well out of private schools and $200k+ houses. Out of the areas I have looked at, Cy-Fair seems to be the best fit for my life right now for housing, education and ammenities. Plus, it's far enough from my family that there won't be too much "dropping by" to say hi. Now, I just need to find a daycare. Thanks All

WOW, thanks for such a great response....although not what I really wanted to hear. My problem lies more in the fact that I don't intend (yeah, I know, road to hell and all) to stay at that office for too long. My goal is to go to another office near Greenspoint as soon as possible, which could mean 6 months or 20 years with my company. The biggest factor is 2 kiddos so the schools are the most important factor to me. My oldest has already been in 3 schools; she just started 2nd grade. I'd like to try to keep both of them in one place for a while. Also, as a single Dad I have to be careful about housing costs. I see alot more of the style and size I like up in Champions in my sub-near-150k range than anywhere else. Not trying to sound like a prima donna, I just don't want to gamble on buying closer in and have to sell and move again in a few months. I'm already going to take a bath on the profits on my house in Fort Worth. Decisions, decisions. I guess I could just ride the bus for 3 hours a day and try to find a good 24 hour daycare. LOL

K, I just found out that I'll be moving to Houston before the end of the year. I also found out that my job will most likely be in Bellaire (Weslayan & Richmond) so I'm trying to determine the quickest real-life route for rush hour coming from 1960/249. Google has me going down 290 to 610 then to Westheimer. For some reason I have mental image of a sea of brake lights for 2 hours each way. I also see that I can take 249 all the way to Shephard and follow that all the way to Westheimer. Now, it looks like it's mostly surface streets but I prefer to stay off the highways anyway. Also, this would provide for more escape routes in the case of excessive traffic. So, people that have or do travle this route, what am I realistically looking at as far as travel time on a normal day? Thanks

I know this a couple of month's old but it's getting that time of the year again. My kids and I have been going for about 3 years now (they're young) and I have fallen in love with the place. Of course, location probably has something to do with it. I live in Westpoint about 10 minutes away and ex-wife live over in Westworth Village about 5 minutes away. I realized the reason I love it some much. It reminds me of living in and spending summers in Huntsville as a kid. With the price of gas nowadays, it offers me a little summer respite from North Texas, if but for just a few hours. http://www.burgerslake.com/

I received a wonderful PM with some great neighborhood suggestions in Klein. Upon further inspection it seems that I may have read some erronious information. However, based on some discussion here and other info I've seen, I still hold that Spring ISD is not really where I want my kids. However, while Klein ISD may be a better option than Spring, I've also started to read about the Grand Parkway and its potential impact on the area. This is a MAJOR concern for me, as it is to most residents there. This still may keep me in the 1960/249ish area. As such, this brings me back to my original quandry...Cy-Fair ISD for the kids, Champion Forest for the family. Believe me, I'm not trying to step on any toes of those whose live in Spring or Klein but I have to be realistic. As a single parent, I don't have the financial meens to provide a private education, future college education and a decent home in a decent neighborhood for two kids all at the same time. That means I have to rely on the public school system in whatever area I choose. I know that things can, do and have changed in the NW districts, i.e. Westbury, but I am trying to mitigate as many factors as possible. I don't know, maybe I'm trying to have my cake and eat it too. Oh, mods, I didn't realize there was a NW section, please move if you think that's a more appropriate forum. I'm still exploring this amazing site.

New here...love this site. Born in Huntsville, most of my family is in Houston. Moved to Fort Worth in '85 due to Mom's employer (now mine). I moved back to Houston briefly in the mid '90s with my Dad. Apparently the really cool, old apartments on Gramercy of Kirby have been torn down and new condos are being built. I digress. Move back briefly again in the late 90's to sell vacuum cleaner door to door in Katy. Yeah, that's the ticket. I have just been advised that my job will be moving "somewhere" in Texas in the next year but most likely Houston or San Antonio. As such, I am beginning my scouting as early as possible. I've always liked NW so I thought I'd start there. Plus it helps that employer has a number of offices in that area. I have a tight budget and will probably max out in the low to mid 100's, although I don't need brand new, in fact I prefer pre-owned. A MAJOR concern are the schools as I have 2 young children. I began looking at Klein and Spring ISDs and was disappointed with some of the information I uncovered. Then I found Cy-Fair and was very pleased. I know, just numbers on a paper but I've got to start somewhere. I would like to stay in The Champions and move up into a larger home in a few years (and keep 1st as rental and address for school) and let the kids stay with their classmates in CF through HS. So, it looks like the only area, based on my rudimentary research, is the western most sliver of Champions is in CFISD, i.e. Champions Creek and a few others. Can anybody shed some light on the desirability of these areas? I know, subjective. I am looking for an area that is not going to have outrages HOA fees or taxes or on it's way down. Or a suggestion for a non-Champions neighborhood that is zoned to Yeager Elementary. Any insight to this area is greatly appreciated. I am planning a trip in about 2 weeks to start checking neighborhoods, offices and traffic. p.s. I've always oved Kingwood (all my family is NE) but I really don't like the idea of a 45+ minute commute one way. I guess I could deal if it comes to it.