Timnwendy

Thanks for the notice. Too bad the construction on 518 isn't quite ready to coincide with this opening, but it is making progress.

Before you settle on Sugarland, you might consider Pearland too. Read this thread which compares them.

It sounds like the west side of Pearland (along the Hwy 288 corridor) might appeal to you, it's growing fast with lots of nearby amenities, and there are still relatively quiet neighborhoods to live in. Also, if you are in the $200K price range, you can get a house, you don't need a condo (unless you just want one). There are also quite a few asians living in this area, too.

We'll be on the east side, section 4, 60' lots. In the Sage Meadows section.

I think you are definitely right about the growth. Our sales agent said she thought that a gated section will be developed next year. That can't hurt our property values.

Yesterday, we signed to build with Ashton Woods in Southern Trails. Thanks to everyone here at HAIF who helped us with information. I'm sure we're not done picking your brains yet.

Does the Southern Trails HOA have a website? I couldn't find it with a google search, and I don't see a link to it from the Southern Trails homepage. Did I just miss it? Thanks.

It will be interesting to see if the Aliana site's close proximity to the prison keeps buyers away...or not.

Hi TAK, you are right about the taxes and HOA dues. But they are comparable to what SCR has.

We have been renting for a long time, so we don't have to make a contingent offer and worry about selling a home too. I know your concern on that issue.

A con you can add to Sugarland area is the proximity to the prison (at least the NW part of Sugarland). It's really something to think about when you see a big billboard advertising the upcoming Aliana MPC and then a few hundred yards from it you see the roadsign warning you not to pick up hitchhikers.

Hi Tammy, I do have one question. Have you heard anything about the developer and/or the Homeowners Association replacing the wooden fences along the main road (Southern Trails Drive) with brick walls? The first section of Southern Trails Drive looks great with the brick walls, but then it changes to wood fences when you get further south towards the community center. The wood fences are not even painted a uniform color. It's a bit unappealing, but not a show-stopper for making a purchase.

Thanks for all the other info you gave.

Just make sure you check out the traffic flows to the med center at rush hour times. I don't want you to be surprised if that 12.5 miles takes 45 minutes.

Point taken. However, we both work off hours so we don't commute during the peak traffic times.

My wife and I are very interested in Southern Trails, one of the newer master-planned communities along the Hwy 288 corridor, just west of 288 off FM 518.

The builders seem to be some of the best, including Newmark, Ashton Woods, David Weekly, Imperial, Trendmaker, and Trophy, and and the location seems great too (only 1.5 miles from 288 and the soon-to-come Pearland Towncenter), and not too close to the Blue Ridge landfill - which lies approx. 2 miles northwest, along the west side of FM 521. (Sidebar: The close proximity of the landfill to the final phases of Shadowcreek Ranch is the main reason we elected not to build there.)

We checked the mileage from Southern Trails to the Texas Medical Center, and it is only 12.5 miles. You can't beat that if you work there (which we both do).

The early phases are almost built out, but Ashton Woods still has a dozen or so lots available in the section near the main entrance, with a price range of $200K-250K.

I would appreciate any comments any of you have about Southern Trails and/or Ashton Woods. Ashton Woods is the builder we would probably be contracting with for our home, since Weekly has closed out there and Newmark is located too far back in the complex.

Thanks!

We probably should keep the discussion in one thread, so go here to read what I found.

The outcome of the hearing is now available for reading here, at the Houston Chronicle site. My layman's interpretation is that the final resolution has been delayed once again, until next year. Even then whatever decision is made can be appealed in district court, by either party.

So the whole issue drags on. Still, this is good for those folks currently living in the vicinity of the landfill, since the expansion remains on hold. However those who are trying to decide whether or not it is safe to buy homes there (like me) are still left in limbo.

I've been googling it since last night, but can't find anything yet. The CABRLE website hasn't put up anything about it either (yet). I suspect we'll hear something today.

Well, we have decided against building at Grand Mission. We really can't fault Grand Mission, though. We liked the David Weekley plans, the convenience to the greater Houston metro, lower tax valuation, etc. The problem we couldn't accept was the cost of the commute on the Westpark tollroad. My wife and I both work in the Medical Center, and when we did the math it came to about $2,500-$3,000 a year in toll fees. (Unfortunately, we're not really candidates for car/van pooling because we work odd hours.)

Thank you everyone who contributed to this discussion.

I've seen the morning & afternoon traffic jams on the Westpark. It's something to consider, but I work on a 7am-4pm schedule, so I'll miss most of that. And my wife works nights, so she'll miss it too.

The school district, in terms of its impact on resale value, is more of a concern. We're going to do some heavy thinking.

I appreciate all the comments.

A casual search didn't show me the tax valuation for your location, but at Grand Mission it is 3.51. Is that lower?

Great points, I did notice the schools zoned to GM are not the best. However, we are an older couple with no kids, and no plans for any. So schools are only something we consider for future resale. We find the location of GM right there on the Westpark tollway very appealing, as we both commute into the city for work.

Hi, we are considering building a new home in the Grand Mission master-planned community. I only found one other thread that talks about it in these forums. I would really like to hear from any of you who live in Grand Mission. Are you happy? Anything to watch out for? Thanks.

Edit: In hindsight I realized Grand Mission is technically in Richmond, so maybe I should have posted this in the 'Sugar Land and the Southwest' forum. If a mod wants to move this post there, it's fine.

Does anyone have any new information about life at Grand Mission? I noticed this thread is a couple of years old. Meanwhile, GM has continued to attract buyers.

I visited GM last weekend and talked to a David Weekley rep. The community is still growing and is currently in the process of opening up several new sections. Housing prices and taxes seem a bit lower than other parts of Houston, which is good. I google'd landfills in Houston and there doesn't seem to be any too close (unlike Shadowcreek Ranch and Fall Creek).

Just hoping some folks who live in Grand Mission will respond with some information and thoughts.

According to a CABRLE blogsite I found, a contested hearing on this issue will be held on October 16th at 10am in the Commissioner's courtroom, 309 South 4th street, Suite 701, Richmond, Tx.