brian0123

I was looking past Gus Wortham golf course. I believe there is some stuff right at 225 and 610 and I'm guessing that's what I was smelling. I was referring mainly to the Far East End (if that's a term).

Really, I think the growth on the east side of the innerloop is stunted due to the refineries. I looked at some property on the east side of the loop, but the wind blew an interesting smell my way and I said nope. Even so, there is tremendous growth south and southeast in Pearland/Alvin/Clear Lake/etc.... so not everything is north/west for the burbs. As for places like the Woodlands, I look at them as fake cities. Yes, they have several major employers and a couple impressive buildings... but remove that and you just have a big mall. It's a place where everything is planned and catered around employees that work in those handfull of businesses. It's a great concept, but if you lose/hate your job at one of those businesses... your SOL if you can't find a job next door or you just deal with the commute to energy corridor or Downtown/Galleria. Sugarland will never become a huge "jobs center" due to the painful commute times to IAH and Hobby. Katy/Energy Corridor will grow until it starts to turn like Greenspoint did. There are just far too many large apartment complexes that are "newish" along it that will deteriorate quickly. My money long-term is Downtown/Galleria and the Medical Center. If I had a crystal ball I'd predict that the area around Reliant Stadium will also grow one day.

First, the urban core is a WAY smaller area compared to the suburbs (and even then, you should probably only look at west of 288 within 610) and the places it is growing are mostly from singles/couples (vs families in the burbs... hence the school enrollment stats). Second, this report does not show demographic and income changes within these areas. If it did, it would most likely show that the suburbs are being filled with tons of middle and lower income families (nothing wrong with that), while the urban core is filling up with higher income singles/couples/ and now familes. In other words, white flight is sort of reversing. It's at a point where it can't really go any further out (unless one day La Grange becomes a suburb of Houston ) When people like me say the urban core is growing, I typically mean that areas that were lower/middle income and were full of older/widowed people are now becoming vibrant communities again. Personally, I grew up in the burbs, moved into the loop, and first witnessed Midtown (in a period of 5 years) spring huge new apartment complexes and add thousands of new residents. Then, we moved over near Braeswood and are now renovating a house and raising our young family in it. The neighborhood has more kids in it than it has in a long time, and it's like the suburbs in the middle of the city. More families move in every day... and thus, people like me say the city is growing based on personal experience. Yes, the burbs will always grow faster. The question is what kind of growth will it be and will current residents like what they see as their neighborhood changes?

I drove by yesterday and there were crews working in it. I was in shock considering I lived in MIdtown for five years and this place is finally getting renovated AFTER I move out. This building was always one of those places I hoped would be fixed up... I'm so glad to see that happening instead of a wrecking ball.

First, how can something have "peaked" if it's still getting "growth" (despite where the growth is from)? Second, I lived in Midtown for five years and loved every minute of it. It's probably the most "real" place in this city where you are exposed to everything, everyone, and every culture. It has African American institutions like The Ensemble Theatre and The Breakfast Klub... street signs in Vietnamese (and awesome restaurants), homeless, yuppies, musicians, museums, mixed use, old mansions, gays, straights, families, walkability, live music, clubs, light rail, parks, graffiti, (i.e all good, bad, and everything in between thrown into one neighborhood). Midtown was just designated an Arts and Entertainment District by the state. They also have a huge new Collaborative Arts complex coming, the superblock being developed this year, more huge complexes coming, and more to come around the Continental Club. Even non-profits are growing and renovating (or building on empty) lots. Saying the neighborhood has peaked just doesn't make any sense. Yes, other parts of town are also growing. Uptown for high-rise living. East End from Dynamo Stadium. Outside the beltway for cheap housing. In fact, I think Midtown's growth will only accelerate as more people move outside the beltway and our freeways (and the overtaxed suburban infrastructure) become permanant parking lots.

Agreed. I was confused by the NDA logic as well. Aren't the meetings public information anyway?

No, do not suggest the OP just casually drive around Acres Homes. That's a recipe for getting in trouble. I did a police ride-along there and it has some very dangerous parts. Yes, there are tons of incredibly nice people... but there are also people that will not hesitate to hurt you for what you have.

I don't see Rice University/Med Center/Braeswood/West U on your list. You should explore more of the SW inner loop area. You should also check out Hermann Park (go to Miller Outdoor Theatre for a show) and the Museum District.

I bought a Washer and Dryer from them when I lived in Midtown. It's actually not a bad store on the inside (and the prices were right). The sales guy told me that part of it is haunted. He said there is a section behind the appliances (in another basement) that has huge old burners/boilers/etc. and he said someone had died in there in the past. I don't know if he was bs'ing me or what, but was just making conversation while he rang up the W+D.

Just squirt about 20 tubes of caulk into those gaps and he's good to go.

Yeah, every time I'm in Austin I get amazed at how blah their "awesome" places are. Don't get me wrong... as a liberal I love the craziness and beauty of Austin. At the same time, I have my standards and it's hard to find places as diverse and high quality that Houston offers. Also, as someone who lived in Austin briefly, I find it sad that they seem to be becoming nothing but suburb after suburb. Yeah, they have South Congress and some Downtown... but Houston has Midtown, Downtown, EaDo, Montrose, Rice U, Med Center, Heights, etc. and they're all pretty easy to access (unlike having to sit on I-35 forever).

Good to know. What trail in Montrose to Med Center are you referring to? I live along Braes bayou so I know that trail. Didn't know I could hook up to Montrose, though. I was referring to all the on-street "trails" where drivers nearly run you off the road.

Yes, our interconnected bike path's are so awesome in this city

While sowanome's advice is very good, keep in mind that a lot of that advice falls into a very high risk category. You will need to determine what level of risk you want (and make sure you totally understand the space you are getting into). You will also need some luck. As mentioned earlier, if you have kids you can also start socking away for their college. I like 429's, but you can also go the traditional IRA route to withdraw later (as mentioned above).

Yes, Roth's are awesome. I doubt they'll ever be raided. It would be politically VERY unpopular and they know we already have a retirement savings crisis in this country. My guess is that they could eventually change the rules for contributing into it... so take advantage of it as much as you can right now.

Yes, REITs that are publicly traded on the market can be sold at any time. Just check volume to make sure it's a more popular one in case you want to sell it fast. Another thing I suggest (and I don't know your income) but if you don't have a Roth IRA I suggest opening one and dumping 5k in it right away (and do so every year to max it). The money you put in can be taken out at any time... and any capital gains you make in it are not taxed until you withdraw later in retirement. Dump 5k onto a decent dividend stock and you're getting money that isn't taxed. As mentioned prior, real estate is also good but you are not liquid. I keep getting tempted by real estate but I just don't like the fact that my money is tied up in it. I have my main house w/ money in it, and I just can't stomach locking money up in another property.

I'm a fan of stocks/bonds and tend to stay in the High-Medium risk categories. Here's what I like that has served me well so far... High Risk (but not dangerous): Mortgage REIT's that pay high dividends. They were battered down when the market crashed, some pay 11% quarterly, and they are way off their highs so there is room to grow as housing/rentals improve. You just have to watch them and make sure no bad news comes out. NRF is a good example (too pricey now) but I bought low and it's up a ton now... but still paying an awesome dividend. Medium Risk: Stocks/Bonds/ETF's with decent dividends. Think GE, DOW etc. Basically bigger companies that pay decent dvidends consistently. Low Risk: CD's, etc. Whatever you do don't day trade. That's a quick way to lose if you don't know what you're doing.

Couldn't agree more (especially with schedules). The rest of the world has figured out that while trains are expensive.... they are a necessary method for moving citizens in a more efficient, timely, and cleaner manner. Plus, buses suck because they tear up roads (look at Westheimer), take up too much space on the road, pollute, and most importanly, are not as predictable as a train schedule.

Great suggestion. Last question then... When I seal off the dirt w/ plastic, how do I "seal it" when I have a drain pipe going down the middle of the hole? I assume it needs to be airtight so would I take a square sheet of plastic, cut a slit from the outside to the center, wrap around the pipe (maybe tie rope around the pipe to hold the plastic tight to the drain pipe?) then overlap the plastic on itself and tape it along the seam (filling w/ gravel on the edges to hold the side down)?

Thanks everyone. Yes, innerlooper, the stuff is growing on the studs and some sheetrock. No termite problems for the past 50 years (had it checked when we bought months ago). What do you mean by a "screened opening" to the tub drain area? Do you mean like a screened vent on the exterior wall of the house? I think I'm going to take the first steps of getting it completely dry and sealed. I'll then look for any other leaks and I like your idea of sealing the thing up. Drywall is easy and I don't mind having to cut it open later down the road if I need access.

Yes, I always thought one lane in both directions with a dedicated turn lane in the middle. Wider sidewalks (or possibly squeeze in a dedicated bike lane).

Thanks, I was thinking about putting plastic down with some rocks around it. I just wasn't sure if concrete would be better but you bring up a good point. I'm positive I do have mold underneath (some black stuff growing, other was white). Do you suggest I hire a remediation company, or just bleach it down, (maybe paint some killz over it)? I can't seem to find an actual leak on the tub anywhere so the wet dirt theory makes sense.

Background: I have a 1950's ranch home that I've been busy updating. I finally got around to looking at a "stinky" closet that we assumed was ammonia from cat urine (the prior owners let the cat sleep in there). Anyways, I discovered this weekend that it's actually coming from our guest bath. The closet has an access panel in it, and after I pried it off I discovered a lovely petri dish underneath and it was very humid inside. The prior owners had zero caulk around the tub rim (which I took care of several months ago when we moved in). I ran the tub and shower and can't seem to find any leaks... yet it still is very moist and damp under the tub. Also, our foundation has a hole in it and the dirt from under our house is just sitting under there (like a 2ft/2ft hole). Research online tells me that this was normal when they poured foundations to allow for the plumber to install the tub later. So here are my questions: 1. Isn't this hole in the foundation a great way for potential rodents/bugs to get inside... as well as moisture? 2. Should I put a vapor barrier or something over the hole? The drain for the tub drops directly into the whole, where there's a p-trap and then pipe that disappears under the house into the dirt. 3. I sprayed bleach on everything, but is the mold something I should be concerned with and get a remediation company out? I've heard the whole mold thing is overblown... so don't know. 4. My neighbor told me his house is the same way and they have a stinky closet as well. Is this just a design flaw of older 1950's homes?

There are a ton of options. I suggest starting at Guitar Center and talking to staff (or looking at the classified posts on the bulletin boards). Pretty much any music shop around town can help you out. You can also look at Evan's for guitar lessons... http://www.evansmusiccity.com/music_lessons_houston.html

I'm confused with all these different theme parks I keep hearing about (Earthquest, Cowboy Town, etc.). Which theme park idea is this? The copyright on the site is from 2010. EDIT: For those wondering the same, read the article in the link. It answered my question.