KatieDidIt

I think the "hot" areas are still same. Prices are flat, but not dropping. Areas that fringe the "hot" neighborhoods(maybe a street away) are slightly lower. Most people in the desired neighborhoods just aren't selling. Inventory is rather low, so that pushes the prices to remain at the same level. But I have seen neighborhoods whose values have actually gone up about 5%, but I think that's due to the school district.

The problem is everyone wants to go to that school. It's even hard to find houses under 300k,that are liveable, that go to Stratford. You could find a townhouse for that price range. North of the freeway is cheaper, but not that cheap if it's zoned to MHS. I know it's frustrating, but there's no trick to how to get in. There are no "grey" streets, no transfers. Heck, most of the those streets north of I-10, that are zoned to MHS, weren't a few years back. There was a major uproar about it, and some are still not happy. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Ok, I just looked at HAR.COM. Does this not work for you? http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...mp;Address=1522 Glourie It's small, but you can't be too picky in that price range if you want that school. Some builder will buy it and build a million dollar house soon enough

Our ACC is really getting rather strict in our little subdivision. This only happened after a massive remuddle took the board for a ride, with revamping,constant addtions, and inspection failures. The board of volunteers were just way too nice and the 1960's deed restrictions did not forsee people knocking down 5000 sf houses just to replace them with bigger ones. As a result, we have a 1960's Tudor changed into a Hill Country type house, with a roof that changes pitch and grade 5 or 6 times . It literally looks like a staircase in places. The two story, faux limestone Alamo garage, with no windows, is lovely too. The three new builds going on right now are rather nice. The ACC buckled down to not allow a garages on the front. The first new build snuck it in so that the door was swung to the side, but side of the garage was still part of the facade. After seeing that the neighborhood was not happy with even that, now it must be behind the residence. THANK GOD! The lots in here are very generous, there is no reason to have a "car house" on the front. I really perfer when people just gut the snot out of the old houses and leave the exteriors alone for the most part. The homes look like brand new construction on the inside, but they don't clash with the olders homes on the outside. Also, the new builds are just so massive in scale, they almost eat the lot they sit on, and not just the small lots either. Some neighborhoods have changed so much over the past 15 years that there are only one or two ranchs/colonials left on every street.

Randall's at Memorial and The Beltway. However, watch the dates on the bread there. I will go to the HEB on Bunker Hill on the way back from school drop off, but just to the Faux Central Market side. The other half is like Walmart. OT: that whole Bunker Hill complex is a nice, one stop shop place. Now with Academy there and Petsmart moving over to it, it's rather nice.

I hope dropping the Exemptions doesn't become catching. CDEB, where are you moving too?

Small house big acreage, but in a temperate zone city would be wonderful. Maybe Atlanta. But I'd be more inclined to do dog rescue than people rescue. I'd love to build the house out of reclaimed wood and architectural pieces from old Southern Homes and a few European elements thrown in. I think that would be Bliss.

For property taxes I think The City of Houston pays much less than other areas around here. But I sure wish they stop hiking it every year to get their revenue.

city-data? I don't read the "SL Forum" I read new posts. Edit:Do you not read posts outside of Sugarland or Sugar Land?

You would think. Apparently if your property pulls a permit a alarm bell goes off at HCAD central, and the useless Ifile Central computer puts a mark against your property deeming it "Improved" or "Extensively Remodeled." But thanks to CWR's suggestion I am creating a presentation for HCAD called: What is a Remodel and what is Routine Maintanence and Updating. From looking at all the pictures in the area an "Extensive Remodel" ranges from new counter tops and an new Electic Panel, to completely gutting and changing the facade of the house. I'm going to call it the DidIt Factor. One day all old house owners will thank me for it. the hubsters is going to make an appearence for once too. Since he busts balls/negotiates for a living, I figure that could come in handy for here

I think they are sticking it to use for replacing the eletrical. You know, bringing the house up to code so it doesn't burn down. I don't consider it a remodel. Anywho... great idea about inside HAR pixs of other houses vs. the inside pix of ours on the 2007 HAR listing. Funny thing is, they hade those pictures up on the screen last year for the formal. 1960' paneling, cabinets, wetbar, 70's decking around the 60's pea-gravel pool,vanities and showers in all bathroom .The kitchen got granite counters on old cabinets and they reused the early 90's applainces, and suddenly it was an extensive remodel. They just WON'T be swayed this year, or last. It felt like they had specific instructions not to crater on high price point homes. I really hate to be snobby, but I really think they need specific people to handle upper end homes that were built pre-80's. It's such a specalized area that you just can't make broad generalizations like they do.

Good for you. Unfortunatelly, my experience was the complete opposite. They popped our house up 10% over the 2007 purchase price. They wouldn't budge despite all evidence of recent sales in the neighborhood. Despite that we refinanced and the appraisal was 100,000 less than the HCAD Market Value. Somehow they have it down that they house had an extensive remodel in 2003 and refuse to give me proof on how they determined that. The house was in 80% original condition when we bought it. You can't get a mortgage for what they say it's worth. They don't care. "We used the same specs and sales data as the Mortgage appraiser but this is out number, we don't care what he says." Next week is the formal hearing and I guess I'm going to go just so I can beat my head on the wall. I know they will refuse to budge and refuse to give me the remodel evidence again. Last year it was the same thing. I did notice a lot of happy people coming out of the informal and also a number of VERY angry people. It was no coincidence that price point had a lot to do with the mood of the owners. HCAD has go to get it's revenue from somewhere, and no doubt sticking it to the higher price points is the most assured way to do it. They used to be pretty fair, but the past few years it's been a total joke.

I toured this house yesterday. I think it's a screaming deal for the location. But honestly, I just don't know if the flat roof is something we are willing the deal with. My husband is strictly against them. But the LIGHT in this house is amazing. Adding: The kitchen is updated, but I felt the urge to rip it all out. It's just not high quality enough for the house.

Can't be built. There isn't a scratch of empty land around here to build on. Any land that becomes free from apartment teardowns, they call a brownstone, and charge a million dollars for. We've had low income in area for over 40 years. The horror. It's a shame about that one break in 20 years ago. Momma, do you white women up there still call each other "girlfriend?"

Niche, I understand what you are saying. There is no way to sell the home to the market that swamps the area. Fellow flighters would never buy a house near such a complex. They would either search farther out or around. The burbs are an endless circle around this city, and it's not hard to find one without an apartment complex near it. However, how long will those open fields nextdoor remain undeveloped? The land in the great out there is far cheaper than near loop areas, the building codes more lax to my knowledge, therefore more enticing to developers.

Just in time for wine-thirty on the cul-de-sac, and manic gossip!

ROTF!! thank you Red. PS-I've recently heard there is a large section of land that has become available for section 8 housing.

My neighborhood is free of things. We have plenty of low income all around us in every direction, and the houses are worth well more than 300,000. I'm pretty fasinated by this fear in some of these thread here lately.

Funny, I moved back in from The Woodlands to get that.

Reef, the only difference is when they tear those Tully things down one day, they are going to build million dollar patio homes. 25 to an acre.

The land is cheap out there. Central Houston's land isn't cheap anymore. They can't afford to buy enough property to build these complexes in town anymore. And just like people who can't afford the property near or in the centrals areas, the developers have had to move out as well.

Walmart attracts the poor just about as much as anything. You're first mistake was letting the Walmart build there.

That is weird. But at least she knows where she belongs or doesn't at this point.

I Do? I'll have to through all my posts one day. I know I made a comment that people should just learn to live next to them in a thread about Sugarland. My comment about this development was because the Sugarland posts find them so offensive I found it ironic that it would be promoted. 300,000 for a commute and apartments seems a bit steep to me for the Sugarlander, if looking at their reactions in other posts.

Mutli-Family means apartments right? It looks like it's half apartments from the site plan. Therefore you get to live next to a huge apartment complex for over 300,000, And a prison?

THE CLOISTERS is an extremely high end resort in Sea Island Georgia. I really don't understand Texs developers and their infatuation with taking names from high end and famous establishments around the country and slamming them on tract home developments on our Houston praries. But at least it's not a Harbor or Harbour or Bay or something lame like that. At they could and should use "sugar" in it somewhere.