Bas

Both Lakewood and Heatherwood have flooded big time in the past. That information should be any seller's disclosure, but any reputable Realtor who works in the area should know all about this situation.

Have you checked out Prestonwood Forest area? It's nearby where you are now, it hasn't flooded (to the best of my recollection), it's affordable and it's all lit up right now for Christmas (or will be very soon). Just a thought...

Actually.. I live right nextdoor to prestonwood forst (prestonwood park)... it is also high on the list of possible neighborhoods to buy in ... even though prestonwood park where I live have much newer houses.. my problem with it is exactly that... new neighbourhoods don't have lots of green and the houses all look the same... Forest on the other hand is very green but on the down side all the houses are 30 years or older...

Anybody have any info about the east side of the 249.. mainly around "Majestic oaks"??

Since moving to Houston about 6 months ago, I've been renting a house in the north-west area off of 249 ( a little bit north of Willobrook mall, Champions). Now, my wife and I are planning buy a house in the same general area. Our preference (and budget) centered on Lakewood Forest- Heatherwood sub-div (the closest to HP where my wife works) and could be a few (probably 2-3) miles in every direction (I personally like Lakewood Grove but I think the houses are just outside our budget).

I have heard from someone who lives in the general area that there are some subdivisions that get flooded. We were talking about a specific one that I forgot its name (on Grant and Jones).

Anybody have any info about that?? what subdivisions to avoid?? Or maybe what subdivisions are better?? Talking about 3 bdrm house for 130-150 k.

Thanks in advance

Any good sushi places on the 249 corridor out side of the beltway. Near Willowbrook mall??

I have already been to Kirin (average to sub average) and Red Fish (fine). Any other recommendations in the area. I welcome recommendations other places too but I am mainly looking in that area.

OKC is a lot bigger. Tulsa is a lot prettier. Period.

Amen

I lived in Tulsa for 10 years... went to TU for grad school .... I would take Tulsa over OKC any day.

OKC it much bigger... but not in a good way... actually it is one my least faveorite cities in the US

Coming from the Portland, Or area

Now that I moves into the area... are there any good sushi places on either sides of 249 on or close to 1960?? I have seen one near Bally's on 1969 north of 249 but I cannot remember the name.. anybody knows if it is any good...?

Chao

A follow up:

I got the keys to my new house (rental), off of 249 and a little north of 1960, on Wednesday. My wife did not fly in till Friday so I didn

Hi Everybody,

As some of you might remember, I started posting on this board few weeks ago about moving to Houston from the Portland, Oregon are. Well

This is great!

I love it too.  There are a number of good sushi places around town, although no conveyer-belt style ones that I am aware of.  Having been in both types, I prefer the menu style. 

I kinda like the menu style too. But the conveyer-belt has its advantages, mainly INSTANT GRATIFICATION. Some times my wife and I will back from work tired and very hungry and want to eat right away. And the sushi place with the conveyer-belt is just a mile and a half away (there is even another one couple of block away). From the time you make the decision to the time you have the food in your mouth could be no more than 15 min. LOL.

Here is another thread with some recommendations:

Japanese restaurants

So all (or most) of these restaurant serve sushi? I've been in Japanese restaurant before that don't. The type that you sit around the grill and you have an acrobatic chef preparing the food in front of you. I don't know what this style is called. If you could name a few sushi places and were they are located I'll appreciate it.

Btw people often say that the sushi here is good because of the availability of fresh fish compared to some places.

I look forward to it.

What are the best sushi places in town? Please say what type of Sushi place you are recommending (the one with the conveyer belt style or sit down and order from a menu)

My wife and I are addicted to Sushi and would like to find some restaurant when we move to Houston soon.

fountainhead is kind of an entry-level neighborhood for the champions area.  A cut above the 3-2-2 tract home subdivisions, but below places like Champions, Greenwood, etc.

On the plus side, it is in Klein, which is more popular than the Spring School district.  Olde Oaks, Oak Creek, Ponderosa, etc are all suffering from people preferring Klein over Spring, although the proposed constructionn of another High School in Spring may change all that.

There are some out there that think you should be north of 1960, although I think that would be more the case east of Veterans myself.

I did hear the police give a presentation once that the areas south on Veterans from Bammel North Houston had heavy gang activity.  It is pretty unattractive to boot. 

IMO if you are getting a really good deal, like below $125,000, then it is an okay neighborhood that is kind of on the cusp between Champions and the less desirable areas to the south.

If it is much more than that dollar wise, I personally would prefer to be in Greenwood Forest, or jump north to Wimbledon or Memorial Northwest or something like that for the same price range.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately since I am not a Houston resident yet I don’t know the other neighborhood you are comparing in to. So, do you think the area is not safe?

You talked about east vs west of Veterans. How about right west of it? From your post I kinda had the impression that it is not fancy or extra rich neighborhood but not too bad. Is that a fair assessment? At least it’s not ghetto, right??

Hi Everybody:

Can anyone gives me an honest evaluation (tell it as it is) about “Fountainhead” subdivision and the area in general? If you don’t know this specific subdivision, the area is off of Veterans Memorial Dr and 1960 West.

I really appreciate any help.

- Once I was visitng Houston and my host took me to a Brazilian restaurant on Westhiemer (north side, few miles outside the loop, probably before you get to the outer loop). It

Thanks so much for the info. I feel I'm less lost now[

"The Katy Freeway project will be done by the end of 2008. Even if the large freeway fills up, the toll lanes will be available. The current plan is to set the toll rates to ensure the traffic always flows at or around the speed limit (a level of service=C, for technical types). You may still face backups on the final downtown approach if you are going downtown."

Since obviously I'm clueless. Could you explain how the katy freeway will be in 3 years? There will be toll lane where you can pay? Even if you are not car-pooling?

Until then, take the Park-and-Ride if you can.

Even though the name tells it, can you tell me more about "Park-and-Ride"?

Sorry about listing the same question on two different threads.

And my destination is downtown (Enron 1500 Louisiana st- Now Chevron)

Thanks again for most informative comments.

I read a lot about how horrible the commute is from Katy and also about the construction on the Katy highway. Is there an area closer west that maybe less of a nightmare. I found listing for nice houses about 23-25 miles west of downtown, would that be still a horrible commute? Also, How is the commute on the 290? I would probably find something decent there about the same distance (23-27 miles).

I appreciate all your advises and comments.

Hi Bas,

Your best bet is to investigate the above advice from kjb434. It would be a pretty good commute for the both of you, plus the area is fairly nice.

You wouldn't have far to drive going downtown, and your wife would be driving against traffic on 45 or 290 and shouldn't have traffic issues most days.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Unfortunately I couldn't find any houses for lease in that area. There are some further north in subdivisions I listed earlier on this thread but I have no idea how nice these neighborhoods are. I read on another thread that there are a lot of ghettos in that part of Houston. Any advise?

I have another question. I read a lot about how horrible the commute is from Katy and also about the construction on the Katy highway. Is there an area closer west that maybe less of a nightmare. I found listing for nice houses about 23-25 miles west of downtown, would that be still a horrible commute? Also, How is the commute on the 290? I would probably find something decent there about the same distance (23-27 miles).

I appreciate all your advises and comments.

Well what are your needs exactly?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

- Family house (no condos, apts)

- 3 bdrms +

- 2 baths +

- 2 car garage attached

- Safe and family friendly area (very important)

- around 1500 sq ft

- ideally half way between downtown and highway 6 in the northwest direction (where HP/Compaq is) closer to downtown is even better

Thanks so much everybody for the info.

I did not find houses that meet my needs in the areas suggested. But I found some in other area. Can some of you give me an honest input (tell it like it is) about these sub-div? Ranking would help. The more replies from more people the better. I appriciate your help.

the areas are:

NORTHWEST PARK SEC 1 & R/P

SPRING MEADOWS 2 & RP

WESTWOOD PATIO HOMES

WESTBRANCH SEC 2 PAR R/P (Spring branch)

SHARPSTOWN COUNTRY CLB TERR

HIDDEN VALLEY 7

WEST PARK

Inwood Northwest II

BAYOU BEND

Waiting for replies....

Look in the areas just north of Loop 610 along TC Jester and Ella.  This area has some nice homes that will put you and your wife in a good position to reach both jobs.

Youu can also look just inside the Loop between Shepherd and TC Jester.  Many new homes are going up and may be in your price range.

What is your price range by the way?

Also,

There are many homes to rent in the Heights and in the areas I'm suggesting to buy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the reply.

I am looking to rent for $900-$1200. 3 bedroom family house.

Since I am not familiar with neighborhoods names, Could you please define the areas you recommend by how close they are to the major highways (like: just west of 610 and north of 10)? Or even better, if you know the MLS area on har.com. Finding a safe neighborhood is a concern. Could you please comment on that.

Thanks again.

I would be glad to help, but can someone remind me where exactly is Tomball?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tomball is in the northwest. Exactly at far corner of the map.

Hi Everybody.

I am very glad to find this site. I am moving very soon (within 2 weeks) to Houston from the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Oregon area). Even though I’ve been in Houston before, I admit that I don’t know all the neighborhoods very well. I am looking to rent for about a year before buying a house. I will be working downtown while my wife works for HP in Tomball. We are looking at somewhere in between. My relocation help found me a lot of houses in Katy (about 25-30 miles away from my work) and a lot of them look great but reading the horror stories about the commute gave me second thoughts. In my independent research I found few prospects just outside the west loop to the north. From my previous visits I remember that it was a fairly nice area. But I want a second opinion. How safe it is and such stuff. We don’t have kids yet so we are not worried about the school situation. I would also like to know everybody’s opinion about living in Katy and working downtown.

I appreciate any comments. I am sure I’ll be back here often to ask about restaurants, cultural life, and other things.