AustinGrad Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 My fiance is a petroleum engineer looking for a job in the Houston area, but we're from Austin and don't really know much about Houston.Basically I need a 1 bedroom under $850. A duplex/townhouse/something with a backyard would be cool for the dog, but she lives in an apartment now so that would be fine too. The most important thing is safety, and of course the budget.Any suggestions of areas to look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalparadise Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 (edited) My fiance is a petroleum engineer looking for a job in the Houston area, but we're from Austin and don't really know much about Houston.Basically I need a 1 bedroom under $850. A duplex/townhouse/something with a backyard would be cool for the dog, but she lives in an apartment now so that would be fine too. The most important thing is safety, and of course the budget.Any suggestions of areas to look?Most likely, work will be in the Uptown or Energy Corridor area, I would think. That's all on the west side -- and easily within your price range. From out on I-10 (energy corridor) to the West Loop (Uptown) there are literally thousands of available places that should meet your criteria. Find a realtor or apartment locator (they're free) and look around.One possible job place to look that is off this beaten path is Total Petrochemicals, Downtown. European company -- great environment, great place for engineers to show their creative side a little. DOWNTOWN offices. Rents will be higher, but the work environment might offset that.Good luck and welcome to Houston. Edited November 28, 2006 by dalparadise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 Most likely, work will be in the Uptown or Energy Corridor area, I would think. That's all on the west side -- and easily within your price range. From out on I-10 (energy corridor) to the West Loop (Uptown) there are literally thousands of available places that should meet your criteria. Find a realtor or apartment locator (they're free) and look around.One possible job place to look that is off this beaten path is Total Petrochemicals, Downtown. European company -- great environment, great place for engineers to show their creative side a little. DOWNTOWN offices. Rents will be higher, but the work environment might offset that.Good luck and welcome to Houston.Anywhere between downtown and Highway 6 along Interstate 10 will be a good bet for him, but I'd recommend a more central location. You might find a great job in an offbeat place, and it would suck to commute from the Energy Corridor to Clear Lake or The Woodlands.Btw, Total is far from the only one downtown, and Chevron will be moving everybody downtown soon enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinGrad Posted November 28, 2006 Author Share Posted November 28, 2006 Awesome thanks! We've been feeling lost, and we haven't had any free weekends to travel up there and visit. Hopefully we'll have some opportunities to travel up there over Christmas break. So are those areas pretty safe? That's my only concern about living downtown... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 No need to worry. You won't be able to afford downtown on that budget.And if you find a job downtown just live in the burbs near a park and ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 You can also check the Med Center area. It's VERY convenient to downtown, and if you work out in the Energy Corridor, you'd be "reverse commuting"...driving against the heavy inbound traffic. That's what I do...I cover my 17-mile morning commute in 15 minutes. In my opinion, Houston is very safe. We've had a lot of negative publicity over rising crime rates, but the majority of that is between drug dealers. It seems that most of the increase in crime has occured out west in the Westchase District (not far from the Energy Corridor) and down the Southwest Freeway around Sharpstown and in the Gulfton apartment ghetto.I live across the freeway from the Med Center, and we haven't noticed any increase in crime...it's a very safe area in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 Any suggestions of areas to look?My personal preference is to be close to where I work.What are your most important priorities? Easy commute? Lots of stuff to do nearby? Big yard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 That's what I do...I cover my 17-mile morning commute in 15 minutes. To the Energy Corridor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 To the Energy Corridor?No...I would NEVER take a job in the Energy Corridor. Unless the job came with a private helicopter ride to and from work.I work in the Westchase area. Of course, the times that I do take I-10 outbound in the mornings, it's not too bad. Usually I only go as far out as the 610 Loop, which is smooth sailing (70-80 mph the whole way). I don't travel outside the Loop on I-10 very often in the mornings, but when I have, it's been an easy drive. I could imagine making it out to the Energy Corridor at a mile a minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilyheights Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 I've known quite a few people who moved greater distances for jobs in the oil industry. They liked living centrally (in West University/MuseumDistrict rentals) and commuting over the course of their careers to all the possible energy job locals, the I-10 Energy Corridor, the buildings near the airport (IAH), downtown, and WestChase (Brown and Root, now Halliburton), or the Woodlands (Anadarko).Some stayed and bought homes in these central areas; some moved to the 'burbs.I always like this approach to Houston: start central, then decide. Learning this city from the 'burbs is difficult -- you'll be inclined to stay out there and never venture forth into the more historical and (my opinion) interesting parts of town. Then, you'll get older, have kids, and never learn about where you live. That, to me, seems like a loss.If you feel like 'burbia is the most fun you could ever want, then start there. If you want a little different experience, start centrally, learn the city, then decide.The other plus to this approach is that you can reverse commute anywhere with relative ease. If you hunker down too far out in any direction, you'll not want to take the job on the opposite side of the larger circle of the Houston 'burbs...that could be psychologically limiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 you'll be inclined to stay out there and never venture forth into the more historical and (my opinion) interesting parts of townThat certainly is your opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdbaker Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 No need to worry. You won't be able to afford downtown on that budget.And if you find a job downtown just live in the burbs near a park and ride.You could probably get a place downtown at the Houston House for around $800. I stayed there for 4-5 weeks a few summers ago. Luxury living it is not, but it does have a strange charm. It's almost like a La Corbusier inspired Public Housing Project gone right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gank Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 I walk my dog at Hershey Trail near Eldridge and Memorial. There's these townhomes there that seem to me would be nice to live at because you live right by the trail and they're located right between I 10 and Memorial which is conveniant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark F. Barnes Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 I take it your fiance did not intern his senior year with anyone, or he would already have a job, here are you some good leads to people who are desperate for help. --------------------------------------------------------------------------Send your resume to:Dana M. Banovitz Dana.Banovitz@cenergycorp.comRocky Mountain RepresentativeCenergy CorporationOffice: 303-751-9881Cell: 970-331-8001www.cenergycorp.comDana works for one of the largest players in the Energy placement services, she is out of the Denver Office but she is a hustler and is very well networked, she has plenty of contacts in the Houston Area, she can have you working within 48 hrs. Tell her I sent you.--------------------------------------------------------------------------K&M Technology 26110 Oakridge Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380Phone: (281) 298-6900Fax: (281) 298-6875Speak with Randy Ireland randy@complexwells.comRandy is another good guy that could possible get you placed with one of the big players, feel free to drop my name if you like. The presidents name is Mike Mims and he is a great guy that started from the ground up. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------Larry Crest - President and CEO New Tech Engineering 281-951-4333lcress@newtecheng.comI went to college with Larry and worked with him for years in the industry, before he started this company, he is very good people and will have you working with in a day or two at the most. I know this company very well as I am a fellow alumnus with everyone one the board of directors and most of the managing engineering staff. Here also is a contact that will get right with you and is easier to reach than Larry at times.Eric OmensonBusiness Development & Resource Manager 281-951-4333erico@newtecheng.comTell Eric I sent you. You will get treated very fairly here and they will get you placed in a comfortable position that fit your needs as well as the clients. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you prefer to deal directly with the oil companies here are some contacts (feel free to drop my name):Glenn Bowman Goodrich Petroleum Project Engineer 713-225-0876 Ext. 137Glenn is a friend and former colleague that can fix you up with Goodrich if they are needing someone. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Joe Garcia Drilling Manager for Texas Peoples Energy Production713-890-3641Worked with Joe and this is another straight shooter that can put you in touch with who you need to talk to at Peoples Energy if they can use your services.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------William J "Bill" BillmanGOM Manager Mariner Energy Inc. (713) 954-5500Bill is a great friend I worked closely with over the years, won't find anyone nicer.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Steve Bosworth - Drilling ManagerAnadarko Petroleum Corporation1201 Lake Robbins DriveThe Woodlands, Texas 77380832-636-1000Steve will likely have to put you through the channels at Anadarko and have you post a resume at the HR dept. so here is their email in advance employment@anadarko.com, Preston Johnson Jr. is the V P of Human Resources, anyway it is nice to have a contact name. Steve's boss is Bob Daniels, and he is the Senior V P of worldwide exploration, for Anadarko Petroleum. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you click on the link in my signature below, it will take you to my website, where you can go to the clients page and it will give you links to many of my clients web pages that you can send a resume to. Or if you wish I will be glad to post your resume on the network and get you in touch with a potential employer. I charge nothing for doing it, unless you take a position on one of my projects, and in that case I charge the client for providing you to them. Good luck a feel free to drop me a line with any questions.Mark F Barnes P.E. CSP, CHMMBarnes Consulting Services Inc.As far as where to live, you need to talk to the masses here, I prefer to live out in the woods and commute. I drove from out here to Texaco downtown for many years, and would rather the drive than the life in the concrete jungle, but that's just me. I got up a 3 am drove in early 72 miles on an 1 hr and 15 minutes and left early around 2:30 or 3:00 pm and slid out before traffic got bad. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, it's just the way I wanted it. There are enough people here to get you placed in a good area, there are about 20 or so Realtors on here as well. Of all here I would recommend J Scarborough he seems to be a real straight shooter and is getting a one-stop shopping type of Agency going that can handle everything from finding you a property to the title work and even get your grass cut. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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