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Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm relocating to Houston for a new job in the greenway plaza area. Can anyone suggest some good neighborhoods? I'm looking for something safe and affordable and I want to buy while mortgage rates are low. I was in town looking this week. I need to stay under 1/4 million (hopefully under $200,000) so I can't afford River Oaks or West University. Driving through more affordable areas near work, I saw too much graffiti and gang bangers (or wanna-bees) for comfort. Looked like some even had prison tats. Not a good environment especially when we start having kids. Some of my coworkers live in the Woodlands and I drove out there and it looks real nice but the drive was over an hour and that wasn't even during rush hour. She liked it so maybe that's our best choice but I hope you have some other suggestions so I don't have to live in my car.

I don't live there, but along Braeswood east of 288 seems decent and close to where you will be working. This is a good time to buy a house.

You don't want a long commute in Houston (or probably anywhere).

- Jim

Take a look at Sugar Land. An early morning commute can take as little as 20 minutes to downtown Houston. The house prices are pretty well within your range and one really nice thing... they don't allow panhandlers in our town.

Edit: And Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

Don't do The Woodlands. It's nice up there, but the drive will kill you over time.

Some areas of Pearland are quite nice and you can drive up 288. Another benefit to living in Pearland is that it's close to the PSC gun range that's mentioned on here quite often.

T.

We like Kingwood & Atascocita, but we aren't commuters. The houses are reasonable, the crime we see tends to be limited to adolescents putting reindeer in pornographic positions (although there is always some crime anywhere you live), and it offers a lot in the way of outdoor activities. Houses in older neighborhoods (1970s & 1980s, early 90s) range from 100k to 250k depending on size and neighborhood. Newer homes will run $200k+.

The Metro buses in Kingwood and one on Hwy 59 take people downtown, and there is frequently someone on Kingwood.com or Atascocita.com looking for a carpool buddy.

The only downside to this place is that it doesn't have a gun range. You would have to go to Porter or Crosby for the closest ones.

I've heard the Heights in Houston isn't too bad, but don't know from experience. I hear that area is pricey, but not sure how pricey.

TLynnHughes wrote:Some areas of Pearland are quite nice and you can drive up 288.

Don't mean to be argumentative, but look at this map at 8 or 9 a.m. on a weekday. 288 is a parking lot.
http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

Venus Pax wrote:I've heard the Heights in Houston isn't too bad, but don't know from experience. I hear that area is pricey, but not sure how pricey.

The Heights have gone over the edge of yuppiedom and excessive prices. Years ago, actually.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:

TLynnHughes wrote:Some areas of Pearland are quite nice and you can drive up 288.

Don't mean to be argumentative, but look at this map at 8 or 9 a.m. on a weekday. 288 is a parking lot.
http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

No argument from me. It is a parking lot. Most of them are, but isn't it still closer than The Woodlands? I'm probably not a good one to give advise. I live in League City and drive 7 miles to work. I did my share of Houston freeway commuting in the late 70s and early 80s (before and after HOV lanes) and I'll never do it again if I can help it.

T.

I love the heights area. I went to school in the area and to be honest, its not bad. People mind their own business and are actually quite friendly. Dont let people that are waiting for a bus scare you, they are trying to make a living too they just dont have cars. dont be a xenaphob, just because their skin is a different color does not mean they are up to no good.

TLynnHughes wrote:No argument from me. It is a parking lot. Most of them are, but isn't it still closer than The Woodlands?

Sure, but I wasn't recommending The Woodlands.

I'm something of an urban pioneer myself, and that southeast neighborhood seems like a good opportunity. I could be wrong. Don't sue me.

- Jim

have you looked at pearland? 288 runs straight up into houston

seamusTX wrote:

TLynnHughes wrote:No argument from me. It is a parking lot. Most of them are, but isn't it still closer than The Woodlands?

Sure, but I wasn't recommending The Woodlands.

I'm something of an urban pioneer myself, and that southeast neighborhood seems like a good opportunity. I could be wrong. Don't sue me.

- Jim

I'd never sue you!

T.

TLynnHughes wrote:I'd never sue you!

Thanks, but I meant the O.P., in case he moved to Braeswood and it turned out to be a pit. I just think it's a fascinating neighborhood.

If I wanted to live in Houston, I would want to live in Rice Village; but I would have to be several times richer than I am.

Jim

Oh come on guys!

We all know that GREATWOOD is the place to be.

Venus Pax wrote:

...reindeer in pornographic positions...

Well! That certainly rules that neighborhood out! My word!