Good "family" areas within 20 minute drive from downtown? (Houston: to rent, townhouses)

[HMY624]

My DH has a "bee in his bonnet" about living 20 minutes or less from work... he will be working right smack in the middle of downtown. Where can live that is considered safe for families? We have two small children (1 and 3).

Would prefer to rent or buy a house (at least 3 beds and at least 2 baths). From what I am reading it looks like commuting may take some time. Also, what is the price ranges for houses in the recommended areas? We are looking at houses less than about $450K... is this feasible?

Thanks in advance for your help!
~Heather

[brownybaby]

Try these subdivisons ---- Timbergrove, Sheperd Park Plaza, Candlelight Estates, Candlelight Plaza, Garden Oaks, and certain parts of Oak Forest!

Have fun!

[DanielWayne]

Clear Lake/Friendswood area is one choice although it is more like a 30 minute commute. I think all the suburbs come close to matching your requirements. The metro bus comes out here to a park and ride location if you don't want to drive to downtown everyday. Neighborhoods span a large range from I'm guessing about $80,000 to 2-3 million.

[houston-nomad]

Search on HAR.com; try zips 77008 and 77009 for the neighborhoods north of downtown (Heights as well as some of the ones brownybaby listed above).

[travelguy_73]

Twenty minutes during heavy traffic can be tough (sometimes when it is really bad, I feel like it takes me 20 minutes just to go a mile), but also check out 77035 and 77096, focusing primarily in Meyerland and Willow Meadows. That budget will get you a fully renovated single family home in those zips, and 20 minutes in average traffic is doable. Most of those homes will be 3-4 bedrooms and 2 baths.

[modster]

20 minutes is really inside the loop or right around it, at peak times anyway.

[bamba_boy]

The original homes in Braes Heights and surrounding neighborhoods are in that price range (basically the land value + 50-early60's house. Basically just outside Bellaire in the southwest corner of the Loop. New homes in Houston and all (even orig.) in Bellaire will probably be above 350K. You can also find townhouses in some of the more "frontier" parts of MidTown for that price. These are very close to downtown and true 20 minute or less commutes all the time. Might have to put the kids in private school though. SW loop corner is good to very good elementaries and excellent Bellaire High School. Pershing Middle was kind of variable when I lived a couple of blocks away years ago but now may have improved since the old apts in the area have been torn down.

[Randy2931]

Could look at the nice areas of Bellaire. I'm not too familiar with the area to recommend an exact location but I'm sure someone can help out.

You can also check out Briargrove in 77057. Zoned to a very good elementary school, safe area if you stay north of Westheimer and houses can be had in the mid $400s. Very family oriented neighborhood a few minutes outside of 610. Might be a little longer than 20 minutes to downtown in rush hour but worth checking out.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by modster

20 minutes is really inside the loop or right around it, at peak times anyway.

This.

Clear Lake/Friendswood area is one choice although it is more like a 30 minute commute.

It starts at 40 minutes during 5pm peak traffic from downtown to the northernmost part of the area, and goes to 60+ if you're deeper into League City/Seabrook/El Lago/Kemah. (Slightly less time in the morning.) Though $450k around here would set you up very nicely.

[houstonfan]

Commute time is drastically different in the loop between peak time and non peak time. Hopefully, your husband can avoid peak time so that you have more variety of neighborhoods to choose from and still have a short commute. I would stay inside the loop 610 if possible, or Briargrove or 77056 zip if not. Look at major arteries that go closest to his office and try to live close to those arteries. Memorial Rd is a major road that goes to downtown so if his office is near there, briargrove would make sense eventhough it's outside 610. If you can find something nice under 450k in 77019, that would be ideal (RiverOaks area), lots of shops and things to do in that area.