Bungalow in Eastwood? (Houston, Garland, Rusk: for sale, real estate, rent)

[hguy00]

Hi everyone.

I'm a young Houstonian who is about to be married; consequently I am looking for my first home--something inside the loop under 300K. The 3-story townhomes in Rice Military do not interest me nearly as much as the older, quant homes in the Heights. Craftsman style homes are my favorite! Problem is, every old home that I like in that area is out of my price range.

So my question is what about Eastwood? I've noticed that a drive down Lockwood from I-45 reveals a not-so-great neighborhood in parts; however, there are some streets that look rather great. Within these patches of descent homes, there might be the occasional "for rent" sign or boarded up window awaiting restoration, but the tunnels of oaks lining the streets more than make up for it in my mind.

So I guess I am contemplating the fact that I probably wouldn't want to shop at the local Kroger or get gas at the corner stations along I-45. I am thinking about crime and all the train tracks, etc. Does anyone live there now? Opinions? Facts?

As I mentioned, I've never bought a home before. Is there something I should read that would tell me about demographics and crime? What about the neighborhood's projected land value in the future? How do you figure that out? I wouldn't want to spend 280K on a restored bungalow and not be able to build equity!? Help!

Thanks,
Chris

[modster]

IMO Eastwood is a no-brainer. You have all the ingredients of a gentrifying neighborhood. Interesting architecture and a geographic location that is a stone's throw from downtown. It is still a mish-mash, but so was Heights and Montrose for a long time. (and to a certain degree still are in some parts). Rice-Military was pretty sketchy up until about 10 years ago. So positive change should come. Unless we get an economic and/or real estate bust of some sort, it seems like the handwriting is already on the wall for that area.

Add into the mix all the new townhome development between downtown and Eastwood, (currently along streets like Leeland & Polk) that should eventually grow and spread. While that is not architecturally appealing, it does bring in the "roofs" to support additional retail. It will also help alleviate the "disconnected" feeling that points east seem to suffer from as the area becomes more connected neighborhood areas instead of "pockets." If that makes sense. The new Pavillions development downtown should also offer some additional retail options close by.

In addition to that you have the light rail system that is proposed for Harrisburg, a block away from the neighborhood. Retail has been proposed for that spot too, (Harrisburg and Lockwood)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/4979792.html

Eastwood hosts a home tour every Fall and has its own website as well.
http://www.eastwood-houston.com
As far as crime, I think you would probably fare worse in Montrose, but it certainly doesn't stop people from wanting to live there. It is no worse than Heights or anywhere like that.

If you drive down Walker Street, between Lockwood and Fashion St. There is a house under renovation with a sign "The Garland Company." The Garland Company is a guy named Bill England that does a lot of renovations in there, a LOT. Both of the houses for sale on Rusk right now are ones he originally restored in the past. He is really the person who can tell you anything and everything on Eastwood. He coordinates the home tour every year in there as well. From what he told me last time I talked to him, the house he has on Walker is under contract for $310,000.

[jfre81]

Do it. The more people move there, the more likely they will go ahead and bring the light rail across the freeway to Eastwood instead of coming around doing that later (like the Red Line's expansion to UH-Downtown.) Eastwood, as modster said, got a lot of upside.

In just a few years - Downtown, Midtown, Eastwood, UH Main Campus, TMC/Rice, Reliant Park, Museum District and Greenway Plaza will all be connected by rail. It's amazing.

[groens]

Get in to eastwood while you can! sure, there will be sloppy bits for a while, but the more good people move in, the quicker the slumlords will sell out. i lived in eastwood during university & it was alright. it was really noisy (booming cars) but not near as bad as it is where i live now (a bit further down lawndale)
SEE IF YOU CAN FIND A PLACE IN IDLEWOOD!! now there's a great neighbourhood!!! old bungalows, manacured lawns, great place! people there really show pride in their homes (something eastwood is catching up to)

[grifsmom]

Definitely take a close look at Eastwood. I ended up here because the same bungalow in Heights or Montrose was out of my price range, and I wasn't interested in a townhome. I believe it was a solid investment (mainly I just looooove the house) and nothing in the crime stats that scared me off--certainly not compared to Montrose. In short: cool neighbors, great architecture, nice walkable streets, and a super location.

[grifsmom]

For what it's worth, I do stop in at Krogers for basics, even been there after dark. It leaves much to be desired, but when you need cokes or coffee and bread and don't want to drive down to the HEB at Gulfgate or into Montrose..... I've stopped in at the gas stations at Scott and 45 for various things. I even walk to the little independent corner shop on ocassion. No big thing, really. Never felt like someone walking in was going to hold the place up. Now, there is a store on Scott I would not venture into because there are easily visible street-level drug deals going on out front-- the legendary Sundial Mini-Mart (local rappers have shot videos there), but Eastwood proper, Broadmoor, farther down Lawndale in the east end, I haven't found reason to worry about my personal safety. Far from it.
You will hear lots of trains. There's a single track a down by Harrisburg that isn't so bad, but if you're up by Leeland, you're closer to the switching yard and get a lot more noise.

[hguy00]

"Modster," yeah there's a house for sale on Rusk that I absolutely love. In fact, it is the house that started all this in the first place.

Everyone, thanks for recommended Idylwood as well. My fiance's grandmother is burried in Forest Park, and we both play golf regularly. The locale is ideal. I will drive through there this weekend I think.

[jfre81]

Awesome. Good luck.

[BamaTex]

Originally Posted by hguy00

"Modster," yeah there's a house for sale on Rusk that I absolutely love. In fact, it is the house that started all this in the first place.

Everyone, thanks for recommended Idylwood as well. My fiance's grandmother is burried in Forest Park, and we both play golf regularly. The locale is ideal. I will drive through there this weekend I think.

I saw that house on HAR as well. Right in your price range. Grab it up!

[Bike4Life]

If you don't buy it in Eastwood, then I will. People are starting to look towards east of downtown for opportunities and convenience places to live.