Job offered in downtown Houston where to live

[houstonlibrarian]

Westwood 2-4
This little pocket is west of Stella Link, north of W. Bellfort, south of 610 and east of the railroad tracks.
Unfortunately the one available house in decent shape is pending right now according to HAR.
This little nook is zoned to Bellaire High School and Pershing Middle School which are both good by HISD standards.

[NOEL123]

Originally Posted by newlymarried

Lets see what I can answer...

Kingwood/atascocita/sugarland/katy/spring/the woodlands -- those are some mighty big areas to cover. In short, yes, you can find a home for $200k. As with all things, you will get what you pay for. To be with the best school, you may take a smaller house. Or to get the larger house, you live further away from downtown. I don't know if you've been told about this yet, but try playing with Houston Real estate, Houston homes, Houston Realtors: HAR.com. It's the houston real estate listings. You can start looking at what you can get for your money in each area.

For you, I think the negatives of that area are: (1) there's no easy park and ride to work (there is bus service, but it's just local service -- no express service to downtown; (2) average homes are going for $275-350k; (3) the homes are older and smaller -- we could have easily bought twice the house for 2/3 of the price in the suburbs.

You've lived in a major city, so you know that cities come with crime. Take precautions, like anywhere.

Hi Newlywed > Thanks so much for all suggestions and inputs. GBU

[Glossa]

Originally Posted by newlymarried

4. I don't want to make generalizations about the crime rate. The theory I've heard (which I am not claiming to agree or disagree with) is that most people who can afford cars make them a priority in Houston. As a result, if you have good public transportation in the area, it will draw in people who can't afford cars -- which may up your crime rate.

I assure you that the people who ride my bus can afford cars. I take one of the Park & Rides and it's nothing but businessmen and women. We don't ride the bus because we can't afford cars. Wow. I didn't know that "only poor people ride buses" judgment was still out there.

[DejaBlue]

Originally Posted by Glossa

I assure you that the people who ride my bus can afford cars. I take one of the Park & Rides and it's nothing but businessmen and women. We don't ride the bus because we can't afford cars. Wow. I didn't know that "only poor people ride buses" judgment was still out there.

They must mean Metro. Park and Ride people and city Metro people are kind of polar opposites most of the time.

[likeeveryoneelse]

I always recommend East Downtown, but most people just scoff at me cause its not hyped as a luxurious/hip place.
You can easily find a place for less than 200K, youll have a literal 5 minute commute to downtown. The area has undergone a ton of renovation, and is just as safe as the places right on the otherside of downtown (heights/montrose).
Its very cheap, minimal traffic, easy access to the major freeways (i can be on any of 59/288/45/10 within 5 minutes)

The area is not for everyone, but its worth checking out.

[BROWNPLAYBOY310]

Riveroaks, Montrose, The Heights for 2k a month.... HAHAHHAHA. Yeah, look in Kingwood, Katy or Sugarland.

[Whyrallnamestaken]

Originally Posted by Glossa

I assure you that the people who ride my bus can afford cars. I take one of the Park & Rides and it's nothing but businessmen and women. We don't ride the bus because we can't afford cars. Wow. I didn't know that "only poor people ride buses" judgment was still out there.

From someone who has always had a car, I would tend to think poorer people ride the bus. A car is expensive to drive with high gas prices and also insurance and maintenance. Now if someone is using the park & ride, it would make sense that a lot of business people would be riding the bus.

I also think that everyone has the right to question their safety and not be judged.