Fall Creek, Summerwood or Cinco Ranch? (Dallas, Pearland: apartments, how much, big house) - Houston - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

RazorRamon · 01-20-2010, 11:52 AM

In the preliminary stage of looking for a home. I work downtown and my wife is a SAHM. We like these three areas, however each has drawbacks. Would love to get you guys input. Our budget is 250-350k and I'd like at least 3000sqf. The way my wife and I see it.

1) Fall Creek - Great location for the commute but a bit overpriced. I would love the commute time but we're concerned that the neighborhood could go south at any point due to its proximity to the beltway and the worry over the apartments out front.

2) Summerwood -Great location for the commute once the beltway is completed. More established than Fall Creek and a little further from the not so nice areas around the beltway. Money goes a little further in this area.

3) Cinco - Don't know much about this area but all I hear on this board and others is rave reviews. From what I see on har, I would probably get less house than the other two areas for our price range. Great Katy schools are a plus since we have a little one. Has the I-10 expansion drastically improved commute? What is the commute time to downtown?

What say ye?

*edit* we're originally from Dallas and know very little about the city and have very little connection to either part of town. that's why we're open to both the SW and NE areas.

City Love · 01-20-2010, 12:01 PM

How important is your commute? Cinco would be a considerable difference in driving time as opposed to Fall Creek/Summerwood. The I-10 expansion has made a considerable difference.

Your choices all seem pretty good. Your budget fits all 3 areas.

Cinco is more expensive because it's more established as a master planned community. You have much more shopping, dining, etc. If you don't mind a "smaller" home, then Cinco could be a good fit. If you want the largest nicest home, then Fall Creek/Summerwood would be better.

RazorRamon · 01-20-2010, 12:32 PM

Commute is important but so long as its under 1 hour on most days I could probably deal with it. I need to get to work between 9-9:30. So if I can leave at 8/815ish and make that, it would be the best. Most important thing is a nice neighborhood that stays nice as my son progresses through school.

We were in love with the Fall Creek/Summerwood area when we first moved here a year ago, now that we're actually starting to look, all the complaints worry me a bit. Your tag says you're an agent, do the complaints/worries have any merit?

Also, I said 3000sqf but that is in no way a deal breaker.

sbhubbell · 01-20-2010, 12:42 PM

Um, just want to mention that 250K-350K will easily buy you a nice big house in Cinco, well over 3000 sq ft. I guess it may be pricier in Cinco than the other two places, I have no idea, but that's probably due to schools and reputation of the community. Commute to downtown should always be under an hour, unless there's a major wreck or something. I hestitate to say much because everyone on these forums loves to argue about commute times and what's worthwhile.

RazorRamon · 01-20-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

Um, just want to mention that 250K-350K will easily buy you a nice big house in Cinco, well over 3000 sq ft. I guess it may be pricier in Cinco than the other two places, I have no idea, but that's probably due to schools and reputation of the community. Commute to downtown should always be under an hour, unless there's a major wreck or something. I hestitate to say much because everyone on these forums loves to argue about commute times and what's worthwhile.

what would you say is the commute time to downtown?

City Love · 01-20-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RazorRamon

Commute is important but so long as its under 1 hour on most days I could probably deal with it. I need to get to work between 9-9:30. So if I can leave at 8/815ish and make that, it would be the best. Most important thing is a nice neighborhood that stays nice as my son progresses through school.

We were in love with the Fall Creek/Summerwood area when we first moved here a year ago, now that we're actually starting to look, all the complaints worry me a bit. Your tag says you're an agent, do the complaints/worries have any merit?

Also, I said 3000sqf but that is in no way a deal breaker.

Having to be at work at that time, makes the commute easier.

Do you have friends or family in your area? That should also play into your decision.

The Fall Creek/Summerwood area is still growing. There is lots of new shopping coming up. The complaints do have some merit. If it bothers people, it will affect resale. So you should definitely take it into consideration. But if you haven't noticed much of what people complain about, it could just be all talk

sbhubbell · 01-20-2010, 12:54 PM

Like I said, I don't want to say too much because people here will always argue about it. I don't drive it everyday so I'm not an expert. My husband drives from Cinco Ranch to the Galleria every day, takes him 35-45 minutes. He leaves at 6:30 or 7am. When I drive into midtown for 8:30 am meetings it takes me 25-30 minutes down the Westpark Tollway...most of the traffic seems to have let up by the time I leave.

RazorRamon · 01-20-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by City Love

Having to be at work at that time, makes the commute easier.

Do you have friends or family in your area? That should also play into your decision.

The Fall Creek/Summerwood area is still growing. There is lots of new shopping coming up. The complaints do have some merit. If it bothers people, it will affect resale. So you should definitely take it into consideration. But if you haven't noticed much of what people complain about, it could just be all talk

We haven't noticed much of anything in any of the areas (aside from the apartments in Fall Creek area) as we currently stay in midtown. The only family we have in the city lives in Pearland but we're not that close to them and 288 traffic make it a nonstarter.

RazorRamon · 01-20-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

Like I said, I don't want to say too much because people here will always argue about it. I don't drive it everyday so I'm not an expert. My husband drives from Cinco Ranch to the Galleria every day, takes him 35-45 minutes. He leaves at 6:30 or 7am. When I drive into midtown for 8:30 am meetings it takes me 25-30 minutes down the Westpark Tollway...most of the traffic seems to have let up by the time I leave.

This is good to hear. How much both ways are the tolls on Westpark? Any info on yearly EZ Tag pricing would also be helpful.

sbhubbell · 01-20-2010, 01:10 PM

Honestly I don't even know, I pay zero attention to the tolls when I take them. My husband takes I-10 into work in the AM to save the tolls but take Westpark home because it's a little faster in the evening. It's nice having the option to take either way.

I remember when we were budgeting for our house in Cinco Ranch we figured that if he drove the Westpark in and out every single day it would be an extra $88 a month, but I think the prices went up slightly since then.