Any members in the Houston TX area? We are considering a move.

[BarkMaster]

Originally Posted by mfer

Where are the great public schools in Houston?

Most are in the suburbs (not in HISD).

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by betrezra

We enjoy Houston. Is it Boulder, Co? Is it vail? Is it Monterey? Nope..... but if you're a working stiff in the working/building years of your career it has alot to offer.

We've been fairly insulated from the "recession or depression" due to energy and health.
There are jobs, and good jobs, and opp's to changes jobs 2 blocks away (at least in energy) for sign-ons and more money, etc....

We have a pro football team, pro basketball, baseball team, soccer (now), it's a good stop for major entertainers at toyota center woodlands arena, etc.... we have an INT'l airport so if you want some relief.... you're just a plane ticket from mexico shores... or beyond...... we have hill country to the north and S-West..... we have fabulous gulf coast fishing/hunting access..... great lakes/rivers for boating......

Decent dining places in town.... fairly decent shopping for the retail crowd.... big BIG interstate highways everywhere if you like to drive a performance car or just like to drive a truck....... oh you can own the biggest F350 with smoke stacks coming out the bed of the truck if that excites you ;)....

we have a road-race course south of town.... they rent exotics, or run you own car, or drive the shifter carts through the banked track.......

we have several drag strips which are national quality.... baytown dragway...1/4 mile if you like that sort of thing...... houston msport 1/8mile very good prep... with a 1/2 mile banked mini-nascar track in which you can participate...... sealy drag strip 1/4 mile with many events......

you can buy a ranch in south texas and maybe get lucky with some shale formations underfoot..... hunt hogs with machine guns from helo's.... (I kid you not)....... acreage is going up in price so bring your check book....

picking homes...... do your internet due dilligence...... schools #1 (as mentioned earlier this will sell your home)....... drive through the hood at night before you buy... just to get the flavor..... I'd stay away from anything with questionable strip centers around.... and foot traffic..... the basics..... you can check on -line for crime rates in a specific area...... beware of some places downtown... these are emerging but you will have higher rates of breakins, petty theft assult...... panhandlers that get a little aggressive.... not cool if you have young drivers or ladies driving.....

Humidity..... no big deal.... get a pool or lake house... problem solved. Also our mild climate allows me to jetski and mtn bike year around....... I have a thin wetsuit for buoy racing in the winter.... you can't do that up north.

Other perks:;: proximity to oil/gas/refineries.... gas prices seem to be on the lower end compared to the rest of the county...... no state tax..... sales tax 6-8% I seem to recall...... the sheer qty of outlets, retails shops, dealerships allows the motivated buyer to negotiate pretty good deals on luxury goods/automobiles, etc..... if you are patient.... you can see 3 bmw dealerships in an afternoon and work your deal... (if you enjoy such things).....

Oh yeah and a decent marina down in Kema (sp?)... if you like to sail or offshore boating... you can dock your boat there..... it's all valet style... you just call from your downtown office.... they will gas it up, put it in the water with beverages.... you show up and enjoy.... then drop it off at the dock.... drive your little sports car back to town and no muss no fuss....... or there are other more user involved options too :)

GL.

I must take exception with only one comment: Humidity no big deal. Maybe you get used to it, but at first it's quite oppressive, especially if you place a high value on breathing.

BTW, Houston used to have really poor air quality. Don't know if that has changed.

[BarkMaster]

Originally Posted by Lisa

I must take exception with only one comment: Humidity no big deal. Maybe you get used to it, but at first it's quite oppressive, especially if you place a high value breathing.

BTW, Houston used to have really poor air quality. Don't know if that has changed.

It depends on where you are and which way the wind is blowing!!

For today:

...OZONE WATCH ISSUED FOR TODAY...

THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY...HAS ISSUED AN OZONE WATCH FOR THE HOUSTON... GALVESTON... AND BRAZORIA AREAS FOR TODAY...TUESDAY APRIL 24TH. ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FAVORABLE FOR PRODUCING HIGH LEVELS OF OZONE POLLUTION IN THE HOUSTON...GALVESTON...AND BRAZORIA AREAS.

ELEVATED CONCENTRATIONS OF OZONE CAN ACT AS A LUNG IRRITANT. INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE...SUCH AS ASTHMA AND EMPHYSEMA...AND THE ELDERLY AND SMALL CHILDREN...ARE PARTICULARLY
SENSITIVE TO OZONE AND SHOULD ATTEMPT TO AVOID EXPOSURE. TO AVOID EXPOSURE...MINIMIZE EXERTION OUTDOORS DURING THE MID-DAY TO EARLY EVENING HOURS OR STAY INDOORS IN AN AIR CONDITIONED AREA DURING THIS TIME.

OZONE REACHING EXCESSIVE LEVELS AT ANY SITE IN THE AREA MAY MOVE TO OR FROM OTHER SITES WITHIN THE AREA...DEPENDING ON WIND DIRECTION AND OTHER FACTORS. EXCESSIVE LEVELS MAY LINGER UNTIL SUNSET. OZONE WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED IF AIR POLLUTION LEVELS ARE DETECTED AT UNHEALTHY LEVELS.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by BarkMaster

Most are in the suburbs (not in HISD).

So, basically what outsiders like the OP and me are reading is you want to live in "The Woodlands" or nothing.

I guess I'll have to visit these Woodlands and see for myself. Sounds far away from much of the stuff I'd be interested in. I have family members who are interested in the Chinatown area for example.

[BarkMaster]

Originally Posted by mfer

So, basically what outsiders like the OP and me are reading is you want to live in "The Woodlands" or nothing.

I guess I'll have to visit these Woodlands and see for myself. Sounds far away from much of the stuff I'd be interested in. I have family members who are interested in the Chinatown area for example.

I wouldn't go as far as "Woodlands or nothing". There are some public good schools in town... generally in the more affluent areas. I went to private school personally. I am just giving one suburbanite's (biased) opinion. I certainly would not want to discourage you from looking "inside the belt for viable options!

[iamblue03]

Go look on Har.com.. there are plenty information on ratings of schools.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by iamblue03

Go look on Har.com.. there are plenty information on ratings of schools.

Thanks for great link!

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by Lisa

I must take exception with only one comment: Humidity no big deal. Maybe you get used to it, but at first it's quite oppressive, especially if you place a high value on breathing.

BTW, Houston used to have really poor air quality. Don't know if that has changed.

The humiditity was a BIG deal for me.....maybe its because im coming from the most arid area of the U.S. to the most humid area in the U.S.
The last year we lived there I stayed inside 99 percent of the time and bought a dehumidifier for the house and it was still to sticky for me.In the winter after a cold front moved through and dried it out it was ok but from April to late Oct I would not venture outside
I have to go back to Houston in 13 days to talk with realtor on selling house....again.....maybe 3rd time will be a charm and it will sell.
I had to right out 3 checks for MUD tax and School Tax and HOA a few weeks ago and I still have the red-ass over that.
Like somebody said there is no state tax but Im retired so it made no diff to me so they make up for it in every other tax they can.....my joke was Texas should be spelled Taxes.

[pawnshopkiller]

Florida?

[pawnshopkiller]

AH,

My back yard.

[z32turbo]

Originally Posted by pawnshopkiller

AH,

My back yard.

Now that's the life!!!

[gwozhog]

You should check out king wood. It is much nicer than attascocitto. Great schools and very nice people. It is 10 mins from IAH. We also have an AD in the heart of king wood too. good luck.

[andrew79]

Been to the woodlands on some business trips.... nice suburb area with some great restaurants for sure.... lots of my co-workers love it there, but some prefer to live in springs or conroe area... i may also find myself being assigned in Houston in the future, and woodlands is the main area that I consider. other than that, some of my friends also live in Sugarland area.... a little more convenient if you want to go to downtown Houston area...

[JakeH]

If your wife works at Bush & you work from home--Kingwood is the place to be. Cheaper & nicer than Woodlands, but a little older. I've lived on the west side in Katy, the North side in Kingwood, The Woodlands & Conroe areas, then moved to Champions/Willowbrook for a few years, but settled in Cypress for the family years. We love Houston & the surrounding areas for all the reasons people mentioned before, but I disagree with the sentiment that it's the Woodlands or nothing--you would have to pay ME to move back there...Takes 30 min every morning just to get out to I-45. As far as Rolex AD's go, the one in Kingwood (Thomas Markle) has a satellite shop in Woodlands, right next to the other AD, Donoho's, but their watchmaker works out of the Kingwood shop. Great people all around. And no, you will never EVER EVER EVER need to shovel snow again! Good luck!

[BarkMaster]

Originally Posted by JakeH

you will never EVER EVER EVER need to shovel snow again! Good luck!

THAT is guaranteed.

[mfer]

No one mentioned Sugar Land. Any comments there? I'm reading online that it is nice and good school district.

[gmh1013]

I never saw what the draw was to the area....its pretty low area and in a hurricane would not be a good place to be.
The Woodlands would be about 80 miles from beach.....not as much damage up there.
Again I would do homework on areas that flood and prop tax....The Woodlands is out of Harris County so home and auto should be 10-20 percent less.....Ft Bend county had some high tax rates if I remember right....we were going to buy in Cinco Ranch but tax and MUD was to high

[BarkMaster]

Originally Posted by mfer

No one mentioned Sugar Land. Any comments there? I'm reading online that it is nice and good school district.

Parts of Sugarland and Katy are very nice.


The reason they weren't mentioned was that the commute to IAH would be horrible for the OP's spouse.

On your searches, be sure to check crime statistics. Like anywhere else, all areas have crime, but some are "hotbeds" of this activity and the Houston and surrounding areas are no different.