Inside the loop for newbies (Houston, Austin: condos, houses, neighborhoods)

[AguaDulce]

Where do the aging hipsters who never had kids live in Houston? We have two dogs and love to walk and bike everywhere and use public transit. No condos or HOAs. Willing to do work on the house. Inside the loop, under $200K, with a fenced backyard is ideal. I was born in Houston but spent 32 years in Austin (and a couple other places). Looking at Magnolia Park and South Central. Love Midtown, Montrose and the Heights. We are musicians who gig and travel frequently. I speak Spanish, so a Hispanic neighborhood es my bueno!

[LocalPlanner]

You should look on the Northside, specifically the Near Northside and Lindale Park. Gentrifying but still heavily Hispanic. Red Line goes through this area. Right across the freeway from The Heights. Do note that the plans for I-45 will eat away at some of the edges, however.

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

You should look on the Northside, specifically the Near Northside and Lindale Park. Gentrifying but still heavily Hispanic. Red Line goes through this area. Right across the freeway from The Heights. Do note that the plans for I-45 will eat away at some of the edges, however.

Thanks! Will add Northside Village.

[airdrawndagger]

I see you're already considering Magnolia Park, but take a look at the Second Ward and Eastwood areas too. A little closer to the action (Eado and Downtown), plenty of single-family houses, good public transit options with the Green line nearby, predominantly Hispanic area but like Lindale Park/Northline is rapidly gentrifying. I suspect that properties in this area will appreciate nicely over the coming years if that is a consideration.

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by airdrawndagger

I see you're already considering Magnolia Park, but take a look at the Second Ward and Eastwood areas too. A little closer to the action (Eado and Downtown), plenty of single-family houses, good public transit options with the Green line nearby, predominantly Hispanic area but like Lindale Park/Northline is rapidly gentrifying. I suspect that properties in this area will appreciate nicely over the coming years if that is a consideration.

Thanks!

Interesting . . . as I just now learned, Second Ward is technically included in the "South Central" district (head scratcher).

"The major neighborhoods in the [South Central] District include Midtown, Second Ward, Greater Eastwood, East Downtown, Third Ward, Museum Park, MacGregor, Medical Center, University Place and Rice Village."

https://www.houstontx.gov/police/div...south_central/

Cheers!

[NigerianNightmare]

The two most popping majority Hispanic neighborhoods that are affordable have already been mentioned. So Near Northside and East Downtown ar e probably the areas I would second in recommending. Have a Venezuelan friend who’s family lives around the Near Northside/Heights area and have been through the EaDo area. Definitely both areas for the future which probably means Gentrification.

[modster]

You cannot get into Eastwood & especially Lindale Park any more for anything close to under $200,000. Anything in the 77023 part of the "Eastwood area" such as Broadmoor, Lawndale, etc., that is under $200k is going to need so much work that conventional financing would probably not be an option & budgeting for substantial repairs would be involved. Much of Northside village has trended upwards so pickings would be slim.

That said, just past Mason Park, in Mason Park Terrace & Pecan Park, it is still do-able. Second Ward over in 77011 & 77012 is still an option.

Montrose, Heights, Midtown and basically anything on the western half of the inner-loop is going to be cost-prohibitive.

If you were willing to go a tad further, you might consider Garden Villas. It's not every day, but at or below $200k ones do come up. It's kind of a funky neighborhood with large lots, trees canopying the streets, wild peacocks roaming everywhere. Plane noise is a thing there though & it's not like you're walking to things. The owner of Sugar Hill Studios recently moved there & I know a band member with the Wheelworkers also recently moved in the area. It might be worth checking on.

[Weatherguy]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

You should look on the Northside, specifically the Near Northside and Lindale Park. Gentrifying but still heavily Hispanic. Red Line goes through this area. Right across the freeway from The Heights. Do note that the plans for I-45 will eat away at some of the edges, however.

"but still heavily Hispanic". Sounds like you're implying that this is a problem. I know of areas that are gentrifying "but still heavily white".

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Weatherguy

"but still heavily Hispanic". Sounds like you're implying that this is a problem. I know of areas that are gentrifying "but still heavily white".

The OP specifically mentioned that they liked Hispanic areas, hence why I said that, given that gentrification often (usually) means pushing out non-Anglos (see: Austin).

[Dopo]

I rarely go downtown, but recently I spent some time in downtown and I really liked North of downtown on Hardy st.
It has a really nice street that drops you off a block from Minute Maid park and it's clearly in the process of gentrifying.