One final move... kinda! (Houston, The Woodlands: real estate, apartments, HOA)

[ClassySoutherner_2A]

So, me and my fiance plan on moving to the Houston soon, kinda, and are looking for the perfect area to purchase our forever home. I'll try and list as much as I can remember but ask me anything that could possibly help narrow it down.

First, we are already settled on an apartment close to The Woodlands and Conroe area when we first move. This area does not have to be where we plan on purchasing necessarily. This is what we are ideally looking for in a home and neighborhood:

1. 3br/2ba and under $600,000

2. Preferably NO HOA but will consider one if it's a good fit!

3. Does not have to be a new home. Prefer older with some character.

4. Larger lot (less than an acre) but enough space to grow. If the neighbor can read the brand of gym shoes I'm wearing when they come out, we are too close. We do not want the country though. We do not want to be inconvenienced.

5. 45 minutes or less to Downtown.

6. An area that does get flooded regularly.

7. Old trees with plenty of shade.

8. Schools do not matter. We do not have children and it is not in the future.

9. Close to restaurants, shopping, parks, trails. Doesn't have to be behind the house but don't want to waste 2 hours just driving there and back. A lake within 20-25 minutes would be nice. We love the outdoors and water.

10. Sidewalks in the neighborhood with be a bonus but a deal breaker.

11. Close to interstate. Within 15 of interstate would be nice but don't want to be so close we can hear traffic.

12. Safe neighborhood or suburb with low crime.

Want to know anything else? Just ask. Thanks in advance.

[resonator]

This is excellent info for you real estate agent to help you with.

[ClassySoutherner_2A]

Thank you. Any recommendations?

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by resonator

This is excellent info for you real estate agent to help you with.

yikes! That sounds dangerous.

Good luck onfinding YOUR spot;

Some retirees I know have chosen Katy or Spring, (depending if they head north or west / south for recreation or family.) but the vast majority have fled Houston metro to the Hill Country for retirement. (Where they 'played' as family)

[ClassySoutherner_2A]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

yikes! That sounds dangerous.

Good luck onfinding YOUR spot;

Some retirees I know have chosen Katy or Spring, (depending if they head north or west / south for recreation or family.) but the vast majority have fled Houston metro to the Hill Country for retirement. (Where they 'played' as family)

Unfortunately, we aren't retired yet. We are 39 and 40. We are looking forward to it but definitely want to stay close to a city for our retirement.

[LocalPlanner]

45 minutes to Downtown at what time of day? This is going to be one of the harder requirements to meet if you mean during busy times.

[ClassySoutherner_2A]

45 minutes or less during non rush hour is fine with us. We've done an hour+ commute one way before. Not sure of our exact working hours but a portion of our commute will definitely be non rush hour. Just not sure on the specifics at the moment.

[supfromthesite]

Spring branch?

[gwarnecke]

Spring Branch sounds like a good fit - $600k would get you a nicely-remodeled 1950s ranch on a quarter-acre or potentially a fixer-upper on a half-acre or bigger lot. It's definitely a "good block/bad block" part of town, especially the further north you head from Long Point Rd. Not especially dangerous by Houston standards, but not the suburbs either. Look for an interior lot that doesn't back up to apartments/strip centers or face a busy street.

Restaurants/shopping/parks/trails are within 15-20 minute drive (Galleria area/Washington Avenue/CityCenter, Memorial Park, etc).

[ClassySoutherner_2A]

Thank you both. That area hasn't really been on my radar but I'm definitely looking into it. Seems promising.