Moving To Houston

[eovalles]

Hello everyone,

I 'm a fellow photographer currently in Staten Island, NY. I will be transferring to Houston (I'm in the Coast Guard) in the summer and would like information of the area. I'm interested in knowing which areas are best to buy / rent a home, where the best schools are, etc. I'm sorry, I know it's a lot to ask, but I left Texas in 1991 and I know a lot has changed.

Thanks in advance,

Edgar

[ndsimm]

Will you be stationed/working someone specific? Different parts of town offer good and bad. I'm on the far NW side (Cypress) good schools, good housing, good shopping, but traffic is pretty bad right now if you were going from NW to Downtown or anywhere south.

West Houston (Katy) is also good, but same issues - although they are working on I-10

I've heard good things about Dickinson (South Houston/I45) schools, but I cannot confirm

Some parts of the inner city are good, some are not

[Graydon]

ditto - let us know where you are going to be working primarily... and we'll be more than happy to flood you with facts, opinions and factual opinions... : )

[Steelsun]

Ditto ditto.

[eovalles]

Hello all!!

Thanks for the info.. I'll be working in at the Coast Guard Unit in Galena Park, near the water.

Thank you!!!!

[wondershots]

Originally Posted by eovalles

Hello all!!

Thanks for the info.. I'll be working in at the Coast Guard Unit in Galena Park, near the water.

Thank you!!!!

Having just moved here myself I can relate. But I lived here 20 years before going to Austin in 2001. So I had some prior knowledge.

There's not many choices on the east side where I'd feel comfortable and relatively safe. However, one area, Deer Park, has a great reputation and I've also heard they have good schools.

If you get to make any house hunting trips I'd look at Deer Park and possibly the Crosby and Baytown areas.

[carrbowl]

We live 10-15 minutes from Galena Park...homes range from 150,000 to 600,000. There are other neighborhoods on the Beltway on the east side that are also safe.

[Charles Putnam]

We moved here in August 2005 and purchased a home in Fall Creek - Beltway 8 and the 59 Fwy. Good area and decent schools. Also take a look at Kingwood.

[billash1]

I live in Baytown, drive to Houston to work every day. Good school district, lower taxes, lower crime (overall), lower home prices.
Plenty of new communities off Beltway 8 heading north. Summerwood, Eagle Springs, Walden on Lake Houston all off W Lake Houston Parkway. All in the Humble school district.
West and north Houston have peaked. Growth is heading east. You're positioned well in Galena Park to take advantage of the growth opportunities.
Oh yeah, welcome back to Texas.

[Casper]

I was stationed in Galena Park many years ago and bought a house in Pearland. A few other Coasties bought in Friendswood. If you are into the big city life, there are areas inside the 610 loop of Houston near downtown that are great.

I would limit the time spent in the water around the station and don't recommend eating anything from that water. LOL

Steve

[laanba]

Hey Edgar welcome back to Houston! I work in Galena Park, so wow, small world. I think it depends on how much of a drive you want and how close to the city you want to live. Deer Park would probably work as is Clear Lake and Summerwood although either one of those is at least a 40 minute drive to GP. You are definitely going to have to drive at least 20-30 minutes to get to an area that will probably work for you.

[carrbowl]

I drive a kid to a Galena Park school and it took me less than 15 minutes from Summerwood. Probably depends where in Galena Park you live. From Summerwood, I can get to Beltway 8 and 59 south in less than 45 minutes.

[Robin Binder]

First off don't listen to anyone. Sugar Land was name the top number 3 place to live in the US by AOL. Now that says it all. lol

Fort Bend ISD is the top School district around. There is no need to get anymore information. lol

Edgar, the Beach is just minutes away and just outside the city limits, the area is clean, safe and sureal. It's a must to come live here. I sound like a commerical. lol

[tc82742]

im in deer park, and it is only about a 15 minute drive to galena park, with no traffic.
we love the elementary schools here, not thrilled with some of the junior high schools, and of course, every high school has its good and bad.

[kenw]

"West and north Houston have peaked. "

actually, no. Cy Fair remains the fastest growing (and 2nd largest) school district in the area, 3rd largest in the state. Almost 40% of the district's land is still undeveloped.

I would think that Deer Park is a great area for you considering the job commute. Commute time is a huge consideration in a large city like Houston, altho many cross town trips are well under an hour in rush hour, depending on the route, others can reach several hours easily. Homes in DP appear to be a good value, and as tasha inferred, schools are pretty good as well. It is considered a very rich district from a tax base perspective, and they aren't afraid to spend it on schools.

Where ever you decide to settle, BUY FLOOD INSURANCE.