Anonymous wrote:Make sure you are politically aligned with your neighborhood. we almost moved there this year but a friend told me that the Tea Party float at a holiday parade was greeted with cheers and people threw things at the Democrats in the parade. I knew I'd have to find a more tolerant neighborhood.
Sadly my friend also told me that the more gay friendly neighborhoods are problematic for resale. People there are relatively homophobic so they fear gay areas and will not buy homes in gay friendly areas.
Cost of housing is so great coming from DC so it's not all bad!

This is so silly. Plenty of us TX Republicans survive here in DC. Not exactly a hotbed of welcoming liberals. My neighbors are very nice even if we don't politically align with them and are quite surprised by the ride things they say sometimes.

OP- I would kill to have a Lupe's here. Best food ever!

Make sure you are politically aligned with your neighborhood. we almost moved there this year but a friend told me that the Tea Party float at a holiday parade was greeted with cheers and people threw things at the Democrats in the parade. I knew I'd have to find a more tolerant neighborhood.
Sadly my friend also told me that the more gay friendly neighborhoods are problematic for resale. People there are relatively homophobic so they fear gay areas and will not buy homes in gay friendly areas.
Cost of housing is so great coming from DC so it's not all bad!

Oh and OP, congratulations on both landing new jobs in Houston where the cost of living is something like 86% of the national average. Seriously... you will live in a KILLER house if you go there with proceeds from the sale of your home here.

And the food?!?! OMG... Restaurant capitol of the USA. The Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, BBQ, seafood, Cajun, and Tex-Mex restaurants are fantastic.

17:57 again (apologies for typos - on my Iphone.)

If you don't know, most of Houston has no zoning laws, which results in a very eclectic mix of residential/commercial/industrial. There are areas where zoning exists - basically in the "island cities" like West U - but in the city itself you can really get a crazy patchwork of land use.

Do you need to do public school through high school? If yes, then I'd stick with Memorial or one of the suburbs. I don't really have input for you as to the suburbs but people say the Woodlands is nice.

As for neighborhoods, I agree that West University, Southgate and River Oaks are the most charming and family-friendly, plus the best for commuting downtown. The elementary schools in those neighborhoods are great (especially West U Elementary), but the middle and high school aren't so great so you'd probably be looking at private schools.

17:57 again. I admit bias, but would definitely recommend focusing on inner loop (i.e. within 610) areas and maybe those areas immediately outside (most of Bellaire, Memorial, Garden Oaks). Traffic is horrendous, and apparently Houston is predicted to keep growing rapidly over the next few years. Drove to the airport at 3:30 and the 59 merge onto 45 was already a sea of red lights.

Am sitting at IAH after a weekend down here because we move in January - my husband grew up here and ILs still live here (so I've visited extensively), but I still wanted to get a good on-the-ground feel.

As for neighborhoods - we're probably looking at the greater Rice U area (Southgate/West U), partly for the commute/schools/feel, and partly to stay near ILs since grandparent help is a big plus for our move. Those areas feed Roberts and West U Elementries respectively. I've also ear good things about Twain, Garden Oaks, Horn, Harvard and Travis Elems. Still figuring out the middle schools, and the Vanguard/Magnet programs.

Anyway - if you give more specifics I'd be happy to share more of my thoughts / what I'm learning. Would also be happy to try and connect directly if you are interested.

memorial
River Oaks

I also recommend Cypress and Sugar Land. In Cypress you will find new developments with schools that were recently built, decent shopping and family activities. Sugar Land seems more developed and the schools are very good.

Do you want to live in the suburbs or the city? Katy, Cypress and Sugarland are nice with Katy being the most expensive I think.

My brother lives in Sugarland. When I've visited, it always seems like a nice family friendly area. My brother doesn't have a spouse/kids though so he's a bit miserable...but his work is there so it's a short commute.

I lived there for 14 years and would recommend either The Woodlands (N of Houston, Hardy toll road is very helpful for downtown commute) or Ft. Bend County (Sugar Land) was good too while we lived there. It's been about 10 years since I left, so much has likely changed since then, but I hear from my friends there that The Woodlands is the place to live (as far as suburbs go). West U/ Bellaire/ Memorial are also good location inside the Loop.

I'd be looking at private schools. Rick Perry and his buddies have eviscerated Texas public schools.

If you must go public I think the better districts are further out - Katy, Sugar Land, Woodlands. The area PP mentions, off Memorial Drive, is probably the best compromise between school quality and commute.

Just as with DC metro area, you should consider your commute. If you both know where you are going to work, keep the commute time in mind when looking at neighborhoods.
My DH lived on the west side of Houston, off Memorial Drive. (Stratford HS). He hated it, but was a disaffected teenager! It seems to have nice neighborhoods with decent schools, and a pleasant place to live. In-laws still live there and are happy with it.
Good luck, and escape to the Hill Country and Austin for weekends whenever you can!

Our family is relocating to Houston and the task of house hunting is becoming overwhelming. I would love to hear feedback on areas you have lived & liked. We have three kids so great schools are a must. We will both be working downtown.


No need to comment on traffic or the heat. My husband and I have both already committed to new jobs.