Buying a house in Houston, Texas

The Little Greek · Feb 26, 2008

It really depends on where you might want to work because traffic can be a killer. I work in the med center and live in Sugar Land (not advisable for a young person without kids--I live here for the awesome public schools). I have many friends that live in the Heights and Montrose areas but it can be expensive to buy there. That said, they are both really great neighborhoods with some really cute homes. Check out this site http://www.har.com. It lists most of the MLS listed homes for sale. There is also http://www.urbanliving.com and it has some of the same lisitings, but it will also tell you the amount of the condo fee if you are looking at condos.

akanini, MSN, RN · Feb 26, 2008

I'm looking to head out there in two years. My cousin suggested Missouri City and brand new homes for $120,000???? Is that real? She said there are many homes in her area of Missouri City that are not selling and buyers are needed. Is this true? Do you know if you have to pay a toll or the commute time from Sugarland or Missouri City to Herman Memorial? Thanks for any info?

Nurse in me, I didn't mean to hijack your thread.

The Little Greek · Feb 27, 2008

I know a nurse who lives in Missouri City and she has to take a toll to get to Hermann (which is where I work). The toll is $1.25 each way so you can do the math...it adds up. I don't take a toll road to get to the med center. I take 59 north and from my door to Hermann takes about 25 minutes in normal traffic. I also work nights so I'm not sure what it's like for day shift.

Yep, houses in Sugar Land and Missouri City are sitting and sitting. It's mostly newer homes that aren't selling. I personally like Sugar Land but there is also an area called Pear Land that is pretty desirable. Apparently the commute from Pear Land is only 15 minutes, but I can't say that for certain. Whatever you do, DON'T live off of I-10 for Hwy 290. They are a nightmare at all times.

nurse_in_me · Feb 28, 2008

Thanks so much for all of your response. As of this moment, We are still gathering thoughts knowing the pros and cons about moving to texas. We are kinda anxious considering the moving itself will cost a lot and is very stressful. But we are 75% interested about relocating. So, we dont know what will happen next. I dont have a hospital experience yet so I'm gonna try to look for a hospital in Houston that might offer me a reasonable pay.By the way, Little Greek, I would prefer to work at the texas medical center. Whaaaaah! I'm getting so confused. I still need more inputs. :)

The Little Greek · Feb 28, 2008

Nurse-in-me,

The Med Center is a fantastic place to work. The traffic can be a turn-off, and if you work during the day you have to park at a lot away from the hospitals and ride a train in. I prefer nights so I get to park in the Hermann garage.

The pay here is great. It's actually the reason I moved here from Austin. As a FT RN I was paid $27.50 per/hr + $5 night diff--can't remember what weekend diff is but it's not much. One of the awesome things about Hermann is that if you want to keep going to school they will pay $7500 PER SEMESTER for you to go to school. I believe you can take advantage of this even if you are only part-time. I haven't worked at Methodist but it is consistently rated one of the top employers to work for. There are so many choices here in Houston!

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about Houston or Austin.

nurse_in_me · Feb 28, 2008

Little Greek,

How long have you been an RN? I think the rate will also depend on the years of experience, right? I am also wonderin' if hospitals in Houston offer sign on bonus and relocation allowance? my relatives are living in the cypress area so we might try to look for houses there.

Kimberly*Pink · Feb 28, 2008

HOUSTON!!! Actually, I have lived there for about 24yrs so ask me anything! :typing

-Sugarland, no , way too far from anything

-Katy, same thing....

-Spring, yes! nice area, great shopping, good communities, close to major highway (I 45, Beltway 8, 290, etc) access too hardy toll road (super fast to get downtown, yet far away enough from the mess, you'll see what I mean) Champions is great, within spring!

-THe Woodlands, THE BOMB!!! love it! Best mall ( with outdoor mall), lots of beautiful developement, wooded areas, restaurants, right off the big I-45, and various costs of living, as with all of Houstons smaller communities...Please check out the woodlands! Northwest of downtown houston...It is growing, and becoming more popular, also close to big hospital

-Kingwood, good, more peaceful, some "snobbish" areas, but still a good mix, Northeast of downtown houston, takes a little bit longer to get to hwy 59 (connects to the others I mentioned, to get downtown), very wooded established area, bike trails, etc...

-Humble, probably lesser expensive area, older but growing, I was born there, probably wouldn't go back, only because I was pretty tired of it, but lots of school spirit like Kingwood...

-Tomball, past spring, more country like, bit farther from 290

-my dream home...Benders Landing, off 45 N going towards woodlands (considered spring/woodlands area I guess) Amazing development, so much land, trees, all new, a bit pricier, but cheap considering I'm in S. Florida, and you can have SOOO much more in TX! And the people are great:D

-Rice Village, close to downtown, cozy, compact, pricier but cool shopping/restaurants/bars, etc...Montrose, Art District, "creative couples" need I say more?

Ok, I've lived in most of these areas, I would say to stay North of Houston, you will be kind of in the middle that way, (outside of loop 610 though)...anywhere closer is older, more traffic, just craziness!

nurse_in_me · Feb 28, 2008

lovehellokitty,

Thank you for your input. My husband has relatives in the cypress area. I'm not sure what part of houston it is.How do you think is the area in terms of access to the medical center and are there shopping/dining establishments nearby?

Kimberly*Pink · Feb 29, 2008

Cypress is next to (west of) Spring, pretty much same area though, it is right off of 290 ( You'll be very close to sam houston hardy toll, which you can take pretty much anywhere, but I would say stay on 290 to loop 610 to 59 for work.), and you have access to FM 1960 (tons of shopping, goes on forever!) good area, yes tons of restaurants, but a lot of traffic. I am not as familiar with this area as I am with spring. Katy, west of cypress, has good outlet shopping, Katy Mills mall, but I don't think there is as much to do really as there is to east of cypress... If you move to spring, you are equal distance to the woodlands and cypress via "spring-cypress road" :) If you decide on cypress, try maybe closer south, like Jersey Village? You can be right off the toll...

Looking at the map, 1950 east of 249 is probably the most dense area of shopping, restaurants, etc.

Kimberly*Pink · Feb 29, 2008

I don't think you will regret moving to TX. Austin or Houston, although two totally different atmospheres, the people, the "southern comfort" and overall cost of living will definitely make up for the hassle of moving. After moving to Florida 2 years ago, I have realized all that I took advantage of. You can have so much more and still have disposable income to spare, as well as more land, more open areas, lakes, places to go, also Houston is always a "happening" place believe it or not. Having gone out here and there to Miami, makes me miss home! So many great job opportunities for nurses as well, in great hospitals and medical centers. I know this sounds like any "great" city, but I guess you have to be there to appreciate it! I've spent time in my previous career in Los Angeles, I can't help to compare the lifestyles and struggles that people face due to the high cost of living.

Austin, although only having visited parts (Lake Travis, Memorial Day Weekend, whoo hoo!) I have to say its' the California of Texas like people say, without the high price and overcrowded environment.) You can live anywhere in North Houston, and you won't bee too far from your husbands relatives. I look at Houston as a big circle, where everything is pretty much equal distant, or travel time. The day you move there get an EZ tag, you'll be using it a lot!

Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN · Feb 29, 2008

Let me tell you a bit about Katy area. It is one of the fastest growing areas in Houston. Home prices range from under 100k to over 1 mill. depends on what you want. My 4 bedroom 3 bath 2 car garage home with a BIG yard costs about 140,000. It is 2300 sq ft. School wise Katy is putting up and average of 5 new schools every 2 years, some years more than that. The schools also ranks in the top percentage in the nation. The high school one of my sons goes to has a 99% college enrollment rate. That is phenomenal. Leisure wise you have untold amount of restaurants here in every price range you want. ( actually Houston has an unbeilevable amount of restaurants. Houston has more rest. than any other city in the world. A true fact) Shopping you have Katy Mills and Memorial City Mall down the road, as well as West Oaks Mall and they are building a new mall out here soon called the grand. It is supposed to be equal to the galleria in size and quality. Golf courses all over the place. Sports complexes all over. More professional atheletes call the Katy area home than any other place in Houston, Houston is also home to many profesional athletes from all over the country. They love the fact the homes are cheap here, there is no state income tax and they can play golf year round.

Work wise there are growing work locations all over here. There is Memorial Hermann system which is relocating their main offices to Memorial City. They have 3 hosptials in this area. There is Christus St Catherines in this area. TExas Chldrens Hospital is building a new hospital out here that is going to be 120 beds to start. This is the only other TCh hospital outside opf the medical center. Methodist is building a new hosptial out here as well as St Lukes is buildiong a new Hospital. They say that the west side/Katy is going to be the new medical center are because of land limitations in Houston proper. There are many new longtern acute care places oput here as well as LTC and alternative care centers.

Katy is a great area. I used to work in the medical center and yes driving I-10 can be a bit frustrating but you can always get on the westpark toll way and be downtown in 20 minutes. practically anytime of day.