Hulver's site || ATTN: Houston Infidels

Diaries
Everything
Who's Online?
FAQ / Help

ATTN: Houston Infidels

By mmangino (Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 09:57:50 AM EST) housing Houston (all tags)

I need some information about your fine city for my impending trip.

Jen and I are heading to Houston later today. I'm going to have about a day to drive around and look at neighborhoods. I'm looking for suggestions as to area. Can you guys suggest some neighborhoods for me? We're looking to buy a house for between $350,000 and $500,000. We don't want anything bigger than about 2,500 square feet. Closer to 2,000 is better. We love old houses and urban neighborhoods, especially if they have been redone. Areas with a lot of restaurants and things within walking distance are a major plus. She will be at Texas Children's (if we end up in Houston) and would need to be within a 20 minute drive of there.

Can anyone give me some recommendations? Do you have a Realtor you really liked who I could talk to?

Thanks!

< great moments in nicked internet memes 1 | BBC White season: 'Rivers of Blood' >

Login

Related Links

- mmangino's Diary

Google

Comment Controls

ATTN: Houston Infidels | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

places to see by StackyMcRacky (4.00 / 1) #1 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 10:30:22 AM EST

You may want to re-consider the "walking" thing once you get here. It gets pretty damn oppressive out.

If you really want resturants, etc to walk to, check out the Montrose area - if you have a map, right around the Montrose & Westheimer area (pretty big radius around that area).

IMO, one of the best places to live if you're working in the MedCenter is the "linkwood" area - the southwest corner of the 610 loop from Buffalo Speedway as an eastern border, Bellaire/Holcomb as the nothern border, and the loop as the southern and western. Great houses (older, but some of the best built in the city), and very easy access to everythign in the city. If I could afford it, that's where I'd live.

I'll email you about lunch tomorrow.

I second Stacky's advice by theboz (2.00 / 0) #2 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 10:52:26 AM EST

However, I'd like to really double-extra super warn you about the whole "walking" thing. Give up on it. It gets at least as hot and humid as Florida does, but with less wind. As far as realtors go, I know a guy who worked for Gary Greene, and he's definitely honest (my friend, I don't know about anyone else that works for GG), and if I can find his contact information I'll pass it on to you in a private message.
- - - - -
That's what I always say about you, boz, you have a good memory for random facts about pussy. -- joh3n

So I'm going to have to buy a car? by mmangino (2.00 / 0) #3 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 11:07:16 AM EST

That's a bummer. I was hoping to be able to get by with the bus and a motorcycle.

Oh well. I guess I need one with air conditioning.
I'd appreciate the contact information if you can find it.

[ Parent ]

Definitely air conditioning by theboz (2.00 / 0) #4 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 11:53:55 AM EST

I have a truck that I like, but without AC, it is useless, and I'm going to have to sell it.

Oh, and the money that you are talking about for buying a house...I'd say that you could probably buy a house and then go out and buy a Mercedes with what is left over if you have that much cash or credit. I've been looking at housing prices and they're pretty cheap here compared to a lot of places. I'm not quite ready to buy yet though. Property taxes are really high here, but you probably already knew that.

Anyway, I'll look for this guy's business card when I get home. I haven't talked to him in a few months and forgot his last name.
- - - - -
That's what I always say about you, boz, you have a good memory for random facts about pussy. -- joh3n
[ Parent ]

There are some big benefits by mmangino (2.00 / 0) #6 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 12:18:09 PM EST

to living in an expensive city. Our neighborhood in Chicago is seeing about 8-10% price appreciation annually. That means our place will sell for at least $425k or so after realtor fees.

as for the mercedes, I can't make myself spend a lot of money on a car. I bought my wife a nice Honda, but I don't think I could buy anything nicer than that. I personally hate to drive, so I'll probably buy a used POS. I'd rather put my money into other things.

I looked at the Grahm Greene website. They have a much better search than realtor.com. I already found a few places I may take a look at.

Thanks!

[ Parent ]

: house website search by StackyMcRacky (2.00 / 0) #11 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 12:40:28 PM EST

everything in houston that's for sale is listed at har.com

[ Parent ]

house prices by StackyMcRacky (4.00 / 1) #9 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 12:39:44 PM EST

if he really wants to live within 20 minutes of the med center, those houses are pricier than the average. but still.....350-500 will still leave some leftover.

[ Parent ]

bus is problematic by StackyMcRacky (2.00 / 0) #8 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 12:38:28 PM EST

first, you have to drive to get to a bus stop. then, they change to night routes pretty early, so if you have to work late one night it could take you over 2 hours to get back to your car.

then again, this all depends on where you work.

[ Parent ]

Wow by mmangino (2.00 / 0) #12 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 12:42:22 PM EST

no cabs, no buses all over the place. This is definitely more like Columbus than Chicago.

[ Parent ]

There are cabs by theboz (2.00 / 0) #14 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 02:33:28 PM EST

Also, this is a city that makes a lot of money from oil. That and corruption are why the public transportation here sucks. There is a train system, but it doesn't go anywhere. That alone is what pretty much serves to keep me from going downtown or to other areas of the city too often.

Oh, and you will have to get an EZ Tag at some point. Stacky and Riceowlguy may agree or disagree, but I've found it vital at least a few times a month.
- - - - -
That's what I always say about you, boz, you have a good memory for random facts about pussy. -- joh3n
[ Parent ]

: absolutely! by StackyMcRacky (4.00 / 1) #15 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 03:36:24 PM EST

I got an ez tag when I only used it every 3rd month or so. totally worth it.
and the train is useful if you work in the right area; namely, the med center. I can actually take Metro to work (kinda), if I need to. Without the train, it'd take like 2 hours and many different bus changes. While that doesn't affect you any, there are many, many thousands of peopel who work in the med center daily (my hospital employs ~9k people).

[ Parent ]

House Hunting by Improbus (2.00 / 0) #5 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 11:58:25 AM EST

Here is a nice Google Maps enhanced site you might like: Housingmaps.com. It is based on Craigslist so it is far from what is actually available. It is a cool site though.

If you immediately know the candlelight is fire, the meal was cooked a long time ago. --- Oma Desala

: Good suggestion! by mmangino (2.00 / 0) #7 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 12:19:34 PM EST

It doesn't look like Houston has the kind of traffic on craigslist that Chicago has. I love that interface! I think every realtor needs to provide it.

[ Parent ]

West University Place by riceowlguy (2.00 / 0) #10 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 12:40:26 PM EST

or Bellaire. Two island municipalities that have refused to be annexed by the city, and are really lovely. West U in particular I think would fit your needs. The lots are fairly small and so are the houses, it's all residential except for a tiny pocket of shopping, the streets are shaded and there's some nice parks here and there. I live right next to West U. and I use it for my walks. It is bounded, roughly, by stretches of Kirby, Bissonnnet, Holcomb/Bellaire, and Weslayan that all have good shopping/restauraunts available.

On the other hand, it kind of has a creepy "future Republican spawning ground" feeling to it. Montrose may be more your taste.

: hmm by mmangino (2.00 / 0) #13 Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 12:44:27 PM EST

I would hate to have republican's spawning all over my house. I'm a little worried about the politics of texas. I'm coming from a pretty liberal town, so it will be a bit of a shock.
It sounds like everybody is suggesting the same general area which happens to be close to our hotel. That works out really well.
Thanks

[ Parent ]

ATTN: Houston Infidels | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback