Houston is too damn big. Help me figure out where to move!

[foxglove]

I'm a SAHM with a 3.5 year old son, and I'm due with kiddo number 2 in early January. My husband works in the Galleria area and makes about 100k before taxes as a contracted IT consultant (so technically self-employed - we save back about 40% from each paycheck).

We live in SE Houston, and his commute is awful. He's in the car for up to 2 hours per day, and even though gas doesn't cost all that much for his Honda Civic, it feels soul-killing and wasteful to live so far from his job. However, if you're familiar with Houston, you'll know that it's not necessarily as simple as just moving near the Galleria. We value outdoor time, and currently own a townhouse with a giant front courtyard - basically a park outside our front door.

We have been planning to sell our townhouse and move, but we are so split! Clear Lake, Friendswood, and Pearland all have nice homes, lots of green space, but little walkability and a terrible commute. But backyards are awesome when you have kids! On the other hand, we could maybe even rent an apartment in town, my husband could walk or bike to work, and we could try to live near one of the big parks in town. But then no backyards - we'd have to get dressed and get the kids dressed just to have fresh air.

I'm really at a loss, and we'd like to begin to truly plan and move forward after the baby is born. Please share your thoughts and opinions, especially if you live/have lived in Houston. Ideally, I'd love to have a yard AND shorten my husband's commute dramatically AND be able to afford the house.

[pbkmaine]

Since he is a contract employee, I would not buy a house near his place of work, because it might change. Why not sell and rent near his work?

[SKL-HOU]

I work by the Galleria and live by the Galleria. It comes at a premium but it is very convenient. There are reasonably priced townhomes around but usually have high condo fees. Are you looking to buy or rent? If you want to rent, there are plenty of apartment complexes that have outdoor areas.

Edited to add: just realized you want a yard of your own. That is what i wanted also and rented a house with a large yard. There are a ton of townhouses with mostly small yards. If one of those townhouses with a small patio between home snd garage is enough then there are plenty of them on Bering between westheimer and san felipe, same with Winrock between westheimer and san felipe. Those two areas are Briargrove elementary, not a bad school from what i hear (if school is a part of your considerstion).

[foxglove]

Renting is on the table. Most people with a decent income (in the suburbs, anyway) don't bother renting here, because buying is so cheap in Houston.

A townhouse is also a possibility. I'd much rather have a lot of space outdoors, but that want is hard to justify while my husband is spending 2 hours/day in his car.

[Capt Stubble]

Can you rent or buy near a park? Let someone else maintain your "yard."

[SKL-HOU]

I don't think Houston real estate is cheap to buy. Well it is in the suburbs but unless you work in the suburbs, it is a pain in the butt (as you are experiencing). Since you are ok with renting a townhouse you have a ton of options in the two areas i mentioned above. There are lots more.

[SnackDog]

IT contractors should be able to work anywhere (including home).  I would look for work somewhere other than the Galleria since it the worst location from a traffic perspective.  See if he can find work close to home so you can stay where you are.  Two hours commute per day is not that bad in Houston: 30 minutes to work and 90 minutes home is pretty average I would say.

[Noodle]

Try Meyerland/Maplewood, south of Bellaire. The houses are not as cheap as they used to be but if you are willing to take something that hasn't been flipped yet, and do the updating work slowly over time you might find something you like. Then you would be going straight north to the Galleria. Obviously 610 is going to be a misery during commute times, but you'd be on it a much shorter time or there would be surface streets.

Or if you are willing to take a condo/townhouse, you could look NW of the Galleria shopping district. (Not sure what that area is called--that may be what SKL-HOU is thinking of) When I was looking for a condo, I saw a number of things listed out there that looked good and were less than comparable units inside the Loop. Those neighborhoods would put you pretty close to Memorial Park (not walkable, of course, but a very short drive) and the areas I saw were pretty and green to walk around.

I have a great Houston-area realtor who helped me find a place working with some very tight geographic criteria. PM me if you would like a name.

[SKL-HOU]

I think it is called Tanglewood, part of it anyway. Just one thing to watch out for are hoa fees. Some are $400-500. You would be better off buying a house more expensive with less or no hoa fee because that mortgage payment will end but hoa fee will only go up and definitely never go away.

[Sparty]

How much are you looking to spend on a home?

I work on Post Oak Blvd near the Galleria and live less than a mile away inside the loop, but I am also renting an apartment so that makes it a lot easier. Seems most of the people in my office that have kids commute in from the Sugarland/Pearland area.

[Noodle]

Just thought of another one...you might look in Garden Oaks/Oak Forest, which is just outside the NW corner of the 610 Loop. I know a young couple that just bought up there and I don't think they had a huge budget. Again, you would have to go down 610 or use surface streets to get to the Galleria, but it would have to be better than what your husband is doing now. I think that is mainly houses with yards.

[foxglove]

Meyerland/Maplewood and Garden Oaks/Oak Forest sound really interesting! Seems like a happy medium. I'll go look around on har.com and see what it looks like. If anybody else has suggestions, I would still love to hear them!