Not sure what board to put this on. Not interested in real estate board and figured maybe more people familiar with the area would be on here.

Within the next 2 years we will be moving back from Fort Worth to the Houston area. I want to live sal****er front/salt access riverfront. My wife just wants a large lot and a nice house. Waterfront isn't 100% necessary because my parents have a canal Front place in bolivar, but we would like something of our own and I would like to fish in evenings after work and such.

My wife is 100% remote work and I am planning on starting an outdoor living/drainage construction company. Question is for those who know, how easy is it to get into Houston and west side burbs at all hours? Shows less than an hour with no traffic, but not sure how 288, 36, and 59 fair. Also how are the amenities? We don't need much besides grocery store and a couple restaurants.

I see a lot of nice houses with San Bernard or brazos frontage where you still have gulf access but for less money than Galveston. I'm sure insurance wouldn't be much less unfortunately but maybe? I have also looked into the more convenient locations like tiki, San Leon, Hitchcock, but small lots and a little too city.

What about harborwalk? It is a little remote, could probably get a good sized lot and build custom. The homes are big and nice, but priced accordingly. 45 would be your access but if you really wanted to hoof it over to 288 you could.

Sea Speed said:

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What about harborwalk? It is a little remote, could probably get a good sized lot and build custom. The homes are big and nice, but priced accordingly. 45 would be your access but if you really wanted to hoof it over to 288 you could.

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So that's actually the neighborhood I've looked the most at out of any. Looks like a great place gated community with nice marina, close to everything and not crazy expensive compared to Galveston. I just haven't thought much about building, but could be perfect. Would definitely be a way better option than BV or tiki

BV is a lot of fun, I lived there for years. Wish we still owned that house. If I were buying now I'd prefer harborwalk, but not sure I'd spring for it. If you're going to have kids, prepare to drive to a private school.

Define not crazy expensive? Cheapest house appears to be just under a million with most well over.

Even if you buy a lot that's fairly affordable and build the minimum, your tax appraisal is F'd.

Tiki looks to be a better value.

Yeah definitely private school. What private schools are down there? Only one I remember is Lutheran south

Yeah cheapest right now is 875, but not much inventory. Building might be able to get a little cheaper if we go a little smaller towards minimum required not sure. I was just saying more for your money than Galveston waterfront. Definitely don't want to buy for 875, but crazy home values up here in Fort Worth might get us a nice return.

A few positives:
San Bernard River is a very nice area and has great fishing and waterskiing.
Winter weather is usually excellent.
Beaches are empty late fall to late winter, a great time to walk and beachcomber usually by yourself.
Commute to Houston up 288 is usually moves at posted speeds-except Hwy 6 to Downtown during rush hour.

If you'd posted on the real estate board, they would've told you to go here:
https://www.har.com/drivetimesearch/
Choose an address in west houston like 1000 Stafford St
Choose an arrival time like 8am if you want to know what the longest commute time will be
Choose your maximum drive time.
Hit search, and then you can more filters to the top like "water front", Brazoria County, or larger lot sizes.

90 minute commute time will get you to Lake Jackson, but not freeport.
This is the only thing I see that comes close to meeting your criteria unless commute time doesn't matter:
https://www.har.com/homedetail/5530-brazos-river-rd-freeport-tx-77541/15927746
You're fine with houses that flood, right?

San Bernard RIver is a great area.
Some houses do flood, so you would want to find out if it flooded in Harvey.
If it did not, then it will never flood

Good access to salt water fishing,
Mouth is being dredged at this time, so offshore access should be restored

Quiet river, Great people
Perfect water skiing river
Affordable houses.
45min to 1 hour to downtown houston wtih out traffic

There is a new toll road for rush hour - it is expensive during rush hour but worth it

I grew up down there (Brazoria County) and still have family that lives there. Most of the comments here are pretty accurate regarding how long it will take to get to Houston. If you're going to commute every day it's going to be a beating. If you're just going to head up there every now and then it's no issue at all.

Lake Jackson has grocery stores, restaurants, and enough shopping (Target, Academy, etc.) to get by. You're close enough to Houston to do any other shopping that you want to. I'm sure Lake Jackson has options for private school, too.

A buddy's wife is a successful realtor down there. I'd be happy to connect you.

Thanks for info everybody. Yes this is not immediate, but I would love to have her contact for in a year or 2 when we move. Commute would only be me and wouldn't be everyday rush hour only sometimes. Good to hear most think it's really nice there.

Here you go:
Jennifer Mitschke
830-660-6405

Good luck with everything, especially the new business venture. Exciting stuff.

288 is a cluster****.

I lived on Oyster Creek for a spell and Bastrop Bayou for a longer spell.

What questions do you have?

maroon barchetta said:

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I lived on Oyster Creek for a spell and Bastrop Bayou for a longer spell.

What questions do you have?

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How's the water looking in the bayou?

Last time I was there was October. It looked like it always does.

Whoop Delecto said:

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You look at https://www.grandcayharbour.com/ if you're considering Harborwalk.

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Interesting I like the makeup of harborwalk a little more I think but would building costs maybe be a little cheaper with slab on grade versus pylings?

maroon barchetta said:

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I lived on Oyster Creek for a spell and Bastrop Bayou for a longer spell.

What questions do you have?

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Depths and ocean access from these? San Luis or Freeport I guess?

You can make it to a bay but then you would have to make your way thru a bay to the intracoastal.

Not sure on depths.

Oyster Creek did undergo a cleanup project several years ago from 2004 near the mall all the way (I think) to Hwy 288 Business near Brazosport College. They had a barge in there and took out lots of stuff and trimmed back trees, pulled fallen trees out, really made it more passable by boat for that stretch, but the goal was for better drainage when it floods.

Eventually you get to some oyster reefs once you get past 523 headed towards the bay. You can get out and stand on those reefs if you happen to run up on them!

Interesting. If we do end up looking to buy in these areas we will for sure explore with our boat before deciding on a spot. Good to hear everybody's info though

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LJ to Bush every day?

Good Lord.

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