I'm thinking of making the move closer into town the next few months, moving away from the big city of Tomball. I've found a few places in Oak Forest that will meet my needs, but I don't if it's the safest place. Anybody live near Garden Oaks or Oak Forest, that can give me some advice on the area?

I just moved to Oak Forest. I feel safe there- at least as safe as I did living inside the loop, or out in summerwood when I lived out there.

I like Oak Forest a lot.

I have lived in Oak Forest for 6 years and have never felt unsafe. We have had a car parked on the street broken into 2 times, but that kind of thing happens everywhere.

I live in a fully remodeled 3/2 that we will be putting on the market in mid July when we return from vacation. PM me if you are interested in learning more.

Oak Forrest is as safe as any place else in the greater Houston area.

I've lived in Oak Forest for 3.5 years and feel very safe. For full disclosure my house was broken into by a group of kids but I think that had more to do with my location on a main street than anything else-- easy access. And yes, just like anywhere else in the city the occasional car gets broken into. But with that being said, it is a great neighborhood that is in the middle of a transition so those things can be expected.

Exhausted, what price range do you think you will be listing?

I've lived there since August. I haven't heard of any crime since I have lived there or ever felt unsafe.

That being said, I wouldn't look at OF west of TJ Jester.

Yeah, I much prefer the part of Oak Forest in 77018.

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That being said, I wouldn't look at OF west of TJ Jester.

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you may get shot/stabbed...but you're a stones throw away from the Acorn Driving Range.

We will probably be listing it at $280K. It is east of TC Jester in 77018 and outside the flood plain. I won't post the address here, but the closest intersection is Donna Bell and Hewitt.

You will have to pick between the bloods or ms-13 upon move in. If you lack the gall to live in the city, then stay in the burbs.

Oak Forest is solid. And Petrol Station is freaking down the street. What more could you ask for?

I like Oak Forest, just a heads up though, my buddy had his house broken into twice within less than a year of living there. Lives on the street behind "Plonk"...almost directly behind it. One of the times a man bolted out the back door as he got home and he got to his kitchen in time to see the thug hop over his fence and bolt towards a getaway car. Has had his pistol, laptop, a ladder, and a bunch of smaller crap stolen.

Pack a piece. Dangerous minorities arent scared to hit up any part of Oak Forest, Garden Oaks, or The Heights. For the most part, it's a bunch of limp wristed liberals who are more scared of guns than the thugs hittin licks on them. If i was a burglar i would definitley have a field day in the Heights and surrounding areas where the libs and their weak ass sheltered kids are like chum in the water. Chances are A LOT slimmer that you will be confronted with an armed homeowner than out in the suburbs.


[This message has been edited by Charles Bronson (edited 6/15/2011 12:27p).]

That's a gross over exaggeration. I've lived in OF & GO for over 10 years and never had any problems.

I think anyone living in the city should own a firearm but OF is no more dangerous than anywhere else.

Agree to disagree. Every neighborrhood in the greater Houston area isn't equally safe imo. And chances are for most Houston residents, even in the 5th ward, that they will probably never experience a home invasion, so it's no surprise that you havent had your house broken into. While crime takes place everywhere, i find it funny when people try to act like Oak Forest, Heights etc. is no more dangerous than Spring Branch or Katy south of I-10, or other upper middle class suburban neighborhoods in and around Houston where you can get more home for your money. Look at the crime reports or talk to a cop. You guys are literally right down the street from Acres Homes and not too far from the nickel and other shady areas. That being said, I would definitely live in GO, OF, or the Heights...i love all three...i just wouldnt raise kids there and would keep my head on a swivel.

[This message has been edited by Charles Bronson (edited 6/15/2011 12:42p).]

Burbs is a different story. Not really a fair comparison, the OP has stated that like most sensible people he has decided he can't live in the burbs.

Well Spring Branch south of I-10 and select parts north of I-10 is only like 8-10 miles from downtown, a heck of a lot closer than Tomball. I am with you though, i probably couldnt live out there until i had a family. Although I do kind of like the Bunker Hill/Westview area.

I read suburban constable/sheriff security reports on a regular basis and there are consistently rashes of serial break ins in middle to upper middle class neighborhoods in the burbs. I have no doubt that OF is as safe as most if not all of those neighborhoods. I have no fear going for a run in the park, walking through the neighborhood or going to the grocery store. One thing to point out is that OF is a HUGE neighborhood so there are more houses to choose from for burglars. With that being said, usually a sign indicating you have an alarm system will do the trick to keep burglars away and it always helps to have a large dog no matter what part of the Greater Houston Area you live in....

I'm not saying the burbs isn't safe. I live in a quiet neighborhood in Tomball, and I have had my truck broken into, and my garage broken into in the last 6 years I've lived there. I have always wanted to live closer into the city, but my job is still Tomball area, so I figure OF/GO would be the most logical area, plus I still want a garage and won't get one in the Heights, unless I want to pay way more than I want to.

those weak ass sheltered Oak Forest kids don't roll hard like the battle tested Spring Branch kids?

The Burbs - where the criminals go to rob the "credit card" rich. Lived in Garden Oaks for 12 years - minimal problems - Drunk Driver runs into my neighbors house one night and leaves the scene. House it with BB gun - broke the outside pane of a double pane window. House hit with paintballs. The rib did have a car stolen from the driveway one night before we were married - I think she left the keys in the car.

Crime is everywhere - get an alarm system and most important use it.

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those weak ass sheltered Oak Forest kids don't roll hard like the battle tested Spring Branch kids?

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Have you ever met any kids that were raised inside the loop? I would much rather my children turn out like the normal ones less than 10 miles away in the suburbs of spring branch south. The average kid inside the loop has been extremely sheltered and never had the chance to really do much outdoors unaccompanied by their parents. I could count on 1, maybe 2 hands how many white children i have seen cruising the streets of the heights on their bikes unaccompanied by adults in the last few years. I dont recall ever seeing this in OF, but i have less experience there. Go out to spring branch south of I-10 and they are still everywhere...just like when we were kids. What sane person would let their kids roam the streets of Heights of Oak Forest, seriously? "Ok Porter, as long as you stay on this street you'll be fine, just dont go a half block east over near the Petrol Station where multiple groups have been jacked at gunpoint by poor thugs living less than 2 miles away". "Dougan please promise me you and Colin wont go biking over near Phat Fadez on Yale again, please!" That is how I determine whether a neighborhood is safe or not...if i would feel reasonably comfortable letting 8-10 year old kids bike around the area unaccompanied. I realize this will sound silly to most people.

[This message has been edited by Charles Bronson (edited 6/15/2011 1:49p).]

No one is arguing that it's safer out in the lilly white suburbs.

I was just laughing at your comment that kids are some how tougher if they grow up in Spring Branch.

I guess that's makes me doubly tough because I had to navigate the mean streets of Katy on my own as a kid.

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I was just laughing at your comment that kids are some how tougher if they grow up in Spring Branch.

I guess that's makes me doubly tough because I had to navigate the mean streets of Katy on my own as a kid.

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You average spring branch, Katy, Copperfield kid is probably a lot tougher and more socially advanced than your average Heights kid. Just the way it is.

Tell that to all of my "socially advanced" friends from Katy that ended up going to jail or rehab. You can find most of them at Einstein's any given night.

Yeah, f-ups come from all walks of life, and even parents in the burbs can fail their kids, especially out in Katy where the Taylor kids do bumps of coke before exams and black tar H after football practice. Im just saying though, I'll be damned if i ever raise my kid in an area where it's not reasonably safe to play outside unaccompanied.

But if i were slangin houses in central Houston I would definitely tell mid-upper class white families that Heights, Oak Forest, and Garden Oaks were safe areas to raise a family too

[This message has been edited by Charles Bronson (edited 6/15/2011 2:12p).]

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What sane person would let their kids roam the streets of Heights of Oak Forest, seriously?

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My wife has a bun in the oven, and I seriously want to live ITL someday but this is what concerns me. Can kids ride their bikes around Bellaire? I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to afford that area though.

Bellaire and West U are not incident free but are definitely safer than Heights/GO/OF in my opinion. You're going to fork over some serious coin too. Cue a cut and paste story of a link talking about some isolated incident in West U to "disprove" me.

[This message has been edited by Charles Bronson (edited 6/15/2011 2:19p).]

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You're going to fork over some serious coin too.

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That's the problem...if I can ever afford that the kid will probably be 25 by then. Looks like the suburbs for me.

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If i was a burglar i would definitley have a field day in the Heights and surrounding areas where the libs and their weak ass sheltered kids are like chum in the water.

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I may be a little out of the loop here, but are parents still letting their 8 year old kids ride around unattended anywhere in Houston?

I know I used to do it back in the day but it seems like there's a lot more sickos out there. Maybe it just shows up on the news more.

Most people buying in Oak Forest have no kids or very young kids and will eventually make the move out to the suburbs. I think this is more for the schools than anything else.

I would love to move out to Spring Branch eventually, since I'm not big on long commutes, but unless you want to live in a busted old neighborhood, you're looking at $400K min.

[This message has been edited by Diggity (edited 6/15/2011 2:27p).]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7514214.html

CB: It's laughable to think that OF IS West U or the nicer part of Bellaire at this point, but I do think that it's well on its way. And if I were at liberty to do so, I could provide you with plenty of stories of "isolated" incidents to prove you wrong. Remember, the streets that run through both of those cities also runs through some less-than-desirable Houston neighborhoods-- it's not as if West U and Bellaire are gated off from the rest of Houston.

Back to OF, it seems as though, if you're looking at residential real estate as an investment, it might not be a bad choice-- and an even better investment if you had bought 6 or 7 years ago.

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I may be a little out of the loop here, but are parents still letting their 8 year old kids ride around unattended anywhere in Houston?

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I spend a lot of time visiting family in the Nottingham neighborhood behind St. John V off Memorial and the kids are out and about everywhere. It is always very noticeable to me b/c you dont really see that inside the loop.

Trying to get back to GO/OF/SPP in the next few years. Live in Spring Branch now but church, friends, kids schools and sports leagues are all in or close to 77018.

Hope we can afford it when we're ready to make the move.