Hey guys, pretty new to the Houston board but wanted to help out my sister, also an Ag, with some intel. Her and her husband are currently living in Friendswood but are looking to move north to around Montgomery or Conroe. He works in Humble and she is a home health PT so she's flexible. They've identified these two places as being lower cost of living and a little farther from the busy city life. What can you tell me about either or are there other places up in that area they should look at?

Important to me so that I can stay there during football season instead of an overpriced BCS hotel

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she is a home health PT she's flexible

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Yeah she is.


Conroe is essentially a dump. Don't look at anything East of April Sound.

That hustle and bustle of Friendswood is insane.

Haha I honestly wouldn't know. That's just what they say.

Friendswood traffic does often suck.

TexAgs1992 said:

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Friendswood traffic does often suck.

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The back up at 2351 and Friendswood drive is enough to make you drink.

Montgomery or Magnolia over Conroe.

jeffk said:

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Montgomery or Magnolia over Conroe.

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Who has the better schools between those first two?

GT_Aggie2015 said:

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jeffk said:

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Montgomery or Magnolia over Conroe.

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Who has the better schools between those first two?

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Totally depends on the specific school. There are good and not so good in the same district.

Also depends on your definition of "good".

property is cheaper on the east side of I-45 in Conroe or Willis

Panama Red said:

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she is a home health PT she's flexible

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Yeah she is.


Conroe is essentially a dump. Don't look at anything East of April Sound.

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lots of nice places in Willis between Lake Conroe and I-45

GT_Aggie2015 said:

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jeffk said:

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Montgomery or Magnolia over Conroe.

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Who has the better schools between those first two?

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They're both good districts in my opinion. Differences between campuses are more important. Full disclosure - I used to teach in Magnolia, but that was 10 years ago. I'd send my kids to schools in either district.

https://www.greatschools.org/texas/magnolia/magnolia-independent-school-district/#TopSchools*ElementarySchools

https://www.greatschools.org/texas/montgomery/montgomery-independent-school-district/#TopSchools*HighSchools

Appreciate it, fellas. I'll pass this along.

In my opinion, simply by being surrounded, Conroe is a real estate investment dream. I would live there regardless, but one day the property values are going to blow up. Conroeians will move to New Caney, Porter, or Huntsville.

Check out Grand Lake Estates, Crown Oaks, Montgomery Trace...all tied to Montgomery ISD which is a great school system

that area has grown so much. If they want to truly escape the city life, I would look east of 45, north of 99. Cut n Shoot is definitely an escape from city life.

imnag07 said:

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Check out Grand Lake Estates, Crown Oaks, Montgomery Trace...all tied to Montgomery ISD which is a great school system

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That's a nice area. I think the biggest caveats to it are the roads/distance to basic shopping (HEB, etc).

Basically, your two options are 1488 or 105. 1488 at 2978 was a cluster for several years. It's better now, but that intersection is still undersized for the number of cars.

Plus, if you need to get to 45, both 1488 and 105 are full of traffic lights. 336 helps a some, but it's still a hike (at least by my standards).

I have a friend who moved to Conroe to The Woodlands, and wound up moving back because they spent so much time driving to The Woodlands for stuff. But I know a couple of other people who live out that way and love it.

Not sure what the OP means by "hustle and bustle", but I feel like moving out there doesn't guarantee you'll avoid traffic.

I'm in The Woodlands, though, so my perspective is a little different. Traffic can definitely be unpleasant, but when I can literally walk to HEB from my house, I'm not dealing with it that much. My son was able to walk to both his elem and high schools. Most everything I need is actually 5-15 minutes away.

Woodforest could end up with an HEB at some point, though. That's a big development, and they put in several big shopping centers that could probably accommodate one.

OP's OP is a bit confusing. First off, The Woodlands is definitely not less expensive or less busy than Friendswood, so your friends are either very mistaken or being deliberately deceptive about their reasons for moving.

Second, both Woodlands and Conroe would be a "busy" (i.e. lengthy) commute to Humble.

To both reduce your "busy" life AND get lower cost housing, you would be looking in the Kingwood area.

Or else further clarification of their criteria is needed, such as "ignore everything we previously said and just point us to nice, new expensive subdivisions with good schools in the Woodlands/Conroe area."

I don't think that the OP specified The Woodlands - more north in the Conroe or Montgomery areas.

Dobbin, Richards or Anderson is where its at

She will need to get a feel for the area before she can decide which way to go. And maybe try to find out development plans, as well. That area is going to outgrow its infrastructure if it hasn't already.

yes, it's time for Richards to make a comeback.

nice little post office there for mailing Christmas gifts (during the busy season)

jeffk said:

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I don't think that the OP specified The Woodlands - more north in the Conroe or Montgomery areas.

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This. Again, this is second hand coming from my sister. BIL hates the drive across town from FW to Humble and hates it. Sister does home health in S Houston and just hates the city driving but not the setting if that makes sense. Basically, they want to be closer to his job, less crazy driving for her (she can treat anywhere), and be near good schools for when they are ready to have kids. That help? She will be in town this week so I'll probe some more.

Conroe to Humble? Heck, it takes 24 hours for water to get there. I wouldn't want to drive it every day.

94chem said:

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Conroe to Humble? Heck, it takes 24 hours for water to get there. I wouldn't want to drive it every day.

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This is why I come to you guys for wisdom.

Check out River Oaks. Lots of tear downs near golf course, build new.

jeffk said:

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I don't think that the OP specified The Woodlands - more north in the Conroe or Montgomery areas.

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No he didn't, but if he's talking getting away from a "busy area", then I'd assume he's looking for a shorter commute. And it's the better part of an hour commute from these places in Conroe and Magnolia you guys are talking about. Just about the only place in his described area that would ALSO be a dramatically shorter commute to Humble would be the Woodlands. Otherwise, they should just say anyplace within an hour's commute from Humble, which would include a crap load bigger area than he's identified. But I'll concede I might be reading this wrong. Perhaps his criteria is "I want a crap long commute, to Humble, so I can live way out in the sticks" If true, they need to be clear about that AND that would just about double the area he should be looking in. Also, price range would help. (e.g. the first left off of 242 east of I69 is a nice place and easy to reach from Humble, but those go for $600K+

Montgomery ISD is better than Magnolia ISD and the west side of the lake would be a great place to live and invest in a home, BUT that will be a downright ****ty commute to Humble.

Why not look further north along Hwy 59 or even out FM1960, find a big piece of property near the other lakes. Huffman, Kingwood, New Caney...heck even out to Livingston wouldn't be too bad a drive with zero traffic relative to coming from Conroe/Woodlands.

I live in the Woodlands and it's too crowded. I used to love it, but I want out as soon as my kid graduates HS.

This is all second-hand, with a sister who lives in Montgomery and put three kids through MISD, and my late father, who lived in April Sound. The schools in Montgomery were really good, not without problems typical in most suburban districts but good nonetheless. All of her kids graduated near the top of their classes, and have since gone on to A&M (two graduates) and sippy (one graduate). Traffic on 105 can suck ass. April Sound is a nice neighborhood that is controlled access, and based on the records I saw in my dad's papers, the HOA fees are not terribly high.

Montgomery has exploded in recent years. When my dad first moved up there from Pecan Grove in Richmond, grocery options were limited to a trip in to Conroe, and most dining was in Conroe or The Woodlands as well (although there were some good local dining options, i.e. not chains).

HalifaxAg said:

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Montgomery ISD is better than Magnolia ISD and the west side of the lake would be a great place to live and invest in a home, BUT that will be a downright ****ty commute to Humble.

Why not look further north along Hwy 59 or even out FM1960, find a big piece of property near the other lakes. Huffman, Kingwood, New Caney...heck even out to Livingston wouldn't be too bad a drive with zero traffic relative to coming from Conroe/Woodlands.

I live in the Woodlands and it's too crowded. I used to love it, but I want out as soon as my kid graduates HS.

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Yo... keep yourselves on the other side of town. It's already crowded out here on Lake Houston. Lol.

The Rayford/99 area is growing like crazy. Easy access to Humble or woodlands/Conroe. Multiple price points from $250k-$1million+ (Benders Landing, Falls at Imperial Oaks, Woodson's Reserve, Harmony, with more coming soon). Conroe ISD has some great schools from elementary to new high school.

94chem said:

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Conroe to Humble? Heck, it takes 24 hours for water to get there. I wouldn't want to drive it every day.

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Seriously that commute is ****e. Look for houses in kingwood area or comparable on the hwy59 side.

speaking of 105 thru Montgomery...

surely the section that goes past the schools and the stadium...is eventually going to be 4 lanes -- right?