Wife and I both work downtown and have kids getting close to school age. What we want is apparently impossible. Good schools and no 45+ minute commute. Looking to spend up to $800k.

For the past few years we had been leaning toward Oak Forrest or the Memorial Area but the past year+ has seen home prices in those areas blow past our budget. We are in a town home in the heights now and technically have a year and a half before we need to be somewhere new, but are starting to feel the pressure.

Are there any under the radar areas that check these 2 boxes?

Good schools can mean a lot of things. Are you looking for white kids? Or good scores on testing?

Yes

But to be more serious, I actually don't know. My wife is the one putting a bunch of weight on whatever the arbitrary rankings are on placed like HAR for schools. I am of the mind that some diversity isn't a bad thing but I have to live with her and would like her to be as happy/pleasant as possible.

Have you looked at Pearland?

Otherwise the I-10 corridor is your best option. Spring Branch?

We have lived in the east end for 10 years and have 4 kids in elementary here. We've had them in 4 different schools for various reasons and all have been fine. There are a lot of good high school options as well. Middle school is the tough one but i think that is true for most of HISD.

It takes quite a bit of introspection to really judge a school on the teachers and leadership and not just on the student body demographics or popularity.

RedbeardAG said:

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Wife and I both work downtown and have kids getting close to school age. What we want is apparently impossible. Good schools and no 45+ minute commute. Looking to spend up to $800k.

For the past few years we had been leaning toward Oak Forrest or the Memorial Area but the past year+ has seen home prices in those areas blow past our budget. We are in a town home in the heights now and technically have a year and a half before we need to be somewhere new, but are starting to feel the pressure.

Are there any under the radar areas that check these 2 boxes?

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You may be able to get a house in that range in that area south of Rice between Kirby and Greenbriar. Zoned to Roberts Elementary.

I had a friend who lived in Bridgeland and worked in the Galleria area... commuted on 290. He had a super- quick commute, great schools, and affordable housing... but he left home at 4:30 or 5 in the morning, IIRC. Are you willing to do that? It'll open up your options significantly.

In the Heights:

Travis and Harvard Elementary are both great and feed into Hogg Middle, which has improved significantly. People will say Hogg sucks but the educated Heights folks have been sending their Travis/Harvard kids there for a while now. I would expect it to continue to improve. Same for Heights High School, although it's further behind that curve....but I've been meeting more and more people whose kids are going there.

I live in Oak Forest and what you want is doable. In fact we were in your same shoes two years ago and were looking at the same neighborhoods with a budget of $750,000. I helped a client buy a roughly 1,700 SF (updated) 4/2 with a pool this year in OF for around $550,000. It's doable. Shoot me a PM or email and I'll set you up on an auto blast.

Also, our oldest started kindergarten at OFE this year and it's incredible. I don't think I could have asked for a better school. And her teacher is an Aggie so that's the icing on the cake!

We recently bought a house under $800k in Fonn Villas near Town and Country etc. Frostwood, Mem Middle & Mem High. for schools.

Now we did have to do new floors, paint etc, but it's possible.

That's a good area.

That's cheap for Fonn Villas.

Did it flood during Harvey?

Yeah, we have looked in that area and most houses seem to be somewhere north of a mil.

I'll sell you my house (3/2 with2200 SF on 11,000 sf lot) for $800k. Zoned to Valley Oaks, Spring Branch middle and Memorial HS. Great area. Not in Spring Valley but just on border of it in City of Houston.

Norbert said:

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I'll sell you my house (3/2 with2200 SF on 11,000 sf lot) for $800k. Zoned to Valley Oaks, Spring Branch middle and Memorial HS. Great area. Not in Spring Valley but just on border of it in City of Houston.

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That's a great deal. Only about $35/sf more than the median. Not to mention the extra tav you're paying for the walkway/bikeway running from Terry Hershey to White Oak.

But you're COH.....

OP is looking for the needle in the haystack right now. Only options close to what they're looking for is in the 3 story, no yard, maintenance fee, limited parking developments going up throughout Spring Branch, downtown, Rice Military, Oak Forest.

Maybe look in Montgomery County, kids can get into good schools.

Norbert said:

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I'll sell you my house (3/2 with2200 SF on 11,000 sf lot) for $800k. Zoned to Valley Oaks, Spring Branch middle and Memorial HS. Great area. Not in Spring Valley but just on border of it in City of Houston.

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That's a great deal. Only about $35/sf more than the median. Not to mention the extra tav you're paying for the walkway/bikeway running from Terry Hershey to White Oak.

But you're COH.....

OP is looking for the needle in the haystack right now. Only options close to what they're looking for is in the 3 story, no yard, maintenance fee, limited parking developments going up throughout Spring Branch, downtown, Rice Military, Oak Forest.

Maybe look in Montgomery County, kids can get into good schools.

This conversation always starts off as 'wanting good schools' and then turns into, 'I just want to live in the nicest part of town-got any ways to squeeze into memorial without having to pay 1.5 million. No I won't go to Stratford.'

Those are both pretty good looking options. Basically looking at, but you aren't wrong, they go fast. Thanks.

We were in your same boat 5 yrs ago. We landed in memorial over GOOF. Ultimately we chose a bigger lot vs. a newer home. You can have location or home, but you can't have both in that price range.

Find your area first then pounce on the home once you find your area. Also go walk your area, get to know neighbors and try to land something (especially empty nesters or retired and want lower taxes). Sometimes these homes just sell word of mouth.

Maybe in the Bellaire area? Not sure what that looks like these days.

Else I would seek inside the loop realtor that may know of up and coming schools - like what has happened 10 years ago in the Lakewood / M Streets in Dallas. The elementary school is "well funded" through non-profit means.

A Realtor close to downtown should have the list of public schools with substantial private / non-profit support could deliver what you are after.

Else, you need to decide if your paycheck supports or you short commute is also high preferable, then private school could be an option.