Moving to Houston....(Hoa's?)

I live half mile south of there. Its really considered west--not really northwest like Fairfield.

This message was edited Nov 17, 2006 3:15 PM

I have some friends who live in Copperfield. They like it. :-)

DMJ, I stand corrected. =)

Marylyn I am so happy to hear they like it!!! I've found several homes in our range with the size home and lot we're seeking!!!

It'd be a tad further of a drive for DH than if we move to Katy....but he's okay with a 30 min commute.

I was wondering though...since Copperfield is in Houston city limits....how much more do you suppose taxes would be there vs Katy for the same house?

My cousin lived there for a while. She has made money on every house they have owned.

She and her family have lived in several neighboorhoods - Friendswood, Copperfield, Bear Creek. Maybe one or two more.

Finally bought a farm near Sealy. She also is a real-estate finance guru. I would be happy to supply name and contact info if you will d-mail me. She helped me refinance several years ago - saved a bunch!

Thanks Bubba. =)

Bubba- Typically, the dish dictates the type of tortilla served. In Oaxaca, for instance they serve 30 types of tortilla. Tortillas, the simplest of foods, prove sometimes to be the most difficult to make because there are no predominant flavors to mask bad or indifferent flavors, or careless handling. Hand patted tortillas is a dying art. As in Mexico where popular regional foods are so diverse and varied within the regions themselves, that they defy an all-embracing definition. Since Houston has more than 1500 Mexican restaurants, each reflecting varied influences, tastes and clientele base they aim to please; I would be at total odds to claim any region is superior. Good TexMex is not elusive in Houston. :)



This message was edited Nov 19, 2006 2:05 PM

Copperfield--at least where I am at is unincorporated...they just have a "Houston, Texas" mailing address. We are not in the Houston City Limits. Cy Fair school taxes are the highest--my house is paid off so I'm real familiar with the taxes. I pay 3 different taxes, school, mud, property. Dmail me I'll tell you what my house is appraised at and what the taxes are--all 3 bills are now here; its probably less than what you would think.

No mud taxes in WI

No Al--but you got some great seeds up there. ;)

Stuck in the house with an 18 year old wisdom teeth extractee victim today. And she is milking it for all it's worth too...mom, can you get me a Pepsi? mom, can you make me a tuna sandwich? mom, can you hand me my phone? mom, can you pass the box of kleenex?

Nice to be needed again.....=)

She can eat a tuna sandwich?? She's doing great! When I had mine out it was several weeks before I could eat anything solid (I was very grateful for KFC's mashed potatoes!) and half of my tongue was numb for about 4 months.

They have a newer procedure if the roots are very short--not as invasive--they have to be no older than 18.5 years. She just came under the wire--she will be 18 in 28 days. This very small girl eats an amazing large quantity of food and still wears size zero jeans. The pudding just wasn't cutting it for the appetite. =)

We paid MUD taxes for my late mother who lived in Katy. Her water utilities were less due to this. We do not have MUD taxes here. We also contract BFI trash pick-up instead of the city services through our HOA. BFI does an amazing job!

Try a fictitious address for an idea of the taxes. If you have a Katy, Houston, or Copperfield map, this will help - http://www.hcad.org/ Select a street off your map, click on address in the upper right, add your fictitious address (it must be an actual address), and pull up the information. If you have a key map, you can pull up whole streets. This will also allow you to access surrounding addresses.

The hcad.org link will also be an excellent tool for researching comparable home values during your home buying search.

DMJ, thanks for the offer by dmail! I will be sending one!!!! I don't mind disclosing what I pay here as well. I have HEARD it's cheaper in Houston but we'll see.

Someone warned me to stay clear of MUD districts and I admit they were NEWS to me? Still not sure I understand it but I do understand more money going out! LOL!!!!!

Copperfield is 2000 acres....6-7 different subshoots of the Copperfield name...separate entries for each section....6 pools...several parks....3 elementary schools WITHIN the neighborhood....etc..... www.copperfield.org

This message was edited Nov 27, 2006 9:09 PM

The Plum Lake drive house is VERY near me.

One section of Copperfield HOA dues charges 465 a year. Does this seem average?

For a lot of big subdivisions with multiple pools, tennis, etc. that's about right. Copperfield also has a lot of landscaping around the entrances--I told you what I paid, but my subdivision is very small in comparison.

What counties does Katy cover please?

Harris and Fort Bend--long commute--where does hubby work? THat might help me direct you where to look.

Thanks dmj. He'll be right off beltway 8 and someone else who'd recommended Copperfield had said that'd be a 30 min commute..something he's fine with.

But I'm looking up homes in Katy now and not liking what I see so far.

beltway 8 and what side street--lotta turf there along beltway 8--north or south of I10?

My bad....sorry dmj. South of I-10.

This message was edited Nov 19, 2006 2:00 PM

Thanks petit for that info. however I'm confident I can find something within the lower price I want...I could finance more...our home should sell for around 160K I'd just like to get into something cheaper to have cheaper taxes and more of my money per month to add some upgrades to my next place. This house was nearer the top of our budget when we bought it but we were both working and so able to really make it nice....now I'm a SAHM but DH will be making way more so we'll still be able to fix up the next place. Didn't see any homes in my range that I liked at all in Katy however.

Once my pre-approval goes through and we've had some good leads on selling here we'll be able to bother realtors. =)

I doubt the accuracy of those prices in Memorial--do we live in the same Houston? lol Memoral 150,000 I would bet my next paycheck you won't find that Petit.

dmj1218 "I doubt the accuracy of those prices in Memorial--do we live in the same Houston? lol Memoral 150,000 I would bet my next paycheck you won't find that Petit."

That will not be necessary, as I live in west Memorial. I was quoting an internet source for general information. Sorry I was not clear.

So Memorial is more pricey?

Isn't it amazing how you can find such a vast range or home prices in the same town!!??

Well I drive thru there every single day going to work--I couldn't touch one of those houses for $150,000. I drive down Gessner to Bellaire Blvd from I-10. By the way the HEB on Bellaire is not in a good part of town either. We lovingly refer to it as the 'Gulfton Ghetto'--highest crime rate in southwest Houston. I know, I work at Hillcroft and Bellaire.

You can find a vast difference in house prices on the same street in Houston--both the houses on either side of me are worth 250,000. One of them just sold 2 months ago for 241,500. I told you what mine's appraised at--that's the reason mine has held its value and increased almost 3 fold in 12 years. Most of the neighborhoods out this way (including Copperfield) are that way. A range of houses from about 125,000 to 250,000 within the same subdivision.

I noticed that about Copperfield dmj! So it gives me hope I'll find SOMETHING when the time is right. =)

So the SW part of Houston is a no-go then. Always seems like the south sides of town have some rough spots.

just inside Beltway 8--outside beltway 8 on sw side is much better.

Would this mean someone was actually a LICENSED REALTOR (not just a someone who assists the realtor and shows the clients around)?:

Title: Associate
Year Licensed: 2002

Look at some of the builders--closing costs are a lot cheaper with brand new homes. They will fit in your budget too. That's why I went that route. No title searches and builders pay a lot of the points, etc.

Sorry--don't know anything about real estate licenses. If you are just looking, stick with the big name realtors just to get ideas--you can get more specific when ya'll start to visit.

Tir_Na_Nog & dmj1218 - “Isn't it amazing how you can find such a vast range or home prices in the same town!!??”

Hi ladies! It is, and dmj was right that they can be on the same street. This can be very good for buyers.

Tir_Na_Nog: you will have a better notion of what you want after looking in person and later with a Buyer's agent who is a Licensed Realtor. There are some outstanding values here, wait until you see what is offered. You will pinch yourself! Good luck!!!


This message was edited Nov 18, 2006 7:53 PM

Check out South east part of Houston Nasa Area. Clear Lake area. Love it here.

I did a search in the Harris County Civil Courts records. Copperfield has very few HOA lawsuits, Nottingham has HOA problems, they litigate a lot, and for silly reasons, mold on mail box was one that I found. There are lots of new subdivisions popping up all over around the beltway from 149 to Tomball. The newer subdivisions have lots of amenities and retention ponds, which really helps with flooding, especially as the area grows.

Cy-Fair has lower schools taxes, but will catch up with the other Districts over the next 5 years, they borrow money to build new schools, 30 year loans, which gives them a lot of debt. Klein pays as they go and tax increases should be minimum.

Oh.. He's going to be working at I-10 and Beltway 8? That is NOT Katy! LOL Have you looked at Spring Branch at all? We're north of I-10, but very close to the Beltway. It would be a MUCH nicer commute than either Copperwood or Katy. I live in Spring Branch in the Kempwood subdivision and it is very very nice. (There is also a Kempwood North, so if you look "Kempwood" up on the www.har.com site, you'll probably bring up both of them. It's a really nice subdivision, too.) We bought our house (2000sq feet, nice yard, 3 bedrooms, etc..) for $106,000 5 years ago and it would probably sell for about $130,000 today (if we fixed the roof! LOL). That is very within your budget, the neighborhood is very friendly, the yards are big enough to garden AND play in, and it's a voluntary civic association, not an HOA. And the house next door is going to be up for sale very very soon! :-D It's got a GREAT yard, a huge garage, and 3 bedrooms... (hint, hint!)

The Spring Shadows subdivision is across the street from us and is also a very nice neighborhood and very much within your price range. Spring Branch's schools are excellent and the taxes aren't too bad.

And there's an H-E-B right down the road! :-)

Wow..thanks again folks!!!

Butterfly: I appreciate sooo much you knowing the HOA's around Houston! That helps.

Marylyn: I know Katy would be a commute but not to horrible if DH is leaving for work at 5 am and returning home around 3, would it? LOVE THE HINT! I am going to do a search on your neighborhood today. =)

Dmj: Thought about new. Could buy without a realtor even...that's what we did this go around. Only thing is MOST new neighborhoods have small yards....but I don't think within our budget we could buy a new home that is a size I'd like....homes have gone up a lot in SA in just the 2 years we bought...base price on our model went up 20 grand (base price=no upgrades) and since we have some upgrades on top of that I don't think we could afford it. I think at best we could afford something 1,700 sq ft....which isn't bad for some but I could really use the space as our family grows...I'd like to be in the next place several years at least. But it's a good idea...one I've thought about.

Perhaps someone can recommend a good builder in Houston area?

Phooey...nothing came up for either neighborhood Marylyn that was at least 2000 sq ft. I'll keep checking back though!

butterflybyrob: “Nottingham has HOA problems, they litigate a lot, and for silly reasons, mold on mail box was one that I found.”

Silly? I'll say. WOW!!! Someone is willing to spend thousands of dollars in Harris County Civil Court to remedy “a moldy mailbox”? I would surely like to read that filing to see if other things are going on. Do you have the link? I would like to ask some friends about it. That will cost each party upwards of $15,000.00 without batting a deposition.

Marylyn_TX: Spring Branch and Katy ISD enjoy some of the highest rated schools in the area. I like the trees in Spring Branch, plus it is quiet and peaceful.

petit: that is exactly the reasons I was hoping to avoid having an HOA! I hear of these types of things all to often.