Frustration on the Homefront

One of the amazing perks about living in Houston is the easy ability to buy affordable and great housing inside the city. Yes, you can move out to the suburbs and purchase giant new homes in gated communities, but you can also choose to live in the loop to have easier access to city life. As Houstonians are looking to shorten their commutes, take advantage of public transportation, enjoy inner loop dining and entertainment, and send their kids to some great public schools, life inside the loop is becoming an increasingly attractive option. Young people, retirees, young families, and urbanities are all moving to different areas inside the 610 loop.

I currently live in an awesome EaDo condo, right next to lots of restaurants and nightlife. We can actually walk to places, including downtown, which is pretty exciting in Houston. Our place is a former warehouse, so it has been beautifully reconstructed with a beautiful modern kitchen and bath I can't imagine life without. But now, as we are looking to grow our family, a one bedroom condo next to a live music venue and multiple bars really isn't going to work. We have been on a search that has lasted quite a few months, and are hopefully narrowing our options down.

My obsession as of late has been HAR.com. This is the fastest and easiest way to to search Houston real estate. I may have wasted a few good hours on this website, hours which could have been spent writing a couple of novels, solving the energy crisis, or figuring out the meaning of life. But instead I have spent lots of time comparing 3 to 4 bedroom houses, estimating the cost to install central AC, and inspecting photos for the deatils of "original" hardwoods and the like. I know have a fountain of knowledge for anyone looking to buy and live in the loop, but unfortunately none of it is helping us find a house.

Granted, we've only been at this for 3 months or so. We're priced out of the Heights and Montrose, so we've seen dozens of places in the East End, Idylwood, Museum District, and Riverside Terrace. It seems like Andrew and I can't see eye-to-eye on things, and there's always a huge compromise for one of us thus negating the option. I am OK with doing some updating, while Andrew wants things done and easy. I like little hobbit houses, and Andrew wants lots of space. I like historic places brimming with character, and Andrew likes clean, modern looks. We have yet to find the "perfect" place, the one you walk into and sigh and say, "This is our home!"

Now, if we were to move to Clear Lake, Westbury, Memorial, Spring Branch, etc...we would be able to find a wonderful place that meets all our requirements. I now get why people move to the suburbs; it's just so much easier! Especially when you factor future children into the picture, it really becomes a great option.

Fortunately, one thing we do see eye-to-eye on is our commitment to stay inside the loop. This will keep Andrew's commute at 5 -10 minutes max, potentially with him even riding the light rail to work. I will be working in the city probably for the remainder of the time we live here, so a good central location is key. We want our future children to grow up in diverse and culturally-rich neighborhood while attending great schools, museums, and festivals. We both want to support Houston as the inner loop grows and develops to become the quirky, urban, and diverse city that it is.

Now if only we could find our house. Oh, perfect inner loop house, I know you are out there!

The Allure of the East End

Readers, beware. This will be the first of many posts that describe with my flirtings in the East End of Houston.

Now technically, I now live in Eado, i.e. East Downtown. So this is one of those awesome things about living as an educator in your 20's in Houston; you can actually live and own a downtownish condo, where in many cities CEOs and lawyers and stockbrokers fight to rent 500 sqft apartments.

Since we moved to EaDo nearly five years ago, this area has boomed. It used to be just us, some sketchy warehouses, and the punks from the Insane Clown Posse show at Warehouse Live. Now we are surrounded by restaurants, a sports pub, a wine bar, and within a 10 minute walking distance to the already almost famous Discovery Green park and the new Phoenicia. I can actually ride my bike to Phoenicia and get groceries, which makes me nearly fall over with delight every time I make the trip. For those of you more veteran and hardcore Houstonians, you know what a big deal this is, in a city where it generally takes 15 minutes to get anywhere by car.

But alas, our lovely condo was a great place for our early 20s, but now as we are moving into the next decade of life, we're not as concerned with bars or rooftop parties. We are now looking to move into a house that will eventually be filled with some children. Preferably a historic house in a great neighborhood. And of course, inside the loop. What has made me fall for Houston is the affordable and lively city life, so there is no way I am giving that up. So I have set my sights on the East End.

The East End is the next hot area of inner loop real estate, and tons of development projects are already underway, including....wait for it...wait for it....public transit! You will actually be able to take the light rail from the East End to either downtown or the University of Houston area. If we lived in the East End, my husband would never have to drive, and I would hate him for all 30 minutes I'm usually stuck in traffic on the way home.

One of the strongest things about the East End and probably the biggest perk is the sense of community. I learned that tonight when I attended the first steering committee meeting for the East End Food Co-op. About 20 people gathered to discuss the mission and vision for a new food cooperative, and everyone from laywers to PTO members to politicians to retirees contributed to the initial conversations about what the neighborhood needs. I left the meeting with new friends and invitations to local community events, and was surprised at how just darn happy I was to be getting in on the ground stage of such an awesome movement. In Pittsburgh, I was always involved in local politics and activist movements. I had been disconnected from that in Houston, which allowed me to continue to keep up barriers and avoid getting too attached, or even worse, invested in the city. The more connected I am here, the harder it will be to leave.

So sorry Houston, it really was about me and my issues, and I did shut you out. I'll try harder to open up to you. I promise.